Florida Senate - 2008 SB 2158

By the Committee on Banking and Insurance

597-04187-08 20082158__

1

A bill to be entitled

2

An act relating to money services businesses; changing the

3

name of money transmitters to money services businesses;

4

requiring licensure rather than registration; amending s.

5

560.103, F.S.; revising definitions; defining the terms

6

"adjusted net worth," "affiliated party," "branch office,"

7

"cashing," "compliance officer," "electronic instrument,"

8

"financial audit report," "foreign affiliate," "licensee,"

9

"location," "monetary value," "outstanding money

10

transmission," and "stored value"; amending s. 560.104,

11

F.S.; revising provision providing exemptions from ch.

12

560, F.S.; amending s. 560.105, F.S.; revising provisions

13

relating to the powers of the Office of Financial

14

Regulation and the Financial Services Commission; amending

15

s. 560.109, F.S.; revising provisions relating to

16

examinations and investigations conducted by the office;

17

requiring that the office periodically examine each

18

licensee; requiring the office to report certain

19

violations to a criminal investigatory agency; requiring

20

that the office annually report to the Legislature

21

information concerning investigations and examinations and

22

the total amount of fines assessed and collected; creating

23

s. 560.1091, F.S.; requiring persons examined to pay the

24

expenses of examination as set by rule of the commission;

25

providing for the deposit of funds collected from

26

licensees; requiring payment for travel expenses and

27

living expenses and compensation for persons making the

28

examinations from such funds or from funds budgeted for

29

such purposes; creating s. 560.110, F.S.; providing for

30

record retention by licensees; amending s. 560.111, F.S.;

31

revising the list of prohibited acts by a money services

32

business; amending s. 560.113, F.S.; providing for the

33

establishment of a receivership or the payment of

34

restitution by a person found to have violated ch. 560,

35

F.S.; amending s. 560.114, F.S.; revising grounds for the

36

disciplinary actions; amending s. 560.115, F.S.; revising

37

provisions relating to the voluntary surrender of a

38

license; amending s. 560.116, F.S.; revising provisions

39

relating to the granting of immunity for providing

40

information about alleged violations of ch. 560, F.S.;

41

amending s. 560.118, F.S.; revising provisions relating to

42

required reports; deleting an exemption from the

43

requirement to file an annual financial report;

44

transferring, renumbering, and amending s. 560.119, F.S.;

45

revising provisions providing for the deposit of fees and

46

assessments; amending s. 560.121, F.S.; revising

47

restriction on access to records held by a court or the

48

Legislature; amending s. 560.123, F.S.; revising

49

provisions relating to the Florida Control of Money

50

Laundering in Money Services Business; creating s.

51

560.1235, F.S.; requiring a licensee to comply with state

52

and federal money laundering laws and rules; amending s.

53

560.124, F.S.; revising provisions relating to sharing

54

reported information; amending s. 560.125, F.S.; revising

55

provisions relating to unlicensed activity; amending s.

56

560.126, F.S.; revising provisions relating to certain

57

notice requirements by a licensee; amending s. 560.127,

58

F.S.; revising provisions relating to the control of a

59

money services business; amending s. 560.128, F.S.;

60

revising provisions relating to customer contacts and

61

license display; amending s. 560.129, F.S.; revising

62

provisions relating to the confidentiality of certain

63

records; creating s. 560.140, F.S.; providing licensing

64

standards for a money services business; creating s.

65

560.141, F.S.; providing for a license application;

66

creating s. 560.142, F.S.; providing for license renewal;

67

creating s. 560.143, F.S.; providing for license fees;

68

amending s. 560.203, F.S.; revising the exemption from

69

licensure for authorized agents of a money services

70

business; amending s. 560.204, F.S.; revising provisions

71

relating to the requirement for licensure of money

72

transmitters or sellers of payment instruments under part

73

II of ch. 560, F.S.; amending s. 560.205, F.S.; providing

74

additional requirements for a license application;

75

amending s. 560.208, F.S.; revising provisions relating to

76

the conduct of a licensee; creating s. 560.2085, F.S.;

77

providing requirements for authorized agents; amending s.

78

560.209, F.S.; revising provisions relating to a

79

licensee's adjusted net worth and the filing of a

80

corporate surety bond; requiring a financial audit report;

81

increasing the upper limit of the bond; deleting the

82

option of waiving the bond; amending s. 560.210, F.S.;

83

revising provisions relating to permissible investments;

84

amending s. 560.211, F.S.; revising provisions relating to

85

required recordkeeping under part II of ch. 560, F.S.;

86

amending s. 560.212, F.S.; revising provisions relating to

87

licensee liability; amending s. 560.213, F.S.; revising

88

provisions relating information that must be printed on a

89

payment instrument; amending s. 560.303, F.S.; revising

90

provisions relating to the licensure of check cashers

91

under part II of ch. 560, F.S.; amending s. 560.304, F.S.;

92

revising provisions relating to exemptions from licensure;

93

limiting the exemption for the payment of instruments

94

below a certain value; amending s. 560.309, F.S.; revising

95

provisions relating to the conduct of check cashers;

96

providing additional requirements; amending s. 560.310,

97

F.S.; revising requirements for licensee records;

98

specifying the maintenance of identification records for

99

certain customers; amending s. 560.402, F.S.; revising

100

definitions relating to deferred presentment providers;

101

amending s. 560.403, F.S.; revising provisions relating to

102

the licensing requirements for deferred presentment

103

providers; amending s. 560.404, F.S.; revising provisions

104

relating to deferred presentment transactions; amending s.

105

560.405, F.S.; revising provisions relating to the

106

redemption or deposit of a deferred presentment

107

transaction; amending s. 560.406, F.S.; revising

108

provisions relating to worthless checks; amending ss.

109

499.005, 499.0691, 501.95, 538.03, 896.101, 896.104, and

110

921.0022, F.S.; conforming cross-references; repealing s.

111

560.101, F.S., relating to a short title; repealing s.

112

560.102, F.S., relating to purpose and application;

113

repealing s. 560.106, F.S., relating to chapter

114

constructions; repealing s. 560.1073, F.S., relating to

115

false or misleading statements or documents; repealing s.

116

560.108, F.S., relating to administrative enforcement

117

guidelines; repealing s. 560.112, F.S., relating to

118

disciplinary action procedures; repealing s. 560.117,

119

F.S., relating to administrative fines; repealing s.

120

560.200, F.S., relating to a short title; repealing s.

121

560.202, F.S., relating to definitions; repealing s.

122

560.206, F.S., relating to the investigation of

123

applicants; repealing s. 560.207, F.S., relating to

124

registration; repealing s. 560.301, F.S., relating to a

125

short title; repealing s. 560.302, F.S., relating to

126

definitions; repealing s. 560.305, F.S., relating to

127

application for registration; repealing s. 560.306, F.S.,

128

relating to standards; repealing s. 560.307, F.S.,

129

relating to fees; repealing s. 560.308, F.S., relating to

130

registration; repealing s. 560.401, F.S., relating to a

131

short title; repealing s. 560.407, F.S., relating to

132

required records; providing an effective date.

133

134

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

135

136

     Section 1.  Section 560.103, Florida Statutes, is amended to

137

read:

138

     560.103 Definitions.--As used in this chapter, the term the

139

code, unless the context otherwise requires:

140

     (1) "Adjusted net worth" means assets minus liabilities,

141

determined in accordance with United States generally accepted

142

accounting principles, that have been adjusted to exclude the

143

following assets:

144

     (a) Goodwill.

145

     (b) A home, home furnishings, automobiles, and any other

146

personal items.

147

     (c) Advances or loans to an affiliated party.

148

     (d) Receivables from officers, directors, shareholders, or

149

affiliated parties other than receivables in the normal course of

150

business.

151

     (e) Accounts receivables owed by authorized agents which

152

are due more than 90 days after the date of receipt of monetary

153

value from the customer.

154

     (2) "Affiliated party" means a director, officer,

155

responsible person, employee, or foreign affiliate of a money

156

services business, or a person who has a controlling interest in

157

a money services business as provided in s. 560.127.

158

     (3)(1) "Appropriate regulator" means a any state, or

159

federal, or foreign agency that, including the commission or

160

office, which has been granted state or federal statutory

161

authority to enforce state, federal, or foreign laws related to a

162

money services business or deferred presentment provider with

163

regard to the money transmission function.

164

     (4)(2) "Authorized agent vendor" means a person designated

165

by a money services business licensed under part II of this

166

chapter a registrant to act engage in the business of a money

167

transmitter on behalf of the licensee the registrant at locations

168

in this state pursuant to a written contract with the licensee

169

registrant.

170

     (5) "Branch office" means the physical location, other than

171

the principal place of business, of a money services business

172

operated by a licensee under this chapter.

173

     (6) "Cashing" means providing currency for payment

174

instruments except for travelers checks.

175

     (7)(3) "Check casher" means a person who, for compensation,

176

sells currency in exchange for payment instruments received,

177

except travelers checks and foreign-drawn payment instruments.

178

     (4) "Code" means the "Money Transmitters' Code," consisting

179

of:

180

     (a) Part I of this chapter, relating to money transmitters

181

generally.

182

     (b) Part II of this chapter, relating to payment

183

instruments and funds transmission.

184

     (c) Part III of this chapter, relating to check cashing and

185

foreign currency exchange.

186

     (d) Part IV of this chapter, relating to deferred

187

presentments.

188

     (8) "Commission" means the Financial Services Commission.

189

     (9) "Compliance officer" means the individual in charge of

190

overseeing, managing, and ensuring that a money services business

191

is in compliance with all state and federal laws and rules

192

relating to money services businesses, as applicable, including

193

all money laundering laws and rules.

194

     (5) "Consideration" means and includes any premium charged

195

for the sale of goods, or services provided in connection with

196

the sale of the goods, which is in excess of the cash price of

197

such goods.

198

     (10)(6) "Currency" means the coin and paper money of the

199

United States or of any other country which is designated as

200

legal tender and which circulates and is customarily used and

201

accepted as a medium of exchange in the country of issuance.

202

Currency includes United States silver certificates, United

203

States notes, and Federal Reserve notes. Currency also includes

204

official foreign bank notes that are customarily used and

205

accepted as a medium of exchange in a foreign country.

206

     (7) "Commission" means the Financial Services Commission.

207

     (11) "Deferred presentment provider" means a person who is

208

licensed under part II or part III of this chapter and has filed

209

a declaration of intent with the office to engage in deferred

210

presentment transactions as provided under part IV of this

211

chapter.

212

     (12) "Electronic instrument" means a card, tangible object,

213

or other form of electronic payment for the transmission or

214

payment of money or the exchange of monetary value, including a

215

stored value card or device that contains a microprocessor chip,

216

magnetic stripe, or other means for storing information; that is

217

prefunded; and for which the value is decremented upon each use.

218

     (13) "Financial audit report" means a report prepared in

219

connection with a financial audit that is conducted in accordance

220

with generally accepted auditing standards prescribed by the

221

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants by a certified

222

public accountant licensed to do business in the United States,

223

and which must include:

224

     (a) Financial statements, including notes related to the

225

financial statements and required supplementary information,

226

prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally

227

accepted in the United States. The notes must, at a minimum,

228

include detailed disclosures regarding receivables that are

229

greater than 90 days, if the total amount of such receivables

230

represent more than 2 percent of the licensee's total assets.

231

     (b) An expression of opinion regarding whether the

232

financial statements are presented in conformity with accounting

233

principles generally accepted in the United States, or an

234

assertion to the effect that such an opinion cannot be expressed

235

and the reasons.

236

     (14) "Foreign affiliate" means a person located outside

237

this state who has been designated by a licensee to make payments

238

on behalf of the licensee to persons who reside outside this

239

state. The term also includes a person located outside of this

240

state for whom the licensee has been designated to make payments

241

in this state.

242

     (8) "Office" means the Office of Financial Regulation of

243

the commission.

244

     (15)(9) "Foreign currency exchanger" means a person who

245

exchanges, for compensation, currency of the United States or a

246

foreign government to currency of another government.

247

     (10) "Funds transmitter" means a person who engages in the

248

receipt of currency or payment instruments for the purpose of

249

transmission by any means, including transmissions within this

250

country or to or from locations outside this country, by wire,

251

facsimile, electronic transfer, courier, or otherwise.

252

     (16) "Licensee" means a person licensed under this chapter.

253

     (17) "Location" means a branch office, mobile location, or

254

an authorized agent whose business activity is regulated under

255

this chapter.

256

     (18) "Monetary value" means a medium of exchange, whether

257

or not redeemable in currency.

258

     (19)(11) "Money services business transmitter" means any

259

person located in or doing business in this state, from this

260

state, or into this state from locations outside this state or

261

country who acts as a payment instrument seller, foreign currency

262

exchanger, check casher, or money funds transmitter, or deferred

263

presentment provider.

264

     (20) "Money transmitter" means a person who receives

265

currency, monetary value, or payment instruments for the purpose

266

of transmitting the same by any means, including transmission by

267

wire, facsimile, electronic transfer, courier, the Internet, or

268

through bill payment services or other businesses that facilitate

269

such transfer within this country, or to or from this country.

270

     (12) "Money transmitter-affiliated party" means any

271

director, officer, responsible person, employee, authorized

272

vendor, independent contractor of a money transmitter, or a

273

person who has filed, is required to file, or is found to control

274

a money transmitter pursuant to s. 560.127, or any person engaged

275

in any jurisdiction, at any time, in the business of money

276

transmission as a controlling shareholder, director, officer, or

277

responsible person who becomes involved in a similar capacity

278

with a money transmitter registered in this state.

279

     (21) "Office" means the Office of Financial Regulation of

280

the commission.

281

     (22)(13) "Officer" means an individual, other than a

282

director whether or not the individual has an official title or

283

receives a salary or other compensation, who participates in, or

284

has authority to participate, other than in the capacity of a

285

director, in, the major policymaking functions of a the money

286

services transmitter business, regardless of whether the

287

individual has an official title or receives a salary or other

288

compensation.

289

     (23) "Outstanding money transmission" means a money

290

transmission request to a designated recipient or a refund to a

291

sender that has not been completed.

292

     (24)(14) "Outstanding payment instrument instruments" means

293

an unpaid payment instrument instruments whose sale has been

294

reported to a licensee registrant.

295

     (25)(15) "Payment instrument" means a check, draft,

296

warrant, money order, travelers check, electronic instrument, or

297

other instrument, or payment of money, or monetary value whether

298

or not negotiable. The term Payment instrument does not include

299

an instrument that is redeemable by the issuer in merchandise or

300

service, a credit card voucher, or a letter of credit.

301

     (26)(16) "Payment instrument seller" means a person who

302

sells a payment instrument.

303

     (27)(17) "Person" means an any individual, partnership,

304

association, trust, corporation, limited liability company, or

305

other group, however organized, but does not include a public the

306

governments of the United States or this state or any department,

307

agency, or instrumentality thereof.

308

     (18) "Registrant" means a person registered by the office

309

pursuant to the code.

310

     (28)(19) "Responsible person" means an individual a person

311

who is employed by or affiliated with a money services business

312

transmitter and who has principal active management authority

313

over the business decisions, actions, and activities of the money

314

services business transmitter in this state.

315

     (29)(20) "Sells Sell" means to sell, issue, provide, or

316

deliver.

317

     (30) "Stored value" means funds or monetary value

318

represented in digital electronics format, whether or not

319

specially encrypted, and stored or capable of storage on

320

electronic media in such a way as to be retrievable and

321

transferred electronically.

322

     (21) "Unsafe and unsound practice" means:

323

     (a) Any practice or conduct found by the office to be

324

contrary to generally accepted standards applicable to the

325

specific money transmitter, or a violation of any prior order of

326

an appropriate regulatory agency, which practice, conduct, or

327

violation creates the likelihood of material loss, insolvency, or

328

dissipation of assets of the money transmitter or otherwise

329

materially prejudices the interests of its customers; or

330

     (b) Failure to adhere to the provisions of 31 C.F.R. ss.

331

103.20, 103.22, 103.27, 103.28, 103.29, 103.33, 103.37, 103.41,

332

and 103.125 as they existed on March 31, 2004.

333

334

In making a determination under this subsection, the office must

335

consider the size and condition of the money transmitter, the

336

magnitude of the loss, the gravity of the violation, and the

337

prior conduct of the person or business involved.

338

     Section 2.  Section 560.104, Florida Statutes, is amended to

339

read:

340

     560.104  Exemptions.--The following entities are exempt from

341

the provisions of this chapter the code:

342

     (1)  Banks, credit card banks, credit unions, trust

343

companies, associations, offices of an international banking

344

corporation, Edge Act or agreement corporations, or other

345

financial depository institutions organized under the laws of any

346

state or the United States, provided that they do not sell

347

payment instruments through authorized vendors who are not such

348

entities.

349

     (2) The United States or any agency or department,

350

instrumentality, or agency thereof.

351

     (3)  This state or any political subdivision of this state.

352

     Section 3.  Section 560.105, Florida Statutes, is amended to

353

read:

354

     560.105  Supervisory powers; rulemaking.--

355

     (1) Consistent with the purposes of the code, The office

356

shall have:

357

     (a) Supervise Supervision over all money services

358

businesses transmitters and their authorized agents vendors.

359

     (b) Have access to the books and records of persons over

360

whom the office supervises exercises supervision as is necessary

361

to carry out for the performance of the duties and functions of

362

the office under this chapter prescribed by the code.

363

     (c) Power to Issue orders and declaratory statements,

364

disseminate information, and otherwise administer and enforce

365

this chapter and all related rules in order exercise its

366

discretion to effectuate the purposes, policies, and provisions

367

of this chapter the code.

368

     (2) Consistent with the purposes of the code, The

369

commission may adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54

370

to administer this chapter implement the provisions of the code.

371

     (a)(3) The commission may adopt rules pursuant to ss.

372

120.536(1) and 120.54 requiring electronic submission of any

373

forms, documents, or fees required by this chapter, which must

374

code if such rules reasonably accommodate technological or

375

financial hardship. The commission may prescribe by rule

376

requirements and provide procedures for obtaining an exemption

377

due to a technological or financial hardship.

378

     (b) Rules adopted to regulate money services businesses,

379

including deferred presentment providers, must be responsive to

380

changes in economic conditions, technology, and industry

381

practices.

382

     Section 4.  Section 560.109, Florida Statutes, is amended to

383

read:

384

     560.109 Examinations and investigations, subpoenas,

385

hearings, and witnesses.--

386

     (1) The office may conduct examinations and make

387

investigations or examinations as prescribed in s. 560.118,

388

within or outside this state, which it deems necessary in order

389

to determine whether a person has violated any provision of this

390

chapter and related rules the code, the rules adopted by the

391

commission pursuant to the code, or of any practice or conduct

392

that creates the likelihood of material loss, insolvency, or

393

dissipation of the assets of a money services business or

394

otherwise materially prejudices the interests of their customers

395

31 C.F.R. ss. 103.20, 103.22, 103.27, 103.28, 103.29, 103.33,

396

103.37, 103.41, and 103.125 as they existed on March 31, 2004.

397

     (1) The office may examine each licensee as often as is

398

warranted for the protection of customers and in the public

399

interest, but at least once every 5 years. The office shall

400

provide at least 15 days' notice to a money services business,

401

its authorized agent, or license applicant before conducting an

402

examination or investigation. However, the office may conduct an

403

examination or investigation of a money services business,

404

authorized agent, or affiliated party at any time and without

405

advance notice if the office suspects that the money services

406

business, authorized agent, or affiliated party has violated or

407

is about to violate any provisions of this chapter or any

408

criminal laws of this state or of the United States.

409

     (2) The office may conduct a joint or concurrent

410

examination with any state or federal regulatory agency and may

411

furnish a copy of all examinations to an appropriate regulator if

412

the regulator agrees to abide by the confidentiality provisions

413

in chapter 119 and this chapter. The office may also accept an

414

examination from any appropriate regulator or, pursuant to s.

