Florida Senate - 2017                        COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
       Bill No. PCS (598160) for CS for SB 922
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                Ì603728:Î603728                         
       
                              LEGISLATIVE ACTION                        
                    Senate             .             House              
                  Comm: RCS            .                                
                  04/26/2017           .                                
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       The Committee on Appropriations (Garcia) recommended the
       following:
       
    1         Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
    2  
    3         Delete everything after the enacting clause
    4  and insert:
    5         Section 1. Subsection (1) of section 626.015, Florida
    6  Statutes, is amended to read:
    7         626.015 Definitions.—As used in this part:
    8         (1) “Adjuster” means a public adjuster as defined in s.
    9  626.854, a public adjuster apprentice as defined in s. 626.8541,
   10  or an all-lines adjuster as defined in s. 626.8548.
   11         Section 2. Present subsections (7) through (19) of section
   12  626.854, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (6)
   13  through (18), respectively, subsection (1) and present
   14  subsections (6), (7), (11), (18), and (19) are amended, and a
   15  new subsection (19) is added to that section, to read:
   16         626.854 “Public adjuster” defined; prohibitions.—The
   17  Legislature finds that it is necessary for the protection of the
   18  public to regulate public insurance adjusters and to prevent the
   19  unauthorized practice of law.
   20         (1) A “public adjuster” is any person, except a duly
   21  licensed attorney at law as exempted under s. 626.860, who, for
   22  money, commission, or any other thing of value, directly or
   23  indirectly prepares, completes, or files an insurance claim form
   24  for an insured or third-party claimant or who, for money,
   25  commission, or any other thing of value, acts on behalf of, or
   26  aids an insured or third-party claimant in negotiating for or
   27  effecting the settlement of a claim or claims for loss or damage
   28  covered by an insurance contract or who advertises for
   29  employment as an adjuster of such claims. The term also includes
   30  any person who, for money, commission, or any other thing of
   31  value, directly or indirectly solicits, investigates, or adjusts
   32  such claims on behalf of a public adjuster, an insured, or a
   33  third-party claimant. The term does not include a person who
   34  photographs or inventories damaged personal property or business
   35  personal property or a person performing duties under another
   36  professional license, if such person does not otherwise solicit,
   37  adjust, investigate, or negotiate for or attempt to effect the
   38  settlement of a claim.
   39         (6)A public adjuster may not directly or indirectly
   40  through any other person or entity initiate contact or engage in
   41  face-to-face or telephonic solicitation or enter into a contract
   42  with any insured or claimant under an insurance policy until at
   43  least 48 hours after the occurrence of an event that may be the
   44  subject of a claim under the insurance policy unless contact is
   45  initiated by the insured or claimant.
   46         (6)(7) An insured or claimant may cancel a public
   47  adjuster’s contract to adjust a claim without penalty or
   48  obligation within 3 business days after the date on which the
   49  contract is executed or within 3 business days after the date on
   50  which the insured or claimant has notified the insurer of the
   51  claim, by phone or in writing, whichever is later. The public
   52  adjuster’s contract must disclose to the insured or claimant his
   53  or her right to cancel the contract and advise the insured or
   54  claimant that notice of cancellation must be submitted in
   55  writing and sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, or
   56  other form of mailing that provides proof thereof, to the public
   57  adjuster at the address specified in the contract; provided,
   58  during any state of emergency as declared by the Governor and
   59  for 1 year after the date of loss, the insured or claimant has 5
   60  business days after the date on which the contract is executed
   61  to cancel a public adjuster’s contract.
   62         (10)(a)(11)(a) If a public adjuster enters into a contract
   63  with an insured or claimant to reopen a claim or file a
   64  supplemental claim that seeks additional payments for a claim
   65  that has been previously paid in part or in full or settled by
   66  the insurer, the public adjuster may not charge, agree to, or
   67  accept from any source compensation, payment, commission, fee,
   68  or any other thing of value based on a previous settlement or
   69  previous claim payments by the insurer for the same cause of
   70  loss. The charge, compensation, payment, commission, fee, or any
   71  other thing of value must be based only on the claim payments or
   72  settlement obtained through the work of the public adjuster
   73  after entering into the contract with the insured or claimant.
