Notice of Change/Withdrawal

DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION
Building Code Administrators and Inspectors Board
RULE NO: RULE TITLE
61G19-5.002: Disciplinary Guidelines
NOTICE OF CHANGE
Notice is hereby given that the following changes have been made to the proposed rule in accordance with subparagraph 120.54(3)(d)1., F.S., published in Vol. 35 No. 14, April 10, 2009 issue of the Florida Administrative Weekly.

The change corrects the limit for the amount of fine for the first offence from $5,000 to $2,500.

The rule shall read as:

61G19-5.002 Disciplinary Guidelines.

(1) Purpose. Pursuant to Section 455.2273, F.S., the Board provides within this rule disciplinary guidelines which shall be imposed upon applicants or licensees whom it regulates under Chapter 468, Part XII, F.S. The purpose of this rule is to notify applicants and licensees of the ranges of penalties which will routinely be imposed unless the Board finds it necessary to deviate from the guidelines for the stated reasons given in Rule 61G19-5.003, F.A.C. The ranges of penalties provided below include the lowest and highest penalty and all penalties falling between. The purposes of the imposition of discipline are to punish the applicants or licensees for violations and to deter them from future violations; to offer opportunities for rehabilitation, when appropriate; and to deter other applicants or licensees from violations.

(2) Violations and Range of Penalties. In imposing discipline upon applicants and licensees, in proceedings pursuant to Sections 120.569, 120.57(1) and (2), F.S., the Board shall act in accordance with the following disciplinary guidelines and shall impose a penalty within the range corresponding to the violations set forth below. The verbal identification of offenses is descriptive only; the full language of each statutory provision cited must be consulted in order to determine the conduct included.

 

VIOLATION

RECOMMENDED RANGE OF PENALTY

(a) Violating or failing to comply with any

(a)1. Unless otherwise specified in this rule, in

provision of this part, Chapter 455 or a

the case of an applicant, the usual action of

valid rule or lawful order of the board or

the Board shall be from licensure with an

department, or subpoena of the department.

administrative fine and probation to denial;

(468.621(1)(a), F.S., 455.227(1)(b) and (q),

in the case of a licensee, the usual action

F.S.)

of the Board shall be to impose a penalty

 

from reprimand to probation and a

 

fine of up to $2,500 1,500.

 

(a)2. After the first offense, a minimum of

 

one year’s probation to revocation or denial

 

of licensure, and a fine of up to $5,000

 

depending on the underlying offense and

 

the magnitude of the violation.

(b) Obtaining certificate through fraud,

The usual action of the Board shall be to

deceit, or perjury.

impose a penalty of revocation and a fine

(468.621(1)(b), 455.227(1)(h), F.S.)

of up to $2,500 1,500.

(c) Knowingly assisting any person to

(c)1. In the case of an applicant, the usual

unlawfully practice building code

action of the Board shall be from licensure

administration, inspecting, or plans

with an administrative fine and probation to

examination contrary to the provisions

denial. In the case of a licensee, the usual

of this part or the building code adopted by

action of the Board shall be to impose a

the enforcement authority governing that

penalty from probation to suspension and

person.

a fine of up to $2,500 1,500.

(468.621(1)(c), 455.227(1)(j), F.S.)

(c)2. After the first offense, the usual action of

 

the Board shall be to impose a penalty from

 

suspension to revocation and a fine of up to $5,000.

(d) Having been convicted of a felony.

(d)1. In the case of an applicant, the usual action

(468.621(1)(d), F.S.)

of the Board shall be from licensure with

 

an administrative fine and probation to denial.

 

In the case of a licensee, the usual action of the

 

Board shall be to impose a penalty from

 

suspension to revocation and a fine of up to

 

$2,500 1,500.

 

(d)2. For a second offense in the case of an

 

applicant, the usual action of the Board shall

 

be from licensure with an administrative fine

 

and suspension of at least 30 days followed by

 

probation to denial. In the case of a licensee,

 

the usual action of the Board shall be to

 

impose a penalty from suspension followed by

 

probation with conditions to revocation and a

 

fine of up to $5,000 4,000.

 

(d)3. After the second offense, the usual action of

 

the Board shall be revocation and a fine of up to

 

$5,000.

(e) Guilt of or nolo plea entered to a crime

(e)1. In the case of an applicant, the usual action

directly related to building code

of the Board shall be denial. In the case of

administration or inspection.

a licensee, the usual action of the Board

(468.621(1)(e), 455.227(1)(c), F.S.)

shall be to impose a penalty from

 

suspension to revocation and a fine of up to

 

$2,500 1,500.

 

(e)2. After the first offense, the usual action of

 

the Board shall be to impose a penalty of

 

revocation and a fine of up to $5,000.

(f) Knowingly making or filing a false

(f)1. In the case of an applicant, the usual action

report or failing to file a report as required.

of the Board shall be from licensure with an

(468.621(1)(f), 455.227(1)(l), F.S.)

administrative fine and 30-day suspension

 

followed by probation to denial. In the case of

 

a licensee, the usual action of the Board

 

shall be to impose a period of suspension

 

to be followed by probation and a fine of

 

up to $2,500 1,500.

 

(f)2. After the first offense, in the case of an

 

applicant, the usual action of the Board shall

 

be denial. In the case of a licensee, the usual

 

action of the Board shall be revocation and a

 

fine of up to $5,000.

(g) Committing willful misconduct, gross

 

negligence, gross misconduct, repeated

 

negligence, or negligence resulting in a

 

significant danger to life or property.

 

(468.621(1)(g), F.S.)

