VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION This includes all real estate, appraisal, CAM, and state contractor licensees.

There has been an important change to Ch. 455, F.S. that you need to be aware of if you are licensed by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. This includes all real estate, appraisal, CAM, and state contractor licensees.

New Reporting Requirement for Criminal Convictions

During the 2009 Legislative Session, the Florida Legislature passed House Bill 425, which became law on October 1, 2009. Beginning October 1, 2009, Chapter 455.227(1)(t)requires all licensees to report to the department within 30 days of being convicted or found guilty of, or having plead nolo contendere or guilty to a crime in any jurisdiction. This law also requires that any conviction prior to October 1, 2009 be reported by November 1, 2009. A licensee who fails to report that information, may be subject to disciplinary action, including fines, suspension or license revocation. To report this information, complete the criminal self-reporting document and mail to the department as provided on the form.

There are two parts to this change that licensees need to be aware of: 1) In most cases the law previously required the reporting of felony convictions only, not misdemeanors. The law now requires the reporting of misdemeanors. 2) The law change now requires retroactive reporting for any crime that was not previously reported to the state, whether it occurred prior to getting a license, or after the license was obtained.

http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/pro/documents/criminal_self-reporting_document.pdf