Florida Senate - 2018                        COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
       Bill No. SB 1292
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                Ì928844FÎ928844                         
       
                              LEGISLATIVE ACTION                        
                    Senate             .             House              
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       The Committee on Banking and Insurance (Stargel) recommended the
       following:
       
    1         Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
    2  
    3         Delete everything after the enacting clause
    4  and insert:
    5         Section 1. Section 17.64, Florida Statutes, is amended to
    6  read:
    7         17.64 Division of Treasury to make reproductions of certain
    8  warrants, records, and documents.—
    9         (1) Electronic images, photographs, microphotographs, or
   10  reproductions on film of warrants, vouchers, or checks are shall
   11  be deemed to be original records for all purposes; and any copy
   12  or reproduction thereof made from such original film, duly
   13  certified by the Division of Treasury as a true and correct copy
   14  or reproduction made from such film, is shall be deemed to be a
   15  transcript, exemplification, or certified copy of the original
   16  warrant, voucher, or check such copy represents, and must shall
   17  in all cases and in all courts and places be admitted and
   18  received in evidence with the like force and effect as the
   19  original thereof might be.
   20         (2) The Division of Treasury may electronically photograph,
   21  microphotograph, or reproduce on film, all records and documents
   22  of the division, as the Chief Financial Officer, in his or her
   23  discretion, selects; and the division may destroy any such
   24  documents or records after they have been reproduced
   25  electronically photographed and filed and after audit of the
   26  division has been completed for the period embracing the dates
   27  of such documents and records.
   28         (3) Electronic copies Photographs or microphotographs in
   29  the form of film or prints of any records made in compliance
   30  with the provisions of this section shall have the same force
   31  and effect as the originals thereof would have, and must shall
   32  be treated as originals for the purpose of their admissibility
   33  in evidence. Duly certified or authenticated reproductions of
   34  such electronic images must photographs or microphotographs
   35  shall be admitted in evidence equally with the original
   36  electronic images photographs or microphotographs.
   37         Section 2. Paragraph (e) of subsection (2) of section
   38  20.121, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   39         20.121 Department of Financial Services.—There is created a
   40  Department of Financial Services.
   41         (2) DIVISIONS.—The Department of Financial Services shall
   42  consist of the following divisions and office:
   43         (e) The Division of Investigative and Forensic Services,
   44  which shall function as a criminal justice agency for purposes
   45  of ss. 943.045-943.08. The division may conduct investigations
   46  within or outside of this state as it deems necessary. If,
   47  during an investigation, the division has reason to believe that
   48  any criminal law of this state has or may have been violated, it
   49  shall refer any records tending to show such violation to state
   50  or federal law enforcement or prosecutorial agencies and shall
   51  provide investigative assistance to those agencies as required.
   52  The division shall include the following bureaus and office:
   53         1. The Bureau of Forensic Services;
   54         2. The Bureau of Fire, and Arson, and Explosives
   55  Investigations; and
   56         3. The Office of Fiscal Integrity, which shall have a
   57  separate budget;.
   58         4. The Bureau of Insurance Fraud; and
   59         5. The Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Fraud.
   60         Section 3. Subsection (1) of section 39.6035, Florida
   61  Statutes, is amended to read:
   62         39.6035 Transition plan.—
   63         (1) During the 180-day period after a child reaches 17
   64  years of age, the department and the community-based care
   65  provider, in collaboration with the caregiver and any other
   66  individual whom the child would like to include, shall assist
   67  the child in developing a transition plan. The required
   68  transition plan is in addition to standard case management
   69  requirements. The transition plan must address specific options
   70  for the child to use in obtaining services, including housing,
   71  health insurance, education, financial literacy, a driver
   72  license, and workforce support and employment services. The plan
   73  must also consider establishing and maintaining naturally
   74  occurring mentoring relationships and other personal support
   75  services. The transition plan may be as detailed as the child
   76  chooses. In developing the transition plan, the department and
   77  the community-based provider shall:
   78         (a) Provide the child with the documentation required
   79  pursuant to s. 39.701(3); and
   80         (b) Coordinate the transition plan with the independent
   81  living provisions in the case plan and, for a child with
   82  disabilities, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
   83  transition plan; and.
   84         (c)Provide information for the financial literacy
   85  curriculum for foster youth offered by the Department of
   86  Financial Services, and require completion of the curriculum
   87  with a passing score before receiving aftercare services or
   88  continuing care services as attested by the child’s guardian ad
   89  litem.
   90         Section 4. Subsection (2) of section 39.6251, Florida
   91  Statutes, is amended to read:
   92         39.6251 Continuing care for young adults.—
   93         (2) The primary goal for a child in care is permanency. A
   94  child who is living in licensed care on his or her 18th birthday
   95  and who has not achieved permanency under s. 39.621 is eligible
   96  to remain in licensed care under the jurisdiction of the court
   97  and in the care of the department. A child is eligible to remain
   98  in licensed care if he or she is:
   99         (a) Completing secondary education or a program leading to
  100  an equivalent credential;
  101         (b) Enrolled in an institution that provides postsecondary
  102  or vocational education;
  103         (c) Participating in a program or activity designed to
  104  promote or eliminate barriers to employment;
  105         (d) Employed for at least 80 hours per month; or
  106         (e) Completing the financial literacy curriculum for foster
  107  youth offered by the Department of Financial Services; or
  108         (f)(e) Unable to participate in programs or activities
  109  listed in paragraphs (a)-(e) (a)-(d) full time due to a
  110  physical, intellectual, emotional, or psychiatric condition that
  111  limits participation. Any such barrier to participation must be
  112  supported by documentation in the child’s case file or school or
  113  medical records of a physical, intellectual, or psychiatric
  114  condition that impairs the child’s ability to perform one or
  115  more life activities.
  116         Section 5. Section 218.32, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  117  read:
  118         218.32 Annual financial reports; local governmental
  119  entities; Florida Open Financial Statement System.—
  120         (1)(a) Each local governmental entity that is determined to
  121  be a reporting entity, as defined by generally accepted
  122  accounting principles, and each independent special district as
  123  defined in s. 189.012, shall submit to the department a copy of
  124  its annual financial report for the previous fiscal year in a
  125  format prescribed by the department. The annual financial report
  126  must include a list of each local governmental entity included
  127  in the report and each local governmental entity that failed to
  128  provide financial information as required by paragraph (b). The
  129  chair of the governing body and the chief financial officer of
  130  each local governmental entity shall sign the annual financial
  131  report submitted pursuant to this subsection attesting to the
  132  accuracy of the information included in the report. The county
  133  annual financial report must be a single document that covers
  134  each county agency.
  135         (b) Each component unit, as defined by generally accepted
  136  accounting principles, of a local governmental entity shall
  137  provide the local governmental entity, within a reasonable time
  138  period as established by the local governmental entity, with
  139  financial information necessary to comply with the reporting
  140  requirements contained in this section.
  141         (c) Each regional planning council created under s.
  142  186.504, each local government finance commission, board, or
  143  council, and each municipal power corporation created as a
  144  separate legal or administrative entity by interlocal agreement
  145  under s. 163.01(7) shall submit to the department a copy of its
  146  audit report and an annual financial report for the previous
  147  fiscal year in a format prescribed by the department.
  148         (d) Each local governmental entity that is required to
  149  provide for an audit under s. 218.39(1) must submit a copy of
  150  the audit report and annual financial report to the department
  151  within 45 days after the completion of the audit report but no
  152  later than 9 months after the end of the fiscal year.
  153         (e) Each local governmental entity that is not required to
  154  provide for an audit under s. 218.39 must submit the annual
  155  financial report to the department no later than 9 months after
  156  the end of the fiscal year. The department shall consult with
  157  the Auditor General in the development of the format of annual
  158  financial reports submitted pursuant to this paragraph. The
  159  format must include balance sheet information used by the
  160  Auditor General pursuant to s. 11.45(7)(f). The department must
  161  forward the financial information contained within the annual
  162  financial reports to the Auditor General in electronic form.
  163  This paragraph does not apply to housing authorities created
  164  under chapter 421.
  165         (f) If the department does not receive a completed annual
  166  financial report from a local governmental entity within the
  167  required period, it shall notify the Legislative Auditing
  168  Committee and the Special District Accountability Program of the
  169  Department of Economic Opportunity of the entity’s failure to
  170  comply with the reporting requirements.
  171         (g) Each local governmental entity’s website must provide a
  172  link to the department’s website to view the entity’s annual
  173  financial report submitted to the department pursuant to this
  174  section. If the local governmental entity does not have an
  175  official website, the county government’s website must provide
  176  the required link for the local governmental entity.
  177         (h)It is the intent of the Legislature to create the
  178  Florida Open Financial Statement System, an interactive
  179  repository for governmental financial statements.
  180         1.The Chief Financial Officer may consult with
  181  stakeholders, including the department, the Auditor General, a
  182  representative of a municipality or county, a representative of
  183  a special district, a municipal bond investor, and an
  184  information technology professional employed in the private
  185  sector, for input on the design and implementation of the
  186  Florida Open Financial Statement System.
  187         2.The Chief Financial Officer may choose contractors to
  188  build one or more eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL)
  189  taxonomies suitable for state, county, municipal, and special
  190  district financial filings and to create a software tool that
  191  enables financial statement filers to easily create XBRL
  192  documents consistent with the taxonomy or taxonomies. The Chief
  193  Financial Officer shall recruit and select contractors through
  194  an open request for proposals process pursuant to chapter 287.
  195         3.The Chief Financial Officer shall require all work to be
  196  completed no later than December 31, 2021.
  197         4.If the Chief Financial Officer deems the work products
  198  adequate, all local governmental financial statements pertaining
  199  to fiscal years ending on or after January 1, 2023, must be
  200  filed in XBRL format and must meet the validation requirements
  201  of the relevant taxonomy.
  202         5.A local government that commences filing in XBRL format
  203  may not be required to make filings in Portable Document Format.
