In This Issue:

• Message From The Secretary
• Message From The Board Chair
• Message from the Executive Director
• New Requirement to Report Criminal Convictions
• New Board Member
• Helpful Hints
• Accelerate Florida
• New License Application Center
• eNewsroom

---

Message From The Secretary

As a licensed professional in the State of Florida, I know you are concerned with the threat of unlicensed individuals taking your business and cutting into your bottom line.  I share your concern and also know the financial damage unlicensed individuals can cause consumers.  In fact, unlicensed activity is the topic I hear about the most when I talk with DBPR licensees and Florida’s consumers. 

In response to your concerns, DBPR has increased efforts to combat unlicensed activity.  We are working to better use existing tools and come up with new and inventive ways to address unlicensed activity.  We continue to use our three-tiered approach—education, prevention and enforcement—to get the message out. 

One of our new educational tools is a Web page called “What Services Require a DBPR License?”  This new page is prominently featured on the front page of MyFloridaLicense.com and helps educate consumers and potential licensees about the types of services that must be performed by a DBPR-licensed individual or business.  The pages, custom-tailored for each profession, provide helpful information and examples about the jobs that require a DBPR license.  This new tool is a great way to ensure that we clearly communicate licensure requirements.

Every year, the Office of Communications uses a portion of your five-dollar unlicensed activity fee to fund a media campaign.  This campaign is one of our most successful prevention efforts because it reaches such a large group of people.  More than 41 million impressions were made just last year.  Last fiscal year, the theme of the campaign was “Unlicensed Activity is Ugly Business,” and the advertisements, which were created entirely in-house, showcased an artistic, visually engaging, comic book style design intended to grab the attention of consumers and deliver the straightforward message.  I am eager to share with you our campaign for this year.  It is sure to impress and (more importantly) educate!

Finally, we want to send a strong message that unlicensed activity will not be tolerated.  Last fiscal year, the Division of Regulation increased proactive enforcement efforts by 64 percent, performing 505 sweep or sting operations compared to 327 the previous year.  Look for DBPR investigators hitting the streets even more this fiscal year.  The Division of Regulation has set some very high goals for this fiscal year, and I am confident they will deliver. 

I am proud of our increased efforts last fiscal year, and we will not stop working. Through the three-tiered approach, we strive to combat unlicensed activity from all angles.  I am reminded every time a meet with a consumer who has been harmed by an unlicensed individual or a licensee who has been underbid by the unlicensed competition, that our mission is clear.  We must work harder to address your number one concern, unlicensed activity. 

Sincerely,

Charles W. Drago, Secretary

Back To Top

---

Message From The Board Chair Matthew Cain

The annual meeting of the National Association of State Boards of Geology (ASBOG) will be held in Birmingham, Alabama November 5 -7, 2009. One of our former board members familiar with ASBOG and its proceedings, Ms. Gabrielle Enos, P.G., will represent Florida at this meeting and will also have voting authority for the board. 

The Board of Professional Geologists is pleased to serve the people of the state of Florida. One of our primary missions is to protect the public safety. In order to do so, geologists must act with the upmost scientific integrity. We must continue to police individuals practicing geology in the state of Florida, ensuring that our work product is scientifically sound, verifiable and repeatable, and withstands scrutiny from our peers. These are the basics of professionalism, which we should all heed. It is our responsibility to hold accountable those who operate outside of these parameters.  Accountability is the only mechanism we have as professionals to continue to earn the public’s trust.  Weeding out any unlicensed activity is also essential.

Serving as the Board Chair is a rewarding and enlightening experience for me. I am pleased to report that Florida has a very strong, expanding and vibrant geologic community. Going forward as a group, we must work to ensure that the study of geology continues to be the core upon which the earth sciences are based.

Matthew L. Cain, P.G.
Florida License 2202
Chair, Board of Professional Geologists

Back To Top

---

Message From The Executive Director
Richard “Rick” Morrison

Earth Science Week 2009 began Sunday, October 11.  Earth Science Week was organized by the American Geological Institute to promote public awareness of the earth sciences and stewardship of the earth. This year’s theme was “Be a Citizen Scientist.” The Florida Geological Survey, Department of Environmental Protection among other earth science organizations, also played a big part by holding an open house and tours to generate interest in the conservation and protection of the earth.  In Florida, demonstrations from organizations such as the United States Geological Survey, which demonstrated a ground water movement model, and the Florida Geological Survey, which helped participants identify rocks in Florida and from other parts of the country, in addition to an actual drilling demonstration to identify different layers of the earth’s surface.  These are just some of the events among many that took place nationwide during Earth Science Week to commemorate the occasion.  If you would like more information, log on to http://www.earthsciweek.org/.

