5N-1.100. Organization

The Division of Licensing (division), Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (department) is statutorily empowered with the authority to ensure that the public is protected from private investigation, security, and repossession services by individuals who have a criminal history, or are insufficiently or improperly trained in the field, or are unlicensed, or by agencies that are improperly insured, or are managed in a manner which does not assure compliance with the law and these rules by its licensed employees. (1) The division is located at 4040 Esplanade Way, Tallahassee, Florida. The mailing address is: Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Licensing, P.O. Box 9100, Tallahassee, Florida 32315-9100. The division maintains office hours from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday except state holidays. (2) Persons may contact the division at the following numbers: Director/Assistant Director (850)245-5500 Compliance Section (850)245-5506 Bureau of Regulation and Enforcement (850)245-5499 Bureau of License Issuance (850)245-5665 Bureau of Support Services (850)245-5500 Additionally, the division maintains regional offices in the following locations: Jacksonville Regional Office 7825 Baymeadows Way Suite 106A, Center Building Jacksonville, Florida 32256 (904)828-3100 Tallahassee Regional Office 1925 Capital Circle Northeast Tallahassee, Florida 32308 (850)412-2022 Ft. Walton Regional Office 111 Racetrack Road Unit 111-C, Choctaw Plaza Ft. Walton, Florida 32547 (850)833-9146 Miami-Dade Regional Office 7739 N.W. 48th Street, Suite 140 Miami, Florida 33166 (305)639-3500 North Port Regional Office Sumter Crossing Commerce Building 4451 Aidan Lane, Suite 102 North Port, Florida 34287 (941)240-3160 Plantation Regional Office 7800 Peters Road, Suite C-100 Plantation, Florida 33324 (954)308-4040 Orlando Regional Office 5750 Major Boulevard Suite 100 Orlando, Florida 32819 (407)888-8700 Tampa Regional Office Interstate Business Park 4510 Oak Fair Boulevard, Suite 100 Tampa, Florida 33610 (813)337-5377 West Palm Beach Regional Office 400 N. Congress Avenue, Suite 140 West Palm Beach, Florida 33401 (561)681-2530 (3) Definitions. In addition to the definitions contained in Section 493.6101, F.S., the following terms shall mean: (a) The term “equivalent experience” shall mean and include that experience which is substantially identical and equal in force, power, effect or import as the experience gained by a personal knowledge and activity for the required period of time performing the type of service permitted under the license for which application is made. Examples of equivalent experience include detectives and officers of law enforcement agencies of the United States or this state or any county or municipality of this state, insurance investigators or adjustors, special agents, detectives or investigators who have performed such duties as an in-house employee, and investigators for attorneys. Equivalent experience is not limited to these examples. (b) The term “certified law enforcement officer” means a sworn law enforcement or corrections officer who has received certification from the Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission. (c) The term “attorney” means a member of the Florida Bar engaged in the practice of law in this state. (4) Complaints. The complaint of any person which alleges or involves a violation of Chapter 493, F.S., or of these rules shall be filed with any division office. Where it appears to the division that there may be or may have been a violation, the division shall begin an investigation to determine whether a violation has occurred. Upon review of the investigative report prepared in the case, the division shall determine whether probable cause exists to believe a violation has occurred. Disciplinary cases, and cases in which substantial interests are affected by the division, shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Section 120.57, F.S., and Chapter 28-106, F.A.C. (5) Declaratory Statements. Any person, entitled to request a declaratory statement from the division under Chapter 120, F.S., or Chapter 28-105, F.A.C., Model Rules of Procedure, may do so in the manner provided in Section 120.565, F.S. or Chapter 28-105, F.A.C. (6) Division Forms. Requests for public information or copies of the following applications and support forms, which are incorporated by reference in this rule, may be made by contacting any division office. Addresses for each division office are listed in subsection (2) of this rule. Election of Rights – Administrative Complaint DACS-16011 (eff. 8/93) Election of Rights – License Denial DACS-16015 (eff. 8/93) Application for Class “D” Security Officer License DACS-16007 (eff. 8/95) Application for Class “G” Statewide Firearm License DACS-16008 (eff. 8/95) Personal Inquiry Waiver DACS-16009 (eff. 1/95) Disclosure Notice LC2E009 (eff. 1/95) Acknowledgment Card – Class “D” DACS-16037 (eff. 1/95) Certification of Insurance DACS-16004 (eff. 1/06) Important Notice (Application for Refund Form Enclosed) LC2E037 (eff. 1/95) Employee Action Report DACS-16006 (eff. 1/95) Application for School or Training Facility License DACS-16003 (eff. 7/27/04) Application for Security Officer Instructor License DACS-16014 (eff. 9/95) Termination/Completion of Sponsorship for Private Investigator Intern DACS-16016 (eff. 10/94) Termination/Completion of Sponsorship for Recovery Agent Intern DACS-16017 (eff. 10/94) Application for Private Investigator or Private Investigator Intern License DACS-16018 (eff. 8/95) Application for Recovery Agent or Recovery Agent Intern License DACS-16019 (eff. 1/95) Application for Firearms Instructor License DACS-16020 (eff. 7/95) Application for Manager’s License DACS-16021 (eff. 7/95) Application for Agency License DACS-16022 (eff. 8/95) Affidavit of Experience – Class “C” DACS-16023 (eff. 1/95) Affidavit of Experience – Class “E” DACS-16024 (eff. 1/95) Application for Branch Agency License DACS-16025 (eff. 6/95) Application for Recovery Agent Instructor License LC2E160 (eff. 11/95) Letter of Intent to Sponsor Private Investigator Intern DACS-16026 (eff. 10/94) Letter of Intent to Sponsor Recovery Agent Intern DACS-16027 (eff. 10/94) Affidavit of Experience – Class “MA”, “MB”, “M”, “MR” DACS-16028 (eff. 1/95) Firearms Incident Report DACS-16001 (eff. 4/93) Affidavit DACS-16002 (eff. 2/96) Temporary Class “G” License – Agency Certification DACS-16013 (eff. 10/94) Temporary Class “G” License – Criminal History Background Check LC3E164 (eff. 10/94) Revised/Duplicate/Renewal License Request DACS-16029 (eff. 1/95) Compliance Inspection Report DACS-16034 (eff. 7/96) Intern Biannual Progress Report DACS-16033 (eff. 10/94) Security Officer Training Curriculum Guide LC1E186 (eff. 7/96) Recovery Agent/Intern Curriculum Guide LC1E187 (eff. 7/96) New License Inspection Report DACS-16030 (eff. 7/96) School Inspection Report DACS-16031 (eff. 6/95) Change of Address DACS-16032 (eff. 7/96) (7) Final Orders. The division hereby adopts the minimum requirements of Chapter 1B-32, F.A.C., for the indexing, management and availability of final orders. In addition to these requirements, final orders resulting from proceedings under Section 120.535, F.S., are indexed by the division. Final orders resulting from a challenge to the validity of a rule under Section 120.54(4) or 120.56, F.S., are listed or indexed by the Division of Administrative Hearings.