  204         (2) The department shall annually by December 1 file a
  205  verified report with the Governor, the Legislature, the Auditor
  206  General, and the Special District Accountability Program of the
  207  Department of Economic Opportunity showing the revenues, both
  208  locally derived and derived from intergovernmental transfers,
  209  and the expenditures of each local governmental entity, regional
  210  planning council, local government finance commission, and
  211  municipal power corporation that is required to submit an annual
  212  financial report. The report must include, but is not limited
  213  to:
  214         (a) The total revenues and expenditures of each local
  215  governmental entity that is a component unit included in the
  216  annual financial report of the reporting entity.
  217         (b) The amount of outstanding long-term debt by each local
  218  governmental entity. For purposes of this paragraph, the term
  219  “long-term debt” means any agreement or series of agreements to
  220  pay money, which, at inception, contemplate terms of payment
  221  exceeding 1 year in duration.
  222         (3) The department shall notify the President of the Senate
  223  and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of any
  224  municipality that has not reported any financial activity for
  225  the last 4 fiscal years. Such notice must be sufficient to
  226  initiate dissolution procedures as described in s.
  227  165.051(1)(a). Any special law authorizing the incorporation or
  228  creation of the municipality must be included within the
  229  notification.
  230         Section 6. For the 2018-2019 fiscal year, the sum of
  231  $500,000 is appropriated from the General Revenue Fund to the
  232  Chief Financial Officer for the development of XBRL taxonomies
  233  for state, county, municipal, and special district financial
  234  filings.
  235         Section 7. Section 284.40, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  236  read:
  237         284.40 Division of Risk Management; disclosure of certain
  238  workers’ compensation-related information by the Department of
  239  Financial Services.—
  240         (1) It shall be the responsibility of the Division of Risk
  241  Management of the Department of Financial Services to administer
  242  this part and the provisions of s. 287.131.
  243         (2) The claim files maintained by the Division of Risk
  244  Management shall be confidential, shall be only for the usage by
  245  the Department of Financial Services in fulfilling its duties
  246  and responsibilities under this part, and shall be exempt from
  247  the provisions of s. 119.07(1).
  248         (3) Upon certification by the division director or his or
  249  her designee to the custodian of any records maintained by the
  250  Department of Children and Families, Department of Health,
  251  Agency for Health Care Administration, or Department of Elderly
  252  Affairs that such records are necessary to investigate a claim
  253  against the Department of Children and Families, Department of
  254  Health, Agency for Health Care Administration, or Department of
  255  Elderly Affairs being handled by the Division of Risk
  256  Management, the records shall be released to the division
  257  subject to the provisions of subsection (2), any conflicting
  258  provisions as to the confidentiality of such records
  259  notwithstanding.
  260         (4) Notwithstanding s. 440.1851, the Department of
  261  Financial Services may disclose the personal identifying
  262  information of an injured or deceased employee to a department
  263  contracted vendor for the purpose of ascertaining a claimant’s
  264  claims history to investigate the compensability of a claim or
  265  to identify and prevent fraud.
  266         Section 8. Section 284.50, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  267  read:
  268         284.50 Loss prevention program; safety coordinators;
  269  Interagency Advisory Council on Loss Prevention; employee
  270  recognition program; return-to-work programs; risk management
  271  programs.—
  272         (1) The head of each department of state government, except
  273  the Legislature, shall designate a safety coordinator. Such
  274  safety coordinator must be an employee of the department and
  275  must hold a position which has responsibilities comparable to
  276  those of an employee in the Senior Management System. The
  277  Department of Financial Services shall provide appropriate
  278  training to the safety coordinators to permit them to
  279  effectively perform their duties within their respective
  280  departments. Within 1 year after being appointed by his or her
  281  department head, the safety coordinator shall complete safety
  282  coordinator training offered by the Department of Financial
  283  Services. Each safety coordinator shall, at the direction of his
  284  or her department head:
  285         (a) Develop and implement the loss prevention program, a
  286  comprehensive departmental safety program which shall include a
  287  statement of safety policy and responsibility.
  288         (b) Provide for regular and periodic facility and equipment
  289  inspections.
  290         (c) Investigate job-related employee accidents of his or
  291  her department.
  292         (d) Establish a program to promote increased safety
  293  awareness among employees.
  294         (2) There shall be an Interagency Advisory Council on Loss
  295  Prevention composed of the safety coordinators from each
  296  department and representatives designated by the Division of
  297  State Fire Marshal and the Division of Risk Management. The
  298  chair of the council is shall be the Director of the Division of
  299  Risk Management or his or her designee. The council shall meet
  300  at least quarterly to discuss safety problems within state
  301  government, to attempt to find solutions for these problems,
  302  and, when possible, to assist in the implementation of the
  303  solutions. If the safety coordinator of a department or office
  304  is unable to attend a council meeting, an alternate, selected by
  305  the department head or his or her designee, shall attend the
  306  meeting to represent and provide input for that department or
  307  office on the council. The council is further authorized to
  308  provide for the recognition of employees, agents, and volunteers
  309  who make exceptional contributions to the reduction and control
  310  of employment-related accidents. The necessary expenses for the
  311  administration of this program of recognition shall be
  312  considered an authorized administrative expense payable from the
  313  State Risk Management Trust Fund.
  314         (3) The Department of Financial Services and all agencies
  315  that are provided workers’ compensation insurance coverage by
  316  the State Risk Management Trust Fund and employ more than 3,000
  317  full-time employees shall establish and maintain return-to-work
  318  programs for employees who are receiving workers’ compensation
  319  benefits. The programs must shall have the primary goal of
  320  enabling injured workers to remain at work or return to work to
  321  perform job duties within the physical or mental functional
  322  limitations and restrictions established by the workers’
  323  treating physicians. If no limitation or restriction is
  324  established in writing by a worker’s treating physician, the
  325  worker is shall be deemed to be able to fully perform the same
  326  work duties he or she performed before the injury. Agencies
  327  employing more than 3,000 full-time employees shall report
  328  return-to-work information to the Department of Financial
  329  Services to support the Department of Financial Services’
  330  mandatory reporting requirements on agency return-to-work
  331  efforts under s. 284.42(1)(b).
  332         (4) The Division of Risk Management shall evaluate each
  333  agency’s risk management programs, including, but not limited
  334  to, return-to-work, safety, and loss prevention programs, at
  335  least once every 5 years. Reports, including, but not limited
  336  to, any recommended corrective action, resulting from such
  337  evaluations must shall be provided to the head of the agency
  338  being evaluated, the Chief Financial Officer, and the director
  339  of the Division of Risk Management. The agency head must provide
  340  to the Division of Risk Management a response to all report
  341  recommendations within 45 days and a plan to implement any
  342  corrective action to be taken as part of the response. If the
  343  agency disagrees with any final report recommendations,
  344  including, but not limited to, any recommended corrective
  345  action, or if the agency fails to implement any recommended
  346  corrective action within a reasonable time, the division shall
  347  submit the evaluation report to the legislative appropriations
  348  committees. Each agency shall provide risk management program
  349  information to the Division of Risk Management to support the
  350  Division of Risk Management’s mandatory evaluation and reporting
  351  requirements in this subsection.
  352         (5) Each agency shall:
  353         (a) Review information provided by the Division of Risk
  354  Management on claims and losses;
  355         (b) Identify any discrepancies between the Division of Risk
  356  Management’s records and the agency’s records and report such
  357  discrepancies to the Division of Risk Management in writing; and
  358         (c) Review and respond to communications from the Division
  359  of Risk Management identifying unsafe or inappropriate
  360  conditions, policies, procedures, trends, equipment, or actions
  361  or incidents that have led or may lead to accidents or claims
  362  involving the state.
  363         Section 9. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) and paragraph
  364  (b) of subsection (3) of section 409.1451, Florida Statutes, are
  365  amended to read:
  366         409.1451 The Road-to-Independence Program.—
  367         (2) POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION SERVICES AND SUPPORT.—
  368         (a) A young adult is eligible for services and support
  369  under this subsection if he or she:
  370         1. Was living in licensed care on his or her 18th birthday
  371  or is currently living in licensed care; or was at least 16
  372  years of age and was adopted from foster care or placed with a
  373  court-approved dependency guardian after spending at least 6
  374  months in licensed care within the 12 months immediately
  375  preceding such placement or adoption;
  376         2. Spent at least 6 months in licensed care before reaching
  377  his or her 18th birthday;
  378         3. Earned a standard high school diploma pursuant to s.
  379  1002.3105(5), s. 1003.4281, or s. 1003.4282, or its equivalent
  380  pursuant to s. 1003.435;
  381         4. Has been admitted for enrollment as a full-time student
  382  or its equivalent in an eligible postsecondary educational
  383  institution as provided in s. 1009.533. For purposes of this
  384  section, the term “full-time” means 9 credit hours or the
  385  vocational school equivalent. A student may enroll part-time if
  386  he or she has a recognized disability or is faced with another
  387  challenge or circumstance that would prevent full-time
  388  attendance. A student needing to enroll part-time for any reason
  389  other than having a recognized disability must get approval from
  390  his or her academic advisor;
  391         5. Has reached 18 years of age but is not yet 23 years of
  392  age;
  393         6. Has applied, with assistance from the young adult’s
  394  caregiver and the community-based lead agency, for any other
  395  grants and scholarships for which he or she may qualify;
  396         7. Submitted a Free Application for Federal Student Aid
  397  which is complete and error free; and
  398         8. Signed an agreement to allow the department and the
  399  community-based care lead agency access to school records; and.
  400         9. Has completed with a passing score the financial
  401  literacy curriculum for foster youth offered by the Department
  402  of Financial Services.
  403         (3) AFTERCARE SERVICES.—
  404         (b) Aftercare services include, but are not limited to, the
  405  following:
  406         1. Mentoring and tutoring.
  407         2. Mental health services and substance abuse counseling.
  408         3. Life skills classes, including credit management and
  409  preventive health activities.
  410         4. Parenting classes.
  411         5. Job and career skills training.
  412         6. Counselor consultations.
  413         7. Temporary financial assistance for necessities,
  414  including, but not limited to, education supplies,
  415  transportation expenses, security deposits for rent and
  416  utilities, furnishings, household goods, and other basic living
  417  expenses.
  418         8. Financial literacy skills training pursuant to s.
  419  39.6035(1)(c).