   74  Compensation for the reopened or supplemental claim may not
   75  exceed 20 percent of the reopened or supplemental claim payment.
   76  In no event shall the contracts described in this paragraph
   77  exceed the limitations in paragraph (b).
   78         (b) A public adjuster may not charge, agree to, or accept
   79  from any source compensation, payment, commission, fee, or any
   80  other thing of value in excess of:
   81         1. Ten percent of the amount of insurance claim payments
   82  made by the insurer for claims based on events that are the
   83  subject of a declaration of a state of emergency by the
   84  Governor. This provision applies to claims made during the year
   85  after the declaration of emergency. After that year, the
   86  limitations in subparagraph 2. apply.
   87         2. Twenty percent of the amount of insurance claim payments
   88  made by the insurer for claims that are not based on events that
   89  are the subject of a declaration of a state of emergency by the
   90  Governor.
   91         (c)Insurance claim payments made by the insurer do not
   92  include policy deductibles, and public adjuster compensation may
   93  not be based on the deductible portion of a claim.
   94         (d)(c) Any maneuver, shift, or device through which the
   95  limits on compensation set forth in this subsection are exceeded
   96  is a violation of this chapter punishable as provided under s.
   97  626.8698.
   98         (17)(18) A public adjuster, a public adjuster apprentice,
   99  or a person acting on behalf of an adjuster or apprentice may
  100  not enter into a contract or accept a power of attorney that
  101  vests in the public adjuster, the public adjuster apprentice, or
  102  the person acting on behalf of the adjuster or apprentice the
  103  effective authority to choose the persons or entities that will
  104  perform repair work in a property insurance claim or provide
  105  goods or services that will require the insured or third-party
  106  claimant to expend funds in excess of those payable to the
  107  public adjuster under the terms of the contract for adjusting
  108  services.
  109         (18)(19) Subsections (5)-(17) (5)-(18) apply only to
  110  residential property insurance policies and condominium unit
  111  owner policies as described in s. 718.111(11).
  112         (19)Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, no
  113  person, except an attorney at law or a public adjuster, may for
  114  money, commission, or any other thing of value, directly or
  115  indirectly:
  116         (a)Prepare, complete, or file an insurance claim for an
  117  insured or a third-party claimant;
  118         (b)Act on behalf of or aid an insured or a third-party
  119  claimant in negotiating for or effecting the settlement of a
  120  claim for loss or damage covered by an insurance contract;
  121         (c)Advertise for employment as a public adjuster; or
  122         (d)Solicit, investigate, or adjust a claim on behalf of a
  123  public adjuster, an insured, or a third-party claimant.
  124         Section 3. Section 626.8541, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
  125         Section 4. Section 626.8548, Florida Statutes, is amended
  126  to read:
  127         626.8548 “All-lines adjuster” defined.—An “all-lines
  128  adjuster” is a person who, for money, commission, or any other
  129  thing of value, directly or indirectly is self-employed or
  130  employed by an insurer, a wholly owned subsidiary of an insurer,
  131  or an independent adjusting firm or other independent adjuster,
  132  and who undertakes on behalf of a public adjuster or an insurer
  133  or other insurers under common control or ownership to ascertain
  134  and determine the amount of any claim, loss, or damage payable
  135  under an insurance contract or undertakes to effect settlement
  136  of such claim, loss, or damage. The term also includes any
  137  person who, for money, commission, or any other thing of value,
  138  directly or indirectly solicits claims on behalf of a public
  139  adjuster, but does not include a paid spokesperson used as part
  140  of a written or an electronic advertisement or a person who
  141  photographs or inventories damaged personal property or business
  142  personal property if such person does not otherwise adjust,
  143  investigate, or negotiate for or attempt to effect the
  144  settlement of a claim. The term does not apply to life insurance
  145  or annuity contracts.
