Florida Senate - 2012                          SENATOR AMENDMENT
       Bill No. CS for SB 938
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                Barcode 916578                          
       
                              LEGISLATIVE ACTION                        
                    Senate             .             House              
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                Floor: 1/AD/2R         .                                
             03/07/2012 10:31 AM       .                                
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       Senator Richter moved the following:
       
    1         Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
    2  
    3         Delete everything after the enacting clause
    4  and insert:
    5         Section 1. Subsections (1) and (7) of section 626.015,
    6  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
    7         626.015 Definitions.—As used in this part:
    8         (1) “Adjuster” means a public adjuster as defined in s.
    9  626.854, a public adjuster apprentice as defined in s. 626.8541,
   10  or an all-lines adjuster as defined in s. 626.8548 independent
   11  adjuster as defined in s. 626.855, or company employee adjuster
   12  as defined in s. 626.856.
   13         (7) “Home state” means the District of Columbia and any
   14  state or territory of the United States in which an insurance
   15  agent or adjuster maintains his or her principal place of
   16  residence or principal place of business and is licensed to act
   17  as an insurance agent or adjuster.
   18         Section 2. Subsections (2) and (3) of section 626.0428,
   19  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
   20         626.0428 Agency personnel powers, duties, and limitations.—
   21         (2) An No employee of an agent or agency may not bind
   22  insurance coverage unless licensed and appointed as an a general
   23  lines agent or customer representative.
   24         (3) An No employee of an agent or agency may not initiate
   25  contact with any person for the purpose of soliciting insurance
   26  unless licensed and appointed as an a general lines agent or
   27  customer representative. As to title insurance, an employee of
   28  an agent or agency may not initiate contact with any individual
   29  proposed insured for the purpose of soliciting title insurance
   30  unless licensed as a title insurance agent or exempt from such
   31  licensure pursuant to s. 626.8417(4).
   32         Section 3. Subsection (1) and paragraph (b) of subsection
   33  (2) of section 626.171, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
   34         626.171 Application for license as an agent, customer
   35  representative, adjuster, service representative, managing
   36  general agent, or reinsurance intermediary.—
   37         (1) The department may shall not issue a license as agent,
   38  customer representative, adjuster, service representative,
   39  managing general agent, or reinsurance intermediary to any
   40  person except upon written application therefor filed with the
   41  department it, meeting the qualifications for the license
   42  applied for as determined by the department qualification
   43  therefor, and payment in advance of all applicable fees. The Any
   44  such application must shall be made under the oath of the
   45  applicant and be signed by the applicant. An applicant may
   46  permit a third party to complete, submit, and sign an
   47  application on the applicant’s behalf, but is responsible for
   48  ensuring that the information on the application is true and
   49  correct and is accountable for any misstatements or
   50  misrepresentations. The department shall accept the uniform
   51  application for nonresident agent licensing. The department may
   52  adopt revised versions of the uniform application by rule.
   53         (2) In the application, the applicant shall set forth:
   54         (b) A statement indicating the method the applicant used or
   55  is using to meet any required prelicensing education, knowledge,
   56  experience, or instructional requirements for the type of
   57  license applied for. Proof that he or she has completed or is in
   58  the process of completing any required prelicensing course.
   59  
   60  However, the application must contain a statement that an
   61  applicant is not required to disclose his or her race or
   62  ethnicity, gender, or native language, that he or she will not
   63  be penalized for not doing so, and that the department will use
   64  this information exclusively for research and statistical
   65  purposes and to improve the quality and fairness of the
   66  examinations.
   67         Section 4. Section 626.191, Florida Statutes, is amended to
   68  read:
   69         626.191 Repeated applications.—The failure of an applicant
   70  to secure a license upon an application does shall not preclude
   71  the applicant from applying again. However as many times as
   72  desired, but the department may shall not consider give
   73  consideration to or accept any further application by the same
   74  applicant individual for a similar license dated or filed within
   75  30 days after subsequent to the date the department denied the
   76  last application, except as provided under in s. 626.281.
   77         Section 5. Subsection (2) of section 626.221, Florida
   78  Statutes, is amended to read:
   79         626.221 Examination requirement; exemptions.—
   80         (2) However, an no such examination is not shall be
   81  necessary for in any of the following cases:
   82         (a) An applicant for renewal of appointment as an agent,
   83  customer representative, or adjuster, unless the department
   84  determines that an examination is necessary to establish the
   85  competence or trustworthiness of the such applicant.
   86         (b) An applicant for a limited license as agent for travel
   87  insurance, motor vehicle rental personal accident insurance,
   88  baggage and motor vehicle excess liability insurance, credit
   89  life or disability insurance, credit insurance, credit property
   90  insurance, in-transit and storage personal property insurance,
   91  or portable electronics communications equipment property
   92  insurance or communication equipment inland marine insurance
   93  under s. 626.321.
   94         (c) In the discretion of the department, an applicant for
   95  reinstatement of license or appointment as an agent, customer
   96  representative, company employee adjuster, or all-lines
   97  independent adjuster whose license has been suspended within the
   98  4 years before prior to the date of application or written
   99  request for reinstatement.
  100         (d) An applicant who, within the 4 years before prior to
  101  application for license and appointment as an agent, customer
  102  representative, or adjuster, was a full-time salaried employee
  103  of the department who and had continuously been such an employee
  104  with responsible insurance duties for at least not less than 2
  105  continuous years and who had been a licensee within the 4 years
  106  before prior to employment by the department with the same class
  107  of license as that being applied for.
  108         (e) An applicant A person who has been licensed as an all
  109  lines adjuster and appointed as an independent adjuster or
  110  company employee adjuster as to all property, casualty, and
  111  surety insurances may be licensed and appointed as a company
  112  employee adjuster or independent adjuster, as to these kinds of
  113  insurance, without additional written examination if an
  114  application for licensure is filed with the department within 48
  115  months following the date of cancellation or expiration of the
  116  prior appointment.
  117         (f) A person who has been licensed as a company employee
  118  adjuster or independent adjuster for motor vehicle, property and
  119  casualty, workers’ compensation, and health insurance may be
  120  licensed as such an adjuster without additional written
  121  examination if his or her application for licensure is filed
  122  with the department within 48 months after cancellation or
  123  expiration of the prior license.
  124         (f)(g) An applicant for a temporary license, except as
  125  otherwise provided in this code.
  126         (g)(h) An applicant for a license as a life or health agent
  127  license who has received the designation of chartered life
  128  underwriter (CLU) from the American College of Life Underwriters
  129  and who has been engaged in the insurance business within the
  130  past 4 years, except that the applicant such an individual may
  131  be examined on pertinent provisions of this code.
  132         (h)(i) An applicant for license as a general lines agent,
  133  customer representative, or adjuster who has received the
  134  designation of chartered property and casualty underwriter
  135  (CPCU) from the American Institute for Property and Liability
  136  Underwriters and who has been engaged in the insurance business
  137  within the past 4 years, except that the applicant such an
  138  individual may be examined on pertinent provisions of this code.
  139         (i)(j) An applicant for license as a customer
  140  representative who has earned the designation of Accredited
  141  Advisor in Insurance (AAI) from the Insurance Institute of
  142  America, the designation of Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC)
  143  from the Society of Certified Insurance Service Counselors, the
  144  designation of Accredited Customer Service Representative (ACSR)
  145  from the Independent Insurance Agents of America, the
  146  designation of Certified Professional Service Representative
  147  (CPSR) from the National Foundation for Certified Professional
  148  Service Representatives, the designation of Certified Insurance
  149  Service Representative (CISR) from the Society of Certified
  150  Insurance Service Representatives, or the designation of
  151  Certified Insurance Representative (CIR) from the National
  152  Association of Christian Catastrophe Insurance Adjusters. Also,
  153  an applicant for license as a customer representative who has
  154  earned an associate degree or bachelor’s degree from an
  155  accredited college or university and has completed with at least
  156  9 academic hours of property and casualty insurance curriculum,
  157  or the equivalent, or has earned the designation of Certified
  158  Customer Service Representative (CCSR) from the Florida
  159  Association of Insurance Agents, or the designation of
  160  Registered Customer Service Representative (RCSR) from a
  161  regionally accredited postsecondary institution in this state,
  162  or the designation of Professional Customer Service
  163  Representative (PCSR) from the Professional Career Institute,
  164  whose curriculum has been approved by the department and which
  165  whose curriculum includes comprehensive analysis of basic
  166  property and casualty lines of insurance and testing at least
  167  equal to that of standard department testing for the customer
  168  representative license. The department shall adopt rules
  169  establishing standards for the approval of curriculum.
  170         (j)(k) An applicant for license as a resident or
  171  nonresident all-lines an independent or company employee
  172  adjuster who has the designation of Accredited Claims Adjuster
  173  (ACA) from a regionally accredited postsecondary institution in
  174  this state, Professional Claims Adjuster (PCA) from the
  175  Professional Career Institute, Professional Property Insurance
  176  Adjuster (PPIA) from the HurriClaim Training Academy, Certified
  177  Adjuster (CA) from ALL LINES Training, or Certified Claims
  178  Adjuster (CCA) from the Association of Property and Casualty
  179  Claims Professionals whose curriculum has been approved by the
  180  department and which whose curriculum includes comprehensive
  181  analysis of basic property and casualty lines of insurance and
  182  testing at least equal to that of standard department testing
  183  for the all-lines adjuster license. The department shall adopt
  184  rules establishing standards for the approval of curriculum.
  185         (k)(l) An applicant qualifying for a license transfer under
  186  s. 626.292, if the applicant:
  187         1. Has successfully completed the prelicensing examination
  188  requirements in the applicant’s previous home state which are
  189  substantially equivalent to the examination requirements in this
  190  state, as determined by the department;
  191         2. Has received the designation of chartered property and
  192  casualty underwriter (CPCU) from the American Institute for
  193  Property and Liability Underwriters and has been engaged in the
  194  insurance business within the past 4 years if applying to
  195  transfer a general lines agent license; or
  196         3. Has received the designation of chartered life
  197  underwriter (CLU) from the American College of Life Underwriters
  198  and has been engaged in the insurance business within the past 4
  199  years, if applying to transfer a life or health agent license.
  200         (l)(m) An applicant for a license as a nonresident agent
  201  license, if the applicant:
  202         1. Has successfully completed prelicensing examination
  203  requirements in the applicant’s home state which are
  204  substantially equivalent to the examination requirements in this
  205  state, as determined by the department, as a requirement for
  206  obtaining a resident license in his or her home state;
  207         2. Held a general lines agent license, life agent license,
  208  or health agent license before prior to the time a written
  209  examination was required;
  210         3. Has received the designation of chartered property and
  211  casualty underwriter (CPCU) from the American Institute for
  212  Property and Liability Underwriters and has been engaged in the
  213  insurance business within the past 4 years, if an applicant for
  214  a nonresident license as a general lines agent; or
  215         4. Has received the designation of chartered life
  216  underwriter (CLU) from the American College of Life Underwriters
  217  and has been in the insurance business within the past 4 years,
  218  if an applicant for a nonresident license as a life agent or
  219  health agent.
  220         Section 6. Subsection (2) of section 626.231, Florida
  221  Statutes, is amended to read:
  222         626.231 Eligibility; application for examination.—
  223         (2) A person required to take an examination for a license
  224  may be permitted to take an examination before prior to
  225  submitting an application for licensure pursuant to s. 626.171
  226  by submitting an application for examination through the
  227  department’s Internet website or the website of a person
  228  designated by the department to administer the examination. The
  229  department may require In the application, the applicant to
  230  provide the following information as part of the application
  231  shall set forth:
  232         (a) His or her full name, date of birth age, social
  233  security number, e-mail address, residence address, business
  234  address, and mailing address.
  235         (b) The type of license which that the applicant intends to
  236  apply for.
  237         (c) The name of any required prelicensing course he or she
  238  has completed or is in the process of completing.
  239         (d) The method by which the applicant intends to qualify
  240  for the type of license if other than by completing a
  241  prelicensing course.
  242         (e) The applicant’s gender (male or female).
  243         (f) The applicant’s native language.
  244         (g) The highest level of education achieved by the
  245  applicant.
  246         (h) The applicant’s race or ethnicity (African American,
  247  white, American Indian, Asian, Hispanic, or other).
  248  
  249  However, the application form must contain a statement that an
  250  applicant is not required to disclose his or her race or
  251  ethnicity, gender, or native language, that he or she will not
  252  be penalized for not doing so, and that the department will use
  253  this information exclusively for research and statistical
  254  purposes and to improve the quality and fairness of the
  255  examinations.
  256         Section 7. Subsection (6) of section 626.241, Florida
  257  Statutes, is amended to read:
  258         626.241 Scope of examination.—
  259         (6) In order to reflect the differences between adjusting
  260  claims for an insurer and adjusting claims for an insured, the
  261  department shall create an examination for applicants seeking
  262  licensure as a public adjuster and a separate examination for
  263  applicants seeking licensure as an all-lines a company employee
  264  adjuster or independent adjuster.
  265         (a) Examinations given applicants for a license as an all
  266  lines adjuster must shall cover adjusting in all lines of
  267  insurance, other than life and annuity; or, in accordance with
  268  the application for the license, the examination may be limited
  269  to adjusting in:
  270         (a) Automobile physical damage insurance;
  271         (b) Property and casualty insurance;
  272         (c) Workers’ compensation insurance; or
  273         (d) Health insurance.
  274         (b) An No examination for workers’ on worker’s compensation
  275  insurance or health insurance is not shall be required for
  276  public adjusters.
  277         Section 8. Subsection (1) of section 626.251, Florida
  278  Statutes, is amended to read:
  279         626.251 Time and place of examination; notice.—
  280         (1) The department, or a person designated by the
  281  department, shall provide mail written notice of the time and
  282  place of the examination to each applicant for examination and
  283  each applicant for license required to take an examination who
  284  will be eligible to take the examination as of the examination
  285  date. The notice shall be e-mailed so mailed, postage prepaid,
  286  and addressed to the applicant at the e-mail his or her address
  287  shown on the application for license or examination at such
  288  other address as requested by the applicant in writing filed
  289  with the department prior to the mailing of the notice. Notice
  290  is shall be deemed given when so mailed.
  291         Section 9. Section 626.281, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  292  read:
  293         626.281 Reexamination.—
  294         (1) An Any applicant for license or applicant for
  295  examination who has either:
  296         (a) Taken an examination and failed to make a passing
  297  grade, or
  298         (b) Failed to appear for the examination or to take or
  299  complete the examination at the time and place specified in the
  300  notice of the department,
  301  
  302  may take additional examinations, after filing with the
  303  department or its designee an application for reexamination
  304  together with applicable fees. The failure of an applicant to
  305  pass an examination, or the failure to appear for the
  306  examination, or to take or complete the examination does not
  307  preclude the applicant from taking subsequent examinations.
  308         (2) Applicants may not take an examination for a license
  309  type more than five times in a 12-month period.
  310         (3)(2) The department may require an any individual whose
  311  license as an agent, customer representative, or adjuster has
  312  expired or has been suspended to pass an examination before
  313  prior to reinstating or relicensing the individual as to any
  314  class of license. The examination fee must shall be paid for as
  315  to each examination.
  316         Section 10. Section 626.2815, Florida Statutes, is amended
  317  to read:
  318         626.2815 Continuing education required; application;
  319  exceptions; requirements; penalties.—
  320         (1) The purpose of this section is to establish
  321  requirements and standards for continuing education courses for
  322  individuals persons licensed to solicit, or sell, or adjust
  323  insurance in the state.
  324         (2) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the
  325  provisions of this section applies apply to individuals persons
  326  licensed to engage in the sale of insurance or adjustment of
  327  insurance claims in this state for all lines of insurance for
  328  which an examination is required for licensing and to each
  329  insurer, employer, or appointing entity, including, but not
  330  limited to, those created or existing pursuant to s. 627.351.
