Florida Senate - 2007                      COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
    Bill No. SB 612
                        Barcode 681736
                            CHAMBER ACTION
              Senate                               House
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11  The Committee on Commerce (Crist) recommended the following
12  amendment:
13  
14         Senate Amendment (with title amendment) 
15         On page 13, line 16, through
16            page 30, line 16, delete those lines
17  
18  and insert:  
19         508.102  Wrecker Operator Advisory Council.--
20         (1)  The Wrecker Operator Advisory Council is created
21  within the department. The council shall advise and assist the
22  department in administering this chapter.
23         (2)(a)  The council shall be composed of seven members
24  appointed by the Commissioner of Agriculture.
25         (b)  Four members, two of whom operate three trucks or
26  fewer, of the council must each be an ultimate equitable owner
27  of a wrecker company who has been an ultimate equitable owner
28  of that company for at least 5 years before his or her
29  appointment; one member must be a wrecker operator who is not
30  an ultimate equitable owner of a wrecker company and who has
31  been a wrecker operator for at least 5 years before his or her
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Florida Senate - 2007 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 612 Barcode 681736 1 appointment; and two members must be laypersons. Each member 2 must be a resident of this state. This paragraph expires July 3 1, 2013. 4 (c) Effective July 1, 2013, four members, two of whom 5 operate three trucks or fewer, of the council must each be an 6 ultimate equitable owner of a wrecker company registered under 7 this chapter who has been an ultimate equitable owner of that 8 company registered for at least 5 years before his or her 9 appointment; one member must be a wrecker operator certified 10 under this chapter who is not an ultimate equitable owner of a 11 wrecker company and who has been a certified wrecker operator 12 for at least 5 years before his or her appointment; and two 13 members must be laypersons. Each member must be a resident of 14 this state. 15 (3) The term of each member of the council is 4 years, 16 except, in order to establish staggered terms, two members who 17 are owners of wrecker companies and one layperson shall be 18 appointed initially for a 2-year term. Members may be 19 reappointed for additional terms that may not exceed 8 years 20 of consecutive service. A vacancy shall be filled for the 21 remainder of the unexpired term in the same manner as the 22 original appointment. 23 (4)(a) From among its members, the council shall 24 annually elect a chair, who shall preside over the meetings of 25 the council, and a vice chair. 26 (b) In conducting its meetings, the council shall use 27 accepted rules of procedure. The department shall keep a 28 complete record of each meeting showing the names of members 29 present and the actions taken. These records and other 30 documents regarding matters within the jurisdiction of the 31 council must be kept on file with the department. 2 8:18 AM 03/20/07 s0612c-cm12-t01
Florida Senate - 2007 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 612 Barcode 681736 1 (5) The members of the council shall serve without 2 compensation, but are entitled to reimbursement of travel and 3 per diem expenses under s. 112.061. 4 (6) The department shall provide administrative and 5 staff support services relating to the functions of the 6 council. 7 (7) The council shall review the rules adopted by the 8 department to administer this chapter and shall advise the 9 department on matters relating to industry standards and 10 practices and other issues that require technical expertise 11 and consultation or that promote better consumer protection in 12 the wrecker industry. 13 508.103 Rulemaking authority.--The department may 14 adopt rules under ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to administer this 15 chapter. 16 508.105 Registration requirements; renewal of 17 registrations.-- 18 (1) Each wrecker company engaged or attempting to 19 engage for hire in the business of towing, carrying, or 20 transporting vehicles or vessels by wrecker upon the streets 21 and highways of this state must annually register with the 22 department on forms prescribed by the department. The 23 application for registration must include at least the 24 following information: 25 (a) The name and federal employer identification 26 number of the wrecker company. 27 (b) The mailing address, physical address, and 28 telephone number of the wrecker company's primary place of 29 business. 30 (c) The fictitious name under which the wrecker 31 company transacts business in this state. 3 8:18 AM 03/20/07 s0612c-cm12-t01