  420  
  421  The specific services to be provided under this paragraph shall
  422  be determined by an assessment of the young adult and may be
  423  provided by the community-based care provider or through
  424  referrals in the community.
  425         Section 10. Subsections (1) and (3) of section 414.411,
  426  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  427         414.411 Public assistance fraud.—
  428         (1) The Department of Financial Services shall investigate
  429  all public assistance provided to residents of the state or
  430  provided to others by the state. In the course of such
  431  investigation the department shall examine all records,
  432  including electronic benefits transfer records and make inquiry
  433  of all persons who may have knowledge as to any irregularity
  434  incidental to the disbursement of public moneys, food
  435  assistance, or other items or benefits authorizations to
  436  recipients. All public assistance recipients, as a condition
  437  precedent to qualification for public assistance under chapter
  438  409, chapter 411, or this chapter, must first give in writing,
  439  to the Agency for Health Care Administration, the Department of
  440  Health, the Department of Education Economic Opportunity, and
  441  the Department of Children and Families, as appropriate, and to
  442  the Department of Financial Services, consent to make inquiry of
  443  past or present employers and records, financial or otherwise.
  444         (3) The results of such investigation shall be reported by
  445  the Department of Financial Services to the appropriate
  446  legislative committees, the Agency for Health Care
  447  Administration, the Department of Health, the Department of
  448  Education Economic Opportunity, and the Department of Children
  449  and Families, and to such others as the department may
  450  determine.
  451         Section 11. Subsection (3) is added to section 497.168,
  452  Florida Statutes, to read:
  453         497.168 Members of Armed Forces in good standing with
  454  administrative boards.—
  455         (3) A member of the United States Armed Forces or a veteran
  456  of the United States Armed Forces who was honorably discharged
  457  within the 24-month period before the date of an initial
  458  application for licensure is exempt from the initial application
  459  filing fees under ss. 497.281(1), 497.368(1)(a), 497.369(1)(a),
  460  497.369(5), 497.370(1), 497.371, 497.373(1)(a), 497.373(3),
  461  497.374(1)(a), 497.374(5), and 497.375(1)(a).
  462         Section 12. Subsection (14) is added to section 497.456,
  463  Florida Statutes, to read:
  464         497.456 Preneed Funeral Contract Consumer Protection Trust
  465  Fund.—
  466         (14)(a) On or before August 31, 2018, the department may
  467  transfer up to $2 million from the Preneed Funeral Contract
  468  Consumer Protection Trust Fund to the Regulatory Trust Fund for
  469  the purpose of acquiring information technology infrastructure
  470  and payment of related expenses of the licensing authority in
  471  carrying out its responsibilities under this chapter and as
  472  prescribed by rule.
  473         (b)On or before August 31 of each year, the department may
  474  transfer any interest accrued or earned from investment of the
  475  funds in the Preneed Funeral Contract Consumer Protection Trust
  476  Fund during the prior fiscal year of the state, as defined in s.
  477  216.011(1)(o), to the Regulatory Trust Fund for the purpose of
  478  providing for the payment of expenses of the licensing authority
  479  in carrying out its responsibilities under this chapter and as
  480  prescribed by rule.
  481         (c) This subsection expires on August 31, 2022.
  482         Section 13. Subsection (1) of section 624.317, Florida
  483  Statutes, is amended to read:
  484         624.317 Investigation of agents, adjusters, administrators,
  485  service companies, and others.—If it has reason to believe that
  486  any person has violated or is violating any provision of this
  487  code, or upon the written complaint signed by any interested
  488  person indicating that any such violation may exist:
  489         (1) The department shall conduct such investigation as it
  490  deems necessary of the accounts, records, documents, and
  491  transactions pertaining to or affecting the insurance affairs of
  492  any general agent, surplus lines agent, adjuster, managing
  493  general agent, insurance agent, insurance agency, customer
  494  representative, service representative, or other person subject
  495  to its jurisdiction, subject to the requirements of s. 626.601.
  496         Section 14. Subsection (2) of section 624.34, Florida
  497  Statutes, is amended to read:
  498         624.34 Authority of Department of Law Enforcement to accept
  499  fingerprints of, and exchange criminal history records with
  500  respect to, certain persons.—
  501         (2) The Department of Law Enforcement may accept
  502  fingerprints of individuals who apply for a license as an agent,
  503  customer representative, adjuster, service representative, or
  504  navigator, or managing general agent or the fingerprints of the
  505  majority owner, sole proprietor, partners, officers, and
  506  directors of a corporation or other legal entity that applies
  507  for licensure with the department or office under the Florida
  508  Insurance Code.
  509         Section 15. Section 624.4073, Florida Statutes, is amended
  510  to read:
  511         624.4073 Officers and directors of insolvent insurers.—Any
  512  person who was an officer or director of an insurer doing
  513  business in this state and who served in that capacity within
  514  the 2-year period before prior to the date the insurer became
  515  insolvent, for any insolvency that occurs on or after July 1,
  516  2002, may not thereafter serve as an officer or director of an
  517  insurer authorized in this state or have direct or indirect
  518  control over the selection or appointment of an officer or
  519  director through contract, trust, or by operation of law, unless
  520  the officer or director demonstrates that his or her personal
  521  actions or omissions were not a significant contributing cause
  522  to the insolvency.
  523         Section 16. Subsection (1) of section 624.4094, Florida
  524  Statutes, is amended to read:
  525         624.4094 Bail bond premiums.—
  526         (1) The Legislature finds that a significant portion of
  527  bail bond premiums is retained by the licensed bail bond agents
  528  or appointed licensed managing general agents. For purposes of
  529  reporting in financial statements required to be filed with the
  530  office pursuant to s. 624.424, direct written premiums for bail
  531  bonds by a domestic insurer in this state shall be reported net
  532  of any amounts retained by licensed bail bond agents or
  533  appointed licensed managing general agents. However, in no case
  534  shall the direct written premiums for bail bonds be less than
  535  6.5 percent of the total consideration received by the agent for
  536  all bail bonds written by the agent. This subsection also
  537  applies to any determination of compliance with s. 624.4095.
  538         Section 17. Paragraph (e) of subsection (19) of section
  539  624.501, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  540         624.501 Filing, license, appointment, and miscellaneous
  541  fees.—The department, commission, or office, as appropriate,
  542  shall collect in advance, and persons so served shall pay to it
  543  in advance, fees, licenses, and miscellaneous charges as
  544  follows:
  545         (19) Miscellaneous services:
  546         (e) Insurer’s registration fee for agent exchanging
  547  business more than four 24 times in a calendar year under s.
  548  626.752, s. 626.793, or s. 626.837, registration fee per agent
  549  per year..................................................$30.00
  550         Section 18. Subsection (1) of section 624.509, Florida
  551  Statutes, is amended to read:
  552         624.509 Premium tax; rate and computation.—
  553         (1) In addition to the license taxes provided for in this
  554  chapter, each insurer shall also annually, and on or before
  555  March 1 in each year, except as to wet marine and transportation
  556  insurance taxed under s. 624.510, pay to the Department of
  557  Revenue a tax on insurance premiums, premiums for title
  558  insurance, or assessments, including membership fees and policy
  559  fees and gross deposits received from subscribers to reciprocal
  560  or interinsurance agreements, and on annuity premiums or
  561  considerations, received during the preceding calendar year, the
  562  amounts thereof to be determined as set forth in this section,
  563  to wit:
  564         (a) An amount equal to 1.75 percent of the gross amount of
  565  such receipts on account of life and health insurance policies
  566  covering persons resident in this state and on account of all
  567  other types of policies and contracts, except annuity policies
  568  or contracts taxable under paragraph (b) and bail bond policies
  569  or contracts taxable under paragraph (c), covering property,
  570  subjects, or risks located, resident, or to be performed in this
  571  state, omitting premiums on reinsurance accepted, and less
  572  return premiums or assessments, but without deductions:
  573         1. For reinsurance ceded to other insurers;
  574         2. For moneys paid upon surrender of policies or
  575  certificates for cash surrender value;
  576         3. For discounts or refunds for direct or prompt payment of
  577  premiums or assessments; and
  578         4. On account of dividends of any nature or amount paid and
  579  credited or allowed to holders of insurance policies;
  580  certificates; or surety, indemnity, reciprocal, or
  581  interinsurance contracts or agreements;
  582         (b) An amount equal to 1 percent of the gross receipts on
  583  annuity policies or contracts paid by holders thereof in this
  584  state; and
  585         (c) An amount equal to 1.75 percent of the direct written
  586  premiums for bail bonds, excluding any amounts retained by
  587  licensed bail bond agents or appointed licensed managing general
  588  agents.
  589         Section 19. Section 625.071, Florida Statutes, is amended
  590  to read:
  591         625.071 Special reserve for bail and judicial bonds.—In
  592  lieu of the unearned premium reserve required on surety bonds
  593  under s. 625.051, the office may require any surety insurer or
  594  limited surety insurer to set up and maintain a reserve on all
  595  bail bonds or other single-premium bonds without definite
  596  expiration date, furnished in judicial proceedings, equal to the
  597  lesser of 35 percent of the bail premiums in force or $7 per
  598  $1,000 of bail liability. Such reserve shall be reported as a
  599  liability in financial statements required to be filed with the
  600  office. Each insurer shall file a supplementary schedule showing
  601  bail premiums in force and bail liability and the associated
  602  special reserve for bail and judicial bonds with financial
  603  statements required by s. 624.424. Bail premiums in force do not
  604  include amounts retained by licensed bail bond agents or
  605  appointed licensed managing general agents, but may not be less
  606  than 6.5 percent of the total consideration received for all
  607  bail bonds in force.
  608         Section 20. Subsection (5) of section 626.112, Florida
  609  Statutes, is amended to read:
  610         626.112 License and appointment required; agents, customer
  611  representatives, adjusters, insurance agencies, service
  612  representatives, managing general agents.—
  613         (5) A No person may not shall be, act as, or represent or
  614  hold himself or herself out to be a managing general agent
  615  unless he or she then holds a currently effective producer
  616  license and a managing general agent license and appointment.
