(1) No corporation, except a publicly held corporation regularly traded on a national securities exchange and not over the counter, general or limited partnership, sole proprietorship, business trust, joint venture or unincorporated association, or other business entity shall hold a terminal supplier, importer, exporter, blender, carrier, terminal operator, or wholesaler license in this state if any one of the persons or entities specified in paragraph (a) has been determined by the department not to be of good moral character or has been convicted of any offense specified in paragraph (b):
(a)1. The licenseholder.
2. The sole proprietor of the licenseholder.
3. A corporate officer or director of the licenseholder.
4. A general or limited partner of the licenseholder.
5. A trustee of the licenseholder.
6. A member of an unincorporated association licenseholder.
7. A joint venturer of the licenseholder.
8. The owner of any equity interest in the licenseholder, whether as a common shareholder, general or limited partner, voting trustee, or trust beneficiary.
9. An owner of any interest in the license or licenseholder, including any immediate family member of the owner, or holder of any debt, mortgage, contract, or concession from the licenseholder, who by virtue thereof is able to control the business of the licenseholder.
(b)1. A felony in this state.
2. Any felony in any other state which would be a felony if committed in this state under the laws of Florida.
3. Any felony under the laws of the United States.
4. A felony under the Florida Motor Fuel Tax Relief Act of 2004.
(2)(a) If the applicant for a license as specified under subsection (1) or a licenseholder as specified in paragraph (1)(a) has received a full pardon or a restoration of civil rights with respect to the conviction specified in paragraph (1)(b), then the conviction shall not constitute an absolute bar to the issuance or renewal of a license or ground for the revocation or suspension of a license.
(b) A corporation which has been convicted of a felony shall be entitled to apply for and receive a restoration of its civil rights in the same manner and on the same grounds as an individual.
(3) After notice and hearing, the department shall refuse to issue or renew, or shall suspend, as appropriate, any license found in violation of subsection (1). The order shall become effective 120 days after service of the order upon the licenseholder and shall be amended to constitute a final order of revocation unless the licenseholder has, within that period of time, either caused the divestiture, or agreed with the convicted person upon a complete immediate divestiture, of his or her holding, or has petitioned the circuit court as provided in subsection (4), or, in the case of corporate officers or directors of the holder or employees of the holder, has terminated the relationship between the licenseholder and those persons mentioned. If no action has been taken by the licenseholder within the 120-day period following the issuance of the order of suspension, the department shall, without further notice or hearing, enter a final order of revocation of the license.
(4) The circuit courts shall have jurisdiction to decide a petition brought by a holder of a license who shows that the holder’s license is in jeopardy of suspension or revocation under subsection (3) and that such licenseholder is unable to agree upon the terms of divestiture of interest with the person specified in subparagraphs (1)(a)3.-9. who has been convicted of an offense specified in paragraph (1)(b). The court shall determine the reasonable value of the interest of the convicted person and order a divestiture upon such terms and conditions as it finds just. In determining the value of the interest of the convicted person, the court may consider, among other matters, the value of the assets of the licenseholder, its good will and value as a going concern, recent and expected future earnings, and other criteria usual and customary in the sale of like enterprises.
(5) The department shall obtain the fingerprints and personal data from persons described in paragraph (1)(a) for purposes of determining whether such persons have a criminal background and shall obtain data regarding the business entities described in subsection (1) to effectuate the provisions of this section. Such fingerprints shall be used for statewide criminal and juvenile records checks through the Department of Law Enforcement and federal criminal records checks through the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
History.—s. 78, ch. 85-342; s. 47, ch. 87-224; s. 1062, ch. 95-147; s. 4, ch. 95-417; s. 2, ch. 97-54; s. 11, ch. 2003-254; s. 9, ch. 2004-73.
Structure Florida Statutes
Title XIV - Taxation and Finance
Chapter 206 - Motor and Other Fuel Taxes
Part I - Motor Fuels (Ss. 206.01-206.64)
206.021 - Application for license; carriers.
206.022 - Application for license; terminal operators.
206.025 - Application by person whose license has been canceled; procedure.
206.027 - Licenses not assignable.
206.03 - Licensing of terminal suppliers, importers, exporters, and wholesalers.
206.04 - License number and cards; penalties.
206.05 - Bond required of licensed terminal supplier, importer, exporter, or wholesaler.
206.051 - Importer and exporter; credit authorization and bonding requirements.
206.052 - Export of tax-free fuels.
206.054 - Payment of taxes by importers.
206.06 - Estimate of amount of fuel taxes due and unpaid.
206.07 - Suits for collection of unpaid taxes.
206.075 - Department’s warrant for collection of unpaid taxes.
206.08 - Reports from persons who do not purchase tax-free motor fuel.
206.09 - Reports from carriers transporting motor fuel or similar products.
206.095 - Reports from terminal operators.
206.10 - Reports to be filed whether taxes due or not.
206.13 - Refund or credit of taxes erroneously paid or illegally collected.
206.14 - Inspection of records; audits; hearings; forms; rules and regulations.
206.15 - Fuel taxes a lien on property.
206.16 - Officer selling property.
206.17 - Department to furnish certificates of liens.
206.175 - Foreclosure of liens.
206.18 - Discontinuance or transfer of business; liability of tax, procedure; penalty for violation.
206.199 - Transportation of motor fuel by pipeline or marine vessel.
206.20 - Transportation of motor fuel over public highways.
206.204 - Transportation of motor fuel by boats over the navigable waters of this state.
206.205 - Forfeiture of vehicles and boats illegally transporting or delivering motor fuel.
206.21 - Trial of issues interposed by defense; sale, etc.
206.215 - Costs and expenses of proceedings.
206.22 - Restraining and enjoining violations.
206.23 - Tax; must be stated separately.
206.24 - Department and agents may make arrests, seize property, and execute warrants.
206.25 - Method for collection of tax cumulative.
206.27 - Records and files as public records.
206.28 - Exchange of information among the states.
206.404 - License requirements for retail dealers and resellers; penalty.
206.41 - State taxes imposed on motor fuel.
206.413 - Liability for tax; interstate agreement; penalties.
206.414 - Collection of certain taxes; prohibited credits and refunds.
206.416 - Change in state destination.
206.42 - Aviation gasoline exempt from excise tax; rocket fuel.
206.45 - Payment of tax into State Treasury.
206.46 - State Transportation Trust Fund.
206.47 - Distribution of constitutional fuel tax pursuant to State Constitution.
206.48 - Reports required of terminal suppliers, importers, exporters, blenders, and wholesalers.
206.485 - Tracking system reporting requirements.
206.49 - Invoice to show whether or not tax paid; liability.
206.56 - Unlawful use of tax collected; theft of state funds.
206.59 - Department to make rules; powers.
206.60 - County tax on motor fuel.
206.605 - Municipal tax on motor fuel.
206.606 - Distribution of certain proceeds.
206.608 - State Comprehensive Enhanced Transportation System Tax; deposit of proceeds; distribution.
206.609 - Transfer of funds to the Agricultural Emergency Eradication Trust Fund.
206.61 - Municipal taxes, limited.
206.62 - Certain sales to United States tax-exempt; rules and regulations.
206.625 - Return of tax to municipalities, counties, and school districts.
206.626 - Refunds to ethanol dealers.
206.63 - Definitions; s. 206.64.
206.64 - Refunds on fuel used for agricultural or commercial fishing purposes.