Florida Senate - 2007 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 612 Barcode 681736 1 (d) The full name, residence address, business 2 address, and telephone number of the applicant. If the 3 applicant is other than a natural person, the application must 4 also contain the full name, residence address, business 5 address, telephone number, and federal employer identification 6 number, if applicable, of each ultimate equitable owner of the 7 business entity and each officer, director, partner, manager, 8 member, or managing member of the entity. 9 (e) If the applicant is other than a natural person, 10 the full name of the business entity's registered agent and 11 the address of the registered office for service of process. 12 (f) The physical address and telephone number of each 13 business location and each storage facility where the wrecker 14 company stores towed vehicles or vessels. 15 (2) Each initial and renewal application for 16 registration must be accompanied by the registration fee 17 prescribed in s. 508.116. 18 (3) Each initial application for registration must be 19 accompanied by a complete set of the applicant's fingerprints 20 taken by a law enforcement agency. If the applicant is other 21 than a natural person, a complete set of fingerprints must be 22 filed for each ultimate equitable owner of the business entity 23 and each officer, director, partner, manager, member, or 24 managing member of the entity. The department shall submit the 25 fingerprints to the Department of Law Enforcement for state 26 processing, and the Department of Law Enforcement shall 27 forward the fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of 28 Investigation for national processing. The Department of 29 Agriculture and Consumer Services shall collect from each 30 applicant the fingerprint processing fee of $23 for state 31 processing and an additional fee, not to exceed the current 4 8:18 AM 03/20/07 s0612c-cm12-t01
Florida Senate - 2007 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 612 Barcode 681736 1 cost, for national processing for each application submitted. 2 The department shall screen background results to determine if 3 the applicant meets the requirements for issuance of a 4 registration certificate. Registration renewal applications 5 need not be accompanied by a set of fingerprints for an 6 individual who previously submitted a set of fingerprints to 7 the department as part of a prior year's registration 8 application. 9 (4) The department shall review each application in 10 accordance with s. 120.60 and shall issue a registration 11 certificate, in the form and size prescribed by the 12 department, to each wrecker company whose application is 13 approved. The certificate must show at least the name and 14 address of the wrecker company and the registration number. 15 The registration certificate must be prominently displayed in 16 the wrecker company's primary place of business. 17 (5) Each advertisement of a wrecker company must 18 include the phrase "Fla. Wrecker Co. Reg. No. ." For the 19 purpose of this subsection, the term "advertisement" means a 20 printed or graphic statement made in a newspaper or other 21 publication or contained in any notice, handbill, or sign, 22 including signage on a vehicle, flyer, catalog, or letter. 23 (6) A registration is invalid for a wrecker company 24 transacting business at a place other than the location 25 specified in the registration application unless the 26 department is first notified in writing before the change of 27 location. A registration issued under this chapter is not 28 transferable or assignable, and a wrecker company may not 29 conduct business under a name other than the name registered. 30 A wrecker company desiring to change its registered name, 31 location, or registered agent for service of process at a time 5 8:18 AM 03/20/07 s0612c-cm12-t01
Florida Senate - 2007 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 612 Barcode 681736 1 other than upon renewal of registration must notify the 2 department of the change. 3 (7)(a) Each registration must be renewed annually on 4 or before the expiration date of the current registration. A 5 late fee of $25 must be paid, in addition to the registration 6 fee or any other penalty, for a registration renewal 7 application that is received by the department after the 8 expiration date of the current registration. The department 9 may not issue a registration until all fees are paid. 10 (b) A wrecker company whose primary place of business 11 is located within a county or municipality that requires, by 12 local ordinance, a local business tax receipt under chapter 13 205 may not renew a registration under this chapter unless the 14 wrecker company obtains the business tax receipt from the 15 county or municipality. 16 (8) Each wrecker company must provide the department 17 with a certificate of insurance for the insurance coverage 18 required under s. 627.7415 before the department may issue the 19 certificate for an initial or renewal registration. The 20 department must be named as a certificateholder on the 21 insurance certificate and must be notified at least 30 days 22 before any change in insurance coverage. 23 (9) The department shall notify the Department of 24 Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles when a registration issued 25 under this chapter has been suspended or revoked by order of 26 the department. Notification must be sent within 10 days after 27 the department issues the suspension or revocation order. 28 508.106 Denial of registration.--The department may 29 deny, revoke, or refuse to renew the registration of a wrecker 30 company based upon a determination that the applicant or, if 31 the applicant is other than a natural person, the wrecker 6 8:18 AM 03/20/07 s0612c-cm12-t01
