PR Reporting 2019 Increases in DRE-CILB-DHR License Populations

 

For Immediate Release

January 31, 2020

 Contact: communications@myfloridalicense.com

(850) 922-8981
 

 

DBPR Reports Increases in Business and Occupational Licenses During 2019 Calendar Year

Growth in Real Estate, Construction, and Lodging and Food Service Correlates

with Other Favorable Economic Indicators in Florida

 

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) announced business and occupational license populations increased over the past calendar year, aligning with favorable economic indicators in corresponding facets of Florida’s economy. Occupational licenses for construction and real estate as well as business licenses for public lodging and food service each reflected year-over-year growth between December 2018 and December 2019.

 

“The increase in real estate licenses, construction licenses, and hotel and restaurant licenses over the past year shows there is strengthening demand for real estate transactions and more housing, traveling and dining options for Floridians and visitors to our state,” said DBPR Secretary Halsey Beshears. “Our economy continues to improve thanks to Governor DeSantis’ leadership and the agency’s initiatives to streamline processes and provide better online services for license holders.”

 

Real Estate

Occupational licenses for the real estate profession increased 2.7% from 405,459 in December 2018 to 416,710 in December 2019.  Similarly, occupational licenses for real estate appraisers increased 3.2% from 8,429 to 8,701 during the same time period. Under Florida’s occupational licensing program, real estate professionals continue to represent the largest license population regulated by DBPR.

 

Licensure growth in real estate correlates with other favorable indicators of Florida’s housing market in 2019:

  • Existing home sales volume in 2019 was anticipated to join the past five calendar years in exceeding the 2005 peak year for sales, according to Florida’s Long-Range Financial Outlook (September 12, 2019).
  • Florida’s housing market reported more single-family home sales and higher median prices, as well as increased pending sales and pending inventory in December 2019 compared to the same measures one year prior, according to housing data published by the Florida Realtors.

 

Construction

Occupational licenses for the construction profession increased 5.6% from 87,264 in December 2018 to 92,188 in December 2019. Within this license population, general contractor licenses represented 32,446 of the total licenses, up by 1,656 from the prior year.

 

Licensure growth in construction correlates with other favorable indicators of Florida’s construction industry in 2019:

·         Single-family building permit activity, an indicator of new construction, remained in positive territory with continued growth in 2019 based on the January 2020 economic overview prepared by the Florida Office of Economic and Demographic Research. Total private housing starts are expected to shift upward in the current and upcoming fiscal years.

·         Employment gains of approximately 25,500 jobs in the construction industry supported a growth rate of 4.6 percent for this profession between December 2018 and December 2019 according to state workforce research published by FDEO.

 

Public Food Service and Lodging

Business licenses for public food service and lodging establishments increased 4.1% from 100,688 in December 2018 to 104,905 in December 2019, including growth in the license population across all geographic regions.

 

Licensure growth in public food service and lodging correlates with other favorable indicators of Florida’s tourism industry which supports strong demand for public food service and lodging in the state:

  •  VISIT FLORIDA shows an increase of visitors to the Sunshine State, with more than 101 million visitors reflected in currently available data for the first three quarters of 2019.
  • State economists reported in September 2019 that tourism continues to show its strength as a major component of Florida’s economy with Accommodation & Food Services employment being among the fastest growing sectors, at times outpacing overall employment growth in the state.
  • Strong tourism growth is projected by state economists to continue moving upward by an average of 2.1 percent per year for the next three fiscal years.

 

As Florida’s economy continues to support growth in these occupations and businesses, employment in these sectors likewise has contributed to Florida’s historically low unemployment rate, reported at 3.0 percent in December 2019 by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (FDEO). The December 2019 FDEO jobs report emphasized that Florida’s year-over-year job growth has been supported by positive gains in particular industries, including leisure and hospitality, construction, real estate, and rental and leasing.

 

To support these expanding populations of license holders, the Department continues to advance the processes through which businesses and professionals obtain and maintain a state license with the agency. At the turn of the year, the Department deployed more than 650 online transactions for initial licensure that now allow applications to be conveniently filed electronically at any hour of any day. Additionally, licensees are afforded options to directly print and immediately receive a license or duplicate copy of a license at their convenience and with no additional fees through secure, online accounts.

 

For more information please go to www.myfloridalicense.com.

