reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
FL Stat § 626.8414 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXXVII - Insurance|Chapter 626 - Insurance Field Representatives and Operations|Part V - Title Insurance Agents (Ss. 626.841-626.8473)|626.8414 - Qualifications for examination.

626.8414 Qualifications for examination.—The department must authorize any natural person to take the examination for the issuance of a license as a title insurance agent if the person meets all of the following qualifications:(1) The applicant must be at least 18 years of age.(2) The applicant must be a United States citizen or legal alien who possesses work authorization from the United States Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services and a bona fide resident of this state. A person meets the residency requirement of this subsection, notwithstanding the existence at the time of application for license of a license in the applicant’s name on the records of another state as a resident licensee of such other state, if the applicant furnishes a letter of clearance satisfactory to the department that the resident licenses have been canceled or changed to a nonresident basis and that the applicant is in good standing.History.—s. 14, ch. 92-318; s. 65, ch. 99-5; s. 81, ch. 2000-154; s. 55, ch. 2003-267; s. 48, ch. 2003-281; s. 116, ch. 2004-5.
FL Stat § 626.8418 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXXVII - Insurance|Chapter 626 - Insurance Field Representatives and Operations|Part V - Title Insurance Agents (Ss. 626.841-626.8473)|626.8418 - Application for title insurance agency license.

626.8418 Application for title insurance agency license.—Before doing business in this state as a title insurance agency, the applicant must file with the department an application for a license as a title insurance agency, on forms furnished by the department, which includes all of the following:(1) The name of each majority owner, partner, officer, and director of the title insurance agency.(2) The residence address of each person required to be listed under subsection (1).(3) The name of the title insurance agency and its principal business address.(4) The location of each title insurance agency office and the name under which each agency office conducts or will conduct business.(5) The name of each title insurance agent to be in full-time charge of a title insurance agency office and specification of which office.(6) Such additional information as the department requires by rule to ascertain the trustworthiness and competence of persons required to be listed on the application and to ascertain that such persons meet the requirements of this code.History.—s. 16, ch. 92-318; s. 47, ch. 98-199; s. 8, ch. 2014-112.
FL Stat § 626.8419 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXXVII - Insurance|Chapter 626 - Insurance Field Representatives and Operations|Part V - Title Insurance Agents (Ss. 626.841-626.8473)|626.8419 - Appointment of title insurance agency.

626.8419 Appointment of title insurance agency.—(1) The title insurer engaging or employing the title insurance agency must file with the department, on forms furnished by the department, an application certifying that the proposed title insurance agency meets all of the following requirements:(a) The title insurance agency has obtained a fidelity bond in an amount of at least $50,000, acceptable to the insurer appointing the agency. If a fidelity bond is unavailable generally, the department shall adopt rules for alternative methods to comply with this paragraph.(b) The title insurance agency must have obtained errors and omissions insurance in an amount acceptable to the insurer appointing the agency. The amount of the coverage must be at least $250,000 per claim and an aggregate limit with a deductible no greater than $10,000. If errors and omissions insurance is unavailable generally, the department shall adopt rules for alternative methods that comply with this paragraph.(c) The title insurance agency must have obtained a surety bond in an amount of at least $35,000 made payable to the title insurer or title insurers appointing the agency. The surety bond must be for the benefit of any appointing title insurer damaged by a violation by the title insurance agency of its contract with the appointing title insurer. If the surety bond is payable to multiple title insurers, the surety bond must provide that each title insurer is to be notified if a claim is made upon the surety bond or the bond is terminated.(d) The surety bond must remain in effect and unimpaired as long as the agency is appointed by a title insurer. The agency must provide written proof to the appointing title insurer or insurers on an annual basis evidencing that the surety bond is still in effect and unimpaired.(e) A title insurer may not provide the surety bond directly or indirectly on behalf of the agency.(2) This section does not exempt title insurance agents from the appointment requirements of part I.History.—s. 17, ch. 92-318; s. 25, ch. 2012-209; s. 9, ch. 2014-112.
FL Stat § 626.84195 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXXVII - Insurance|Chapter 626 - Insurance Field Representatives and Operations|Part V - Title Insurance Agents (Ss. 626.841-626.8473)|626.84195 - Confidentiality of information supplied by title insurance agencies and insurers.

