(1) Each applicant for a certificate of authority shall first apply for and obtain a provisional certificate of authority pursuant to this section.

(2) The application for a provisional certificate of authority must be on a form prescribed by the commission and must contain the following information:

(a) If the applicant or provider is a corporation, a copy of the articles of incorporation and bylaws; if the applicant or provider is a partnership or other unincorporated association, a copy of the partnership agreement, articles of association, or other membership agreement; and, if the applicant or provider is a trust, a copy of the trust agreement or instrument.

(b) The full names, residences, and business addresses of:

1. The proprietor, if the applicant or provider is an individual.

2. Every partner or member, if the applicant or provider is a partnership or other unincorporated association, however organized, having fewer than 50 partners or members, together with the business name and address of the partnership or other organization.

3. The principal partners or members, if the applicant or provider is a partnership or other unincorporated association, however organized, having 50 or more partners or members, together with the business name and business address of the partnership or other organization. If such unincorporated organization has officers and a board of directors, the full name and business address of each officer and director may be set forth in lieu of the full name and business address of its principal members.

4. The corporation and each officer and director thereof, if the applicant or provider is a corporation.

5. Every trustee and officer, if the applicant or provider is a trust.

6. The manager, whether an individual, corporation, partnership, or association.

7. Any stockholder holding at least a 10 percent interest in the operations of the facility in which the care is to be offered.

8. Any person whose name is required to be provided in the application under this paragraph and who owns any interest in or receives any remuneration from, directly or indirectly, any professional service firm, association, trust, partnership, or corporation providing goods, leases, or services to the facility for which the application is made, with a real or anticipated value of $10,000 or more, and the name and address of the professional service firm, association, trust, partnership, or corporation in which such interest is held. The applicant shall describe such goods, leases, or services and the probable cost to the facility or provider and shall describe why such goods, leases, or services should not be purchased from an independent entity.

9. Any person, corporation, partnership, association, or trust owning land or property leased to the facility, along with a copy of the lease agreement.

10. Any affiliated parent or subsidiary corporation or partnership.

(c)1. Evidence that the applicant is reputable and of responsible character. If the applicant is a firm, association, organization, partnership, business trust, corporation, or company, the form must require evidence that the members or shareholders and the person in charge of providing care under a certificate of authority are reputable and of responsible character.

2. Evidence satisfactory to the office of the ability of the applicant to comply with this chapter and with rules adopted by the commission pursuant to this chapter.

3. A statement of whether a person identified in the application for a provisional certificate of authority or the administrator or manager of the facility, if such person has been designated, or any such person living in the same location:

a. Has been convicted of a felony or has pleaded nolo contendere to a felony charge, or has been held liable or has been enjoined in a civil action by final judgment, if the felony or civil action involved fraud, embezzlement, fraudulent conversion, or misappropriation of property.

b. Is subject to a currently effective injunctive or restrictive order or federal or state administrative order relating to business activity or health care as a result of an action brought by a public agency or department, including, without limitation, an action affecting a license under chapter 400 or chapter 429.

The statement must set forth the court or agency, the date of conviction or judgment, and the penalty imposed or damages assessed, or the date, nature, and issuer of the order. Before determining whether a provisional certificate of authority is to be issued, the office may make an inquiry to determine the accuracy of the information submitted pursuant to subparagraphs 1., 2., and 3.

(d) The contracts for continuing care and continuing care at-home to be entered into between the provider and residents which meet the minimum requirements of s. 651.055 or s. 651.057 and which include a statement describing the procedures required by law relating to the release of escrowed entrance fees. Such statement may be furnished through an addendum.

(e) Any advertisement or other written material proposed to be used in the solicitation of residents.

(f) Such other reasonable data, financial statements, and pertinent information as the commission or office may reasonably require with respect to the provider or the facility, including the most recent audited financial report of comparable facilities currently or previously owned, managed, or developed by the applicant or its principal, to assist in determining the financial viability of the project and the management capabilities of its managers and owners.

(g) The forms of the residency contracts, reservation contracts, escrow agreements, and wait list contracts, if applicable, which are proposed to be used by the provider in the furnishing of care. The office shall approve contracts and escrow agreements that comply with ss. 651.023(1)(c), 651.033, 651.055, and 651.057. Thereafter, no other form of contract or agreement may be used by the provider until it has been submitted to the office and approved.

