Florida Fire Safety Board; membership; duties; meetings; officers; quorum; compensation; seal.

(1) The Florida Fire Safety Board is created consisting of seven members who are residents of this state. One shall be the State Fire Marshal, or her or his designee who shall be an administrative employee of the marshal; one shall be an administrative officer from a building department representing an incorporated municipality or a county; one shall be an administrative officer from a fire department representing an incorporated municipality or a county; two shall be contractors licensed pursuant to s. 633.318; and two shall be persons who hold valid licenses under s. 633.304.

(2)(a) To be eligible for appointment, each contractor must personally hold a current certificate of competency and a current license issued by the division, together with an unexpired occupational license to operate as a contractor issued by an incorporated municipality or a county; be actively engaged in such business and have been so engaged for a period of not less than 5 consecutive years before the date of her or his appointment; and be a resident of the state.

(b) To be eligible for appointment, each fire equipment dealer must personally hold a current Class A, B, or C and Class D fire equipment dealer license issued by the division, together with an unexpired occupational license to operate as a fire equipment dealer issued by an incorporated municipality or a county; must be actively engaged in such business and have been so engaged for a period of not less than 5 consecutive years before the date of appointment; and must be a resident of this state.

(3) The State Fire Marshal’s term on the board, or that of her or his designee, shall coincide with the State Fire Marshal’s term of office. All terms are for 4 years and expire on June 30 of the last year of the term. When the term of a member expires, the State Fire Marshal shall appoint a member to fill the vacancy for a term of 4 years. The State Fire Marshal may remove any appointed member for cause. A vacancy in the membership of the board for any cause must be filled by appointment by the State Fire Marshal for the balance of the unexpired term.

(4) The board shall act in an advisory capacity to the State Fire Marshal and shall meet regularly as the need presents itself. The board shall have the authority to review complaints and disputed administrative action and make recommendations for disciplinary action to the division at the request of the licenseholder, permitholder, or certificateholder. The board will serve in an advisory capacity to the division regarding rules, codes, standards, interpretations, and training. As soon as practicable after July 1, 2013, the board shall meet to elect officers from its membership, whose terms shall expire on June 30 and annually thereafter. A majority of the board shall constitute a quorum. A member of the advisory board may not be paid a salary as such member, but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses while attending advisory board meetings, including travel in the performance of her or his duties, as provided in s. 112.061.

(5) The board shall adopt a seal for its use containing the words “Florida Fire Safety Board.”