 

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The Department of Business and Professional Regulation licenses and regulates more than one 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, 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, pari-mutuel wagering, and condominiums, timeshares, and other cooperative residential arrangements.  The Department’s mission is to license efficiently and regulate fairly.  For more information, please visit www.myfloridalicense.com.

 

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

 
 
January 31, 2020 /  
DBPR Secretary Halsey Beshears Applauds Governor DeSantis’ 2020 State of the State Address

 

For Immediate Release

January 14, 2020

 Contact: communications@myfloridalicense.com

(850) 922-8981
 

DBPR Secretary Halsey Beshears Applauds Governor DeSantis’ 2020 State of the State Address

Agency Remains Committed to Accomplishing the Governor’s Agenda on Regulatory Reform

 

Tallahassee, Fla. – Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) Secretary Halsey Beshears applauded Governor Ron DeSantis’ 2020 State of the State address and continued commitment to occupational license reform. As a result of the Governor’s Deregathon initiative and efforts by DBPR and Florida’s professional licensing boards over the past year, Florida’s approach to occupational licensing and the regulatory channels that facilitate licensure and compliance for more than 1.4 million state license holders continues to improve. As the 2020 legislative session begins, DPBR remains committed to improving Florida’s regulatory environment and reducing the barriers to professional licensure.

 

DBPR Secretary Halsey Beshears said, “I applaud Governor DeSantis on his State of the State address and commitment to removing burdensome regulations for hardworking Floridians. His leadership on occupational licensing reform is resulting in real improvements to the state’s business and professional climate. I look forward to continuing our work on these issues together in 2020 and throughout the legislative session.”

 

Secretary Beshears also highlighted some of the 2019 accomplishments to build upon, in collaboration with Governor DeSanits’ 2020 initiatives, including:

 

·         The Department established a roadmap for occupational license reform in collaboration with the seventeen professional licensing boards, which resulted in more than 50 administrative rules being repealed or changed to resolve unnecessary regulatory burdens during the past year.

·         Rule modifications reduced barriers of professional entry into many of the department’s regulated occupations by reducing license fees, reducing minimum-hour requirements of pre-licensure and continuing professional education, and easing restrictions on frequency of examination and application that have previously delayed Floridians from achieving the licensure required for them to begin practicing in their respective professional field.

·         Some of the regulatory improvements include:

    • Reduction in pre-qualifying education and experience required for licensure by more than 1600 hours across several regulated professions, including residential appraisers, restricted barbers and community association managers
    • Streamlined veterinarian licensure to a single step process, allowing applicants to submit all required fees upfront with their application resulting in automatic issue of the license upon the department’s receipt of a passing exam score, which results in a license to be issued within 48 hours of the applicant passing the exam
    • Revised a rule to allow for continuous testing for the certified public accounting exam
    • Capped the continuing education requirement to reinstate an inactive Certified Public Accounting license at 120 hours

·         These efforts resulted in fee reductions for many of the professions regulated by DPBR, including:

    • Reduction in  the biennial renewal fees by 50 percent for all real estate licensees, which will result in an $8.8 million dollar savings to licensees
    • Lowering of the athlete agents application fee by 50% from $500 to $250
    • Reduction in the continuing education provider fees by 50% for the mold and home inspector professions from $250 to $125
    • Reduction in all individual and business initial licensure fees for architecture and interior design that were over $50.00 by $25.00 each
    • Reduction of the reactivation fee for architecture and interior design licenses from $100.00 to $75.00, the examination review fee from $75.00 to $50.00, and the renewal fees for individual and business licenses from $125.00 to $100.00

 

DBPR is committed to these bold initiatives in order to license efficiently and regulate fairly. For more information please go to www.myfloridalicense.com.

 

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The Department of Business and Professional Regulation licenses and regulates more than one 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, 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, pari-mutuel wagering, and condominiums, timeshares, and other cooperative residential arrangements.  The Department’s mission is to license efficiently and regulate fairly.  For more information, please visit www.myfloridalicense.com.

 

Follow @FloridaDBPR on Twitter or Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation on Facebook for important information and updates on matters relating to Florida’s business and professional licensing.
 