  617         Section 21. Section 626.171, Florida Statutes, is amended
  618  to read:
  619         626.171 Application for license as an agent, customer
  620  representative, adjuster, service representative, managing
  621  general agent, or reinsurance intermediary.—
  622         (1) The department may not issue a license as agent,
  623  customer representative, adjuster, service representative,
  624  managing general agent, or reinsurance intermediary to any
  625  person except upon written application filed with the
  626  department, meeting the qualifications for the license applied
  627  for as determined by the department, and payment in advance of
  628  all applicable fees. The application must be made under the oath
  629  of the applicant and be signed by the applicant. An applicant
  630  may permit a third party to complete, submit, and sign an
  631  application on the applicant’s behalf, but is responsible for
  632  ensuring that the information on the application is true and
  633  correct and is accountable for any misstatements or
  634  misrepresentations. The department shall accept the uniform
  635  application for nonresident agent licensing. The department may
  636  adopt revised versions of the uniform application by rule.
  637         (2) In the application, the applicant shall set forth:
  638         (a) His or her full name, age, social security number,
  639  residence address, business address, mailing address, contact
  640  telephone numbers, including a business telephone number, and e
  641  mail address.
  642         (b) A statement indicating the method the applicant used or
  643  is using to meet any required prelicensing education, knowledge,
  644  experience, or instructional requirements for the type of
  645  license applied for.
  646         (c) Whether he or she has been refused or has voluntarily
  647  surrendered or has had suspended or revoked a license to solicit
  648  insurance by the department or by the supervising officials of
  649  any state.
  650         (d) Whether any insurer or any managing general agent
  651  claims the applicant is indebted under any agency contract or
  652  otherwise and, if so, the name of the claimant, the nature of
  653  the claim, and the applicant’s defense thereto, if any.
  654         (e) Proof that the applicant meets the requirements for the
  655  type of license for which he or she is applying.
  656         (f) The applicant’s gender (male or female).
  657         (g) The applicant’s native language.
  658         (h) The highest level of education achieved by the
  659  applicant.
  660         (i) The applicant’s race or ethnicity (African American,
  661  white, American Indian, Asian, Hispanic, or other).
  662         (j) Such other or additional information as the department
  663  may deem proper to enable it to determine the character,
  664  experience, ability, and other qualifications of the applicant
  665  to hold himself or herself out to the public as an insurance
  666  representative.
  667  
  668  However, the application must contain a statement that an
  669  applicant is not required to disclose his or her race or
  670  ethnicity, gender, or native language, that he or she will not
  671  be penalized for not doing so, and that the department will use
  672  this information exclusively for research and statistical
  673  purposes and to improve the quality and fairness of the
  674  examinations.
  675         (3) Each application must shall be accompanied by payment
  676  of any applicable fee.
  677         (4) An applicant for a license as an agent, customer
  678  representative, adjuster, service representative, managing
  679  general agent, or reinsurance intermediary must submit a set of
  680  the individual applicant’s fingerprints, or, if the applicant is
  681  not an individual, a set of the fingerprints of the sole
  682  proprietor, majority owner, partners, officers, and directors,
  683  to the department and must pay the fingerprint processing fee
  684  set forth in s. 624.501. Fingerprints must shall be used to
  685  investigate the applicant’s qualifications pursuant to s.
  686  626.201. The fingerprints must shall be taken by a law
  687  enforcement agency, designated examination center, or other
  688  department-approved entity. The department shall require all
  689  designated examination centers to have fingerprinting equipment
  690  and to take fingerprints from any applicant or prospective
  691  applicant who pays the applicable fee. The department may not
  692  approve an application for licensure as an agent, customer
  693  service representative, adjuster, service representative,
  694  managing general agent, or reinsurance intermediary if
  695  fingerprints have not been submitted.
  696         (5) The application for license filing fee prescribed in s.
  697  624.501 is not subject to refund.
  698         (6) Members of the United States Armed Forces and their
  699  spouses, and veterans of the United States Armed Forces who have
  700  retired within 24 months before application for licensure, are
  701  exempt from the application filing fee prescribed in s. 624.501.
  702  Qualified individuals must provide a copy of a military
  703  identification card, military dependent identification card,
  704  military service record, military personnel file, veteran
  705  record, discharge paper, or separation document, or a separation
  706  document that indicates such members of the United States Armed
  707  Forces are currently in good standing or were honorably
  708  discharged.
  709         (7) Pursuant to the federal Personal Responsibility and
  710  Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, each party is
  711  required to provide his or her social security number in
  712  accordance with this section. Disclosure of social security
  713  numbers obtained through this requirement must shall be limited
  714  to the purpose of administration of the Title IV-D program for
  715  child support enforcement.
  716         Section 22. Section 626.202, Florida Statutes, is amended
  717  to read:
  718         626.202 Fingerprinting requirements.—
  719         (1) The requirements for completion and submission of
  720  fingerprints under this chapter are deemed to be met when an
  721  individual currently licensed under this chapter seeks
  722  additional licensure and has previously submitted fingerprints
  723  to the department within the past 48 months. However, the
  724  department may require the individual to file fingerprints if it
  725  has reason to believe that an applicant or licensee has been
  726  found guilty of, or pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to, a
  727  felony or a crime related to the business of insurance in this
  728  state or any other state or jurisdiction.
  729         (2) The requirements for completion and submission of
  730  fingerprints under this chapter are waived for members of the
  731  United States Armed Forces and veterans of the United States
  732  Armed Forces who were honorably discharged within the 24-month
  733  period before the date of an application for licensure. A
  734  qualified individual shall provide a copy of a military
  735  identification card, military service record, military personnel
  736  file, veteran record, Form DD-214, NGB Form 22, or separation
  737  document that indicates such member or veteran of the United
  738  States Armed Forces is currently in good standing or was
  739  honorably discharged.
  740         (3) If there is a change in ownership or control of any
  741  entity licensed under this chapter, or if a new partner,
  742  officer, or director is employed or appointed, a set of
  743  fingerprints of the new owner, partner, officer, or director
  744  must be filed with the department or office within 30 days after
  745  the change. The acquisition of 10 percent or more of the voting
  746  securities of a licensed entity is considered a change of
  747  ownership or control. The fingerprints must be taken by a law
  748  enforcement agency or other department-approved entity and be
  749  accompanied by the fingerprint processing fee in s. 624.501.
  750         Section 23. Subsection (9) of section 626.207, Florida
  751  Statutes, is amended to read:
  752         626.207 Disqualification of applicants and licensees;
  753  penalties against licensees; rulemaking authority.—
  754         (9) Section 112.011 does not apply to any applicants for
  755  licensure under the Florida Insurance Code, including, but not
  756  limited to, agents, agencies, adjusters, adjusting firms, or
  757  customer representatives, or managing general agents.
  758         Section 24. Paragraph (j) of subsection (2) of section
  759  626.221, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  760         626.221 Examination requirement; exemptions.—
  761         (2) However, an examination is not necessary for any of the
  762  following:
  763         (j) An applicant for license as an all-lines adjuster who
  764  has the designation of Accredited Claims Adjuster (ACA) from a
  765  regionally accredited postsecondary institution in this state,
  766  Associate in Claims (AIC) from the Insurance Institute of
  767  America, Professional Claims Adjuster (PCA) from the
  768  Professional Career Institute, Professional Property Insurance
  769  Adjuster (PPIA) from the HurriClaim Training Academy, Certified
  770  Adjuster (CA) from ALL LINES Training, Certified Claims Adjuster
  771  (CCA) from AE21 Incorporated, Claims Adjuster Certified
  772  Professional (CACP) from WebCE, Inc., or Universal Claims
  773  Certification (UCC) from Claims and Litigation Management
  774  Alliance (CLM) whose curriculum has been approved by the
  775  department and which includes comprehensive analysis of basic
  776  property and casualty lines of insurance and testing at least
  777  equal to that of standard department testing for the all-lines
  778  adjuster license. The department shall adopt rules establishing
  779  standards for the approval of curriculum.
  780         Section 25. Present subsections (6) and (7) of section
  781  626.451, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (5)
  782  and (6), respectively, and subsections (1) and (5) and present
  783  subsection (6) of that section are amended, to read:
  784         626.451 Appointment of agent or other representative.—
  785         (1) Each appointing entity or person designated by the
  786  department to administer the appointment process appointing an
  787  agent, adjuster, service representative, customer
  788  representative, or managing general agent in this state shall
  789  file the appointment with the department or office and, at the
  790  same time, pay the applicable appointment fee and taxes. Every
  791  appointment is shall be subject to the prior issuance of the
  792  appropriate agent’s, adjuster’s, service representative’s, or
  793  customer representative’s, or managing general agent’s license.
  794         (5) Any law enforcement agency or state attorney’s office
  795  that is aware that an agent, adjuster, service representative,
  796  customer representative, or managing general agent has pleaded
  797  guilty or nolo contendere to or has been found guilty of a
  798  felony shall notify the department or office of such fact.
  799         (5)(6) Upon the filing of an information or indictment
  800  against an agent, adjuster, service representative, or customer
  801  representative, or managing general agent, the state attorney
  802  shall immediately furnish the department or office a certified
  803  copy of the information or indictment.
  804         Section 26. Section 626.521, Florida Statutes, is amended
  805  to read:
  806         626.521 Character, Credit and character reports.—
  807         (1) Before appointing As to each applicant who for the
  808  first time in this state an is applying and qualifying for a
  809  license as agent, adjuster, service representative, customer
  810  representative, or managing general agent, the appointing
  811  insurer or employer shall its manager or general agent in this
  812  state, in the case of agents, or the appointing general lines
  813  agent, in the case of customer representatives, or the employer,
  814  in the case of service representatives and of adjusters who are
  815  not to be self-employed, shall coincidentally with such
  816  appointment or employment secure and thereafter keep on file a
  817  full detailed credit and character report made by an established
  818  and reputable independent reporting service, relative to the
  819  individual so appointed or employed. This subsection does not
  820  apply to licensees who self-appoint pursuant to s. 624.501.
  821         (2) If requested by the department, the insurer, manager,
  822  general agent, general lines agent, or employer, as the case may
  823  be, must shall furnish to the department, on a form adopted and
  824  furnished by the department, such information as it reasonably
  825  requires relative to such individual and investigation.