Florida Senate - 2007 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 612 Barcode 681736 1 company or any of its ultimate equitable owners, officers, 2 directors, partners, managers, members, or managing members 3 has: 4 (1) Not met the requirements for registration under 5 this chapter; 6 (2) Been convicted or found guilty of, regardless of 7 adjudication, or pled guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony 8 within the last 10 years; 9 (3) Been convicted or found guilty of, regardless of 10 adjudication, or pled guilty or nolo contendere to, a crime 11 within the last 10 years involving repossession of a motor 12 vehicle under chapter 493, repair of a motor vehicle under ss. 13 559.901-559.9221, theft of a motor vehicle under s. 812.014, 14 carjacking under s. 812.133, operation of a chop shop under s. 15 812.16, failure to maintain records of motor vehicle parts and 16 accessories under s. 860.14, violations relating to airbags 17 under s. 860.145 or use of fake airbags under s. 860.146, 18 overcharging for repairs and parts under s. 860.15, or a 19 violation of towing or storage requirements for a motor 20 vehicle under this chapter, s. 321.051, chapter 323, s. 21 713.78, or s. 715.07; 22 (4) Not satisfied a civil fine or penalty arising out 23 of an administrative or enforcement action brought by the 24 department, another governmental agency, or a private person 25 based upon conduct involving a violation of this chapter; 26 (5) Pending against him or her a criminal, 27 administrative, or enforcement proceeding in any jurisdiction 28 based upon conduct involving a violation of this chapter; or 29 (6) Had a judgment entered against him or her in an 30 action brought by the department under this chapter. 31 508.1061 Acceptable forms of payment.--A wrecker 7 8:18 AM 03/20/07 s0612c-cm12-t01
Florida Senate - 2007 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 612 Barcode 681736 1 company shall accept a minimum of two of the three following 2 forms of payment: 3 (1) Cash, cashier's check, money order, or traveler's 4 check. 5 (2) Valid personal check, showing upon its face the 6 name and address of the vehicle or vessel owner or authorized 7 representative. 8 (3) Valid credit card, including, but not limited to, 9 Visa or MasterCard. 10 508.107 Wrecker operator certification program.-- 11 (1) The department, in consultation with the council, 12 shall establish a wrecker operator certification program by 13 December 31, 2007. Under this program, the department shall 14 approve certification courses for wrecker operators conducted 15 by approved organizations. The department shall prescribe the 16 minimum curricula for these courses, including instruction for 17 operators of light duty, medium duty, and rollback trucks, 18 which must be at least a 16-hour course for light duty, medium 19 duty, and rollback wreckers. Included in the course must be 20 instruction in towing and winching a passenger vehicle and 21 uprighting an overturned passenger vehicle, including the 22 proper use of chains, wire rope, and straps; towing and 23 winching a medium-sized commercial vehicle and uprighting an 24 overturned medium-sized commercial vehicle; and proper 25 loading, securing, transporting, and unloading of a vehicle on 26 a flatbed-rollback wrecker. Such instruction must be equally 27 apportioned between theoretical instruction and practical 28 training. This class shall be 16 hours and should be taken 29 within the first 6 months after employment. The department 30 must approve each organization and its certification course 31 before the course is accepted for certification of wrecker 8 8:18 AM 03/20/07 s0612c-cm12-t01
Florida Senate - 2007 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 612 Barcode 681736 1 operators under this chapter. 2 (2) Each approved wrecker operator certification 3 course must include a certification examination demonstrating 4 a wrecker operator's knowledge, skills, and abilities in 5 performing wrecker services and proficiency in the subject 6 matter of the certification course. The department must 7 approve each certification examination before the examination 8 is accepted for certification of wrecker operators under this 9 chapter. 10 (3) Each organization conducting an approved wrecker 11 operator certification course must issue on forms prescribed 12 by the department a certificate to each wrecker operator who 13 completes the approved certification course and passes the 14 approved certification examination. 15 508.108 Specialized wrecker services.-- 16 (1) In addition to the minimum curricula for 17 certification of wrecker operators, approved certification 18 courses may offer optional instruction, training, and 19 examination of wrecker operators for each of the following 20 specialized wrecker services: 21 (a) Heavy and ultra-heavy duty.--Towing and winching a 22 standard large-sized commercial vehicle and uprighting an 23 overturned standard large-sized commercial vehicle; towing and 24 winching a specialty large-sized commercial vehicle or another 25 complex vehicle and uprighting an overturned specialty 26 large-sized commercial vehicle or another complex vehicle. 27 This class shall be 16 hours and should be taken within the 28 first year of employment. 29 (b) Hazardous materials.--Awareness of hazardous 30 materials. Instruction and training for this wrecker service 31 must comprise at least 8 hours in order to be approved. 9 8:18 AM 03/20/07 s0612c-cm12-t01