  146         Section 5. Section 626.8561, Florida Statutes, is created
  147  to read:
  148         626.8561“Public adjuster apprentice” defined.—The term
  149  “public adjuster apprentice” means a person licensed as an all
  150  lines adjuster who:
  151         (1)Is appointed and employed or contracted by a public
  152  adjuster or a public adjusting firm;
  153         (2)Assists the public adjuster or public adjusting firm in
  154  ascertaining and determining the amount of any claim, loss, or
  155  damage payable under an insurance contract, or who undertakes to
  156  effect settlement of such claim, loss, or damage; and
  157         (3)Satisfies the requirements of s. 626.8651.
  158         Section 6. Subsection (3) of section 626.8584, Florida
  159  Statutes, is amended to read:
  160         626.8584 “Nonresident all-lines adjuster” defined.—A
  161  “nonresident all-lines adjuster” means a person who:
  162         (3) Is licensed as an all-lines adjuster and self-appointed
  163  or appointed and employed or contracted by an independent
  164  adjusting firm or other independent adjuster, by an insurer
  165  admitted to do business in this state or a wholly owned
  166  subsidiary of an insurer admitted to do business in this state,
  167  or by a public adjuster or a public adjusting firm other
  168  insurers under the common control or ownership of such insurer.
  169         Section 7. Subsection (1) of section 626.861, Florida
  170  Statutes, is amended to read:
  171         626.861 Insurer’s officers, insurer’s employees, reciprocal
  172  insurer’s representatives; adjustments by.—
  173         (1) Nothing in This part may not shall be construed to
  174  prevent an executive officer of any insurer, an or a regularly
  175  salaried employee of an insurer handling claims with respect to
  176  health insurance, an employee of an insurer handling claims with
  177  respect to residential property insurance in which the amount of
  178  coverage for the applicable type of loss is contractually
  179  limited to $500 or less, or the duly designated attorney or
  180  agent authorized and acting for subscribers to reciprocal
  181  insurers, from adjusting any claim loss or damage under any
  182  insurance contract of such insurer.
  183         Section 8. Subsection (3) of section 626.864, Florida
  184  Statutes, is amended to read:
  185         626.864 Adjuster license types.—
  186         (3) An all-lines adjuster may be appointed as an
  187  independent adjuster, public adjuster apprentice, or company
  188  employee adjuster, but not more than one of these both
  189  concurrently.
  190         Section 9. Paragraphs (d) and (e) of subsection (1) of
  191  section 626.865, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  192         626.865 Public adjuster’s qualifications, bond.—
  193         (1) The department shall issue a license to an applicant
  194  for a public adjuster’s license upon determining that the
  195  applicant has paid the applicable fees specified in s. 624.501
  196  and possesses the following qualifications:
  197         (d) Has had sufficient experience, training, or instruction
  198  concerning the adjusting of damages or losses under insurance
  199  contracts, other than life and annuity contracts, is
  200  sufficiently informed as to the terms and effects of the
  201  provisions of those types of insurance contracts, and possesses
  202  adequate knowledge of the laws of this state relating to such
  203  contracts as to enable and qualify him or her to engage in the
  204  business of insurance adjuster fairly and without injury to the
  205  public or any member thereof with whom the applicant may have
  206  business as a public adjuster, or has been licensed and employed
  207  as a resident insurance company adjuster or independent adjuster
  208  in this state on a continual basis for the past year.
  209         (e) Has been licensed in this state as an all-lines
  210  adjuster, and has been appointed on a continual basis for the
  211  previous 6 months Is licensed as a public adjuster apprentice
  212  under s. 626.8561, as an independent adjuster under s. 626.855,
  213  or as a company employee adjuster under s. 626.856 under s.
  214  626.8651 and complies with the requirements of that license
  215  throughout the licensure period.