  331  The provisions of This section does shall not apply to an any
  332  individual who holds person holding a license for the sale of
  333  any line of insurance for which an examination is not required
  334  by the laws of this state or who holds a, nor shall the
  335  provisions of this section apply to any limited license as a
  336  crop or hail and multiple-peril crop insurance agent the
  337  department may exempt by rule. Licensees who are unable to
  338  comply with the continuing education requirements due to active
  339  duty in the military may submit a written request for a waiver
  340  to the department.
  341         (3)(a) Each licensee person subject to the provisions of
  342  this section must, except as set forth in paragraphs (b), (c),
  343  and (d), and (f), complete a minimum of 24 hours of continuing
  344  education courses every 2 years in basic or higher-level courses
  345  prescribed by this section or in other courses approved by the
  346  department.
  347         (a) Each licensee person subject to the provisions of this
  348  section must complete, as part of his or her required number of
  349  continuing education hours, 3 hours of continuing education,
  350  approved by the department, every 2 years on the subject matter
  351  of ethics. Each licensed general lines agent and customer
  352  representative subject to this section must complete, as part of
  353  his or her required number of continuing education hours, 1 hour
  354  of continuing education, approved by the department, every 2
  355  years on the subject matter of premium discounts available on
  356  property insurance policies based on various hurricane
  357  mitigation options and the means for obtaining the discounts.
  358         (b) A licensee person who has been licensed for a period of
  359  6 or more years must complete 20 hours of continuing education
  360  every 2 years in intermediate or advanced-level courses
  361  prescribed by this section or in other courses approved by the
  362  department.
  363         (c) A licensee who has been licensed for 25 years or more
  364  and is a CLU or a CPCU or has a Bachelor of Science degree in
  365  risk management or insurance with evidence of 18 or more
  366  semester hours in upper-level insurance-related courses must
  367  complete 10 hours of continuing education courses every 2 years
  368  in courses prescribed by this section or in other courses
  369  approved by the department.
  370         (d) An individual Any person who holds a license as a
  371  customer representative, limited customer representative, title
  372  agent, motor vehicle physical damage and mechanical breakdown
  373  insurance agent, crop or hail and multiple-peril crop insurance
  374  agent, or as an industrial fire insurance or burglary insurance
  375  agent and who is not a licensed life or health insurance agent,
  376  must shall be required to complete 10 hours of continuing
  377  education courses every 2 years.
  378         (e) An individual Any person who holds a license to solicit
  379  or sell life or health insurance and a license to solicit or
  380  sell property, casualty, surety, or surplus lines insurance must
  381  complete the continuing education requirements by completing
  382  courses in life or health insurance for one-half of the total
  383  hours required and courses in property, casualty, surety, or
  384  surplus lines insurance for one-half of the total hours
  385  required. However, a licensee who holds an industrial fire or
  386  burglary insurance license and who is a licensed life or health
  387  agent must shall be required to complete 4 hours of continuing
  388  education courses every 2 years related to industrial fire or
  389  burglary insurance and the remaining number of hours of
  390  continuing education courses required related to life or health
  391  insurance.
  392         (f) An individual subject to chapter 648 must complete a
  393  minimum of 14 hours of continuing education courses every 2
  394  years.
  395         (g) Excess hours accumulated during any 2-year compliance
  396  period may be carried forward to the next compliance period.
  397         (h) An individual teaching an approved course of
  398  instruction or lecturing at any approved seminar and attending
  399  the entire course or seminar qualifies for the same number of
  400  classroom hours as would be granted to a person taking and
  401  successfully completing such course or seminar. Credit is
  402  limited to the number of hours actually taught unless a person
  403  attends the entire course or seminar. An individual who is an
  404  official of or employed by a governmental entity in this state
  405  and serves as a professor, instructor, or other position or
  406  office, the duties and responsibilities of which are determined
  407  by the department to require monitoring and review of insurance
  408  laws or insurance regulations and practices, is exempt from this
  409  section.
  410         (4)(f)1.Except as provided in subparagraph 2., Compliance
  411  with continuing education requirements is a condition precedent
  412  to the issuance, continuation, reinstatement, or renewal of any
  413  appointment subject to this section. However:
  414         (a)2.a. An appointing entity, except one that appoints
  415  individuals who are employees or exclusive independent
  416  contractors of the appointing entity, may not require, directly
  417  or indirectly, as a condition of such appointment or the
  418  continuation of such appointment, the taking of an approved
  419  course or program by any appointee or potential appointee which
  420  that is not of the appointee’s choosing.
  421         (b)b. Any entity created or existing pursuant to s. 627.351
  422  may require employees to take training of any type relevant to
  423  their employment but may not require appointees who are not
  424  employees to take any approved course or program unless the
  425  course or program deals solely with the appointing entity’s
  426  internal procedures or products or with subjects substantially
  427  unique to the appointing entity.
  428         (g) A person teaching any approved course of instruction or
  429  lecturing at any approved seminar and attending the entire
  430  course or seminar shall qualify for the same number of classroom
  431  hours as would be granted to a person taking and successfully
  432  completing such course, seminar, or program. Credit shall be
  433  limited to the number of hours actually taught unless a person
  434  attends the entire course or seminar. Any person who is an
  435  official of or employed by any governmental entity in this state
  436  and serves as a professor, instructor, or in any other position
  437  or office the duties and responsibilities of which are
  438  determined by the department to require monitoring and review of
  439  insurance laws or insurance regulations and practices shall be
  440  exempt from this section.
  441         (h) Excess classroom hours accumulated during any
  442  compliance period may be carried forward to the next compliance
  443  period.
  444         (5)(i) For good cause shown, the department may grant an
  445  extension of time during which the requirements of imposed by
  446  this section may be completed, but such extension of time may
  447  not exceed 1 year.
  448         (6)(j) A nonresident licensee who must complete continuing
  449  education requirements in his or her home state may use the home
  450  state requirements to also meet this state’s continuing
  451  education requirements as well, if the licensee’s resident’s
  452  home state recognizes reciprocity with this state’s continuing
  453  education requirements. A nonresident licensee whose home state
  454  does not have a continuing education requirement but is licensed
  455  for the same class of business in another state that has which
  456  does have a continuing education requirement may comply with
  457  this section by furnishing proof of compliance with the other
  458  state’s requirement if that state has a reciprocal agreement
  459  with this state relative to continuing education. A nonresident
  460  licensee whose home state does not have such continuing
  461  education requirements, and who is not licensed as a nonresident
  462  licensee agent in a state that has continuing education
  463  requirements and reciprocates with this state, must meet the
  464  continuing education requirements of this state.
  465         (7)(k) Any person who holds a license to solicit or sell
  466  life insurance in this state must complete a minimum of 3 hours
  467  in continuing education, approved by the department, on the
  468  subject of suitability in annuity and life insurance
  469  transactions. This requirement does not apply to an agent who
  470  does not have any active life insurance or annuity contracts. In
  471  applying this exemption, the department may require the filing
  472  of a certification attesting that the agent has not sold life
  473  insurance or annuities during the continuing education
  474  compliance cycle in question and does not have any active life
  475  insurance or annuity contracts. A licensee may use the hours
  476  obtained under this paragraph to satisfy the requirement for
  477  continuing education in ethics under paragraph (3)(a).
  478         (8)(4) The following courses may be completed in order to
  479  meet the elective continuing education course requirements:
  480         (a) Any part of the Life Underwriter Training Council Life
  481  Course Curriculum: 24 hours; Health Course: 12 hours.
  482         (b) Any part of the American College “CLU” diploma
  483  curriculum: 24 hours.
  484         (c) Any part of the Insurance Institute of America’s
  485  program in general insurance: 12 hours.
  486         (d) Any part of the American Institute for Property and
  487  Liability Underwriters’ Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter
  488  (CPCU) professional designation program: 24 hours.
  489         (e) Any part of the Certified Insurance Counselor program:
  490  21 hours.
  491         (f) Any part of the Accredited Advisor in Insurance: 21
  492  hours.
  493         (g) In the case of title agents, completion of the
  494  Certified Land Closer (CLC) professional designation program and
  495  receipt of the designation: 24 hours.
  496         (h) In the case of title agents, completion of the
  497  Certified Land Searcher (CLS) professional designation program
  498  and receipt of the designation: 24 hours.
  499         (i) Any insurance-related course that which is approved by
  500  the department and taught by an accredited college or university
  501  per credit hour granted: 12 hours.
  502         (j) Any course, including courses relating to agency
  503  management or errors and omissions, developed or sponsored by an
  504  any authorized insurer or recognized agents’ association or
  505  insurance trade association or an any independent study program
  506  of instruction, subject to approval by the department, qualifies
  507  for the equivalency of the number of classroom hours assigned
  508  thereto by the department. However, unless otherwise provided in
  509  this section, continuing education hours may not be credited
  510  toward meeting the requirements of this section unless the
  511  course is provided by classroom instruction or results in a
  512  monitored examination. A monitored examination is not required
  513  for:
  514         1. An independent study program of instruction presented
  515  through interactive, online technology that the department
  516  determines has sufficient internal testing to validate the
  517  student’s full comprehension of the materials presented; or
  518         2. An independent study program of instruction presented on
  519  paper or in printed material which that imposes a final closed
  520  book examination that meets the requirements of the department’s
  521  rule for self-study courses. The examination may be taken
  522  without a proctor if provided the student presents to the
  523  provider a sworn affidavit certifying that the student did not
  524  consult any written materials or receive outside assistance of
  525  any kind or from any person, directly or indirectly, while
  526  taking the examination. If the student is an employee of an
  527  agency or corporate entity, the student’s supervisor or a
  528  manager or owner of the agency or corporate entity must also
  529  sign the sworn affidavit. If the student is self-employed, a
  530  sole proprietor, or a partner, or if the examination is
  531  administered online, the sworn affidavit must also be signed by
  532  a disinterested third party. The sworn affidavit must be
  533  received by the approved provider before prior to reporting
  534  continuing education credits to the department.
  535         (9)(k) Each person or entity sponsoring a course for
  536  continuing education credit must furnish, within 21 30 days
  537  after completion of the course, in a form satisfactory to the
  538  department or its designee, a written and certified roster
  539  showing the name and license number of all persons successfully
  540  completing such course and requesting credit, accompanied by the
  541  required fee.
  542         (10)(5) The department may immediately terminate or shall
  543  refuse to renew the appointment of an any agent or adjuster who
  544  has been notified by the department that who has not had his or
  545  her continuing education requirements have not been certified,
  546  unless the agent or adjuster has been granted an extension or
  547  waiver by the department. The department may not issue a new
  548  appointment of the same or similar type, with any insurer, to a
  549  licensee an agent who was denied a renewal appointment for
  550  failing failure to complete continuing education as required
  551  until the licensee agent completes his or her continuing
  552  education requirement.
  553         (6)(a) There is created an 11-member continuing education
  554  advisory board to be appointed by the Chief Financial Officer.
  555  Appointments shall be for terms of 4 years. The purpose of the
  556  board is to advise the department in determining standards by
  557  which courses may be evaluated and categorized as basic,
  558  intermediate, or advanced. The board shall submit
  559  recommendations to the department of changes needed in such
  560  criteria not less frequently than every 2 years. The department
  561  shall require all approved course providers to submit courses
  562  for approval to the department using the criteria. All
  563  materials, brochures, and advertisements related to the approved
  564  courses must specify the level assigned to the course.
  565         (b) The board members shall be appointed as follows:
  566         1. Seven members representing agents of which at least one
  567  must be a representative from each of the following
  568  organizations: the Florida Association of Insurance Agents; the
  569  Florida Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors; the
  570  Professional Insurance Agents of Florida, Inc.; the Florida
  571  Association of Health Underwriters; the Specialty Agents’
  572  Association; the Latin American Agents’ Association; and the
  573  National Association of Insurance Women. Such board members must
  574  possess at least a bachelor’s degree or higher from an
  575  accredited college or university with major coursework in
  576  insurance, risk management, or education or possess the
  577  designation of CLU, CPCU, CHFC, CFP, AAI, or CIC. In addition,
  578  each member must possess 5 years of classroom instruction
  579  experience or 5 years of experience in the development or design
  580  of educational programs or 10 years of experience as a licensed
  581  resident agent. Each organization may submit to the department a
  582  list of recommendations for appointment. If one organization
  583  does not submit a list of recommendations, the Chief Financial
  584  Officer may select more than one recommended person from a list
  585  submitted by other eligible organizations.
  586         2. Two members representing insurance companies at least
  587  one of whom must represent a Florida Domestic Company and one of
  588  whom must represent the Florida Insurance Council. Such board
  589  members must be employed within the training department of the
  590  insurance company. At least one such member must be a member of
  591  the Society of Insurance Trainers and Educators.
  592         3. One member representing the general public who is not
  593  directly employed in the insurance industry. Such board member
  594  must possess a minimum of a bachelor’s degree or higher from an
  595  accredited college or university with major coursework in
  596  insurance, risk management, training, or education.
  597         4. One member, appointed by the Chief Financial Officer,
  598  who represents the department.
  599         (c) The members of the board shall serve at the pleasure of
  600  the Chief Financial Officer. Each board member shall be entitled
  601  to reimbursement for expenses pursuant to s. 112.061. The board
  602  shall designate one member as chair. The board shall meet at the
  603  call of the chair or the Chief Financial Officer.
  604         (11)(7) The department may contract services relative to
  605  the administration of the continuing education program to a
  606  private entity. The contract shall be procured as a contract for
  607  a contractual service pursuant to s. 287.057.
  608         Section 11. Effective October 1, 2014, subsections (3) and
  609  (7) of section 626.2815, Florida Statutes, as amended by this
  610  act, are amended, and subsections (8) through (11) of that
  611  section are redesignated as subsections (7) through (10),
  612  respectively, to read:
  613         626.2815 Continuing education requirements.—
  614         (3) Each licensee except a title insurance agent subject to
  615  this section must, except as set forth in paragraphs (b), (c),
  616  (d), and (f), complete a 5-hour update course every 2 years
  617  which is specific to the license held by the licensee. The
  618  course must be developed and offered by providers and approved
  619  by the department. The content of the course must address all
  620  lines of insurance for which examination and licensure are
  621  required and include the following subject areas: insurance law
  622  updates, ethics for insurance professionals, disciplinary trends
  623  and case studies, industry trends, premium discounts,
  624  determining suitability of products and services, and other
  625  similar insurance-related topics the department determines are
  626  relevant to legally and ethically carrying out the
  627  responsibilities of the license granted. A licensee who holds
  628  multiple insurance licenses must complete an update course that
  629  is specific to at least one of the licenses held. Except as
  630  otherwise specified, any remaining required hours of continuing
  631  education are elective and may consist of any continuing
  632  education course approved by the department under this section
  633  minimum of 24 hours of continuing education courses every 2
  634  years in basic or higher-level courses prescribed by this
  635  section or in other courses approved by the department.
  636         (a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b), (c), (d), (e),
  637  and (i), each licensee must also complete 19 3 hours of elective
  638  continuing education courses, approved by the department, every
  639  2 years on the subject matter of ethics. Each licensed general
  640  lines agent and customer representative must complete 1 hour of
  641  continuing education, approved by the department, every 2 years
  642  on the subject matter of premium discounts available on property
  643  insurance policies based on various hurricane mitigation options
  644  and the means for obtaining the discounts.
  645         (b) A licensee who has been licensed for 6 or more years
  646  must also complete a minimum of 15 20 hours of elective
  647  continuing education every 2 years in intermediate or advanced
  648  level courses prescribed by this section or in other courses
  649  approved by the department.
  650         (c) A licensee who has been licensed for 25 years or more
  651  and is a CLU or a CPCU or has a Bachelor of Science degree in
  652  risk management or insurance with evidence of 18 or more
  653  semester hours in upper-level insurance-related courses must
  654  also complete a minimum of 5 10 hours of elective continuing
  655  education courses every 2 years in courses prescribed by this
  656  section or in other courses approved by the department.
  657         (d) An individual who holds a license as a customer
  658  representative, limited customer representative, title agent,
  659  motor vehicle physical damage and mechanical breakdown insurance
  660  agent, or an industrial fire insurance or burglary insurance
  661  agent and who is not a licensed life or health agent, must also
  662  complete a minimum of 5 10 hours of continuing education courses
  663  every 2 years.
