PRESS RELEASES

February 3, 2023

Contact: communications@myfloridalicense.com

(850) 922-8981

Governor DeSantis’ Framework for Freedom Budget Recommendations Streamline Pathways to Professional Careers and Ensure Public Safety

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) Secretary Melanie S. Griffin commended Governor Ron DeSantis’ budget recommendations and affirmed the targeted funding will enhance Florida’s business climate by continuing to modernize the technological capabilities of the department, increasing levels of service for businesses and professionals regulated by the department’s programs, and ensuring that Florida remains a leader in occupational licensing.

“With the Governor’s leadership and pro-business policies attracting so many new professionals and businesses to the Free State of Florida, our number of licensees continues to grow,” said DBPR Secretary Griffin. “The Framework for Freedom Budget will minimize burdens of government processes, deliver new customer-centric technological improvements, and enable DBPR to better serve this growing licensee base.”

The FY 2023-24 budget recommendations equip DBPR to continue leading Governor DeSantis’ vision for improving Florida’s regulatory environment and ensuring public safety and welfare by:

• Providing new resources for identity verification security software that will use data provided by the customer to verify identity in real-time and reduce the risk of application fraud;
• Enhancing law enforcement training and equipment necessary to more efficiently enforce the state’s alcoholic beverage and tobacco laws;
• Deploying competitive pay to attract and retain qualified inspectors and regulation professionals in order to meet the increase in licensing demand;
• Developing a more robust searchable database with a list of buildings on condominium property that are three stories or higher in height to better serve the public and local governments; and
• Providing targeted pay adjustments to critical DBPR licensing staff.

In addition to funding these advancements, the Framework for Freedom Budget includes continuing support for DBPR’s regulatory compliance programs in areas vital to the health, safety, and welfare of Florida’s citizens and visitors. This includes the Department’s programs that serve state objectives in education, investigation, and enforcement of unlicensed activity that poses substantial risks of public harm.

For more details, visit frameworkforfreedombudget.com.

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The Department of Business and Professional Regulation licenses and regulates nearly 1.6 million businesses and professionals in the State of Florida, including accountants, architects and interior designers, asbestos consultants, athlete agents, auctioneers, barbers, building code administrators and inspectors, community association managers, construction contractors, cosmetologists, electrical contractors, employee leasing companies, engineers, geologists, home inspectors, landscape architects, mold assessors and remediators, pilot commissioners, real estate appraisers and brokers, and veterinarians, as well as businesses dealing in alcoholic beverages, tobacco, food service, public lodging, and condominiums, timeshares, and other cooperative residential arrangements. The Department’s mission is to license efficiently and regulate fairly. For more information, please visit myfloridalicense.com.

Follow @FloridaDBPR on Twitter, @Florida.DBPR on Instagram, or Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation on Facebook and LinkedIn for important information and updates on matters relating to Florida’s business and professional licensing.