61G15-19.004: Disciplinary Guidelines; Range of Penalties; Aggravating and Mitigating Circumstances
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: Purpose and effect is to amend the rule to include guidelines for all the violations.
SUMMARY: The rule is amended to include guidelines for all the violations.
SUMMARY OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: No Statement of Estimated Regulatory Cost was prepared.
Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 455.227, 471.008, 471.031, 471.033 FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 455.227, 471.031, 471.033 FS.
IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE SCHEDULED AND ANNOUNCED IN FAW.
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Paul Martin, Executive Director, Board of Professional Engineers, 2507 Callaway Road, Suite 200, Tallahassee, Florida 32301.
THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:
61G15-19.004 Disciplinary Guidelines;
Mitigating Circumstances.
(1) No change.
(2) The following disciplinary guidelines shall be followed by the Board in imposing disciplinary penalties upon licensees for violation of the below mentioned statutes and rules:
VIOLATION |
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MINIMUM |
MAXIMUM | ||
(a) Violating any provision of s. 455.227(1), s. 471.025 or 471.031, or any other provision of Chapter 471 or rule of the Board or Department |
Reprimand and $1,000 fine |
One (1) year suspension, two (2) years probation and $5,000 fine | ||
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1. Failure to sign, seal or date documents |
Reprimand |
Reprimand and one (1) year probation | ||
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2. Sealing any document after license has expired or been revoked or suspended, or failure to surrender seal if the license has been revoked or suspended [471.025(2)] |
Suspended license: Revocation and $1,000 fine Revoked license: Referral to States Attorneys office |
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3. Signing or sealing any document that depicts work the licensee is not licensed to perform or which is beyond his or her profession or specialty therein or practicing or offering to practice beyond the scope permitted by law or accepting and performing responsibilities the licensee is not competent to perform [471.025(3), 455.227(1)(o), 61G15-19.001(6)(c) (d) ] |
Reprimand, one (1) year probation and $1,000 fine |
Reprimand, $5,000 fine, one (1) year suspension and two (2) years probation | ||
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4. Firm practicing without certificate of authorization [471.023, 61G15-19.001(3)] |
Reprimand |
Revocation | ||
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5. Failure to complete continuing education |
Suspend until licensee demonstrates compliance |
Revocation | ||
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6. Practicing engineering without a license or using a name or title tending to indicate that such person holds an active license as an engineer |
$1,000.00 fine per count |
$5,000.00 fine per count | ||
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7. Presenting as his or her own the license of another [471.031(1)(c)] |
$1,000.00 fine per count |
$5,000.00 per count and revocation | ||
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8. Giving false or forged evidence to the Board or concealing information relative to violations of this chapter [471.031(1)(d) (g)] |
$1,000.00 fine per count |
$5,000.00 per count and revocation | ||
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9. Employing unlicensed persons to practice engineering or aiding, assisting, procuring, employing unlicensed practice or practice contrary to Chapters 455 or 471 |
$1,000.00 fine per count and reprimand |
$5,000.00 per count and revocation | ||
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10. Having been found liable for knowingly filing a false complaint against another licensee |
$1,000.00 fine per count and reprimand |
$5,000.00 fine per count and revocation | ||
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11. Failing to report a person in violation of Chapter 455, Chapter 471 or the rules of the Board or the Department |
Reprimand |
Reprimand, $5,000.00 per count and suspension for one year | ||
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12. Failing to perform any statutory or legal obligation |
Reprimand |
Revocation | ||
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13. Exercising influence on a client for financial gain |
Reprimand |
Revocation | ||
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14. Improper delegation of professional responsibilities |
$1,000.00 fine per count and probation for one year |
Revocation | ||
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15. Improperly interfering with an investigation or inspection or disciplinary proceeding |
$1,000.00 fine per count and probation for one year |
Revocation | ||
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(b) Attempting to procure a license by bribery, fraudulent misrepresentation, or error of the Board or Department |
Revocation and $1,000 fine if licensed; if not licensed, denial of license and referral to State Attorney |
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(c) Having a license to practice engineering acted against or denied by another jurisdiction |
Same penalty as imposed in other jurisdiction or as close as possible to penalties set forth in Florida Statutes |
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(d) Being convicted or found guilty of, or entering a plea of nolo to a crime which relates to the practice or ability to practice |
Misdemeanor: reprimand and one (1) year probation Felony: Revocation and $1,000 fine |
Reprimand, $5,000 fine, one (1) year suspension and two (2) years probation | ||