  664         (e) An individual who holds a license to solicit or sell
  665  life or health insurance and a license to solicit or sell
  666  property, casualty, surety, or surplus lines insurance must
  667  complete courses in life or health insurance for one-half of the
  668  total hours required and courses in property, casualty, surety,
  669  or surplus lines insurance for one-half of the total hours
  670  required. However, a licensee who holds an industrial fire or
  671  burglary insurance license and who is a licensed life or health
  672  agent must complete 4 hours of continuing education courses
  673  every 2 years related to industrial fire or burglary insurance
  674  and the remaining number of hours of continuing education
  675  courses related to life or health insurance.
  676         (e)(f) An individual subject to chapter 648 must complete
  677  the 5-hour update course and a minimum of 9 14 hours of elective
  678  continuing education courses every 2 years.
  679         (f) Elective continuing education courses for public
  680  adjusters must be specifically designed for public adjusters and
  681  approved by the department. Notwithstanding this subsection,
  682  public adjusters for workers’ compensation insurance or health
  683  insurance are not required to take continuing education courses
  684  pursuant to this section.
  685         (g) Excess hours accumulated during any 2-year compliance
  686  period may be carried forward to the next compliance period.
  687         (h) An individual teaching an approved course of
  688  instruction or lecturing at any approved seminar and attending
  689  the entire course or seminar qualifies for the same number of
  690  classroom hours as would be granted to a person taking and
  691  successfully completing such course or seminar. Credit is
  692  limited to the number of hours actually taught unless a person
  693  attends the entire course or seminar. An individual who is an
  694  official of or employed by a governmental entity in this state
  695  and serves as a professor, instructor, or other position or
  696  office, the duties and responsibilities of which are determined
  697  by the department to require monitoring and review of insurance
  698  laws or insurance regulations and practices, is exempt from this
  699  section.
  700         (i) For compliance periods beginning on or after October 1,
  701  2014, any person who holds a license as a title insurance agent
  702  must complete a minimum of 10 hours of continuing education
  703  credit every 2 years in title insurance and escrow management
  704  specific to this state and approved by the department, which
  705  shall include at least 3 hours of continuing education on the
  706  subject matter of ethics, rules, or compliance with state and
  707  federal regulations relating specifically to title insurance and
  708  closing services.
  709         (7) Any person who holds a license to solicit or sell life
  710  insurance in this state must complete a minimum of 3 hours in
  711  continuing education, approved by the department, on the subject
  712  of suitability in annuity and life insurance transactions. This
  713  requirement does not apply to an agent who does not have any
  714  active life insurance or annuity contracts. In applying this
  715  exemption, the department may require the filing of a
  716  certification attesting that the agent has not sold life
  717  insurance or annuities during the continuing education
  718  compliance cycle in question and does not have any active life
  719  insurance or annuity contracts. A licensee may use the hours
  720  obtained under this paragraph to satisfy the requirement for
  721  continuing education in ethics under paragraph (3)(a).
  722         Section 12. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 626.292,
  723  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  724         626.292 Transfer of license from another state.—
  725         (1) An Any individual licensed in good standing in another
  726  state may apply to the department to have the license
  727  transferred to this state to obtain a Florida resident agent or
  728  all-lines adjuster license for the same lines of authority
  729  covered by the license in the other state.
  730         (2) To qualify for a license transfer, an individual
  731  applicant must meet the following requirements:
  732         (a) The individual must shall become a resident of this
  733  state.
  734         (b) The individual must shall have been licensed in another
  735  state for a minimum of 1 year immediately preceding the date the
  736  individual became a resident of this state.
  737         (c) The individual must shall submit a completed
  738  application for this state which is received by the department
  739  within 90 days after the date the individual became a resident
  740  of this state, along with payment of the applicable fees set
  741  forth in s. 624.501 and submission of the following documents:
  742         1. A certification issued by the appropriate official of
  743  the applicant’s home state identifying the type of license and
  744  lines of authority under the license and stating that, at the
  745  time the license from the home state was canceled, the applicant
  746  was in good standing in that state or that the state’s Producer
  747  Database records, maintained by the National Association of
  748  Insurance Commissioners, its affiliates, or subsidiaries,
  749  indicate that the agent or all-lines adjuster is or was licensed
  750  in good standing for the line of authority requested.
  751         2. A set of the individual applicant’s fingerprints in
  752  accordance with s. 626.171(4).
  753         (d) The individual must shall satisfy prelicensing
  754  education requirements in this state, unless the completion of
  755  prelicensing education requirements was a prerequisite for
  756  licensure in the other state and the prelicensing education
  757  requirements in the other state are substantially equivalent to
  758  the prelicensing requirements of this state as determined by the
  759  department. This paragraph does not apply to all-lines
  760  adjusters.
  761         (e) The individual must shall satisfy the examination
  762  requirement under s. 626.221, unless exempted exempt thereunder.
  763         Section 13. Subsections (2) and (3) of section 626.311,
  764  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  765         626.311 Scope of license.—
  766         (2) Except with respect as to a limited license as a credit
  767  life or disability insurance agent, the license of a life agent
  768  covers shall cover all classes of life insurance business.
  769         (3) Except with respect as to a limited license as a travel
  770  personal accident insurance agent, the license of a health agent
  771  covers shall cover all kinds of health insurance; and such no
  772  license may not shall be issued limited to a particular class of
  773  health insurance.
  774         Section 14. Subsections (1) and (4) of section 626.321,
  775  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  776         626.321 Limited licenses.—
  777         (1) The department shall issue to a qualified applicant
  778  individual, or a qualified individual or entity under paragraphs
  779  (c), (d), (e), and (i), a license as agent authorized to
  780  transact a limited class of business in any of the following
  781  categories of limited lines insurance:
  782         (a) Motor vehicle physical damage and mechanical breakdown
  783  insurance.—License covering insurance against only the loss of
  784  or damage to a any motor vehicle that which is designed for use
  785  upon a highway, including trailers and semitrailers designed for
  786  use with such vehicles. Such license also covers insurance
  787  against the failure of an original or replacement part to
  788  perform any function for which it was designed. The applicant
  789  for such a license shall pass a written examination covering
  790  motor vehicle physical damage insurance and mechanical breakdown
  791  insurance. A licensee under this paragraph may not No individual
  792  while so licensed shall hold a license as an agent for as to any
  793  other or additional kind or class of insurance coverage except
  794  as to a limited license for credit insurance life and disability
  795  insurances as provided in paragraph (e). Effective October 1,
  796  2012, all licensees holding such limited license and appointment
  797  may renew the license and appointment, but no new or additional
  798  licenses may be issued pursuant to this paragraph, and a
  799  licensee whose limited license under this paragraph has been
  800  terminated, suspended, or revoked may not have such license
  801  reinstated.
  802         (b) Industrial fire insurance or burglary insurance.
  803  License covering only industrial fire insurance or burglary
  804  insurance. The applicant for such a license must shall pass a
  805  written examination covering such insurance. A licensee under
  806  this paragraph may not No individual while so licensed shall
  807  hold a license as an agent for as to any other or additional
  808  kind or class of insurance coverage except for as to life
  809  insurance and health insurance insurances.
  810         (c) Travel insurance.—License covering only policies and
  811  certificates of travel insurance, which are subject to review by
  812  the office under s. 624.605(1)(q). Policies and certificates of
  813  travel insurance may provide coverage for risks incidental to
  814  travel, planned travel, or accommodations while traveling,
  815  including, but not limited to, accidental death and
  816  dismemberment of a traveler; trip cancellation, interruption, or
  817  delay; loss of or damage to personal effects or travel
  818  documents; baggage delay; emergency medical travel or evacuation
  819  of a traveler; or medical, surgical, and hospital expenses
  820  related to an illness or emergency of a traveler. Any Such
  821  policy or certificate may be issued for terms longer than 60
  822  days, but each policy or certificate, other than a policy or
  823  certificate providing coverage for air ambulatory services only,
  824  each policy or certificate must be limited to coverage for
  825  travel or use of accommodations of no longer than 60 days. The
  826  license may be issued only:
  827         1. To a full-time salaried employee of a common carrier or
  828  a full-time salaried employee or owner of a transportation
  829  ticket agency and may authorize the sale of such ticket policies
  830  only in connection with the sale of transportation tickets, or
  831  to the full-time salaried employee of such an agent. No Such
  832  policy may not shall be for a duration of more than 48 hours or
  833  more than for the duration of a specified one-way trip or round
  834  trip.
  835         2. To an entity or individual that is:
  836         a. The developer of a timeshare plan that is the subject of
  837  an approved public offering statement under chapter 721;
  838         b. An exchange company operating an exchange program
  839  approved under chapter 721;
  840         c. A managing entity operating a timeshare plan approved
  841  under chapter 721;
  842         d. A seller of travel as defined in chapter 559; or
  843         e. A subsidiary or affiliate of any of the entities
  844  described in sub-subparagraphs a.-d.
  845  
  846  A licensee shall require each employee who offers policies or
  847  certificates under this subparagraph to receive initial training
  848  from a general lines agent or an insurer authorized under
  849  chapter 624 to transact insurance within this state. For an
  850  entity applying for a license as a travel insurance agent, the
  851  fingerprinting requirement of this section applies only to the
  852  president, secretary, and treasurer and to any other officer or
  853  person who directs or controls the travel insurance operations
  854  of the entity.
  855         (d) Motor vehicle rental insurance.—
  856         1. License covering only insurance of the risks set forth
  857  in this paragraph when offered, sold, or solicited with and
  858  incidental to the rental or lease of a motor vehicle and which
  859  applies only to the motor vehicle that is the subject of the
  860  lease or rental agreement and the occupants of the motor
  861  vehicle:
  862         a. Excess motor vehicle liability insurance providing
  863  coverage in excess of the standard liability limits provided by
  864  the lessor in the lessor’s lease to a person renting or leasing
  865  a motor vehicle from the licensee’s employer for liability
  866  arising in connection with the negligent operation of the leased
  867  or rented motor vehicle.
  868         b. Insurance covering the liability of the lessee to the
  869  lessor for damage to the leased or rented motor vehicle.
  870         c. Insurance covering the loss of or damage to baggage,
  871  personal effects, or travel documents of a person renting or
  872  leasing a motor vehicle.
  873         d. Insurance covering accidental personal injury or death
  874  of the lessee and any passenger who is riding or driving with
  875  the covered lessee in the leased or rented motor vehicle.
  876         2. Insurance under a motor vehicle rental insurance license
  877  may be issued only if the lease or rental agreement is for no
  878  more than 60 days, the lessee is not provided coverage for more
  879  than 60 consecutive days per lease period, and the lessee is
  880  given written notice that his or her personal insurance policy
  881  providing coverage on an owned motor vehicle may provide
  882  coverage of such risks and that the purchase of the insurance is
  883  not required in connection with the lease or rental of a motor
  884  vehicle. If the lease is extended beyond 60 days, the coverage
  885  may be extended one time only for a period not to exceed an
  886  additional 60 days. Insurance may be provided to the lessee as
  887  an additional insured on a policy issued to the licensee’s
  888  employer.
  889         3. The license may be issued only to the full-time salaried
  890  employee of a licensed general lines agent or to a business
  891  entity that offers motor vehicles for rent or lease if insurance
  892  sales activities authorized by the license are in connection
  893  with and incidental to the rental or lease of a motor vehicle.
  894         a. A license issued to a business entity that offers motor
  895  vehicles for rent or lease encompasses shall encompass each
  896  office, branch office, or place of business making use of the
  897  entity’s business name in order to offer, solicit, and sell
  898  insurance pursuant to this paragraph.
  899         b. The application for licensure must list the name,
  900  address, and phone number for each office, branch office, or
  901  place of business that is to be covered by the license. The
  902  licensee shall notify the department of the name, address, and
  903  phone number of any new location that is to be covered by the
  904  license before the new office, branch office, or place of
  905  business engages in the sale of insurance pursuant to this
  906  paragraph. The licensee must shall notify the department within
  907  30 days after closing or terminating an office, branch office,
  908  or place of business. Upon receipt of the notice, the department
  909  shall delete the office, branch office, or place of business
  910  from the license.
  911         c. A licensed and appointed entity is directly responsible
  912  and accountable for all acts of the licensee’s employees.
  913         (e) Credit life or disability insurance.—License covering
  914  only credit life, credit or disability insurance, credit
  915  property, credit unemployment, involuntary unemployment,
  916  mortgage life, mortgage guaranty, mortgage disability,
  917  guaranteed automobile protection (GAP) insurance, and any other
  918  form of insurance offered in connection with an extension of
  919  credit which is limited to partially or wholly extinguishing a
  920  credit obligation that the department determines should be
  921  designated a form of limited line credit insurance. Effective
  922  October 1, 2012, all valid licenses held by persons for any of
  923  the lines of insurance listed in this paragraph shall be
  924  converted to a credit insurance license. Licensees who wish to
  925  obtain a new license reflecting such change must request a
  926  duplicate license and pay a $5 fee as specified in s.
  927  624.501(15). The license may be issued only to an individual
  928  employed by a life or health insurer as an officer or other
  929  salaried or commissioned representative, to an individual
  930  employed by or associated with a lending or financial
  931  institution or creditor, or to a lending or financial
  932  institution or creditor, and may authorize the sale of such
  933  insurance only with respect to borrowers or debtors of such
  934  lending or financing institution or creditor. However, only the
  935  individual or entity whose tax identification number is used in
  936  receiving or is credited with receiving the commission from the
  937  sale of such insurance shall be the licensed agent of the
  938  insurer. No individual while so licensed shall hold a license as
  939  an agent as to any other or additional kind or class of life or
  940  health insurance coverage. An entity holding a limited license
  941  under this paragraph is also authorized to sell credit insurance
  942  and credit property insurance.
  943         (f) Credit insurance.—License covering only credit
  944  insurance, as such insurance is defined in s. 624.605(1)(i), and
  945  no individual or entity so licensed shall, during the same
  946  period, hold a license as an agent as to any other or additional
  947  kind of life or health insurance with the exception of credit
  948  life or disability insurance as defined in paragraph (e). The
  949  same licensing provisions as outlined in paragraph (e) apply to
  950  entities licensed as credit insurance agents under this
  951  paragraph.
  952         (g) Credit property insurance.—A license covering only
  953  credit property insurance may be issued to any individual except
  954  an individual employed by or associated with a financial
  955  institution as defined in s. 655.005 and authorized to sell such
  956  insurance only with respect to a borrower or debtor, not to
  957  exceed the amount of the loan.
  958         (f)(h)Crop hail and multiple-peril crop insurance.—License
  959  for insurance covering crops subject to unfavorable weather
  960  conditions, fire or lightening, flood, hail, insect infestation,
  961  disease, or other yield-reducing conditions or perils which is
  962  provided by the private insurance market, or which is subsidized
  963  by the Federal Group Insurance Corporation including multi-peril
  964  crop insurance only crop hail and multiple-peril crop insurance.
  965  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the limited license
  966  may be issued to a bona fide salaried employee of an association
  967  chartered under the Farm Credit Act of 1971, 12 U.S.C. ss. 2001
  968  et seq., who satisfactorily completes the examination prescribed
  969  by the department pursuant to s. 626.241(5). The limited agent
  970  must be appointed by, and his or her limited license requested
  971  by, a licensed general lines agent. All business transacted by
  972  the limited agent must be on shall be in behalf of, in the name
  973  of, and countersigned by the agent by whom he or she is
  974  appointed. Sections 626.561 and 626.748, relating to records,
  975  apply to all business written pursuant to this section. The
  976  limited licensee may be appointed by and licensed for only one
  977  general lines agent or agency.
