The Florida Senate

401.411  Disciplinary action; penalties.--

(1)  The department may deny, suspend, or revoke a license, certificate, or permit or may reprimand or fine any licensee, certificateholder, or other person operating under this part for any of the following grounds:

(a)  The violation of any rule of the department or any provision of this part.

(b)  Being found guilty of, or pleading nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication in any jurisdiction, a crime that relates to practice as an emergency medical technician or paramedic, or to practice in any other occupation, when operating under this part.

(c)  Addiction to alcohol or any controlled substance.

(d)  Engaging in or attempting to engage in the possession, except in legitimate duties under the supervision of a licensed physician, or the sale or distribution of any controlled substance as set forth in chapter 893.

(e)  The conviction in any court in any state or in any federal court of a felony, unless the person's civil rights have been restored.

(f)  Knowingly making false or fraudulent claims; procuring, attempting to procure, or renewing a certificate, license, or permit by fakery, fraudulent action, or misrepresentation.

(g)  Unprofessional conduct, including, but not limited to, any departure from or failure to conform to the minimal prevailing standards of acceptable practice as an emergency medical technician or paramedic, including undertaking activities that the emergency medical technician or paramedic is not qualified by training or experience to perform.

(h)  Sexual misconduct with a patient, including inducing or attempting to induce the patient to engage, or engaging or attempting to engage the patient, in sexual activity.

(i)  The failure to give to the department, or its authorized representative, true information upon request regarding an alleged or confirmed violation of this part or rule of the department.

(j)  Fraudulent or misleading advertising or advertising in an unauthorized category.

(k)  Practicing as an emergency medical technician, paramedic, or other health care professional operating under this part without reasonable skill and safety to patients by reason of illness, drunkenness, or the use of drugs, narcotics, or chemicals or any other substance or as a result of any mental or physical condition.

(l)  The failure to report to the department any person known to be in violation of this part.

(2)  A suspension or revocation of a license or certificate is for all classifications unless the department, in its sole discretion, suspends or revokes one or more classifications thereof.

(3)  One year after the revocation of a license or certificate, application may be made to the department for reinstatement; and the department may authorize reinstatement.

(4)  Any charge of a violation of this part by a licensee affects only the license of the service location from which the violation is alleged to have occurred. Another license may not be issued to the same licensee for a new service location in the same county or any other county for a period of 3 years from the effective date of revocation.

(5)  If the department finds that the terms of any such suspension have been violated, it may revoke such suspension immediately.

(6)  If a person whose license, certificate, or permit has been suspended is found by the department to have violated any of the other provisions of this part, the department may revoke the license, certificate, or permit.

(7)  In addition to any other administrative action authorized by law, the department may impose an administrative fine, not to exceed $1,000 per violation of this part or rule of the department. Each day of a violation constitutes a separate violation and is subject to a separate fine. In determining the amount of a fine, the department shall consider the following factors:

(a)  The gravity of the violation, including the probability of death or disability as a result of the violation.

(b)  Any actions taken to correct the violation.

(c)  Any previous violations committed by the violator.

(8)  All amounts collected under this section must be deposited into the Emergency Medical Services Trust Fund.

History.--ss. 19, 25, ch. 82-402; ss. 12, 13, ch. 83-196; s. 17, ch. 84-317; ss. 21, 36, ch. 92-78; s. 2, ch. 98-87.