61B-78.002. Definitions and Purpose

(1) Definitions. For the purposes of this rule chapter, the following definitions shall apply:

(a) “Accepted complaint” means a complaint received by the division from someone with standing to file a complaint containing sufficient documentation and addressing a subject within the jurisdiction of the division, pursuant to Section 719.501(1), F.S. A complaint that merely recites the statutes or is based on mere suspicion or speculation, without a plain statement of facts clearly describing what is alleged to have occurred, will not be accepted.

(b) “Affirmative or corrective action” means putting remedial procedures in place to ensure that the violation does not recur, making any injured person whole as to the harm suffered in relation to the violation, or taking any other appropriate measures to redress the harm caused.

(c) “Alleged repeated violation” means the same or substantially similar recurring conduct cited in an accepted complaint received by the division within two years from the resolution of a previous complaint, the issuance of a final arbitration order or court order, or the entering of a final order by the division regarding that conduct.

(d) “Association,” for purposes of these guidelines, shall have the same meaning as stated in Section 719.103(2), F.S.

(e) “Bad check” means any worthless check, draft, or order of payment identified under Section 68.065, F.S.

(2) Purpose. The purpose of the resolution guidelines is to implement the division’s responsibility to ensure compliance with the provisions of Chapter 719, F.S., and the division’s administrative rules. The division recognizes that unit owner controlled associations are comprised of volunteer members who, in most circumstances, are lay people without specialized knowledge of the complex statutory and administrative rule structure of Chapter 719, F.S. Based upon this understanding, the division, as set forth in these rules, will first and foremost attempt to seek statutory and rule compliance through an educational resolution. For repeated statutory or rule violations, where the violations have not been corrected or otherwise resolved by the association, the division will seek statutory or rule compliance through an enforcement resolution. The guidelines detail the educational and enforcement procedures the division will use to seek statutory or rule compliance. The guidelines are also intended to implement the division’s statutory authority to give reasonable and meaningful notice to persons regulated by Chapter 719, F.S., and the administrative rules of the range of penalties that normally will be imposed, if an enforcement resolution is taken by the division. Finally, the rules are intended, pursuant to statutory mandate, to distinguish between minor and major violations based upon the potential harm that the violation may cause.

(3) These resolution guidelines are promulgated pursuant to the division’s authority in Section 719.501(1)(d), (f), and (m), F.S. These rules do not preclude the division from imposing affirmative or corrective action pursuant to Section 719.501(1)(d)2., F.S. Nothing in these rules shall limit the ability of the division to informally dispose of administrative actions or complaints by stipulation, settlement agreement, or consent order. Rules 61B-78.002, 61B-78.003, and 61B-78.004, F.A.C., are necessary to explain the division’s education and enforcement policies. These rules are not intended to cover, or be applied to, violations of Chapter 719, F.S., or the administrative rules by a cooperative developer as defined by Section 719.103(16), F.S. Such violations shall be strictly governed by the provisions of Chapter 61B-77, F.A.C., and Section 719.301(5), F.S.

Rulemaking Authority 719.501(1)(f) FS. Law Implemented 719.501(1)(d)4., (m) FS. History–New 6-4-98, Amended 2-19-15.