September 2011

In This Issue:

• Message From The Secretary
• Message From The Executive Director
• Important Information
• Helpful Reminders for Licensees
• Reminder about Reporting Requirement for Criminal Convictions
• License Application Center
• Improved Online Applications
• Renew Your License Online
• Changes to DBPR’s Homepage
• DBPR Phone System Upgrade
• DBPR Smart Phone App
• eNewsroom

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Message From The Secretary

To our licensees and partners:

When the Governor asked me to serve as the Secretary of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, I was honored to have the opportunity to work directly with the men and women who are shaping Florida’s economic future. I’m looking forward to taking on the challenge of making this state the best place for businesses to start and thrive.

Our top priority will be reducing the weight of unnecessary regulation on businesses and professionals so we can focus on our primary mission – getting Floridians back to work. Here at DBPR, we know that our customers come first and we will strive to license efficiently and regulate fairly.

Our state has faced some tough challenges, and Florida’s businesses and professionals need our help and our service now more than ever. If you have any suggestions for how we can improve, I welcome the input. It’s important that we continue to improve wherever possible. I am committed to serving you as best I can, with the help of the DBPR family.

Ken Lawson, DBPR Secretary

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Message from the Executive Director
Richard “Rick” Morrison

Changes to the Board

The Board welcomes back Assistant Attorney General Mary Ellen Clark as the Board of Employee Leasing Companies’ attorney.  This is Mrs. Clark’s second assignment with the Board in her role as board attorney.  Those of you who remember Mrs. Clark know her as an extremely well-organized and efficient attorney who has always given the Board excellent advice and guidance.  She has already begun to push our changes in rules through the new process.

Marjorie Seltzer and Deborah Segal will be sorely missed as their terms expired in October of 2010 and they continued to serve for a time to aid with board actions.  John Jones and Keith Reeves were elected Chair and Vice Chair respectively at our April 2011 meeting.  We look forward to their leadership over the next year.  The Board currently has three open seats for two industry members and one consumer member.

—Rick

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Important Information

QUARTERLY FINANCIAL REPORTS:

Each employee leasing company shall submit, not later than 75 days after the end of each calendar quarter, a statement to the Board of Employee Leasing Companies affirming that it is in compliance with Section 468.525(3)(d), Florida Statutes, showing that it is maintaining positive working capital and accounting net worth and has adequate reserves to pay, when due, all payroll taxes, workers’ compensation and health insurance premiums, and amounts due under any plan of self-insurance or partial self-insurance.

ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORTS:

Each employee leasing company shall submit not later than 120 days after their fiscal year end a copy of their current fiscal year-end financial statements, prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, which shall include a statement of income and retained earnings, balance sheet, statement of changes in financial position (cash flows), and applicable footnotes.

The financial statements must reflect positive working capital and positive accounting net worth, as required in Section 468.525(3), Florida Statutes.

Financial statements which are not audited must be accompanied by a completed Form DBPR EL 4503, entitled Employee Leasing Company Attestation to Financial Statement, as required in Rule 61G7-5.003, Florida Administrative Code (FAC), and should meet the requirements of a reviewed financial statement as set forth in Rule 61G7-5.0032, FAC.  You may access the form online at

http://www.myflorida.com/dbpr/pro/emplo/forms.html

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Helpful Reminders for Licensees

In many instances when a licensee has been notified by the Department that he/she may be facing disciplinary action for deficiencies in quarterly financial statements, annual financial statements or for not maintaining positive working capital or accounting net worth, the licensee can avoid time and expense if the deficiencies are cured within the 75- or 120-day period after the quarter or year ends. The licensee should notify the Department as soon as possible when deficiencies have been cured so the Department can stop any disciplinary action that has begun.  When notification of cured deficiencies is received timely by the Department (postmarked within the penalty period) it could save the licensee an appearance before the probable cause panel, and the expense of possible disciplinary action, including fines and cost of doing an investigation.

ANNUAL ASSESSMENT ON GROSS FLORIDA PAYROLL:

As required by Section 468.526(3), F.S., the Department of Business and Professional Regulation shall assess each employee leasing company and each employee leasing company group an annual assessment fee based upon the preceding calendar year’s gross Florida payroll of the company or group.  The assessment shall be due on April 1 of each year and shall become delinquent after April 30.

An assessment form will be mailed to your address of record approximately 30 days prior to the assessment due date.  If you do not receive an assessment form, please contact the Department’s Customer Contact Center, 850-487-1395.

BIENNIUM LICENSE RENEWAL:

Please be advised that licenses for employee leasing companies and controlling persons must be renewed by April 30, of even years.  A renewal notice will be mailed to your address of record approximately 90 days prior to the renewal date.