415

560.1091, from an independent third party that has been approved

416

by the office.

417

     (3) Persons subject to this chapter who are examined or

418

investigated shall make available to the office, its examiners,

419

or investigators, all books, accounts, documents, files,

420

information, assets, and matters that are in their immediate

421

possession or control and that relate to the subject of the

422

examination or investigation.

423

     (a) Records not in their immediate possession must be made

424

available to the office, or the office's examiners or

425

investigators, within 3 days after actual notice is served.

426

     (b) Upon notice, the office may require that records

427

written in a language other than English be accompanied by a

428

certified translation at the expense of the licensee.

429

     (4)(2)(a) In the course of or in connection with any

430

examination or an investigation conducted by the office:

431

     (a) An employee of the office holding the title and

432

position of a pursuant to the provisions of subsection (1) or an

433

investigation or examination in connection with any application

434

to the office for the organization or establishment of a money

435

transmitter business, or in connection with an examination or

436

investigation of a money transmitter or its authorized vendor,

437

the office, or any of its officers holding no lesser title and

438

position than financial examiner or analyst, financial

439

investigator, or attorney at law, or higher may:

440

     1.  Administer oaths and affirmations.

441

     2.  Take or cause to be taken testimony and depositions.

442

     (b) The office, or any of its employees officers holding a

443

title of no lesser title than attorney, or area financial

444

manager, or higher may issue, revoke, quash, or modify subpoenas

445

and subpoenas duces tecum under the seal of the office or cause

446

any such subpoena or subpoena duces tecum to be issued by any

447

county court judge or clerk of the circuit court or county court

448

to require persons to appear before the office at a reasonable

449

time and place to be therein named and to bring such books,

450

records, and documents for inspection as may be therein

451

designated. Such subpoenas may be served by a representative of

452

the office or may be served as otherwise provided for by law for

453

the service of subpoenas.

454

     (c) In connection with any such investigation or

455

examination, The office may allow permit a person to file a

456

statement in writing, under oath, or otherwise as the office

457

determines, as to facts and circumstances specified by the

458

office.

459

     (5)(3)(a) If a person does not comply In the event of

460

noncompliance with a subpoena issued or caused to be issued by

461

the office pursuant to this section, the office may petition a

462

court of competent jurisdiction the circuit court of the county

463

in which the person subpoenaed resides or has its principal place

464

of business for an order requiring the subpoenaed person to

465

appear and testify and to produce such books, records, and

466

documents as are specified in the such subpoena duces tecum. The

467

office is entitled to the summary procedure provided in s.

468

51.011, and the court shall advance the cause on its calendar.

469

     (a)(b) A copy of the petition shall be served upon the

470

person subpoenaed by any person authorized by this section to

471

serve subpoenas, who shall make and file with the court an

472

affidavit showing the time, place, and date of service.

473

     (b)(c) At a any hearing on the any such petition, the

474

person subpoenaed, or any person whose interests are will be

475

substantially affected by the investigation, examination, or

476

subpoena, may appear and object to the subpoena and to the

477

granting of the petition. The court may make any order that

478

justice requires in order to protect a party or other person and

479

her or his personal and property rights, including, but not

480

limited to, protection from annoyance, embarrassment, oppression,

481

or undue burden, or expense.

482

     (c)(d) Failure to comply with an order granting, in whole

483

or in part, a petition for enforcement of a subpoena is a

484

contempt of the court.

485

     (6)(4) Witnesses are entitled to the same fees and mileage

486

to which they would be entitled by law for attending as witnesses

487

in the circuit court, except that no fees or mileage is not

488

allowed for the testimony of a person taken at the person's

489

principal office or residence.

490

     (7)(5) Reasonable and necessary costs incurred by the

491

office and payable to third parties in connection persons

492

involved with examinations or investigations may be assessed

493

against any person on the basis of actual costs incurred.

494

Assessable expenses include, but are not limited to,: expenses

495

for: interpreters; certified translations of documents into the

496

English language required by this chapter or related rules;

497

expenses for communications; expenses for legal representation;

498

expenses for economic, legal, or other research, analyses, and

499

testimony; and fees and expenses for witnesses. The failure to

500

reimburse the office is a ground for denial of the registration

501

application or for revocation of any approval thereof. No such

502

Costs may not shall be assessed against a person unless the

503

office has determined that the person has operated or is

504

operating in violation of this chapter the code.

505

     (8) The office shall report any violation of law that may

506

be a felony to the appropriate criminal investigatory agency

507

having jurisdiction with respect to such violation.

508

     (9) The office shall prepare and submit a report to the

509

President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of

510

Representatives by January 1 of each year which includes:

511

     (a) The total number of examinations and investigations

512

that resulted in a referral to a state or federal agency and the

513

disposition of each of those referrals by agency.

514

     (b) The total number of initial referrals received from

515

another state or federal agency, the total number of examinations

516

and investigations opened as a result of referrals, and the

517

disposition of each of those cases.

518

     (c) The number of examinations or investigations undertaken

519

by the office which were not the result of a referral from

520

another state agency or a federal agency.

521

     (d) The total amount of fines assessed and collected by the

522

office as a result of an examination or investigation of

523

activities regulated under parts II and III of this chapter.

524

     Section 5.  Section 560.1091, Florida Statutes, is created

525

to read:

526

     560.1091 Contracted examinations.--The office may contract

527

with third parties to conduct examinations under this chapter.

528

     (1) The person or firm selected by the office must not have

529

a conflict of interest that might affect its ability to

530

independently perform its responsibilities with respect to an

531

examination.

532

     (2) The examiner must be an independent certified public

533

accountant or information technologist meeting criteria specified

534

in rule.

535

     (3) The licensee subject to the examination must pay to the

536

office the expenses of the examination at rates adopted by

537

commission rule.

538

     (a) The rates charged must be consistent with rates charged

539

by other persons in a similar profession and comparable with the

540

rates charged for comparable examinations.

541

     (b) Allowable expenses include actual travel expenses, an

542

allowance for reasonable living expenses, compensation of the

543

examiner or other person making the examination, and necessary

544

administrative costs directly related to the examination.

545

Allowances for travel and living expenses are limited to those

546

expenses incurred to conduct the examination.

547

     (c) A detailed statement of allowable expenses shall be

548

submitted to the office by the examiner and must be approved by

549

the office prior to being submitted by the office to the licensee

550

for payment.

551

     (d) Notwithstanding s. 112.061, an examiner conducting an

552

examination of a licensee may be paid for his or her actual

553

travel expenses, reasonable allowance for living expenses, and

554

compensation in accordance with the statement filed with the

555

office by the contractor under paragraph (c). When not examining

556

a licensee, the travel expenses, per diem, and compensation for

557

examiners shall be paid out of moneys budgeted for such purpose

558

and in accordance with s. 112.061.

559

     (4) All moneys collected from a licensee for the expenses

560

of an examination shall be deposited into the Regulatory Trust

561

Fund and used by the office to pay the examiner.

562

     (5) The commission shall adopt rules to administer this

563

section.

564

     Section 6.  Section 560.110, Florida Statutes, is created to

565

read:

566

     560.110 Records retention.--Each licensee and its

567

authorized agents must maintain all books, accounts, documents,

568

files, and information necessary for determining compliance with

569

this chapter and related rules for 5 years unless a longer period

570

is required by other state or federal law.

571

     (1) The records required under this chapter may be

572

maintained by the licensee at any location identified in its

573

license application or by amendment to the application. The

574

licensee must make such records available to the office for

575

examination and investigation in this state within 3 business

576

days after receipt of a written request.

577

     (2) The original of any record of a licensee or authorized

578

agent includes a record stored or transmitted by electronic,

579

computerized, mechanized, or other information storage or

580

retrieval or transmission system or device that can generate,

581

regenerate, or transmit the precise data or other information

582

comprising the record. An original also includes the visible data

583

or other information so generated, regenerated, or transmitted if

584

it is legible or can be made legible by enlargement or other

585

process.

586

     (3) The commission may adopt rules to administer this

587

section and ss. 560.211 and 560.310. In adopting rules, the

588

commission shall take into consideration the federal regulations

589

that affect the money services business industry or a deferred

590

payment provider, including any guidance issued by a federal

591

regulatory agency.

592

     (4) Any person who willfully fails to comply with this

593

section or ss. 560.211 and 560.310 commits a felony of the third

594

degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s.

595

775.084.

596

     Section 7.  Section 560.111, Florida Statutes, is amended to

597

read:

598

     560.111 Prohibited acts and practices.--

599

     (1) A money services business, authorized agent, or

600

affiliated party may not It is unlawful for any money transmitter

601

or money transmitter-affiliated party to:

602

     (a) Receive or possess itself of any property except

603

otherwise than in payment of a just demand, and, with intent to

604

deceive or defraud, to omit to make or to cause to be made a full

605

and true entry thereof in its books and accounts, or to concur in

606

omitting to make any material entry thereof.;

607

     (b)  Embezzle, abstract, or misapply any money, property, or

608

thing of value belonging to the money services business, its

609

authorized agent, or customer of the money transmitter or

610

authorized vendor with intent to deceive or defraud. such money

611

transmitter or authorized vendor;

612

     (c) Make any false entry in its books, accounts, reports,

613

files, or documents any book, report, or statement of such money

614

transmitter or authorized vendor with intent to deceive or

615

defraud such money transmitter, authorized vendor, or another

616

person, or with intent to deceive the office, any appropriate

617

regulator other state or federal regulatory agency, or any

618

authorized third party representative appointed by the office to

619

examine or investigate the affairs of the money services business

620

or its authorized agent. such money transmitter or authorized

621

vendor;

622

     (d) Engage in an act that violates 18 U.S.C. s. 1956, 18

623

U.S.C. s. 1957, 31 U.S.C. s. 5324, or any other law, rule, or

624

regulation of another state, or of the United States, or any

625

foreign jurisdiction relating to a money services business,

626

deferred presentment provider, the business of money transmission

627

or usury which may cause the denial or revocation of a money

628

services business or deferred presentment provider transmitter

629

license or the equivalent registration in that such

630

jurisdiction.;

631

     (e) File with the office, sign as a duly authorized

632

representative, or deliver or disclose, by any means, to the

633

office or any of its employees any examination report, report of

634

condition, report of income and dividends, audit, account,

635

statement, file, or document known by it to be fraudulent or

636

false as to any material matter.; or

637

     (f) Place among the assets of a money services business or

638

its authorized agent such money transmitter or authorized vendor

639

any note, obligation, or security that the money services

640

business or its authorized agent transmitter or authorized

641

vendor does not own or is known to be that to the person's

642

knowledge is fraudulent or otherwise worthless, or for any such

643

person to represent to the office that any note, obligation, or

644

security carried as an asset of such money transmitter or

645

authorized vendor is the property of the money services business

646

or its authorized agent transmitter or authorized vendor and is

647

genuine if it is known to be such person that such representation

648

is false or that such note, obligation, or security is fraudulent

649

or otherwise worthless.

650

     (2) A It is unlawful for any person may not to knowingly

651

execute, or attempt to execute, a scheme or artifice to defraud a

652

money services business or its authorized agent transmitter or

653

authorized vendor, or to obtain any of the moneys, funds,

654

credits, assets, securities, or other property owned by, or under

655

the custody or control of, a money services business or its

656

authorized agent transmitter or authorized vendor, by means of

657

false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises.

658

     (3)  Any person who violates any provision of this section

659

commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in

660

s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

661

     (4)  Any person who willfully violates any provision of s.

662

560.403, s. 560.404, s. 560.405, or s. 560.407 commits a felony

663

of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s.

664

775.083, or s. 775.084.

665

     Section 8.  Section 560.113, Florida Statutes, is amended to

666

read:

667

     560.113 Injunctions; receiverships; restitution.--Whenever

668

a violation of the code is threatened or impending and such

669

violation will cause substantial injury to any person, the

670

circuit court has jurisdiction to hear any complaint filed by the

671

office and, upon proper showing, to issue an injunction

672

restraining such violation or granting other such appropriate

673

relief.

674

     (1) If the office determines that any person has engaged in

675

or is about to engage in any action that is a violation of this

676

chapter or related rules, the office may, in addition to or in

677

lieu of other remedies, bring an action on behalf of the state in

678

the circuit court against the person and any other person acting

679

in concert with such person to enjoin such person from engaging

680

in such act. The office may apply for, and on due showing be

681

entitled to have issued, the court's subpoena requiring the

682

appearance of the person and her or his employees, associated

683

persons, or agents and the production of any documents, books, or

684

records that may appear necessary for the hearing of the

685

petition, and to testify or give evidence concerning the acts

686

complained of.

687

     (2) In addition to, or in lieu of, the enforcement of a

688

temporary restraining order, temporary injunction, or permanent

689

injunction against the person, the court may, upon application of

690

the office, impound and appoint a receiver or administrator for

691

the property, assets, and business of the defendant, including,

692

but not limited to, any related books, records, documents, or

693

papers. The receiver or administrator shall have all powers and

694

duties conferred by the court as to the custody, collection,

695

administration, winding up, and liquidation of the property and

696

business. The court may issue orders and decrees staying all

697

pending suits and enjoining any further suits affecting the

698

receiver's or administrator's custody or possession of the

699

property, assets, and business or may, with the consent of the

700

presiding judge of the circuit, require that all such suits be

701

assigned to the judge appointing the receiver or administrator.

702

     (3) In addition to, or in lieu of, any other remedies

703

provided under this chapter, the office may apply to the court

704

hearing the matter for an order directing the defendant to make

705

restitution of those sums shown by the office to have been

706

obtained in violation of this chapter. Such restitution shall, at

707

the option of the court, be payable to the administrator or

708

receiver appointed under this section or directly to the persons

709

whose assets were obtained in violation of this chapter.

710

     Section 9.  Section 560.114, Florida Statutes, is amended to

711

read:

712

     560.114 Disciplinary actions; penalties.--

713

     (1) The following actions by a money services business,

714

authorized agent, or affiliated party transmitter or money

715

transmitter-affiliated party are violations of the code and

716

constitute grounds for the issuance of a cease and desist order,

717

the issuance of a removal order, the denial, of a registration

718

application or the suspension, or revocation of a license any

719

registration previously issued pursuant to the code, or the

720

taking of any other action within the authority of the office

721

pursuant to this chapter the code:

722

     (a) Failure to comply with any provision of this chapter or

723

related the code, any rule or order adopted pursuant thereto, or

724

any written agreement entered into with the office.

725

     (b)  Fraud, misrepresentation, deceit, or gross negligence

726

in any transaction by a involving money services business

727

transmission, regardless of reliance thereon by, or damage to, a

728

money transmitter customer.

729

     (c)  Fraudulent misrepresentation, circumvention, or

730

concealment of any matter that must required to be stated or

731

furnished to a money transmitter customer pursuant to this

732

chapter the code, regardless of reliance thereon by, or damage

733

to, such customer.

734

     (d)  False, deceptive, or misleading advertising.

735

     (e) Failure to maintain, preserve, and keep available for

736

examination, and produce all books, accounts, files, or other

737

documents required by this chapter or related rules or orders the

738

code, by any rule or order adopted pursuant to the code, by 31

739

C.F.R. ss. 103.20, 103.22, 103.23, 103.27, 103.28, 103.29,

740

103.33, 103.37, 103.41, and 103.125 as they existed on March 31,

741

2004, or by any agreement entered into with the office.

742

     (f) Refusing to allow Refusal to permit the examination or

743

inspection of books, accounts, files, or other documents and

744

records in an investigation or examination by the office,

745

pursuant to this chapter the provisions of the code, or to comply

746

with a subpoena issued by the office.

747

     (g) Failure to pay a judgment recovered in any court in

748

this state by a claimant in an action arising out of a money

749

transmission transaction within 30 days after the judgment

750

becomes final.

751

     (h) Engaging in an act prohibited under or practice

752

proscribed by s. 560.111.

753

     (i) Insolvency or operating in an unsafe and unsound

754

manner.

755

     (j) Failure by a money services business transmitter to

756

remove an affiliated a money transmitter-affiliated party after

757

the office has issued and served upon the money services business

758

transmitter a final order setting forth a finding that the

759

affiliated money transmitter-affiliated party has violated a any

760

provision of this chapter the code.

761

     (k) Making a any material misstatement, or

762

misrepresentation, or ommission or committing any fraud in an

763

initial or renewal application for licensure, any amendment to

764

such application, or application for the appointment of an

765

authorized agent registration.

766

     (l) Committing any act that results resulting in a license

767

an application for registration, or a registration or its

768

equivalent, to practice any profession or occupation being

769

denied, suspended, revoked, or otherwise acted against by a

770

licensing registering authority in any jurisdiction or a finding

771

by an appropriate regulatory body of engaging in unlicensed

772

activity as a money transmitter within any jurisdiction.

773

     (m) Being the subject of final agency action or its

774

equivalent, issued by an appropriate regulator, for engaging in

775

unlicensed activity as a money services business or deferred

776

presentment provider in any jurisdiction.

777

     (n)(m) Committing any act resulting in a license

778

registration or its equivalent, or an application for

779

registration, to practice any profession or occupation being

780

denied, suspended, revoked, or otherwise acted against by a

781

licensing registering authority in any jurisdiction for a

782

violation of 18 U.S.C. s. 1956, 18 U.S.C. s. 1957, 18 U.S.C. s.

783

1960, 31 U.S.C. s. 5324, or any other law or, rule, or regulation

784

of another state or of the United States relating to a money

785

services business, deferred presentment provider, the business of

786

money transmission or usury that which may cause the denial,

787

suspension, or revocation of a money services business or

788

deferred presentment provider transmitter license or its

789

equivalent or registration in such jurisdiction.

790

     (o)(n) Having been convicted of or found guilty of, or

791

entered a plea of having pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to,

792

any felony or crime punishable by imprisonment of 1 year or more

793

under the law of any state or of the United States which involves

794

fraud, moral turpitude, or dishonest dealing, regardless of

795

adjudication without regard to whether a judgment of conviction

796

has been entered by the court.

797

     (p)(o) Having been convicted of or found guilty of, or

798

entered a plea of having pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to, a

799

crime under 18 U.S.C. s. 1956 or 31 U.S.C. s. 5324, regardless of

800

adjudication without regard to whether a judgment of conviction

801

has been entered by the court.

802

     (q)(p) Having been convicted of or found guilty of, or

803

entered a plea of having pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to,

804

misappropriation, conversion, or unlawful withholding of moneys

805

belonging that belong to others, regardless of adjudication and

806

were received in the conduct of the business of the money

807

transmitter.

808

     (r)(q) Failure to inform the office in writing within 30 15

809

days after having pled pleading guilty or nolo contendere to, or

810

being convicted or found guilty of, any felony or crime

811

punishable by imprisonment of 1 year or more under the law of any

812

state or of the United States, or of any crime involving fraud,

813

moral turpitude, or dishonest dealing, without regard to whether

814

a judgment of conviction has been entered by the court.

815

     (s)(r) Aiding, assisting, procuring, advising, or abetting

816

any person in violating a provision of this chapter code or any

817

order or rule of the office or commission.

818

     (t)(s) Failure to timely pay any fee, charge, or cost

819

imposed or assessed fine under this chapter the code.

820

     (u) Failing to pay a fine assessed by the office within 30

821

days after the due date as stated in a final order.

822

     (v)(t) Failure to pay any judgment entered by any court

823

within 30 days after the judgment becomes final.

824

     (u) Engaging or holding oneself out to be engaged in the

825

business of a money transmitter without the proper registration.

826

     (v) Any action that would be grounds for denial of a

827

registration or for revocation, suspension, or restriction of a

828

registration previously granted under part III of this chapter.