January 14, 2020 /  
Florida DBPR Secretary Halsey Beshears Highlights 2019 Agency Successes

 

For Immediate Release

December 23, 2019

 Contact: communications@myfloridalicense.com

(850) 922-8981
 

Florida DBPR Secretary Halsey Beshears Highlights 2019 Agency Successes

Agency’s Primary Focus on Occupational Licensing Reform has Resulted in Increased Access to Employment for Floridians

 

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) Secretary Halsey Beshears highlighted a series of achievements on occupational licensing reform initiatives and advancements in the delivery of regulatory services that have been part of the agency’s priority focus throughout 2019. From these successful initiatives, Florida’s approach to occupational licensing and the regulatory channels that facilitate licensure and compliance for more than 1.4 million state license holders continues to improve.

 

Starting with the recommendations arising from the Florida Deregathon launched by Governor DeSantis in January, a first-of-its-kind convening of all seventeen professional licensing boards, the Department established a roadmap for reform that has resulted in more than 50 administrative rules being repealed or changed to decrease unnecessary regulatory burdens. These rule modifications have pushed back barriers of professional entry into many of the department’s regulated occupations by reducing license fees, reducing minimum-hour requirements of pre-licensure and continuing professional education, and easing restrictions on frequency of examination and application that have previously delayed Floridians from achieving the licensure required for them to begin practicing in their respective professional field.

 

Governor Ron DeSantis said, “At the Florida Deregathon, we kickstarted a reform plan that has already returned real results through the follow-up actions led by Secretary Beshears and our professionals serving on Florida’s occupational licensing boards. As these regulatory initiatives continue at DBPR, we will continue to create more opportunity for Floridians for many years to come.”

 

Among the occupational licensing reform measures accomplished in 2019, Secretary Beshears highlighted:

  • Facilitated rule development to achieve a 50-percent reduction in pre-licensure education hours for restricted barber applicants from 1200 to 600 hours
  • Streamlined veterinarian licensure to a single step process, allowing applicants to submit all required fees upfront with their application resulting in automatic issue of the license upon the department’s receipt of a passing exam score, which results in a license to be issued within 48 hours of the applicant passing the exam
  • Revised a rule to allow for continuous testing for the certified public accounting exam
  • Capped the continuing education requirement to reinstate an inactive Certified Public Accounting license at 120 hours
  • Reduced the biennial renewal fees by 50 percent for all real estate licensees, which will result in an $8.8 million dollar savings to licensees
  • Reduced pre-qualifying education and experience required for licensure by more than 1600 hours across several regulated professions, including residential appraisers, restricted barbers and community association managers
  • Lowered the athlete agents application fee by 50% from $500 to $250
  • Reduced the continuing education provider fees by 50% for the mold and home inspector professions from $250 to $125
  • Decreased all individual and business initial licensure fees for architecture and interior design that were over $50.00 by $25.00 each
  • Reduced the reactivation fee for architecture and interior design licenses from $100.00 to $75.00, the examination review fee from $75.00 to $50.00, and the renewal fees for individual and business licenses from $125.00 to $100.00

 

DBPR Secretary Beshears said, “We have worked diligently at DBPR this year to reduce regulatory burdens and increase operational advancements in order to create an environment where Floridians can build a business or start a professional career. Governor DeSantis’ support of these priorities and our accomplishments this year are making a real difference for hardworking Floridians.”

 

Secretary Beshears also highlighted improvements in the processes and performance of the agency in delivering regulatory services, including:

  • Developed more than 650 online transactions for initial licensure that will make available licensure applications for convenient filing at any hour of any day
  • Implemented an innovative way to expedite the licensing process for the following professions:  certified public accountants; cosmetology; barbers; landscape architecture, auctioneers, and building code administrators and inspectors by allowing licensees to print the license at their convenience, as well as print duplicate licenses as needed without paying a fee
  • Increased public education outreach to condominium associations and launched an online appointment scheduler for citizen condominium complaint resolution
  • Launched a web-based education provider reporting portal to report continuing education completion records to the department
  • Established broader flexibility for Florida-licensed prescription drug distributors to bring prescription drugs into the state from Alabama and Georgia during declared Florida emergencies, such as hurricanes
  • Launched an automated process for the licenses in the Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering to shift from manual drafting of deficiency letters for applicants who fail to provide adequate information in their application to an automated process

 

Secretary Beshears also emphasized numerous accomplishments within other departmental programs, including:

