Dear FAA Members:

We would like to take this opportunity to share with you some recent developments regarding burdensome and unnecessary state agency rules relating to amusement rides in Florida.

As you know, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is the state agency responsible for conducting safety inspections for all amusement rides in Florida except for those parks with more than 1,000 employees. After first working to ensure legislation (SB 1788/HB 1267) introduced in the 2019 Legislative Session did not include additional regulations for our amusement ride owners and operators, rules have been recently developed by FDACS that could have potentially resulted in increased safety regulations and inspections, as well as requiring rides to post signs with verbiage on "loose hair and clothing".

We are relieved that after several months of discussion and communication with the Bureau of Fair Rides staff at FDACS regarding the clear differentiation between permanent fixed rides and temporary rides that are frequently relocated, we were successful in avoiding these stronger and burdensome safety inspections regulations that should be non-applicable to fixed site amusement rides.

The final proposed rule can be viewed here. Strikethrough is for language being removed and underline is for language being added.

The final rule will be filed for adoption on October 9th and will then become effective on October 29th.

Thank you again for your support of our advocacy to promote and protect tourism in Florida.

Warm Regards,

Bill Lupfer