829

     (w) Failure to pay any fee, charge, or fine under the code.

830

     (w)(x) Engaging or advertising engagement in the business

831

of a money services business or deferred presentment provider

832

transmitter without a license registration, unless the person is

833

exempted from licensure the registration requirements of the

834

code.

835

     (x)(y) Payment to the office for a license or other fee,

836

charge, cost, or fine permit with a check or electronic

837

transmission of funds that is dishonored by the applicant's or

838

licensee's financial institution.

839

     (y) Failure by a money services business licensed under

840

part II of this chapter to supervise its authorized agents

841

pursuant to s. 560.208 or s. 560.2085.

842

     (z) Violations of 31 C.F.R. ss. 103.20, 103.22, 103.23,

843

103.27, 103.28, 103.29, 103.33, 103.37, 103.41, and 103.125.

844

     (aa) Any practice or conduct that creates the likelihood of

845

a material loss, insolvency, or dissipation of assets of a money

846

services business or otherwise materially prejudices the

847

interests of its customers.

848

     (2) The office may deny licensure if the applicant or an

849

affiliated party is the subject of a pending criminal prosecution

850

or governmental enforcement action in any jurisdiction until the

851

conclusion of the prosecution or action.

852

     (3)(2) The office may issue a cease and desist order or

853

removal order, suspend or revoke a license any previously issued

854

registration, or take any other action within the authority of

855

the office against a licensee money transmitter based on any fact

856

or condition that exists and that, if it had existed or been

857

known to exist at the time of license application the money

858

transmitter applied for registration, would have been grounds for

859

license denial of registration.

860

     (4)(3) A Each money services business licensed under part

861

II of this chapter transmitter is responsible for any act of its

862

authorized agents vendors if the money services business

863

transmitter should have known of the act or had if the money

864

transmitter has actual knowledge that such act is a violation of

865

this chapter, the code and the money services business

866

transmitter willfully allowed the such act to continue. Such

867

responsibility is limited to conduct engaged in by the authorized

868

agent vendor pursuant to the authority granted to it by the money

869

services business transmitter.

870

     (5)(4) If a license registration granted under this chapter

871

code expires or is surrendered by the licensee registrant during

872

the pendency of an administrative action under this code, the

873

proceeding may continue as if the license is registration were

874

still in effect.

875

     (6) The office may, in addition to or in lieu of the

876

denial, suspension, or revocation of a license, impose a fine of

877

up to $10,000 for each violation of this chapter.

878

     (7) In addition to any other provision of this chapter, the

879

office may impose a fine of up to $1,000 per day for each day

880

that a person engages in the business of a money services

881

business or deferred presentment provider without being licensed.

882

     (8) In imposing any administrative remedy or penalty under

883

this chapter, the office shall take into account the

884

appropriateness of the penalty with respect to the gravity of the

885

violation, the history of previous violations, and other matters

886

as justice may require.

887

     Section 10.  Section 560.115, Florida Statutes, is amended

888

to read:

889

     560.115 Surrender of license registration.--A licensee Any

890

money transmitter registered pursuant to the code may voluntarily

891

surrender its license registration at any time by giving written

892

notice to the office.

893

     Section 11.  Section 560.116, Florida Statutes, is amended

894

to read:

895

     560.116  Civil immunity.--Any person having reason to

896

believe that a provision of this chapter the code is being

897

violated, or has been violated, or is about to be violated, may

898

file a complaint with the office setting forth the details of the

899

alleged violation. Such person is immune An Immunity from civil

900

liability is hereby granted to any person who furnishes such

901

information, unless the information provided is false and has

902

been provided the person providing the information does so with

903

reckless disregard for the truth.

904

     Section 12.  Section 560.118, Florida Statutes, is amended

905

to read:

906

     560.118 Examinations, Reports, and internal audits;

907

penalty.--

908

     (1)(a) The office may conduct an examination of a money

909

transmitter or authorized vendor by providing not less than 15

910

days' advance notice to the money transmitter or authorized

911

vendor. However, if the office suspects that the money

912

transmitter or authorized vendor has violated any provisions of

913

this code or any criminal laws of this state or of the United

914

States or is engaging in an unsafe and unsound practice, the

915

office may, at any time without advance notice, conduct an

916

examination of all affairs, activities, transactions, accounts,

917

business records, and assets of any money transmitter or any

918

money transmitter-affiliated party for the protection of the

919

public. For the purpose of examinations, the office may

920

administer oaths and examine a money transmitter or any of its

921

affiliated parties concerning their operations and business

922

activities and affairs. The office may accept an audit or

923

examination from any appropriate regulatory agency or from an

924

independent third party with respect to the operations of a money

925

transmitter or an authorized vendor. The office may also make a

926

joint or concurrent examination with any state or federal

927

regulatory agency. The office may furnish a copy of all

928

examinations made of such money transmitter or authorized vendor

929

to the money transmitter and any appropriate regulatory agency

930

provided that such agency agrees to abide by the confidentiality

931

provisions as set forth in chapter 119.

932

     (b) Persons subject to this chapter who are examined shall

933

make available to the office or its examiners the accounts,

934

records, documents, files, information, assets, and matters which

935

are in their immediate possession or control and which relate to

936

the subject of the examination. Those accounts, records,

937

documents, files, information, assets, and matters not in their

938

immediate possession shall be made available to the office or the

939

office's examiners within 10 days after actual notice is served

940

on such persons.

941

     (c) The audit of a money transmitter required under this

942

section may be performed by an independent third party that has

943

been approved by the office or by a certified public accountant

944

authorized to do business in the United States. The examination

945

of a money transmitter or authorized vendor required under this

946

section may be performed by an independent third party that has

947

been approved by the office or by a certified public accountant

948

authorized to do business in the United States. The cost of such

949

an independent examination or audit shall be directly borne by

950

the money transmitter or authorized vendor.

951

     (2)(a) Annual financial audit reports must that are

952

required to be filed with the office pursuant to this chapter or

953

related rules under the code or any rules adopted thereunder must

954

be audited by an independent third party that has been approved

955

by the office or by a certified public accountant authorized to

956

do business in the United States. The licensee money transmitter

957

or authorized vendor shall directly bear the cost of the audit.

958

This paragraph does not apply to any seller of payment

959

instruments who can prove to the satisfaction of the office that

960

it has a combined total of fewer than 50 employees and authorized

961

vendors or that its annual payment instruments issued from its

962

activities as a payment instrument seller are less than $200,000.

963

     (2)(b) Each licensee must submit The commission may, by

964

rule, require each money transmitter or authorized vendor to

965

submit quarterly reports to the office in a format and include

966

information as specified by rule. The rule commission may require

967

the that each report to contain a declaration by an officer, or

968

any other responsible person authorized to make such declaration,

969

that the report is true and correct to the best of her or his

970

knowledge and belief. Such report must include such information

971

as the commission by rule requires for that type of money

972

transmitter.

973

     (c) The office may levy an administrative fine of up to

974

$100 per day for each day the report is past due, unless it is

975

excused for good cause. In excusing any such administrative fine,

976

the office may consider the prior payment history of the money

977

transmitter or authorized vendor.

978

     (3) Any person who willfully violates this section or fails

979

to comply with any lawful written demand or order of the office

980

made under this section commits a felony of the third degree,

981

punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

982

     Section 13.  Section 560.119, Florida Statutes, is

983

transferred, renumbered as section 560.144, Florida Statutes, and

984

amended to read:

985

     560.144 560.119 Deposit of fees and assessments.--License

986

The application fees, license registration renewal fees, late

987

payment penalties, civil penalties, administrative fines, and

988

other fees, costs, or penalties provided for in this chapter the

989

code shall, in all cases, be paid directly to the office, which

990

shall deposit such proceeds into the Regulatory Trust Fund, and

991

use the proceeds to pay the costs of the office as necessary to

992

carry out its responsibilities under this chapter. Each year, the

993

Legislature shall appropriate from the trust fund to the office

994

sufficient moneys to pay the office's costs for administration of

995

the code. The Regulatory Trust Fund is subject to the service

996

charge imposed pursuant to chapter 215.

997

     Section 14.  Section 560.121, Florida Statutes, is amended

998

to read:

999

     560.121 Access to records; record retention; penalties

1000

limited restrictions upon public access.--

1001

     (1)(a) Orders of courts or of administrative law judges for

1002

the production of confidential records or information must shall

1003

provide for inspection in camera by the court or the

1004

administrative law judge; and, if after the court or

1005

administrative law judge determines has made a determination that

1006

the documents requested are relevant or would likely lead to the

1007

discovery of admissible evidence, said documents shall be subject

1008

to further orders by the court or the administrative law judge

1009

must issue further orders to protect the confidentiality of the

1010

documents thereof. Any order directing the release of information

1011

is shall be immediately reviewable, and a petition by the office

1012

for review of the such order shall automatically stay further

1013

proceedings in the trial court or the administrative hearing

1014

until the disposition of the such petition by the reviewing

1015

court. If any other party files such A petition for review of the

1016

order filed by any other party shall, it will operate as a stay

1017

of the such proceedings only upon order of the reviewing court.

1018

     (2)(b) Confidential records and information furnished

1019

pursuant to a legislative subpoena must shall be kept

1020

confidential by the legislative body or committee which receives

1021

the records or information, except in cases a case involving the

1022

investigation of charges against a public official subject to

1023

impeachment or removal, and then disclosure of such information

1024

shall be only to the extent determined to be necessary by the

1025

legislative body or committee to be necessary.

1026

     (3)(2) The commission may prescribe by rule the minimum

1027

information that must be shown in the books, accounts, records,

1028

and documents of licensees for purposes of enabling the office to

1029

determine the licensee's compliance with this chapter. In

1030

addition, the commission may prescribe by rule requirements for

1031

the destruction of books, accounts, records, and documents

1032

retained by the licensee after completion of the time period

1033

specified in this subsection. Examination reports, investigatory

1034

records, applications, and related information compiled by the

1035

office, or photographic copies thereof, must shall be retained by

1036

the office for a period of at least 5 3 years after following the

1037

date that the examination or investigation ceases to be active.

1038

Application records, and related information compiled by the

1039

office, or photographic copies thereof, must shall be retained by

1040

the office for a period of at least 5 2 years after following the

1041

date that the license registration ceases to be active.

1042

     (3) A copy of any document on file with the office which is

1043

certified by the office as being a true copy may be introduced in

1044

evidence as if it were the original. The commission shall

1045

establish a schedule of fees for preparing true copies of

1046

documents.

1047

     (4)  Any person who willfully discloses information made

1048

confidential by this section commits a felony of the third

1049

degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s.

1050

775.084.

1051

     Section 15.  Section 560.123, Florida Statutes, is amended

1052

to read:

1053

     560.123 Florida Control of Money Laundering in the Money

1054

Services Business Act Transmitters' Code; reports of transactions

1055

involving currency or monetary instruments; when required;

1056

purpose; definitions; penalties; corpus delicti.--

1057

     (1)  This section may be cited as the "Florida Control of

1058

Money Laundering in Money Services Business Transmitters Act."

1059

     (2) It is The purpose of this section is to require the

1060

submission to the office of reports and the maintenance of

1061

certain records of transactions involving currency or payment

1062

monetary instruments in order to which reports and records deter

1063

the use of a money services business money transmitters to

1064

conceal proceeds from criminal activity and to ensure the

1065

availability of such records for are useful in criminal, tax, or

1066

regulatory investigations or proceedings.

1067

     (3)(a) A Every money services business must transmitter

1068

shall keep a record of every each financial transaction occurring

1069

in this state known to it that occurs in this state; involves to

1070

involve currency or other payment monetary instrument, as

1071

prescribed the commission prescribes by rule, having of a value

1072

greater than in excess of $10,000; and involves, to involve the

1073

proceeds of specified unlawful activity, or is to be designed to

1074

evade the reporting requirements of this section or chapter 896.

1075

The money services business must and shall maintain appropriate

1076

procedures to ensure compliance with this section and chapter

1077

896.

1078

     (a)(b) Multiple financial transactions shall be treated as

1079

a single transaction if the money services business transmitter

1080

has knowledge that they are made by or on behalf of any one

1081

person and result in either cash in or cash out totaling more

1082

than $10,000 during any day.

1083

     (b)(c) A Any money services business transmitter may keep a

1084

record of any financial transaction occurring in this state,

1085

regardless of the value, if it suspects that the transaction

1086

involves the proceeds of specified unlawful activity.

1087

     (c) The money services business must file a report with the

1088

office of any records required by this subsection, at such time

1089

and containing such information as required by rule. The timely

1090

filing of the report required by 31 U.S.C. s. 5313 with the

1091

appropriate federal agency shall be deemed compliance with the

1092

reporting requirements of this subsection unless the reports are

1093

not regularly and comprehensively transmitted by the federal

1094

agency to the office.

1095

     (d) A money services business transmitter, or officer,

1096

employee, or agent thereof, that files a report in good faith

1097

pursuant to this section is not liable to any person for loss or

1098

damage caused in whole or in part by the making, filing, or

1099

governmental use of the report, or any information contained

1100

therein.

1101

     (4)(3) A money services business transmitters must comply

1102

with adhere to the money laundering, enforcement, and reporting

1103

provisions of s. 655.50, relating to reports of transactions

1104

involving currency transactions and payment monetary instruments,

1105

and of chapter 896, concerning offenses relating to financial

1106

transactions.

1107

     (5)(4) In enforcing this section, the commission and office

1108

shall acknowledge and take into consideration the requirements of

1109

Title 31, United States Code, in order both to reduce the burden

1110

of fulfilling duplicate requirements and to acknowledge the

1111

economic advantage of having similar reporting and recordkeeping

1112

requirements between state and federal regulatory authorities.

1113

     (5)(a) Each money transmitter must file a report with the

1114

office of the record required by this section. Each record filed

1115

pursuant to this section must be filed at such time and contain

1116

such information as the commission requires by rule.

1117

     (b) The timely filing of the report required by 31 U.S.C.

1118

s. 5313, with the appropriate federal agency is deemed compliance

1119

with the reporting requirements of this subsection unless the

1120

reports are not regularly and comprehensively transmitted by the

1121

federal agency to the office.

1122

     (6)  The office must retain a copy of all reports received

1123

under subsection (3) (5) for a minimum of 5 3 calendar years

1124

after receipt of the report. However, if a report or information

1125

contained in a report is known by the office to be the subject of

1126

an existing criminal proceeding, the report must be retained for

1127

a minimum of 10 calendar years after from the date of receipt.

1128

     (7)  In addition to any other powers conferred upon the

1129

office to enforce and administer this chapter the code, the

1130

office may:

1131

     (a)  Bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction

1132

to enforce or administer this section. In such action, the office

1133

may seek award of any civil penalty authorized by law and any

1134

other appropriate relief at law or equity.

1135

     (b) Issue and serve upon a person an order requiring the

1136

such person to cease and desist and take corrective action if

1137

whenever the office finds that the such person is violating, has

1138

violated, or is about to violate any provision of this section or

1139

chapter 896; any rule or order adopted under this section or

1140

chapter 896; or any written agreement related to this section or

1141

chapter 896 which is entered into with the office.

1142

     (c)  Issue and serve upon a person an order suspending or

1143

revoking the such person's money services business license if

1144

transmitter registration whenever the office finds that the such

1145

person is violating, has violated, or is about to violate any

1146

provision of this section or chapter 896; any rule or order

1147

adopted under this section or chapter 896; or any written

1148

agreement related to this section or chapter 896 which is entered

1149

into with the office.

1150

     (d)  Issue and serve upon any person an order of removal

1151

whenever the office finds that the such person is violating, has

1152

violated, or is about to violate any provision of this section or

1153

chapter 896; any rule or order adopted under this section or

1154

chapter 896; or any written agreement related to this section or

1155

chapter 896 which is entered into with the office.

1156

     (e)  Impose and collect an administrative fine against any

1157

person found to have violated any provision of this section or

1158

chapter 896; any rule or order adopted under this section or

1159

chapter 896; or any written agreement related to this section or

1160

chapter 896 which is entered into with the office, of up to in an

1161

amount not exceeding $10,000 per a day for each willful violation

1162

or $500 per a day for each negligent violation.

1163

     (8)(a)  Except as provided in paragraph (b), a person who

1164

willfully violates any provision of this section commits a

1165

misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s.

1166

775.082 or s. 775.083.

1167

     (b)  A person who willfully violates any provision of this

1168

section, if the violation involves:

1169

     1.  Currency or payment instruments exceeding $300 but less

1170

than $20,000 in any 12-month period, commits a felony of the

1171

third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083,

1172

or s. 775.084.

1173

     2.  Currency or payment instruments totaling or exceeding

1174

$20,000 but less than $100,000 in any 12-month period, commits a

1175

felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s.

1176

775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

1177

     3.  Currency or payment instruments totaling or exceeding

1178

$100,000 in any 12-month period, commits a felony of the first

1179

degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s.

1180

775.084.

1181

     (c) In addition to the penalties otherwise authorized by s.

1182

775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, a person who has been

1183

convicted of, or entered a plea of who has pleaded guilty or nolo

1184

contendere, regardless of adjudication, to having violated

1185

paragraph (b) may be sentenced to pay a fine of up to not

1186

exceeding $250,000 or twice the value of the currency or payment

1187

instruments, whichever is greater, except that on a second or

1188

subsequent conviction for or plea of guilty or nolo contendere,

1189

regardless of adjudication, to a violation of paragraph (b), the

1190

fine may be up to $500,000 or quintuple the value of the currency

1191

or payment instruments, whichever is greater.

1192

     (d)  A person who violates this section is also liable for a

1193

civil penalty of not more than the greater of the value of the

1194

currency or payment instruments involved or $25,000.

1195

     (9)  In any prosecution brought pursuant to this section,

1196

the common law corpus delicti rule does not apply. The

1197

defendant's confession or admission is admissible during trial

1198

without the state having to prove the corpus delicti if the court

1199

finds in a hearing conducted outside the presence of the jury

1200

that the defendant's confession or admission is trustworthy.

1201

Before the court admits the defendant's confession or admission,

1202

the state must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that

1203

there is sufficient corroborating evidence that tends to

1204

establish the trustworthiness of the statement by the defendant.

1205

Hearsay evidence is admissible during the presentation of

1206

evidence at the hearing. In making its determination, the court

1207

may consider all relevant corroborating evidence, including the

1208

defendant's statements.

1209

     Section 16.  Section 560.1235, Florida Statutes, is created

1210

to read:

1211

     560.1235 Money laundering requirements.--

1212

     (1) A licensee must comply with all state and federal laws

1213

and rules relating to the detection and prevention of money

1214

laundering, including, as applicable, s. 560.123, and 31 C.F.R.

1215

ss. 103.20, 103.22, 103.23, 103.27. 103.28, 103.29, 103.33,

1216

103.37, and 103.41.

1217

     (2) A licensee must maintain an anti-money laundering

1218

program in accordance with 31 C.F.R. s. 103.25. The program must

1219

be reviewed and updated as necessary to ensure that the program

1220

continues to be effective in detecting and deterring money

1221

laundering activities.

1222

     Section 17.  Section 560.124, Florida Statutes, is amended

1223

to read:

1224

     560.124  Sharing of information.--

1225

     (1) It is not unlawful for Any person may to provide

1226

information to a money services business, its transmitter,

1227

authorized agent, law enforcement agency, prosecutorial agency

1228

vendor, or appropriate regulator, or for any money services

1229

business, its transmitter, authorized agent, law enforcement

1230

agency, prosecutorial agency vendor, or appropriate regulator may

1231

to provide information to any person, information about any other

1232

person's known or suspected involvement in a violation of any

1233

state, federal, or foreign law, rule, or regulation relating to

1234

the business of a money services business or deferred present

1235

provider transmitter which has been reported to state, federal,

1236

or foreign authorities, and is not.

