(1) The department may not issue a license as agent, customer representative, adjuster, service representative, or reinsurance intermediary to any person except upon written application filed with the department, meeting the qualifications for the license applied for as determined by the department, and payment in advance of all applicable fees. The application must be made under the oath of the applicant and be signed by the applicant. An applicant may permit a third party to complete, submit, and sign an application on the applicant’s behalf, but is responsible for ensuring that the information on the application is true and correct and is accountable for any misstatements or misrepresentations. The department shall accept the uniform application for nonresident agent licensing. The department may adopt revised versions of the uniform application by rule.

(2) In the application, the applicant shall set forth:

1(a) His or her full name, age, social security number, residence address, business address, mailing address, contact telephone numbers, including a business telephone number, and e-mail address.

(b) A statement indicating the method the applicant used or is using to meet any required prelicensing education, knowledge, experience, or instructional requirements for the type of license applied for.

(c) Whether he or she has been refused or has voluntarily surrendered or has had suspended or revoked a license to solicit insurance by the department or by the supervising officials of any state.

(d) Whether any insurer or any managing general agent claims the applicant is indebted under any agency contract or otherwise and, if so, the name of the claimant, the nature of the claim, and the applicant’s defense thereto, if any.

(e) Proof that the applicant meets the requirements for the type of license for which he or she is applying.

(f) The applicant’s gender (male or female).

(g) The applicant’s native language.

(h) The highest level of education achieved by the applicant.

(i) The applicant’s race or ethnicity (African American, white, American Indian, Asian, Hispanic, or other).

(j) Such other or additional information as the department may deem proper to enable it to determine the character, experience, ability, and other qualifications of the applicant to hold himself or herself out to the public as an insurance representative.

However, the application must contain a statement that an applicant is not required to disclose his or her race or ethnicity, gender, or native language, that he or she will not be penalized for not doing so, and that the department will use this information exclusively for research and statistical purposes and to improve the quality and fairness of the examinations.

(3) Each application must be accompanied by payment of any applicable fee.

(4) An applicant for a license as an agent, customer representative, adjuster, service representative, or reinsurance intermediary must submit a set of the individual applicant’s fingerprints, or, if the applicant is not an individual, a set of the fingerprints of the sole proprietor, majority owner, partners, officers, and directors, to the department and must pay the fingerprint processing fee set forth in s. 624.501. Fingerprints must be used to investigate the applicant’s qualifications pursuant to s. 626.201. The fingerprints must be taken by a law enforcement agency, designated examination center, or other department-approved entity. The department shall require all designated examination centers to have fingerprinting equipment and to take fingerprints from any applicant or prospective applicant who pays the applicable fee. The department may not approve an application for licensure as an agent, customer service representative, adjuster, service representative, or reinsurance intermediary if fingerprints have not been submitted.

(5) The application for license filing fee prescribed in s. 624.501 is not subject to refund.

(6) Members of the United States Armed Forces and their spouses, and veterans of the United States Armed Forces who have separated from service within 24 months before application for licensure, are exempt from the application filing fee prescribed in s. 624.501. Qualified individuals must provide a copy of a military identification card, military dependent identification card, military service record, military personnel file, veteran record, discharge paper or separation document that indicates such members are currently in good standing or such veterans were honorably discharged.

(7) Pursuant to the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, each party is required to provide his or her social security number in accordance with this section. Disclosure of social security numbers obtained through this requirement must be limited to the purpose of administration of the Title IV-D program for child support enforcement.

History.—s. 196, ch. 59-205; ss. 13, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 4, ch. 71-86; s. 1, ch. 72-34; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; s. 3, ch. 81-282; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 158(2nd), 217, 807, 810, ch. 82-243; s. 3, ch. 85-208; ss. 16, 206, 207, ch. 90-363; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 42, ch. 92-146; s. 212, ch. 97-102; s. 66, ch. 97-170; s. 10, ch. 98-199; s. 4, ch. 2001-142; ss. 9, 50, ch. 2002-206; s. 912, ch. 2003-261; s. 23, ch. 2003-267; s. 16, ch. 2003-281; s. 22, ch. 2004-390; s. 8, ch. 2005-257; s. 1, ch. 2006-184; s. 138, ch. 2007-5; s. 2, ch. 2008-237; s. 3, ch. 2012-209; s. 8, ch. 2014-123; s. 41, ch. 2018-7; s. 17, ch. 2018-102.

1Note.—Section 12, ch. 2008-237, provides in part that “[e]ffective [June 30, 2008,] the Department of Financial Services may adopt rules to implement this act.”