Bill Text: FL H0701 | 2010 | Regular Session | Comm Sub


Bill Title: Design Professionals

Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Republican 11-1)

Status: (Vetoed) 2010-04-27 - Placed on Special Order Calendar; Substituted CS/CS/SB 1964 (Vetoed by Governor); Laid on Table -HJ 01162 [H0701 Detail]

Download: Florida-2010-H0701-Comm_Sub.html
CS/HB 701
1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to design professionals; creating s.
3558.0035, F.S.; limiting the liability of architects,
4interior designers, landscape architects, engineers, and
5surveyors for construction defects resulting from the
6performance of a contract; prohibiting such contract from
7limiting the liability of a design professional under
8certain circumstances; specifying that provisions do not
9apply to certain claims; amending ss. 471.023, 472.021,
10481.219, and 481.319, F.S.; conforming provisions to
11changes made by the act; providing that the act does not
12apply to contracts or agreements entered into, or
13professional services performed, before a specified date;
14providing an effective date.
15
16Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
17
18 Section 1. Section 558.0035, Florida Statutes, is created
19to read:
20 558.0035 Limitation of liability.-
21 (1) A claimant contracting for the professional services
22of a design professional does not have a cause of action in tort
23against the design professional for the recovery of economic
24damages resulting from a construction defect.
25 (2) If the contract requires professional liability
26insurance, the contract may not limit the liability of the
27design professional to an amount less than the liability
28insurance amount required by the contract.
29 (3) This section does not apply to a claim for economic
30damages:
31 (a) Resulting from personal injury or damage to property
32other than the property that is the subject of the contract.
33 (b) Involving a contract requiring professional liability
34insurance if the contracting party does not maintain the
35insurance coverage required by the contract.
36 Section 2. Subsection (3) of section 471.023, Florida
37Statutes, is amended to read:
38 471.023 Certification of business organizations.-
39 (3) Except as provided in s. 558.0035, the fact that a
40licensed engineer practices through a business organization does
41not relieve the licensee from personal liability for negligence,
42misconduct, or wrongful acts committed by him or her.
43Partnerships and all partners shall be jointly and severally
44liable for the negligence, misconduct, or wrongful acts
45committed by their agents, employees, or partners while acting
46in a professional capacity. Any officer, agent, or employee of a
47business organization other than a partnership shall be
48personally liable and accountable only for negligent acts,
49wrongful acts, or misconduct committed by him or her or
50committed by any person under his or her direct supervision and
51control, while rendering professional services on behalf of the
52business organization. The personal liability of a shareholder
53or owner of a business organization, in his or her capacity as
54shareholder or owner, shall be no greater than that of a
55shareholder-employee of a corporation incorporated under chapter
56607. The business organization shall be liable up to the full
57value of its property for any negligent acts, wrongful acts, or
58misconduct committed by any of its officers, agents, or
59employees while they are engaged on its behalf in the rendering
60of professional services.
61 Section 3. Subsection (3) of section 472.021, Florida
62Statutes, is amended to read:
63 472.021 Certification of partnerships and corporations.-
64 (3) Except as provided in s. 558.0035, the fact that any
65registered surveyor and mapper practices through a corporation
66or partnership shall not relieve the registrant from personal
67liability for negligence, misconduct, or wrongful acts committed
68by him or her. Partnerships and all partners shall be jointly
69and severally liable for the negligence, misconduct, or wrongful
70acts committed by their agents, employees, or partners while
71acting in a professional capacity. Any officer, agent, or
72employee of a business organization other than a partnership
73shall be personally liable and accountable only for negligent
74acts, wrongful acts, or misconduct committed by him or her or
75committed by any person under his or her direct supervision and
76control while rendering professional services on behalf of the
77business organization. The personal liability of a shareholder
78or owner of a business organization, in his or her capacity as
79shareholder or owner, shall be no greater than that of a
80shareholder-employee of a corporation incorporated under chapter
81607. The business organization shall be liable up to the full
82value of its property for any negligent acts, wrongful acts, or
83misconduct committed by any of its officers, agents, or
84employees while they are engaged on its behalf in the rendering
85of professional services.
86 Section 4. Subsection (11) of section 481.219, Florida
87Statutes, is amended to read:
88 481.219 Certification of partnerships, limited liability
89companies, and corporations.-
90 (11) No corporation, limited liability company, or
91partnership shall be relieved of responsibility for the conduct
92or acts of its agents, employees, or officers by reason of its
93compliance with this section. However, except as provided in s.
94558.0035, the architect who signs and seals the construction
95documents and instruments of service shall be liable for the
96professional services performed, and the interior designer who
97signs and seals the interior design drawings, plans, or
98specifications shall be liable for the professional services
99performed.
100 Section 5. Subsection (6) of section 481.319, Florida
101Statutes, is amended to read:
102 481.319 Corporate and partnership practice of landscape
103architecture; certificate of authorization.-
104 (6) Except as provided in s. 558.0035, the fact that
105registered landscape architects practice landscape architecture
106through a corporation or partnership as provided in this section
107shall not relieve any landscape architect from personal
108liability for his or her professional acts.
109 Section 6. This act does not apply to contracts or
110agreements entered into, or professional services performed,
111before July 1, 2010.
112 Section 7. This act shall take effect July 1, 2010.
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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