1237

     (2) No person shall be liable in any civil action for

1238

providing such information.

1239

     Section 18.  Section 560.125, Florida Statutes, is amended

1240

to read:

1241

     560.125 Unlicensed activity Money transmitter business by

1242

unauthorized persons; penalties.--

1243

     (1) A person other than a registered money transmitter or

1244

authorized vendor may not engage in the business of a money

1245

services business or deferred presentment provider transmitter in

1246

this state unless the person is licensed or exempted from

1247

licensure under this chapter from the registration requirements

1248

of the code.

1249

     (2) Only a money services business licensed under part II

1250

of this chapter may appoint an authorized agent. No person shall

1251

act as a vendor of a money transmitter when such money

1252

transmitter is subject to registration under the code but has not

1253

registered. Any such person acting as the agent of an unlicensed

1254

money transmitter or payment instrument issuer becomes the

1255

principal thereof, and no longer merely acts as an agent a

1256

vendor, and such person is liable to the holder or remitter as a

1257

principal money transmitter or payment instrument seller.

1258

     (3)  Any person whose substantial interests are affected by

1259

a proceeding brought by the office pursuant to this chapter the

1260

code may, pursuant to s. 560.113, petition any court of competent

1261

jurisdiction to enjoin the person or activity that is the subject

1262

of the proceeding from violating any of the provisions of this

1263

section. For the purpose of this subsection, any money services

1264

business licensed under this chapter transmitter registered

1265

pursuant to the code, any person residing in this state, and any

1266

person whose principal place of business is in this state are

1267

presumed to be substantially affected. In addition, the interests

1268

of a trade organization or association are deemed substantially

1269

affected if the interests of any of its members are so affected.

1270

     (4)  The office may issue and serve upon any person who

1271

violates any of the provisions of this section a complaint

1272

seeking a cease and desist order or impose an administrative fine

1273

as provided in s. 560.114 in accordance with the procedures and

1274

in the manner prescribed by s. 560.112. The office may also

1275

impose an administrative fine pursuant to s. 560.117(3) against

1276

any person who violates any of the provisions of this section.

1277

     (5)  A person who violates this section, if the violation

1278

involves:

1279

     (a)  Currency or payment instruments exceeding $300 but less

1280

than $20,000 in any 12-month period, commits a felony of the

1281

third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083,

1282

or s. 775.084.

1283

     (b)  Currency or payment instruments totaling or exceeding

1284

$20,000 but less than $100,000 in any 12-month period, commits a

1285

felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s.

1286

775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

1287

     (c)  Currency or payment instruments totaling or exceeding

1288

$100,000 in any 12-month period, commits a felony of the first

1289

degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s.

1290

775.084.

1291

     (6)  In addition to the penalties authorized by s. 775.082,

1292

s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, a person who has been convicted of, or

1293

entered a plea of found guilty of or who has pleaded guilty or

1294

nolo contendere, to having violated this section may be sentenced

1295

to pay a fine of up to not exceeding $250,000 or twice the value

1296

of the currency or payment instruments, whichever is greater,

1297

except that on a second or subsequent violation of this section,

1298

the fine may be up to $500,000 or quintuple the value of the

1299

currency or payment instruments, whichever is greater.

1300

     (7)  A person who violates this section is also liable for a

1301

civil penalty of not more than the value of the currency or

1302

payment instruments involved or $25,000, whichever is greater.

1303

     (8)  In any prosecution brought pursuant to this section,

1304

the common law corpus delicti rule does not apply. The

1305

defendant's confession or admission is admissible during trial

1306

without the state having to prove the corpus delicti if the court

1307

finds in a hearing conducted outside the presence of the jury

1308

that the defendant's confession or admission is trustworthy.

1309

Before the court admits the defendant's confession or admission,

1310

the state must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that

1311

there is sufficient corroborating evidence that tends to

1312

establish the trustworthiness of the statement by the defendant.

1313

Hearsay evidence is admissible during the presentation of

1314

evidence at the hearing. In making its determination, the court

1315

may consider all relevant corroborating evidence, including the

1316

defendant's statements.

1317

     Section 19.  Section 560.126, Florida Statutes, is amended

1318

to read:

1319

     560.126 Significant events; notice Required notice by

1320

licensee.--

1321

     (1) A licensee Unless exempted by the office, every money

1322

transmitter must provide the office with a written notice sent by

1323

registered mail within 30 days after the occurrence or knowledge

1324

of, whichever period of time is greater, any of the following

1325

events:

1326

     (a)  The filing of a petition under the United States

1327

Bankruptcy Code for bankruptcy or reorganization by the licensee

1328

money transmitter.

1329

     (b) The commencement of an administrative or judicial

1330

license any registration suspension or revocation proceeding,

1331

either administrative or judicial, or the denial of a license any

1332

original registration request or a registration renewal, by any

1333

state, the District of Columbia, any United States territory, or

1334

any foreign country, in which the licensee money transmitter

1335

operates, or plans to operate, or is licensed or has registered

1336

to operate.

1337

     (c) A felony indictment relating to a the money services

1338

transmission business or deferred presentment provider involving

1339

the licensee, its authorized agent, or an affiliated money

1340

transmitter or a money transmitter-affiliated party of the money

1341

transmitter.

1342

     (d)  The felony conviction, guilty plea, or plea of nolo

1343

contendere, regardless of adjudication, of the licensee, its

1344

authorized agent, or an affiliated if the court adjudicates the

1345

nolo contendere pleader guilty, or the adjudication of guilt of a

1346

money transmitter or money transmitter-affiliated party.

1347

     (e)  The interruption of any corporate surety bond required

1348

under this chapter by the code.

1349

     (f) Any suspected criminal act, as defined by the

1350

commission by rule, perpetrated in this state relating to

1351

activities regulated under this chapter by an affiliated party

1352

against a money services business or its authorized agent

1353

transmitter or authorized vendor.

1354

     (g) Notification by a law enforcement or prosecutorial

1355

agency that the licensee or its authorized agent is under

1356

criminal investigation including, but not limited to, subpoenas

1357

to produce records or testimony and warrants issued by a court of

1358

competent jurisdiction which authorize the search and seizure of

1359

any records relating to a business activity regulated under this

1360

chapter.

1361

1362

However, a person does not incur liability as a result of making

1363

a good faith effort to fulfill this disclosure requirement.

1364

     (2)(a) A licensee must Each registrant under this code

1365

shall report, on a form adopted prescribed by rule of the

1366

commission, any change in the information contained in an any

1367

initial license application form, or any amendment to such

1368

application, or the appointment of an authorized agent within

1369

thereto not later than 30 days after the change is effective.

1370

     (3)(b) Each licensee must registrant under the code shall

1371

report any change changes in the partners, officers, members,

1372

joint venturers, directors, controlling shareholders, or

1373

responsible persons of the licensee any registrant or changes in

1374

the form of business organization by written amendment in such

1375

form and at such time as specified the commission specifies by

1376

rule.

1377

     (a)1. If In any case in which a person or a group of

1378

persons, directly or indirectly or acting by or through one or

1379

more persons, proposes to purchase or acquire a controlling

1380

interest in a licensee, such person or group must submit an

1381

initial application for licensure registration as a money

1382

services business or deferred presentment provider transmitter

1383

before such purchase or acquisition at such time and in such form

1384

as prescribed the commission prescribes by rule.

1385

     2. As used in this subsection, the term "controlling

1386

interest" means the same as described in s. 560.127 possession of

1387

the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or

1388

policies of a company whether through ownership of securities, by

1389

contract, or otherwise. Any person who directly or indirectly has

1390

the right to vote 25 percent or more of the voting securities of

1391

a company or is entitled to 25 percent or more of its profits is

1392

presumed to possess a controlling interest.

1393

     (b)3. The Any addition of a partner, officer, member, joint

1394

venturer, director, controlling shareholder, or responsible

1395

person of the applicant who does not have a controlling interest

1396

and who has not previously complied with the applicable

1397

provisions of ss. 560.140 and 560.141 is ss. 560.205 and 560.306

1398

shall be subject to such provisions unless required to file an

1399

initial application in accordance with subparagraph 1. If the

1400

office determines that the licensee registrant does not continue

1401

to meet the licensure registration requirements, the office may

1402

bring an administrative action in accordance with s. 560.114 to

1403

enforce the provisions of this chapter code.

1404

     (c)4. The commission shall adopt rules pursuant to ss.

1405

120.536(1) and 120.54 providing for the waiver of the license

1406

application required by this subsection if the person or group of

1407

persons proposing to purchase or acquire a controlling interest

1408

in a licensee registrant has previously complied with the

1409

applicable provisions of ss. 560.140 and 560.141 under ss.

1410

560.205 and 560.306 with the same legal entity or is currently

1411

licensed registered with the office under this chapter code.

1412

     Section 20.  Section 560.127, Florida Statutes, is amended

1413

to read:

1414

     560.127 Control of a money services business

1415

transmitter.--A person has a controlling interest in control over

1416

a money services business transmitter if the person:

1417

     (1) the individual, partnership, corporation, trust, or

1418

other organization possesses the power, directly or indirectly,

1419

to direct the management or policies of the money services

1420

business a company, whether through ownership of securities, by

1421

contract, or otherwise. A person is presumed to have control a

1422

company if the, with respect to a particular company, that

1423

person:

1424

     (1)(a) Is a director, general partner, or officer

1425

exercising executive responsibility or having similar status or

1426

functions;

1427

     (2)(b) Directly or indirectly may vote 25 percent or more

1428

of a class of a voting security or sell or direct the sale of 25

1429

percent or more of a class of voting securities; or

1430

     (3)(c) In the case of a partnership, may receive upon

1431

dissolution or has contributed 25 percent or more of the capital.

1432

     (2) The office determines, after notice and opportunity for

1433

hearing, that the person directly or indirectly exercises a

1434

controlling influence over the activities of the money

1435

transmitter.

1436

     Section 21.  Section 560.128, Florida Statutes, is amended

1437

to read:

1438

     560.128 Customer contacts; license display Consumer

1439

disclosure.--

1440

     (1) A money services business or its authorized agent must

1441

provide each customer with Every money transmitter and authorized

1442

vendor shall provide each consumer of a money transmitter

1443

transaction a toll-free telephone number for the purpose of

1444

contacting the money services business or its authorized agent

1445

or, consumer contacts; However, in lieu of a such toll-free

1446

telephone number, the money transmitter or authorized vendor may

1447

provide the address and telephone number of the office may be

1448

provided and the Division of Consumer Services of the Department

1449

of Financial Services.

1450

     (2) The commission may by rule require a licensee every

1451

money transmitter to display its license registration at each

1452

location, including the location of each person designated by the

1453

registrant as an authorized vendor, where the licensee the money

1454

transmitter engages in the activities authorized by the license

1455

registration.

1456

     Section 22.  Section 560.129, Florida Statutes, is amended

1457

to read:

1458

     560.129  Confidentiality.--

1459

     (1)(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, all

1460

information concerning an investigation or examination conducted

1461

by the office pursuant to this chapter, including any customer

1462

consumer complaint received by the office, the commission, or the

1463

Department of Financial Services, is confidential and exempt from

1464

s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution until

1465

the investigation or examination ceases to be active. For

1466

purposes of this section, an investigation or examination is

1467

considered "active" so long as the office or any other

1468

administrative, regulatory, or law enforcement agency of any

1469

jurisdiction is proceeding with reasonable dispatch and has a

1470

reasonable good faith belief that action may be initiated by the

1471

office or other administrative, regulatory, or law enforcement

1472

agency.

1473

     (2)(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), All information

1474

obtained by the office in the course of its investigation or

1475

examination which is a trade secret, as defined in s. 688.002, or

1476

which is personal financial information shall remain confidential

1477

and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State

1478

Constitution. If any administrative, civil, or criminal

1479

proceeding against a the money services business, its authorized

1480

agent, transmitter or an affiliated a money transmitter-

1481

affiliated party is initiated and the office seeks to use matter

1482

that a licensee registrant believes to be a trade secret or

1483

personal financial information, such records shall be subject to

1484

an in camera review by the administrative law judge, if the

1485

matter is before the Division of Administrative Hearings, or a

1486

judge of any court of this state, any other state, or the United

1487

States, as appropriate, for the purpose of determining if the

1488

matter is a trade secret or is personal financial information. If

1489

it is determined that the matter is a trade secret, the matter

1490

shall remain confidential. If it is determined that the matter is

1491

personal financial information, the matter shall remain

1492

confidential unless the administrative law judge or judge

1493

determines that, in the interests of justice, the matter should

1494

become public.

1495

     (3)(c) If an any administrative, civil, or criminal

1496

proceeding against a the money services business, its authorized

1497

agent, transmitter or an affiliated a money transmitter-

1498

affiliated party results in an acquittal or the dismissal of all

1499

of the allegations against the money transmitter or a money

1500

transmitter-affiliated party, upon the request of any party, the

1501

administrative law judge or the judge may order all or a portion

1502

of the record of the proceeding to be sealed, and it shall

1503

thereafter be confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s.

1504

24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution.

1505

     (4)(d) Except as necessary for the office or any other

1506

administrative, regulatory, or law enforcement agency of any

1507

jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of this chapter or the law

1508

of any other state or the United States, a consumer complaint and

1509

other information concerning an investigation or examination

1510

shall remain confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s.

1511

24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution after the investigation

1512

or examination ceases to be active to the extent that disclosure

1513

would:

1514

     (a)1. Jeopardize the integrity of another active

1515

investigation;

1516

     (b)2. Reveal personal financial information;

1517

     (c)3. Reveal the identity of a confidential source; or

1518

     (d)4. Reveal investigative techniques or procedures.

1519

     (5)(2) This section does not prevent or restrict:

1520

     (a)  Furnishing records or information to any appropriate

1521

regulatory, prosecutorial, agency or law enforcement agency if

1522

such agency adheres to the confidentiality provisions of this

1523

chapter the code;

1524

     (b) Furnishing records or information to an appropriate

1525

regulator or independent third party or a certified public

1526

accountant who has been approved by the office to conduct an

1527

examination under s. 560.1091 s. 560.118(1)(b), if the

1528

independent third party or certified public accountant adheres to

1529

the confidentiality provisions of this chapter the code; or

1530

     (c) Reporting any suspicious suspected criminal activity,

1531

with supporting documents and information, to appropriate

1532

regulatory, law enforcement, or prosecutorial agencies.

1533

     (6)(3) All quarterly reports submitted by a money

1534

transmitter to the office under s. 560.118(2) s. 560.118(2)(b)

1535

are confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art.

1536

I of the State Constitution.

1537

     (4) Examination reports, investigatory records,

1538

applications, and related information compiled by the office, or

1539

photographic copies thereof, shall be retained by the office for

1540

a period of at least 3 years following the date that the

1541

examination or investigation ceases to be active. Application

1542

records, and related information compiled by the office, or

1543

photographic copies thereof, shall be retained by the office for

1544

a period of at least 2 years following the date that the

1545

registration ceases to be active.

1546

     (7)(5) Any person who willfully discloses information made

1547

confidential by this section commits a felony of the third

1548

degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

1549

     Section 23.  Section 560.140, Florida Statutes, is created

1550

to read:

1551

     560.140 Licensing standards.--To qualify for licensure as a

1552

money services business under this chapter, an applicant must:

1553

     (1) Demonstrate to the office the character and general

1554

fitness necessary to command the confidence of the public and

1555

warrant the belief that the money services business or deferred

1556

presentment provider shall be operated lawfully and fairly.

1557

     (2) Be legally authorized to do business in this state.

1558

     (3) Be registered as a money services business with the

1559

Financial Crimes Enforcement Network as required by 31 C.F.R. s.

1560

103.41, if applicable.

1561

     (4) Have an anti-money laundering program in place which

1562

meets the requirements of 31 C.F.R. s. 103.125.

1563

     (5) Provide the office with all the information required

1564

under this chapter and related rules.

1565

     Section 24.  Section 560.141, Florida Statutes, is created

1566

to read:

1567

     560.141 License application.--

1568

     (1) To apply for a license as a money services business

1569

under this chapter the applicant must:

1570

     (a) Submit an application to the office on forms prescribed

1571

by rule which includes the following information:

1572

     1. The legal name and address of the applicant, including

1573

any fictitious or trade names used by the applicant in the

1574

conduct of its business.

1575

     2. The date of the applicant's formation and the state in

1576

which the applicant was formed, if applicable.

1577

     3. The name, social security number, alien identification

1578

or taxpayer identification number, business and residence

1579

addresses, and employment history for the past 5 years for each

1580

officer, director, responsible person, the compliance officer,

1581

each controlling shareholder, any other person who has a

1582

controlling interest in the money services business as provided

1583

in s. 560.127.

1584

     4. A description of the organizational structure of the

1585

applicant, including the identity of any parent or subsidiary of

1586

the applicant, and the disclosure of whether any parent or

1587

subsidiary is publicly traded.

1588

     5. The applicant's history of operations in other states if

1589

applicable and a description of the money services business or

1590

deferred presentment provider activities proposed to be conducted

1591

by the applicant in this state.

1592

     6. If the applicant or its parent is a publicly traded

1593

company, copies of all filings made by the applicant with the

1594

United States Securities and Exchange Commission, or with a

1595

similar regulator in a country other than the United States,

1596

within the preceding year.

1597

     7. The location at which the applicant proposes to

1598

establish its principal place of business and any other location,

1599

including branch offices and authorized agents operating in this

1600

state. For each branch office identified and each authorized

1601

agent appointed, the applicant shall include the nonrefundable

1602

fee required by s. 560.143.

1603

     8. The name and address of the clearing financial

1604

institution or financial institutions through which the

1605

applicant's payment instruments are drawn or through which the

1606

payment instruments are payable.

1607

     8. The history of the applicant's material litigation,

1608

criminal convictions, pleas of nolo contendere, and cases of

1609

adjudication withheld.

1610

     9. The history of material litigation, arrests, criminal

1611

convictions, pleas of nolo contendere, and cases of adjudication

1612

withheld for each executive officer, director, controlling

1613

shareholder, and responsible person.

1614

     10. The name of the registered agent in this state for

1615

service of process unless the applicant is a sole proprietor.

1616

     11. Any other information specified in this chapter or by

1617

rule.

1618

     (b) In addition to the application form, submit:

1619

     1. A nonrefundable application fee as provided in s.

1620

560.143.

1621

     2. A fingerprint card for each of the persons listed in

1622

subparagraph (a)3. unless the applicant is a publicly traded

1623

corporation, or is exempted from this chapter under s.

1624

560.104(1). The fingerprints must be taken by an authorized law

1625

enforcement agency. The office shall submit the fingerprints to

1626

the Department of Law Enforcement for state processing and the

1627

Department of Law Enforcement shall forward the fingerprints to

1628

the Federal Bureau of Investigations for federal processing. The

1629

cost of the fingerprint processing may be borne by the office,

1630

the employer, or the person subject to the criminal records

1631

background check. The office shall screen the background results

1632

to determine if the applicant meets licensure requirements. As

1633

used in this section, the term "publicly traded" means a stock is

1634

currently traded on a national securities exchange registered

1635

with the federal Securities and Exchange Commission or traded on

1636

an exchange in a country other than the United States regulated

1637

by a regulator equivalent to the Securities and Exchange

1638

Commission and the disclosure and reporting requirements of such

1639

regulator are substantially similar to those of the commission.

1640

     3. A copy of the applicant's written anti-money laundering

1641

program required under 31 C.F.R. s. 103.125.

1642

     4. Within the time allotted by rule, any information needed

1643

to resolve any deficiencies found in the application.

1644

     (2) If the office determines that the applicant meets the

1645

qualifications and requirements of this chapter, the office shall

1646

issue a license to the applicant. A license may not be issued for

1647

more than 2 years.