  216         Section 10. Section 626.8651, Florida Statutes, is amended
  217  to read:
  218         626.8651 Public adjuster apprentice appointment license;
  219  qualifications.—
  220         (1)(a) The department shall issue an appointment a license
  221  as a public adjuster apprentice to a licensee an applicant who
  222  is:
  223         1.Is licensed as an all-lines adjuster under s. 626.866;
  224         2.Has filed with the department a bond executed and issued
  225  by a surety insurer that is authorized to transact such business
  226  in this state in the amount of $50,000, which is conditioned
  227  upon the faithful performance of his or her duties as a public
  228  adjuster apprentice; and
  229         3.Maintains such bond unimpaired throughout the existence
  230  of the appointment and for at least 1 year after termination of
  231  the appointment.
  232         (b)The bond must be in favor of the department and must
  233  specifically authorize recovery by the department of the damages
  234  sustained in case the licensee commits fraud or unfair practices
  235  in connection with his or her business as a public adjuster
  236  apprentice. The aggregate liability of the surety for all such
  237  damages may not exceed the amount of the bond, and the bond may
  238  not be terminated by the issuing insurer unless written notice
  239  of at least 30 days is given to the licensee and filed with the
  240  department.
  241         (a)A natural person at least 18 years of age.
  242         (b)A United States citizen or legal alien who possesses
  243  work authorization from the United States Bureau of Citizenship
  244  and Immigration Services.
  245         (c)Trustworthy and has such business reputation as would
  246  reasonably ensure that the applicant will conduct business as a
  247  public adjuster apprentice fairly and in good faith and without
  248  detriment to the public.
  249         (2)All applicable license fees, as prescribed in s.
  250  624.501, must be paid in full before issuance of the license.
  251         (3)An applicant must pass the required written examination
  252  before a license may be issued.
  253         (4)An applicant must have received designation as an
  254  Accredited Claims Adjuster (ACA), as a Certified Adjuster (CA),
  255  or as a Certified Claims Adjuster (CCA) after completion of
  256  training that qualifies the applicant to engage in the business
  257  of a public adjuster apprentice fairly and without injury to the
  258  public. Such training and instruction must address adjusting
  259  damages and losses under insurance contracts, the terms and
  260  effects of insurance contracts, and knowledge of the laws of
  261  this state relating to insurance contracts.
  262         (5)At the time of application for license as a public
  263  adjuster apprentice, the applicant shall file with the
  264  department a bond executed and issued by a surety insurer
  265  authorized to transact such business in this state in the amount
  266  of $50,000, conditioned upon the faithful performance of his or
  267  her duties as a public adjuster apprentice under the license for
  268  which the applicant has applied, and thereafter maintain the
  269  bond unimpaired throughout the existence of the license and for
  270  at least 1 year after termination of the license. The bond shall
  271  be in favor of the department and shall specifically authorize
  272  recovery by the department of the damages sustained in case the
  273  licensee commits fraud or unfair practices in connection with
  274  his or her business as a public adjuster apprentice. The
  275  aggregate liability of the surety for all such damages may not
  276  exceed the amount of the bond, and the bond may not be
  277  terminated by the issuing insurer unless written notice of at
  278  least 30 days is given to the licensee and filed with the
  279  department.
  280         (6)A public adjuster apprentice shall complete at a
  281  minimum 100 hours of employment per month for 12 months of
  282  employment under the supervision of a licensed and appointed
  283  all-lines public adjuster in order to qualify for licensure as a
  284  public adjuster. The department may adopt rules that establish
  285  standards for such employment requirements.
  286         (2)(7) An appointing public adjusting firm may not maintain
  287  more than four 12 public adjuster apprentices simultaneously.
