404.056  Environmental radiation standards and programs; radon protection.--

(1)  STANDARDS.--To preserve and protect the public health, the department is authorized to establish, by rule, environmental radiation standards for buildings, and to conduct programs designed to reduce human exposure to such harmful environmental radiation. In the establishment of such standards, the department shall consider:

(a)  Existing federal standards or guidelines.

(b)  The recommendations of nationally recognized bodies which are expert in the field of radiation protection.

(c)  The radiation effect of water supplies.

(d)  The use made, or to be made, of the land for residential dwellings, public or private schools, health care facilities, or other purposes.

(e)  The availability of measures to mitigate the effect of the radiation.

For the purposes of this section, "building" means any structure that encloses space used for sheltering any occupancy. Each portion of a building separated from other portions by a firewall shall be considered a separate building.

(2)  FLORIDA COORDINATING COUNCIL ON RADON PROTECTION.--

(a)  Establishment.--It is declared to be in the best interest of the state that public agencies responsible for and involved in radon protection activities work together to reduce duplication of effort, foster maximum efficient use of existing resources, advise and assist the agencies involved in radon protection and mitigation in implementing the best management practices and the best available technology in limiting exposure to radon, identify outside funding sources and recommend priorities for research into the effects of radon, and enhance communication between all interests involved in radon protection and mitigation activities. Therefore, the Florida Coordinating Council on Radon Protection is hereby established as an advisory body to the Department of Community Affairs in developing the construction and mitigation standards required by s. 553.98 and to the department in developing the public information program on radon and radon progeny as required by subsection (4).

(b)  Membership.--The Florida Coordinating Council on Radon Protection shall be composed of the following representatives or their authorized designees:

1.  The Secretary of Community Affairs;

2.  The Secretary of Health;

3.  The Commissioner of Education or a representative;

4.  An expert in the mitigation or prevention of radon, the development of building codes designed to control and abate radon, or the development of construction techniques to mitigate the effects of radon in existing buildings, one representative of one of these fields to be jointly appointed by the University of South Florida and Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, and one representative of one of these fields to be appointed by the University of Florida. Two representatives from any of these fields shall be appointed by the Board of Regents from other universities in the state;

5.  One representative each from the Florida Association of the American Institute of Architects, the Florida Engineering Society, the Associated General Contractors Council, the Florida Association of Counties, the Florida League of Cities, the Florida Association of Realtors, the Florida Home Builders Association, and the Florida Phosphate Council; and an elected official of county government, to be appointed by the Association of Counties; and an elected official of city government, to be appointed by the League of Cities;

6.  One representative each from two recognized voluntary health agencies to be appointed by the Secretary of Health; and

7.  One representative each from two public interest consumer groups to be appointed by the Secretary of Community Affairs.

(c)  Organization.--The council shall be chaired by the Secretary of Community Affairs or his or her authorized designee. A majority of the membership of the council shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of business. The chair shall be responsible for recording and distributing to the members a summary of the proceedings of all council meetings. The council shall meet within 90 days after the effective date of this act for the purpose of organizing, and at least semiannually or more frequently as needed. Members of the council shall not receive compensation for their services, but shall be entitled to reimbursement for necessary travel expenses, pursuant to s. 112.061, from the funds derived from surcharges collected pursuant to ¹s. 553.721. The establishment of the council shall not impede the initiation of building code research and development.

(d)  Responsibilities.--The council shall:

1.  Provide technical advice in the development of a request-for-proposal process for radon research.

2.  Identify additional funding sources for research or implementation projects and recommend research priorities.

3.  Prepare and present reports to the department and the Department of Community Affairs on radon protection activities in the state.

(3)  CERTIFICATION.--

(a)  The department is authorized to certify persons who perform radon gas or radon progeny measurements, including sample collection, analysis, or interpretation of such measurements, and who perform mitigation of buildings for radon gas or radon progeny, and shall collect a fee for such certification. Before performing radon measurement or radon mitigation services, including collecting samples, performing analysis, or interpreting measurement results, a certified individual must own, be employed by, or be retained as a consultant to a certified radon measurement or certified radon mitigation business. The department may establish criteria for the application, certification, and annual renewal of individuals, which may include requirements for education and experience, approved training, examinations, and reporting. The department may approve training courses for certification and establish criteria for training courses and instructors. The department may observe and evaluate training sessions, instructors, and course material without charge.