  978         (g)(i)In-transit and storage personal property insurance;
  979  communications equipment property insurance, communications
  980  equipment inland marine insurance, and communications equipment
  981  service warranty agreement sales.—
  982         1. A License for insurance covering only the insurance of
  983  personal property not held for resale, covering the risks of
  984  transportation or storage in rented or leased motor vehicles,
  985  trailers, or self-service storage facilities, as the latter are
  986  defined in s. 83.803. Such license, may be issued, without
  987  examination, only to employees or authorized representatives of
  988  lessors who rent or lease motor vehicles, trailers, or self
  989  service storage facilities and who are authorized by an insurer
  990  to issue certificates or other evidences of insurance to lessees
  991  of such motor vehicles, trailers, or self-service storage
  992  facilities under an insurance policy issued to the lessor. A
  993  person licensed under this paragraph must shall give a
  994  prospective purchaser of in-transit or storage personal property
  995  insurance written notice that his or her homeowner’s policy may
  996  provide coverage for the loss of personal property and that the
  997  purchase of such insurance is not required under the lease
  998  terms.
  999         2. A license covering only communications equipment, for
 1000  the loss, theft, mechanical failure, malfunction of or damage
 1001  to, communications equipment. The license may be issued only to:
 1002         a. Employees or authorized representatives of a licensed
 1003  general lines agent;
 1004         b. The lead business location of a retail vendor of
 1005  communications equipment and its branch locations; or
 1006         c. Employees, agents, or authorized representatives of a
 1007  retail vendor of communications equipment.
 1008  
 1009  The license authorizes the sale of such policies, or
 1010  certificates under a group master policy, only with respect to
 1011  the sale of, or provision of communications service for,
 1012  communications equipment. A general lines agent is not required
 1013  to obtain a license under this subparagraph to offer or sell
 1014  communications equipment property insurance or communication
 1015  equipment inland marine insurance. The license also authorizes
 1016  sales of service warranty agreements covering only
 1017  communications equipment to the same extent as if licensed under
 1018  s. 634.419 or s. 634.420. The provisions of this chapter
 1019  requiring submission of fingerprints do not apply to
 1020  communications equipment licenses issued to qualified entities
 1021  under this subparagraph. Licensees offering policies under this
 1022  subparagraph must receive initial training from, and have a
 1023  contractual relationship with, a general lines agent. For the
 1024  purposes of this subparagraph, the term “communications
 1025  equipment” means handsets, pagers, personal digital assistants,
 1026  portable computers, automatic answering devices, and other
 1027  devices or accessories used to originate or receive
 1028  communications signals or service, and includes services related
 1029  to the use of such devices, such as consumer access to a
 1030  wireless network; however, the term does not include
 1031  telecommunications switching equipment, transmission wires, cell
 1032  site transceiver equipment, or other equipment and systems used
 1033  by telecommunications companies to provide telecommunications
 1034  service to consumers. A branch location of a retail vendor of
 1035  communications equipment licensed pursuant to paragraph (2)(b)
 1036  may, in lieu of obtaining an appointment from an insurer or
 1037  warranty association as provided in paragraph (2)(c), obtain a
 1038  single appointment from the associated lead business location
 1039  licensee licensed under paragraph (2)(a) and pay the prescribed
 1040  appointment fee under s. 624.501 provided the lead business
 1041  location has a single appointment from each insurer or warranty
 1042  association represented and such appointment provides that it
 1043  applies to the lead business location and all of its branch
 1044  locations. Any branch location individually appointed by an
 1045  insurer under paragraph (2)(c) prior to January 1, 2006, may
 1046  replace its appointments with an appointment from its lead
 1047  location at no charge. Branch location appointments shall be
 1048  renewed on the first annual anniversary of licensure of the lead
 1049  business location occurring more than 24 months after the
 1050  initial appointment date and every 24 months thereafter.
 1051  Notwithstanding s. 624.501, after July 1, 2006, the renewal fee
 1052  applicable to such branch location appointments shall be $30 per
 1053  appointment.
 1054         (h) Portable electronics insurance.—License for property
 1055  insurance or inland marine insurance that covers only loss,
 1056  theft, mechanical failure, malfunction, or damage for portable
 1057  electronics.
 1058         1. The license may be issued only to:
 1059         a. Employees or authorized representatives of a licensed
 1060  general lines agent; or
 1061         b. The lead business location of a retail vendor that sells
 1062  portable electronics insurance. The lead business location must
 1063  have a contractual relationship with a general lines agent.
 1064         2. Employees or authorized representatives of a licensee
 1065  under subparagraph 1. may sell or offer for sale portable
 1066  electronics coverage without being subject to licensure as an
 1067  insurance agent if:
 1068         a. Such insurance is sold or offered for sale at a licensed
 1069  location or at one of the licensee’s branch locations if the
 1070  branch location is appointed by the licensed lead business
 1071  location or its appointing insurers;
 1072         b. The insurer issuing the insurance directly supervises or
 1073  appoints a general lines agent to supervise the sale of such
 1074  insurance, including the development of a training program for
 1075  the employees and authorized representatives of vendors that are
 1076  directly engaged in the activity of selling or offering the
 1077  insurance; and
 1078         c. At each location where the insurance is offered,
 1079  brochures or other written materials that provide the
 1080  information required by this subparagraph are made available to
 1081  all prospective customers. The brochures or written materials
 1082  may include information regarding portable electronics
 1083  insurance, service warranty agreements, or other incidental
 1084  services or benefits offered by a licensee.
 1085         3. Individuals not licensed to sell portable electronics
 1086  insurance may not be paid commissions based on the sale of such
 1087  coverage. However, a licensee who uses a compensation plan for
 1088  employees and authorized representatives which includes
 1089  supplemental compensation for the sale of noninsurance products,
 1090  in addition to a regular salary or hourly wages, may include
 1091  incidental compensation for the sale of portable electronics
 1092  insurance as a component of the overall compensation plan.
 1093         4. Brochures or other written materials related to portable
 1094  electronics insurance must:
 1095         a. Disclose that such insurance may duplicate coverage
 1096  already provided by a customer’s homeowners’ insurance policy,
 1097  renters’ insurance policy, or other source of coverage;
 1098         b. State that enrollment in insurance coverage is not
 1099  required in order to purchase or lease portable electronics or
 1100  services;
 1101         c. Summarize the material terms of the insurance coverage,
 1102  including the identity of the insurer, the identity of the
 1103  supervising entity, the amount of any applicable deductible and
 1104  how it is to be paid, the benefits of coverage, and key terms
 1105  and conditions of coverage, such as whether portable electronics
 1106  may be repaired or replaced with similar make and model
 1107  reconditioned or nonoriginal manufacturer parts or equipment;
 1108         d. Summarize the process for filing a claim, including a
 1109  description of how to return portable electronics and the
 1110  maximum fee applicable if the customer fails to comply with
 1111  equipment return requirements; and
 1112         e. State that an enrolled customer may cancel coverage at
 1113  any time and that the person paying the premium will receive a
 1114  refund of any unearned premium.
 1115         5. A licensed and appointed general lines agent is not
 1116  required to obtain a portable electronics insurance license to
 1117  offer or sell portable electronics insurance at locations
 1118  already licensed as an insurance agency, but may apply for a
 1119  portable electronics insurance license for branch locations not
 1120  otherwise licensed to sell insurance.
 1121         6. A portable electronics license authorizes the sale of
 1122  individual policies or certificates under a group or master
 1123  insurance policy. The license also authorizes the sale of
 1124  service warranty agreements covering only portable electronics
 1125  to the same extent as if licensed under s. 634.419 or s.
 1126  634.420.
 1127         7. A licensee may bill and collect the premium for the
 1128  purchase of portable electronics insurance provided that:
 1129         a. If the insurance is included with the purchase or lease
 1130  of portable electronics or related services, the licensee
 1131  clearly and conspicuously discloses that insurance coverage is
 1132  included with the purchase. Disclosure of the stand-alone cost
 1133  of the premium for same or similar insurance must be made on the
 1134  customer’s bill and in any marketing materials made available at
 1135  the point of sale. If the insurance is not included, the charge
 1136  to the customer for the insurance must be separately itemized on
 1137  the customer’s bill.
 1138         b. Premiums are incidental to other fees collected, are
 1139  maintained in a manner that is readily identifiable, and are
 1140  accounted for and remitted to the insurer or supervising entity
 1141  within 60 days of receipt. Licensees are not required to
 1142  maintain such funds in a segregated account.
 1143         c. All funds received by a licensee from an enrolled
 1144  customer for the sale of the insurance are considered funds held
 1145  in trust by the licensee in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit
 1146  of the insurer. Licensees may receive compensation for billing
 1147  and collection services.
 1148         8. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the terms
 1149  for the termination or modification of coverage under a policy
 1150  of portable electronics insurance are those set forth in the
 1151  policy.
 1152         9. Notice or correspondence required by the policy, or
 1153  otherwise required by law, may be provided by electronic means
 1154  if the insurer or licensee maintains proof that the notice or
 1155  correspondence was sent. Such notice or correspondence may be
 1156  sent on behalf of the insurer or licensee by the general lines
 1157  agent appointed by the insurer to supervise the administration
 1158  of the program. For purposes of this subparagraph, an enrolled
 1159  customer’s provision of an electronic mail address to the
 1160  insurer or licensee is deemed to be consent to receive notices
 1161  and correspondence by electronic means if a conspicuously
 1162  located disclosure is provided to the customer indicating the
 1163  same.
 1164         10. The provisions of this chapter requiring submission of
 1165  fingerprints do not apply to licenses issued to qualified
 1166  entities under this paragraph.
 1167         11. A branch location that sells portable electronics
 1168  insurance may, in lieu of obtaining an appointment from an
 1169  insurer or warranty association, obtain a single appointment
 1170  from the associated lead business location licensee and pay the
 1171  prescribed appointment fee under s. 624.501 if the lead business
 1172  location has a single appointment from each insurer or warranty
 1173  association represented and such appointment applies to the lead
 1174  business location and all of its branch locations. Branch
 1175  location appointments shall be renewed 24 months after the
 1176  initial appointment date of the lead business location and every
 1177  24 months thereafter. Notwithstanding s. 624.501, the renewal
 1178  fee applicable to such branch location appointments is $30 per
 1179  appointment.
 1180         12. For purposes of this paragraph:
 1181         a. “Branch location” means any physical location in this
 1182  state at which a licensee offers its products or services for
 1183  sale.
 1184         b. “Portable electronics” means personal, self-contained,
 1185  easily carried by an individual, battery-operated electronic
 1186  communication, viewing, listening, recording, gaming, computing
 1187  or global positioning devices, including cell or satellite
 1188  phones, pagers, personal global positioning satellite units,
 1189  portable computers, portable audio listening, video viewing or
 1190  recording devices, digital cameras, video camcorders, portable
 1191  gaming systems, docking stations, automatic answering devices,
 1192  and other similar devices and their accessories, and service
 1193  related to the use of such devices.
 1194         c. “Portable electronics transaction” means the sale or
 1195  lease of portable electronics or a related service, including
 1196  portable electronics insurance.
 1197         (4) Except as otherwise expressly provided, a person
 1198  applying for or holding a limited license is shall be subject to
 1199  the same applicable requirements and responsibilities that as
 1200  apply to general lines agents in general, if licensed as to
 1201  motor vehicle physical damage and mechanical breakdown
 1202  insurance, credit property insurance, industrial fire insurance
 1203  or burglary insurance, motor vehicle rental insurance, credit
 1204  insurance, crop hail and multiple-peril crop insurance, in
 1205  transit and storage personal property insurance, or portable
 1206  electronics insurance communications equipment property
 1207  insurance or communications equipment inland marine insurance,
 1208  baggage and motor vehicle excess liability insurance, or credit
 1209  insurance; or as apply to life agents or health agents in
 1210  general, as applicable the case may be, if licensed as to travel
 1211  personal accident insurance or credit life or credit disability
 1212  insurance.
 1213         Section 15. Section 626.342, Florida Statutes, is amended
 1214  to read:
 1215         626.342 Furnishing supplies to unlicensed life, health, or
 1216  general lines agent prohibited; civil liability.—
 1217         (1) An insurer, a managing general agent, an insurance
 1218  agency, or an agent, directly or through a any representative,
 1219  may not furnish to an any agent any blank forms, applications,
 1220  stationery, or other supplies to be used in soliciting,
 1221  negotiating, or effecting contracts of insurance on its behalf
 1222  unless such blank forms, applications, stationery, or other
 1223  supplies relate to a class of business for with respect to which
 1224  the agent is licensed and appointed, whether for that insurer or
 1225  another insurer.
 1226         (2) An Any insurer, general agent, insurance agency, or
 1227  agent who furnishes any of the supplies specified in subsection
 1228  (1) to an any agent or prospective agent not appointed to
 1229  represent the insurer and who accepts from or writes any
 1230  insurance business for such agent or agency is subject to civil
 1231  liability to an any insured of such insurer to the same extent
 1232  and in the same manner as if such agent or prospective agent had
 1233  been appointed or authorized by the insurer or such agent to act
 1234  on in its or his or her behalf. The provisions of this
 1235  subsection do not apply to insurance risk apportionment plans
 1236  under s. 627.351.
 1237         (3) This section does not apply to the placing of surplus
 1238  lines business under the provisions of ss. 626.913-626.937.
 1239         Section 16. Subsection (1) of section 626.381, Florida
 1240  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1241         626.381 Renewal, continuation, reinstatement, or
 1242  termination of appointment.—
 1243         (1) The appointment of an appointee continues shall
 1244  continue in force until suspended, revoked, or otherwise
 1245  terminated, but is subject to a renewal request filed by the
 1246  appointing entity in the appointee’s birth month as to natural
 1247  persons or the month the original appointment was issued license
 1248  date as to entities and every 24 months thereafter, accompanied
 1249  by payment of the renewal appointment fee and taxes as
 1250  prescribed in s. 624.501.
 1251         Section 17. Section 626.536, Florida Statutes, is amended
 1252  to read:
 1253         626.536 Reporting of administrative actions.—Each agent and
 1254  insurance agency shall submit to the department, Within 30 days
 1255  after the final disposition of an any administrative action
 1256  taken against a licensee the agent or insurance agency by a
 1257  governmental agency or other regulatory agency in this or any
 1258  other state or jurisdiction relating to the business of
 1259  insurance, the sale of securities, or activity involving fraud,
 1260  dishonesty, trustworthiness, or breach of a fiduciary duty, the
 1261  licensee or insurance agency must submit a copy of the order,
 1262  consent to order, or other relevant legal documents to the
 1263  department. The department may adopt rules to administer
 1264  implementing the provisions of this section.
 1265         Section 18. Section 626.551, Florida Statutes, is amended
 1266  to read:
 1267         626.551 Notice of change of address, name.—A Every licensee
 1268  must shall notify the department, in writing, within 30 60 days
 1269  after a change of name, residence address, principal business
 1270  street address, mailing address, contact telephone numbers,
 1271  including a business telephone number, or e-mail address. A
 1272  licensee licensed agent who has moved his or her principal place
 1273  of residence and principal place of business from this state
 1274  shall have his or her license and all appointments immediately
 1275  terminated by the department. Failure to notify the department
 1276  within the required time period shall result in a fine not to
 1277  exceed $250 for the first offense and, for subsequent offenses,
 1278  a fine of at least $500 or suspension or revocation of the
 1279  license pursuant to s. 626.611, s. 626.6115, or s. 626.621, or
 1280  s. 626.6215 for a subsequent offense. The department may adopt
 1281  rules to administer and enforce this section.
 1282         Section 19. Subsection (14) is added to section 626.621,
 1283  Florida Statutes, to read:
 1284         626.621 Grounds for discretionary refusal, suspension, or
 1285  revocation of agent’s, adjuster’s, customer representative’s,
 1286  service representative’s, or managing general agent’s license or
 1287  appointment.—The department may, in its discretion, deny an
 1288  application for, suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew or continue
 1289  the license or appointment of any applicant, agent, adjuster,
 1290  customer representative, service representative, or managing
 1291  general agent, and it may suspend or revoke the eligibility to
 1292  hold a license or appointment of any such person, if it finds
 1293  that as to the applicant, licensee, or appointee any one or more
 1294  of the following applicable grounds exist under circumstances
 1295  for which such denial, suspension, revocation, or refusal is not
 1296  mandatory under s. 626.611:
 1297         (14) Failure to comply with any civil, criminal, or
 1298  administrative action taken by the child support enforcement
 1299  program under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C.