Florida Senate - 2007 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 612 Barcode 681736 1 (c) Air cushions.--Proper use of air cushions in the 2 recovery of a heavy-duty vehicle. 3 (2) The department shall adopt rules prescribing 4 specific standards to further define each of the specialized 5 wrecker services described in subsection (1). The department, 6 in consultation with the council, must approve the 7 instruction, training, and examination for a specialized 8 wrecker service before the specialized wrecker service is 9 accepted for endorsement of a wrecker operator's certification 10 under this chapter. 11 (3) Each organization conducting an approved wrecker 12 operator certification course must issue on forms prescribed 13 by the department a certificate to each wrecker operator who 14 completes the approved instruction and training for a 15 specialized wrecker service and passes the approved 16 endorsement examination for that specialized wrecker service. 17 508.109 Certification cards.-- 18 (1) Each organization conducting an approved wrecker 19 operator certification course must issue a certification card 20 to each wrecker operator who completes the approved 21 certification course and passes the approved certification 22 examination. The department must approve the form of the 23 certification cards issued by each organization. Each 24 certification card must include the wrecker operator's name, a 25 color photograph or digital image of the wrecker operator, and 26 the expiration date of the certification card. 27 (2) Each certification card must also include the 28 wrecker operator's applicable endorsements for those 29 specialized wrecker services for which the wrecker operator 30 has completed the approved instruction and training and passed 31 the approved endorsement examination. 10 8:18 AM 03/20/07 s0612c-cm12-t01
Florida Senate - 2007 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 612 Barcode 681736 1 (3)(a) The department may adopt rules governing the 2 issuance of a certification card to a wrecker operator who: 3 1. Completes a certification course and passes a 4 certification examination in another state, which course and 5 examination are substantially equivalent to the approved 6 certification courses and approved certification examinations 7 in this state. 8 2. Completed a certification course and passed a 9 certification examination in this state between January 1, 10 2003, and December 31, 2007, which course and examination are 11 substantially equivalent to the approved certification courses 12 and the approved certification examinations. This subparagraph 13 expires July 1, 2008. 14 3. Completed instruction and training for a 15 specialized wrecker service and passed an endorsement 16 examination for that specialized wrecker service between 17 January 1, 2003, and December 31, 2007, which instruction, 18 training, and examination are substantially equivalent to the 19 approved instruction and training and the approved endorsement 20 examinations. This subparagraph expires July 1, 2008. 21 (b) For the purposes of this subsection, the 22 department shall approve each certification examination in 23 another state, and shall approve the instruction, training, 24 and examination for each specialized wrecker service in 25 another state, which the department determines are 26 substantially equivalent to the approved certification courses 27 and approved certification examinations in this state or to 28 the approved instruction, training, and endorsement 29 examinations for a specialized wrecker service in this state. 30 (4) Each certification card expires 5 years after the 31 date of issuance. 11 8:18 AM 03/20/07 s0612c-cm12-t01
Florida Senate - 2007 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 612 Barcode 681736 1 (5) Certification cards shall be issued by the 2 organizations conducting approved wrecker operator 3 certification courses. The department is not responsible for 4 issuing certification cards or for the costs associated with 5 the issuance of certification cards. 6 508.111 Renewal of certification; continuing education 7 requirements.-- 8 (1) The department, in consultation with the council, 9 shall establish a continuing education program for the 10 recertification of wrecker operators by December 31, 2008. In 11 order to renew a wrecker operator's certification card, an 12 operator must complete 4 hours of continuing education every 5 13 years. The department must prescribe the minimum curricula and 14 proper examination for each continuing education course, each 15 of which must be at least 4 hours in length. The department 16 shall approve each organization, and the continuing education 17 course it proposes to offer, before the course is approved for 18 recertifying wrecker operators. Coursework may be completed in 19 a classroom setting or, if available, online. 