1648

     (a) A license issued under part II of this chapter shall

1649

expire on April 30 of the second year following the date of

1650

issuance of the license unless during such period the license is

1651

surrendered, suspended, or revoked.

1652

     (b) A license issued under part III of this chapter shall

1653

expire on December 31 of the second year following the date of

1654

issuance of the license unless during such period the license is

1655

surrendered, suspended, or revoked.

1656

     Section 25.  Section 560.142, Florida Statutes, is created

1657

to read:

1658

     560.142 License renewal.--

1659

     (1) A license may be renewed for a subsequent 2-year period

1660

by furnishing such application as required by rule, together with

1661

the payment of a nonrefundable renewal fee as provided under s.

1662

560.143, on or before the license expiration date, or for the

1663

remainder of any such period without proration following the date

1664

of license expiration.

1665

     (2) In addition to the renewal fee, each part II licensee

1666

must pay a 2-year nonrefundable renewal fee as provided in s.

1667

560.143 for each authorized agent or location operating within

1668

this state.

1669

     (3) A licensee who has on file with the office a

1670

declaration of intent to engage in deferred presentment

1671

transactions may renew a declaration upon license renewal by

1672

submitting a nonrefundable deferred presentment provider renewal

1673

fee as provided in s. 560.143.

1674

     (4) If a license or declaration of intent to engage in

1675

deferred presentment transactions expires, the license or

1676

declaration of intent may be reinstated only if a renewal

1677

application or declaration of intent, all required renewal fees,

1678

and any applicable late fees are received by the office within 60

1679

days after expiration. If not submitted within 60 days, the

1680

license or declaration on intent expires and a new license

1681

application or declaration of intent must be filed with the

1682

office pursuant to this chapter.

1683

     (5) The commission may adopt rules to administer this

1684

section.

1685

     Section 26.  Section 560.143, Florida Statutes, is created

1686

to read:

1687

     560.143 Fees.--

1688

     (1) LICENSE APPLICATION FEES.--The applicable non-

1689

refundable fees must accompany an application for licensure:

1690

     (a) Under part II                                        $500.

1691

     (b) Part III                                             $250.

1692

     (c) Per branch office                                    $50.

1693

     (d) For each appointment of an authorized agent           $50.

1694

     (e) Declaration as a deferred presentment provider $1,000.

1695

     (f) Fingerprint fees as prescribed by rule.

1696

     (2) LICENSE RENEWAL FEES.--The applicable non-refundable

1697

license renewal fees must accompany a renewal of licensure:

1698

     (a) Part II                                         1,000.

1699

     (b) Part III                                             $500.

1700

     (c) Per branch office                                    $50.

1701

     (d) For each appointment of an authorized agents           $50.

1702

     (e) Declaration as a deferred presentment provider $1,000.

1703

     (f) Renewal fees for branch offices and authorized agents

1704

are limited to $20,000 biennially.

1705

     (3) LATE LICENSE RENEWAL FEES.--

1706

     (a) Part II                                             $500.

1707

     (b) Part III                                             $250.

1708

     (c) Declaration as a deferred presentment provider $500.

1709

     Section 27.  Section 560.203, Florida Statutes, is amended

1710

to read:

1711

     560.203 Exemptions from licensure.--Authorized agents

1712

vendors of a licensee registrant acting within the scope of

1713

authority conferred by the licensee are registrant shall be

1714

exempt from licensure but are having to register pursuant to the

1715

code but shall otherwise be subject to the its provisions of this

1716

chapter.

1717

     Section 28.  Section 560.204, Florida Statutes, is amended

1718

to read:

1719

     560.204 License required Requirement of registration.--

1720

     (1) Unless exempted, a No person may not shall engage in

1721

for consideration, or nor in any manner advertise that they

1722

engage, in, the selling or issuing of payment instruments or in

1723

the activity of a money funds transmitter, for compensation,

1724

without first obtaining a license registration under the

1725

provisions of this part. For purposes of this section,

1726

"compensation" includes profit or loss on the exchange of

1727

currency.

1728

     (2) A licensee under this part person registered pursuant

1729

to this part is permitted to engage in the activities authorized

1730

by this part. A person registered pursuant to this part may also

1731

engage in the activities authorized under part III of this

1732

chapter without the imposition of any additional licensing fees

1733

and is exempt from the registration fee required by s. 560.307.

1734

     Section 29.  Section 560.205, Florida Statutes, is amended

1735

to read:

1736

     560.205 Additional license application requirements

1737

Qualifications of applicant for registration; contents.--In

1738

addition to the license application requirements under part I of

1739

this chapter, an applicant seeking a license under this part must

1740

also submit to the office:

1741

     (1) A sample authorized agent contract, if applicable.

1742

     (2) A sample form of payment instrument, if applicable.

1743

     (3) Documents demonstrating that the net worth and bonding

1744

requirements specified in s. 560.209 have been fulfilled.

1745

     (4) A copy of the applicant's financial audit report for

1746

the most recent fiscal year.

1747

     (1) To qualify for registration under this part, an

1748

applicant must demonstrate to the office such character and

1749

general fitness as to command the confidence of the public and

1750

warrant the belief that the registered business will be operated

1751

lawfully and fairly. The office may investigate each applicant to

1752

ascertain whether the qualifications and requirements prescribed

1753

by this part have been met. The office's investigation may

1754

include a criminal background investigation of all controlling

1755

shareholders, principals, officers, directors, members, and

1756

responsible persons of a funds transmitter and a payment

1757

instrument seller and all persons designated by a funds

1758

transmitter or payment instrument seller as an authorized vendor.

1759

Each controlling shareholder, principal, officer, director,

1760

member, and responsible person of a funds transmitter or payment

1761

instrument seller, unless the applicant is a publicly traded

1762

corporation as defined by the commission by rule, a subsidiary

1763

thereof, or a subsidiary of a bank or bank holding company

1764

organized and regulated under the laws of any state or the United

1765

States, shall file a complete set of fingerprints. A fingerprint

1766

card submitted to the office must be taken by an authorized law

1767

enforcement agency. The office shall submit the fingerprints to

1768

the Department of Law Enforcement for state processing, and the

1769

Department of Law Enforcement shall forward the fingerprints to

1770

the Federal Bureau of Investigation for state and federal

1771

processing. The cost of the fingerprint processing may be borne

1772

by the office, the employer, or the person subject to the

1773

background check. The Department of Law Enforcement shall submit

1774

an invoice to the office for the fingerprints received each

1775

month. The office shall screen the background results to

1776

determine if the applicant meets licensure requirements. The

1777

commission may waive by rule the requirement that applicants file

1778

a set of fingerprints or the requirement that such fingerprints

1779

be processed by the Department of Law Enforcement or the Federal

1780

Bureau of Investigation.

1781

     (2) Each application for registration must be submitted

1782

under oath to the office on such forms as the commission

1783

prescribes by rule and must be accompanied by a nonrefundable

1784

application fee. Such fee may not exceed $500 for each payment

1785

instrument seller or funds transmitter and $50 for each

1786

authorized vendor or location operating within this state. The

1787

application must contain such information as the commission

1788

requires by rule, including, but not limited to:

1789

     (a) The name and address of the applicant, including any

1790

fictitious or trade names used by the applicant in the conduct of

1791

its business.

1792

     (b) The history of the applicant's material litigation,

1793

criminal convictions, pleas of nolo contendere, and cases of

1794

adjudication withheld.

1795

     (c) A description of the activities conducted by the

1796

applicant, the applicant's history of operations, and the

1797

business activities in which the applicant seeks to engage in

1798

this state.

1799

     (d) A sample authorized vendor contract, if applicable.

1800

     (e) A sample form of payment instrument, if applicable.

1801

     (f) The name and address of the clearing financial

1802

institution or financial institutions through which the

1803

applicant's payment instruments will be drawn or through which

1804

such payment instruments will be payable.

1805

     (g) Documents revealing that the net worth and bonding

1806

requirements specified in s. 560.209 have been or will be

1807

fulfilled.

1808

     (3) Each application for registration by an applicant that

1809

is a corporation shall contain such information as the commission

1810

requires by rule, including, but not limited to:

1811

     (a) The date of the applicant's incorporation and state of

1812

incorporation.

1813

     (b) A certificate of good standing from the state or

1814

country in which the applicant was incorporated.

1815

     (c) A description of the corporate structure of the

1816

applicant, including the identity of any parent or subsidiary of

1817

the applicant, and the disclosure of whether any parent or

1818

subsidiary is publicly traded on any stock exchange.

1819

     (d) The name, social security number, business and

1820

residence addresses, and employment history for the past 5 years

1821

for each executive officer, each director, each controlling

1822

shareholder, and the responsible person who will be in charge of

1823

all the applicant's business activities in this state.

1824

     (e) The history of material litigation and criminal

1825

convictions, pleas of nolo contendere, and cases of adjudication

1826

withheld for each officer, each director, each controlling

1827

shareholder, and the responsible person who will be in charge of

1828

the applicant's registered activities.

1829

     (f) Copies of the applicant's audited financial statements

1830

for the current year and, if available, for the immediately

1831

preceding 2-year period. In cases where the applicant is a wholly

1832

owned subsidiary of another corporation, the parent's

1833

consolidated audited financial statements may be submitted to

1834

satisfy this requirement. An applicant who is not required to

1835

file audited financial statements may satisfy this requirement by

1836

filing unaudited financial statements verified under penalty of

1837

perjury, as provided by the commission by rule.

1838

     (g) An applicant who is not required to file audited

1839

financial statements may file copies of the applicant's

1840

unconsolidated, unaudited financial statements for the current

1841

year and, if available, for the immediately preceding 2-year

1842

period.

1843

     (h) If the applicant is a publicly traded company, copies

1844

of all filings made by the applicant with the United States

1845

Securities and Exchange Commission, or with a similar regulator

1846

in a country other than the United States, within the year

1847

preceding the date of filing of the application.

1848

     (4) Each application for registration submitted to the

1849

office by an applicant that is not a corporation shall contain

1850

such information as the commission requires by rule, including,

1851

but not limited to:

1852

     (a) Evidence that the applicant is registered to do

1853

business in this state.

1854

     (b) The name, business and residence addresses, personal

1855

financial statement and employment history for the past 5 years

1856

for each individual having a controlling ownership interest in

1857

the applicant, and each responsible person who will be in charge

1858

of the applicant's registered activities.

1859

     (c) The history of material litigation and criminal

1860

convictions, pleas of nolo contendere, and cases of adjudication

1861

withheld for each individual having a controlling ownership

1862

interest in the applicant and each responsible person who will be

1863

in charge of the applicant's registered activities.

1864

     (d) Copies of the applicant's audited financial statements

1865

for the current year, and, if available, for the preceding 2

1866

years. An applicant who is not required to file audited financial

1867

statements may satisfy this requirement by filing unaudited

1868

financial statements verified under penalty of perjury, as

1869

provided by the commission by rule.

1870

     (5) Each applicant shall designate and maintain an agent in

1871

this state for service of process.

1872

     Section 30.  Effective January 1, 2009, section 560.208,

1873

Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

1874

     560.208 Conduct of business.--In addition to the

1875

requirements specified in s. 560.140, a licensee under this part:

1876

     (1) A registrant May conduct its business at one or more

1877

locations within this state through branches or by means of

1878

authorized agents vendors, as designated by the licensee and

1879

approved by the office registrant, including the conduct of

1880

business through electronic transfer, such as by the telephone or

1881

the Internet.

1882

     (2) Notwithstanding and without violating s. 501.0117, a

1883

registrant may charge a different price for a money transmitter

1884

funds transmission service based on the mode of transmission used

1885

in the transaction as, so long as the price charged for a service

1886

paid for with a credit card is not more greater than the price

1887

charged when the that service is paid for with currency or other

1888

similar means accepted within the same mode of transmission.

1889

     (3) Is responsible for the acts of its authorized agents

1890

within the scope of its written contract with the agent.

1891

     (4) Shall place assets that are the property of a customer

1892

in a segregated account in a federally insured financial

1893

institution and shall maintain separate accounts for operating

1894

capital and the clearing of customer funds.

1895

     (5) Shall, in the normal course of business, ensure that

1896

money transmitted is available to the designated recipient within

1897

10 business days after receipt.

1898

     (6) Shall immediately upon receipt of currency or payment

1899

instrument provide a confirmation number to the customer

1900

verbally, by paper, or electronically.

1901

     (2) Within 60 days after the date a registrant either opens

1902

a location within this state or authorizes an authorized vendor

1903

to operate on the registrant's behalf within this state, the

1904

registrant shall notify the office on a form prescribed by the

1905

commission by rule. The notification shall be accompanied by a

1906

nonrefundable $50 fee for each authorized vendor or location.

1907

Each notification shall also be accompanied by a financial

1908

statement demonstrating compliance with s. 560.209(1), unless

1909

compliance has been demonstrated by a financial statement filed

1910

with the registrant's quarterly report in compliance with s.

1911

560.118(2). The financial statement must be dated within 90 days

1912

of the date of designation of the authorized vendor or location.

1913

This subsection shall not apply to any authorized vendor or

1914

location that has been designated by the registrant before

1915

October 1, 2001.

1916

     (3) Within 60 days after the date a registrant closes a

1917

location within this state or withdraws authorization for an

1918

authorized vendor to operate on the registrant's behalf within

1919

this state, the registrant shall notify the office on a form

1920

prescribed by the commission by rule.

1921

     Section 31.  Effective January 1, 2009, section 560.2085,

1922

Florida Statutes, is created to read:

1923

     560.2085 Authorized agents.--A licensee under this part

1924

shall:

1925

     (1) Before an authorized agent commences business on behalf

1926

of a licensee, file with the office such information as

1927

prescribed by rule together with the nonrefundable appointment

1928

fee as provided by s. 560.143, for any person whom the licensee

1929

seeks to appoint as an authorized agent.

1930

     (2) Enter into a written contract, signed by the licensee

1931

and the authorized agent, which:

1932

     (a) Sets forth the nature and scope of the relationship

1933

between the licensee and the authorized agent, including the

1934

respective rights and responsibilities of the parties; and

1935

     (b) Includes contract provisions that require the

1936

authorized agent to:

1937

     1. Report to the licensee, immediately upon discovery, the

1938

theft or loss of currency received for a transmission or payment

1939

instrument;

1940

     2. Display a notice to the public, in such form as

1941

prescribed by rule, that the agent is the authorized agent of the

1942

licensee;

1943

     3. Remit all amounts owed to the licensee for all

1944

transmissions accepted and all payment instruments sold in

1945

accordance with the contract between the licensee and the

1946

authorized agent;

1947

     4. Hold in trust, in favor of the licensee, all money

1948

received for all transmissions accepted or payment instruments

1949

sold from the time of receipt by the authorized agent until the

1950

time the money is forwarded to the licensee;

1951

     5. Not commingle the money received for transmissions

1952

accepted or payment instruments sold on behalf of the licensee

1953

with the money or property of the authorized agent, except for

1954

making change in the ordinary course of the agent's business, and

1955

ensure that the money is accounted for at the end of the business

1956

day;

1957

     6. Consent to examination or investigation by the office;

1958

     7. Adhere to the applicable state and federal laws and

1959

rules pertaining to a money services business; and

1960

     8. Provide such other information or disclosure as may be

1961

required by rule.

1962

     (3) Develop and implement written internal audit policies

1963

and procedures to monitor compliance with applicable state and

1964

federal law by its authorized agents.

1965

     (4) Hold in trust all currency or payment instruments

1966

received for transmissions or for the purchase of payment

1967

instruments from the time of receipt by the licensee or

1968

authorized agent until the time the transmission obligation is

1969

completed.

1970

     Section 32.  Section 560.209, Florida Statutes, is amended

1971

to read:

1972

     560.209 Adjusted net worth; corporate surety bond;

1973

collateral deposit in lieu of bond.--

1974

     (1) A licensee must Any person engaging in a registered

1975

activity shall have an adjusted a net worth of at least $100,000

1976

computed according to generally accepted accounting principles. A

1977

licensee operating in Applicants proposing to conduct registered

1978

activities at more than one location must shall have an

1979

additional adjusted net worth of $10,000 $50,000 per location in

1980

this state, up as applicable, to a maximum of $2 million

1981

$500,000. The required adjusted net worth must be maintained at

1982

all times.

1983

     (2) A licensee must obtain an annual financial audit

1984

report, which must be submitted to the office within 120 days

1985

after the end of the licensee's fiscal year end, as disclosed to

1986

the office.

1987

     (3)(2) Before the office may issue a license under this

1988

part registration, the applicant must provide to the office a

1989

corporate surety bond, issued by a bonding company or insurance

1990

company authorized to do business in this state.

1991

     (a) The corporate surety bond shall be in an such amount as

1992

specified may be determined by commission rule, but may shall not

1993

be less than $50,000 or exceed $2 million $250,000. The rule

1994

shall provide allowances for the financial condition, number of

1995

locations, and anticipated volume of the licensee. However, the

1996

commission and office may consider extraordinary circumstances,

1997

such as the registrant's financial condition, the number of

1998

locations, and the existing or anticipated volume of outstanding

1999

payment instruments or funds transmitted, and require an

2000

additional amount above $250,000, up to $500,000.

2001

     (b) The corporate surety bond must shall be in a form

2002

satisfactory to the office and shall run to the state for the

2003

benefit of any claimants in this state against the applicant or

2004

its authorized agents vendors to secure the faithful performance

2005

of the obligations of the applicant and its agents authorized

2006

vendors with respect to the receipt, handling, transmission, and

2007

payment of funds. The aggregate liability of the corporate surety

2008

bond may not in no event shall exceed the principal sum of the

2009

bond. Such Claimants against the applicant or its authorized

2010

agent vendors may themselves bring suit directly on the corporate

2011

surety bond, or the Department of Legal Affairs may bring suit

2012

thereon on behalf of the such claimants, in either one action or

2013

in successive actions.

2014

     (c) The A corporate surety bond filed with the office for

2015

purposes of compliance with this section may not be canceled by

2016

either the licensee registrant or the corporate surety except

2017

upon written notice to the office by registered or certified mail

2018

with return receipt requested. A cancellation may shall not take

2019

effect until less than 30 days after receipt by the office of the

2020

such written notice.

2021

     (d)  The corporate surety must, within 10 days after it pays

2022

any claim to any claimant, give written notice to the office by

2023

registered or certified mail of such payment with details

2024

sufficient to identify the claimant and the claim or judgment so

2025

paid.

2026

     (e) If Whenever the principal sum of the such bond is

2027

reduced by one or more recoveries or payments, the licensee

2028

registrant must furnish a new or additional bond so that the

2029

total or aggregate principal sum of the such bond equals the sum

2030

required pursuant to paragraph (a) by the commission.

2031

Alternatively, a licensee registrant may furnish an endorsement

2032

executed by the corporate surety reinstating the bond to the

2033

required principal sum thereof.

2034

     (4)(3) In lieu of a such corporate surety bond, or of any

2035

portion of the principal sum thereof required by this section,

2036

the applicant may deposit collateral cash, securities, or

2037

alternative security devices as provided by rule approved by the

2038

commission, with a any federally insured financial institution.

2039

     (a) Acceptable collateral deposit items in lieu of a bond

2040

include cash and interest-bearing stocks and bonds, notes,

2041

debentures, or other obligations of the United States or any

2042

agency or instrumentality thereof, or guaranteed by the United

2043

States, or of this state.

2044

     (b)  The collateral deposit must be in an aggregate amount,

2045

based upon principal amount or market value, whichever is lower,

2046

of at least not less than the amount of the required corporate

2047

surety bond or portion thereof.