 1300  ss. 651 et seq., to determine paternity or to establish, modify,
 1301  enforce, or collect support.
 1302         Section 20. Subsection (4) of section 626.641, Florida
 1303  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1304         626.641 Duration of suspension or revocation.—
 1305         (4) During the period of suspension or revocation of a the
 1306  license or appointment, and until the license is reinstated or,
 1307  if revoked, a new license issued, the former licensee or
 1308  appointee may shall not engage in or attempt or profess to
 1309  engage in any transaction or business for which a license or
 1310  appointment is required under this code or directly or
 1311  indirectly own, control, or be employed in any manner by an any
 1312  insurance agent, or agency, or adjuster, or adjusting firm.
 1313         Section 21. Subsection (1) of section 626.651, Florida
 1314  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1315         626.651 Effect of suspension, revocation upon associated
 1316  licenses and appointments and licensees and appointees.—
 1317         (1) Upon suspension, revocation, or refusal to renew or
 1318  continue any one license of a licensee an agent or customer
 1319  representative, or upon suspension or revocation of eligibility
 1320  to hold a license or appointment, the department shall at the
 1321  same time likewise suspend or revoke all other licenses,
 1322  appointments, or status of eligibility held by the licensee or
 1323  appointee under this code.
 1324         Section 22. Subsection (4) of section 626.730, Florida
 1325  Statutes, is amended, and subsection (5) of that section is
 1326  created, to read:
 1327         626.730 Purpose of license.—
 1328         (4) This section does not prohibit the licensing under a
 1329  licensee holding a limited license for credit insurance or as to
 1330  motor vehicle physical damage and mechanical breakdown insurance
 1331  from being or credit property insurance of any person employed
 1332  by or associated with a motor vehicle sales or financing agency,
 1333  a retail sales establishment, or a consumer loan office for the
 1334  purpose of insuring, other than a consumer loan office owned by
 1335  or affiliated with a financial institution as defined in s.
 1336  655.005, with respect to insurance of the interest of such
 1337  entity agency in a motor vehicle sold or financed by it or in
 1338  personal property if used as collateral for a loan.
 1339         (5) This section does not apply with respect to the
 1340  interest of a real estate mortgagee in or as to insurance
 1341  covering such interest or in the real estate subject to such
 1342  mortgage.
 1343         Section 23. Section 626.732, Florida Statutes, is amended
 1344  to read:
 1345         626.732 Requirement as to knowledge, experience, or
 1346  instruction.—
 1347         (1) Except as provided in subsection (4) (3), an no
 1348  applicant for a license as a general lines agent or personal
 1349  lines agent, except for a chartered property and casualty
 1350  underwriter (CPCU), may not other than as to a limited license
 1351  as to baggage and motor vehicle excess liability insurance,
 1352  credit property insurance, credit insurance, in-transit and
 1353  storage personal property insurance, or communications equipment
 1354  property insurance or communication equipment inland marine
 1355  insurance, shall be qualified or licensed unless, within the 4
 1356  years immediately preceding the date the application for license
 1357  is filed with the department, the applicant has:
 1358         (a) Taught or successfully completed classroom courses in
 1359  insurance, 3 hours of which must shall be on the subject matter
 1360  of ethics, satisfactory to the department at a school, college,
 1361  or extension division thereof, approved by the department. To
 1362  qualify for licensure as a personal lines agent, the applicant
 1363  must complete a total of 52 hours of classroom courses in
 1364  insurance;
 1365         (b) Completed a correspondence course in insurance, 3 hours
 1366  of which must shall be on the subject matter of ethics, which is
 1367  satisfactory to the department and regularly offered by
 1368  accredited institutions of higher learning in this state or
 1369  extensions thereof and approved by the department, and have,
 1370  except if he or she is applying for a limited license under s.
 1371  626.321, for licensure as a general lines agent, has had at
 1372  least 6 months of responsible insurance duties as a
 1373  substantially full-time bona fide employee in all lines of
 1374  property and casualty insurance set forth in the definition of
 1375  general lines agent under s. 626.015 or, for licensure as a
 1376  personal lines agent, has completed at least 3 months in
 1377  responsible insurance duties as a substantially full-time
 1378  employee in property and casualty insurance sold to individuals
 1379  and families for noncommercial purposes;
 1380         (c) For licensure as a general lines agent, Completed at
 1381  least 1 year in responsible insurance duties as a substantially
 1382  full-time bona fide employee in all lines of property and
 1383  casualty insurance, exclusive of aviation and wet marine and
 1384  transportation insurances but not exclusive of boats of less
 1385  than 36 feet in length or aircraft not held out for hire, as set
 1386  forth in the definition of a general lines agent under s.
 1387  626.015, but without the education requirement described
 1388  mentioned in paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) or, for licensure as
 1389  a personal lines agent, has completed at least 6 months in
 1390  responsible insurance duties as a substantially full-time
 1391  employee in property and casualty insurance sold to individuals
 1392  and families for noncommercial purposes without the education
 1393  requirement in paragraph (a) or paragraph (b);
 1394         (d)1.For licensure as a general lines agent, Completed at
 1395  least 1 year of responsible insurance duties as a licensed and
 1396  appointed customer representative or limited customer
 1397  representative in commercial or personal lines of property and
 1398  casualty insurance and 40 hours of classroom courses approved by
 1399  the department covering the areas of property, casualty, surety,
 1400  health, and marine insurance; or
 1401         2. For licensure as a personal lines agent, completed at
 1402  least 6 months of responsible duties as a licensed and appointed
 1403  customer representative or limited customer representative in
 1404  property and casualty insurance sold to individuals and families
 1405  for noncommercial purposes and 20 hours of classroom courses
 1406  approved by the department which are related to property and
 1407  casualty insurance sold to individuals and families for
 1408  noncommercial purposes;
 1409         (e)1.For licensure as a general lines agent, Completed at
 1410  least 1 year of responsible insurance duties as a licensed and
 1411  appointed service representative in either commercial or
 1412  personal lines of property and casualty insurance and 80 hours
 1413  of classroom courses approved by the department covering the
 1414  areas of property, casualty, surety, health, and marine
 1415  insurance.; or
 1416         2. For licensure as a personal lines agent, completed at
 1417  least 6 months of responsible insurance duties as a licensed and
 1418  appointed service representative in property and casualty
 1419  insurance sold to individuals and families for noncommercial
 1420  purposes and 40 hours of classroom courses approved by the
 1421  department related to property and casualty insurance sold to
 1422  individuals and families for noncommercial purposes; or
 1423         (2) Except as provided under subsection (4), an applicant
 1424  for a license as a personal lines agent, except for a chartered
 1425  property and casualty underwriter (CPCU), may not be qualified
 1426  or licensed unless, within the 4 years immediately preceding the
 1427  date the application for license is filed with the department,
 1428  the applicant has:
 1429         (a) Taught or successfully completed classroom courses in
 1430  insurance, 3 hours of which must be on the subject matter of
 1431  ethics, at a school, college, or extension division thereof,
 1432  approved by the department. To qualify for licensure, the
 1433  applicant must complete a total of 52 hours of classroom courses
 1434  in insurance;
 1435         (b) Completed a correspondence course in insurance, 3 hours
 1436  of which must be on the subject matter of ethics, which is
 1437  regularly offered by accredited institutions of higher learning
 1438  in this state or extensions thereof and approved by the
 1439  department, and completed at least 3 months of responsible
 1440  insurance duties as a substantially full-time employee in the
 1441  area of property and casualty insurance sold to individuals and
 1442  families for noncommercial purposes;
 1443         (c) Completed at least 6 months of responsible insurance
 1444  duties as a substantially full-time employee in the area of
 1445  property and casualty insurance sold to individuals and families
 1446  for noncommercial purposes, but without the education
 1447  requirement described in paragraph (a) or paragraph (b);
 1448         (d) Completed at least 6 months of responsible duties as a
 1449  licensed and appointed customer representative or limited
 1450  customer representative in property and casualty insurance sold
 1451  to individuals and families for noncommercial purposes and 20
 1452  hours of classroom courses approved by the department which are
 1453  related to property and casualty insurance sold to individuals
 1454  and families for noncommercial purposes;
 1455         (e) Completed at least 6 months of responsible insurance
 1456  duties as a licensed and appointed service representative in
 1457  property and casualty insurance sold to individuals and families
 1458  for noncommercial purposes and 40 hours of classroom courses
 1459  approved by the department related to property and casualty
 1460  insurance sold to individuals and families for noncommercial
 1461  purposes; or
 1462         (f) For licensure as a personal lines agent, Completed at
 1463  least 3 years of responsible duties as a licensed and appointed
 1464  customer representative in property and casualty insurance sold
 1465  to individuals and families for noncommercial purposes.
 1466         (3)(2)If Where an applicant’s qualifications as required
 1467  under subsection (1) or subsection (2) in paragraph (1)(b)or
 1468  paragraph (1)(c) are based in part upon the periods of
 1469  employment in at responsible insurance duties prescribed
 1470  therein, the applicant shall submit with the license application
 1471  for license, on a form prescribed by the department, an the
 1472  affidavit of his or her employer setting forth the period of
 1473  such employment, that the employment same was substantially
 1474  full-time, and giving a brief abstract of the nature of the
 1475  duties performed by the applicant.
 1476         (4)(3) An individual who was or became qualified to sit for
 1477  an agent’s, customer representative’s, or adjuster’s examination
 1478  at or during the time he or she was employed by the department
 1479  or office and who, while so employed, was employed in
 1480  responsible insurance duties as a full-time bona fide employee
 1481  may shall be permitted to take an examination if application for
 1482  such examination is made within 90 days after the date of
 1483  termination of his or her employment with the department or
 1484  office.
 1485         (5)(4) Classroom and correspondence courses under
 1486  subsections (1) and (2) subsection (1) must include instruction
 1487  on the subject matter of unauthorized entities engaging in the
 1488  business of insurance. The scope of the topic of unauthorized
 1489  entities must shall include the Florida Nonprofit Multiple
 1490  Employer Welfare Arrangement Act and the Employee Retirement
 1491  Income Security Act, 29 U.S.C. ss. 1001 et seq., as it relates
 1492  to the provision of health insurance by employers and the
 1493  regulation thereof.
 1494         (6) This section does not apply to an individual holding
 1495  only a limited license for travel insurance, motor vehicle
 1496  rental insurance, credit insurance, in-transit and storage
 1497  personal property insurance, or portable electronics insurance.
 1498         Section 24. Section 626.8411, Florida Statutes, is amended
 1499  to read:
 1500         626.8411 Application of Florida Insurance Code provisions
 1501  to title insurance agents or agencies.—
 1502         (1) The following provisions of part II, as applicable to
 1503  general lines agents or agencies, also apply to title insurance
 1504  agents or agencies:
 1505         (a) Section 626.734, relating to liability of certain
 1506  agents.
 1507         (b) Section 626.175, relating to temporary licenses.
 1508         (b)(c) Section 626.747, relating to branch agencies.
 1509         (c) Section 626.749, relating to place of business in
 1510  residence.
 1511         (d) Section 626.753, relating to sharing of commissions.
 1512         (e) Section 626.754, relating to rights of agent following
 1513  termination of appointment.
 1514         (2) The following provisions of part I do not apply to
 1515  title insurance agents or title insurance agencies:
 1516         (a) Section 626.112(7), relating to licensing of insurance
 1517  agencies.
 1518         (b) Section 626.231, relating to eligibility for
 1519  examination.
 1520         (c) Section 626.572, relating to rebating, when allowed.
 1521         (d) Section 626.172, relating to agent in full-time charge.
 1522         Section 25. Subsection (1) of section 626.8419, Florida
 1523  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1524         626.8419 Appointment of title insurance agency.—
 1525         (1) The title insurer engaging or employing the title
 1526  insurance agency must file with the department, on printed forms
 1527  furnished by the department, an application certifying that the
 1528  proposed title insurance agency meets all of the following
 1529  requirements:
 1530         (a) The agency must have obtained a fidelity bond in an
 1531  amount, not less than $50,000, acceptable to the insurer
 1532  appointing the agency. If a fidelity bond is unavailable
 1533  generally, the department must adopt rules for alternative
 1534  methods to comply with this paragraph.
 1535         (b) The agency must have obtained errors and omissions
 1536  insurance in an amount acceptable to the insurer appointing the
 1537  agency. The amount of the coverage may not be less than $250,000
 1538  per claim and an aggregate limit with a deductible no greater
 1539  than $10,000. If errors and omissions insurance is unavailable
 1540  generally, the department must adopt rules for alternative
 1541  methods to comply with this paragraph.
 1542         (c) Notwithstanding s. 626.8418(2), the agency must have
 1543  obtained a surety bond in an amount not less than $35,000 made
 1544  payable to the title insurer or title insurers appointing the
 1545  agency. The surety bond must be for the benefit of any
 1546  appointing title insurer damaged by a violation by the title
 1547  insurance agency of its contract with the appointing title
 1548  insurer. If the surety bond is payable to multiple title
 1549  insurers, the surety bond must provide that each title insurer
 1550  is to be notified in the event a claim is made upon the surety
 1551  bond or the bond is terminated.
 1552         (d) The surety bond must remain in effect and unimpaired as
 1553  long as the agency is appointed by a title insurer. The agency
 1554  must provide written proof to the appointing title insurer or
 1555  insurers on an annual basis evidencing that the surety bond is
 1556  still in effect and unimpaired.
 1557         (e) A title insurer may not provide the surety bond
 1558  directly or indirectly on behalf of the agency.
 1559         Section 26. Section 626.8548, Florida Statutes, is created
 1560  to read:
 1561         626.8548 “All-lines adjuster” defined.—An “all-lines
 1562  adjuster” is a person who is self-employed or employed by an
 1563  insurer, a wholly owned subsidiary of an insurer, or an
 1564  independent adjusting firm or other independent adjuster, and
 1565  who undertakes on behalf of an insurer or other insurers under
 1566  common control or ownership to ascertain and determine the
 1567  amount of any claim, loss, or damage payable under an insurance
 1568  contract or undertakes to effect settlement of such claim, loss,
 1569  or damage. The term does not apply to life insurance or annuity
 1570  contracts.
 1571         Section 27. Section 626.855, Florida Statutes, is amended
 1572  to read:
 1573         626.855 “Independent adjuster” defined.—An “independent
 1574  adjuster” means a is any person licensed as an all-lines
 1575  adjuster who is self-appointed self-employed or appointed and is
 1576  associated with or employed by an independent adjusting firm or
 1577  other independent adjuster, and who undertakes on behalf of an
 1578  insurer to ascertain and determine the amount of any claim,
 1579  loss, or damage payable under an insurance contract or
 1580  undertakes to effect settlement of such claim, loss, or damage.
 1581         Section 28. Section 626.856, Florida Statutes, is amended
 1582  to read:
 1583         626.856 “Company employee adjuster” defined.—A “company
 1584  employee adjuster” means is a person licensed as an all-lines
 1585  adjuster who is appointed and employed on an insurer’s staff of
 1586  adjusters or a wholly owned subsidiary of the insurer, and who
 1587  undertakes on behalf of such insurer or other insurers under
 1588  common control or ownership to ascertain and determine the
 1589  amount of any claim, loss, or damage payable under a contract of
 1590  insurance, or undertakes to effect settlement of such claim,
 1591  loss, or damage.
