Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Andrew J. Meyers
Department: County Attorney
Information
Requested Action
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MOTION TO ENACT Ordinance, the title of which is as follows (continued from January 12, 2021 - Item No. 38):
AN ORDINANCE OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA, CREATING THE “BROWARD COUNTY LOCKSMITH ACT”; CREATING DIVISION 8 OF ARTICLE VII OF CHAPTER 20 OF THE BROWARD COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES (“CODE”); PROVIDING FOR LICENSING OF LOCKSMITHS AND REGISTRATION OF LOCKSMITH BUSINESSES; PROVIDING FOR ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES; AMENDING SECTION 8½-16 OF THE CODE RELATING TO FINES FOR VIOLATIONS; AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, INCLUSION IN THE CODE, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
(Sponsored by Commissioner Mark D. Bogen)
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Why Action is Necessary
A Resolution directing the County Administrator to publish notice of public hearing was approved by the Board of County Commissioners on September 10, 2020.
What Action Accomplishes
Permits the Board to consider enactment of an Ordinance regulating locksmiths and locksmith businesses.
Is this Action Goal Related
No
Previous Action Taken
Summary Explanation/Background
Locksmiths have access to the homes, businesses, and vehicles of Broward County’s residents and visitors. Currently, Broward County does not regulate or license locksmiths.
The proposed Ordinance, if enacted, would create a comprehensive regulatory program for locksmiths and locksmith businesses. Locksmiths would be required to obtain a locksmith license and locksmith businesses would be required to register. The regulatory scheme would require background checks for locksmiths (which might result in certain individuals being denied licensure), minimum insurance coverage for locksmith businesses, and the customer’s written approval of the quoted price prior to the locksmith commencing work. The proposed Ordinance also requires the locksmith obtain adequate assurance that the customer has authority over the home, vehicle, or other object at issue prior to commencing work.
The public hearing on this item has been continued several times. Pursuant to Board direction on January 12, 2021, public notice was republished for this public hearing.
The sponsor of this item, Commissioner Bogen, had previously proposed certain amendments to the Ordinance (Exhibit 3). That revised Ordinance was the subject of proposed amendments by Mayor Geller (Exhibit 4), Commissioner Holness (Exhibit 5), Commissioner Ryan (Exhibit 6), and the County Attorney’s Office (Exhibit 7). Commissioner Bogen has proposed certain additional amendments; this updated version (Exhibit 8) includes the sponsor’s proposed amendments to date (newly proposed amendments highlighted in yellow; prior amendments highlighted in grey), adopts the County Attorney’s Office amendment, and is the operative version of the Ordinance for consideration at the public hearing. An updated matrix of the various proposed amendments (Exhibit 9) is also provided to facilitate Board discussion.
Source of Additional Information
René D. Harrod, Deputy County Attorney, 954-357-7600
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
Fiscal Impact Statement by the Office of Management and Budget is attached as Exhibit 2.