FL S0856

Authorizes owners of onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems or their authorized contractors to hire private providers to perform inspections that meet applicable regulatory requirements.

Requires private providers performing inspections to be either environmental health professionals certified under s. 381.0101, master septic tank contractors registered under chapter 489, licensed professional engineers with required training, or workers supervised by licensed engineers with required training.

Prohibits the private provider that installed the system from inspecting it and requires owners to notify the Department of Environmental Protection at least 2 business days before inspection, including provider credentials and an acknowledgment form accepting responsibility for remediation if deficiencies are found.

Allows the Department of Environmental Protection to audit up to 25 percent of private provider inspections annually, and work may not be delayed for audits unless deficiencies are discovered.

Requires the Department of Environmental Protection to submit a report to the Legislature by October 1, 2023, on the use of private providers for inspections and to adopt implementing rules by August 31, 2022.