20 (2) Each organization conducting an approved wrecker 21 operator continuing education course must issue, on forms 22 prescribed by the department, a certificate to each wrecker 23 operator who completes the approved course and passes an 24 approved recertification examination. 25 508.112 Prohibited acts.--It is a violation of this 26 chapter for a person to: 27 (1) Charge rates that exceed the maximum rates imposed 28 by the ordinances of the respective county or municipality 29 under s. 125.0103(1)(c) or s. 166.043(1)(c). 30 (2) Violate s. 321.051, relating to the Florida 31 Highway Patrol wrecker-allocation system. 12 8:18 AM 03/20/07 s0612c-cm12-t01
Florida Senate - 2007 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 612 Barcode 681736 1 (3) Violate s. 323.002, relating to county and 2 municipal wrecker allocation systems. 3 (4) Violate s. 713.78, relating to liens for 4 recovering, towing, or storing vehicles and vessels. 5 (5) Violate s. 715.07, relating to towing or removing 6 vehicles and vessels parked on real property without 7 permission. 8 (6) Refuse to allow a law enforcement officer to 9 inspect a towing and storage facility as required in s. 10 812.055. 11 (7) Allow a person who is not certified as a wrecker 12 operator under this chapter to perform wrecker services or 13 specialized wrecker services for the wrecker company for more 14 than 6 months after first being employed by, or becoming an 15 ultimate equitable owner of, the wrecker company. 16 (8) Allow a wrecker operator certified under this 17 chapter to perform a specialized wrecker service for the 18 wrecker company if the wrecker operator's certification does 19 not include an endorsement for that specialized wrecker 20 service. 21 (9) Perform an act otherwise prohibited by this 22 chapter or fail to perform an act otherwise required by this 23 chapter. 24 508.113 Administrative penalties; inspection of 25 records.-- 26 (1) The department may take one or more of the 27 following actions if the department finds that a person has 28 violated this chapter or the rules or orders issued under this 29 chapter: 30 (a) Issue a notice of noncompliance under s. 120.695. 31 (b) Impose an administrative fine not to exceed $5,000 13 8:18 AM 03/20/07 s0612c-cm12-t01
Florida Senate - 2007 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 612 Barcode 681736 1 for each act or omission. 2 (c) Direct the person to cease and desist specified 3 activities. 4 (d) Refuse to register the wrecker company or suspend 5 or revoke the wrecker company's registration. 6 (e) Place the wrecker company on probation for a 7 period of time, subject to the conditions specified by the 8 department. 9 (2) Chapter 120 shall govern an administrative 10 proceeding resulting from an order imposing a penalty 11 specified in subsection (1). 12 508.114 Civil penalties.--The department may bring a 13 civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction to recover 14 any penalties or damages allowed in this chapter and for 15 injunctive relief to enforce compliance with this chapter. The 16 department may seek a civil penalty of up to $5,000 for each 17 violation of this chapter and may seek restitution for and on 18 behalf of any owner of a vehicle or vessel who is aggrieved or 19 injured by a violation of this chapter. 20 508.116 Fees.--The department shall adopt by rule a 21 fee schedule not to exceed the following amounts: 22 (1) Wrecker company registration fee: $495. 23 (2) Wrecker company registration renewal fee: $495. 24 25 The department shall collect and maintain data relating to the 26 registration fees and shall review the fee amounts after the 27 first 2 years of the registration program's existence. 28 508.117 General Inspection Trust Fund; payments.--All 29 fees, penalties, or other funds collected by the department 30 under this chapter must be deposited in the General Inspection 31 Trust Fund and may be used only for the purpose of 14 8:18 AM 03/20/07 s0612c-cm12-t01
Florida Senate - 2007 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 612 Barcode 681736 1 administering this chapter. 2 508.118 County and municipal ordinances.--A county or 3 municipality may enact ordinances governing the business of 4 transporting vehicles or vessels by wrecker which are more 5 restrictive than this chapter. This section does not limit the 6 authority of a political subdivision to impose regulatory fees 7 or charges or to levy local business taxes under chapter 205. 8 The department may enter into a cooperative agreement with any 9 county or municipality that provides for the referral, 10 investigation, and prosecution of consumer complaints alleging 11 violations of this chapter. The department may delegate 12 enforcement of this chapter to any county or municipality 13 entering into a cooperative agreement. 14 508.119 Records.-- 15 (1) Each wrecker company shall maintain records of its 16 wrecker services for at least 12 months. These records shall 17 be maintained at the wrecker company's principal place of 18 business. 