The Florida Senate

471.033  Disciplinary proceedings.--

(1)  The following acts constitute grounds for which the disciplinary actions in subsection (3) may be taken:

(a)  Violating any provision of s. 455.227(1), s. 471.025, or s. 471.031, or any other provision of this chapter or rule of the board or department.

(b)  Attempting to procure a license to practice engineering by bribery or fraudulent misrepresentations.

(c)  Having a license to practice engineering revoked, suspended, or otherwise acted against, including the denial of licensure, by the licensing authority of another state, territory, or country, for any act that would constitute a violation of this chapter or chapter 455.

(d)  Being convicted or found guilty of, or entering a plea of nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a crime in any jurisdiction which directly relates to the practice of engineering or the ability to practice engineering.

(e)  Making or filing a report or record that the licensee knows to be false, willfully failing to file a report or record required by state or federal law, willfully impeding or obstructing such filing, or inducing another person to impede or obstruct such filing. Such reports or records include only those that are signed in the capacity of a licensed engineer.

(f)  Advertising goods or services in a manner that is fraudulent, false, deceptive, or misleading in form or content.

(g)  Engaging in fraud or deceit, negligence, incompetence, or misconduct, in the practice of engineering.

(h)  Violating chapter 455.

(i)  Practicing on a revoked, suspended, inactive, or delinquent license.

(j)  Affixing or permitting to be affixed his or her seal, name, or digital signature to any final drawings, specifications, plans, reports, or documents that were not prepared by him or her or under his or her responsible supervision, direction, or control.

(k)  Violating any order of the board or department previously entered in a disciplinary hearing.

(2)  The board shall specify, by rule, what acts or omissions constitute a violation of subsection (1).

(3)  When the board finds any person guilty of any of the grounds set forth in subsection (1), it may enter an order imposing one or more of the following penalties:

(a)  Denial of an application for licensure.

(b)  Revocation or suspension of a license.

(c)  Imposition of an administrative fine not to exceed $1,000 for each count or separate offense.

(d)  Issuance of a reprimand.

(e)  Placement of the licensee on probation for a period of time and subject to such conditions as the board may specify.

(f)  Restriction of the authorized scope of practice by the licensee.

(4)  The management corporation shall reissue the license of a disciplined engineer or business upon certification by the board that the disciplined person has complied with all of the terms and conditions set forth in the final order.

History.--ss. 15, 42, ch. 79-243; ss. 8, 10, ch. 81-302; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; s. 3, ch. 85-134; ss. 10, 14, 15, ch. 89-30; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 145, ch. 92-149; s. 217, ch. 94-119; s. 336, ch. 97-103; s. 5, ch. 97-241; s. 111, ch. 98-166; s. 13, ch. 98-287; s. 119, ch. 2000-141; s. 172, ch. 2000-160; s. 10, ch. 2000-372; s. 35, ch. 2001-186; s. 4, ch. 2001-372; s. 29, ch. 2002-299.