  826         (3) As to an applicant for an adjuster’s or reinsurance
  827  intermediary’s license who is to be self-employed, the
  828  department may secure, at the cost of the applicant, a full
  829  detailed credit and character report made by an established and
  830  reputable independent reporting service relative to the
  831  applicant.
  832         (4) Each person who for the first time in this state is
  833  applying and qualifying for a license as a reinsurance
  834  intermediary shall file with her or his application for license
  835  a full, detailed credit and character report for the 5-year
  836  period immediately prior to the date of application for license,
  837  made by an established and reputable independent reporting
  838  service, relative to the individual if a partnership or sole
  839  proprietorship, or the officers if a corporation or other legal
  840  entity.
  841         (3)(5) Information contained in credit or character reports
  842  furnished to or secured by the department under this section is
  843  confidential and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1).
  844         Section 27. Paragraph (f) of subsection (1) of section
  845  626.731, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  846         626.731 Qualifications for general lines agent’s license.—
  847         (1) The department shall not grant or issue a license as
  848  general lines agent to any individual found by it to be
  849  untrustworthy or incompetent or who does not meet each of the
  850  following qualifications:
  851         (f) The applicant is not a service representative, a
  852  managing general agent in this state, or a special agent or
  853  similar service representative of a health insurer which also
  854  transacts property, casualty, or surety insurance; except that
  855  the president, vice president, secretary, or treasurer,
  856  including a member of the board of directors, of a corporate
  857  insurer, if otherwise qualified under and meeting the
  858  requirements of this part, may be licensed and appointed as a
  859  local resident agent.
  860         Section 28. Subsection (6) of section 626.7351, Florida
  861  Statutes, is amended to read:
  862         626.7351 Qualifications for customer representative’s
  863  license.—The department shall not grant or issue a license as
  864  customer representative to any individual found by it to be
  865  untrustworthy or incompetent, or who does not meet each of the
  866  following qualifications:
  867         (6) Upon the issuance of the license applied for, the
  868  applicant is not an agent or, a service representative, or a
  869  managing general agent.
  870         Section 29. Section 626.744, Florida Statutes, is amended
  871  to read:
  872         626.744 Service representatives, managing general agents;
  873  application for license.—The application for a license as
  874  service representative must or the application for a license as
  875  managing general agent shall show the applicant’s name,
  876  residence address, name of employer, position or title, type of
  877  work to be performed by the applicant in this state, and any
  878  additional information which the department may reasonably
  879  require.
  880         Section 30. Section 626.745, Florida Statutes, is amended
  881  to read:
  882         626.745 Service representatives, managing general agents;
  883  managers; activities.—Individuals employed by insurers or their
  884  managers, general agents, or representatives as service
  885  representatives, and as managing general agents employed for the
  886  purpose of or engaged in assisting agents in negotiating and
  887  effecting contracts of insurance, shall engage in such
  888  activities when, and only when licensed as or, accompanied by a
  889  general lines an agent duly licensed and appointed as a resident
  890  licensee and appointee under this code.
  891         Section 31. Subsection (11) of section 626.7451, Florida
  892  Statutes, is amended to read:
  893         626.7451 Managing general agents; required contract
  894  provisions.—No person acting in the capacity of a managing
  895  general agent shall place business with an insurer unless there
  896  is in force a written contract between the parties which sets
  897  forth the responsibility for a particular function, specifies
  898  the division of responsibilities, and contains the following
  899  minimum provisions:
  900         (11) An appointed A licensed managing general agent, when
  901  placing business with an insurer under this code, may charge a
  902  per-policy fee not to exceed $25. In no instance shall The
  903  aggregate of per-policy fees for a placement of business
  904  authorized under this section, when combined with any other per
  905  policy fee charged by the insurer, may not result in per-policy
  906  fees that which exceed the aggregate amount of $25. The per
  907  policy fee must shall be a component of the insurer’s rate
  908  filing and must shall be fully earned.
  909  
  910  For the purposes of this section and ss. 626.7453 and 626.7454,
  911  the term “controlling person” or “controlling” has the meaning
  912  set forth in s. 625.012(5)(b)1., and the term “controlled
  913  person” or “controlled” has the meaning set forth in s.
  914  625.012(5)(b)2.
  915         Section 32. Subsection (1) of section 626.7455, Florida
  916  Statutes, is amended to read:
  917         626.7455 Managing general agent; responsibility of
  918  insurer.—
  919         (1) An insurer may not No insurer shall enter into an
  920  agreement with any person to manage the business written in this
  921  state by the general lines agents appointed by the insurer or
  922  appointed by the managing general agent on behalf of the insurer
  923  unless the person is properly licensed as an agent and appointed
  924  as a managing general agent in this state. An insurer is shall
  925  be responsible for the acts of its managing general agent when
  926  the agent acts within the scope of his or her authority.
  927         Section 33. Paragraph (e) of subsection (3) and subsection
  928  (5) of section 626.752, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  929         626.752 Exchange of business.—
  930         (3)
  931         (e) The brokering agent shall maintain an appropriate and
  932  permanent Brokering Agent’s Register, which must shall be a
  933  permanent record of bound journal in which chronologically
  934  numbered transactions that are entered no later than the day in
  935  which the brokering agent’s application bearing the same number
  936  is signed by the applicant. The numbers must shall reflect an
  937  annual aggregate through numerical sequence and be preceded by
  938  the last two digits of the current year. The initial entry must
  939  shall contain the number of the transaction, date, time, date of
  940  binder, date on which coverage commences, name and address of
  941  applicant, type of coverage desired, name of insurer binding the
  942  risk or to whom the application is to be submitted, and the
  943  amount of any premium collected therefor. By no later than the
  944  date following policy delivery, the policy number and coverage
  945  expiration date must shall be added to the register.
  946         (5) Within 15 days after the last day of each month, any
  947  insurer accepting business under this section shall report to
  948  the department the name, address, telephone number, and social
  949  security number of each agent from which the insurer received
  950  more than four 24 personal lines risks during the calendar year,
  951  except for risks being removed from the Citizens Property
  952  Insurance Corporation and placed with that insurer by a
  953  brokering agent. Once the insurer has reported pursuant to this
  954  subsection an agent’s name to the department, additional reports
  955  on the same agent shall not be required. However, the fee set
  956  forth in s. 624.501 must shall be paid for the agent by the
  957  insurer for each year until the insurer notifies the department
  958  that the insurer is no longer accepting business from the agent
  959  pursuant to this section. The insurer may require that the agent
  960  reimburse the insurer for the fee.
  961         Section 34. Subsection (4) of section 626.793, Florida
  962  Statutes, is amended to read:
  963         626.793 Excess or rejected business.—
  964         (4) Within 15 days after the last day of each month, any
  965  insurer accepting business under this section shall report to
  966  the department the name, address, telephone number, and social
  967  security number of each agent from which the insurer received
  968  more than four 24 risks during the calendar year. Once the
  969  insurer has reported an agent’s name to the department pursuant
  970  to this subsection, additional reports on the same agent shall
  971  not be required. However, the fee set forth in s. 624.501 must
  972  shall be paid for the agent by the insurer for each year until
  973  the insurer notifies the department that the insurer is no
  974  longer accepting business from the agent pursuant to this
  975  section. The insurer may require that the agent reimburse the
  976  insurer for the fee.
  977         Section 35. Subsection (5) of section 626.837, Florida
  978  Statutes, is amended to read:
  979         626.837 Excess or rejected business.—
  980         (5) Within 15 days after the last day of each month, any
  981  insurer accepting business under this section shall report to
  982  the department the name, address, telephone number, and social
  983  security number of each agent from which the insurer received
  984  more than four 24 risks during the calendar year. Once the
  985  insurer has reported pursuant to this subsection an agent’s name
  986  to the department, additional reports on the same agent shall
  987  not be required. However, the fee set forth in s. 624.501 must
  988  shall be paid for the agent by the insurer for each year until
  989  the insurer notifies the department that the insurer is no
  990  longer accepting business from the agent pursuant to this
  991  section. The insurer may require that the agent reimburse the
  992  insurer for the fee.
  993         Section 36. Subsection (5) of section 626.8732, Florida
  994  Statutes, is amended to read:
  995         626.8732 Nonresident public adjuster’s qualifications,
  996  bond.—
  997         (5) After licensure as a nonresident public adjuster, as a
  998  condition of doing business in this state, the licensee must
  999  annually on or before January 1, on a form prescribed by the
 1000  department, submit an affidavit certifying that the licensee is
 1001  familiar with and understands the insurance code and rules
 1002  adopted thereunder and the provisions of the contracts
 1003  negotiated or to be negotiated. Compliance with this filing
 1004  requirement is a condition precedent to the issuance,
 1005  continuation, reinstatement, or renewal of a nonresident public
 1006  adjuster’s appointment.
 1007         Section 37. Subsection (4) of section 626.8734, Florida
 1008  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1009         626.8734 Nonresident all-lines adjuster license
 1010  qualifications.—
 1011         (4) As a condition of doing business in this state as a
 1012  nonresident independent adjuster, the appointee must submit an
 1013  affidavit to the department certifying that the licensee is
 1014  familiar with and understands the insurance laws and
 1015  administrative rules of this state and the provisions of the
 1016  contracts negotiated or to be negotiated. Compliance with this
 1017  filing requirement is a condition precedent to the issuance,
 1018  continuation, reinstatement, or renewal of a nonresident
 1019  independent adjuster’s appointment.
 1020         Section 38. Paragraph (h) of subsection (1) of section
 1021  626.88, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 1022         626.88 Definitions.—For the purposes of this part, the
 1023  term:
 1024         (1) “Administrator” is any person who directly or
 1025  indirectly solicits or effects coverage of, collects charges or
 1026  premiums from, or adjusts or settles claims on residents of this
 1027  state in connection with authorized commercial self-insurance
 1028  funds or with insured or self-insured programs which provide
 1029  life or health insurance coverage or coverage of any other
 1030  expenses described in s. 624.33(1) or any person who, through a
 1031  health care risk contract as defined in s. 641.234 with an
 1032  insurer or health maintenance organization, provides billing and
 1033  collection services to health insurers and health maintenance
 1034  organizations on behalf of health care providers, other than any
 1035  of the following persons:
 1036         (h) A person appointed licensed as a managing general agent
 1037  in this state, whose activities are limited exclusively to the
 1038  scope of activities conveyed under such appointment license.