2048

     (c) Collateral deposits must made under this subsection

2049

shall be pledged to the office and held by the insured financial

2050

institution to secure the same obligations as would the corporate

2051

surety bond, but the depositor is entitled to receive any all

2052

interest and dividends thereon and may, with the approval of the

2053

office, substitute other securities or deposits for those

2054

deposited. The principal amount of the deposit shall be released

2055

only on written authorization of the office or on the order of a

2056

court of competent jurisdiction.

2057

     (5)(4) A licensee registrant must at all times have and

2058

maintain the bond or collateral deposit in the required amount

2059

prescribed by the commission. If the office at any time

2060

reasonably determines that the bond or elements of the collateral

2061

deposit are insecure, deficient in amount, or exhausted in whole

2062

or in part, the office may, by written order, require the filing

2063

of a new or supplemental bond or the deposit of new or additional

2064

collateral deposit items.

2065

     (6)(5) The bond and collateral deposit shall remain in

2066

place for 5 years after the licensee registrant ceases licensed

2067

registered operations in this state. The office may allow permit

2068

the bond or collateral deposit to be reduced or eliminated prior

2069

to that time to the extent that the amount of the licensee's

2070

registrant's outstanding payment instruments or money funds

2071

transmitted in this state are reduced. The office may also allow

2072

a licensee permit a registrant to substitute a letter of credit

2073

or such other form of acceptable security for the bond or

2074

collateral deposit at the time the licensee registrant ceases

2075

licensed money transmission operations in this state.

2076

     (6) The office may waive or reduce a registrant's net worth

2077

or bond or collateral deposit requirement. Such waiver or

2078

modification must be requested by the applicant or registrant,

2079

and may be granted upon a showing by the applicant or registrant

2080

to the satisfaction of the office that:

2081

     (a) The existing net worth, bond, or collateral deposit

2082

requirement is sufficiently in excess of the registrant's highest

2083

potential level of outstanding payment instruments or money

2084

transmissions in this state;

2085

     (b) The direct and indirect cost of meeting the net worth,

2086

bond, or collateral deposit requirement will restrict the ability

2087

of the money transmitter to effectively serve the needs of its

2088

customers and the public; or

2089

     (c) The direct and indirect cost of meeting the net worth,

2090

bond, or collateral requirement will not only have a negative

2091

impact on the money transmitter but will severely hinder the

2092

ability of the money transmitter to participate in and promote

2093

the economic progress and welfare of this state or the United

2094

States.

2095

     Section 33.  Section 560.210, Florida Statutes, is amended

2096

to read:

2097

     560.210  Permissible investments.--

2098

     (1) A licensee must registrant shall at all times possess

2099

permissible investments with an aggregate market value,

2100

calculated in accordance with United States generally accepted

2101

accounting principles, of at least not less than the aggregate

2102

face amount of all outstanding money funds transmissions and

2103

payment instruments issued or sold by the licensee registrant or

2104

an authorized agent vendor in the United States. As used in this

2105

section,

2106

     (2) Acceptable permissible investments include:

2107

     (a)  Cash.

2108

     (b)  Certificates of deposit or other deposit liabilities of

2109

a domestic or foreign financial institution, either domestic or

2110

foreign.

2111

     (c)  Bankers' acceptances eligible for purchase by member

2112

banks of the Federal Reserve System.

2113

     (d)  An investment bearing a rating of one of the three

2114

highest grades as defined by a nationally recognized rating

2115

service of such securities.

2116

     (e)  Investment securities that are obligations of the

2117

United States, its agencies or instrumentalities, or obligations

2118

that are guaranteed fully as to principal and interest by the

2119

United States, or any obligations of any state or municipality,

2120

or any political subdivision thereof.

2121

     (f)  Shares in a money market mutual fund.

2122

     (g)  A demand borrowing agreement or agreements made to a

2123

corporation or a subsidiary of a corporation whose capital stock

2124

is listed on a national exchange.

2125

     (h) Receivables that are due to a licensee registrant from

2126

the licensee's registrant's authorized agent vendors except those

2127

that are more than 90 30 days past due or are doubtful of

2128

collection.

2129

     (i) Any other investment approved by rule the commission.

2130

     (2)(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of this part,

2131

the office, with respect to any particular licensee registrant or

2132

all licensees registrants, may limit the extent to which any

2133

class of permissible investments may be considered a permissible

2134

investment, except for cash and certificates of deposit.

2135

     (3)(4) The office may waive the permissible investments

2136

requirement if the dollar value of a licensee's registrant's

2137

outstanding payment instruments and money funds transmitted do

2138

not exceed the bond or collateral deposit posted by the licensee

2139

registrant under s. 560.209.

2140

     Section 34.  Section 560.211, Florida Statutes, is amended

2141

to read:

2142

     560.211 Required records.--

2143

     (1) In addition to the record retention requirements under

2144

s. 560.110, each licensee under this part Each registrant must

2145

make, keep, and preserve the following books, accounts, records,

2146

and documents other records for 5 a period of 3 years:

2147

     (a) A daily record or records of payment instruments sold

2148

and money funds transmitted.

2149

     (b)  A general ledger containing all asset, liability,

2150

capital, income, and expense accounts, which general ledger shall

2151

be posted at least monthly.

2152

     (c) Daily settlement sheets received from authorized agents

2153

vendors.

2154

     (d) Monthly financial institution statements and

2155

reconciliation records.

2156

     (e) Records of outstanding payment instruments and money

2157

funds transmitted.

2158

     (f) Records of each payment instrument paid and money funds

2159

transmission delivered within the 3-year period.

2160

     (g)  A list of the names and addresses of all of the

2161

licensee's registrant's authorized agents vendors, as well as

2162

copies of each authorized vendor contract.

2163

     (h) Records that document the establishment, monitoring,

2164

and termination of relationships with authorized agents and

2165

foreign affiliates.

2166

     (i) Any additional records, as prescribed by rule, designed

2167

to detect and prevent money laundering.

2168

     (2) The records required to be maintained by the code may

2169

be maintained by the registrant at any location if the registrant

2170

notifies the office in writing of the location of the records in

2171

its application or otherwise by amendment as prescribed by

2172

commission rule. The registrant shall make such records available

2173

to the office for examination and investigation in this state, as

2174

permitted by the code, within 7 days after receipt of a written

2175

request.

2176

     (3) Registrants and authorized vendors need not preserve or

2177

retain any of the records required by this section or copies

2178

thereof for a period longer than 3 years unless a longer period

2179

is expressly required by the laws of this state or federal law. A

2180

registrant or authorized vendor may destroy any of its records or

2181

copies thereof after the expiration of the retention period

2182

required by this section.

2183

     (4) The original of any record of a registrant or

2184

authorized vendor includes the data or other information

2185

comprising a record stored or transmitted in or by means of any

2186

electronic, computerized, mechanized, or other information

2187

storage or retrieval or transmission system or device which can

2188

upon request generate, regenerate, or transmit the precise data

2189

or other information comprising the record; and an original also

2190

includes the visible data or other information so generated,

2191

regenerated, or transmitted if it is legible or can be made

2192

legible by enlargement or other process.

2193

     (2)(5) Any person who willfully fails to comply with this

2194

section commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as

2195

provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

2196

     Section 35.  Section 560.212, Florida Statutes, is amended

2197

to read:

2198

     560.212 Financial liability.--A licensee Each registrant

2199

under this part is liable for the payment of all money funds

2200

transmitted and payment instruments that it sells, in whatever

2201

form and whether directly or through an authorized agent vendor,

2202

as the maker, drawer, or principal thereof, regardless of whether

2203

such item is negotiable or nonnegotiable.

2204

     Section 36.  Section 560.213, Florida Statutes, is amended

2205

to read:

2206

     560.213  Payment instrument information.--Each payment

2207

instrument sold or issued by a licensee registrant, directly or

2208

through an authorized agent vendor, must shall bear the name of

2209

the licensee, and any other information as may be required by

2210

rule, registrant clearly imprinted thereon.

2211

     Section 37.  Section 560.303, Florida Statutes, is amended

2212

to read:

2213

     560.303 License required Requirement of registration.--

2214

     (1) A No person may not shall engage in, or in any manner

2215

advertise engagement in, the business of cashing payment

2216

instruments or the exchanging of foreign currency without being

2217

licensed first registering under the provisions of this part.

2218

     (2) A person licensed under registered pursuant to this

2219

part may not engage in the activities authorized by this part. A

2220

person registered under this part is prohibited from engaging

2221

directly in the activities that require a license under are

2222

authorized under a registration issued pursuant to part II of

2223

this chapter, but may be such person is not prohibited from

2224

engaging in an authorized agent for vendor relationship with a

2225

person licensed registered under part II.

2226

     (3) A person exempt from licensure under registration

2227

pursuant to this part engaging in the business of cashing payment

2228

instruments or the exchanging of foreign currency may shall not

2229

charge fees in excess of those provided in s. 560.309.

2230

Section 38.  Section 560.304, Florida Statutes, is amended

2231

to read:

2232

     560.304 Exemption from licensure Exceptions to

2233

registration.--The requirement for licensure under provisions of

2234

this part does do not apply to a person, at a location, cashing

2235

payment instruments that have an aggregate face value of less

2236

than $2,000 per person per day.:

2237

     (1) Authorized vendors of any person registered pursuant to

2238

the provisions of the code, acting within the scope of authority

2239

conferred by the registrant.

2240

     (2) Persons engaged in the cashing of payment instruments

2241

or the exchanging of foreign currency which is incidental to the

2242

retail sale of goods or services whose compensation for cashing

2243

payment instruments or exchanging foreign currency at each site

2244

does not exceed 5 percent of the total gross income from the

2245

retail sale of goods or services by such person during its most

2246

recently completed fiscal year.

2247

     Section 39.  Section 560.309, Florida Statutes, is amended

2248

to read:

2249

     560.309 Conduct of business Rules.--

2250

     (1) A licensee may transact business under this part only

2251

under the legal name under which the person is licensed. The use

2252

of a fictitious name is allowed if the fictitious name has been

2253

registered with the Department of State and disclosed to the

2254

office as part of an initial license application, or subsequent

2255

amendment to the application, prior to its use. Before a

2256

registrant shall deposit, with any financial institution, a

2257

payment instrument that is cashed by a registrant, each such item

2258

must be endorsed with the actual name under which such registrant

2259

is doing business.

2260

     (2) At the time a licensee accepts a payment instrument

2261

that is cashed by the licensee, the payment instrument must be

2262

endorsed using the legal name under which the licensee is

2263

licensed. Registrants must comply with all the laws of this state

2264

and any federal laws relating to money laundering, including, as

2265

applicable, the provisions of s. 560.123.

2266

     (3) A licensee under this part must deposit or sell payment

2267

instruments within 5 business days after the acceptance of the

2268

payment instrument.

2269

     (4) A licensee may not accept or cash multiple payment

2270

instruments from a person who is not the original payee, unless

2271

the person is licensed to cash payment instruments pursuant to

2272

this part and all payment instruments accepted are endorsed with

2273

the legal name of the person.

2274

     (5) A licensee must report all suspicious activity to the

2275

office in accordance with the criteria set forth in 31 C.F.R. s.

2276

103.20. In lieu of filing such reports, the commission may

2277

prescribe by rule that the licensee may file such reports with an

2278

appropriate regulator.

2279

     (6)(3) The commission may by rule require a every check

2280

casher to display its license registration and post a notice

2281

listing containing its charges for cashing payment instruments.

2282

     (7)(4) Exclusive of the direct costs of verification which

2283

shall be established by commission rule, a no check casher may

2284

not shall:

2285

     (a)  Charge fees, except as otherwise provided by this part,

2286

in excess of 5 percent of the face amount of the payment

2287

instrument, or 6 percent without the provision of identification,

2288

or $5, whichever is greater;

2289

     (b)  Charge fees in excess of 3 percent of the face amount

2290

of the payment instrument, or 4 percent without the provision of

2291

identification, or $5, whichever is greater, if such payment

2292

instrument is the payment of any kind of state public assistance

2293

or federal social security benefit payable to the bearer of the

2294

such payment instrument; or

2295

     (c)  Charge fees for personal checks or money orders in

2296

excess of 10 percent of the face amount of those payment

2297

instruments, or $5, whichever is greater.

2298

     (d) As used in this subsection, "identification" means, and

2299

is limited to, an unexpired and otherwise valid driver license, a

2300

state identification card issued by any state of the United

2301

States or its territories or the District of Columbia, and

2302

showing a photograph and signature, a United States Government

2303

Resident Alien Identification Card, a United States passport, or

2304

a United States Military identification card.

2305

     (8) A licensee cashing payment instruments may not assess

2306

the cost of collections, other than fees for insufficient funds

2307

as provided by law, without a judgment from a court of competent

2308

jurisdiction.

2309

     (9) If a check is returned to a licensee from a payor

2310

financial institution due to lack of funds, a closed account, or

2311

a stop-payment order, the licensee may seek collection pursuant

2312

to s. 68.065. In seeking collection, the licensee must comply

2313

with the prohibitions against harassment or abuse, false or

2314

misleading representations, and unfair practices in the Fair Debt

2315

Collections Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. ss. 1692d, 1692e, and 1692f.

2316

A violation of this subsection is a deceptive and unfair trade

2317

practice and constitutes a violation of the Deceptive and Unfair

2318

Trade Practices Act under part II of chapter 501. In addition, a

2319

licensee must comply with the applicable provisions of the

2320

Consumer Collection Practices Act under part VI of chapter 559,

2321

including s. 559.77.

2322

     Section 40.  Section 560.310, Florida Statutes, is amended

2323

to read:

2324

     560.310  Records of check cashers and foreign currency

2325

exchangers.--

2326

     (1) In addition to the record retention requirements

2327

specified in s. 560.110, a person engaged in check cashing must

2328

maintain the following:

2329

     (a) Customer files, as prescribed by rule, on all customers

2330

who cash corporate or third-party payment instruments exceeding

2331

$1,000.

2332

     (b) For any payment instrument accepted having a face value

2333

of $1,000 or more:

2334

     1. A copy of the personal identification that bears a

2335

photograph of the customer used as identification and presented

2336

by the customer. Acceptable personal identification is limited to

2337

a valid driver's license; a state identification card issued by

2338

any state of the United States or its territories or the District

2339

of Columbia, and showing a photograph and signature; a United

2340

States Government Resident Alien Identification Card; a passport;

2341

or a United States Military identification card.

2342

     2. A thumbprint of the customer taken by the licensee.

2343

     (c) A payment instrument log that must be maintained

2344

electronically as prescribed by rule. For purposes of this

2345

paragraph, multiple payment instruments accepted from any one

2346

person on any given day which total $1,000 or more must be

2347

aggregated and reported on the log. Each registrant must maintain

2348

all books, accounts, records, and documents necessary to

2349

determine the registrant's compliance with the provisions of the

2350

code. Such books, accounts, records, and documents shall be

2351

retained for a period of at least 3 years.

2352

     (2) A licensee under this part may engage the services of a

2353

third party that is not a depository institution for the

2354

maintenance and storage of records required by this section if

2355

all the requirements of this section are met. The records

2356

required to be maintained by the code may be maintained by the

2357

registrant at any location if the registrant notifies the office,

2358

in writing, of the location of the records in its application or

2359

otherwise by amendment as prescribed by commission rule. The

2360

registrant shall make such records available to the office for

2361

examination and investigation in this state, as permitted by the

2362

code, within 7 days after receipt of a written request.

2363

     (3) Registrants and authorized vendors need not preserve or

2364

retain any of the records required by this section or copies

2365

thereof for a period longer than 3 years unless a longer period

2366

is expressly required by the laws of this state or any federal

2367

law. A registrant or authorized vendor may destroy any of its

2368

records or copies thereof after the expiration of the retention

2369

period required by this section.

2370

     (4) The original of any record of a registrant or

2371

authorized vendor includes the data or other information

2372

comprising a record stored or transmitted in or by means of any

2373

electronic, computerized, mechanized, or other information

2374

storage or retrieval or transmission system or device which can

2375

upon request generate, regenerate, or transmit the precise data

2376

or other information comprising the record; and an original also

2377

includes the visible data or other information so generated,

2378

regenerated, or transmitted if it is legible or can be made

2379

legible by enlargement or other process.

2380

     (5) Any person who willfully violates this section or fails

2381

to comply with any lawful written demand or order of the office

2382

made pursuant to this section commits a felony of the third

2383

degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s.

2384

775.084.

2385

     Section 41.  Section 560.402, Florida Statutes, is amended

2386

to read:

2387

     560.402 Definitions.--In addition to the definitions

2388

provided in ss. 560.103, 560.202, and 560.302 and unless

2389

otherwise clearly indicated by the context, For the purposes of

2390

this part, the term:

2391

     (1) "Affiliate" means a person who, directly or indirectly,

2392

through one or more intermediaries controls, or is controlled by,

2393

or is under common control with, a deferred presentment provider.

2394

     (2) "Business day" means the hours during a particular day

2395

during which a deferred presentment provider customarily conducts

2396

business, not to exceed 15 consecutive hours during that day.

2397

     (3) "Days" means calendar days.

2398

     (2)(4) "Deferment period" means the number of days a

2399

deferred presentment provider agrees to defer depositing, or

2400

presenting, or redeeming a payment instrument.

2401

     (5) "Deferred presentment provider" means a person who

2402

engages in a deferred presentment transaction and is registered

2403

under part II or part III of the code and has filed a declaration

2404

of intent with the office.

2405

     (3)(6) "Deferred presentment transaction" means providing

2406

currency or a payment instrument in exchange for a drawer's

2407

person's check and agreeing to hold the that person's check for a

2408

deferment period of time prior to presentment, deposit, or

2409

redemption.

2410

     (4)(7) "Drawer" means a customer any person who writes a

2411

personal check and upon whose account the check is drawn.

2412

     (5) "Extension of a deferred presentment agreement" means

2413

continuing a deferred presentment transaction past the deferment

2414

period by having the drawer pay additional fees and the deferred

2415

presentment provider continuing to hold the check for another

2416

deferment period.

2417

     (6)(8) "Rollover" means the termination or extension of a

2418

an existing deferred presentment agreement by the payment of an

2419

any additional fee and the continued holding of the check, or the

2420

substitution of a new check drawn by the drawer pursuant to a new

2421

deferred presentment agreement.

2422

     (9) "Fee" means the fee authorized for the deferral of the

2423

presentation of a check pursuant to this part.

2424

     (7)(10) "Termination of a an existing deferred presentment

2425

agreement" means that the check that is the basis for the an

2426

agreement is redeemed by the drawer by payment in full in cash,

2427

or is deposited and the deferred presentment provider has

2428

evidence that such check has cleared. A Verification of

2429

sufficient funds in the drawer's account by the deferred

2430

presentment provider is shall not be sufficient evidence to deem

2431

that the existing deferred deposit transaction is to be

2432

terminated.

2433

     (11) "Extension of an existing deferred presentment

2434

agreement" means that a deferred presentment transaction is

2435

continued by the drawer paying any additional fees and the

2436

deferred presentment provider continues to hold the check for

2437

another period of time prior to deposit, presentment, or

2438

redemption.

2439

     Section 42.  Section 560.403, Florida Statutes, is amended

2440

to read:

2441

     560.403 Requirements of registration; Declaration of

2442

intent.--

2443

     (1) Except for financial institutions as defined in s.

2444

655.005 No person, Unless otherwise exempt from this chapter, a

2445

person may not shall engage in a deferred presentment transaction

2446

unless the person is licensed as a money services business

2447

registered under the provisions of part II or part III of this

2448

chapter and has on file with the office a declaration of intent

2449

to engage in deferred presentment transactions, regardless of

2450

whether such person is exempted from licensure under any other

2451

provision of this chapter. The declaration of intent must shall

2452

be under oath and on such form as prescribed the commission

2453

prescribes by rule. The declaration of intent must shall be filed

2454

together with a nonrefundable filing fee as provided in s.

