This rulemaking amends the required number of hours necessary for certain approved continuing education courses taught to insurance agent and bail bond licensees. The rulemaking will also make other required updates.

 

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

Division of Insurance Agent and Agency Services

RULE NOS.:RULE TITLES:

69B-228.080Course Approval; Requirements; Guidelines

69B-228.180Forms and Submission of Forms through the Education Database

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: This rulemaking amends the required number of hours necessary for certain approved continuing education courses taught to insurance agent and bail bond licensees. The rulemaking will also make other required updates.

SUMMARY: The rules outline approval procedures and forms for continuing educational requirements for insurance agent and bail bond licensees. This rulemaking amends those procedures and forms to comport with statutory changes, specifically changing the credit hour requirements of some coursework from 5 hours to 4 hours and deleting unnecessary language.

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION:

The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has not been prepared by the Agency.

The Agency has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs or if no SERC is required, the information expressly relied upon and described herein: The Department’s economic review for this rulemaking.

Any person who wishes to provide information regarding the statement of estimated regulatory costs, or to provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.

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.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 624.308, 626.2816, 648.26, 648.386 FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 215.322, 624.307, 624.501, 626.2815, 626.2816, 626.869, 648.386 FS.

IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE SCHEDULED AND ANNOUNCED IN THE FAR.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: David Jones, Chief of the Bureau of Licensing, [phone], [e-mail].

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

69B-228.080 Course Approval; Requirements; Guidelines.

(1) through (2) No change.

(3) The provider shall submit the following for classroom courses:Additional Requirements for Classroom Courses:

(a) The provider shall submit the following:

(a)1. A 3-tiered outline of approximately one page per 50 minutes of instruction.

(b)2. All supplemental course materials given to students.

(b) In addition, webinar and virtual classroom courses must meet the following requirements:

1. The course title must specify the method by containing the words “Webcast,” “Webinar,” or “Virtual Classroom.”

2. The course must employ some type of monitoring method to verify all students are participating throughout the course.

3. Online access for the Department to review the course.

4. Upon completion, each student is required to sign an acknowledgement verifying attendance and completion of the entire course. The acknowledgement shall also include a statement that the student understands that a violation of such standards shall result in an administrative sanction based on paragraph 626.611(1)(g), F.S., and the loss of course credit.

(4) through (13) No change.

(14) A curriculum outline for a 4-hour 5-hour law and ethics update course shall be approved by the Department on Form DFS-H2-2081, 4-hour 5-hour Law and Ethics Update, or Form DFS-H2-2111, 4-Hour 5-Hour Law and Ethics Update – Bail Bonds, which are incorporated by reference in rule 69B-228.180, F.A.C.

(a) A 4-hour 5-hour law and ethics update course shall be approved in any of the following authorities:

1. through 7. No change.

(b) The course shall not be approved for less than 4-hours, 5-hours and 4-hours 5-hours of the course must follow the curriculum outline approved by the Department including discussion on the following subjects:

1. through 7. No change.

(c) An approved 4-hour 5-hour course shall expire one year after its approval date.

Rulemaking Authority 624.308, 626.2816, 648.26(1)(a), 648.386(4) FS. Law Implemented 215.322(3)(b), 624.307(1), 624.501(19)(d), 626.2815, 626.2816, 626.869(5), 648.386 FS. History–New 8-17-93, Amended 4-11-94, 2-28-95, 4-29-01, Formerly 4-228.080, Amended 1-17-05, 4-12-17, ___________.

 

69B-228.180 Forms and Submission of Forms through the Education Database.

(1) through (3) No change.

(4) The following forms are hereby incorporated by reference and are available on the Department’s website as provided above:

	FORM	TITLE	REVISED
(a) through (j) No change.
(k)	DFS-H2-2081	4-Hour 5-Hour Law and Ethics Update http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-_________ http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-02993	eff. MM/YY10/14
(l)	DFS-H2-2111	4-Hour 5-Hour Law and Ethics Update – Bail Bonds http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-__________ http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-02994	eff. MM/YY10/14

Rulemaking Authority 624.308, 626.2816, 648.26(1)(a), 648.386(4) FS. Law Implemented 624.307(1), 624.501, 626.2815, 626.2816, 626.869(5), 648.386 FS. History–New 8-17-93, Amended 4-29-01, Formerly 4-228.180, Amended 8-4-13, 4-12-17, ___________.

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: David Jones, Chief of the Bureau of Licensing, [phone], [e-mail].

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Jimmy Patronis, Chief Financial Officer

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: March 29, 2022

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: November 1, 2021