 

1. Negligence

1.a. In the case of an applicant, the usual action

 

of the Board shall be from licensure with probation

 

to denial. In the case of a licensee, the usual action

 

of the Board shall be to impose a penalty from

 

probation to suspension and a fine of up to $2,500 1,500.

 

1.b. For a second offense in the case of an applicant,

 

the usual action of the Board shall be from probation

 

to denial and an administrative fine. In the case of

 

a licensee, the usual action of the Board shall be to

 

impose a penalty from suspension followed by

 

probation and a fine of up to $5,000 4,000.

 

1.c. After the second offense, the usual action of the

 

Board shall be revocation and a fine of up to $5,000.

2. Gross or repeated negligence, or gross

2.a. In the case of an applicant, the usual action

misconduct.

of the Board shall be denial. In the case of

 

a licensee, the usual action of the Board

 

shall be to impose a penalty from suspension

 

to revocation and a fine of up to $2,500 1,500.

 

2.b. After the first offense, the usual action of the

 

Board shall be revocation and a fine of up to $5,000.

3. Willful misconduct.

3.a. In the case of an applicant, the usual action

 

of the Board shall be denial. In the case of

 

a licensee, the usual action of the Board

 

shall be to impose a penalty of revocation

 

and fine of up to $2,500 1,500.

 

3.b. After the first offense, the usual action of the

 

Board shall be to impose a penalty of revocation

 

and a fine of up to $5,000.

(h) Making misleading, deceptive or

 

fraudulent representations.

 

(455.227(1)(a), and (m), F.S.)

 

1. Misleading or deceptive.

1.a. In the case of an applicant, the usual action

 

of the Board shall be licensure with an administrative

 

fine and probation or denial. In the case of a licensee,

 

the usual action of the Board shall be to impose a

 

penalty from reprimand to probation and a fine

 

of up to $2,500 1,500.

 

1.b. After the first offense, in the case of an applicant,

 

the usual action of the Board shall be denial. In the

 

case of a licensee, the usual penalty shall be suspension

 

to revocation and a fine of up to $5,000.

2. Fraudulent.

2.a. In the case of an applicant, the usual action

 

of the Board shall be denial. In the case of

 

a licensee, the usual action of the Board

 

shall be to impose a penalty from suspension

 

to revocation, a fine of up to $2,500 1,500.

 

2.b. After the first offense, the usual action of the

 

Board shall be to impose a penalty of revocation and

 

a fine of up to $5,000.

(i) through (m) No change.

 

(n) Practicing as a building code

(n)1. In the case of an applicant, the usual action

administrator, plans examiner, or inspector

of the Board shall be licensure with an administrative

without a valid active certificate.

fine and probation or denial. In the case of a licensee,

(468.607, 468.621(1)(a), F.S.)

the usual action by the Board shall be to

 

impose a penalty from reprimand to probation and a

 

fine of up to $2,500 1,500.

 

(n)2. After the first offense, in the case of an applicant,

 

the usual action of the Board shall be denial. For

 

a licensee, the penalty shall be revocation and a fine

 

of up to $5,000.

(o) Having the authority to practice

(o)1. Imposition of discipline comparable to the

revoked or acted against, including the

discipline which would have been imposed

denial of licensure.

if the substantive violation had occurred in

(455.227(1)(f), F.S.)

Florida or suspension or licensure with an

 

administrative fine and probation or denial of the

 

license until the license is unencumbered in

 

the jurisdiction in which disciplinary action

 

was originally taken, and an administrative

 

fine up to $2,500 ranging from $250 to $1,500.

 

(o)2. After the first offense, from imposition of

 

discipline comparable to that which would have

 

been imposed if a second or higher substantive

 

violation had occurred in Florida to revocation

 

or for an applicant from probation to denial of

 

license and an administrative fine up from

 

$1,000 to $2,500.

(p) Failing to report to the department any

(p)1. In case of an applicant, the usual action of the

person who the licensee knows is in

Board shall be denial or licensure with probation

violation of Chapter 468, Part XII, Chapter

and an administrative fine. In case of the licensee,

455, or the rules of the Board or

the usual action of the Board shall be to impose a

Department.

penalty from reprimand to probation and a

(455.277(1)(I), F.S.)

fine of up to $1,500.

 

(p)2. After the first offense, in the case of an applicant

 

the usual action of the Board shall be denial. In the case

 

of a licensee, the usual action of the Board shall be

 

to impose a penalty from suspension followed

 

by probation to revocation and a fine of up to $5,000.

(q) Failing to perform any statutory or

(q)1. Unless otherwise specified in this rule, in

legal obligations.

the case of an applicant, the usual action of

(455.227(1)(k), F.S.)

the Board shall be from licensure with an

 

administrative fine and probation to denial; in the

 

case of a licensee, the usual action of the board shall

 

be to impose a penalty from reprimand to

 

probation and a fine of up to $2,500 1,500.

 

(q)2. After the first offense unless otherwise specified

 

in this rule, the usual action of the Board shall be denial

 

in the case of an applicant; in the case of a licensee,

 

the usual action of the Board shall be to impose a

 

penalty from probation to revocation and a fine of

 

up to $5,000.

(r) through (u) No change.

 

 

(3) through (5) No change.

Rulemaking Specific Authority 455.227, 455.2273, 468.606 FS. Law Implemented 455.227, 455.2273, 468.607, 468.621, 468.629 FS. History–New 5-23-94, Amended 8-14-96, 8-3-97, 11-2-00, 4-10-06, 1-10-07,________.

 

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Robyn Barineau, Executive Director, Building Code Administrators and Inspectors Board, 1940 North Monroe Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0750