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A bill to be entitled

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An act relating to insurance agents; creating s. 626.2818,

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F.S.; providing up to 6 hours of continuing education

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credit for active members of a state or national insurance

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association; authorizing the Department of Financial

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Services to adopt rules; providing an effective date.

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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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     Section 1.  Section 626.2818, Florida Statutes, is created

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to read:

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     626.2818 Continuing education credit.--The department may

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grant up to 6 hours of credit per reporting period toward meeting

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the continuing education requirements under s. 626.2815 to a

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licensee who is an active member of a state or national insurance

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association. However, the 6 hours of credit may not be used to

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meet the 3 hours of continuing education requirement on ethics.

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     (1) For the purposes of this section, the term:

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     (a) "Educational material" means printed or electronic

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material intended to enhance the recipient's knowledge of

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insurance-related topics.

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     (b) "Educational presentation" means a live presentation to

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a group of 10 or more licensees at a local or statewide meeting,

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which is sanctioned by a state or national insurance association,

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which allows for questions or discussion, and which provides

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information intended to enhance the recipient's knowledge of

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insurance or financial-planning-related topics.

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     (c) "State or national insurance association" means a

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membership organization that:

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     1. Is organized as a trade or professional association or

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corporation;

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     2. Is funded through paid memberships renewed annually or

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biennially;

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     3. Is organized for the express purpose of promoting the

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interests of insurance licensees or a class of insurance

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licensees, including classes based on regional, gender,

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religious, or minority interests;

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     4. Has been in existence for 5 or more years; and

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     5. Maintains a code of ethics applicable to all members.

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     (2) A licensee who is a member in good standing of a state

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or national insurance association may receive up to 6 hours of

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continuing education credit per reporting period by accumulating

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up to:

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     (a) Two hours of credit for reviewing educational material

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provided by the state or national insurance association in which

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the licensee is a member; or

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     (b) Six hours of credit for attending an education

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presentation sponsored by the state or national association in

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which the licensee is a member.

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     (3) A licensee may accumulate hours from different state or

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national insurance associations in which he or she holds

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membership in order to reach the 6-hour maximum, but, regardless

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of the number of association memberships or hours accumulated,

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the licensee may not claim more than 6 hours of credit in any

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single reporting period and may not use hours acquired during a

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prior reporting period.

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     (4) A licensee claiming continuing education credits under

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this section may claim the actual time, up to an accumulated

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total of 6 hours, which the licensee needs to review the

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educational material or attend an educational presentation.

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     (5) The department may adopt by rule a form and a procedure

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for certifying that the continuing education credit hours claimed

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meet the requirements of this section.

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     Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.