19 (2) Each wrecker company shall maintain records on 20 each of its wrecker operators which are sufficient to 21 demonstrate that the operator has successfully completed an 22 approved wrecker operator certification course or an approved 23 wrecker operator continuing education course and is certified 24 to perform wrecker services. These records shall be maintained 25 at the wrecker company's principal place of business for as 26 long as the operator is employed by the wrecker company and 27 for at least 6 months thereafter. 28 (3) Each organization approved to conduct a wrecker 29 operator certification course or approved to offer a wrecker 30 operator continuing education course shall maintain records of 31 each person who successfully completes one of the courses. The 15 8:18 AM 03/20/07 s0612c-cm12-t01
Florida Senate - 2007 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 612 Barcode 681736 1 records shall be maintained at the organization's principal 2 place of business for at least 5 years. The department may, at 3 any time during normal business hours, enter the 4 organization's principal place of business to examine the 5 records. 6 Section 2. Effective January 1, 2008, section 508.104, 7 Florida Statutes, is created to read: 8 508.104 Wrecker companies; registration required.-- 9 (1) A person may not own, operate, solicit business 10 for, advertise services for, or otherwise engage for hire in 11 the business of a wrecker company in this state unless that 12 person is registered with the department under this chapter. 13 (2) A person applying for or renewing a local business 14 tax receipt to engage for hire in the business of a wrecker 15 company must exhibit a current registration certificate from 16 the department before the local business tax receipt may be 17 issued or reissued under chapter 205. 18 (3) This section does not apply to a motor vehicle 19 repair shop registered with the department under s. 559.904 20 which meets all of the following requirements: 21 (a) The motor vehicle repair shop derives at least 80 22 percent of its gross sales from motor vehicle repairs; 23 (b) Each wrecker used to perform wrecker services on 24 behalf of the motor vehicle repair shop is registered with the 25 Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles under the 26 legal name of the owner of the motor vehicle repair shop; 27 (c) Any wrecker services must be performed by an 28 employee of the motor vehicle repair shop; 29 (d) Each wrecker operator performing wrecker services 30 on behalf of the motor vehicle repair shop is certified 31 pursuant to ss. 508.107, 508.108, 508.109, and 508.110. 16 8:18 AM 03/20/07 s0612c-cm12-t01
Florida Senate - 2007 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 612 Barcode 681736 1 (4) This section does not apply to any franchised 2 motor vehicle dealer licensed pursuant to s. 320.27 when 3 wrecker services are incidental to the operation of the 4 franchise. 5 Section 3. Effective January 1, 2008, section 508.110, 6 Florida Statutes, is created to read: 7 508.110 Wrecker operators; certification required; 8 inspection of employment records.-- 9 (1) A person may not perform wrecker services in this 10 state unless he or she is an employee or ultimate equitable 11 owner of a wrecker company that is registered with the 12 department under this chapter and those wrecker services are 13 performed on behalf of the wrecker company. 14 (2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), a person may 15 perform wrecker services or specialized wrecker services in 16 this state if he or she is an employee or ultimate equitable 17 owner of a motor vehicle repair shop registered with the 18 department under s. 559.904 and those wrecker services or 19 specialized wrecker services are performed on behalf of the 20 motor vehicle repair shop. 21 (3)(a) A person may not perform wrecker services or 22 specialized wrecker services for: 23 1. A wrecker company for more than 6 months after 24 first being employed by, or becoming an ultimate equitable 25 owner of, the wrecker company; 26 2. A motor vehicle repair shop for more than 6 months 27 after first being employed by the motor vehicle repair shop; 28 or 29 3. A franchised motor vehicle dealer for more than 6 30 months after first being employed by the franchised motor 31 vehicle dealer 17 8:18 AM 03/20/07 s0612c-cm12-t01
Florida Senate - 2007 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 612 Barcode 681736 1 2 without being certified as a wrecker operator under this 3 chapter. 4 (b) A wrecker operator certified under this chapter 5 may not perform a specialized wrecker service for a wrecker 6 company unless the wrecker operator's certification includes 7 an endorsement for that specialized wrecker service. 8 (4) The department may, at any time during business 9 hours, enter any business location of a wrecker company and 10 examine the company's books or records. If the department 11 reasonably believes a violation of this chapter has occurred 12 or is occurring, the department may subpoena any necessary 13 books or records. 14 Section 4. Effective July 1, 2008, section 508.115, 15 Florida Statutes, is created to read: 16 508.115 Criminal penalties.-- 17 (1) A person who violates s. 508.104(1) by operating a 18 wrecker company in this state without being registered with 19 the department under this chapter commits a felony of the 20 third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 21 775.083, or s. 775.084. 22 (2) A person who violates s. 508.110(1) by performing 23 wrecker services in this state without being an employee or 24 ultimate equitable owner of a wrecker company that is 25 registered with the department under this chapter commits a 26 felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 27 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. 28 29 (Redesignate subsequent sections.) 30 31 18 8:18 AM 03/20/07 s0612c-cm12-t01