 1592         Section 29. Section 626.858, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
 1593         Section 30. Section 626.8584, Florida Statutes, is amended
 1594  to read:
 1595         626.8584 “Nonresident all-lines independent adjuster”
 1596  defined.—A “nonresident all-lines independent adjuster” means is
 1597  a person who:
 1598         (1) Is not a resident of this state;
 1599         (2) Is a currently licensed as an independent adjuster in
 1600  his or her state of residence for all lines of insurance except
 1601  life and annuities the type or kinds of insurance for which the
 1602  licensee intends to adjust claims in this state or, if a
 1603  resident of a state that does not license such independent
 1604  adjusters, meets the qualifications has passed the department’s
 1605  adjuster examination as prescribed in s. 626.8734(1)(b); and
 1606         (3) Is licensed as an all-lines adjuster and self-appointed
 1607  or appointed and a self-employed independent adjuster or
 1608  associated with or employed by an independent adjusting firm or
 1609  other independent adjuster, by an insurer admitted to do
 1610  business in this state or a wholly-owned subsidiary of an
 1611  insurer admitted to do business in this state, or by other
 1612  insurers under the common control or ownership of such insurer.
 1613         Section 31. Section 626.863, Florida Statutes, is amended
 1614  to read:
 1615         626.863 Claims referrals to Licensed independent adjusters
 1616  required; insurers’ responsibility.—
 1617         (1) An insurer may shall not knowingly refer any claim or
 1618  loss for adjustment in this state to any person purporting to be
 1619  or acting as an independent adjuster unless the person is
 1620  currently licensed as an all-lines adjuster and appointed as an
 1621  independent adjuster under this code.
 1622         (2) Before referring any claim or loss, the insurer shall
 1623  ascertain from the department whether the proposed independent
 1624  adjuster is currently licensed as an all-lines adjuster and
 1625  appointed as an independent adjuster such. Having once
 1626  ascertained that a particular person is so licensed and
 1627  appointed, the insurer may assume that he or she will continue
 1628  to be so licensed and appointed until the insurer has knowledge,
 1629  or receives information from the department, to the contrary.
 1630         (3) This section does not apply to catastrophe or emergency
 1631  adjusters as provided for in this part.
 1632         Section 32. Section 626.864, Florida Statutes, is amended
 1633  to read:
 1634         626.864 Adjuster license types.—
 1635         (1) A qualified individual may be licensed and appointed as
 1636  either:
 1637         (a) A public adjuster; or
 1638         (b) An all-lines independent adjuster; or
 1639         (c) A company employee adjuster.
 1640         (2) The same individual may shall not be concurrently
 1641  licensed appointed as a public adjuster and an all-lines
 1642  adjuster to more than one of the adjuster types referred to in
 1643  subsection (1).
 1644         (3) An all-lines adjuster may be appointed as an
 1645  independent adjuster or company employee adjuster, but not both
 1646  concurrently.
 1647         Section 33. Subsection (1) of section 626.865, Florida
 1648  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1649         626.865 Public adjuster’s qualifications, bond.—
 1650         (1) The department shall issue a license to an applicant
 1651  for a public adjuster’s license upon determining that the
 1652  applicant has paid the applicable fees specified in s. 624.501
 1653  and possesses the following qualifications:
 1654         (a) Is a natural person at least 18 years of age.
 1655         (b) Is a United States citizen or legal alien who possesses
 1656  work authorization from the United States Bureau of Citizenship
 1657  and Immigration Services and a bona fide resident of this state.
 1658         (c) Is trustworthy and has such business reputation as
 1659  would reasonably assure that the applicant will conduct his or
 1660  her business as insurance adjuster fairly and in good faith and
 1661  without detriment to the public.
 1662         (d) Has had sufficient experience, training, or instruction
 1663  concerning the adjusting of damages or losses under insurance
 1664  contracts, other than life and annuity contracts, is
 1665  sufficiently informed as to the terms and effects of the
 1666  provisions of those types of insurance contracts, and possesses
 1667  adequate knowledge of the laws of this state relating to such
 1668  contracts as to enable and qualify him or her to engage in the
 1669  business of insurance adjuster fairly and without injury to the
 1670  public or any member thereof with whom the applicant may have
 1671  business as a public adjuster, or has been licensed and employed
 1672  as a resident insurance company adjuster or independent adjuster
 1673  in this state on a continual basis for the past year.
 1674         (e) Is licensed as a public adjuster apprentice under s.
 1675  626.8651 and complies with the requirements of that license
 1676  throughout the licensure period.
 1677         Section 34. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) and subsection
 1678  (7) of section 626.8651, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 1679         626.8651 Public adjuster apprentice license;
 1680  qualifications.—
 1681         (1) The department shall issue a license as a public
 1682  adjuster apprentice to an applicant who is:
 1683         (b) A United States citizen or legal alien who possesses
 1684  work authorization from the United States Bureau of Citizenship
 1685  and Immigration Services and is a resident of this state.
 1686         (7) An appointing public adjusting firm may not maintain
 1687  more than 12 public adjuster apprentices simultaneously.
 1688  However, a supervising public adjuster may not be responsible
 1689  for more than three public adjuster apprentices simultaneously
 1690  and shall be accountable for the acts of all public adjuster
 1691  apprentices which are related to transacting business as a
 1692  public adjuster apprentice. This subsection does not apply to a
 1693  public adjusting firm that adjusts claims primarily for
 1694  commercial entities with operations in more than one state and
 1695  that does not directly or indirectly perform adjusting services
 1696  for insurers or individual homeowners.
 1697         Section 35. Section 626.866, Florida Statutes, is amended
 1698  to read:
 1699         626.866 All-lines adjuster Independent adjuster’s
 1700  qualifications.—The department shall issue a license to an
 1701  applicant for an all-lines adjuster independent adjuster’s
 1702  license to an applicant upon determining that the applicable
 1703  license fee specified in s. 624.501 has been paid and that the
 1704  applicant possesses the following qualifications:
 1705         (1) Is a natural person at least 18 years of age.
 1706         (2) Is a United States citizen or legal alien who possesses
 1707  work authorization from the United States Bureau of Citizenship
 1708  and Immigration Services and a bona fide resident of this state.
 1709         (3) Is trustworthy and has such business reputation as
 1710  would reasonably assure that the applicant will conduct his or
 1711  her business as insurance adjuster fairly and in good faith and
 1712  without detriment to the public.
 1713         (4) Has had sufficient experience, training, or instruction
 1714  concerning the adjusting of damage or loss under insurance
 1715  contracts, other than life and annuity contracts, is
 1716  sufficiently informed as to the terms and the effects of the
 1717  provisions of such types of contracts, and possesses adequate
 1718  knowledge of the insurance laws of this state relating to such
 1719  contracts as to enable and qualify him or her to engage in the
 1720  business of insurance adjuster fairly and without injury to the
 1721  public or any member thereof with whom he or she may have
 1722  relations as an insurance adjuster and to adjust all claims in
 1723  accordance with the policy or contract and the insurance laws of
 1724  this state.
 1725         (5) Has passed any required written examination or has met
 1726  one of the exemptions prescribed under s. 626.221.
 1727         Section 36. Section 626.867, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
 1728         Section 37. Section 626.869, Florida Statutes, is amended
 1729  to read:
 1730         626.869 License, adjusters; continuing education.—
 1731         (1) Having An applicant for a license as an all-lines
 1732  adjuster qualifies the licensee to adjust may qualify and his or
 1733  her license when issued may cover adjusting in any one of the
 1734  following classes of insurance:
 1735         (a) all lines of insurance except life and annuities.
 1736         (b) Motor vehicle physical damage insurance.
 1737         (c) Property and casualty insurance.
 1738         (d) Workers’ compensation insurance.
 1739         (e) Health insurance.
 1740  
 1741  No examination on workers’ compensation insurance or health
 1742  insurance shall be required for public adjusters.
 1743         (2) All individuals who on October 1, 1990, hold an
 1744  adjuster’s license and appointment limited to fire and allied
 1745  lines, including marine or casualty or boiler and machinery, may
 1746  remain licensed and appointed under the limited license and may
 1747  renew their appointment, but a no license or appointment that
 1748  which has been terminated, not renewed, suspended, or revoked
 1749  may not shall be reinstated, and no new or additional licenses
 1750  or appointments may not shall be issued.
 1751         (3) All individuals who on October 1, 2012, hold an
 1752  adjuster’s license and appointment limited to motor vehicle
 1753  physical damage and mechanical breakdown, property and casualty,
 1754  workers’ compensation, or health insurance may remain licensed
 1755  and appointed under such limited license and may renew their
 1756  appointment, but a license that has been terminated, suspended,
 1757  or revoked may not be reinstated, and new or additional licenses
 1758  may not be issued. The applicant’s application for license shall
 1759  specify which of the foregoing classes of business the
 1760  application for license is to cover.
 1761         (4)(a)An Any individual holding a license as a public
 1762  adjuster or an all-lines a company employee adjuster must
 1763  complete all continuing education requirements as specified in
 1764  s. 626.2815. or independent adjuster for 24 consecutive months
 1765  or longer must, beginning in his or her birth month and every 2
 1766  years thereafter, have completed 24 hours of courses, 2 hours of
 1767  which relate to ethics, in subjects designed to inform the
 1768  licensee regarding the current insurance laws of this state, so
 1769  as to enable him or her to engage in business as an insurance
 1770  adjuster fairly and without injury to the public and to adjust
 1771  all claims in accordance with the policy or contract and the
 1772  laws of this state.
 1773         (b) Any individual holding a license as a public adjuster
 1774  for 24 consecutive months or longer, beginning in his or her
 1775  birth month and every 2 years thereafter, must have completed 24
 1776  hours of courses, 2 hours of which relate to ethics, in subjects
 1777  designed to inform the licensee regarding the current laws of
 1778  this state pertaining to all lines of insurance other than life
 1779  and annuities, the current laws of this state pertaining to the
 1780  duties and responsibilities of public adjusters as set forth in
 1781  this part, and the current rules of the department applicable to
 1782  public adjusters and standard or representative policy forms
 1783  used by insurers, other than forms for life insurance and
 1784  annuities, so as to enable him or her to engage in business as
 1785  an adjuster fairly and without injury to the public and to
 1786  adjust all claims in accordance with the policy or contract and
 1787  laws of this state. In order to receive credit for continuing
 1788  education courses, public adjusters must take courses that are
 1789  specifically designed for public adjusters and approved by the
 1790  department, provided, however, no continuing education course
 1791  shall be required for public adjusters for workers’ compensation
 1792  insurance or health insurance.
 1793         (c) The department shall adopt rules necessary to implement
 1794  and administer the continuing education requirements of this
 1795  subsection. For good cause shown, the department may grant an
 1796  extension of time during which the requirements imposed by this
 1797  section may be completed, but such extension of time may not
 1798  exceed 1 year.
 1799         (d) A nonresident public adjuster must complete the
 1800  continuing education requirements provided by this section;
 1801  provided, a nonresident public adjuster may meet the
 1802  requirements of this section if the continuing education
 1803  requirements of the nonresident public adjuster’s home state are
 1804  determined to be substantially comparable to the requirements of
 1805  this state’s continuing education requirements and if the
 1806  resident’s state recognizes reciprocity with this state’s
 1807  continuing education requirements. A nonresident public adjuster
 1808  whose home state does not have such continuing education
 1809  requirements for adjusters, and who is not licensed as a
 1810  nonresident adjuster in a state that has continuing education
 1811  requirements and reciprocates with this state, must meet the
 1812  continuing education requirements of this section.
 1813         (5) The regulation of continuing education for licensees,
 1814  course providers, instructors, school officials, and monitor
 1815  groups shall be as provided for in s. 626.2816.
 1816         Section 38. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section
 1817  626.8697, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 1818         626.8697 Grounds for refusal, suspension, or revocation of
 1819  adjusting firm license.—
 1820         (2) The department may, in its discretion, deny, suspend,
 1821  revoke, or refuse to continue the license of any adjusting firm
 1822  if it finds that any of the following applicable grounds exist
 1823  with respect to the firm or any owner, partner, manager,
 1824  director, officer, or other person who is otherwise involved in
 1825  the operation of the firm:
 1826         (c) Violation of an any order or rule of the department,
 1827  office, or commission.
 1828         Section 39. Subsections (1) and (5) of section 626.872,
 1829  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 1830         626.872 Temporary license.—
 1831         (1) The department may, in its discretion, issue a
 1832  temporary license as an all-lines independent adjuster or as a
 1833  company employee adjuster, subject to the following conditions:
 1834         (a) The applicant must be an employee of an adjuster
 1835  currently licensed by the department, an employee of an
 1836  authorized insurer, or an employee of an established adjusting
 1837  firm or corporation who which is supervised by a currently
 1838  licensed all-lines independent adjuster.
 1839         (b) The application must be accompanied by a certificate of
 1840  employment and a report as to the applicant’s integrity and
 1841  moral character on a form prescribed by the department and
 1842  executed by the employer.
 1843         (b)(c) The applicant must be a natural person of at least
 1844  18 years of age, must be a bona fide resident of this state,
 1845  must be trustworthy, and must have a such business reputation
 1846  that as would reasonably ensure assure that the applicant will
 1847  conduct his or her business as an adjuster fairly and in good
 1848  faith and without detriment to the public.
 1849         (c)(d) The applicant’s employer is responsible for the
 1850  adjustment acts of the temporary any licensee under this
 1851  section.
 1852         (d)(e) The applicable license fee specified must be paid
 1853  before issuance of the temporary license.
 1854         (e)(f) The temporary license is shall be effective for a
 1855  period of 1 year, but is subject to earlier termination at the
 1856  request of the employer, or if the licensee fails to take an
 1857  examination as an all-lines independent adjuster or company
 1858  employee adjuster within 6 months after issuance of the
 1859  temporary license, or if the temporary license is suspended or
 1860  revoked by the department.
 1861         (5) The department may shall not issue a temporary license
 1862  as an all-lines independent adjuster or as a company employee
 1863  adjuster to an any individual who has ever held such a license
 1864  in this state.
 1865         Section 40. Section 626.873, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
 1866         Section 41. Paragraph (e) of subsection (1) and subsection
 1867  (2) of section 626.8732, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 1868         626.8732 Nonresident public adjuster’s qualifications,
 1869  bond.—
 1870         (1) The department shall, upon application therefor, issue
 1871  a license to an applicant for a nonresident public adjuster’s
 1872  license upon determining that the applicant has paid the
 1873  applicable license fees required under s. 624.501 and:
 1874         (e) Has been licensed and employed as a public adjuster in
 1875  the applicant’s state of residence on a continual basis for the
 1876  past year 3 years, or, if the applicant’s state of residence
 1877  does not issue licenses to individuals who act as public
 1878  adjusters, the applicant has been licensed and employed as a
 1879  resident insurance company or independent adjuster, insurance
 1880  agent, insurance broker, or other insurance representative in
 1881  his or her state of residence or any other state on a continual
 1882  basis for the past year 3 years. This paragraph does not apply
 1883  to individuals who are licensed to transact only life insurance
 1884  and annuity business.
 1885         (2) The applicant shall furnish the following with his or
 1886  her application:
 1887         (a) A complete set of his or her fingerprints. The
 1888  applicant’s fingerprints must be certified by an authorized law
 1889  enforcement officer. The department may not authorize an
 1890  applicant to take the required examination or issue a
 1891  nonresident public adjuster’s license to the applicant until the
 1892  department has received a report from the Florida Department of
 1893  Law Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation relative
 1894  to the existence or nonexistence of a criminal history report
 1895  based on the applicant’s fingerprints.
 1896         (b) If currently licensed as a resident public adjuster in
 1897  the applicant’s state of residence, a certificate or letter of
 1898  authorization from the licensing authority of the applicant’s
 1899  state of residence, stating that the applicant holds a current
 1900  or comparable license to act as a public adjuster and has held
 1901  the license continuously for the past year 3 years. The
 1902  certificate or letter of authorization must be signed by the
 1903  insurance commissioner or his or her deputy or the appropriate
 1904  licensing official and must disclose whether the adjuster has
 1905  ever had any license or eligibility to hold any license
 1906  declined, denied, suspended, revoked, or placed on probation or
 1907  whether an administrative fine or penalty has been levied
 1908  against the adjuster and, if so, the reason for the action.
