Bill > H0703

This bill establishes the "Concrete Masonry Products Research, Education, & Promotion Act" and creates the Florida Concrete Masonry Council, Inc., a nonprofit organization that will operate as a direct-support organization for the Florida Building Commission. The council is authorized to collect a fee, called an assessment, on the sale of concrete masonry units (like concrete blocks) if manufacturers approve it through a referendum. This assessment, which would be separately listed on sales documents as the "Florida Building Sustainability Fee," would fund research, education, and promotion efforts aimed at strengthening the concrete masonry industry, developing new uses for its products, and improving their quality and energy efficiency. The council will have a 15-member board of directors representing manufacturers, the building commission, homebuilders, contractors, and other stakeholders, and it will be responsible for developing collection systems, conducting referendums, and managing funds. Manufacturers will collect the assessment at the time of sale and remit it quarterly to the council, which must maintain separate accounting and undergo annual audits. The bill also outlines procedures for manufacturers to petition for a referendum to continue or discontinue the assessment, and requires the council to adopt bylaws by a specific date.