The Florida Senate

¹409.2598  Suspension or denial of new or renewal licenses; registrations; certifications.--

(1)  As used in this section, the term:

(a)  "License" means a license, permit, certificate, registration, franchise, or other form of written permission issued by a licensing agency to an individual which authorizes the individual to engage in an occupation, business, trade, or profession or to engage in a recreational activity, including hunting or fishing. Where the context permits, the term also includes an application for a new or renewal license.

(b)  "Licensee" means an individual who has a license.

(c)  "Licensing agency" means a department, commission, agency, district, county, municipality, or other subdivision of state or local government which issues licenses.

(2)  The Title IV-D agency may petition the court that entered the support order or the court that is enforcing the support order to deny or suspend the license of any obligor with a delinquent support obligation or who fails, after receiving appropriate notice, to comply with subpoenas, orders to appear, orders to show cause, or similar orders relating to paternity or support proceedings. However, a petition may not be filed until the Title IV-D agency has exhausted all other available remedies. The purpose of this section is to promote the public policy of the state as established in s. 409.2551

(3)  The Title IV-D agency shall give notice to any obligor who is an applicant for a new or renewal license or the holder of a current license when a delinquency exists in the support obligation or when an obligor has failed to comply with a subpoena, order to appear, order to show cause, or similar order relating to paternity or support proceeding. The notice shall specify that the obligor has 30 days from the date of mailing of the notice to pay the delinquency or to reach an agreement to pay the delinquency with the Title IV-D agency or comply with the subpoena, order to appear, order to show cause, or similar order. The notice shall specify that, if payment is not made or an agreement cannot be reached, or if the subpoena, order to appear, order to show cause, or similar order is not complied with, the application may be denied or the license may be suspended pursuant to a court order.

(4)  If the obligor fails to pay the delinquency or enter into a repayment agreement with the department or comply with the subpoena, order to appear, order to show cause, or similar order within 30 days following completion of service of the notice, the Title IV-D agency shall send a second notice to the obligor stating that the obligor has 30 days to pay the delinquency or reach an agreement to pay the delinquency with the Title IV-D agency or comply with the subpoena, order to appear, order to show cause, or similar order. If the obligor fails to respond to either notice from the Title IV-D agency or if the obligor fails to pay the delinquency or reach an agreement to pay the delinquency or comply with the subpoena, order to appear, order to show cause, or similar order after the second notice, the Title IV-D agency may petition the court which entered the support order or the court which is enforcing the support order to deny the application for the license or to suspend the license of the obligor. However, no petition may be filed until the Title IV-D agency has exhausted all other available remedies. The court may find that it would be inappropriate to deny a license or suspend a license if:

(a)  Denial or suspension would result in irreparable harm to the obligor or employees of the obligor or would not accomplish the objective of collecting the delinquency; or

(b)  The obligor demonstrates that he or she has made a good faith effort to reach an agreement with the Title IV-D agency.

The court may not deny or suspend a license if the court determines that an alternative remedy is available to the Title IV-D agency which is likely to accomplish the objective of collecting the delinquency or obtaining compliance with the subpoena, order to appear, order to show cause, or similar order. If the obligor fails in the defense of a petition for denial or suspension, the court which entered the support order or the court which is enforcing the support order shall enter an order to deny the application for the license or to suspend the license of the obligor. The court shall order the obligor to surrender the license to the Title IV-D agency, which will return the license and a copy of the order of suspension to the appropriate licensing agency.

(5)  If the court denies or suspends a license and the obligor subsequently pays the delinquency or reaches an agreement with the Title IV-D agency to settle the delinquency and makes the first payment required by the agreement, or complies with the subpoena, order to appear, order to show cause, or similar order, the license shall be issued or reinstated upon written proof to the court that the obligor has complied with the terms of the court order, subpoena, order to appear, order to show cause, or similar order. Proof of payment shall consist of a certified copy of the payment record issued by the depository. The court shall order the appropriate licensing agency to issue or reinstate the license without additional charge to the obligor.

(6)  The licensing agency shall, when directed by the court, suspend or deny the license of any licensee under its jurisdiction found to have a delinquent support obligation or not to be in compliance with a subpoena, order to appear, order to show cause, or similar order. The licensing agency shall issue or reinstate the license without additional charge to the licensee when notified by the court that the licensee has complied with the terms of the court order, or subpoena, order to appear, order to show cause, or similar order.

(7)  Notice shall be served under this section by regular mail to the obligor at his or her last address of record with the local depository or a more recent address if known.

History.--s. 9, ch. 93-208; s. 4, ch. 95-222; s. 95, ch. 96-175; s. 1021, ch. 97-103; s. 59, ch. 97-170; s. 29, ch. 98-166; s. 36, ch. 99-289; s. 21, ch. 2000-160; s. 19, ch. 2000-364; s. 44, ch. 2001-158; s. 993, ch. 2002-387; s. 18, ch. 2004-334; s. 33, ch. 2005-39.

