H 4035

F   L      O   R   I   D   A     H   O   U   S   E      O   F      R   E   P    R   E   S   E   N   T   A   T   I   V   E   S
  ENROLLED
  CS/HB 4035  2026 Legislature
1
2An act relating to Palm Beach County; amending chapter
367-1876, Laws of Florida, as amended; revising
4requirements for the examinations administered by the
5Palm Beach County Construction Industry Licensing
6Board for certificates of competency; revising the
7Board's applicant review process; providing an
8effective date.
9
10Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
11
12Section 1.  Section 5 of chapter 67-1876, Laws of Florida,
13as amended, is amended to read:
14Section 5.  Certification.—
15(A)     To obtain a certificate of competency an applicant
16shall submit an application in writing to the Board containing
17the statement that the applicant desires the issuance of a
18certificate and the class of certificate desired on a form
19containing the information prescribed by the Board which shall
20be accompanied by the fee fixed by the Board. All applicants
21must be of good moral character and 18 years of age or older.
22(B)     The application shall contain the following:
23(1)     Evidence in the form of affidavits from former
24employers, building officials, school officials, or other
25persons to verify the required experience and education.
  Page 1 of 6
 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
  hb4035 -01-er
F   L   O   R   I   D   A     H   O   U   S   E      O   F      R   E   P    R   E   S   E   N   T   A   T   I   V   E   S
 ENROLLED
 CS/HB 4035  2026 Legislature
26(2)     A credit report on the applicant from a nationally
27    recognized credit agency.
28(3)     Any other pertinent information prescribed by the
29    Board by rule or regulation.
30(C)(1)       Examinations shall be administered held at times
31    and locations places within the county as the Board determines,
32    but there shall be offered at least one examination every 3
33    months. Each applicant must complete an objective written
34    examination that evaluates the applicant's qualifications for
35    certification in the category for which the applicant applies.
36    The examination must be tailored to the scope of work associated
37    with the requested certificate and must assess knowledge of
38    contracting and construction principles relevant to that
39    category. At the Board's discretion, an applicant for a
40    specialty contractor and journeyman certificate may fulfill the
41    examination requirement through an oral examination. An
42    applicant must achieve a passing grade on all required exams
43    prior to being eligible for Board certification A maximum of
44    four examinations in a category may be taken in a 12-month
45    period, but examinations may not be rescheduled until 60 days
46    have elapsed. Each applicant shall take an objective written
47    examination about his fitness for a certificate in the category
48    for which application is made. There shall be a type of
49    examination for each of the categories which shall apply to the
50    type of work covered by the certificate applied for. The
  Page 2 of 6
     CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
  hb4035 -01-er
F   L   O   R   I   D   A     H   O   U   S   E      O   F      R   E   P    R   E   S   E   N   T   A   T   I   V   E   S
 ENROLLED
 CS/HB 4035  2026 Legislature
51    examination shall cover knowledge of basic principles of
52    contracting and construction applicable to the category for
53    which a certificate is requested. The Board may authorize
54    applicants for specialty contractors and journeymen certificates
55    to complete the examination requirements by taking and passing
56    an oral examination.
57(2)     A passing grade on the examination is 75 percent.
58(D)     Upon Following receipt of the required fee and a
59    complete application, the Board shall review investigate the
60    applicant's qualifications, including the applicant's financial
61    responsibility, credit history reputation, education,
62    examination, experience, and business reputation, and the
63    business reputation of any business agency on behalf of which
64    the applicant proposes to engage in contracting. The review must
65    also include any business entity that the applicant represents
66    in contracting activities. If the applicant achieves a passing
67    score on the examination and satisfies all other requirements,
68    the Board shall confirm to the applicant the Board's readiness
69    If the applicant is approved by the Board the applicant shall be
70    notified to appear for an examination. Within 30 days from the
71    date of the examination, the Board shall inform the applicant in
72    writing whether or not he has qualified, and, if the applicant
73    has qualified, that it is ready to issue the appropriate a
74    certificate in the category for which application was made,
75    subject to the applicant's compliance with any additional
  Page 3 of 6
     CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
  hb4035 -01-er
F   L    O   R   I   D   A     H   O   U   S   E      O   F      R   E   P    R   E   S   E   N   T   A   T   I   V   E   S
  ENROLLED
  CS/HB 4035  2026 Legislature
76     provisions outlined in the requirements of subsection (F) of
77     this section.
78(E)     Applicants who contract in violation of this act
79     before certification by the Board or passing the examination may
80     be disqualified upon a majority vote of the Board. Applicants
81     violating examination and examination review rules such as
82     unauthorized removal of examinations or questions from exam
83     room, or cheating during examinations also may be disqualified
84     by a majority vote of the Board.
85(F)     As a prerequisite to issuance of a certificate, the
86     Board shall require the applicant to submit satisfactory
87     evidence that he has obtained public liability insurance and a
88     license bond in amounts to be determined by the Board. The
89     certificate shall then be issued forthwith, but this subsection
90     does not apply to the issuance or renewal of inactive
91     certificates.
92(G)     If an applicant for an original certificate, after
93     having been notified to do so, does not appear for examination
94     within 60 days from the date of filing his application, the fee
95     paid by him shall be credited to the Board as an earned fee. New
96     application for a certificate shall be accompanied by another
97     application fee fixed by the Board.
98(H)     When a certificate holder desires to engage in
99     contracting in any area of the county, within or without a
100    municipality, as a prerequisite therefore, he shall only be
  Page 4 of 6
      CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
  hb4035 -01-er
F   L    O   R   I   D   A     H   O   U   S   E      O   F      R   E   P    R   E   S   E   N   T   A   T   I   V   E   S
  ENROLLED
  CS/HB 4035  2026 Legislature
101    required to exhibit to the local building official, tax
102    collector, or other person in charge of the issuance of licenses
103    and building permits in the area, evidence of holding a current
104    certificate accompanied by the fee for the occupational license
105    and building permit required of other persons.
106(I)     A certified journeyman shall only be required to hold
107    a current certificate of competency in order to engage in his
108    trade as a journeyman in any municipality or unincorporated area
109    within Palm Beach County.
110(J)     The certificate shall not be transferable.
111(K)     The Board may adopt rules prescribing procedures for
112    the certification of contractors and journeymen by reciprocal
113    agreement.
114(L)     Upon the effective date of this act, any person
115    licensed or otherwise permitted to engage in business as a
116    contractor by reciprocal agreements in any municipality or any
117    unincorporated area of Palm Beach County may continue to engage
118    in business as a contractor in the particular municipality or
119    municipalities or unincorporated areas of Palm Beach County in
120    which he is presently engaged in business without taking the
121    examination under this act, but he shall not be permitted to
122    engage in business as a contractor in other areas of Palm Beach
123    County unless he first obtains a certificate from the Board or
124    satisfies the requirements of such municipality or
125    unincorporated area.
  Page 5 of 6
      CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
  hb4035 -01-er
F   L    O   R   I   D   A     H   O   U   S   E      O   F      R   E   P    R   E   S   E   N   T   A   T   I   V   E   S
  ENROLLED
  CS/HB 4035  2026 Legislature
126Section 2.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.
  Page 6 of 6
      CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
  hb4035 -01-er