Bill Text: FL S0714 | 2022 | Regular Session | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Department of Business and Professional Regulation
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Failed) 2022-03-14 - Died in returning Messages [S0714 Detail]
Download: Florida-2022-S0714-Comm_Sub.html
Florida Senate - 2022 CS for SB 714 By the Committee on Regulated Industries; and Senator Hooper 580-02289-22 2022714c1 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to the Department of Business and 3 Professional Regulation; amending s. 468.8414, F.S.; 4 requiring the department to certify for licensure 5 qualified individuals who practice mold assessment or 6 mold remediation and hold certain licenses issued by 7 other states or territories; requiring applications to 8 be filed within a specified timeframe after such 9 licensure; amending s. 469.004, F.S.; providing an 10 exception for the issuance of an asbestos consultant’s 11 license; requiring the department to certify asbestos 12 consultants and asbestos contractors for licensure who 13 meet certain exam and other state licensure 14 requirements; requiring applications to be filed 15 within a specified timeframe after such licensure; 16 requiring asbestos consultants and asbestos 17 contractors to complete certain courses; amending s. 18 469.006, F.S.; revising the financial responsibility 19 criteria the department must use when issuing 20 consulting or contracting licenses; amending s. 21 489.514, F.S.; removing a time limitation for applying 22 for certain contracting licenses under certain 23 provisions; amending s. 509.032, F.S.; authorizing the 24 Division of Hotels and Restaurants of the department 25 to adopt rules for certain electronic submissions and 26 exemptions; amending s. 509.091, F.S.; requiring 27 licensees and licensed agents to provide the division 28 with e-mail addresses for contact with the division; 29 authorizing the division to deliver notices and 30 inspection reports by e-mail; amending s. 509.101, 31 F.S.; revising the maintenance requirements an 32 operator must meet for a transient establishment’s 33 guest register; amending s. 509.241, F.S.; providing 34 for the expiration of public lodging establishment and 35 public food service establishment licenses; 36 authorizing the licenses to be renewed for specified 37 timeframes; requiring the division to provide forms 38 for license renewals and license applications; 39 amending s. 509.251, F.S.; revising the public lodging 40 establishment and public food service establishment 41 license fees to include an option for 2-year renewals; 42 limiting the fees the division may charge for a 2-year 43 license renewal; requiring license fees to be paid in 44 full at the time of application; amending s. 548.043, 45 F.S.; deleting a requirement limiting the types of 46 boxing exhibitions which require a specified maximum 47 difference in participant weights; reenacting s. 48 509.102(2), F.S., relating to mobile food dispensing 49 vehicles, to incorporate the amendment made to s. 50 509.251, F.S., in a reference thereto; providing an 51 effective date. 52 53 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 54 55 Section 1. Subsection (3) of section 468.8414, Florida 56 Statutes, is amended to read: 57 468.8414 Licensure.— 58 (3) The department shall certify as qualified for a license 59 by endorsement an applicant who is of good moral character, who 60 has the insurance coverage required under s. 468.8421, and who: 61 (a) Is qualified to take the examination as set forth in s. 62 468.8413 and has passed a certification examination offered by a 63 nationally recognized organization that certifies persons in the 64 specialty of mold assessment or mold remediation, and the 65 departmentthathasbeenapproved the certification examination 66by the departmentas being substantially equivalent to the 67 requirements of this part and s. 455.217;or68 (b) Holds a valid license to practice mold assessment or 69 mold remediation issued by another state or territory of the 70 United States if the criteria for issuance of the license were 71 substantially the same as the licensure criteriathat is72 established by this part as determined by the department; or 73 (c) Has held a valid license to practice mold assessment or 74 mold remediation issued by another state or territory of the 75 United States for at least 10 years before the date of 76 application. The application for licensure must be made either 77 when the license in the other state or territory is active or 78 within 2 years after such license was last active. 79 Section 2. Present subsection (3) of section 469.004, 80 Florida Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (4), a new 81 subsection (3) is added to that section, and subsection (1) of 82 that section is amended, to read: 83 469.004 License; asbestos consultant; asbestos contractor.