 1909         (c) If the applicant’s state of residence does not require
 1910  licensure as a public adjuster and the applicant has been
 1911  licensed as a resident insurance adjuster, agent, broker, or
 1912  other insurance representative in his or her state of residence
 1913  or any other state, a certificate or letter of authorization
 1914  from the licensing authority stating that the applicant holds or
 1915  has held a license to act as such an insurance adjuster, agent,
 1916  or other insurance representative and has held the license
 1917  continuously for the past year 3 years. The certificate or
 1918  letter of authorization must be signed by the insurance
 1919  commissioner or his or her deputy or the appropriate licensing
 1920  official and must disclose whether or not the adjuster, agent,
 1921  or other insurance representative has ever had any license or
 1922  eligibility to hold any license declined, denied, suspended,
 1923  revoked, or placed on probation or whether an administrative
 1924  fine or penalty has been levied against the adjuster and, if so,
 1925  the reason for the action.
 1926         Section 42. Section 626.8734, Florida Statutes, is amended
 1927  to read:
 1928         626.8734  Nonresident all-lines adjuster license
 1929  independent adjuster’s qualifications.—
 1930         (1) The department shall, upon application therefor, issue
 1931  a license to an applicant for a nonresident all-lines adjuster
 1932  independent adjuster’s license upon determining that the
 1933  applicant has paid the applicable license fees required under s.
 1934  624.501 and:
 1935         (a) Is a natural person at least 18 years of age.
 1936         (b) Has passed to the satisfaction of the department a
 1937  written Florida all-lines adjuster independent adjuster’s
 1938  examination of the scope prescribed in s. 626.241(6); however,
 1939  the requirement for the examination does not apply to any of the
 1940  following:
 1941         1. An applicant who is licensed as an all-lines a resident
 1942  independent adjuster in his or her home state if of residence
 1943  when that state has entered into requires the passing of a
 1944  written examination in order to obtain the license and a
 1945  reciprocal agreement with the appropriate official of that state
 1946  has been entered into by the department; or
 1947         2. An applicant who is licensed as a nonresident all-lines
 1948  independent adjuster in a state other than his or her home state
 1949  of residence when the state of licensure requires the passing of
 1950  a written examination in order to obtain the license and a
 1951  reciprocal agreement with the appropriate official of the state
 1952  of licensure has been entered into with by the department.
 1953         (c) Is licensed as an all-lines adjuster and is self
 1954  appointed, or appointed and employed by an independent adjusting
 1955  firm or other independent adjuster, or is an employee of an
 1956  insurer admitted to do business in this state, a wholly owned
 1957  subsidiary of an insurer admitted to business in this state, or
 1958  other insurers under the common control or ownership of such
 1959  insurers self-employed or associated with or employed by an
 1960  independent adjusting firm or other independent adjuster.
 1961  Applicants licensed as nonresident all-lines independent
 1962  adjusters under this section must be appointed as an independent
 1963  adjuster or company employee adjuster such in accordance with
 1964  the provisions of ss. 626.112 and 626.451. Appointment fees as
 1965  in the amount specified in s. 624.501 must be paid to the
 1966  department in advance. The appointment of a nonresident
 1967  independent adjuster continues shall continue in force until
 1968  suspended, revoked, or otherwise terminated, but is subject to
 1969  biennial renewal or continuation by the licensee in accordance
 1970  with procedures prescribed in s. 626.381 for licensees in
 1971  general.
 1972         (d) Is trustworthy and has such business reputation as
 1973  would reasonably ensure assure that he or she will conduct his
 1974  or her business as a nonresident all-lines independent adjuster
 1975  fairly and in good faith and without detriment to the public.
 1976         (e) Has had sufficient experience, training, or instruction
 1977  concerning the adjusting of damages or losses under insurance
 1978  contracts, other than life and annuity contracts; is
 1979  sufficiently informed as to the terms and effects of the
 1980  provisions of those types of insurance contracts; and possesses
 1981  adequate knowledge of the laws of this state relating to such
 1982  contracts as to enable and qualify him or her to engage in the
 1983  business of insurance adjuster fairly and without injury to the
 1984  public or any member thereof with whom he or she may have
 1985  business as an all-lines independent adjuster.
 1986         (2) The applicant must shall furnish the following with his
 1987  or her application:
 1988         (a) A complete set of his or her fingerprints. The
 1989  applicant’s fingerprints must be certified by an authorized law
 1990  enforcement officer.
 1991         (b) If currently licensed as an all-lines a resident
 1992  independent adjuster in the applicant’s home state of residence,
 1993  a certificate or letter of authorization from the licensing
 1994  authority of the applicant’s home state of residence, stating
 1995  that the applicant holds a current license to act as an all
 1996  lines independent adjuster. The Such certificate or letter of
 1997  authorization must be signed by the insurance commissioner, or
 1998  his or her deputy or the appropriate licensing official, and
 1999  must disclose whether the adjuster has ever had a any license or
 2000  eligibility to hold any license declined, denied, suspended,
 2001  revoked, or placed on probation or whether an administrative
 2002  fine or penalty has been levied against the adjuster and, if so,
 2003  the reason for the action. Such certificate or letter is not
 2004  required if the nonresident applicant’s licensing status can be
 2005  verified through the Producer Database maintained by the
 2006  National Association of Insurance Commissioners, its affiliates,
 2007  or subsidiaries.
 2008         (c) If the applicant’s home state of residence does not
 2009  require licensure as an all-lines independent adjuster and the
 2010  applicant has been licensed as a resident insurance adjuster,
 2011  agent, broker, or other insurance representative in his or her
 2012  home state of residence or any other state within the past 3
 2013  years, a certificate or letter of authorization from the
 2014  licensing authority stating that the applicant holds or has held
 2015  a license to act as an insurance adjuster, agent, or other
 2016  insurance representative. The certificate or letter of
 2017  authorization must be signed by the insurance commissioner, or
 2018  his or her deputy or the appropriate licensing official, and
 2019  must disclose whether the adjuster, agent, or other insurance
 2020  representative has ever had a any license or eligibility to hold
 2021  any license declined, denied, suspended, revoked, or placed on
 2022  probation or whether an administrative fine or penalty has been
 2023  levied against the adjuster and, if so, the reason for the
 2024  action. Such certificate or letter is not required if the
 2025  nonresident applicant’s licensing status can be verified through
 2026  the Producer Database maintained by the National Association of
 2027  Insurance Commissioners, its affiliates, or subsidiaries.
 2028         (3) The usual and customary records pertaining to
 2029  transactions under the license of a nonresident all-lines
 2030  independent adjuster must be retained for at least 3 years after
 2031  completion of the adjustment and must be made available in this
 2032  state to the department upon request. The failure of a
 2033  nonresident all-lines independent adjuster to properly maintain
 2034  records and make them available to the department upon request
 2035  constitutes grounds for the immediate suspension of the license
 2036  issued under this section.
 2037         (4) After licensure as a nonresident independent adjuster,
 2038  As a condition of doing business in this state as a nonresident
 2039  independent adjuster, the appointee must licensee must annually
 2040  on or before January 1, on a form prescribed by the department,
 2041  submit an affidavit to the department certifying that the
 2042  licensee is familiar with and understands the insurance laws and
 2043  administrative rules of this state and the provisions of the
 2044  contracts negotiated or to be negotiated. Compliance with this
 2045  filing requirement is a condition precedent to the issuance,
 2046  continuation, reinstatement, or renewal of a nonresident
 2047  independent adjuster’s appointment.
 2048         Section 43. Section 626.8736, Florida Statutes, is amended
 2049  to read:
 2050         626.8736 Nonresident independent or public adjusters;
 2051  service of process.—
 2052         (1) Each licensed nonresident independent or public
 2053  adjuster or all-lines adjuster appointed as an independent
 2054  adjuster shall appoint the Chief Financial Officer and his or
 2055  her successors in office as his or her attorney to receive
 2056  service of legal process issued against such the nonresident
 2057  independent or public adjuster in this state, upon causes of
 2058  action arising within this state out of transactions under his
 2059  license and appointment. Service upon the Chief Financial
 2060  Officer as attorney constitutes shall constitute effective legal
 2061  service upon the nonresident independent or public adjuster.
 2062         (2) The appointment of the Chief Financial Officer for
 2063  service of process is shall be irrevocable for as long as there
 2064  could be any cause of action against the nonresident independent
 2065  or public adjuster or all-lines adjuster appointed as an
 2066  independent adjuster arising out of his or her insurance
 2067  transactions in this state.
 2068         (3) Duplicate copies of legal process against the
 2069  nonresident independent or public adjuster or all-lines adjuster
 2070  appointed as an independent adjuster shall be served upon the
 2071  Chief Financial Officer by a person competent to serve a
 2072  summons.
 2073         (4) Upon receiving the service, the Chief Financial Officer
 2074  shall forthwith send one of the copies of the process, by
 2075  registered mail with return receipt requested, to the defendant
 2076  nonresident independent or public adjuster or all-lines adjuster
 2077  appointed as an independent adjuster at his or her last address
 2078  of record with the department.
 2079         (5) The Chief Financial Officer shall keep a record of the
 2080  day and hour of service upon him or her of all legal process
 2081  received under this section.
 2082         Section 44. Subsection (1) of section 626.874, Florida
 2083  Statutes, is amended to read:
 2084         626.874 Catastrophe or emergency adjusters.—
 2085         (1) In the event of a catastrophe or emergency, the
 2086  department may issue a license, for the purposes and under the
 2087  conditions which it shall fix and for the period of emergency as
 2088  it shall determine, to persons who are residents or nonresidents
 2089  of this state, who are at least 18 years of age, who are United
 2090  States citizens or legal aliens who possess work authorization
 2091  from the United States Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration
 2092  Services, and who are not licensed adjusters under this part but
 2093  who have been designated and certified to it as qualified to act
 2094  as adjusters by all-lines independent resident adjusters, or by
 2095  an authorized insurer, or by a licensed general lines agent to
 2096  adjust claims, losses, or damages under policies or contracts of
 2097  insurance issued by such insurers. The fee for the license is
 2098  shall be as provided in s. 624.501(12)(c).
 2099         Section 45. Subsection (1) of section 626.875, Florida
 2100  Statutes, is amended to read:
 2101         626.875 Office and records.—
 2102         (1) Each appointed Every licensed independent adjuster and
 2103  every licensed public adjuster must shall have and maintain in
 2104  this state a place of business in this state which is accessible
 2105  to the public and keep therein the usual and customary records
 2106  pertaining to transactions under the license. This provision
 2107  does shall not be deemed to prohibit maintenance of such an
 2108  office in the home of the licensee.
 2109         Section 46. Section 626.876, Florida Statutes, is amended
 2110  to read:
 2111         626.876 Exclusive employment; public adjusters, independent
 2112  adjusters.—
 2113         (1) An No individual licensed and appointed as a public
 2114  adjuster may not shall be so employed during the same period by
 2115  more than one public adjuster or public adjuster firm or
 2116  corporation.
 2117         (2) An No individual licensed as an all-lines adjuster and
 2118  appointed as an independent adjuster may not shall be so
 2119  employed during the same period by more than one independent
 2120  adjuster or independent adjuster firm or corporation.
 2121         Section 47. Subsection (2) of section 626.8796, Florida
 2122  Statutes, is amended to read:
 2123         626.8796 Public adjuster contracts; fraud statement.—
 2124         (2) A public adjuster contract relating to a property and
 2125  casualty claim must contain the full name, permanent business
 2126  address, and license number of the public adjuster; the full
 2127  name of the public adjusting firm; and the insured’s full name
 2128  and street address, together with a brief description of the
 2129  loss. The contract must state the percentage of compensation for
 2130  the public adjuster’s services; the type of claim, including an
 2131  emergency claim, nonemergency claim, or supplemental claim; the
 2132  signatures of the public adjuster and all named insureds; and
 2133  the signature date. If all of the named insureds’ signatures are
 2134  not available, the public adjuster must submit an affidavit
 2135  signed by the available named insureds attesting that they have
 2136  authority to enter into the contract and settle all claim issues
 2137  on behalf of the named insureds. An unaltered copy of the
 2138  executed contract must be remitted to the insurer within 30 days
 2139  after execution. A public adjusting firm that adjusts claims
 2140  primarily for commercial entities with operations in more than
 2141  one state and that does not directly or indirectly perform
 2142  adjusting services for insurers or individual homeowners is
 2143  deemed to comply with the requirements of this subsection if, at
 2144  the time a proof of loss is submitted, the public adjusting firm
 2145  remits to the insurer an affidavit signed by the public adjuster
 2146  or public adjuster apprentice that identifies:
 2147         (a) The full name, permanent business address, and license
 2148  number of the public adjuster or public adjuster apprentice.
 2149         (b) The full name of the public adjusting firm.
 2150         (c) The insured’s full name and street address, together
 2151  with a brief description of the loss.
 2152         (d) An attestation that the compensation for public
 2153  adjusting services will not exceed the limitations provided by
 2154  law.
 2155         (e) The type of claim, including an emergency claim,
 2156  nonemergency claim, or supplemental claim.
 2157         Section 48. Subsections (5), (6), and (7) of section
 2158  626.927, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 2159         626.927 Licensing of surplus lines agent.—
 2160         (5) The applicant must file and thereafter maintain the
 2161  bond as required under s. 626.928.
 2162         (5)(6) Examinations as to surplus lines, as required under
 2163  subsections (1) and (2), are shall be subject to the provisions
 2164  of part I as applicable to applicants for licenses in general.
 2165  No such examination shall be required as to persons who held a
 2166  Florida surplus lines agent’s license as of January 1, 1959,
 2167  except when examinations subsequent to issuance of an initial
 2168  license are provided for in general under part I.
 2169         (6)(7)An Any individual who has been licensed by the
 2170  department as a surplus lines agent as provided in this section
 2171  may be subsequently appointed without additional written
 2172  examination if his or her application for appointment is filed
 2173  with the department within 48 months after next following the
 2174  date of cancellation or expiration of the prior appointment. The
 2175  department may, in its discretion, require an any individual to
 2176  take and successfully pass an examination as for original
 2177  issuance of license as a condition precedent to the
 2178  reinstatement or continuation of the licensee’s current license
 2179  or reinstatement or continuation of the licensee’s appointment.
 2180         Section 49. Section 626.928, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
 2181         Section 50. Section 626.933, Florida Statutes, is amended
 2182  to read:
 2183         626.933 Collection of tax and service fee.—If the tax or
 2184  service fee payable by a surplus lines agent under the this
 2185  Surplus Lines Law is not so paid within the time prescribed, it
 2186  the same shall be recoverable in a suit brought by the
 2187  department against the surplus lines agent and the surety or
 2188  sureties on the bond filed by the surplus lines agent under s.
 2189  626.928. The department may authorize the Florida Surplus Lines
 2190  Service Office to file suit on its behalf. All costs and
 2191  expenses incurred in a suit brought by the office which are not
 2192  recoverable from the agent or surety shall be borne by the
 2193  office.
 2194         Section 51. Subsection (1) of section 626.935, Florida
 2195  Statutes, is amended to read:
 2196         626.935 Suspension, revocation, or refusal of surplus lines
 2197  agent’s license.—
 2198         (1) The department shall deny an application for, suspend,
 2199  revoke, or refuse to renew the appointment of a surplus lines
 2200  agent and all other licenses and appointments held by the
 2201  licensee under this code, on upon any of the following grounds:
 2202         (a) Removal of the licensee’s office from the licensee’s
 2203  state of residence.
 2204         (b) Removal of the accounts and records of his or her
 2205  surplus lines business from this state or the licensee’s state
 2206  of residence during the period when such accounts and records
 2207  are required to be maintained under s. 626.930.
 2208         (c) Closure of the licensee’s office for a period of more
 2209  than 30 consecutive days.
 2210         (d) Failure to make and file his or her affidavit or
 2211  reports when due as required by s. 626.931.
 2212         (e) Failure to pay the tax or service fee on surplus lines
 2213  premiums, as provided for in the this Surplus Lines Law.
 2214         (f) Failure to maintain the bond as required by s. 626.928.
 2215         (f)(g) Suspension, revocation, or refusal to renew or
 2216  continue the license or appointment as a general lines agent,
 2217  service representative, or managing general agent.