 1039  
 1040  A person who provides billing and collection services to health
 1041  insurers and health maintenance organizations on behalf of
 1042  health care providers shall comply with the provisions of ss.
 1043  627.6131, 641.3155, and 641.51(4).
 1044         Section 39. Subsection (2) of section 626.927, Florida
 1045  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1046         626.927 Licensing of surplus lines agent.—
 1047         (2) Any individual, while licensed as and appointed as a
 1048  managing general agent as defined in s. 626.015, or service
 1049  representative as defined in s. 626.015, and who otherwise
 1050  possesses all of the other qualifications of a general lines
 1051  agent under this code, and who has a minimum of 1 year of year’s
 1052  experience working for a licensed surplus lines agent or who has
 1053  successfully completed 60 class hours in surplus and excess
 1054  lines in a course approved by the department, may, upon taking
 1055  and successfully passing a written examination as to surplus
 1056  lines, as given by the department, be licensed as a surplus
 1057  lines agent solely for the purpose of placing with surplus lines
 1058  insurers property, marine, casualty, or surety coverages
 1059  originated by general lines agents; except that no examination
 1060  as for a general lines agent’s license shall be required of any
 1061  managing general agent or service representative who held a
 1062  Florida surplus lines agent’s license as of January 1, 1959.
 1063         Section 40. Subsection (3) of section 626.930, Florida
 1064  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1065         626.930 Records of surplus lines agent.—
 1066         (3) Each surplus lines agent shall maintain all surplus
 1067  lines business records in his or her general lines agency
 1068  office, if licensed as a general lines agent, or in his or her
 1069  managing general agency office, if licensed as a managing
 1070  general agent or the full-time salaried employee of such general
 1071  agent.
 1072         Section 41. Subsection (2) of section 626.9892, Florida
 1073  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1074         626.9892 Anti-Fraud Reward Program; reporting of insurance
 1075  fraud.—
 1076         (2) The department may pay rewards of up to $25,000 to
 1077  persons providing information leading to the arrest and
 1078  conviction of persons committing crimes investigated by the
 1079  department arising from violations of s. 440.105, s. 624.15, s.
 1080  626.9541, s. 626.989, s. 790.164, s. 790.165, s. 790.166, s.
 1081  806.01, s. 806.031, s. 806.10, s. 806.111, s. 817.233, or s.
 1082  817.234.
 1083         Section 42. Subsection (3) of section 633.302, Florida
 1084  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1085         633.302 Florida Fire Safety Board; membership; duties;
 1086  meetings; officers; quorum; compensation; seal.—
 1087         (3) The State Fire Marshal’s term on the board, or that of
 1088  her or his designee, must shall coincide with the State Fire
 1089  Marshal’s term of office. Of the other six members of the board,
 1090  one member shall be appointed for a term of 1 year, one member
 1091  for a term of 2 years, two members for terms of 3 years, and two
 1092  members for terms of 4 years. All other terms are 4 years and
 1093  expire on June 30 of the last year of the term. When the term of
 1094  a member expires, the State Fire Marshal shall appoint a member
 1095  to fill the vacancy for a term of 4 years. The State Fire
 1096  Marshal may remove any appointed member for cause. A vacancy in
 1097  the membership of the board for any cause must shall be filled
 1098  by appointment by the State Fire Marshal for the balance of the
 1099  unexpired term.
 1100         Section 43. Subsection (2), paragraph (a) of subsection
 1101  (3), and paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of subsection (4) of
 1102  section 633.304, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 1103         633.304 Fire suppression equipment; license to install or
 1104  maintain.—
 1105         (2) A person who holds a valid fire equipment dealer
 1106  license may maintain such license in an inactive status during
 1107  which time he or she may not engage in any work under the
 1108  definition of the license held. An inactive status license is
 1109  shall be void after 4 years or when the license is renewed,
 1110  whichever comes first. However, an inactive status license must
 1111  be reactivated before December 31 of each odd-numbered year. An
 1112  inactive status license may not be reactivated unless the
 1113  continuing education requirements of this chapter have been
 1114  fulfilled.
 1115         (3) Each individual actually performing the work of
 1116  servicing, recharging, repairing, hydrotesting, installing,
 1117  testing, or inspecting fire extinguishers or preengineered
 1118  systems must possess a valid and subsisting permit issued by the
 1119  division. Permittees are limited as to specific type of work
 1120  performed to allow work no more extensive than the class of
 1121  license held by the licensee under whom the permittee is
 1122  working. Permits will be issued by the division as follows:
 1123         (a) Portable permit: “Portable permittee” means a person
 1124  who is limited to performing work no more extensive than the
 1125  employing or contractually related licensee in the servicing,
 1126  recharging, repairing, installing, or inspecting all types of
 1127  portable fire extinguishers.
 1128  
 1129  Any fire equipment permittee licensed pursuant to this
 1130  subsection who does not want to engage in servicing, inspecting,
 1131  recharging, repairing, hydrotesting, or installing halon
 1132  equipment must file an affidavit on a form provided by the
 1133  division so stating. Permits will be issued by the division to
 1134  show the work authorized thereunder. It is unlawful, unlicensed
 1135  activity for a person or firm to falsely hold himself or herself
 1136  out to perform any service, inspection, recharge, repair,
 1137  hydrotest, or installation except as specifically described in
 1138  the permit.
 1139         (4)
 1140         (b) After initial licensure, each licensee or permittee
 1141  must successfully complete a course or courses of continuing
 1142  education for fire equipment technicians of at least 16 hours. A
 1143  license or permit may not be renewed unless the licensee or
 1144  permittee produces documentation of the completion of at least
 1145  16 hours of continuing education for fire equipment technicians
 1146  during the biennial licensure period. A person who is both a
 1147  licensee and a permittee shall be required to complete 16 hours
 1148  of continuing education during each renewal period. Each
 1149  licensee shall ensure that all permittees in his or her
 1150  employment or through a contractual agreement meet their
 1151  continuing education requirements. The State Fire Marshal shall
 1152  adopt rules describing the continuing education requirements and
 1153  shall have the authority upon reasonable belief, to audit a fire
 1154  equipment dealer to determine compliance with continuing
 1155  education requirements.
 1156         (c) The forms of such licenses and permits and applications
 1157  therefor must shall be prescribed by the State Fire Marshal; in
 1158  addition to such other information and data as that officer
 1159  determines is appropriate and required for such forms, there
 1160  must shall be included in such forms the following matters. Each
 1161  such application must be in such form as to provide that the
 1162  data and other information set forth therein shall be sworn to
 1163  by the applicant or, if a corporation, by an officer thereof. An
 1164  application for a permit must include the name of the licensee
 1165  employing, or contractually related to, such permittee, and the
 1166  permit issued in pursuance of such application must also set
 1167  forth the name of such licensee. A permit is valid solely for
 1168  use by the holder thereof in his or her employment by, or
 1169  contractual relationship with, the licensee named in the permit.
 1170         (d) A license of any class may not be issued or renewed by
 1171  the division and a license of any class does not remain
 1172  operative unless:
 1173         1. The applicant has submitted to the State Fire Marshal
 1174  evidence of registration as a Florida corporation or evidence of
 1175  compliance with s. 865.09.
 1176         2. The State Fire Marshal or his or her designee has by
 1177  inspection determined that the applicant possesses the equipment
 1178  required for the class of license sought. The State Fire Marshal
 1179  shall give an applicant a reasonable opportunity to correct any
 1180  deficiencies discovered by inspection. To obtain such
 1181  inspection, an applicant with facilities located outside this
 1182  state must:
 1183         a. Provide a notarized statement from a professional
 1184  engineer licensed by the applicant’s state of domicile
 1185  certifying that the applicant possesses the equipment required
 1186  for the class of license sought and that all such equipment is
 1187  operable; or
 1188         b. Allow the State Fire Marshal or her or his designee to
 1189  inspect the facility. All costs associated with the State Fire
 1190  Marshal’s inspection must shall be paid by the applicant. The
 1191  State Fire Marshal, in accordance with s. 120.54, may adopt
 1192  rules to establish standards for the calculation and
 1193  establishment of the amount of costs associated with any
 1194  inspection conducted by the State Fire Marshal under this
 1195  section. Such rules must shall include procedures for invoicing
 1196  and receiving funds in advance of the inspection.
 1197         3. The applicant has submitted to the State Fire Marshal
 1198  proof of insurance providing coverage for comprehensive general
 1199  liability for bodily injury and property damage, products
 1200  liability, completed operations, and contractual liability. The
 1201  State Fire Marshal shall adopt rules providing for the amounts
 1202  of such coverage, but such amounts may not be less than $300,000
 1203  for Class A or Class D licenses, $200,000 for Class B licenses,
 1204  and $100,000 for Class C licenses; and the total coverage for
 1205  any class of license held in conjunction with a Class D license
 1206  may not be less than $300,000. The State Fire Marshal may, at
 1207  any time after the issuance of a license or its renewal, require
 1208  upon demand, and in no event more than 30 days after notice of
 1209  such demand, the licensee to provide proof of insurance, on the
 1210  insurer’s a form provided by the State Fire Marshal, containing
 1211  confirmation of insurance coverage as required by this chapter.
 1212  Failure, for any length of time, to provide proof of insurance
 1213  coverage as required must shall result in the immediate
 1214  suspension of the license until proof of proper insurance is
 1215  provided to the State Fire Marshal. An insurer that which
 1216  provides such coverage shall notify the State Fire Marshal of
 1217  any change in coverage or of any termination, cancellation, or
 1218  nonrenewal of any coverage.
 1219         4. The applicant applies to the State Fire Marshal,
 1220  provides proof of experience, and successfully completes a
 1221  prescribed training course offered by the State Fire College or
 1222  an equivalent course approved by the State Fire Marshal. This
 1223  subparagraph does not apply to any holder of or applicant for a
 1224  permit under paragraph (g) or to a business organization or a
 1225  governmental entity seeking initial licensure or renewal of an
 1226  existing license solely for the purpose of inspecting,
 1227  servicing, repairing, marking, recharging, and maintaining fire
 1228  extinguishers used and located on the premises of and owned by
 1229  such organization or entity.
