(1) The department shall issue an emergency order suspending the license of any person licensed under chapter 458, chapter 459, chapter 460, chapter 461, chapter 462, chapter 463, chapter 464, chapter 465, chapter 466, or chapter 484 who pleads guilty to, is convicted or found guilty of, or who enters a plea of nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, to:

(a) A felony under chapter 409, chapter 817, or chapter 893 or under 21 U.S.C. ss. 801-970 or under 42 U.S.C. ss. 1395-1396; or

(b) A misdemeanor or felony under 18 U.S.C. s. 669, ss. 285-287, s. 371, s. 1001, s. 1035, s. 1341, s. 1343, s. 1347, s. 1349, or s. 1518 or 42 U.S.C. ss. 1320a-7b, relating to the Medicaid program.

(2) If the board has previously found any physician or osteopathic physician in violation of the provisions of s. 458.331(1)(t) or s. 459.015(1)(x), in regard to her or his treatment of three or more patients, and the probable cause panel of the board finds probable cause of an additional violation of that section, then the State Surgeon General shall review the matter to determine if an emergency suspension or restriction order is warranted. Nothing in this section shall be construed so as to limit the authority of the State Surgeon General to issue an emergency order.

(3) The department may issue an emergency order suspending or restricting the license of any health care practitioner as defined in s. 456.001(4) who tests positive for any drug on any government or private sector preemployment or employer-ordered confirmed drug test, as defined in s. 112.0455, when the practitioner does not have a lawful prescription and legitimate medical reason for using such drug. The practitioner shall be given 48 hours from the time of notification to the practitioner of the confirmed test result to produce a lawful prescription for the drug before an emergency order is issued.

(4) Upon receipt of information that a Florida-licensed health care practitioner has defaulted on a student loan issued or guaranteed by the state or the Federal Government, the department shall notify the licensee by certified mail that he or she shall be subject to immediate suspension of license unless, within 45 days after the date of mailing, the licensee provides proof that new payment terms have been agreed upon by all parties to the loan. The department shall issue an emergency order suspending the license of any licensee who, after 45 days following the date of mailing from the department, has failed to provide such proof. Production of such proof shall not prohibit the department from proceeding with disciplinary action against the licensee pursuant to s. 456.073.

(5) The department shall issue an emergency order suspending the license of a massage therapist or establishment as defined in chapter 480 upon receipt of information that the massage therapist, a person with an ownership interest in the establishment, or, for a corporation that has more than $250,000 of business assets in this state, the owner, officer, or individual directly involved in the management of the establishment has been convicted or found guilty of, or has entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a violation of s. 796.07(2)(a) which is reclassified under s. 796.07(7) or a felony offense under any of the following provisions of state law or a similar provision in another jurisdiction:

(a) Section 787.01, relating to kidnapping.

(b) Section 787.02, relating to false imprisonment.

(c) Section 787.025, relating to luring or enticing a child.

(d) Section 787.06, relating to human trafficking.

(e) Section 787.07, relating to human smuggling.

(f) Section 794.011, relating to sexual battery.

(g) Section 794.08, relating to female genital mutilation.

(h) Former s. 796.03, relating to procuring a person under the age of 18 for prostitution.

(i) Former s. 796.035, relating to the selling or buying of minors into prostitution.

(j) Section 796.04, relating to forcing, compelling, or coercing another to become a prostitute.

(k) Section 796.05, relating to deriving support from the proceeds of prostitution.

(l) Section 796.07(4)(a)3., relating to a felony of the third degree for a third or subsequent violation of s. 796.07, relating to prohibiting prostitution and related acts.

(m) Section 800.04, relating to lewd or lascivious offenses committed upon or in the presence of persons less than 16 years of age.

(n) Section 825.1025(2)(b), relating to lewd or lascivious offenses committed upon or in the presence of an elderly or disabled person.

(o) Section 827.071, relating to sexual performance by a child.

(p) Section 847.0133, relating to the protection of minors.

(q) Section 847.0135, relating to computer pornography.

(r) Section 847.0138, relating to the transmission of material harmful to minors to a minor by electronic device or equipment.

(s) Section 847.0145, relating to the selling or buying of minors.

(6) The department must issue an emergency order suspending or restricting the registration of an office registered under s. 458.328 or s. 459.0139 upon a finding of probable cause that the office or a physician practicing in the office is not in compliance with the standards of practice for office surgery adopted by the boards pursuant to s. 458.328 or s. 459.0138, as applicable, or is in violation of s. 458.331(1)(v) or s. 459.015(1)(z), and that such noncompliance or violation constitutes an immediate danger to the public.

History.—s. 88, ch. 97-261; s. 25, ch. 99-7; s. 87, ch. 99-397; s. 92, ch. 2000-160; s. 73, ch. 2001-277; s. 1, ch. 2002-254; s. 66, ch. 2008-6; s. 26, ch. 2009-223; s. 2, ch. 2014-139; s. 55, ch. 2015-2; s. 54, ch. 2016-10; s. 4, ch. 2016-24; s. 1, ch. 2019-130.

Note.—Former s. 455.687.