Richard "Rick" Morrison, Executive Director
Board of Professional Geologists

Back To Top

---

New Requirement to Report Criminal Convictions

During the 2009 Legislative Session, the Florida Legislature passed House Bill 425, which became law on October 1, 2009. Beginning October 1, 2009, House Bill 425 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

Back To Top

---

The Board Welcomes Its Newest Member

Photo and article provided by the Florida Geological Survey

Jon Arthur became a member of the Board of Professional Geologists upon the retirement of long time board member Tom Scott.  Jon is the Director of the Florida Geological Survey and the 6th State Geologist of Florida upon the retirement of Walt Schmidt. He received his Doctoral degree in geology from Florida State University.  Dr. Arthur’s research interests include hydrogeochemistry, hydrogeology and aquifer protection. His demonstrated leadership and research expertise in these areas uniquely qualify him to head the Survey at a time when environmental issues related to these topics are becoming increasingly important in Florida. He has served on numerous committees related to aquifer storage and recovery, including the National Academy of Sciences committee that produced the 2008 report: “Prospects for Managed Underground Storage of Recoverable Water.” Dr. Arthur has published numerous journal articles, technical reports, conference proceedings and maps. He has served as co-convener, invited speaker, moderator or panelist on numerous hydrogeology issues. In 2008, he was elected a Fellow of the Geological Society of America. He currently serves on the Florida Board of Professional Geologists and is past-president of the Florida Section of the American Institute of Professional Geologists.

Back To Top

---

Helpful Hints

For the purpose of applying for a professional geologists license by endorsement in the state of Florida, the Florida Board of Professional Geologists has determined that the state examinations in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Wisconsin and Wyoming are substantially equivalent to or more stringent then those of this state.  Chapter 492 also requires any applicant applying for licensure as a professional geologist by endorsement to:

• Meet the qualifications for licensure in 492.105(1)(b)-(e)
• Holds an active license in good standing in another state, trust, territory or possession in the United States and
• Be licensed through a written examination in at least one state trust, territory or possession of the United States.
  

Back To Top

---

Accelerate Florida

In August of 2008, Governor Charlie Crist announced Accelerate Florida, his initiative to reduce or eliminate unnecessary regulation and to streamline licensing processes. To support the Governor’s initiative, the department reviewed its processes to determine where it could improve customer service and reduce regulatory barriers. The department submitted legislative proposals that became House Bill 425, which Governor Crist signed into law on June 16, 2009. HB 425 reduces regulatory requirements in order to assist individuals who are licensed or apply for licensure with the department. Its highlights include the following:

• Removes notarization requirements for all applications and renewals in order to facilitate electronic submittals. Applicants can now sign an attestation statement regarding the accuracy of their submissions;
• Eliminates the practical examination for barbers and restricted barbers, because practical theory is now included within the written examination;
• Eliminates the requirement for a qualified business license for construction companies, because companies must already have a licensed qualifying agent who is responsible for the company’s actions;
• Removes the requirement that applicants for registered contractor licenses provide a copy of a local occupational license, because most local jurisdictions require proof of a state contractor’s license before they will issue an occupational licenses;
• Eliminates requirements for building code administrator applicants and licensees in construction-related professions to complete a core curriculum course on Florida Building Code training approved by the Florida Building Commission, because the statewide Florida Building Code has been in effect since March 1, 2002;
• Removes the requirement for Certified Public Accountants to complete the Florida Laws & Rules Examination for license renewal and reactivation of an inactive license, because the Florida Laws & Rules requirement is fulfilled by the continuing education process;
• Clarifies statutes to exclude attorneys practicing as a licensed real estate broker or agent from continuing education requirements under Chapter 475, Florida Statutes, if they are members in good standing of the Florida Bar;
• Provides for greater consumer protection for clients who utilize talent agency services under part VII, Chapter 468, Florida Statutes; and
• Authorizes the Florida State Boxing Commission to adopt criteria for approval of certain amateur sanctioning organizations and to adopt health and safety standards for amateur mixed martial arts.

The department also implemented improvements that did not require legislative changes. A complete list of Accelerate Florida improvements is available on our Web site at www.MyFloridaLicense.com by clicking on “Accelerate Florida.”

Back To Top

---

New License Application Center

In our continuing effort to provide better customer service, we have improved our web site home page and created a user-friendly application center. We hope that these changes will make it easier for you to do business with us. The new features are intended to make the Web site more user-friendly and provide simple ways for our customers to find licensing information and requirements through detailed descriptions and helpful checklists.

The changes to the Web site include: new application features with a full list of license types, a list of detailed license requirements before each application, separate entry points for applications and renewals, and a new page called "What Services Require a DBPR License," which is designed to assist consumers with determining what services require a DBPR license.

We encourage you to provide feedback via the "Feedback" link that is available in the Customer Service Spotlight section on MyFloridaLicense.com.

Back To Top

---

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.

Back To Top

---

Visit us on the Web at www.MyFloridaLicense.com