61E14-2.001: Standards of Professional Conduct
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The proposed rule is necessary to modify the standards of professional conduct.
SUMMARY: The proposed rule modifies the standards of professional conduct.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: • 2,768 Management Firms in addition to the already regulated 11,000 Community Association Manager will be required to comply with the rule; furthermore, all licensed Community Association Management Firms and Community Association Managers will be required to comply.
• The only costs to be incurred are rulemaking costs. No effect on state or local revenue is expected.
• The proposed change will impact 1,000 – 4,999 small businesses. No small county or city will be impacted by the rule.
Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 468.4315(2), 468.436(3) FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 468.433, 468.436 FS.
IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE SCHEDULED AND ANNOUNCED IN FAW.
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Anthony Spivey, Executive Director, Regulatory Council of Community Managers, 1940 North Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0762
THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:
61E14-2.001 Standards of Professional Conduct.
All Llicensees and registrants shall adhere to the following provisions, and standards of professional conduct, and such provisions and standards shall be deemed automatically incorporated, as duties of all licensees and registrants, into any written or oral agreement for the rendition of community association management services, the violation of which shall constitute gross misconduct, culpable negligence or gross negligence:
(1) Definitions. As used in this rule, the following definitions apply:
(a) The word “control” means the authority to direct or prevent the actions of another person or entity pursuant to law, contract, subcontract or employment relationship, but shall specifically exclude a licensee’s or registrant’s relationship with a community association, its board of directors, any committee thereof or any member of any board or committee.
(b) “Licensee” means a person licensed pursuant to Sections 468.432(1) and (2), F.S.
(c) “Registrant” means an entity registered pursuant to Section 468.432(2), F.S.
(c)(d) The word “funds” as used in this rule includes money and negotiable instruments including checks, notes and securities.
(2) Honesty. During the performance of management services, a licensee or registrant shall not knowingly make an untrue statement of a material fact or knowingly fail to state a material fact.
(3) Professional Competence. A licensee or registrant shall undertake to perform only those community association management services which he or it can reasonably expect to complete with professional competence.
(4) Due Professional Care.
(a) A licensee or registrant shall exercise due professional care in the performance of community association management services.
(b) A licensee or registrant shall not knowingly fail to comply with the requirements of the documents by which the association is created or operated so long as such documents comply with the requirements of law.
(5) Control of Others. A licensee or registrant shall not permit others under his or the management firm’s its control to commit on his or the firm’s its behalf, acts or omissions which, if made by either the licensee or registrant, would place that licensee him or it in violation of Chapter 455, 468, Part VIII, F.S., or Chapter 61-20, F.A.C., or other applicable statutes or rules. A licensee or registrant shall be deemed responsible by the department for the actions of all persons who perform community association management related functions under his or its supervision or control.
(6) Records.
(a) A licensee or registrant shall not withhold possession of any original books, records, accounts, funds, or other property of a community association when requested by the community association to deliver the same to the association upon reasonable notice. Reasonable notice shall extend no later than 10 20 business days after termination of any management or employment agreement and receipt of a written request from the association. The manager may retain those records necessary for up to 20 days to complete an ending financial statement or report. Failure of the association to provide access or retention of accounting records to prepare the statement or report shall relieve the manager of any further responsibility or liability for preparation of the statement or report. The provisions of this rule apply regardless of any contractual or other dispute between the licensee and the community association, or between the registrant and the community association. It shall be considered gross misconduct, as provided by Section 468.436(2), F.S., for a licensee or registrant to violate the provisions of this subsection.
(b) A licensee or registrant shall not deny access to association records, for the purpose of inspecting or photocopying the same, to a person entitled to such by law, to the extent and under the procedures set forth in the applicable law.
(c) A licensee or registrant shall not create false records or alter records of a community association or of the licensee or registrant except in such cases where an alteration is permitted by law (e.g., the correction of minutes per direction given at a meeting at which the minutes are submitted for approval).
(d) A licensee or registrant shall not, to the extent charged with the responsibility of maintaining records, fail to maintain his or its records, and the records of any applicable community association, in accordance with the laws and documents requiring or governing the records.
(7) Financial Matters. A licensee or registrant shall use funds received by him or it on the account of any community association or its members only for the specific purpose or purposes for which the funds were remitted.
(8) Other Licenses.
(a) A licensee or registrant shall not commit acts of gross negligence, culpable negligence or gross misconduct in the pursuit of community association management or any other profession for which a state or federal license is required or permitted. It shall be presumed that gross negligence or gross misconduct has been committed where a licensee’s or registrant’s other professional license has been suspended or revoked for reasons other than non-payment of fees dues or noncompliance with applicable continuing education requirements.
(b) A licensee or registrant shall not perform, agree to perform or hold himself or itself out as being qualified to perform any services which, under the laws of the State of Florida or of the United States, are to be performed only by a person or entity holding the requisite license or registration for same, unless the licensee or registrant also holds such license or registration; provided, however, that no violation hereof shall be deemed to have occurred unless and until the authority administering the license or registration in question makes a final determination that the licensee or registrant has failed to obtain a license or registration in violation of the law requiring same.
(c) A licensee or registrant shall reveal all other licenses or registrations held by him or it under the laws of the State of Florida or the United States, if, as a result of such license or registration, a licensee or registrant receives any payment for services or goods from the community association or its board.
(d) Violation of any provision of Section 455.227(1), F.S., or of any part of this rule shall subject the licensee or registrant to disciplinary measures as set out in Section 468.436, F.S.
Rulemaking Specific Authority 468.4315(2) FS. Law Implemented 468.433, 468.436 FS. History–New 5-5-88, Amended 2-5-91, Formerly 7D-55.007, 61B-55.007, Amended 1-8-98, 5-31-99, ____________.