  • Launched the second phase of the Florida Business Information Portal, incorporating new information and tools for prospective business owners and professionals to review local licensure requirements particular to the county in which the business will be located.
  • Adopted the 2017 Food and Drug Administration Food Code, which establishes practical, science-based guidance and enforceable provisions for reducing risk factors known to cause or contribute to foodborne illness
  • Implemented certification practices for human trafficking training programs required of public lodging establishments
  • Distributed more than 72,000 health information flyers to restaurants throughout the state as part of proactive, coordinated approach to reducing the Hepatitis A outbreak.
  • Sanctioned two major Ultimate Fighting Championship events, resulting in substantial economic impact
  • Updated the Florida Boxing Commission’s prohibited substances rules to align with uniform World Anti-Doping Agency standards
  • Provided a rule update to create an avenue within law to allow oxygen to be provided  to designated Florida shelters during emergencies
  • Participated in 33 local outreach meetings following Hurricane Michael to share information related to licensure verification and risks of unlicensed activity
  • Conducted 8 unlicensed contractor activity sting operations in response to Hurricane Michael with the Construction Fraud Task Force, resulting in 30 arrests and 114 sweeps of the damaged area resulting in 27 open cases

 

For more information please visit www.myfloridalicense.com.

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December 23, 2019 /  
Florida DBPR Secretary Halsey Beshears Applauds Governor DeSantis’ Bolder, Brighter, Better Future Budget

 

For Immediate Release

November 18, 2019

 Contact: communications@myfloridalicense.com

(850) 922-8981

 

 

Florida DBPR Secretary Halsey Beshears Applauds Governor DeSantis’ Bolder, Brighter, Better Future Budget

 

The Secretary Affirmed the Budget Reflects the Governor’s Vision of Reducing Barriers of Entry
to Professional Careers for Floridians

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation Secretary Halsey Beshears applauded Governor Ron DeSantis’ bold budget recommendations and affirmed these budget plans will guide a continued commitment to regulatory reforms that enhance Florida’s business climate and the occupational opportunities of all Floridians.

“With today’s FY 2020-21 budget recommendations, Governor DeSantis has signaled continued support for the department’s core regulatory mission and the regulatory reform priorities he has established through his commitment to Florida’s hardworking families. With this direction, we will maintain focus on regulatory reductions and operational advancements that are essential to creating careers, building businesses, and enhancing professional opportunities throughout our state,” said DBPR Secretary Beshears.

The FY 2020-21 budget recommendations will equip DBPR to continue leading Governor DeSantis’ agenda for improving Florida’s regulatory environment and ensuring public safety and welfare by:

* Maintaining a clear focus on opening pathways to professional careers through identification and execution of meaningful regulatory reforms, with particular emphasis on ensuring entry requirements for licensure are reasonable and achievable for all Floridians;
* Supporting legislative progress toward statutory amendments that are critical to reforming Florida’s approach to occupational licensing requirements;
* Deploying new resources in food and lodging regulation towards training and awareness that supports Florida’s collaborative efforts to prevent and deter human trafficking networks;
* Streamlining investigative processes that minimize business burdens and maximize regulatory capacity towards effectively serving both licensed stakeholders and their patrons; and
* Advancing standards of service and channels of communication between the agency and regulated stakeholders that make licensing and compliance functions more accessible and more efficient for applicants and licensed parties.

For more details on Governor DeSantis’ Bolder, Brighter, Better Future budget, please visit www.BolderBrighterBetterFuture.com.

November 18, 2019 /  
Florida DBPR Orders Emergency Suspension of Professional Engineer License No. 76807

 

For Immediate Release

November 6, 2019

 Contact: communications@myfloridalicense.com

(850) 922-8981

 

 

Florida DBPR Orders Emergency Suspension  of Professional Engineer License No. 76807

 

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) reported the emergency suspension of a professional engineer license related to:

 

Licensee Name:       John H. Bretz

License Number:     76807

License Type:           Professional Engineer

County:                      Polk

Upon the entry of the order of Secretary Halsey Beshears, the license is suspended, effective immediately, until further administrative proceedings seeking formal discipline of the license of John H. Bretz may be instituted pursuant to chapter 120, Florida Statutes.

This emergency license action is based on a finding that immediate danger to public health, safety, or welfare requires suspension of the license to avoid future harm.  The attached agency order, as filed on November 5, 2019, provides additional information regarding the circumstances and findings prompting the emergency suspension of License Number 76807.

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The Department of Business and Professional Regulation licenses and regulates more than one 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, 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, pari-mutuel wagering, and condominiums, timeshares, and other cooperative residential arrangements.  The Department’s mission is to license efficiently and regulate fairly.  For more information, please visit www.myfloridalicense.com.

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

November 6, 2019 /