Florida Senate - 2007 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 612 Barcode 681736 1 ================ T I T L E A M E N D M E N T =============== 2 And the title is amended as follows: 3 On page 2, line 13, through 4 page 5, line 3, delete those lines 5 6 and insert: 7 creating s. 508.107, F.S.; requiring the 8 department to establish a certification program 9 for wrecker operators; providing for the 10 department to approve certification courses and 11 the organizations conducting the courses; 12 providing for the department to prescribe 13 course curricula; providing requirements for 14 courses; requiring that each course include an 15 examination approved by the department; 16 providing criteria for the examination; 17 requiring the organization conducting the 18 course to issue the certificate to the wrecker 19 operator; creating s. 508.108, F.S.; requiring 20 each certification course to offer optional 21 specialized wrecker services instruction, 22 training, and examinations; describing 23 specialized wrecker services; directing the 24 department to adopt rules prescribing specific 25 standards to further define each specialized 26 wrecker service; requiring council approval of 27 the instruction, training, and examination; 28 requiring the organization conducting the 29 course to issue the certificate to the wrecker 30 operator; creating s. 508.109, F.S.; providing 31 for form and content of certification cards; 19 8:18 AM 03/20/07 s0612c-cm12-t01
Florida Senate - 2007 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 612 Barcode 681736 1 authorizing the department to adopt rules for 2 issuance of certification cards to an operator 3 who completes a certification course and passes 4 a certification examination in another state or 5 completed a certification course and passed a 6 certification examination in this state during 7 a certain time period; authorizing the 8 department to adopt rules for issuance of 9 endorsements for specialized services to a 10 wrecker operator who completed instruction and 11 training for a specialized wrecker service and 12 passed an endorsement examination for that 13 specialized wrecker service during a certain 14 time period; providing for approval by the 15 council of out-of-state certification 16 instructions, training, and examinations; 17 providing for expiration of certification; 18 requiring that certification cards be issued by 19 the organizations conducting the courses; 20 creating s. 508.111, F.S.; providing 21 requirements for recertification; providing for 22 a continuing education program to be 23 established by the department; providing for 24 curricula and examinations to be prescribed by 25 the council; requiring course approval by the 26 council; providing for a certificate to be 27 issued by the training organization to the 28 wrecker operator; creating s. 508.112, F.S.; 29 prohibiting certain acts; creating ss. 508.113 30 and 508.114, F.S.; providing administrative and 31 civil penalties; creating s. 508.116, F.S.; 20 8:18 AM 03/20/07 s0612c-cm12-t01
Florida Senate - 2007 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Bill No. SB 612 Barcode 681736 1 providing for registration and renewal fees; 2 creating s. 508.117, F.S.; providing for 3 deposit and use of fees, penalties, and other 4 funds; creating s. 508.118, F.S.; authorizing 5 counties and municipalities to enact ordinances 6 governing wrecker operators; providing for the 7 department to enter into a cooperative 8 agreement with a county or municipality for the 9 referral, investigation, and prosecution of 10 consumer complaints or enforcement of specified 11 wrecker services provisions; creating s. 12 508.119, F.S.; requiring that a wrecker company 13 maintain records of its services and operators; 14 requiring organizations that conduct operator 15 certification or continuing education courses 16 to maintain records on each person who 17 successfully completes one of the courses; 18 authorizing inspection of records by the 19 department; creating s. 508.104, F.S.; 20 prohibiting persons from owning, operating, or 21 being issued a local business tax receipt on 22 behalf of a wrecker company without first 23 registering with the department; requiring 24 registration prior to issuance or renewal of 25 local business tax receipt; excluding certain 26 motor vehicle repair shops; creating s. 27 508.115, F.S.; providing criminal penalties; 28 29 30 31 21 8:18 AM 03/20/07 s0612c-cm12-t01