  288  However, a supervising public adjuster may not be responsible
  289  for more than one three public adjuster apprentice apprentices
  290  simultaneously and shall be accountable for the acts of the all
  291  public adjuster apprentice apprentices which are related to
  292  transacting business as a public adjuster apprentice. This
  293  subsection does not apply to a public adjusting firm that
  294  adjusts claims primarily for commercial entities with operations
  295  in more than one state and that does not directly or indirectly
  296  perform adjusting services for insurers or individual
  297  homeowners.
  298         (8)An apprentice license is effective for 18 months unless
  299  the license expires due to lack of maintaining an appointment;
  300  is surrendered by the licensee; is terminated, suspended, or
  301  revoked by the department; or is canceled by the department upon
  302  issuance of a public adjuster license. The department may not
  303  issue a public adjuster apprentice license to any individual who
  304  has held such a license in this state within 2 years after
  305  expiration, surrender, termination, revocation, or cancellation
  306  of the license.
  307         (9)After completing the requirements for employment as a
  308  public adjuster apprentice, the licensee may file an application
  309  for a public adjuster license. The applicant and supervising
  310  public adjuster or public adjusting firm must each file a sworn
  311  affidavit, on a form prescribed by the department, verifying
  312  that the employment of the public adjuster apprentice meets the
  313  requirements of this section.
  314         (10)In no event shall A public adjuster apprentice
  315  licensed under this section perform any of the functions for
  316  which a public adjuster’s license is required after expiration
  317  of the public adjuster apprentice license without having
  318  obtained a public adjuster license.
  319         (3)(11) A public adjuster apprentice has the same authority
  320  as the licensed public adjuster or public adjusting firm that
  321  employs the apprentice except that an apprentice may not execute
  322  contracts for the services of a public adjuster or public
  323  adjusting firm and may not solicit contracts for the services
  324  except under the direct supervision and guidance of the
  325  supervisory public adjuster. An individual may not be, act as,
  326  or hold himself or herself out to be a public adjuster
  327  apprentice unless the individual is licensed as an all-lines
  328  adjuster and holds a current appointment by a licensed public
  329  all-lines adjuster or a public adjusting firm that employs a
  330  licensed all-lines public adjuster.
  331         Section 11. Section 626.8695, Florida Statutes, is amended
  332  to read:
  333         626.8695 Primary adjuster.—
  334         (1) Each business location established by an adjuster,
  335  person operating an adjusting firm, a corporation, or an
  336  association and each location of a multiple location adjusting
  337  firm must designate with the department a primary adjuster who
  338  is licensed and appointed to adjust the insurance claims
  339  adjusted by the business location.
  340         (2)An adjusting firm and each of its branch firms shall
  341  designate a primary adjuster for each such firm or location and
  342  must file with the department, at the department’s designated
  343  website, the name and license number of such primary adjuster
  344  and the physical address of the adjusting firm or branch firm
  345  location where he or she is the primary adjuster, on a form
  346  approved by the department. The designation of the primary
  347  adjuster may be changed at the option of the adjusting firm. Any
  348  such change is effective upon notification to the department.
  349  Notice of change must be provided sent to the department within
  350  30 days after such change.
  351         (3)(2)(a) For purposes of this section, a “primary
  352  adjuster” is the licensed adjuster who is responsible for the
  353  hiring and supervision of all individuals within an adjusting
  354  firm location who act deal with the public and who acts in the
  355  capacity of a public adjuster as defined in s. 626.854, or an
  356  independent adjuster as defined in this chapter s. 626.855. An
  357  adjuster may be designated as a primary adjuster for more than
  358  only one adjusting firm location provided no person engages in
  359  activity requiring licensure as an adjuster at any location when
  360  an adjuster is not physically present.
  361         (4)(b) For purposes of this section, an “adjusting firm” is
  362  a location where an independent or public adjuster is engaged in
  363  the business of insurance.
  364         (5)(3) The department may suspend or revoke the license of
  365  the primary adjuster if the adjusting firm employs or contracts
  366  any person who has had a license denied or any person whose
  367  license is currently suspended or revoked. However, if a person
  368  has been denied a license for failure to pass a required
  369  examination, he or she may be employed or contracted to perform
  370  clerical or administrative functions for which licensure is not
  371  required.