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Reminder about Reporting Requirement for Criminal Convictions

Section 455.227(1)(t), F.S. requires all professional licensees to report to the Department within 30 days of being convicted or found guilty of, or having plead nolo contendere or guilty to a crime in any jurisdiction. A licensee who fails to report that information may be subject to disciplinary action, including fines, suspension or license revocation. To report this information, complete the criminal self-reporting document and mail to the Department as provided on the form.

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License Application Center

In our continuing effort to provide better customer service, we have improved our website home page and created a user-friendly application center. Application features include a full list of license types, a list of detailed license requirements before each application, separate entry points for applications and renewals, and a page called "Services Requiring a DBPR License," which is designed to help consumers determine what services require a license from the Department.

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Improved Online Applications

The Department of Business and Professional Regulation has improved online applications for new licensees.

The most significant change is that the upgraded system requires all users – even those who have had online accounts with our Department for years – to create a one-time registration profile before accessing the system. Once the new profile has been created and you have supplied your license number, the system automatically transfers all data associated with your old account. Additionally, if you had to manage multiple accounts under the old system to manage all of your licenses, you will be able to link them all into the new single profile.

Applicants now have the ability to upload required documents, allowing them to fully complete and submit applications online. This enhancement ensures that applications and supporting documentation submitted online will remain together. The online system allows for faster processing times, thus getting our licensees to work more quickly. The upgraded system also provides licensees many new online services, including the ability to:

• Register with an email address and secure password;

• Receive registration confirmation via email confirmation;

• Link an existing license(s) to online profile;

• Retrieve a forgotten password;

• Answer eligibility questions to ensure you are using the correct application;

• Attach necessary documents for licensure;

• Receive an application summary and payment summary via email;

• Check your application status;

• Log in and finish an incomplete application before submission, if you were not able to complete the application when initially applying;

• Make payments;

• View Continuing Education history, if applicable; and

• Maintain license relationships
  

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Renew Your License Online

To complete your renewal online, follow these instructions:

> Go to www.MyFloridaLicense.com.

> Click on “Renew Your License.”

>Read through the instructions and click “Continue.”

> Click on your profession type.

>Read through the instructions, take the tutorials or click “Continue to Online Services.”

> New users will need to “Create a New Online Profile.” Returning users will need to login.

> Complete all the required information and click “Next.”

> The user will receive an email with a temporary password and a link back to the system; the user will then be asked to supply a new password and enter it twice for confirmation; enter your email address and password and click “Log on.”

> The user will now need to link their license to their online account by selecting "Link an Existing License to My Account" on the left hand side of the screen; the user will need their license number and social security number.

> Select the correct license type to link from the drop down list, enter the license number, and click “Next.”

> Enter the user’s social security number, security measure, and click “Next.”

> Click “Add.”

> Click “Next” to continue linking the license.

> Select the license you intend to renew.

> The user can now select “Renew”; this is an introduction to the renewal requirements; click “Next” to continue.

> Renew – Name and Personal Details Screen – this is a view only screen; press "Next" to continue.

> Renew – Address Detail Summary – the user can update/add addresses; click "Next" to continue.

> Renew – Application Summary – allows a user to verify all details prior to submitting renewal; if anything needs to be revised, the user can click “Previous” to update; if everything is correct, click “Next” to continue.

> Renew – Attestation – the user will now attest that everything they have said is true by clicking on “Yes” and then on “Submit”; if the user clicks “No,” then they will not be able to proceed.

> The user will now receive an email with an attached renewal summary pdf.

> Confirmation Screen – the user can now pay for their renewal by clicking “Pay Now.”

>After payment is made, the user will receive an Online Payment Summary pdf.

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Changes to DBPR’s Homepage

The DBPR website is getting a makeover! We've upgraded to make our website navigation more user-friendly for our customers. From new menu options to direct access links for pages most often visited, we hope these changes will make our website and online services easier to navigate.

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DBPR Phone System Upgrade

DBPR is currently in the process of upgrading its phone system. Most main numbers will remain the same, but employee direct lines are changing. Initially, a recording will provide the new number for any numbers being changed. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your patience while we undergo this Department-wide change!

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DBPR Smart Phone App

Need to check a Florida license? There’s an app for that! Download the DBPR iPhone or Android app and stay connected with the Department. More>>

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eNewsroom

Check out DBPR's eNewsroom, your source for important Department news and information. Here, you can watch public service announcements, read news releases, and subscribe to and flip through our publications.

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Visit us on the Web at www.MyFloridaLicense.com