2455

560.143 of $1,000. Any person who is registered under part II or

2456

part III on the effective date of this act and intends to engage

2457

in deferred presentment transactions shall have 60 days after the

2458

effective date of this act to file a declaration of intent. A

2459

declaration of intent expires after 24 months and must be

2460

renewed.

2461

     (2) A registrant under this part shall renew his or her

2462

intent to engage in the business of deferred presentment

2463

transactions or to act as a deferred presentment provider upon

2464

renewing his or her registration under part II or part III and

2465

shall do so by indicating his or her intent by submitting a

2466

nonrefundable deferred presentment provider renewal fee of

2467

$1,000, in addition to any fees required for renewal of

2468

registration under part II or part III.

2469

     (3) A registrant under this part who fails to timely renew

2470

his or her intent to engage in the business of deferred

2471

presentment transactions or to act as a deferred presentment

2472

provider shall immediately cease to engage in the business of

2473

deferred presentment transactions or to act as a deferred

2474

presentment provider.

2475

     (4) The notice of intent of a registrant under this part

2476

who fails to timely renew his or her intent to engage in the

2477

business of deferred presentment transactions or to act as a

2478

deferred presentment provider on or before the expiration date of

2479

the registration period automatically expires. A renewal fee and

2480

a nonrefundable late fee of $500 must be filed within 60 calendar

2481

days after the expiration of an existing registration in order

2482

for the declaration of intent to be reinstated. The office shall

2483

grant a reinstatement of registration if an application is filed

2484

during the 60-day period, and the reinstatement is effective upon

2485

receipt of the required fees and any information that the

2486

commission requires by rule. If the registrant has not filed a

2487

reinstatement of a renewal declaration of intent within 60

2488

calendar days after the expiration date of an existing

2489

registration, the notice of intent expires and a new declaration

2490

of intent must be filed with the office.

2491

     (5) No person, other than a financial institution as

2492

defined in s. 655.005, shall be exempt from registration and

2493

declaration if such person engages in deferred presentment

2494

transactions, regardless of whether such person is currently

2495

exempt from registration under any provision of this code.

2496

     Section 43.  Section 560.404, Florida Statutes, is amended

2497

to read:

2498

     560.404  Requirements for deferred presentment

2499

transactions.--

2500

     (1) Each Every deferred presentment transaction must shall

2501

be documented in a written agreement signed by both the deferred

2502

presentment provider and the drawer.

2503

     (2) The deferred presentment transaction agreement must

2504

shall be executed on the day the deferred presentment provider

2505

furnishes currency or a payment instrument to the drawer.

2506

     (3) Each written agreement must shall contain the following

2507

information, in addition to any information required the

2508

commission requires by rule, contain the following information:

2509

     (a)  The name or trade name, address, and telephone number

2510

of the deferred presentment provider and the name and title of

2511

the person who signs the agreement on behalf of the deferred

2512

presentment provider.

2513

     (b) The date the deferred presentment transaction is was

2514

made.

2515

     (c)  The amount of the drawer's check.

2516

     (d) The length of the deferment deferral period.

2517

     (e)  The last day of the deferment period.

2518

     (f) The address and telephone number of the office and the

2519

Division of Consumer Services of the Department of Financial

2520

Services.

2521

     (g)  A clear description of the drawer's payment obligations

2522

under the deferred presentment transaction.

2523

     (h)  The transaction number assigned by the office's

2524

database.

2525

     (4) The Every deferred presentment provider must shall

2526

furnish to the drawer a copy of the deferred presentment

2527

transaction agreement to the drawer.

2528

     (5)  The face amount of a check taken for deferred

2529

presentment may not exceed $500 exclusive of the fees allowed

2530

under by this part.

2531

     (6) A No deferred presentment provider or its affiliate may

2532

not shall charge fees that exceed in excess of 10 percent of the

2533

currency or payment instrument provided. However, a verification

2534

fee may be charged as provided in s. 560.309(7) in accordance

2535

with s. 560.309(4) and the rules adopted pursuant to the code.

2536

The 10-percent fee may not be applied to the verification fee. A

2537

deferred presentment provider may charge only those fees

2538

specifically authorized in this section.

2539

     (7)  The fees authorized by this section may not be

2540

collected before the drawer's check is presented or redeemed.

2541

     (8) A No deferred presentment agreement may not shall be

2542

for a term longer than in excess of 31 days or less than 7 days.

2543

     (9) A No deferred presentment provider may not shall

2544

require a drawer person to provide any additional security for

2545

the deferred presentment transaction or any extension or require

2546

the drawer a person to provide any additional guaranty from

2547

another person.

2548

     (10) A deferred presentment provider may shall not include

2549

any of the following provisions in a deferred provider any

2550

written agreement:

2551

     (a) A hold harmless clause.;

2552

     (b) A confession of judgment clause.;

2553

     (c)  Any assignment of or order for payment of wages or

2554

other compensation for services.;

2555

     (d)  A provision in which the drawer agrees not to assert

2556

any claim or defense arising out of the agreement.; or

2557

     (e)  A waiver of any provision of this part.

2558

     (11) A Each deferred presentment provider shall immediately

2559

provide the drawer with the full amount of any check to be held,

2560

less only the fees allowed permitted under this section.

2561

     (12) The deferred presentment agreement and the drawer's

2562

check must shall bear the same date, and the number of days of

2563

the deferment period shall be calculated from that this date. The

2564

No deferred presentment provider and the drawer or person may not

2565

alter or delete the date on any written agreement or check held

2566

by the deferred presentment provider.

2567

     (13)  For each deferred presentment transaction, the

2568

deferred presentment provider must comply with the disclosure

2569

requirements of 12 C.F.R., part 226, relating to the federal

2570

Truth-in-Lending Act, and Regulation Z of the Board of Governors

2571

of the Federal Reserve Board. A copy of the disclosure must be

2572

provided to the drawer at the time the deferred presentment

2573

transaction is initiated.

2574

     (14) A No deferred presentment provider or its affiliate

2575

may not accept or hold an undated check or a check dated on a

2576

date other than the date on which the deferred presentment

2577

provider agreed to hold the check and signed the deferred

2578

presentment transaction agreement.

2579

     (15) A Every deferred presentment provider must shall hold

2580

the drawer's check for the agreed number of days, unless the

2581

drawer chooses to redeem the check before the agreed presentment

2582

date.

2583

     (16)  Proceeds in a deferred presentment transaction may be

2584

made to the drawer in the form of the deferred presentment

2585

provider's payment instrument if the deferred presentment

2586

provider is registered under part II; however, an no additional

2587

fee may not be charged by a deferred presentment provider or its

2588

affiliate for issuing or cashing the deferred presentment

2589

provider's payment instrument.

2590

     (17) A No deferred presentment provider may not require the

2591

drawer to accept its payment instrument in lieu of currency.

2592

     (18) A No deferred presentment provider or its affiliate

2593

may not engage in the rollover of a any deferred presentment

2594

agreement. A deferred presentment provider may shall not redeem,

2595

extend, or otherwise consolidate a deferred presentment agreement

2596

with the proceeds of another deferred presentment transaction

2597

made by the same or an affiliate affiliated deferred presentment

2598

provider.

2599

     (19)  A deferred presentment provider may not enter into a

2600

deferred presentment transaction with a drawer person who has an

2601

outstanding deferred presentment transaction with that provider

2602

or with any other deferred presentment provider, or with a person

2603

whose previous deferred presentment transaction with that

2604

provider or with any other provider has been terminated for less

2605

than 24 hours. The deferred presentment provider must verify such

2606

information as follows:

2607

     (a)  The deferred presentment provider shall maintain a

2608

common database and shall verify whether the that deferred

2609

presentment provider or an affiliate has an outstanding deferred

2610

presentment transaction with a particular person or has

2611

terminated a transaction with that person within the previous 24

2612

hours.

2613

     (b)  The deferred presentment provider shall access the

2614

office's database established pursuant to subsection (23) and

2615

shall verify whether any other deferred presentment provider has

2616

an outstanding deferred presentment transaction with a particular

2617

person or has terminated a transaction with that person within

2618

the previous 24 hours. If a provider has not established Prior to

2619

the time that the office has implemented such a database, the

2620

deferred presentment provider may rely upon the written

2621

verification of the drawer as provided in subsection (20).

2622

     (20)  A deferred presentment provider shall provide the

2623

following notice in a prominent place on each deferred

2624

presentment agreement in at least 14-point type in substantially

2625

the following form and must obtain the signature of the drawer

2626

where indicated:

2627

2628

NOTICE

2629

2630

1.  STATE LAW PROHIBITS YOU FROM HAVING MORE THAN ONE DEFERRED

2631

PRESENTMENT AGREEMENT AT ANY ONE TIME. STATE LAW ALSO PROHIBITS

2632

YOU FROM ENTERING INTO A DEFERRED PRESENTMENT AGREEMENT WITHIN 24

2633

HOURS AFTER OF TERMINATING ANY PREVIOUS DEFERRED PRESENTMENT

2634

AGREEMENT. FAILURE TO OBEY THIS LAW COULD CREATE SEVERE FINANCIAL

2635

HARDSHIP FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

2636

2637

YOU MUST SIGN THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT:

2638

2639

I DO NOT HAVE AN OUTSTANDING DEFERRED PRESENTMENT AGREEMENT WITH

2640

ANY DEFERRED PRESENTMENT PROVIDER AT THIS TIME. I HAVE NOT

2641

TERMINATED A DEFERRED PRESENTMENT AGREEMENT WITHIN THE PAST 24

2642

HOURS.

2643

2644

(Signature of Drawer)

2645

2646

2.  YOU CANNOT BE PROSECUTED IN CRIMINAL COURT FOR A CHECK

2647

WRITTEN UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, BUT ALL LEGALLY AVAILABLE CIVIL

2648

MEANS TO ENFORCE THE DEBT MAY BE PURSUED AGAINST YOU.

2649

2650

3.  STATE LAW PROHIBITS A DEFERRED PRESENTMENT PROVIDER (THIS

2651

BUSINESS) FROM ALLOWING YOU TO "ROLL OVER" YOUR DEFERRED

2652

PRESENTMENT TRANSACTION. THIS MEANS THAT YOU CANNOT BE ASKED OR

2653

REQUIRED TO PAY AN ADDITIONAL FEE IN ORDER TO FURTHER DELAY THE

2654

DEPOSIT OR PRESENTMENT OF YOUR CHECK FOR PAYMENT. IF YOU INFORM

2655

THE PROVIDER IN PERSON THAT YOU CANNOT COVER THE CHECK OR PAY IN

2656

FULL THE AMOUNT OWING AT THE END OF THE TERM OF THIS AGREEMENT,

2657

YOU WILL RECEIVE A GRACE PERIOD EXTENDING THE TERM OF THE

2658

AGREEMENT FOR AN ADDITIONAL 60 DAYS AFTER THE ORIGINAL

2659

TERMINATION DATE, WITHOUT ANY ADDITIONAL CHARGE. THE DEFERRED

2660

PRESENTMENT PROVIDER SHALL REQUIRE THAT YOU, AS A CONDITION OF

2661

OBTAINING THE GRACE PERIOD, COMPLETE CONSUMER CREDIT COUNSELING

2662

PROVIDED BY AN AGENCY INCLUDED ON THE LIST THAT WILL BE PROVIDED

2663

TO YOU BY THIS PROVIDER. YOU MAY ALSO AGREE TO COMPLY WITH AND

2664

ADHERE TO A REPAYMENT PLAN APPROVED BY THAT AGENCY. IF YOU DO NOT

2665

COMPLY WITH AND ADHERE TO A REPAYMENT PLAN APPROVED BY THAT

2666

AGENCY, WE MAY DEPOSIT OR PRESENT YOUR CHECK FOR PAYMENT AND

2667

PURSUE ALL LEGALLY AVAILABLE CIVIL MEANS TO ENFORCE THE DEBT AT

2668

THE END OF THE 60-DAY GRACE PERIOD.

2669

     (21)  The deferred presentment provider may not deposit or

2670

present the drawer's check if the drawer informs the provider in

2671

person that the drawer cannot redeem or pay in full in cash the

2672

amount due and owing the deferred presentment provider. No

2673

additional fees or penalties may be imposed on the drawer by

2674

virtue of any misrepresentation made by the drawer as to the

2675

sufficiency of funds in the drawer's account. In no event shall

2676

any Additional fees may not be added to the amounts due and owing

2677

to the deferred presentment provider.

2678

     (22)(a) If, by the end of the deferment period, the drawer

2679

informs the deferred presentment provider in person that the

2680

drawer cannot redeem or pay in full in cash the amount due and

2681

owing the deferred presentment provider, the deferred presentment

2682

provider shall provide a grace period extending the term of the

2683

agreement for an additional 60 days after the original

2684

termination date, without any additional charge.

2685

     (a) The provider shall require that as a condition of

2686

providing a this grace period, that within the first 7 days of

2687

the grace period the drawer make an appointment with a consumer

2688

credit counseling agency within 7 days after the end of the

2689

deferment period and complete the counseling by the end of the

2690

grace period. The drawer may agree to, comply with, and adhere to

2691

a repayment plan approved by the counseling agency. If the drawer

2692

agrees to comply with and adhere to a repayment plan approved by

2693

the counseling agency, the provider must is also required to

2694

comply with and adhere to that repayment plan. The deferred

2695

presentment provider may not deposit or present the drawer's

2696

check for payment before the end of the 60-day grace period

2697

unless the drawer fails to comply with such conditions or the

2698

drawer fails to notify the provider of such compliance. Before

2699

each deferred presentment transaction, the provider may verbally

2700

advise the drawer of the availability of the grace period

2701

consistent with the provisions of the written notice in

2702

subsection (20), and may shall not discourage the drawer from

2703

using the grace period.

2704

     (b)  At the commencement of the grace period, the deferred

2705

presentment provider shall provide the drawer:

2706

     1.  Verbal notice of the availability of the grace period

2707

consistent with the written notice in subsection (20).

2708

     2.  A list of approved consumer credit counseling agencies

2709

prepared by the office. The office list shall include nonprofit

2710

consumer credit counseling agencies affiliated with the National

2711

Foundation for Credit Counseling which provide credit counseling

2712

services to state Florida residents in person, by telephone, or

2713

through the Internet. The office list must include phone numbers

2714

for the agencies, the counties served by the agencies, and

2715

indicate the agencies that provide telephone counseling and those

2716

that provide Internet counseling. The office shall update the

2717

list at least once each year.

2718

     3.  The following notice in at least 14-point type in

2719

substantially the following form:

2720

2721

2722

AS A CONDITION OF OBTAINING A GRACE PERIOD EXTENDING THE TERM OF

2723

YOUR DEFERRED PRESENTMENT AGREEMENT FOR AN ADDITIONAL 60 DAYS,

2724

UNTIL [DATE], WITHOUT ANY ADDITIONAL FEES, YOU MUST COMPLETE

2725

CONSUMER CREDIT COUNSELING PROVIDED BY AN AGENCY INCLUDED ON THE

2726

LIST THAT WILL BE PROVIDED TO YOU BY THIS PROVIDER. YOU MAY ALSO

2727

AGREE TO COMPLY WITH AND ADHERE TO A REPAYMENT PLAN APPROVED BY

2728

THE AGENCY. THE COUNSELING MAY BE IN PERSON, BY TELEPHONE, OR

2729

THROUGH THE INTERNET. YOU MUST NOTIFY US WITHIN 7 SEVEN (7) DAYS,

2730

BY [DATE], THAT YOU HAVE MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH SUCH A CONSUMER

2731

CREDIT COUNSELING AGENCY. YOU MUST ALSO NOTIFY US WITHIN 60 SIXTY

2732

(60) DAYS, BY [DATE], THAT YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE CONSUMER CREDIT

2733

COUNSELING. WE MAY VERIFY THIS INFORMATION WITH THE AGENCY. IF

2734

YOU FAIL TO PROVIDE EITHER THE 7-DAY OR 60-DAY NOTICE, OR IF YOU

2735

HAVE NOT MADE THE APPOINTMENT OR COMPLETED THE COUNSELING WITHIN

2736

THE TIME REQUIRED, WE MAY DEPOSIT OR PRESENT YOUR CHECK FOR

2737

PAYMENT AND PURSUE ALL LEGALLY AVAILABLE CIVIL MEANS TO ENFORCE

2738

THE DEBT.

2739

     (c)  If a drawer completes an approved payment plan, the

2740

deferred presentment provider shall pay one-half of the drawer's

2741

fee for the deferred presentment agreement to the consumer credit

2742

counseling agency.

2743

     (23)  The office shall implement a common database with

2744

real-time access through an Internet connection for deferred

2745

presentment providers, as provided in this subsection. The

2746

database must be accessible to the office and the deferred

2747

presentment providers in order to verify whether any deferred

2748

presentment transactions are outstanding for a particular person.

2749

Deferred presentment providers shall submit such data before

2750

entering into each deferred presentment transaction in such

2751

format as required the commission shall require by rule,

2752

including the drawer's name, social security number or employment

2753

authorization alien number, address, driver's license number,

2754

amount of the transaction, date of transaction, the date that the

2755

transaction is closed, and such additional information as is

2756

required by rule the commission. The commission may by rule

2757

impose a fee of up to not to exceed $1 per transaction for data

2758

that must required to be submitted by a deferred presentment

2759

provider. A deferred presentment provider may rely on the

2760

information contained in the database as accurate and is not

2761

subject to any administrative penalty or civil liability due to

2762

as a result of relying on inaccurate information contained in the

2763

database. A deferred presentment provider must notify the office

2764

within 15 business days after ceasing operations and in a manner

2765

as prescribed by rule. Such notification must include a

2766

reconciliation of all open transactions. If the provider fails to

2767

provide notice, the office shall take action to administratively

2768

release all open and pending transactions in the database after

2769

the office becomes aware of the closure. This section does not

2770

affect the rights of the provider to enforce the contractual

2771

provisions of the deferred presentment agreements through any

2772

civil action allowed by law. The commission may adopt rules to

2773

administer and enforce the provisions of this subsection section

2774

and to ensure assure that the database is used by deferred

2775

presentment providers in accordance with this section.

2776

     (24) A deferred presentment provider may not accept more

2777

than one check or authorization to initiate more than one

2778

automated clearinghouse transaction to collect on a deferred

2779

presentment transaction for a single deferred presentment

2780

transaction.

2781

     Section 44.  Section 560.405, Florida Statutes, is amended

2782

to read:

2783

     560.405  Deposit; redemption.--

2784

     (1) The deferred presentment provider or its affiliate may

2785

shall not present the drawer's check before the end of the

2786

deferment period prior to the agreed-upon date of presentment, as

2787

reflected in the deferred presentment transaction agreement.

2788

     (2)  Before a deferred presentment provider presents the

2789

drawer's check, the check must shall be endorsed with the actual

2790

name under which the deferred presentment provider is doing

2791

business.

2792

     (3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1), in

2793

lieu of presentment, a deferred presentment provider may allow

2794

the check to be redeemed at any time upon payment to the deferred

2795

presentment provider in the amount of the face amount of the

2796

drawer's check. However, payment may not be made in the form of a

2797

personal check. Upon redemption, the deferred presentment

2798

provider shall return the drawer's check that was being held and

2799

provide a signed, dated receipt showing that the drawer's check

2800

has been redeemed.

2801

     (4) A No drawer may not can be required to redeem his or

2802

her check before prior to the agreed-upon date; however, the

2803

drawer may choose to redeem the check before the agreed-upon

2804

presentment date.