 1230         5. The applicant has a current retestor identification
 1231  number that is appropriate for the license for which the
 1232  applicant is applying and that is listed with the United States
 1233  Department of Transportation.
 1234         6. The applicant has passed, with a grade of at least 70
 1235  percent, a written examination testing his or her knowledge of
 1236  the rules and statutes governing the activities authorized by
 1237  the license and demonstrating his or her knowledge and ability
 1238  to perform those tasks in a competent, lawful, and safe manner.
 1239  Such examination must shall be developed and administered by the
 1240  State Fire Marshal, or his or her designee in accordance with
 1241  policies and procedures of the State Fire Marshal. An applicant
 1242  shall pay a nonrefundable examination fee of $50 for each
 1243  examination or reexamination scheduled. A reexamination may not
 1244  be scheduled sooner than 30 days after any administration of an
 1245  examination to an applicant. An applicant may not be permitted
 1246  to take an examination for any level of license more than a
 1247  total of four times during 1 year, regardless of the number of
 1248  applications submitted. As a prerequisite to licensure of the
 1249  applicant, he or she:
 1250         a. Must be at least 18 years of age.
 1251         b. Must have 4 years of proven experience as a fire
 1252  equipment permittee at a level equal to or greater than the
 1253  level of license applied for or have a combination of education
 1254  and experience determined to be equivalent thereto by the State
 1255  Fire Marshal. Having held a permit at the appropriate level for
 1256  the required period constitutes the required experience.
 1257         c. Must not have been convicted of a felony or a crime
 1258  punishable by imprisonment of 1 year or more under the law of
 1259  the United States or of any state thereof or under the law of
 1260  any other country. “Convicted” means a finding of guilt or the
 1261  acceptance of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere in any federal
 1262  or state court or a court in any other country, without regard
 1263  to whether a judgment of conviction has been entered by the
 1264  court having jurisdiction of the case. If an applicant has been
 1265  convicted of any such felony, the applicant is shall be excluded
 1266  from licensure for a period of 4 years after expiration of
 1267  sentence or final release by the Florida Commission on Offender
 1268  Review unless the applicant, before the expiration of the 4-year
 1269  period, has received a full pardon or has had her or his civil
 1270  rights restored.
 1271  
 1272  This subparagraph does not apply to any holder of or applicant
 1273  for a permit under paragraph (g) or to a business organization
 1274  or a governmental entity seeking initial licensure or renewal of
 1275  an existing license solely for the purpose of inspecting,
 1276  servicing, repairing, marking, recharging, hydrotesting, and
 1277  maintaining fire extinguishers used and located on the premises
 1278  of and owned by such organization or entity.
 1279         Section 44. Subsection (7) of section 633.318, Florida
 1280  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1281         633.318 Certificate application and issuance; permit
 1282  issuance; examination and investigation of applicant.—
 1283         (7) The State Fire Marshal may, at any time subsequent to
 1284  the issuance of the certificate or its renewal, require, upon
 1285  demand and in no event more than 30 days after notice of the
 1286  demand, the certificateholder to provide proof of insurance
 1287  coverage on the insurer’s a form provided by the State Fire
 1288  Marshal containing confirmation of insurance coverage as
 1289  required by this chapter. Failure to provide proof of insurance
 1290  coverage as required, for any length of time, shall result in
 1291  the immediate suspension of the certificate until proof of
 1292  insurance is provided to the State Fire Marshal.
 1293         Section 45. Paragraph (b) of subsection (6) of section
 1294  633.408, Florida Statutes, is amended, and paragraph (c) is
 1295  added to that subsection, to read:
 1296         633.408 Firefighter and volunteer firefighter training and
 1297  certification.—
 1298         (6)
 1299         (b) A Special Certificate of Compliance only authorizes an
 1300  individual to serve as an administrative and command head of a
 1301  fire service provider.
 1302         1.An individual employed as a fire chief, fire
 1303  coordinator, fire director, or fire administrator must obtain a
 1304  Special Certificate of Compliance within 1 year after beginning
 1305  employment.
 1306         2.Before beginning employment as a command officer or in a
 1307  position directing incident outcomes, an individual must obtain
 1308  a Certificate of Compliance or a Special Certificate of
 1309  Compliance.
 1310         (c)In order to retain a Special Certificate of Compliance,
 1311  every 4 years an individual must:
 1312         1.Be active as a firefighter;
 1313         2.Maintain a current and valid Fire Service Instructor
 1314  Certificate, instruct at least 40 hours during the 4-year
 1315  period, and provide proof of such instruction to the division,
 1316  which proof must be registered in an electronic database
 1317  designated by the division; or
 1318         3.Within 6 months before the 4-year period expires,
 1319  successfully complete a Firefighter Retention Refresher Course
 1320  consisting of a minimum of 40 hours of training as prescribed by
 1321  rule.
 1322         Section 46. Subsection (1) of section 633.416, Florida
 1323  Statutes, is amended, present subsections (7) and (8) of that
 1324  section are redesignated as subsections (8) and (9),
 1325  respectively, and a new subsection (7) is added to that section,
 1326  to read:
 1327         633.416 Firefighter employment and volunteer firefighter
 1328  service; saving clause.—
 1329         (1) A fire service provider may not employ an individual
 1330  to:
 1331         (a) Extinguish fires for the protection of life or property
 1332  or to supervise individuals who perform such services unless the
 1333  individual holds a current and valid Firefighter Certificate of
 1334  Compliance; or
 1335         (b) Serve as the administrative and command head of a fire
 1336  service provider for a period in excess of 1 year unless the
 1337  individual holds a current and valid Firefighter Certificate of
 1338  Compliance or Special Certificate of Compliance pursuant to s.
 1339  633.408.
 1340         (7) A fire service provider may employ veterans who were
 1341  honorably discharged and who received Florida-equivalent
 1342  training. The standard of equivalency of training must be
 1343  verified by the division before such an individual’s employment
 1344  begins. Such individual must obtain a Firefighter Certificate of
 1345  Compliance within 24 months after employment.
 1346         Section 47. Paragraph (e) of subsection (1) of section
 1347  633.444, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 1348         633.444 Division powers and duties; Florida State Fire
 1349  College.—
 1350         (1) The division, in performing its duties related to the
 1351  Florida State Fire College, specified in this part, shall:
 1352         (e) Develop a staffing and funding formula for the Florida
 1353  State Fire College. The formula must include differential
 1354  funding levels for various types of programs, must be based on
 1355  the number of full-time equivalent students and information
 1356  obtained from scheduled attendance counts taken the first day of
 1357  each program, and must provide the basis for the legislative
 1358  budget request. As used in this section, a full-time equivalent
 1359  student is equal to a minimum of 900 hours in a technical
 1360  certificate program and 400 hours in a degree-seeking program.
 1361  The funding formula must be as prescribed pursuant to s.
 1362  1011.62, must include procedures to document daily attendance,
 1363  and must require that attendance records be retained for audit
 1364  purposes.
 1365         Section 48. Subsection (8) of section 648.27, Florida
 1366  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1367         648.27 Licenses and appointments; general.—
 1368         (8) An application for a managing general agent’s license
 1369  must be made by an insurer who proposes to employ or appoint an
 1370  individual, partnership, association, or corporation as a
 1371  managing general agent. Such application shall contain the
 1372  information required by s. 626.744, and the applicant shall pay
 1373  the same fee as a managing general agent licensed pursuant to
 1374  that section. An individual who is appointed as a managing
 1375  general agent to supervise or manage bail bond business written
 1376  in this state must also be licensed as a bail bond agent. In the
 1377  case of an entity, at least one owner, officer, or director at
 1378  each office location must be licensed as a bail bond agent.
 1379         Section 49. Present subsection (6) of section 648.34,
 1380  Florida Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (7), and a new
 1381  subsection (6) is added to that section, to read:
 1382         648.34 Bail bond agents; qualifications.—
 1383         (6) The requirements for completion and submission of
 1384  fingerprints under this chapter are deemed to be met when an
 1385  individual currently licensed under this chapter seeks
 1386  additional licensure and has previously submitted fingerprints
 1387  to the department in support of an application for licensure
 1388  under this chapter within the past 48 months. However, the
 1389  department may require the individual to file fingerprints if it
 1390  has reason to believe that an applicant or licensee has been
 1391  found guilty of, or pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to, a
 1392  felony or a crime related to the business of insurance in this
 1393  or any other state or jurisdiction.
 1394         Section 50. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
 1395  made by this act to section 626.221, Florida Statutes, in a
 1396  reference thereto, paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section
 1397  626.8734, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
 1398         626.8734 Nonresident all-lines adjuster license
 1399  qualifications.—
 1400         (1) The department shall issue a license to an applicant
 1401  for a nonresident all-lines adjuster license upon determining
 1402  that the applicant has paid the applicable license fees required
 1403  under s. 624.501 and:
 1404         (b) Has passed to the satisfaction of the department a
 1405  written Florida all-lines adjuster examination of the scope
 1406  prescribed in s. 626.241(6); however, the requirement for the
 1407  examination does not apply to:
 1408         1. An applicant who is licensed as an all-lines adjuster in
 1409  his or her home state if that state has entered into a
 1410  reciprocal agreement with the department;
 1411         2. An applicant who is licensed as a nonresident all-lines
 1412  adjuster in a state other than his or her home state and a
 1413  reciprocal agreement with the appropriate official of the state
 1414  of licensure has been entered into with the department; or
 1415         3. An applicant who holds a certification set forth in s.
 1416  626.221(2)(j).
