PRESS RELEASES

Florida DBPR Issues Emergency Order to Streamline Hurricane Helene Recovery Efforts

September 30, 2024

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – On September 29, 2024, at the direction of Governor Ron DeSantis, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) filed Emergency Order 2024-08 to streamline Hurricane Helene recovery efforts and remove barriers for businesses impacted by the storm.

DBPR Emergency Order 2024-08 provides the following:

Certified and Registered Contractors

• Suspends certain provisions of section 489.113(3), Florida Statutes, to allow certified or registered general contractors, building contractors, or residential contractors to subcontract roofing work for the repair or installation of any roof type.
• Suspends certain provisions of section 489.117, Florida Statutes, to allow registered contractors to work outside of the geographic scope limitations or requirements provided in section 489.117(1)(b) and (c), Florida Statutes, when providing services, subject to additional requirements outlined in the emergency order while the emergency order is in effect.
• Suspends certain provisions of 489.513, Florida Statutes, to allow registered electrical and alarm system contractors to work outside of the geographic scope limitations or requirements provided in section 489.513(5), Florida Statutes, when providing services, subject to additional requirements outlined in the emergency order while the emergency order is in effect.
• Provides that the installation of non-permanent, emergency tarps to relieve damage caused by Hurricane Helene fall within the exemptions listed in section 489.103(6), Florida Statutes.

License Renewals

• Extends renewal deadlines from September 30 and October 1, 2024, to October 31, 2024, for the following licenses:
• Hotels and Restaurants: Public Lodging Establishments, Vacation Rentals, Timeshare Projects, and Public Food Service Establishments.
• Real Estate: Sales Associates, Broker Sales Associates, Corporate Brokers, Partnerships, Corporations, Branch Offices, and associated continuing education as set forth in rule 61J2-3.009(2)(b), Florida Administrative Code.
• Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco: Retail Vendors, Distributors, Manufacturers, Importers, Brokers, Sales Agents, Passenger Common Carriers, and Bottle Clubs.
• Drugs Devices and Cosmetics: All licenses established by sections 499.012(5)(a), 499.028(11)(b), 499.62(6), and 499.832(1), Florida Statutes, and rules 61N-1.015(10)(a) and 61N-1.018, Florida Administrative Code, which includes Prescription Drug Wholesalers, Prescription Drug Wholesalers – Broker Only, and Out-of-State-Prescription Drug Wholesalers.
• Condominium Association Manager licenses and associated continuing education as set for in rule 61E14-4.001, Florida Administrative Code.

Hotels, Restaurants, and Elevator Safety

• Suspends and amends the provisions of section 509.032(3), Florida Statutes, and rule 61C-1.002(3)(a)4., Florida Administrative Code, regarding temporary food service events and licensure of public food service establishments and other food service vendors for temporary food service events, subject to sanitation requirements. Sponsors of temporary food service events must provide advanced notice to the Division of Hotels and Restaurants of the temporary food service event before the event at https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/licensing/temporary-food-establishment/.
• Suspends and amends the provisions of section 509.102(1)(b) and 509.102(3), Florida Statutes, and rules 61C-1.002(6)(a)3 and 61C-4.0161(3)(c), Florida Administrative Code, regarding the time that a public food service establishment may operate a temporary commercial kitchen, the location of a temporary commercial kitchen, the requirement that a public food service establishment provide notice of a temporary commercial kitchen, and the requirement that a mobile food dispensing vehicle only serve food in individually portioned and packaged or pre-packaged containers. Public food service establishments operating a temporary commercial kitchen must provide advanced notice to the Division of Hotels and Restaurants of the temporary commercial kitchen before opening at https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/hotels-restaurants/licensing/temporary-food-establishment/.
• Waives the $250 fee required by section 399.03(2), Florida Statutes, for installing an elevator.
• Waives the $250 fee required by section 399.03(2), Florida Statutes, for relocating an elevator.
• Waives the $200 fee required by section 399.03(2), Florida Statutes, for altering an elevator.
• Suspends the provisions of section 399.03(4), Florida Statutes, and rule 61C-5.006(1)(c), Florida Administrative Code, regarding the installation, relocation, or alteration of an elevator in specific situations.

Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco

• Suspends and tolls all time requirements and deadlines for licensees and permitees filing monthly reports and returns as required by sections 210.02, 210.09, 210.55, 561.50, and 561.55, Florida Statutes until October 31, 2024.
• Extends the existing deadline of October 2, 2024, for the 45-day entry period for the quota beverage license drawing, until 5:00 p.m. on October 31, 2024.

Veterinarians

• Suspends the $200 fee for the issuance of a temporary license to out-of-state veterinarians during an emergency described by section 474.2125, Florida Statutes.

Mobile Homes, Residential Condominium Directors, and Homeowner Association Directors

• Suspends and tolls payment of the annual $4 fee per mobile home, as established by section 723.007(1), Florida Statutes, and the $1 surcharge, as established by section 723.007(2), Florida Statutes, until October 31, 2024.
• Suspends and tolls any existing written certification or educational certificate requirements for residential condominium directors, as set for in section 718.112(2)(d)4. b. (II), Florida Statutes, until October 31, 2024.
• Suspends and tolls any existing written certification or educational certificate requirements for homeowner association directors, as set for in section 720.3033, Florida Statutes, until October 31, 2024.

Relocation Fees

• Waives the total relocation fee for Barbershops, Cosmetology Salons, Veterinary Premises, and Veterinary Limited Services permits. The emergency order also waives the fee for adding an additional branch to a preexisting Real Estate Office or Real Estate School.

Departmental Orders

• Suspends and tolls all final orders reflecting agency action until October 31, 2024.
• Suspends and tolls all time requirements, notice requirements, and deadlines for filing responses as outlined in DBPR orders until October 31, 2024, excluding deadlines for filing responses to issues relating to deputy harbor pilot examinations and examination challenges, which shall only be extended by seven days from the date of the original deadline.

For more information, review DBPR Emergency Order 2024-08. To find other DBPR Emergency Orders related to Hurricane Helene, visit the DBPR Emergency Webpage.

Focus on Florida’s Future Budget Enhances Florida’s Pro-Business Climate and Protects Consumers from Financial Harm

~ Florida DBPR Applauds Governor DeSantis’ Signing of the Focus on Florida’s Future Budget ~

June 13, 2024

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) applauds Governor DeSantis’ and the Florida Legislature’s investment in enhancing Florida’s pro-business climate and maximizing licensing services for businesses and professionals through the signing of the Focus on Florida’s Future budget for Fiscal Year 2024-2025. The Focus on Florida’s Future budget includes support for Florida’s growing number of licensees, improvements to DBPR’s technological and cybersecurity capabilities, investments in education for Florida’s future business leaders, and continued training and equipment for DBPR law enforcement officers.

 “Thanks to Governor DeSantis’ steadfast leadership and pro-business policies, as well as the support and investment of the Florida Legislature, Florida’s business and professional landscape continues to be a model for the nation,” said DBPR Secretary Melanie S. Griffin. “The Focus on Florida’s Future Budget slashes through bureaucratic red tape, streamlines processes and allows DBPR to best serve Florida’s growing number of valued licensees while prioritizing the health, safety and welfare of residents and visitors.”

The Focus on Florida’s Future budget builds upon Governor DeSantis’ vision for Florida’s business and professional landscape. Highlights include:

• $2.8 million to address significant upticks in inspections and investigations as licensee growth continues.
• More than $4.6 million to enhance cybersecurity and technology capabilities and bolster DBPR’s technical infrastructure.
• More than $195,000 for law enforcement training and equipment necessary to enforce the state’s alcoholic beverage and tobacco laws more efficiently.
• More than $311,000 for the Hospitality Education Program to enhance school-to-career training and transition programs for students interested in pursuing careers in the hospitality industry.

For additional budget highlights, click here.

Additionally, Governor DeSantis signed CS/CS/HB 1335 into law, which streamlines business practices and bolsters Florida’s top-ranked business environment by cutting unnecessary red tape for DBPR licensees. The legislation lifts burdensome restrictions on Florida professionals and creates an online account system, modernizing DBPR’s licensing practices. For more information, view the Department’s press release or the full bill text.