— 84 (1) All asbestos consultants must be licensed by the 85 department. Except for an asbestos consultant’s license issued 86 by endorsement as provided under subsection (3) or otherwise 87 expressly provided by law, an asbestos consultant’s license may 88 be issued only to an applicant who holds a current, valid, 89 active license as an architect issued under chapter 481; holds a 90 current, valid, active license as a professional engineer issued 91 under chapter 471; holds a current, valid, active license as a 92 professional geologist issued under chapter 492; is a diplomat 93 of the American Board of Industrial Hygiene; or has been awarded 94 designation as a Certified Safety Professional by the Board of 95 Certified Safety Professionals. 96 (3) The department shall certify as qualified for licensure 97 by endorsement any individual applying for licensure who has 98 passed a written examination that meets the requirements of the 99 United States Environmental Protection Agency Asbestos Model 100 Accreditation Plan, has held a valid license to practice as an 101 asbestos consultant or asbestos contractor issued by another 102 state or territory of the United States for at least 10 years 103 before the date of application, and is applying for the same or 104 similar license in this state, subject to ss. 469.005(5) and 105 469.006. The application for licensure must be made either when 106 the license in the other state or territory is active or within 107 2 years after such license was last active. Asbestos consultants 108 and asbestos contractors must complete courses as required by s. 109 469.005(2) or (3), respectively, to qualify for licensure by 110 endorsement. 111 Section 3. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section 112 469.006, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 113 469.006 Licensure of business organizations; qualifying 114 agents.— 115 (2) 116 (c) As a prerequisite to the issuance of a license under 117 this section, the applicant shall submit the following: 118 1. An affidavit on a form provided by the department 119 attesting that the applicant has obtained workers’ compensation 120 insurance as required by chapter 440, public liability 121 insurance, and property damage insurance, in amounts determined 122 by department rule. The department shall establish by rule a 123 procedure to verify the accuracy of such affidavits based upon a 124 random sample method. 125 2. Evidence of financial responsibility. The department 126 shall adopt rules to determine financial responsibility which 127shallspecify grounds on which the department may deny 128 licensure. Such criteria mustshallinclude, but not be limited 129 to, credit historyand limits of bondability and credit. 130 Section 4. Subsection (3) of section 489.514, Florida 131 Statutes, is amended to read: 132 489.514 Certification for registered contractors; 133 grandfathering provisions.— 134(3) An applicant must make application by November 1, 2021,135to be licensed pursuant to this section.136 Section 5. Subsection (6) of section 509.032, Florida 137 Statutes, is amended to read: 138 509.032 Duties.— 139 (6) RULEMAKING AUTHORITY.—The division shall adopt such 140 rules as are necessary to carry outthe provisions ofthis 141 chapter. The division may adopt rules requiring electronic 142 submission of any form, document, or fee as required by this 143 chapter. The division may prescribe by rule requirements and 144 procedures for an individual to obtain an exemption due to a 145 technological or financial hardship. 146 Section 6. Section 509.091, Florida Statutes, is amended to 147 read: 148 509.091 Notices; form and service.— 149 (1) All licensees and licensed agents must provide an e 150 mail address to the division to function as the primary method 151 of contact for all communication with the division. 152 (2) Each notice or inspection report served by the division 153 pursuant to this chapter must be in writing and must be 154 delivered personally by an agent of the division, be sent by e 155 mail, or mailedby registered letterto the operator of the 156 public lodging establishment or public food service 157 establishment. If the operator refuses to accept service or 158 evades service or the agent is otherwise unable to effect 159 service after due diligence, the division may post such notice 160 or inspection report in a conspicuous place at the 161 establishment. 