  372         (6)(4) The primary adjuster in an unincorporated adjusting
  373  firm, or the primary adjuster in an incorporated adjusting firm
  374  in which no officer, director, or stockholder is an adjuster, is
  375  responsible and accountable for misconduct or violations of this
  376  code committed by the primary adjuster or by any other person
  377  the acts of salaried employees under his or her direct
  378  supervision and control while acting on behalf of the adjusting
  379  firm. This section does not render a primary adjuster Nothing in
  380  this section renders any person criminally liable for an or
  381  subject to any disciplinary proceedings for any act unless the
  382  primary adjuster person personally committed the act or knew or
  383  should have known of the act and of the facts constituting a
  384  violation of this code.
  385         (7)(5) The department may suspend or revoke the license of
  386  any adjuster who is employed or contracted by a person whose
  387  license is currently suspended or revoked.
  388         (8)(6) An adjusting firm location may not conduct the
  389  business of insurance unless a primary adjuster is designated
  390  and provides services to the firm at all times. If the Failure
  391  of the person operating the adjusting firm to designate a
  392  primary adjuster designated with the department ends his or her
  393  affiliation with the firm for any reason and if the firm fails
  394  to designate another primary adjuster, as required in subsection
  395  (2), within 90 days, the firm license automatically expires on
  396  the 91st day after the date the designated primary adjuster
  397  ended his or her affiliation with for the firm, or for each
  398  location, as applicable, on a form prescribed by the department
  399  within 30 days after inception of the firm or change of primary
  400  adjuster designation, constitutes grounds for requiring the
  401  adjusting firm to obtain an adjusting firm license pursuant to
  402  s. 626.8696.
  403         (9)(7) Any adjusting firm may determine a request, on a
  404  form prescribed by the department, verification from the
  405  department of any person’s current licensure status by
  406  submitting an appointment request. If a request is mailed to the
  407  office within 5 working days after the date an adjuster is
  408  hired. If, and the department subsequently notifies the
  409  adjusting firm that its appointee’s an employee’s license is
  410  currently suspended, revoked, or has been denied, the license of
  411  the primary adjuster may shall not be revoked or suspended if
  412  the unlicensed person is immediately dismissed from employment
  413  as an adjuster with the firm.
  414         Section 12. Section 626.872, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
  415         Section 13. Subsection (1) of section 626.874, Florida
  416  Statutes, is amended to read:
  417         626.874 Catastrophe or emergency adjusters.—
  418         (1) In the event of a catastrophe or emergency, the
  419  department may issue a license, for the purposes and under the
  420  conditions and for the period of emergency as it shall
  421  determine, to persons who are residents or nonresidents of this
  422  state, who are at least 18 years of age, who are United States
  423  citizens or legal aliens who possess work authorization from the
  424  United States Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services,
  425  and who are not licensed adjusters under this part but who have
  426  been designated and certified to it as qualified to act as
  427  adjusters by all-lines resident adjusters, by an authorized
  428  insurer, or by a licensed general lines agent to adjust claims,
  429  losses, or damages under policies or contracts of insurance
  430  issued by such insurers, or by the primary adjuster of an
  431  independent adjusting firm contracted with an authorized insurer
  432  to adjust claims on behalf of the insurer. The fee for the
  433  license is as provided in s. 624.501(12)(c).
  434         Section 14. Subsection (2) of section 626.875, Florida
  435  Statutes, is amended to read:
  436         626.875 Office and records.—
  437         (2) The records of the adjuster relating to a particular
  438  claim or loss shall be so retained in the adjuster’s place of
  439  business for a period of not less than 5 3 years after
  440  completion of the adjustment. This provision shall not be deemed
  441  to prohibit return or delivery to the insurer or insured of
  442  documents furnished to or prepared by the adjuster and required
  443  by the insurer or insured to be returned or delivered thereto.
