The Florida Senate

320.8225  Mobile home and recreational vehicle manufacturer, distributor, and importer license.--

(1)  LICENSE REQUIRED.--Any person who engages in the business of a mobile home manufacturer or a recreational vehicle manufacturer, distributor, or importer in this state, or who manufactures mobile homes or recreational vehicles out of state which are ultimately offered for sale in this state, shall obtain annually a license for each factory location in this state and for each factory location out of state which manufactures mobile homes or recreational vehicles for sale in this state, prior to distributing or importing mobile homes or recreational vehicles for sale in this state.

(2)  APPLICATION.--The application for a license must be in the form prescribed by the department and contain sufficient information to disclose the identity, location, and responsibility of the applicant. The application must also include a copy of the warranty and a complete statement of any service agreement or policy to be utilized by the applicant, any information relating to the applicant's solvency and financial standing, and any other pertinent matter commensurate with safeguarding the public. The department may prescribe an abbreviated application for renewal of a license if the licensee has previously filed an initial application pursuant to this section. The application for renewal must include any information necessary to make current the information required in the initial application.

(3)  FEES.--Upon submitting an initial application, the applicant shall pay to the department a fee of $300. Upon submitting a renewal application, the applicant shall pay to the department a fee of $100. Any applicant for renewal who fails to submit his or her renewal application by October 1 shall pay a renewal application fee equal to the original application fee. No fee is refundable. All fees must be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.

(4)  NONRESIDENT.--Any person applying for a license who is not a resident of this state must designate an agent for service of process pursuant to s. 48.181

(5)  REQUIREMENT OF ASSURANCE.--

(a)  Annually, prior to the receipt of a license to manufacture mobile homes, the applicant or licensee shall submit a surety bond, cash bond, or letter of credit from a financial institution, or a proper continuation certificate, sufficient to assure satisfaction of claims against the licensee for failure to comply with appropriate code standards, failure to provide warranty service, or violation of any provisions of this section. The amount of the surety bond, cash bond, or letter of credit must be $50,000. Only one surety bond, cash bond, or letter of credit shall be required for each manufacturer, regardless of the number of factory locations. The surety bond, cash bond, or letter of credit must be to the department, in favor of any retail customer who suffers a loss arising out of noncompliance with code standards or failure to honor or provide warranty service. The department may disapprove any bond or letter of credit that does not provide assurance as provided in this section.

(b)  Annually, prior to the receipt of a license to manufacture, distribute, or import recreational vehicles, the applicant or licensee shall submit a surety bond, or a proper continuation certificate, sufficient to assure satisfaction of claims against the licensee for failure to comply with appropriate code standards, failure to provide warranty service, or violation of any provisions of this section. The amount of the surety bond must be $10,000 per year. The surety bond must be to the department, in favor of any retail customer who suffers loss arising out of noncompliance with code standards or failure to honor or provide warranty service. The department may disapprove any bond that does not provide assurance as provided in this section.

(c)  The department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 120 relating to providing assurance of satisfaction of claims under this section.

(d)  The department shall, upon denial, suspension, or revocation of any license, notify the surety company of the licensee, in writing, that the license has been denied, suspended, or revoked and shall state the reason for such denial, suspension, or revocation.

(e)  Any surety company that pays any claim against the bond of any licensee shall notify the department, in writing, that it has paid such a claim and shall state the amount of the claim.

(f)  Any surety company that cancels the bond of any licensee shall notify the department, in writing, of such cancellation, giving reason for the cancellation.

(6)  LICENSE YEAR.--A license issued to a mobile home manufacturer or a recreational vehicle manufacturer, distributor, or importer entitles the licensee to conduct business for a period of 1 year from October 1 preceding the date of issuance.

(7)  DENIAL OF LICENSE.--The department may deny a mobile home manufacturer or a recreational vehicle manufacturer, distributor, or importer license on the ground that:

(a)  The applicant has made a material misstatement in his or her application for a license.

(b)  The applicant has failed to comply with any applicable provision of this chapter.

(c)  The applicant has failed to provide warranty service.

(d)  The applicant or one or more of his or her principals or agents has violated any law, rule, or regulation relating to the manufacture or sale of mobile homes or recreational vehicles.

(e)  The department has proof of the unfitness of the applicant.

(f)  The applicant or licensee has engaged in previous conduct in any state which would have been a ground for revocation or suspension of a license in this state.

(g)  The applicant or licensee has violated any provision of the National Mobile Home Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 or any related rule or regulation adopted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Upon denial of a license, the department shall notify the applicant within 10 days, stating in writing its grounds for denial. The applicant is entitled to an administrative hearing and may request that such hearing be held within 45 days of denial of the license. All proceedings must be pursuant to chapter 120.

(8)  REVOCATION OR SUSPENSION OF LICENSE.--The department shall suspend or, in the case of a subsequent offense, shall revoke any license upon a finding that the licensee violated any provision of this chapter or any other law of this state regarding the manufacture, warranty, or sale of mobile homes or recreational vehicles. The department may reinstate the license if it finds that the former licensee has complied with all applicable requirements of this chapter and an application for a license is refiled pursuant to this section.

(9)  CIVIL PENALTIES; PROCEDURE.--The department is authorized to assess, impose, levy, and collect by legal process a civil penalty, in an amount not to exceed $1,000 for each violation, against any licensee if it finds that a licensee has violated any provision of this section or has violated any other law of this state having to do with dealing in motor vehicles. A licensee is entitled to a hearing pursuant to chapter 120 to contest the fine levied, or about to be levied, upon him or her.

History.--s. 3, ch. 74-169; s. 4. ch. 75-203; s. 34, ch. 77-357; s. 20, ch. 78-95; s. 9, ch. 80-217; s. 2, ch. 81-318; s. 7, ch. 85-176; s. 43, ch. 86-243; ss. 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 377, ch. 95-148; s. 6, ch. 96-394; s. 11, ch. 2007-258.