DBPR Provides Updates Regarding Current Status of Network Systems and Services

 

For Immediate Release

October 16, 2020

 Contact: communications@myfloridalicense.com

(850) 922-8981
 

 DBPR PROVIDES UPDATES REGARDING CURRENT STATUS OF NETWORK SYSTEMS AND SERVICES

 

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Secretary Halsey Beshears provided the following updates regarding the current status of network systems and services of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation:

 

The Department of Business and Professional Regulation is currently operating with system network limitations as part of an ongoing effort to ensure the security of all information technology assets. During this limited service period, all DBPR Online Services for applications, payments, and other licensure transactions are available through www.myfloridalicense.com, and customer support agents are available to support users who need assistance with these services.

On Wednesday, October 7, 2020, DBPR’s information security infrastructure identified instances of malicious activity on state-owned technology assets. The Department took immediate security response measures to identify and contain the cause of the malicious system activity and to prevent any compromise of Department systems and data.

Necessarily, these measures to protect the operation of the Department’s network systems required temporary outages in the DBPR Online Services beginning on Thursday, October 8, 2020, and continuing through the restoration of the Online Services on Monday, October 12, 2020. While online options now are available for public use, the Department has taken additional steps this week to enhance the system safeguards that helped identify this concern.

The Department’s continuing efforts to eliminate any perpetual malicious activity have delayed the availability of some system resources that support certain services and processes performed by Department staff. These system limitations are anticipated to continue until all systems and system functions are cleared for access by users. Importantly, to date, the Department has not identified any evidence that suggests a breach of any personally identifiable information.

The Department is committed to achieving a safe and responsible restoration of all system functions swiftly, and upon restoration, will take additional steps to expedite handling of any transactions that have been delayed by this disruption in operation of certain network systems. During the week of October 19, 2020, the Department will align staff resources where necessary to support these additional efforts in processing pending applications and inquiries.

Risks posed by malicious activity on state-owned technology assets are serious, and the Department will continue to work tirelessly with state technology and law enforcement partners to exhaust all available measures in deterring threats directed toward these assets. In this case, the Department has engaged the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for additional support in the investigation and review of these system security matters.

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The Department of Business and Professional Regulation licenses and regulates more than one million businesses and professionals in the State of Florida, 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, please visit www.myfloridalicense.com.

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

 

October 16, 2020 /  
Florida DBPR Issues Emergency Order To Reopen Bars Beginning Monday, September 14

 

For Immediate Release

September 10, 2020

 Contact: communications@myfloridalicense.com

(850) 922-8981
 

Florida DBPR Issues Emergency Order To Reopen Bars

Beginning Monday, September 14

DBPR Emergency Order 2020-10 Will Allow Alcohol Vendors to Operate Pursuant to

Phase 2 of Florida’s Safe. Smart. Step-by-Step Plan for Recovery

 

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, at the direction of Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) Secretary Halsey Beshears issued Emergency Order 2020-10, which rescinds the DBPR Amended Emergency Order 2020-09 effective on Monday, September 14, 2020.  Under DBPR Emergency Order 2020-10, bars and other alcoholic beverage vendors may resume sales of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises on Monday, provided that their operations comply with the parameters of Phase 2 of the Safe. Smart. Step-by-Step Plan for Florida’s Recovery as established in Executive Order 20-139.  Beginning Monday, these vendors may operate at fifty percent of the facility’s indoor capacity, allow bar service to seated patrons, and permit outdoor seating and service with appropriate social distancing.

 

“In meetings with hundreds of owners of bars and breweries across the state, I’ve heard their stories of struggle, and I’ve observed their serious commitment to making health and safety a continuing priority in their businesses,” said DBPR Secretary Halsey Beshears. “It’s time that we take this step, and it’s vital that we start moving forward with this sector of our hospitality industry who have endured one of the toughest paths for sustaining a business during this pandemic.”

 

For more information, see the attached DBPR Emergency Order 2020-10 or visit www.myfloridalicense.com.

 

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The Department of Business and Professional Regulation licenses and regulates more than one million businesses and professionals in the State of Florida, 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, please visit www.myfloridalicense.com.

 

Follow @FloridaDBPR on Twitter or Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation on Facebook for important information and updates on matters relating to Florida’s business and professional licensing.
September 11, 2020 /  
Florida DBPR Opens Entry Period for Annual Quota Beverage License Drawing

 

For Immediate Release

August 19, 2020

 Contact: communications@myfloridalicense.com

(850) 922-8981

 

Florida DBPR Opens Entry Period for Annual Quota Beverage License Drawing

A total of 62 licenses are available in 30 Florida Counties

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – This week, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s (DBPR) Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco opened the entry period for the 2020 Quota Beverage License Drawing. For the 2020 entry period, entry forms will be accepted until the filing deadline on September 30, 2020.

Quota beverage licenses authorize the holder of the license to sell beer, wine, and distilled spirits, either for package sales only or for consumption on and off the licensed premises, depending on the license series elected. The Florida Beverage Law limits the total number of quota alcoholic beverage licenses by county population estimates, authorizing the Division to issue no more than one license for every 7,500 residents within a county. Each year, the Division analyzes population data in Florida’s 67 counties, and if one or more on the licenses are eligible to be entered into the drawing, opens the drawing process for a 45-day period beginning the third Monday in August.

