634.301
Definitions. ---
As used in this part, the term:
(1) "Department" means the Department of
Insurance.
(2) "Gross written premiums" means the total
amount of premiums, paid for the entire period of the home
warranty, inclusive of commissions, for which the association is
obligated under home warranties issued.
(3) "Home improvement" means major remodeling,
enclosure of a garage, addition of a room, addition of a pool, and
other like items that add value to the residential property. The
term does not include normal maintenance for items such as
painting, reroofing, and other like items subject to normal wear
and tear.
(4) "Home warranty" or "warranty" means any
contract or agreement:
(a) Offered in connection with the sale of residential
property;
(b) Offered in connection with a loan of $5,000 or more
which is secured by residential property that is the subject of the
warranty, but not in connection with the sale of such property;
or
(c) Offered in connection with a home improvement of
$7,500 or more for residential property that is the subject of the
warranty, but not in connection with the sale of such
property;
whereby a person undertakes to indemnify the warranty holder
against the cost of repair or replacement, or actually furnishes
repair or replacement, of any structural component or appliance of
a home, necessitated by wear and tear or an inherent defect of any
such structural component or appliance or necessitated by the
failure of an inspection to detect the likelihood of any such loss.
However, this part does not prohibit the giving of usual
performance guarantees by either the builder of a home or the
manufacturer or seller of an appliance, as long as no identifiable
charge is made for such guarantee. This part does not permit the
provision of indemnification against consequential damages arising
from the failure of any structural component or appliance of a
home, which practice constitutes the transaction of insurance
subject to all requirements of the insurance code. This part does
not apply to service contracts entered into between consumers and
nonprofit organizations or cooperatives the members of which
consist of condominium associations and condominium owners and
which perform repairs and maintenance for appliances or maintenance
of the residential property.
(5) "Home warranty association" means any
corporation or any other organization, other than an authorized
insurer, issuing home warranties.
(6) "Impaired" means having liabilities in excess
of assets.
(7) "Insolvent" means the inability of a
corporation to pay its debts as they become due in the usual course
of its business.
(8) "Insurance code" means the Florida Insurance
Code.
(9) "Insurer" means any property or casualty
insurer duly authorized to transact such business in this
state.
(10) "Net assets" means the amount by which the
total statutory assets of an association exceed the total
liabilities of the association.
(11) "Person" includes an individual, company,
corporation, association, insurer, agent, and every other legal
entity.
(12) "Premium" means the total consideration
received, or to be received, by an insurer or home warranty
association for or related to the issuance and delivery of any
binder or warranty, including any charges designated as assessments
or fees for policies, surveys, inspections, or service or any
other charges.
(13) "Sales representative" means any person with
whom an insurer or home inspection or warranty association has a
contract and who is utilized by such insurer or association for the
purpose of selling or issuing home warranties. The term includes
all employees of an insurer or association engaged directly in the
sale or issuance of home warranties.
(14) "Structural component" means the roof,
plumbing system, electrical system, foundation, basement, walls,
ceilings, or floors of a home.
History: s. 1, ch. 77-339; s. 1, ch. 78-255; s. 3, ch. 81-148; s. 2,
ch. 81-318; s. 3, ch. 83-265; ss. 1, 32, 33, 34, ch. 83-323; s. 1,
ch. 84-94; s. 4, ch. 89-125; ss. 13, 20, ch.
93-195.