PRESS RELEASES

June 6, 2022

Contact: communications@myfloridalicense.com

(850) 922-8981

Freedom First Budget Makes Major Investments to Improve Customer Experience

The FY 2022-23 Budget Reflects Governor DeSantis’ Continuing Investment in

Streamlining Government Processes and Enhancing Quality of Services for Floridians

Tallahassee, Fla. – The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s Fiscal Year 2022-23 budget reflects a major investment in technology. It is designed to minimize burdens of government processes and deliver new, meaningful, long-term improvements for businesses and professionals regulated by the Department.

“We applaud Governor DeSantis for his support in upgrading the Department’s online customer licensing interface and substantial advancements in the methods by which the Department serves nearly 1.6 million licensees annually through its Customer Contact Center,” said DBPR Secretary Melanie S. Griffin. “This budget will make those advancements possible, create a user-friendly experience for all our licensees and help streamline the licensing process for Florida citizens.”

The FY 2022-23 budget provides the Department with the resources needed to continue Governor DeSantis’ vision for improving Florida’s regulatory environment for businesses and professions, which includes:

Customer Experience Modernization & Return Call Software

• Invests in the development of a modern, intuitive online system for transactions and tools that will create efficiencies for the Department and its stakeholders alike, including: providing an improved customer-centric experience; assisting in decreasing the number of deficient applications submitted to the Department and reducing corresponding license processing times; and lessening call volumes, reduce wait times, and enhancing self-service options for the convenience of applicants and license holders;
• Provides users with enhanced online capabilities such as ease of access via mobile devices and applications, real-time agent assistance and 24/7 online chat capabilities; and
• Implements return call options for the Department’s Customer Contact Center, significantly reduces wait times for reaching a live customer support agent.

In addition to technological modernizations and maintaining the agency’s core focus of ensuring businesses and professionals provide safe, quality services to Florida residents and visitors, the FY 2022-23 budget also:

Law Enforcement Training & Equipment

• Supports the advancement of DBPR’s sworn law enforcement team members in the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco by providing additional resources for training and equipment.

Florida PALM Readiness

• Provides funding to assist in the Department’s multi-year preparation of computing assets as part of the state’s transition to the Florida Planning Accounting and Ledger Management (PALM) system.

Transfer to the Florida Gaming Control Commission

• Transfers the Department’s Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering to the newly formed Florida Gaming Control Commission as of July 1, 2022.

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The Department of Business and Professional Regulation licenses and regulates nearly 1.6 million businesses and professionals in the State of Florida across more than 30 fields of industry, including accountants, architects and interior designers, asbestos consultants, athlete agents, auctioneers, barbers, building code administrators and inspectors, community association managers, construction contractors, cosmetologists, electrical contractors, employee leasing companies, geologists, home inspectors, landscape architects, mold assessors and remediators, pilot commissioners, real estate appraisers and brokers, and veterinarians, as well as businesses dealing in alcoholic beverages, tobacco, food service, public lodging, pari-mutuel wagering, and condominiums, timeshares, and other cooperative residential arrangements. The Department’s mission is to license efficiently and regulate fairly. For more information, visit myfloridalicense.com.

Follow @FloridaDBPR on Twitter, @Florida.DBPR on Instagram, or Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation on Facebook or LinkedIn for important information and updates on matters relating to Florida’s business and professional licensing.