The 2020 drawing entry period will include 62 new quota beverage licenses available for issuance in 30 counties, including: Brevard, Broward, Calhoun, Clay, Collier, Dade, DeSoto, Duval, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Manatee, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sarasota, Seminole, Sumter, Volusia and Walton.

Once the entry period closes at 5 p.m. on September 30, 2020, the Division will process qualifying entries and announce the winners during a public drawing at a later date. Entrants selected from the drawing will be awarded the right to apply to hold one of the available licenses in the county from which their entry was selected. During the 2019 entry period, for which rights to apply for available licenses were recently awarded following the public drawing, the Division received more than 23,500 entries for 51 licenses in 27 counties.

Entrants can apply by using DBPR’s online portal to pay by credit card. To enter and pay by check or money order, applications and payment can be mailed or hand delivered to the following address:

Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco

Attn: Quota Beverage License Drawing

2601 Blair Stone Road

Tallahassee, FL 32399-1019

For more information about the Quota Beverage License Drawing entry process, interested entrants are encouraged to contact a local Division of Alcoholic Beverage and Tobacco District Office or visit our website by clicking HERE.

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The Department of Business and Professional Regulation licenses and regulates more than one million businesses and professionals in the State of Florida, 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, please visit www.myfloridalicense.com.

 

Follow @FloridaDBPR on Twitter or Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation on Facebook for important information and updates on matters relating to Florida’s business and professional licensing.
August 20, 2020 /  
Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation Releases Results of Annual Quota Alcoholic Beverage License Drawing

For Immediate Release

August 7, 2020

 Contact: communications@myfloridalicense.com

(850) 922-8981
 

Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation Releases Results of Annual Quota Alcoholic Beverage License Drawing

51 selected entrants from the 2019 entry period now have 45 days

to apply for the license in the county where selected

 

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. –Today, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco conducted the public drawing for quota alcoholic beverage licenses available from the 2019 entry period.  Results of the drawing are now published and accessible on the Division’s Quota Licenses and Drawings webpage.

 

Quota alcoholic beverage licenses authorize the holder of the license to sell beer, wine, and distilled spirits, either for package sales only or for consumption on the licensed premises, depending on the license series elected. The Florida Beverage Law limits the total number of quota alcoholic beverage licenses by county population estimates, authorizing the Division to issue no more than one license for every 7,500 residents within a county. Each year, the Division analyzes population data in Florida’s 67 counties, and based on the licenses available, opens the drawing process.

 

For the 2019 entry period, a total of 51 quota alcoholic beverage licenses were determined to be available for issuance across 27 counties, including: Bay, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Collier, Dade, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Leon, Manatee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Seminole and Volusia.  23,728 entries were deemed qualified for entry in the drawing for the 2019 entry period.

 

Entrants selected from today’s drawing will be awarded the priority right to apply and qualify to hold one of the available licenses in the county from which their entry was selected.  The Florida Beverage Law requires that each selected entrant file an application to qualify to hold the license within 45 days from the date of the Division’s notice of selection.

 

The 2020 entry period for this annual drawing process will open on Monday, August 17, 2020. More information about the number and location of available licenses for the 2020 entry period will be published ahead of the opening date of the entry period.  Interested parties are encouraged to monitor information on the Division’s webpage related to Quota Licenses and Drawings.

 

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The Department of Business and Professional Regulation licenses and regulates more than one million businesses and professionals in the State of Florida, 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, please visit www.myfloridalicense.com.

 

Follow @FloridaDBPR on Twitter or Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation on Facebook for important information and updates on matters relating to Florida’s business and professional licensing.
August 19, 2020 /  
Florida DBPR Reports Emergency Suspension of Alcoholic Beverage Vendor License in Orange County

For Immediate Release

August 11, 2020

 Contact: communications@myfloridalicense.com

(850) 922-8981
 

Florida DBPR Reports Emergency Suspension of Alcoholic Beverage Vendor License in Orange County

 

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) reported the emergency suspension of an alcoholic beverage vendor license related to:

 

Licensee Name:    Mathers LLC & Dobson Family Trust, d/b/a Mathers, Shots, Joysticks

License Number:   BEV 5802634

License Type:        Series 4COP Quota

County:                  Orange

 

Upon the entry of the order of Secretary Halsey Beshears, on August 11, 2020, the license is suspended, until further administrative proceedings seeking formal discipline of the license may be instituted pursuant to chapter 120, Florida Statutes.

 

This emergency license action is based on a finding that immediate danger to public health, safety, or welfare requires suspension of the license to avoid future harm. The attached agency amended order, as filed on August 11, 2020, provides additional information regarding the circumstances and findings prompting the emergency suspension of License Number BEV 5802634.

 

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The Department of Business and Professional Regulation licenses and regulates more than one million businesses and professionals in the State of Florida, 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, please visit www.myfloridalicense.com.

 

Follow @FloridaDBPR on Twitter or Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation on Facebook for important information and updates on matters relating to Florida’s business and professional licensing.
August 18, 2020 /