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The Florida Senate

HB 693 — Department of Business and Professional Regulation

by Rep. Ingram (CS/SB 1120 by Budget Subcommittee on General Government Appropriations and Senator Jones)

This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.

Prepared by: Regulated Industries Committee (RI)

The bill repeals provisions related to the use of metering machines for placing tax stamps on cigarette packages to evidence payment of excise taxes. According to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (department), such machines are no longer in use.

 The bill repeals the following licensing requirements:

  •  The requirement that professional licensees of the department who change from inactive to active status during the renewal of their license must complete a licensure cycle on active status before they can return to inactive status;
  • The license requirement for the chief administrators of real estate schools;
  • The requirement that applicants for licensure as a nonresident real estate broker, sales associate, appraisal management company, and appraiser to file an irrevocable consent for service through which a plaintiff may serve process against the non-resident license by sending the process to the director of the agency as well as to the licensee’s principal place of business by certified mail with return receipt. This bill would require plaintiffs to obtain service of process against a nonresident licensee with a process server;
  • The requirement that an applicant for a barber’s license must apply with the department at least 30 days before taking a license examination and furnish two photographs with the application; and
  • The requirement that alcoholic beverages licenses be issued in duplicate.

The bill also repeals the prohibition against the processing of distilled spirits that are greater than 153 proof. The bill maintains the current prohibition against the sale or consumption of a distilled spirit that is greater than 153 proof. However, the bill permits distilled spirits that are greater than 153 proof to be distilled, bottled, packaged, or processed for export or sale outside of the state.

If approved by the Governor, these provisions take effect upon becoming law.

Vote: Senate 39-0; House 118-0