Division of Professions Division of Certified Public ...

Rick Scott, Governor Jonathan Zachem, Secretary

Division of Professions Division of Certified Public Accounting

Division of Real Estate Division of Regulation

Annual Report 2017 - 2018 Fiscal Year

Message from the Secretary

Dear Fellow Floridians,

There were many changes at the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (Department) during Fiscal Year 2017-2018. Under Governor Scott's guidance, we have worked hard to improve efficiency and reduce burdensome regulations for the more than one million businesses and professionals licensed by the Department.

Beginning in June 2015, the Department implemented an initiative to allow Real Estate licensees to print their professional license through their online account. The Department has since expanded this functionality to include Real Estate Appraisers, Talent and Athlete Agents, Home Inspectors, MoldRelated Services, Asbestos Consultants, Employee Leasing Companies, Veterinarians, Geologists, Construction and Electrical Contractors and Community Association Managers. This change eliminated the waiting period needed for licensees to receive a printed license by mail. Since this project was implemented, 625,407 licensees have been able to self-print their licenses and join Florida's workforce without further delays.

Almost 100% of license renewal applications are now available online. This function allows licensees to renew their license from the comfort of their home or business. Paperless renewals reached a high of 74.26%. In addition, more than 54% of licensure applications are also available online. The percentage of initial applications submitted online reached a high of 58.37%, reducing the number of paper applications during the same time period.

Implementing an online complaint process was one of the Division of Real Estate's biggest accomplishments related to customer service. Additionally, the formation of the Audit/Inspection Unit is significant to the real estate industry, and sends a positive message that the Division is serious about compliance with statute, and protecting citizens from financial harm. Completing course evaluations inhouse has resulted in improved service to our real estate licensees.

We faced many challenges in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, but my team ermerged with vigorous enforcement efforts. One of the Department's objectives is to protect the safety of Florida's consumers from unlicensed activity. The Division of Regulation conducted 35 enforcement operations and 939 sweeps to stop unlicensed individuals in their tracks. Department staff also conducted 732 outreach events to educate Floridians about the importance of hiring licensed professionals and the dangers posed by unlicensed individuals. Many of these efforts produced record totals due to the division's response to Hurricane Irma.

I am proud of our accomplishments this past fiscal year, and I am happy we are able to create an environment where businesses can thrive by streamlining processes and reducing excessive regulation. The Department will continue to improve and better serve our licensees and the State of Florida in the years to come.

Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation 2017 ? 2018 Annual Report

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

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SECTION ONE: DEPARTMENT INFORMATION

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DEPARTMENT'S MISSION

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DEPARTMENT'S ORGANIZATIONAL CHART

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DEPARTMENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS

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LEGISLATIVE IMPACTS

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DIVISION OF PROFESSIONS

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DIVISION OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING

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DIVISION OF REAL ESTATE

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DIVISION OF REGULATION

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LICENSEE DATA

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SECTION TWO: LONG RANGE PLANNING AND MONITORING

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LONG RANGE PROGRAM PLANNING AND MONITORING

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EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE OPERATIONS

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REGULATION AND CONSUMER PROTECTION

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COMPLAINTS AND INVESTIGATIONS

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ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION

27

INSPECTIONS

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CONSISTENCY BETWEEN PRACTICE ACTS

29

UNLICENSED ACTIVITY PROGRAM EFFORTS

30

SECTION THREE: FINANCES

37

REVENUE, EXPENDITURE AND CASH BALANCES

38

SECTION FOUR: ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINTS AND DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS

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PROBABLE CAUSE, ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINTS AND DISCIPLINE

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DEPARTMENT EFFORTS TO INCREASE DISPOSITION OF OPEN CASES AND DISCIPLINE

93

STATUS OF RULE DEVELOPMENT PROVIDING FOR DISCIPLINARY GUIDELINES

93

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE AND STATUTORY CHANGES

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COMPLAINT STATISTICS

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KEY CONTACTS

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Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation 2017 ? 2018 Annual Report

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Executive Summary

This report prepared pursuant to sections 455.204 and 455.2285, Florida Statutes, details the Department of Business and Professional Regulation's (the Department) long-range planning and monitoring process and provides statistics regarding its enforcement and discipline of the professions it regulates.

During Fiscal Year 2017-2018, the Department continued to prioritize the development of process improvements that benefit Florida's licensed professionals and consumers. Primary efforts included:

Consumer Recovery: The Florida Homeowners' Construction Recovery Fund continued in its mission of aiding financially injured consumers by awarding 54 claims totaling $1,701,962.83 in recovery payments for Fiscal Year 2017-2018.

Improvements for Licensees:

? Online submission procedure for education audits was launched for Architecture and Interior Design licensees in September 2017. This automation reduces time to process by allowing providers to electronically submit audit responses rather than sending by mail in paper format.

? The Bureau of Education and Testing launched computer-based examinations for air conditioning and mechanical license candidates, growing the number of examinations offered by the department on a daily basis at testing facilities located throughout the state. Previously, these examinations were available only in paper and pencil format, six times per year, at three testing locations.

Proactive Education: In an effort to proactively educate Florida's licensed professionals and consumers, the Division of Regulation collaborated with the Department's Division of Hotels and Restaurants to provide and post information about Child Labor Laws at numerous licensed establishments that employ minors throughout the state.

Hurricane Irma Response Efforts: Once the danger of Hurricane Irma passed, investigators began to scout the impacted areas, making contact with homeowners, answering questions and educating them on what to look for when hiring a contractor. In addition to the Division of Regulation's internal efforts, regional offices in Orlando and Tampa conducted two separate enforcement operations in cooperation with local law enforcement in an effort to catch unlicensed contractors operating without a license during the declared state of emergency. These enforcement operations resulted in a combined 16 arrests. In response to the devastation in the Florida Keys, an Investigator position was created specifically dedicated to Monroe County. This allowed the department to maintain an increased presence and proactively educate consumers in the affected area.

Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation 2017 ? 2018 Annual Report

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Section One: Department Information

Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation 2017 ? 2018 Annual Report

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