 2218         (g)(h) Lack of qualifications as for an original surplus
 2219  lines agent’s license.
 2220         (h)(i) Violation of this Surplus Lines Law.
 2221         (i)(j) For any other applicable cause for which the license
 2222  of a general lines agent could be suspended, revoked, or refused
 2223  under s. 626.611 or s. 626.621.
 2224         Section 52. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section
 2225  627.952, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 2226         627.952 Risk retention and purchasing group agents.—
 2227         (1) Any person offering, soliciting, selling, purchasing,
 2228  administering, or otherwise servicing insurance contracts,
 2229  certificates, or agreements for any purchasing group or risk
 2230  retention group to any resident of this state, either directly
 2231  or indirectly, by the use of mail, advertising, or other means
 2232  of communication, shall obtain a license and appointment to act
 2233  as a resident general lines agent, if a resident of this state,
 2234  or a nonresident general lines agent if not a resident. Any such
 2235  person shall be subject to all requirements of the Florida
 2236  Insurance Code.
 2237         (b) Any person required to be licensed and appointed under
 2238  by this subsection, in order to place business through Florida
 2239  eligible surplus lines carriers, must shall, if a resident of
 2240  this state, be licensed and appointed as a surplus lines agent.
 2241  Any such person, If not a resident of this state, such person
 2242  must shall be licensed and appointed as a surplus lines agent in
 2243  her or his state of residence and shall file and thereafter
 2244  maintain a fidelity bond in favor of the people of the State of
 2245  Florida executed by a surety company admitted in this state and
 2246  payable to the State of Florida; provided, however, any
 2247  activities carried out by such nonresident is pursuant to this
 2248  part shall be limited to the provision of insurance for
 2249  purchasing groups. The bond must shall be continuous in form and
 2250  maintained in the amount of not less than $50,000, aggregate
 2251  liability set out in s. 626.928. The bond must shall remain in
 2252  force and effect until the surety is released from liability by
 2253  the department or until the bond is canceled by the surety. The
 2254  surety may cancel the bond and be released from further
 2255  liability thereunder upon 30 days’ prior written notice to the
 2256  department. The cancellation does shall not affect any liability
 2257  incurred or accrued thereunder before the termination of the 30
 2258  day period. Upon receipt of a notice of cancellation, the
 2259  department shall immediately notify the agent.
 2260         Section 53. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 635.051,
 2261  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 2262         635.051 Licensing and appointment of mortgage guaranty
 2263  insurance agents.—
 2264         (1) Effective October 1, 2012, a person may not transact
 2265  mortgage guaranty insurance unless licensed and appointed as a
 2266  credit insurance agent in accordance with the applicable
 2267  provisions of the insurance code. Mortgage guaranty licenses
 2268  held by persons on October 1, 2012, shall be transferred to a
 2269  credit insurance agent license. Persons who wish to obtain a new
 2270  license identification card that reflects this change must
 2271  submit the $5 fee as prescribed in s. 624.501(15). Agents of
 2272  mortgage guaranty insurers shall be licensed and appointed and
 2273  shall be subject to the same qualifications and requirements
 2274  applicable to general lines agents under the laws of this state,
 2275  except that:
 2276         (a) Particular preliminary specialized education or
 2277  training is not required of an applicant for such an agent’s
 2278  license, and continuing education is not required for renewal of
 2279  the agent’s appointment if, as part of the application for
 2280  license and appointment, the insurer guarantees that the
 2281  applicant will receive the necessary training to enable him or
 2282  her properly to hold himself or herself out to the public as a
 2283  mortgage guaranty insurance agent and if the department, in its
 2284  discretion, accepts such guaranty;
 2285         (b) The agent’s license and appointment shall be a limited
 2286  license, limited to the handling of mortgage guaranty insurance
 2287  only; and
 2288         (c) An examination may be required of an applicant for such
 2289  a license if the insurer fails to provide the guaranty described
 2290  in paragraph (a).
 2291         (2) Any general lines agent licensed under chapter 626 is
 2292  qualified to represent a mortgage guaranty insurer without
 2293  additional licensure examination.
 2294         Section 54. Subsection (1) of section 648.34, Florida
 2295  Statutes, is amended to read:
 2296         648.34 Bail bond agents; qualifications.—
 2297         (1) An application for licensure as a bail bond agent must
 2298  be submitted on forms prescribed by the department. The
 2299  application must include the applicant’s full name; date of
 2300  birth; social security number; residence, business, and mailing
 2301  addresses; contact telephone numbers, including a business
 2302  telephone number; and e-mail address.
 2303         Section 55. Subsection (2) of section 648.38, Florida
 2304  Statutes, is amended to read:
 2305         648.38 Licensure examination for bail bond agents; time;
 2306  place; fees; scope.—
 2307         (2) The department or a person designated by the department
 2308  shall provide mail written notice of the time and place of the
 2309  examination to each applicant for licensure required to take an
 2310  examination who will be eligible to take the examination as of
 2311  the examination date. The notice shall be e-mailed so mailed,
 2312  postage prepaid, and addressed to the applicant at the e-mail
 2313  his or her address shown on his or her application for licensure
 2314  or at such other address as requested by the applicant in
 2315  writing filed with the department prior to the mailing of the
 2316  notice. Notice shall be deemed given when so mailed.
 2317         Section 56. Section 648.385, Florida Statutes, is amended
 2318  to read:
 2319         648.385 Continuing education required; application;
 2320  exceptions; requirements; penalties.—
 2321         (1) The purpose of this section is to establish
 2322  requirements and standards for continuing education courses for
 2323  persons authorized to write bail bonds in this state.
 2324         (2)(a) Each person subject to the provisions of this
 2325  chapter must complete a minimum of 14 hours of continuing
 2326  education courses every 2 years as specified in s. 626.2815 in
 2327  courses approved by the department. Compliance with continuing
 2328  education requirements is a condition precedent to the issuance,
 2329  continuation, or renewal of any appointment subject to the
 2330  provisions of this chapter.
 2331         (b) A person teaching any approved course of instruction or
 2332  lecturing at any approved seminar and attending the entire
 2333  course or seminar shall qualify for the same number of classroom
 2334  hours as would be granted to a person taking and successfully
 2335  completing such course, seminar, or program. Credit shall be
 2336  limited to the number of hours actually taught unless a person
 2337  attends the entire course or seminar.
 2338         (c) For good cause shown, the department may grant an
 2339  extension of time during which the requirements imposed by this
 2340  section may be completed, but such extension of time may not
 2341  exceed 1 year.
 2342         (3)(a) Any bail-related course developed or sponsored by
 2343  any authorized insurer or recognized bail bond agents’
 2344  association, or any independent study program of instruction,
 2345  subject to approval by the department, qualifies for the
 2346  equivalency of the number of classroom hours assigned to such
 2347  course by the department. However, unless otherwise provided in
 2348  this section, continuing education credit may not be credited
 2349  toward meeting the requirements of this section unless the
 2350  course is provided by classroom instruction or results in a
 2351  monitored examination.
 2352         (b) Each person or entity sponsoring a course for
 2353  continuing education credit must furnish, within 30 days after
 2354  completion of the course, in a form satisfactory to the
 2355  department or its designee, a written and certified roster
 2356  showing the name and license number of all persons successfully
 2357  completing such course and requesting credit, accompanied by the
 2358  required fee. The department shall refuse to issue, continue, or
 2359  renew the appointment of any bail bond agent who has not had the
 2360  continuing education requirements certified unless the agent has
 2361  been granted an extension by the department.
 2362         Section 57. Section 648.421, Florida Statutes, is amended
 2363  to read:
 2364         648.421 Notice of change of address or telephone number.
 2365  Each licensee under this chapter shall notify in writing the
 2366  department, insurer, managing general agent, and the clerk of
 2367  each court in which the licensee is registered within 10 working
 2368  days after a change in the licensee’s principal business address
 2369  or telephone number. The licensee shall also notify the
 2370  department within 10 working days after a change of the name,
 2371  address, or telephone number of each agency or firm for which he
 2372  or she writes bonds and any change in the licensee’s name, home
 2373  address, e-mail address, or telephone number.
 2374         Section 58. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
 2375  act, this act shall take effect October 1, 2012.
 2376  
 2377  ================= T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================
 2378         And the title is amended as follows:
 2379         Delete everything before the enacting clause
 2380  and insert:
 2381                        A bill to be entitled                      
 2382         An act relating to insurance agents and adjusters;
 2383         amending s. 626.015, F.S.; revising the definitions of
 2384         “adjuster” and “home state”; amending s. 626.0428,
 2385         F.S.; revising provisions relating to who may bind
 2386         insurance coverage; amending s. 626.171, F.S.;
 2387         providing that an applicant is responsible for the
 2388         information in an application even if completed by a
 2389         third party; requiring an application to include a
 2390         statement about the method used to meet certain
 2391         requirements; amending s. 626.191, F.S.; revising
 2392         provisions relating to when an applicant may apply for
 2393         a license after an initial application is denied by
 2394         the Department of Financial Services; amending s.
 2395         626.221, F.S.; revising provisions relating to license
 2396         examinations; conforming provisions relating to all
 2397         lines adjusters; deleting an exemption from
 2398         examination for certain adjusters; amending s.
 2399         626.231, F.S.; providing for submitting an application
 2400         for examination on a designee’s website; amending s.
 2401         626.241, F.S.; revising the scope of the examination
 2402         for an all-lines adjuster; amending s. 626.251, F.S.;
 2403         providing for e-mailing notices of examinations;
 2404         amending s. 626.281, F.S.; specifying how many times
 2405         an applicant may take an examination during a year;
 2406         amending s. 626.2815, F.S.; revising provisions
 2407         relating to continuing education requirements;
 2408         providing that persons on active military duty may
 2409         seek a waiver; providing for an update course and the
 2410         contents of such course; deleting requirements
 2411         relating specifically to certain types of insurance;
 2412         providing education requirements for bail bond agents
 2413         and public adjusters; eliminating the continuing
 2414         education advisory board; amending s. 626.292, F.S.;
 2415         conforming provisions to changes made by the act
 2416         relating to all-lines adjusters; amending s. 626.311,
 2417         F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act
 2418         relating to limited licenses; amending s. 626.321,
 2419         F.S.; revising provisions relating to limited
 2420         licenses; prohibiting the future issuance of new
 2421         limited licenses for motor vehicle physical damage and
 2422         mechanical breakdown insurance; combining limited
 2423         licenses relating to credit insurance; specifying
 2424         events covered by crop hail and multiple-peril crop
 2425         insurance; revising in-transit and storage personal
 2426         property insurance to create a limited license for
 2427         portable electronics insurance; amending s. 626.342,
 2428         F.S.; clarifying that the prohibition relating to the
 2429         furnishing of supplies to unlicensed agents applies to
 2430         all unlicensed agents; amending s. 626.381, F.S.;
 2431         revising provisions relating to the reporting of
 2432         administrative actions; amending s. 626.536, F.S.;
 2433         clarifying requirements for reporting administrative
 2434         actions taken against a licensee; amending s. 626.551,
 2435         F.S.; shortening the time within which a licensee must
 2436         report to the department a change in certain
 2437         information; authorizing the Department of Financial
 2438         Services to adopt rules relating to notification of a
 2439         change of address; amending s. 626.621, F.S.; adding
 2440         failure to comply with child support requirements as
 2441         grounds for action against a license; amending s.
 2442         626.641, F.S.; clarifying provisions relating to the
 2443         suspension or revocation of a license or appointment;
 2444         amending s. 626.651, F.S.; revising provisions
 2445         relating to the suspension or revocation of licenses;
 2446         amending ss. 626.730 and 626.732, F.S.; revising
 2447         provisions relating to the purpose of the general
 2448         lines and personal lines license and certain
 2449         requirements related to general lines and personal
 2450         lines agents; conforming provisions to changes made by
 2451         the act relating to limited licenses; amending s.
 2452         626.8411, F.S.; revising requirements and exemptions
 2453         relating to title insurance agents or agencies;
 2454         amending s. 626.8419, F.S.; requiring title insurance
 2455         agencies to obtain surety bonds payable to appointing
 2456         title insurers under certain circumstances; providing
 2457         that such surety bonds must require notification of
 2458         title insurers under certain circumstances; requiring
 2459         title insurance agencies to periodically provide
 2460         certain evidence relating to surety bonds; restricting
 2461         title insurers from providing surety bonds under
 2462         certain circumstances; creating s. 626.8548, F.S.;
 2463         defining the term “all-lines adjuster”; amending s.
 2464         626.855, F.S.; revising the definition of “independent
 2465         adjuster”; amending s. 626.856, F.S.; revising the
 2466         definition of “company employee adjuster”; repealing
 2467         s. 626.858, F.S., relating to defining “nonresident
 2468         company employee adjuster”; amending s. 626.8584,
 2469         F.S.; revising the definition of “nonresident all
 2470         lines adjuster”; amending s. 626.863, F.S.; conforming
 2471         provisions to changes made by the act relating to all
 2472         lines adjusters; amending s. 626.864, F.S.; revising
 2473         provisions relating to adjuster license types;
 2474         amending s. 626.865, F.S.; deleting the requirement
 2475         that an applicant for public adjuster be a resident of
 2476         the state; requiring an applicant for public adjuster
 2477         to be licensed as a public adjuster apprentice;
 2478         amending s. 626.8651, F.S.; deleting the requirement
 2479         that an applicant for public adjuster apprentice be a
 2480         resident of the state; providing that a limitation on
 2481         the number of public adjuster apprentices does not
 2482         apply to a public adjusting firm that adjusts claims
 2483         exclusively for institutions that service or guarantee
 2484         mortgages; amending s. 626.866, F.S.; conforming
 2485         provisions to changes made by the act relating to all
 2486         lines adjusters; repealing s. 626.867, F.S., relating
 2487         to qualifications for company employee adjusters;
 2488         amending s. 626.869, F.S.; revising provisions
 2489         relating to an all-lines adjuster license; ceasing the
 2490         issuance of certain adjuster licenses; revising
 2491         continuing education requirements; amending s.
 2492         626.8697, F.S.; revising provisions relating to the
 2493         violation of rules resulting in the suspension or
 2494         revocation of an adjuster’s license; amending s.
 2495         626.872, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made
 2496         by the act relating to all-lines adjusters; repealing
 2497         s. 626.873, F.S., relating to licensure for
 2498         nonresident company employee adjusters; amending s.
 2499         626.8732, F.S.; revising the requirements for
 2500         nonresident public adjuster licensure; amending s.
 2501         626.8734, F.S.; amending provisions relating to
 2502         nonresident all-lines adjusters; providing for
 2503         verifying an applicant’s status through the National
 2504         Association of Insurance Commissioners’ Producer
 2505         Database; amending ss. 626.8736, 626.874, 626.875, and
 2506         626.876, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made
 2507         by the act relating to all-lines adjusters; amending
 2508         s. 626.8796, F.S.; requiring a public adjusting firm
 2509         that adjusts claims exclusively for institutions that
 2510         guarantee or service mortgages to provide an affidavit
 2511         to an insurer with certain information; amending s.
 2512         626.927, F.S.; deleting a requirement that a licensed
 2513         surplus lines agent maintain a bond; repealing s.
 2514         626.928, F.S., relating to a surplus lines agent’s
 2515         bond; amending ss. 626.933, 626.935, and 627.952,
 2516         F.S.; conforming cross-references; amending s.
 2517         635.051, F.S.; requiring persons transacting mortgage
 2518         guaranty insurance to be licensed and appointed as a
 2519         credit insurance agent; amending s. 648.34, F.S.;
 2520         requiring application information for bail bond
 2521         agents; amending s. 648.38, F.S.; revising the notice
 2522         of examination requirements for bail bond agents;
 2523         amending s. 648.385, F.S.; revising continuing
 2524         education courses for bail bond agents, to conform to
 2525         changes made by the act; amending s. 648.421, F.S.;
 2526         requiring a bail bond agent to provide notification of
 2527         a change in his or her e-mail address; providing
 2528         effective dates.