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1. Conviction of crime related to building code inspection or plans examination |
Misdemeanor: reprimand and one (1) year probation Felony: Revocation and $5,000 fine |
Reprimand, $5,000 fine, one (1) year suspension and two (2) years probation | ||
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(e) Knowingly making or filing a false report or record, failing to file a report or record required by law, impeding or obstructing such filing |
One (1) year suspension, two (2) years probation, $1,000 fine |
Revocation and $5,000 fine | ||
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(f) Fraudulent, false, deceptive or misleading advertising |
Reprimand |
Reprimand, one (1) year probation and $5,000 fine | ||
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(g) Fraud, deceit, negligence, incompetence or misconduct |
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1. Fraud or deceit |
Reprimand, two (2) year probation and $1,000 fine |
$5,000 fine and revocation | ||
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2. Negligence [61G15-19.001(4)] |
Reprimand, two (2) years probation and $1,000 fine |
Reprimand, $5,000 fine, five (5) year suspension and ten (10) years probation | ||
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a. As a special inspector |
Reprimand, two (2) years probation and $1,000 fine |
Reprimand, $5,000 fine, five (5) year suspension and ten (10) years probation or revocation | ||
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3. Incompetence [61G15-19.001(5)] |
Suspension until ability to practice proved followed by probation |
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4. Misconduct [61G15-19.001(6)] |
$1,000.00 fine per count and reprimand |
Revocation | ||
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a. Expressing an opinion publicly on an engineering subject without being informed as to the facts and being competent to form a sound opinion [61G15-19.001(6)(a)] |
Reprimand and $1,000.00 fine per count |
Revocation | ||
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b. Being untruthful, deceptive or misleading in any professional report, statement or testimony or omitting relevant and pertinent information from such report, statement or testimony when the result or such omission would or reasonably could lead to a fallacious conclusion [61G15-19.001(6)(b)] |
Reprimand and $1,000.00 fine per count |
Revocation | ||
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c. Offering directly or indirectly any bribe or commission or tendering any gift to obtain selection or preferment for engineering employment other than the payment of the usual commission for securing salaried positions through licensed employment agencies [61G15-19.001(6)(e)] |
$5,000.00 fine per count and suspension for five years |
Revocation | ||
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d. Soliciting or accepting gratuities without client knowledge |
Reprimand, one (1) year probation and $1,000 fine |
Reprimand, one (1) year suspension, two (2) years probation and $5,000 fine | ||
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e. Failure to preserve client=s confidence |
Reprimand, one (1) year probation and $1,000 fine |
Reprimand, one (1) year suspension, two (2) years probation (if pecuniary benefit accrues to engineer) | ||
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f. Professional judgment overruled by unqualified person |
Reprimand, one (1) year probation and $1,000 fine |
Reprimand, one (1) year suspension, two (2) years probation and $5,000 fine | ||
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g. Use of name/firm in fraudulent venture [61G15-19.001(6)(k)] |
Reprimand, one (1) year probation and $1,000 fine |
Reprimand, $5,000 fine, one (1) year suspension and two (2) years probation | ||
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h. Undisclosed conflict of interest [61G15-19.001(6)(f)(p)] |
Reprimand, $1,000 fine and two (2) years probation |
Revocation and $5,000 fine | ||
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(h) Violating any provision of Chapter 455 [471.033(1)(h), 455.227(1)(q)] |
Reprimand and $1,000.00 fine per count |
$5,000.00 fine per count and revocation | ||
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(i) Practicing on a revoked, suspended, inactive or delinquent license |
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1. Delinquent license |
Reprimand |
Revocation | ||
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2. Inactive license |
Fine based on length of time in practice while inactive; $100/month or $1,000 maximum, renewal of license or cease practice |
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3. Suspended license |
Revocation and $1,000 fine |
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4. Revoked license |
Referral to State Attorney |
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(j) Affixing or permitting to be affixed his or her seal, name, or digital signature to any documents that were not prepared by him or her or under his or her responsible supervision, direction or control [471.033(1)(j), 61G15-19.001(6)(j)(q)] |
Reprimand, one (1) year probation and $1,000 fine |
Reprimand, $5,000 fine, one (1) year suspension and two (2) year probation | ||
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(k) Violating any order of the board or department |
Suspension and $1,000 fine |
Revocation and $5,000 fine | ||
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(l) Aiding, assisting, procuring, employing unlicensed practice or practice contrary to Chapters 455 or 471 |
Reprimand and $1,000.00 fine per count |
$5,000.00 fine per count and revocation | ||
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(3) No change
Specific Authority 455.227, 471.008, 471.031, 471.033 FS. Law Implemented 455.227, 471.031, 471.033 FS. HistoryNew 1-7-87, Formerly 21H-19.004, Amended 11-27-94, 5-22-01, 11-15-01, 5-20-02, .