If any material change occurs in the facts set forth in an application filed with the office pursuant to this subsection, an amendment setting forth such change must be filed with the office within 10 business days after the applicant becomes aware of such change, and a copy of the amendment must be sent by registered mail to the principal office of the facility and to the principal office of the controlling company.

(3) In addition to the information required in subsection (2), an applicant for a provisional certificate of authority shall submit a feasibility study with appropriate financial, marketing, and actuarial assumptions for the first 5 years of operations. The feasibility study must include at least the following information:

(a) A description of the proposed facility, including the location, size, anticipated completion date, and the proposed construction program.

(b) An identification and evaluation of the primary and, if appropriate, the secondary market areas of the facility and the projected unit sales per month.

(c) Projected revenues, including anticipated entrance fees; monthly service fees; nursing care revenues, if applicable; and all other sources of revenue.

(d) Projected expenses, including staffing requirements and salaries; cost of property, plant, and equipment, including depreciation expense; interest expense; marketing expense; and other operating expenses.

(e) A projected balance sheet.

(f) Expectations of the financial condition of the project, including the projected cash flow, and an estimate of the funds anticipated to be necessary to cover startup losses.

(g) The inflation factor, if any, assumed in the feasibility study for the proposed facility and how and where it is applied.

(h) Project costs and the total amount of debt financing required, marketing projections, resident fees and charges, the competition, resident contract provisions, and other factors that affect the feasibility of the facility.

(i) Appropriate population projections, including morbidity and mortality assumptions.

(j) The name of the person who prepared the feasibility study and the experience of such person in preparing similar studies or otherwise consulting in the field of continuing care. The preparer of the feasibility study may be the provider or a contracted third party.

(k) Any other information that the applicant deems relevant and appropriate to enable the office to make a more informed determination.

(4) If an applicant has or proposes to have more than one facility offering continuing care or continuing care at-home, a separate provisional certificate of authority and a separate certificate of authority must be obtained for each facility.

(5)(a) Within 30 days after receipt of an application for a provisional certificate of authority, the office shall examine the application and shall notify the applicant in writing, specifically setting forth and specifically requesting any additional information the office is permitted by law to require. If the application submitted is determined by the office to be substantially incomplete so as to require substantial additional information, including biographical information, the office may return the application to the applicant with a written notice that the application as received is substantially incomplete and, therefore, unacceptable for filing without further action required by the office. Any filing fee received shall be refunded to the applicant.

(b) Within 15 days after receipt of all of the requested additional information, the office shall notify the applicant in writing that all of the requested information has been received and the application is deemed to be complete as of the date of the notice. Failure to so notify the applicant in writing within the 15-day period shall constitute acknowledgment by the office that it has received all requested additional information, and the application shall be deemed to be complete for purposes of review upon the date of the filing of all of the requested additional information.

(6) Within 45 days after the date an application is deemed complete as set forth in paragraph (5)(b), the office shall complete its review and issue a provisional certificate of authority to the applicant based upon its review and a determination that the application meets all requirements of law, that the feasibility study was based on sufficient data and reasonable assumptions, and that the applicant will be able to provide continuing care or continuing care at-home as proposed and meet all financial and contractual obligations related to its operations, including the financial requirements of this chapter. If the application is denied, the office shall notify the applicant in writing, citing the specific failures to meet the provisions of this chapter. Such denial entitles the applicant to a hearing pursuant to chapter 120.

(7) The issuance of a provisional certificate of authority entitles the applicant to collect entrance fees and reservation deposits from prospective residents. All or any part of an entrance fee or deposit collected shall be placed in an escrow account or on deposit with the department, pursuant to s. 651.033, until a certificate of authority is issued by the office.

(8) The office may not approve any application that includes in the plan of financing any encumbrance of the operating reserves or renewal and replacement reserves required by this chapter.

History.—ss. 4, 33, ch. 83-328; s. 35, ch. 85-62; s. 42, ch. 85-321; s. 2, ch. 87-136; s. 2, ch. 89-363; s. 2, ch. 92-56; s. 12, ch. 93-22; s. 4, ch. 97-229; s. 1670, ch. 2003-261; s. 100, ch. 2006-197; s. 3, ch. 2010-202; s. 5, ch. 2011-193; s. 7, ch. 2019-160.