Florida DBPR Highlights Efforts to Combat Human Trafficking in Recognition of National Human Trafficking Awareness Day

January 11, 2024

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) recognizes January 11, 2024, as National Human Trafficking Awareness Day and highlights actions taken by the agency to combat human trafficking.

“Governor DeSantis has taken bold and innovative actions to combat the human trafficking crisis, ensuring that the state has the resources to take swift and decisive action against criminals committing this heinous crime and boost awareness of the signs and impacts,: said DBPR Secretary Melanie S. Griffin. “Under the Governor’s leadership, DBPR has taken significant action to combat human trafficking, including educating Florida employers and investigating instances of human trafficking to rescue victims and hold criminals accountable.”

DBPR plays key roles in bolstering human trafficking training and awareness at licensed public lodging establishments as well as in investigations of the nexus between DBPR licensees and human trafficking.

Efforts include:

Enforcement to Combat Human Trafficking

• DBPR’s Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (ABT) Bureau of Law Enforcement has participated in numerous investigations with joint state and federal task forces that have identified more than 300 individuals either trafficking or being trafficked in Florida. As a result of the Bureau’s partnership with federal agencies, there are multiple pending criminal cases and more than $1.5 million in civil penalties pending against licensees.
• Last year, ABT Bureau of Law Enforcement investigated an anonymous complaint that a minor, trafficked from another country, was being labor trafficked at a restaurant licensed by DBPR. The investigation resulted in the minor being removed from the restaurant and placed into care by a federal agency. The minor entered the United States alone at the age of 15 and was trapped in labor trafficking to repay the criminal group responsible for the illegal entrance. This instance is part of an ongoing criminal investigation by ABT and federal partners.
• All 12 of ABT’s offices statewide are required to provide a monthly report of their efforts to identify, deter and investigate human trafficking throughout Florida.

Education and Training

• All public lodging establishments licensed by the DBPR Division of Hotels and Restaurants must provide annual training on human trafficking awareness to employees of the establishment who perform housekeeping duties in the rental units or who work at the front desk or reception area where guests check in or check out. The Division conducts inspections with a focus on:
• Auditing establishment training records during Division on-site inspections to ensure Human Trafficking Awareness Training is conducted on an annual basis for required public lodging establishment employees;
• Reviewing each public lodging establishment’s procedure for reporting of suspected human trafficking to the National Human Trafficking Hotline or to a local law enforcement agency; and
• Checking for the size and placement of a human trafficking public awareness sign posted for employees which clearly displays the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline and text numbers.
• As a result of DBPR’s strict human trafficking awareness training requirements, an attentive hotel worker in Palm Beach County identified and reported suspected sex trafficking to local law enforcement, saving two minor victims during the arrest of two traffickers in August 2023.
• Last year, Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature enacted stricter requirements on human trafficking awareness training requirements in public lodging establishments by:
• Cracking down on repeat violators of human trafficking awareness requirements by shortening the cure period for an initial violation from 90 days to 45 days and imposing daily fines for any subsequent violation; and
• Requiring public lodging establishments that are not in compliance with the DBPR Division of Hotels and Restaurants required Human Trafficking Awareness Training to remit administrative fines of $2,000 per day to the Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking to further prevention of this crime.
• DBPR’s ABT law enforcement officers undergo advanced training on detecting and investigating crimes related to human trafficking.
• DBPR’s Division of Regulation, in coordination with the Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking, provides staff training to investigators and inspectors on how to spot and report suspected instances of human trafficking during stings, sweeps and inspections. DBPR’s most recent training educated more than 70 employees.

If you or someone you know is being forced to engage in an activity and cannot leave, whether it is prostitution, housework, farm work, factory work, retail work, restaurant work, or any other activity, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 888-373-7888 or text INFO or HELP to 233-733 to access help and services.

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The The Department of Business and Professional Regulation licenses and regulates nearly 1.7 million businesses and professionals in the State of Florida across more than 30 fields of industry. The Department’s mission is to license efficiently and regulate fairly. For more information, visit MyFloridaLicense.com.