(b)  A person may not participate in performing radon gas or radon progeny measurements, including sample collection, analysis, or interpretation of such measurements, or perform mitigation of buildings for radon gas or radon progeny, and charge a fee or obtain other remuneration as benefit for such services or devices, unless that person is certified by the department. A certification issued in accordance with this section automatically expires at the end of the certification period stated on the certificate. An uncertified commercial business may subcontract radon measurements to a certified radon business. The uncertified commercial business must provide the complete radon report from the certified radon business to the client and direct all the client's questions about the measurements or radon report to the certified radon business.

(c)  The results of measurements of radon gas or radon progeny performed by persons certified under the provisions of this subsection shall be reported to the department and persons contracting for the service. Upon request, the results of measurements of radon gas or radon progeny which are performed to evaluate the effectiveness of a radon mitigation system shall be reported to the certified business that installed the mitigation system. The report must include the radon levels detected; the location, age, and description of the building; the name and certification numbers of the certified radon measurement business and individual who performed the measurements; and other information determined by the department to meet the requirements of the protocols and procedures for the type of measurement performed. Each installation of a radon mitigation system performed by a person certified under this section must be reported to the department according to the schedule set by the department. The report must include the premitigation and postmitigation radon levels; the type or types of systems installed; the location, age, and description of the building; and the name and certification number of the certified mitigation business that performed the mitigation.

(d)  Authorized representatives of the department have the authority to inspect the business and records of any person certified under the provisions of this subsection, at all reasonable times, to examine records and test procedures to determine compliance with or violation of the provisions of this section.

(e)  Any person who practices fraud, deception, or misrepresentation in performing radon gas or radon progeny measurements or in performing mitigation of buildings for radon gas or radon progeny is subject to the penalties provided in s. 404.161.

(f)  The department is authorized to charge and collect nonrefundable fees for the certification and annual recertification of persons who perform radon gas or radon progeny measurements or who perform mitigation of buildings for radon gas or radon progeny. The amount of the initial application fee and certification shall be not less than $200 or more than $900. The amount of the annual recertification fee shall be not less than $200 or more than $900. Effective July 1, 1988, the fee amounts shall be the minimum fee prescribed in this paragraph, and such fee amounts shall remain in effect until the effective date of a fee schedule promulgated by rule by the department. The fees collected shall be deposited in the Radiation Protection Trust Fund and shall be used only to implement the provisions of this section. The surcharge established pursuant to ²subsection (3) may be used to supplement the fees established in this paragraph in carrying out the provisions of this subsection.

(g)  The department may deny, suspend, or revoke a certification, or impose an administrative fine not to exceed $1,000 per violation per day, for the violation of any provision of this section or rule promulgated pursuant thereto.

(h)  A certificateholder in good standing remains in good standing when he or she becomes a member of the Armed Forces of the United States on active duty without payment of renewal fees as long as he or she is a member of the Armed Forces on active duty and for a period of 6 months after his or her discharge from active duty, if he or she is not engaged in practicing radon measurement or radon mitigation in the private sector for profit. The certificateholder must pay a renewal fee to renew the certificate.

(i)  A certificateholder who is in good standing remains in good standing if he or she is absent from the state because of his or her spouse's active duty with the Armed Forces of the United States. The certificateholder remains in good standing without payment of renewal fees as long as his or her spouse is a member of the Armed Forces on active duty and for a period of 6 months after the spouse's discharge from active duty, if the certificateholder is not engaged in practicing radon measurement or radon mitigation in the private sector for profit. The certificateholder must pay a renewal fee to renew the certificate.

(j)  The department may set criteria and requirements for the application, certification, and annual renewal of certification for radon measurement and mitigation businesses, which may include:

1.  Requirements for measurement devices and measurement procedures, including the disclosure of mitigation materials, systems, and other mitigation services offered.