  444         Section 15. Section 626.876, Florida Statutes, is amended
  445  to read:
  446         626.876 Exclusive employment; public adjusters, all-lines
  447  independent adjusters.—
  448         (1) An individual licensed and appointed as a public
  449  adjuster may not be simultaneously licensed as an all-lines
  450  adjuster employed during the same period by more than one public
  451  adjuster or public adjuster firm or corporation.
  452         (2) An individual licensed as an all-lines adjuster and
  453  appointed as an independent adjuster, a company employee
  454  adjuster, or a public adjuster apprentice may not be
  455  simultaneously appointed, contracted, or employed as an adjuster
  456  that requires a different appointment type during the same
  457  period by more than one independent adjuster or independent
  458  adjuster firm or corporation.
  459         Section 16. Section 626.879, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
  460         Section 17. This act shall take effect January 1, 2018.
  461  
  462  ================= T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================
  463  And the title is amended as follows:
  464         Delete everything before the enacting clause
  465  and insert:
  466                        A bill to be entitled                      
  467         An act relating to insurance adjusters; amending s.
  468         626.015, F.S.; conforming a cross-reference; amending
  469         s. 626.854, F.S.; redefining the term “public
  470         adjuster”; deleting a certain prohibited act of a
  471         public adjuster; deleting a provision specifying the
  472         methods for an insured or claimant to provide certain
  473         notice to an insurer; providing construction relating
  474         to certain limitations on insurance claim payments and
  475         public adjuster compensation; revising a prohibition
  476         against certain entities relating to a contract or
  477         power of attorney that vests certain authority in a
  478         property insurance claim; conforming a cross
  479         reference; prohibiting persons from conducting certain
  480         activities relating to insurance claims; providing an
  481         exception for attorneys and public adjusters;
  482         repealing s. 626.8541, F.S., relating to public
  483         adjuster apprentices; amending s. 626.8548, F.S.;
  484         redefining the term “all-lines adjuster”; creating s.
  485         626.8561, F.S.; defining the term “public adjuster
  486         apprentice”; amending s. 626.8584, F.S.; redefining
  487         the term “nonresident all-lines adjuster”; amending s.
  488         626.861, F.S.; revising construction relating to
  489         employees of an insurer; amending s. 626.864, F.S.;
  490         revising the permissible appointments of all-lines
  491         adjusters; amending s. 626.865, F.S.; revising the
  492         qualifications for licensure for public adjusters;
  493         amending s. 626.8651, F.S.; requiring public adjuster
  494         apprentices to be appointed, rather than licensed, by
  495         the Department of Financial Services; specifying
  496         qualifications for such appointments; revising
  497         requirements and limitations for public adjusting
  498         firms and public adjusters who supervise public
  499         adjuster apprentices; revising certain prohibited acts
  500         and exceptions to such acts of public adjuster
  501         apprentices; conforming provisions to changes made by
  502         the act; amending s. 626.8695, F.S.; revising
  503         requirements for designating primary adjusters;
  504         redefining the term “primary adjuster”; revising the
  505         accountability of a primary adjuster for persons under
  506         his or her supervision; revising a prohibition against
  507         an adjusting firm location conducting insurance
  508         business under certain circumstances; revising
  509         procedures for an adjusting firm to determine a
  510         person’s current licensure status; repealing s.
  511         626.872, F.S., relating to all-lines adjuster
  512         temporary licenses; amending s. 626.874, F.S.;
  513         revising conditions for the department to issue
  514         adjuster licenses in the event of catastrophes or
  515         emergencies; amending s. 626.875, F.S.; revising the
  516         minimum time period for a records retention
  517         requirement for adjusters; amending s. 626.876, F.S.;
  518         revising certain prohibitions relating to exclusive
  519         employment of public adjusters and specified all-lines
  520         adjusters; repealing s. 626.879, F.S., relating to
  521         pools of insurance adjusters; providing an effective
  522         date.