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 |
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from reprimand to probation and a |
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fine of up to $2,500 |
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(a)2. After the first offense, a minimum of |
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one year’s probation to revocation or denial |
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of licensure, and a fine of up to $5,000 |
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depending on the underlying offense and |
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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 |
(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 |
(468.621(1)(c), 455.227(1)(j), F.S.) |
(c)2. After the first offense, the usual action of |
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the Board shall be to impose a penalty from |
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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 |
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an administrative fine and probation to denial. |
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In the case of a licensee, the usual action of the |
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Board shall be to impose a penalty from |
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suspension to revocation and a fine of up to |
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$2,500 |
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(d)2. For a second offense in the case of an |
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applicant, the usual action of the Board shall |
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be from licensure with an administrative fine |
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and suspension of at least 30 days followed by |
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probation to denial. In the case of a licensee, |
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the usual action of the Board shall be to |
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impose a penalty from suspension followed by |
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probation with conditions to revocation and a |
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fine of up to $5,000 |
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(d)3. After the second offense, the usual action of |
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the Board shall be revocation and a fine of up to |
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$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 |
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suspension to revocation and a fine of up to |
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$2,500 |
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(e)2. After the first offense, the usual action of |
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the Board shall be to impose a penalty of |
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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 |
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followed by probation to denial. In the case of |
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a licensee, the usual action of the Board |
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shall be to impose a period of suspension |
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to be followed by probation and a fine of |
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up to $2,500 |
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(f)2. After the first offense, in the case of an |
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applicant, the usual action of the Board shall |
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be denial. In the case of a licensee, the usual |
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action of the Board shall be revocation and a |
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fine of up to $5,000. |
(g) Committing willful misconduct, gross |
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negligence, gross misconduct, repeated |
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negligence, or negligence resulting in a |
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significant danger to life or property. |
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(468.621(1)(g), F.S.) |
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1. Negligence |
1.a. In the case of an applicant, the usual action |
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of the Board shall be from licensure with probation |
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to denial. In the case of a licensee, the usual action |
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of the Board shall be to impose a penalty from |
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probation to suspension and a fine of up to $2,500 |
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1.b. For a second offense in the case of an applicant, |
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the usual action of the Board shall be from probation |
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to denial and an administrative fine. In the case of |
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a licensee, the usual action of the Board shall be to |
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impose a penalty from suspension followed by |
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probation and a fine of up to $5,000 |
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1.c. After the second offense, the usual action of the |
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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 |
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a licensee, the usual action of the Board |
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shall be to impose a penalty from suspension |
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to revocation and a fine of up to $2,500 |
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2.b. After the first offense, the usual action of the |
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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 |
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of the Board shall be denial. In the case of |
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a licensee, the usual action of the Board |
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shall be to impose a penalty of revocation |
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and fine of up to $2,500 |
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3.b. After the first offense, the usual action of the |
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Board shall be to impose a penalty of revocation |
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and a fine of up to $5,000. |
(h) Making misleading, deceptive or |
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fraudulent representations. |
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(455.227(1)(a), and (m), F.S.) |
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1. Misleading or deceptive. |
1.a. In the case of an applicant, the usual action |
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of the Board shall be licensure with an administrative |
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fine and probation or denial. In the case of a licensee, |
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the usual action of the Board shall be to impose a |
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penalty from reprimand to probation and a fine |
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of up to $2,500 |
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1.b. After the first offense, in the case of an applicant, |
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the usual action of the Board shall be denial. In the |
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case of a licensee, the usual penalty shall be suspension |
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to revocation and a fine of up to $5,000. |
2. Fraudulent. |
2.a. In the case of an applicant, the usual action |
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of the Board shall be denial. In the case of |
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a licensee, the usual action of the Board |
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shall be to impose a penalty from suspension |
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to revocation, a fine of up to $2,500 |
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2.b. After the first offense, the usual action of the |
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Board shall be to impose a penalty of revocation and |
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a fine of up to $5,000. |
(i) through (m) No change. |
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(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 |
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impose a penalty from reprimand to probation and a |
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fine of up to $2,500 |
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(n)2. After the first offense, in the case of an applicant, |
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the usual action of the Board shall be denial. For |
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a licensee, the penalty shall be revocation and a fine |
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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 |
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administrative fine and probation or denial of the |
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license until the license is unencumbered in |
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the jurisdiction in which disciplinary action |
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was originally taken, and an administrative |
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fine up to $2,500 |
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(o)2. After the first offense, from imposition of |
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discipline comparable to that which would have |
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been imposed if a second or higher substantive |
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violation had occurred in Florida to revocation |
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or for an applicant from probation to denial of |
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license and an administrative fine up |
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(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. |
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(p)2. After the first offense, in the case of an applicant |
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the usual action of the Board shall be denial. In the case |
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of a licensee, the usual action of the Board shall be |
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to impose a penalty from suspension followed |
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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 |
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administrative fine and probation to denial; in the |
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case of a licensee, the usual action of the board shall |
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be to impose a penalty from reprimand to |
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probation and a fine of up to $2,500 |
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(q)2. After the first offense unless otherwise specified |
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in this rule, the usual action of the Board shall be denial |
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in the case of an applicant; in the case of a licensee, |
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the usual action of the Board shall be to impose a |
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penalty from probation to revocation and a fine of |
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up to $5,000. |
(r) through (u) No change. |
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(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