¹Note.--Section 33, ch. 2005-39, amended s. 409.2598, effective July 1, 2006, to read:

409.2598  License suspension proceeding to enforce support order.--

(1)  DEFINITIONS.--As used in this section, the term:

(a)  "License" means a license, permit, certificate, registration, franchise, or other form of written permission issued by a licensing agency to an individual which authorizes the individual to engage in an occupation, business, trade, or profession or to engage in a recreational activity, including hunting or fishing. Where the context permits, the term also includes an application for a new or renewal license.

(b)  "Licensee" means an individual who has a license.

(c)  "Licensing agency" means a department, commission, agency, district, county, municipality, or other subdivision of state or local government which issues licenses.

(2)  NOTICE OF NONCOMPLIANCE AND INTENT TO SUSPEND LICENSE.--If a support order has not been complied with for at least 30 days, the Department of Revenue may commence a license suspension proceeding to enforce compliance with the support order by providing written notice to the obligor that states:

(a)  That the obligor is not in compliance with the support order and whether the noncompliance is due to the obligor's nonpayment of current support, delinquencies or arrears, or the failure to provide health care coverage or medical support.

(b)  The kind of license that is subject to suspension.

(c)  That the obligor may avoid license suspension by complying with the support order or entering into a written agreement with the department within 30 days after the mailing of the notice.

(d)  If the obligor timely complies with the support order or a written agreement entered into with the department, the proceeding ends and the obligor's license is not suspended.

(e)  That the obligor may contest license suspension by filing a petition in circuit court within 30 days after the mailing of the notice of noncompliance.

(f)  If the obligor timely files a petition in circuit court, that the license suspension proceeding is stayed pending a ruling by the court.


The notice shall be served on the obligor by regular mail sent to the obligor's last address of record with the local depository or a more recent address if known, which may include the obligor's mailing address as reflected by the records of the licensing agency.

(3)  HEARING; STAY OF PROCEEDING.--The obligor may contest license suspension by filing a petition in circuit court within 30 days after the mailing of the notice of noncompliance and serving a copy of the petition on the Department of Revenue. If the obligor timely files a petition in circuit court, the license suspension proceeding is stayed pending a ruling by the court. The obligor may contest on the basis of a mistake of fact concerning the obligor's compliance with the support order, the reasonableness of a payment agreement offered by the department, or the identity of the obligor. A timely petition to contest must be heard by the court within 15 days after the petition is filed. The court must enter an order ruling on the matter within 10 days after the hearing, and a copy of the order must be served on the parties.

(4)  COMPLIANCE; REINSTATEMENT.--

(a)  If the obligor complies with the support order or a written agreement entered into with the department after a proceeding is commenced but before the obligor's license is suspended, the proceeding shall cease and the obligor's license may not be suspended. If the obligor subsequently does not comply with the support order, the department may commence a new proceeding or proceed as provided in paragraph (c) if the obligor enters into a written agreement and does not comply with the agreement.

(b)  If the obligor complies with the support order or a written agreement entered into with the department after the obligor's license is suspended, the department shall provide the obligor with a reinstatement notice and the licensing agency shall reinstate the obligor's license at no additional charge to the obligor.

(c)  If the obligor enters into a written agreement with the department and does not comply with the agreement, the department shall notify the licensing agency to suspend the obligor's license unless the obligor notifies the department that the obligor can no longer comply with the written agreement. If the obligor notifies the department of the inability to comply with the written agreement, the obligor shall provide full disclosure to the department of the obligor's income, assets, and employment. If after full disclosure the written agreement cannot be renegotiated, the department or the obligor may file a petition in circuit court to determine the matter.

(d)  A licensing agency shall promptly reinstate the obligor's license upon receipt of a court order for reinstatement.

(e)  Notwithstanding any other statutory provision, a notice from the court or the department shall reinstate to the obligor all licenses established in chapters 370 and 372 that were valid at the time of suspension.

(5)  NOTICE TO LICENSING AGENCY; SUSPENSION.--

(a)  The Department of Revenue shall notify the licensing agency to suspend the obligor's license when:

1.  Thirty or more days have elapsed after a proceeding has been commenced and the obligor has not complied with the support order or a written agreement entered into with the department or filed a timely petition to contest license suspension in circuit court;

2.  The obligor enters into a written agreement with the department and does not comply with the agreement, unless the obligor notifies the department that the obligor can no longer comply with the agreement; or

3.  The department is ordered to do so by the circuit court.

(b)  Upon notice by the department or the circuit court, the licensing agency shall suspend the obligor's license and may only reinstate the license upon further notice by the department or the court.

(6)  ENFORCEMENT OF SUBPOENAS.--A license may be suspended under this section to enforce compliance with a subpoena, order to appear, order to show cause, or similar order in a child support or paternity proceeding by using the same procedures as those used for enforcing compliance with a support order.

(7)  MULTIPLE LICENSES.--The Department of Revenue may combine a proceeding under this section with a proceeding to suspend a driver's license under s. 61.13016 A proceeding to suspend a license under this section may apply to one or more of the obligor's licenses.

(8)  RULEMAKING AUTHORITY.--The Department of Revenue may adopt rules to implement and enforce the requirements of this section.