2.  The identification of certified specialists and technicians employed by the business and requirements for specialist staffing and duties.

3.  The analysis of measurement devices by proficient analytical service providers.

4.  Requirements for a quality assurance and quality control program.

5.  The disclosure of client measurement reporting forms and warranties and operating instructions for mitigation systems.

6.  Requirements for radon services publications and the identification of the radon business certification number in advertisements.

7.  Requirements for a worker health and safety program.

8.  Requirements for maintaining radon records.

9.  The operation of branch office locations.

10.  Requirements for supervising subcontractors who install mitigation systems.

11.  Requirements for building inspections and evaluation and standards for the design and installation of mitigation systems.

12.  Prescribing conditions of mitigation measurements.

(k)  Any change in the information provided to the department in the original business application to be reported within 10 days after the change.

(4)  PUBLIC INFORMATION.--The department shall initiate and administer a program designed to educate and inform the public concerning radon gas and radon progeny, which program shall include, but not be limited to, the origin and health effects of radon, how to measure radon, and construction and mitigation techniques to reduce exposure to radon. The surcharge established pursuant to ¹s. 553.721 may be used to supplement the fees established in ³paragraph (3)(f) in carrying out the provisions of this subsection.

(5)  MANDATORY TESTING.--All public and private school buildings or school sites housing students in kindergarten through grade 12; all state-owned, state-operated, state-regulated, or state-licensed 24-hour care facilities; and all state-licensed day care centers for children or minors which are located in counties designated within the Department of Community Affairs' Florida Radon Protection Map Categories as "Intermediate" or "Elevated Radon Potential" shall be measured to determine the level of indoor radon, using measurement procedures established by the department. Testing shall be completed within the first year of construction in 20 percent of the habitable first floor spaces within any of the regulated buildings. Initial measurements shall be completed and reported to the department by July 1 of the year the building is opened for occupancy. Followup testing must be completed in 5 percent of the habitable first floor spaces within any of the regulated buildings after the building has been occupied for 5 years, and results must be reported to the department by July 1 of the 5th year of occupancy. After radon measurements have been made twice, regulated buildings need not undergo further testing unless significant structural changes occur. Where fill soil is required for the construction of a regulated building, initial testing of fill soil must be performed using measurement procedures established by the department, and the results must be reported to the department prior to construction. The provisions of paragraph (3)(c) as to confidentiality shall not apply to this subsection. No funds collected pursuant to s. 553.721 shall be used to carry out the provisions of this subsection.

(6)  NOTIFICATION ON REAL ESTATE DOCUMENTS.--By January 1, 1989, notification shall be provided on at least one document, form, or application executed at the time of, or prior to, contract for sale and purchase of any building or execution of a rental agreement for any building. Such notification shall contain the following language:

"RADON GAS: Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that, when it has accumulated in a building in sufficient quantities, may present health risks to persons who are exposed to it over time. Levels of radon that exceed federal and state guidelines have been found in buildings in Florida. Additional information regarding radon and radon testing may be obtained from your county health department."


The requirements of this subsection do not apply to any residential transient occupancy, as described in s. 509.013(11), provided that such occupancy is 45 days or less in duration.

(7)  RULES.--The department shall have the authority to promulgate rules necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.

History.--ss. 4, 18, ch. 84-190; ss. 1, 3, ch. 88-285; s. 15, ch. 91-40; s. 3, ch. 91-145; s. 1, ch. 91-222; ss. 4, 5, ch. 91-429; s. 28, ch. 92-173; s. 19, ch. 93-120; s. 33, ch. 93-166; s. 2, ch. 94-284; s. 31, ch. 95-269; s. 1, ch. 95-339; s. 106, ch. 97-101; s. 21, ch. 97-103; s. 57, ch. 97-237; s. 24, ch. 98-151; s. 14, ch. 99-329.

¹Note.--Substituted by the editors for a reference to subsection (4), which was redesignated as subsection (3) to conform to the repeal of former subsection (2) by s. 28, ch. 92-173; this provision was transferred to s. 553.721 by s. 1, ch. 95-339.

²Note.--Transferred to s. 553.721 by s. 1, ch. 95-339.