2805

     Section 45.  Section 560.406, Florida Statutes, is amended

2806

to read:

2807

     560.406  Worthless checks.--

2808

     (1) If a check is returned to a deferred presentment

2809

provider from a payor financial institution due to lack of funds,

2810

a closed account, or a stop-payment order, the deferred

2811

presentment provider may seek collection pursuant to s. 68.065,

2812

except a deferred presentment provider may shall not be entitled

2813

to collect treble damages pursuant s. 68.065. The notice sent by

2814

the a deferred deposit provider may pursuant to s. 68.065 shall

2815

not include any references to treble damages and must clearly

2816

state that the deferred presentment provider is not entitled to

2817

recover such damages. Except as otherwise provided in this part,

2818

an individual who issues a personal check to a deferred

2819

presentment provider under a deferred presentment agreement is

2820

not subject to criminal penalty.

2821

     (2) If a check is returned to a deferred presentment

2822

provider from a payor financial institution due to insufficient

2823

funds, a closed account, or a stop-payment order, the deferred

2824

presentment provider may pursue all legally available civil

2825

remedies to collect the check, including, but not limited to, the

2826

imposition of all charges imposed on the deferred presentment

2827

provider by the any financial institution. In its collection

2828

practices, a deferred presentment provider must shall comply with

2829

the prohibitions against harassment or abuse, false or misleading

2830

representations, and unfair practices that which are contained in

2831

ss. 806, 807, and 808 of the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act,

2832

15 U.S.C. ss. 1692d, 1692e, 1692f. A violation of this act is a

2833

deceptive and unfair trade practice and constitutes a violation

2834

of the Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act under, part II of

2835

chapter 501. In addition, a deferred presentment provider must

2836

shall comply with the applicable provisions of part VI of chapter

2837

559, the Consumer Collection Practices Act under part VI of

2838

chapter 559, including, but not limited to, the provisions of s.

2839

559.77.

2840

     (3) A deferred presentment provider may not assess the cost

2841

of collection, other than charges for insufficient funds as

2842

allowed by law, without a judgment from a court of competent

2843

jurisdiction.

2844

     Section 46.  Subsection (7) of section 499.005, Florida

2845

Statutes, is amended to read:

2846

     499.005  Prohibited acts.--It is unlawful for a person to

2847

perform or cause the performance of any of the following acts in

2848

this state:

2849

     (7)  The purchase or sale of prescription drugs for

2850

wholesale distribution in exchange for currency, as defined in s.

2851

560.103 s. 560.103(6).

2852

     Section 47.  Paragraph (i) of subsection (2) of section

2853

499.0691, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

2854

     499.0691  Criminal punishment for violations related to

2855

drugs; dissemination of false advertisement.--

2856

     (2)  Any person who violates any of the following provisions

2857

commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in

2858

s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, or as otherwise provided

2859

in ss. 499.001-499.081.

2860

     (i)  The purchase or sale of prescription drugs for

2861

wholesale distribution in exchange for currency, as defined in s.

2862

560.103 s. 560.103(6).

2863

     Section 48.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section

2864

501.95, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

2865

     501.95  Gift certificates and credit memos.--

2866

     (2)

2867

     (b)  Paragraph (a) does not apply to a gift certificate or

2868

credit memo sold or issued by a financial institution, as defined

2869

in s. 655.005, or by a money services business transmitter, as

2870

defined in s. 560.103, if the gift certificate or credit memo is

2871

redeemable by multiple unaffiliated merchants.

2872

     Section 49.  Paragraph (n) of subsection (2) of section

2873

538.03, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

2874

     538.03  Definitions; applicability.--

2875

     (2)  This chapter does not apply to:

2876

     (n)  A business that contracts with other persons or

2877

entities to offer its secondhand goods for sale, purchase,

2878

consignment, or trade via an Internet website, and that maintains

2879

a shop, store, or other business premises for this purpose, if

2880

all of the following apply:

2881

     1.  The secondhand goods must be available on the website

2882

for viewing by the public at no charge;

2883

     2.  The records of the sale, purchase, consignment, or trade

2884

must be maintained for at least 2 years;

2885

     3.  The records of the sale, purchase, consignment, or

2886

trade, and the description of the secondhand goods as listed on

2887

the website, must contain the serial number of each item, if any;

2888

     4.  The secondhand goods listed on the website must be

2889

searchable based upon the state or zip code;

2890

     5.  The business must provide the appropriate law

2891

enforcement agency with the name or names under which it conducts

2892

business on the website;

2893

     6.  The business must allow the appropriate law enforcement

2894

agency to inspect its business premises at any time during normal

2895

business hours;

2896

     7.  Any payment by the business resulting from such a sale,

2897

purchase, consignment, or trade must be made to the person or

2898

entity with whom the business contracted to offer the goods and

2899

must be made by check or via a money services business

2900

transmitter licensed under part II of chapter 560; and

2901

     8.a.  At least 48 hours after the estimated time of

2902

contracting to offer the secondhand goods, the business must

2903

verify that any item having a serial number is not stolen

2904

property by entering the serial number of the item into the

2905

Department of Law Enforcement's stolen article database located

2906

at the Florida Crime Information Center's public access system

2907

website. The business shall record the date and time of such

2908

verification on the contract covering the goods. If such

2909

verification reveals that an item is stolen property, the

2910

business shall immediately remove the item from any website on

2911

which it is being offered and notify the appropriate law

2912

enforcement agency; or

2913

     b.  The business must provide the appropriate law

2914

enforcement agency with an electronic copy of the name, address,

2915

phone number, driver's license number, and issuing state of the

2916

person with whom the business contracted to offer the goods, as

2917

well as an accurate description of the goods, including make,

2918

model, serial number, and any other unique identifying marks,

2919

numbers, names, or letters that may be on an item, in a format

2920

agreed upon by the business and the appropriate law enforcement

2921

agency. This information must be provided to the appropriate law

2922

enforcement agency within 24 hours after entering into the

2923

contract unless other arrangements are made between the business

2924

and the law enforcement agency.

2925

     Section 50.  Subsection (10) of section 896.101, Florida

2926

Statutes, is amended to read:

2927

     896.101  Florida Money Laundering Act; definitions;

2928

penalties; injunctions; seizure warrants; immunity.--

2929

     (10) Any financial institution, licensed money services

2930

business transmitter, or other person served with and complying

2931

with the terms of a warrant, temporary injunction, or other court

2932

order, including any subpoena issued under the authority granted

2933

by s. 16.56 or s. 27.04, obtained in furtherance of an

2934

investigation of any crime in this section, including any crime

2935

listed as specified unlawful activity under this section or any

2936

felony violation of chapter 560, has immunity from criminal

2937

liability and is shall not be liable to any person for any lawful

2938

action taken in complying with the warrant, temporary injunction,

2939

or other court order, including any subpoena issued under the

2940

authority granted by s. 16.56 or s. 27.04. If any subpoena issued

2941

under the authority granted by s. 16.56 or s. 27.04 contains a

2942

nondisclosure provision, any financial institution, licensed

2943

money services business transmitter, employee or officer of a

2944

financial institution or licensed money services business

2945

transmitter, or any other person may not notify, directly or

2946

indirectly, any customer of that financial institution or

2947

licensed money services business transmitter whose records are

2948

being sought by the subpoena, or any other person named in the

2949

subpoena, about the existence or the contents of that subpoena or

2950

about information that has been furnished to the state attorney

2951

or statewide prosecutor who issued the subpoena or other law

2952

enforcement officer named in the subpoena in response to the

2953

subpoena.

2954

     Section 51.  Subsection (5) of section 896.104, Florida

2955

Statutes, is amended to read:

2956

     896.104  Structuring transactions to evade reporting or

2957

registration requirements prohibited.--

2958

     (5)  INFERENCE.--Proof that a person engaged for monetary

2959

consideration in the business of a money funds transmitter, as

2960

defined in s. 560.103, s. 560.103(10) and who is transporting

2961

more than $10,000 in currency, or the foreign equivalent, without

2962

being licensed registered as a money transmitter or designated as

2963

an authorized agent vendor under the provisions of chapter 560,

2964

gives rise to an inference that the transportation was done with

2965

knowledge of the licensure registration requirements of chapter

2966

560 and the reporting requirements of this chapter.

2967

     Section 52.  Paragraph (g) of subsection (3) of section

2968

921.0022, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

2969

     921.0022  Criminal Punishment Code; offense severity ranking

2970

chart.--

2971

     (3)  OFFENSE SEVERITY RANKING CHART

2972

     (g)  LEVEL 7

FloridaStatuteFelonyDegreeDescription

2973

316.027(1)(b)1stAccident involving death, failure to stop; leaving scene.

2974

316.193(3)(c)2.3rdDUI resulting in serious bodily injury.

2975

316.1935(3)(b)1stCausing serious bodily injury or death to another person; driving at high speed or with wanton disregard for safety while fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement officer who is in a patrol vehicle with siren and lights activated.

2976

327.35(3)(c)2.3rdVessel BUI resulting in serious bodily injury.

2977

402.319(2)2ndMisrepresentation and negligence or intentional act resulting in great bodily harm, permanent disfiguration, permanent disability, or death.

2978

409.920(2)3rdMedicaid provider fraud.

2979

456.065(2)3rdPracticing a health care profession without a license.

2980

456.065(2)2ndPracticing a health care profession without a license which results in serious bodily injury.

2981

458.327(1)3rdPracticing medicine without a license.

2982

459.013(1)3rdPracticing osteopathic medicine without a license.

2983

460.411(1)3rdPracticing chiropractic medicine without a license.

2984

461.012(1)3rdPracticing podiatric medicine without a license.

2985

462.173rdPracticing naturopathy without a license.

2986

463.015(1)3rdPracticing optometry without a license.

2987

464.016(1)3rdPracticing nursing without a license.

2988

465.015(2)3rdPracticing pharmacy without a license.

2989

466.026(1)3rdPracticing dentistry or dental hygiene without a license.

2990

467.2013rdPracticing midwifery without a license.

2991

468.3663rdDelivering respiratory care services without a license.

2992

483.828(1)3rdPracticing as clinical laboratory personnel without a license.

2993

483.901(9)3rdPracticing medical physics without a license.

2994

484.013(1)(c)3rdPreparing or dispensing optical devices without a prescription.

2995

484.0533rdDispensing hearing aids without a license.

2996

494.0018(2)1stConviction of any violation of ss. 494.001-494.0077 in which the total money and property unlawfully obtained exceeded $50,000 and there were five or more victims.

2997

560.123(8)(b)1.3rdFailure to report currency or payment instruments exceeding $300 but less than $20,000 by a money services business transmitter.

2998

560.125(5)(a)3rdMoney services transmitter business by unauthorized person, currency or payment instruments exceeding $300 but less than $20,000.

2999

655.50(10)(b)1.3rdFailure to report financial transactions exceeding $300 but less than $20,000 by financial institution.

3000

775.21(10)(a)3rdSexual predator; failure to register; failure to renew driver's license or identification card; other registration violations.

3001

775.21(10)(b)3rdSexual predator working where children regularly congregate.

3002

775.21(10)(g)3rdFailure to report or providing false information about a sexual predator; harbor or conceal a sexual predator.

3003

782.051(3)2ndAttempted felony murder of a person by a person other than the perpetrator or the perpetrator of an attempted felony.

3004

782.07(1)2ndKilling of a human being by the act, procurement, or culpable negligence of another (manslaughter).

3005

782.0712ndKilling of a human being or viable fetus by the operation of a motor vehicle in a reckless manner (vehicular homicide).

3006

782.0722ndKilling of a human being by the operation of a vessel in a reckless manner (vessel homicide).

3007

784.045(1)(a)1.2ndAggravated battery; intentionally causing great bodily harm or disfigurement.

3008

784.045(1)(a)2.2ndAggravated battery; using deadly weapon.

3009

784.045(1)(b)2ndAggravated battery; perpetrator aware victim pregnant.

3010

784.048(4)3rdAggravated stalking; violation of injunction or court order.

3011

784.048(7)3rdAggravated stalking; violation of court order.

3012

784.07(2)(d)1stAggravated battery on law enforcement officer.

3013

784.074(1)(a)1stAggravated battery on sexually violent predators facility staff.

3014

784.08(2)(a)1stAggravated battery on a person 65 years of age or older.

3015

784.081(1)1stAggravated battery on specified official or employee.

3016

784.082(1)1stAggravated battery by detained person on visitor or other detainee.

3017

784.083(1)1stAggravated battery on code inspector.

3018

790.07(4)1stSpecified weapons violation subsequent to previous conviction of s. 790.07(1) or (2).

3019

790.16(1)1stDischarge of a machine gun under specified circumstances.

3020

790.165(2)2ndManufacture, sell, possess, or deliver hoax bomb.

3021

790.165(3)2ndPossessing, displaying, or threatening to use any hoax bomb while committing or attempting to commit a felony.

3022

790.166(3)2ndPossessing, selling, using, or attempting to use a hoax weapon of mass destruction.

3023

790.166(4)2ndPossessing, displaying, or threatening to use a hoax weapon of mass destruction while committing or attempting to commit a felony.

3024

794.08(4)3rdFemale genital mutilation; consent by a parent, guardian, or a person in custodial authority to a victim younger than 18 years of age.

3025

796.032ndProcuring any person under 16 years for prostitution.

3026

800.04(5)(c)1.2ndLewd or lascivious molestation; victim less than 12 years of age; offender less than 18 years.

3027

800.04(5)(c)2.2ndLewd or lascivious molestation; victim 12 years of age or older but less than 16 years; offender 18 years or older.

3028

806.01(2)2ndMaliciously damage structure by fire or explosive.

3029

810.02(3)(a)2ndBurglary of occupied dwelling; unarmed; no assault or battery.

3030

810.02(3)(b)2ndBurglary of unoccupied dwelling; unarmed; no assault or battery.

3031

810.02(3)(d)2ndBurglary of occupied conveyance; unarmed; no assault or battery.

3032

810.02(3)(e)2ndBurglary of authorized emergency vehicle.

3033

812.014(2)(a)1.1stProperty stolen, valued at $100,000 or more or a semitrailer deployed by a law enforcement officer; property stolen while causing other property damage; 1st degree grand theft.

3034

812.014(2)(b)2.2ndProperty stolen, cargo valued at less than $50,000, grand theft in 2nd degree.

3035

812.014(2)(b)3.2ndProperty stolen, emergency medical equipment; 2nd degree grand theft.

3036

812.014(2)(b)4.2ndProperty stolen, law enforcement equipment from authorized emergency vehicle.

3037

812.0145(2)(a)1stTheft from person 65 years of age or older; $50,000 or more.

3038

812.019(2)1stStolen property; initiates, organizes, plans, etc., the theft of property and traffics in stolen property.

3039

812.131(2)(a)2ndRobbery by sudden snatching.

3040

812.133(2)(b)1stCarjacking; no firearm, deadly weapon, or other weapon.

3041

817.234(8)(a)2ndSolicitation of motor vehicle accident victims with intent to defraud.

3042

817.234(9)2ndOrganizing, planning, or participating in an intentional motor vehicle collision.

3043

817.234(11)(c)1stInsurance fraud; property value $100,000 or more.

3044

817.2341(2)(b)&(3)(b)1stMaking false entries of material fact or false statements regarding property values relating to the solvency of an insuring entity which are a significant cause of the insolvency of that entity.

3045

825.102(3)(b)2ndNeglecting an elderly person or disabled adult causing great bodily harm, disability, or disfigurement.

3046

825.103(2)(b)2ndExploiting an elderly person or disabled adult and property is valued at $20,000 or more, but less than $100,000.

3047

827.03(3)(b)2ndNeglect of a child causing great bodily harm, disability, or disfigurement.

3048

827.04(3)3rdImpregnation of a child under 16 years of age by person 21 years of age or older.

3049

837.05(2)3rdGiving false information about alleged capital felony to a law enforcement officer.

3050

838.0152ndBribery.

3051

838.0162ndUnlawful compensation or reward for official behavior.

3052

838.021(3)(a)2ndUnlawful harm to a public servant.

3053

838.222ndBid tampering.

3054

847.0135(3)3rdSolicitation of a child, via a computer service, to commit an unlawful sex act.

3055

847.0135(4)2ndTraveling to meet a minor to commit an unlawful sex act.

3056

872.062ndAbuse of a dead human body.

3057

893.13(1)(c)1.1stSell, manufacture, or deliver cocaine (or other drug prohibited under s. 893.03(1)(a), (1)(b), (1)(d), (2)(a), (2)(b), or (2)(c)4.) within 1,000 feet of a child care facility, school, or state, county, or municipal park or publicly owned recreational facility or community center.

3058

893.13(1)(e)1.1stSell, manufacture, or deliver cocaine or other drug prohibited under s. 893.03(1)(a), (1)(b), (1)(d), (2)(a), (2)(b), or (2)(c)4., within 1,000 feet of property used for religious services or a specified business site.

3059

893.13(4)(a)1stDeliver to minor cocaine (or other s. 893.03(1)(a), (1)(b), (1)(d), (2)(a), (2)(b), or (2)(c)4. drugs).

3060

893.135(1)(a)1.1stTrafficking in cannabis, more than 25 lbs., less than 2,000 lbs.

3061

893.135(1)(b)1.a.1stTrafficking in cocaine, more than 28 grams, less than 200 grams.

3062

893.135(1)(c)1.a.1stTrafficking in illegal drugs, more than 4 grams, less than 14 grams.

3063

893.135(1)(d)1.1stTrafficking in phencyclidine, more than 28 grams, less than 200 grams.

3064

893.135(1)(e)1.1stTrafficking in methaqualone, more than 200 grams, less than 5 kilograms.

3065

893.135(1)(f)1.1stTrafficking in amphetamine, more than 14 grams, less than 28 grams.

3066

893.135(1)(g)1.a.1stTrafficking in flunitrazepam, 4 grams or more, less than 14 grams.

3067

893.135(1)(h)1.a.1stTrafficking in gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), 1 kilogram or more, less than 5 kilograms.

3068

893.135(1)(j)1.a.1stTrafficking in 1,4-Butanediol, 1 kilogram or more, less than 5 kilograms.

3069

893.135(1)(k)2.a.1stTrafficking in Phenethylamines, 10 grams or more, less than 200 grams.

3070

896.101(5)(a)3rdMoney laundering, financial transactions exceeding $300 but less than $20,000.

3071

896.104(4)(a)1.3rdStructuring transactions to evade reporting or registration requirements, financial transactions exceeding $300 but less than $20,000.

3072

943.0435(4)(c)2ndSexual offender vacating permanent residence; failure to comply with reporting requirements.

3073

943.0435(8)2ndSexual offender; remains in state after indicating intent to leave; failure to comply with reporting requirements.

3074

943.0435(9)(a)3rdSexual offender; failure to comply with reporting requirements.

3075

943.0435(13)3rdFailure to report or providing false information about a sexual offender; harbor or conceal a sexual offender.

3076

943.0435(14)3rdSexual offender; failure to report and reregister; failure to respond to address verification.

3077

944.607(9)3rdSexual offender; failure to comply with reporting requirements.

3078

944.607(10)(a)3rdSexual offender; failure to submit to the taking of a digitized photograph.

3079

944.607(12)3rdFailure to report or providing false information about a sexual offender; harbor or conceal a sexual offender.

3080

944.607(13)3rdSexual offender; failure to report and reregister; failure to respond to address verification.

3081

985.4815(10)3rdSexual offender; failure to submit to the taking of a digitized photograph.

3082

985.4815(12)3rdFailure to report or providing false information about a sexual offender; harbor or conceal a sexual offender.

3083

985.4815(13)3rdSexual offender; failure to report and reregister; failure to respond to address verification.

3084

3085

     Section 53. Sections 560.101, 560.102, 560.106, 560.1073,

3086

560.108, 560.112. 560.117, 560.200, 560.202, 560.206, 560.207,

3087

560.301, 560.302, 560.305, 560.306, 560.307, 560.308, 560.401,

3088

560.402, and 560.407, Florida Statutes, are repealed.

3089

     Section 54.  Except as otherwise expressly provided in this

3090

act, this act shall take effect October 1, 2008.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.