SPECIAL PUBLICATION NO. 57


in sinkhole claim evaluation and that standard methods that can withstand the evidentiary
competence tests required for admission in state and federal court. It is the ultimate
responsibility of the professional consultant to decide upon the steps necessary to complete an
unbiased and scientifically competent investigation that is sufficient to detect sinkhole activity.
Professional Engineers are licensed under Chapter 471 Florida Statutes, and Professional
Geologists are licensed under Chapter 492 Florida Statutes. Both professions are regulated by
Gubernatorial appointed Boards that oversee their respective profession, insure minimum
competencies of their respective licensees and administer discipline.

 The protocols provided herein are intended for the use of geological and geotechnical
consultants to assist in standardizing subsidence claim investigations. These procedures are not
intended to replace site-specific activities that reflect good professional geological practice and
judgment. They are, however, offered as guidelines to assist in developing sufficient information
to confirm the causes) of subsidence-related damage to a structure. These guidelines are listed
in the sequence that typically should be followed, where possible.

 Current Florida Statutes Covering Sinkhole Insurance

 To eliminate some of the historical causes for confusion and poor understanding regarding
the existing definitions and suggested sinkhole investigation standards currently found in the
Florida Statutes, participants of Sinkhole Summit II recommend the following changes.

 627.706 Sinkhole insurance.--

 (1) Every insurer authorized to transact property insurance in this state shall make
 available coverage for insurable sinkhole losses on any structure, including contents of
 personal property contained therein, to the extent provided in the form to which the
 sinkhole coverage attaches.

 (2) "Loss" means structural damage to the building. Contents coverage shall apply
 only if there is structural damage to the building.

 (3) "Sinkhole loss" means actual physical damage to the property covered arising out
 of or caused by sudden settlement or collapse of the earth supporting such property
 only when such settlement or collapse results from naturally occurring subterranean
 voids created by the action of water on a limestone or similar rock formations.

 (4) Every insurer authorized to transact property insurance in this state shall make a
 proper filing with the office for the purpose of extending the appropriate forms of
 property insurance to include coverage for insurable sinkhole losses.

 History.--s. 2, ch. 81-280; s. 809(2nd), ch. 82-243; s. 79, ch. 82-386; s. 114, ch. 92-318; s. 8, ch. 2000-333; s.
 1189, ch. 2003-261.

This proposed change reflects the lack of clarity of the term "sudden." Sinkholes may occur
catastrophically and instantaneously, or on a sustained basis (imperceptibly over night, over
weeks, a season, over years, or over dozens of years). Any and all can destroy a structure. Some
observed features of a slow sinkhole many not be visible for some time after initial movement.
The point is to identify a loss due to a sinkhole, the timing is generally not quantifiable, and the