(1) Except as to insurance agencies, if the department finds that one or more grounds exist for the suspension, revocation, or refusal to issue, renew, or continue any license or appointment issued under this chapter, or disapproval of a continuing education course provider, instructor, school official, or monitor groups, the department may, in its discretion, in lieu of or in addition to such suspension or revocation, or in lieu of such refusal, or disapproval, and except on a second offense or when such suspension, revocation, or refusal is mandatory, impose upon the licensee, appointee, course provider, instructor, school official, or monitor group an administrative penalty in an amount up to $500 or, if the department has found willful misconduct or willful violation on the part of the licensee, appointee, course provider, instructor, school official, or monitor group up to $3,500. The administrative penalty may, in the discretion of the department, be augmented by an amount equal to any commissions received by or accruing to the credit of the licensee or appointee in connection with any transaction as to which the grounds for suspension, revocation, or refusal related.
(2) With respect to insurance agencies, if the department finds that one or more grounds exist for the suspension, revocation, or refusal to issue, renew, or continue any license issued under this chapter, the department may, in its discretion, in lieu of or in addition to such suspension or revocation, or in lieu of such refusal, impose upon the licensee an administrative penalty in an amount not to exceed $10,000 per violation. The administrative penalty may, in the discretion of the department, be augmented by an amount equal to any commissions received by or accruing to the credit of the licensee in connection with any transaction as to which the grounds for suspension, revocation, or refusal related.
(3) The department may allow the licensee, appointee, or continuing education course provider, instructor, school official, or monitor group a reasonable period, not to exceed 30 days, within which to pay to the department the amount of the penalty so imposed. If the licensee, appointee, course provider, instructor, school official, or monitor group fails to pay the penalty in its entirety to the department within the period so allowed, the license, appointments, approval, or status of that person shall stand suspended or revoked or issuance, renewal, or continuation shall be refused, as the case may be, upon expiration of such period.
History.—s. 247, ch. 59-205; ss. 13, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; s. 21, ch. 78-95; s. 3, ch. 81-282; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 214, 217, 807, 810, ch. 82-243; ss. 62, 206, 207, ch. 90-363; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 3, ch. 98-103; s. 32, ch. 98-199; s. 952, ch. 2003-261; s. 50, ch. 2004-390.
Structure Florida Statutes
Chapter 626 - Insurance Field Representatives and Operations
626.016 - Powers and duties of department, commission, and office.
626.025 - Consumer protections.
626.0428 - Agency personnel powers, duties, and limitations.
626.141 - Violation not to affect validity of insurance.
626.172 - Application for insurance agency license.
626.173 - Insurance agency closure; cancellation of licenses.
626.175 - Temporary licensing.
626.181 - Number of applications for licensure required.
626.191 - Repeated applications.
626.202 - Fingerprinting requirements.
626.211 - Approval, disapproval of application.
626.221 - Examination requirement; exemptions.
626.231 - Eligibility; application for examination.
626.241 - Scope of examination.
626.2415 - Annual report of results of life insurance examinations.
626.251 - Time and place of examination; notice.
626.261 - Conduct of examination.
626.266 - Printing of examinations or related materials to preserve examination security.
626.271 - Examination fee; determination, refund.
626.2815 - Continuing education requirements.
626.291 - Examination results; denial, issuance of license.
626.292 - Transfer of license from another state.
626.301 - Form and contents of licenses, in general.
626.321 - Limited licenses and registration.
626.322 - License, appointment; certain military installations.
626.331 - Number of appointments permitted or required.
626.341 - Additional appointments; general lines, life, and health agents.
626.342 - Furnishing supplies to unlicensed agent prohibited; civil liability.
626.371 - Payment of fees, taxes for appointment period without appointment.
626.381 - Renewal, continuation, reinstatement, or termination of appointment.
626.382 - Continuation, expiration of license; insurance agencies.
626.431 - Effect of expiration of license and appointment.
626.441 - License or appointment; transferability.
626.451 - Appointment of agent or other representative.
626.461 - Continuation of appointment of agent or other representative.
626.471 - Termination of appointment.
626.511 - Reasons for termination; confidential information.
626.536 - Reporting of administrative actions.
626.541 - Firm, corporate, and business names; officers; associates; notice of changes.
626.551 - Notice of change of address, name.
626.561 - Reporting and accounting for funds.
626.571 - Delinquent agencies; notice of trusteeship.
626.5715 - Parity of regulation of insurance agents and agencies.
626.572 - Rebating; when allowed.
626.581 - Commissions contingent upon adjustment savings; prohibition.
626.591 - Penalty for violation of s. 626.581.
626.593 - Insurance agent; written contract for compensation.
626.601 - Improper conduct; inquiry; fingerprinting.
626.602 - Insurance agency names; disapproval.
626.6115 - Grounds for compulsory refusal, suspension, or revocation of insurance agency license.
626.6215 - Grounds for discretionary refusal, suspension, or revocation of insurance agency license.
626.631 - Procedure for refusal, suspension, or revocation of license.
626.641 - Duration of suspension or revocation.
626.6515 - Effect of suspension or revocation upon associated agencies.