Fla. Stat. § 560.209 — Florida Code / Title XXXIII / Chapter 560 / Part II / Section 560.209
560.209 Net worth; corporate surety bond; collateral deposit in lieu of bond.
Status: in_force

(1) A licensee must have a net worth of at least $100,000. A licensee operating in more than one location must have an additional net worth of $10,000 per location in this state, up to a maximum of $2 million. The required net worth must be maintained at all times.

(2) A licensee must obtain an annual financial audit report, which must be submitted to the office within 120 days after the end of the licensee’s fiscal year, as disclosed to the office. If the applicant is a wholly owned subsidiary of another corporation, the financial audit report on the parent corporation’s financial statements shall satisfy this requirement.

(3) Before the office may issue a license under this part, the applicant must provide to the office a corporate surety bond, issued by a bonding company or insurance company authorized to do business in this state. (a) The corporate surety bond shall be in an amount as specified by rule, but may not be less than $50,000 or exceed $2 million. The rule shall provide allowances for the financial condition, number of locations, and anticipated volume of the licensee. (b) The corporate surety bond must be in a form satisfactory to the office and shall run to the state for the benefit of any claimants in this state against the applicant or its authorized vendors to secure the faithful performance of the obligations of the applicant and its vendors with respect to the receipt, handling, transmission, and payment of funds. The aggregate liability of the corporate surety bond may not exceed the principal sum of the bond. Claimants against the applicant or its authorized vendors may bring suit directly on the corporate surety bond, or the Department of Legal Affairs may bring suit on behalf of the claimants. (c) The corporate surety bond may not be canceled by the licensee or the corporate surety except upon written notice to the office by registered mail. A cancellation may not take effect until 30 days after receipt by the office of the written notice. (d) The corporate surety must, within 10 days after it pays any claim, give written notice to the office by registered mail of such payment with details sufficient to identify the claimant and the claim or judgment paid. (e) If the principal sum of the bond is reduced by one or more recoveries or payments, the licensee must furnish a new or additional bond so that the total or aggregate principal sum of the bond equals the sum required pursuant to paragraph (a). Alternatively, a licensee may furnish an endorsement executed by the corporate surety reinstating the bond to the required principal sum.

(4) In lieu of a corporate surety bond, or of any portion of the principal sum required by this section, the applicant may deposit collateral cash, securities, or alternative security devices as provided by rule with a federally insured financial institution. (a) Acceptable collateral deposit items include cash and interest-bearing stocks and bonds, notes, debentures, or other obligations of the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof, or guaranteed by the United States, or of this state. (b) The collateral deposit must be in an aggregate amount, based upon principal amount or market value, whichever is lower, of at least the amount of the required corporate surety bond or portion thereof. (c) Collateral deposits must be pledged to the office and held by the insured financial institution to secure the same obligations as the corporate surety bond, but the depositor is entitled to receive any interest and dividends thereon and may, with the approval of the office, substitute other securities or deposits for those deposited. The principal amount of the deposit shall be released only on written authorization of the office or on the order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

(5) A licensee must at all times maintain the bond or collateral deposit in the required amount. If the office reasonably determines that the bond or elements of the collateral deposit are insecure, deficient in amount, or exhausted in whole or in part, the office may, by written order, require the filing of a new or supplemental bond or the deposit of new or additional collateral deposit items.

(6) The bond and collateral deposit shall remain in place for 5 years after the licensee ceases licensed operations in this state. The office may allow the bond or collateral deposit to be reduced or eliminated prior to that time to the extent that the amount of the licensee’s outstanding payment instruments or money transmitted in this state are reduced. The office may also allow a licensee to substitute a letter of credit or other form of acceptable security for the bond or collateral deposit at the time the licensee ceases licensed operations in this state.

History: s. 2, ch. 94-238; s. 2, ch. 94-354; s. 715, ch. 2003-261; s. 34, ch. 2008-177; s. 72, ch. 2009-21.