 1417         Section 51. This act shall take effect July 1, 2018.
 1418  
 1419  ================= T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================
 1420  And the title is amended as follows:
 1421         Delete everything before the enacting clause
 1422  and insert:
 1423                        A bill to be entitled                      
 1424         An act relating to the Department of Financial
 1425         Services; amending s. 17.64, F.S.; providing that
 1426         electronic images of warrants, vouchers, or checks in
 1427         the Division of Treasury are deemed to be original
 1428         records; revising the applicable medium, from film or
 1429         print to electronic, in provisions relating to copies
 1430         and reproductions of records and documents of the
 1431         division; amending s. 20.121, F.S.; renaming the
 1432         Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations within the
 1433         Division of Investigative and Forensic Services as the
 1434         Bureau of Fire, Arson, and Explosives Investigations;
 1435         creating the Bureau of Insurance Fraud and the Bureau
 1436         of Workers’ Compensation Fraud within the division;
 1437         amending s. 39.6035, F.S.; requiring certain child
 1438         transition plans to address financial literacy;
 1439         specifying requirements for the Department of Children
 1440         and Families and community-based providers relating to
 1441         a certain financial literacy curriculum offered by the
 1442         department; amending s. 39.6251, F.S.; revising
 1443         conditions under which certain children are eligible
 1444         to remain in licensed care; amending s. 218.32, F.S.;
 1445         providing legislative intent relating to the creation
 1446         of the Florida Open Financial Statement System;
 1447         authorizing the Chief Financial Officer to consult
 1448         with certain stakeholders for input on the design and
 1449         implementation of the system; specifying requirements
 1450         and procedures for the Chief Financial Officer in
 1451         selecting and recruiting contractors for certain
 1452         purposes; requiring the Chief Financial Officer to
 1453         require completion of all work by a specified date;
 1454         providing that if the Chief Financial Officer deems
 1455         work products adequate, all local governmental
 1456         financial statements pertaining to fiscal years ending
 1457         on or after a specified date must meet certain
 1458         requirements; providing construction; providing an
 1459         appropriation; amending s. 284.40, F.S.; authorizing
 1460         the department to disclose certain personal
 1461         identifying information of injured or deceased
 1462         employees which is exempt from disclosure under the
 1463         Workers’ Compensation Law to department-contracted
 1464         vendors for certain purposes; amending s. 284.50,
 1465         F.S.; requiring safety coordinators of state
 1466         governmental departments to complete, within a certain
 1467         timeframe, safety coordinator training offered by the
 1468         department; requiring certain agencies to report
 1469         certain return-to-work information to the department;
 1470         requiring agencies to provide certain risk management
 1471         program information to the Division of Risk Management
 1472         for certain purposes; specifying requirements for
 1473         agencies in reviewing and responding to certain
 1474         information and communications provided by the
 1475         division; amending s. 409.1451, F.S.; revising
 1476         conditions under which a young adult is eligible for
 1477         postsecondary education services and support under the
 1478         Road-to-Independence Program; conforming a provision
 1479         to changes made by the act; amending s. 414.411, F.S.;
 1480         replacing the Department of Economic Opportunity with
 1481         the Department of Education in a list of entities to
 1482         which a public assistance recipient may be required to
 1483         provide written consent for certain investigative
 1484         inquiries and to which the department must report
 1485         investigation results; amending s. 497.168, F.S.;
 1486         providing an exemption from specified application fees
 1487         for members and certain veterans of the United States
 1488         Armed Forces; amending s. 497.456, F.S.; authorizing
 1489         the department, on or before a specified date, to
 1490         transfer up to a specified amount from the Preneed
 1491         Funeral Contract Consumer Protection Trust Fund to the
 1492         Regulatory Trust Fund for a certain purpose;
 1493         authorizing the department to annually transfer earned
 1494         or accrued interest from the Preneed Funeral Contract
 1495         Consumer Protection Trust Fund to the Regulatory Trust
 1496         Fund for a certain purpose; providing for expiration;
 1497         amending s. 624.317, F.S.; authorizing the department
 1498         to conduct investigations of any, rather than
 1499         specified, agents subject to its jurisdiction;
 1500         amending s. 624.34, F.S.; conforming a provision to
 1501         changes made by the act; amending s. 624.4073, F.S.;
 1502         prohibiting certain officers or directors of insolvent
 1503         insurers from having direct or indirect control over
 1504         certain selection or appointment of officers or
 1505         directors, except under certain circumstances;
 1506         amending ss. 624.4094, 624.501, 624.509, and 625.071,
 1507         F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the
 1508         act; amending s. 626.112, F.S.; requiring a managing
 1509         general agent to hold a currently effective producer
 1510         license rather than a managing general agent license;
 1511         amending s. 626.171, F.S.; deleting applicability of
 1512         licensing provisions as to managing general agents;
 1513         making a technical change; amending s. 626.202, F.S.;
 1514         providing that certain applicants are not required to
 1515         resubmit fingerprints to the department under certain
 1516         circumstances; authorizing the department to require
 1517         these applicants to file fingerprints under certain
 1518         circumstances; providing an exemption from
 1519         fingerprinting requirements for members and certain
 1520         veterans of the United States Armed Forces; requiring
 1521         such members and veterans to provide certain
 1522         documentation of good standing or honorable discharge;
 1523         amending s. 626.207, F.S.; conforming a provision to
 1524         changes made by the act; amending s. 626.221, F.S.;
 1525         adding a designation that exempts applicants for
 1526         licensure as an all-lines adjuster from an examination
 1527         requirement; amending s. 626.451, F.S.; deleting a
 1528         requirement for law enforcement agencies and state
 1529         attorney’s offices to notify the department or the
 1530         Office of Insurance Regulation of certain felony
 1531         dispositions; deleting a requirement for the state
 1532         attorney to provide the department or office a
 1533         certified copy of an information or indictment against
 1534         a managing general agent; conforming a provision to
 1535         changes made by the act; amending s. 626.521, F.S.;
 1536         revising requirements for credit and character reports
 1537         secured and kept by insurers or employers appointing
 1538         certain insurance representatives; providing
 1539         applicability; amending s. 626.731, F.S.; deleting a
 1540         certain qualification for licensure as a general lines
 1541         agent; amending s. 626.7351, F.S.; revising a
 1542         qualification for licensure as a customer
 1543         representative; amending s. 626.744, F.S.; conforming
 1544         a provision to changes made by the act; amending s.
 1545         626.745, F.S.; revising conditions under which service
 1546         representatives and managing general agents may engage
 1547         in certain activities; amending ss. 626.7451 and
 1548         626.7455, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made
 1549         by the act; amending s. 626.752, F.S.; revising a
 1550         requirement for the Brokering Agent’s Register
 1551         maintained by brokering agents; revising the limit on
 1552         certain personal lines risks an insurer may receive
 1553         from an agent within a specified timeframe before the
 1554         insurer must comply with certain reporting
 1555         requirements for that agent; amending s. 626.793,
 1556         F.S.; revising the limit on certain risks that certain
 1557         insurers may receive from a life agent within a
 1558         specified timeframe before the insurer must comply
 1559         with certain reporting requirements for that agent;
 1560         amending s. 626.837, F.S.; revising the limit on
 1561         certain risks that certain insurers may receive from a
 1562         health agent within a specified timeframe before the
 1563         insurer must comply with certain reporting
 1564         requirements for that agent; amending s. 626.8732,
 1565         F.S.; deleting a requirement for a licensed
 1566         nonresident public adjuster to submit a certain annual
 1567         affidavit to the department; amending s. 626.8734,
 1568         F.S.; deleting a requirement for a nonresident
 1569         independent adjuster to submit a certain annual
 1570         affidavit to the department; amending s. 626.88, F.S.;
 1571         conforming a provision to changes made by the act;
 1572         amending s. 626.927, F.S.; revising conditions under
 1573         which an individual may be licensed as a surplus lines
 1574         agent solely for the purpose of placing certain
 1575         coverages with surplus lines insurers; amending s.
 1576         626.930, F.S.; revising a requirement relating to the
 1577         location of a surplus lines agent’s surplus lines
 1578         business records; amending s. 626.9892, F.S.;
 1579         authorizing the department to pay up a specified
 1580         amount of rewards under the Anti-Fraud Reward Program
 1581         for information leading to the arrest and conviction
 1582         of persons guilty of arson; amending s. 633.302, F.S.;
 1583         revising the term duration of certain members of the
 1584         Florida Fire Safety Board; amending s. 633.304, F.S.;
 1585         revising circumstances under which an inactive fire
 1586         equipment dealer license is void; specifying the
 1587         timeframe when an inactive license must be
 1588         reactivated; specifying that permittees performing
 1589         certain work on fire equipment may be contracted
 1590         rather than employed; revising a requirement for a
 1591         certain proof-of-insurance form to be provided by the
 1592         insurer rather than the State Fire Marshal; amending
 1593         s. 633.318, F.S.; revising a requirement for a certain
 1594         proof-of-insurance form to be provided by the insurer
 1595         rather than the State Fire Marshal; amending s.
 1596         633.408, F.S.; specifying firefighter certification
 1597         requirements for certain individuals employed in
 1598         administrative and command positions of a fire service
 1599         provider; specifying conditions for an individual to
 1600         retain a Special Certificate of Compliance; amending
 1601         s. 633.416, F.S.; authorizing fire service providers
 1602         to employ honorably discharged veterans who received
 1603         Florida-equivalent training; requiring the Division of
 1604         State Fire Marshal to verify the equivalency of such
 1605         training before the individual begins employment;
 1606         requiring such individual to obtain a Firefighter
 1607         Certificate of Compliance within a specified
 1608         timeframe; making a technical change; amending s.
 1609         633.444, F.S.; deleting a requirement for the Division
 1610         of State Fire Marshal to develop a staffing and
 1611         funding formula for the Florida State Fire College;
 1612         amending s. 648.27, F.S.; revising conditions under
 1613         which a managing general agent must also be licensed
 1614         as a bail bond agent; conforming a provision to
 1615         changes made by the act; amending s. 648.34, F.S.;
 1616         providing that certain individuals applying for bail
 1617         bond agent licensure are not required to resubmit
 1618         fingerprints to the department under certain
 1619         circumstances; authorizing the department to require
 1620         such individuals to file fingerprints under certain
 1621         circumstances; reenacting s. 626.8734(1)(b), F.S.,
 1622         relating to nonresident all-lines adjuster license
 1623         qualifications, to incorporate the amendment made to
 1624         s. 626.221, F.S., in a reference thereto; providing an
 1625         effective date.