162(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), the division may163deliver lodging inspection reports and food service inspection164reports to the operator of the public lodging establishment or165public food service establishment by electronic means.166 Section 7. Subsection (2) of section 509.101, Florida 167 Statutes, is amended to read: 168 509.101 Establishment rules; posting of notice; food 169 service inspection report; maintenance of guest register; mobile 170 food dispensing vehicle registry.— 171 (2) It is the duty of each operator of a transient 172 establishment to maintain at all times a register of, signed by173or forguests who occupy rental units within the establishment, 174 showing the dates upon which the rental units were occupied by 175 such guests and the rates charged for their occupancy. Each 176 operator shall maintain this registershall be maintainedin 177 chronological order, shall make the registerandavailable for 178 inspection by the division at any time, and may keep the 179 register in an electronic format. Operators need not make 180 available registers thatwhichare more than 2 years old. 181 Section 8. Section 509.241, Florida Statutes, is amended to 182 read: 183 509.241 Licenses required; exceptions.— 184 (1) LICENSES;ANNUALRENEWALS.—Each public lodging 185 establishment and public food service establishment shall obtain 186 a license from the division. Such license may not be transferred 187 from one place or individual to another. It isshall bea 188 misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 189 775.082 or s. 775.083, for such an establishment to operate 190 without a license. Local law enforcement shall provide immediate 191 assistance in pursuing an illegally operating establishment. The 192 division may refuse a license, or a renewal thereof, to any 193 establishmentthat isnot constructed and maintained in 194 accordance with law and with the rules of the division. The 195 division may refuse to issue a license, or a renewal thereof, to 196 any establishment an operator of which, within the preceding 5 197 years, has been adjudicated guilty of, or has forfeited a bond 198 when charged with, any crime reflecting on professional 199 character, including soliciting for prostitution, pandering, 200 letting premises for prostitution, keeping a disorderly place, 201 or illegally dealing in controlled substances as defined in 202 chapter 893, whether in this state or in any other jurisdiction 203 within the United States, or has had a license denied, revoked, 204 or suspended pursuant to s. 429.14. Licenses expire if not 205 renewed before the expiration date and may be renewed for 1 or 2 206 years. Licenses mustshallbe renewed using forms provided by 207annually, andthe division. The division shall adopt a rule 208 establishing proceduresa staggered schedulefor license 209 issuance and renewals. If any license expires while 210 administrative charges are pending against the license, the 211 proceedings against the license mustshallcontinue to 212 conclusion as if the license were still in effect. 213 (2) APPLICATION FOR LICENSE.—Each person who plans to open 214 a public lodging establishment or a public food service 215 establishment mustshallapply for and receive a license from 216 the division using forms provided by the division before 217 commencingprior to the commencement ofoperation. A condominium 218 association, as defined in s. 718.103, which does not own any 219 units classified as vacation rentals or timeshare projects under 220 s. 509.242(1)(c) or (g) is not required to apply for or receive 221 a public lodging establishment license. 222 (3) DISPLAY OF LICENSE.—Any license issued by the division 223 shall be conspicuously displayed in the office or lobby of the 224 licensed establishment. Public food service establishments that 225whichoffer catering services shall display their license number 226 on all advertising for catering services. 227 Section 9. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 509.251, 228 Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 229 509.251 License fees.— 230 (1) The division shall adopt,by rule,a schedule of fees 231 to be paid by each public lodging establishment as a 232 prerequisite to issuance or renewal of a license. Initial 233 licenseSuchfees mustshallbe based on the number of rental 234 units in the establishment. License renewal fees must be based 235 on the number of rental units in the establishment and whether 236 the renewal is for 1 or 2 years. The aggregate fee per 237 establishment charged any public lodging establishment may not 238 exceed $1,000 for a 1-year license or $2,000 for a 2-year 239 license; however, the fees described in paragraphs (a) and (b) 240 may not be included as part of the aggregate fee subject to this 241 cap. Vacation rental units or timeshare projects within separate 242 buildings or at separate locations but managed by one licensed 243 agent may be combined in a single