| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to pest control call centers; creating s. |
| 3 | 482.072, F.S.; authorizing the Department of Agriculture |
| 4 | and Consumer Services to issue a permit to a qualified |
| 5 | pest control business to operate a telephone call center |
| 6 | to serve its business locations; requiring applications |
| 7 | for permits; requiring annual renewal; establishing |
| 8 | maximum fees for issuance and renewal of a permit; |
| 9 | requiring the department to prescribe and furnish |
| 10 | application forms and to establish fees; providing grounds |
| 11 | for denial of a permit; providing exemption from |
| 12 | requirement for pest control employee identification cards |
| 13 | for call center personnel meeting certain requirements; |
| 14 | providing an effective date. |
| 15 |
|
| 16 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 17 |
|
| 18 | Section 1. Section 482.072, Florida Statutes, is created |
| 19 | to read: |
| 20 | 482.072 Telephone call centers; permits.-- |
| 21 | (1) The department may issue a permit to a qualified pest |
| 22 | control business to operate a telephone call center to serve one |
| 23 | or more of its business locations licensed under this chapter. |
| 24 | The telephone call center may be operated within or outside of |
| 25 | the state. |
| 26 | (2)(a) Before operating a telephone call center serving |
| 27 | any Florida business locations, pest control businesses must |
| 28 | apply to the department for a permit, which permit may be |
| 29 | renewed annually. Application forms shall be prescribed and |
| 30 | furnished by the department. |
| 31 | (b) The department shall establish a fee for the issuance |
| 32 | and renewal of a permit, which may not be more than $250. After |
| 33 | a grace period, not exceeding 30 calendar days following the |
| 34 | anniversary renewal date, the department shall assess a late |
| 35 | renewal charge of $50 that must be paid in addition to the |
| 36 | renewal fee. |
| 37 | (c) Unless timely renewed, a permit automatically expires |
| 38 | 60 calendar days after the anniversary renewal date. After the |
| 39 | expiration date, a permit may be reinstated only upon |
| 40 | application and payment of the issuance fee and the late renewal |
| 41 | fee. |
| 42 | (d) The department may deny the issuance of a telephone |
| 43 | call center permit to any applicant or refuse to renew the |
| 44 | permit of any licensee if the department finds that the |
| 45 | applicant or licensee or any of its directors, officers, owners, |
| 46 | or general partners are or were directors, officers, owners, or |
| 47 | general partners of a pest control business that meets the |
| 48 | conditions of s. 482.071(2)(g). |
| 49 | (e) Persons providing telephone call center services for a |
| 50 | pest control business permitted under this section are exempt |
| 51 | from the provisions of s. 482.091; provided, however, the |
| 52 | performance of any inspection, treatment, application, execution |
| 53 | of a contract, or acceptance of remuneration may be performed |
| 54 | only by an identification cardholder employed by the licensee. |
| 55 | Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law. |