license application, and the 244 division mustshallcharge a license fee as if all units in the 245 application are in a single licensed establishment.The fee246schedule shall require an establishment which applies for an247initial license to pay the full license fee if application is248made during the annual renewal period or more than 6 months249before the next such renewal period and one-half of the fee if250application is made 6 months or less before such period.The fee 251 schedule mustshallinclude fees collected for the purpose of 252 funding the Hospitality Education Program, pursuant to s. 253 509.302. All fees, whichare payable in full for each 254 application at the timeregardless of whenthe application is 255 submitted. 256 (a) Upon making initial application or an application for 257 change of ownership, the applicant shall pay to the division a 258 fee as prescribed by rule, not to exceed $50, in addition to any 259 other fees required by law, which shall cover all costs 260 associated with initiating regulation of the establishment. 261 (b) A license renewal filed with the division after the 262 expiration date shall be accompanied by a delinquent fee as 263 prescribed by rule, not to exceed $50, in addition to the 264 renewal fee and any other fees required by law. 265 (2) The division shall adopt,by rule,a schedule of fees 266 to be paid by each public food service establishment as a 267 prerequisite to issuance or renewal of a license. Initial 268 license fees must be based on the classification of the license. 269 License renewal fees must be based on the classification of the 270 license and whether a renewal is for 1 or 2 years. The fee 271 schedule mustshallprescribe a basebasicfee and additional 272 fees based on seating capacity and services offered. The 273 aggregate fee per establishment charged any public food service 274 establishment may not exceed $400 for a 1-year license or $800 275 for a 2-year license; however, the fees described in paragraphs 276 (a) and (b) may not be included as part of the aggregate fee 277 subject to this cap.The fee schedule shall require an278establishment which applies for an initial license to pay the279full license fee if application is made during the annual280renewal period or more than 6 months before the next such281renewal period and one-half of the fee if application is made 6282months or less before such period.The fee schedule mustshall283 include fees collected for the purpose of funding the 284 Hospitality Education Program, pursuant to s. 509.302. All fees,285whichare payable in full for each application at the time 286regardless of whenthe application is submitted. 287 (a) Upon making initial application or an application for 288 change of ownership, the applicant shall pay to the division a 289 fee as prescribed by rule, not to exceed $50, in addition to any 290 other fees required by law, which shall cover all costs 291 associated with initiating regulation of the establishment. 292 (b) A license renewal filed with the division after the 293 expiration date shall be accompanied by a delinquent fee as 294 prescribed by rule, not to exceed $50, in addition to the 295 renewal fee and any other fees required by law. 296 Section 10. Subsection (2) of section 548.043, Florida 297 Statutes, is amended to read: 298 548.043 Weights and classes, limitations; gloves.— 299 (2) The commission shall establish by rule the acceptable 300 difference in weight between participants; however, the maximum 301 difference in weight in boxing matches mayshallnot exceed 12 302 pounds, except matches in the cruiserweight and heavyweight 303 classes and exhibitionsheld solely for training purposes. 304 Section 11. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment 305 made by this act to section 509.251, Florida Statutes, in a 306 reference thereto, subsection (2) of section 509.102, Florida 307 Statutes, is reenacted to read: 308 509.102 Mobile food dispensing vehicles; preemption.— 309 (2) Regulation of mobile food dispensing vehicles involving 310 licenses, registrations, permits, and fees is preempted to the 311 state. A municipality, county, or other local governmental 312 entity may not require a separate license, registration, or 313 permit other than the license required under s. 509.241, or 314 require the payment of any license, registration, or permit fee 315 other than the fee required under s. 509.251, as a condition for 316 the operation of a mobile food dispensing vehicle within the 317 entity’s jurisdiction. A municipality, county, or other local 318 governmental entity may not prohibit mobile food dispensing 319 vehicles from operating within the entirety of the entity’s 320 jurisdiction. 321 Section 12. This act shall take effect July 1, 2022.