626.84195 Confidentiality of information supplied by title insurance agencies and insurers.—(1) As used in this section, the term “proprietary business information” means information that:(a) Is owned or controlled by a title insurance agency or insurer requesting confidentiality under this section;(b) Is intended to be and is treated by the title insurance agency or insurer as private in that the disclosure of the information would cause harm to the business operations of the title insurance agency or insurer;(c) Has not been publicly disclosed; and(d) Concerns:1. Business plans;2. Internal auditing controls and reports of internal auditors;3. Reports of external auditors for privately held companies;4. Trade secrets, as defined in s. 688.002; or5. Financial information, including revenue data, loss expense data, gross receipts, taxes paid, capital investment, and employee wages.(2) Proprietary business information provided to the office by a title insurance agency or insurer is confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution until such information is otherwise publicly available or is no longer treated by the title insurance agency or insurer as proprietary business information. However, information provided by multiple title insurance agencies and insurers may be aggregated on an industrywide basis and disclosed to the public as long as the specific identities of the agencies or insurers are not revealed.History.—s. 1, ch. 2012-207; s. 1, ch. 2017-34.
FL Stat § 626.842 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXXVII - Insurance|Chapter 626 - Insurance Field Representatives and Operations|Part V - Title Insurance Agents (Ss. 626.841-626.8473)|626.842 - Credit and character reports.

626.842 Credit and character reports.—(1) As to each person appointed as title insurance agent for the first time in this state, the appointing insurer shall, coincidentally with such appointment, secure and thereafter keep on file a full, detailed credit and character report for the 5-year period immediately prior to the date of application for appointment, made by an established and reputable independent reporting service, relative to the individual, if a partnership or sole proprietorship, or the officers, if a corporation or other legal entity, unless otherwise expressly requested by the department.(2) At the time the application is filed, the insurer shall furnish to the department, on a form furnished by the department, such information as the department may reasonably require relative to such title insurance agent and investigation.(3) Information contained in credit or character reports furnished to the department under this section is confidential and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1).History.—s. 6, ch. 85-185; s. 1, ch. 86-286; s. 119, ch. 90-363; s. 114, ch. 92-318; s. 6, ch. 93-80; s. 374, ch. 96-406.
FL Stat § 626.84201 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXXVII - Insurance|Chapter 626 - Insurance Field Representatives and Operations|Part V - Title Insurance Agents (Ss. 626.841-626.8473)|626.84201 - Nonresident title insurance agents.

626.84201 Nonresident title insurance agents.—Notwithstanding s. 626.8414(2), the department, upon application and payment of the fees specified in s. 624.501, may issue a license as a nonresident title insurance agent to an individual not a resident of this state in the same manner applicable to the licensure of nonresident general lines agents under the provisions of s. 626.741, provided the individual passes the examination for licensure required under s. 626.221. Nonresident title insurance agents licensed pursuant to this section must complete the continuing education requirements of s. 626.2815 in the same manner as resident title insurance agents. Sections 626.742 and 626.743 apply to nonresident title insurance agents.History.—s. 30, ch. 2005-257; s. 1, ch. 2007-44.
FL Stat § 626.8421 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXXVII - Insurance|Chapter 626 - Insurance Field Representatives and Operations|Part V - Title Insurance Agents (Ss. 626.841-626.8473)|626.8421 - Number of appointments permitted or required.

626.8421 Number of appointments permitted or required.—A title agent shall be required to have a separate appointment as to each insurer by which he or she is appointed as agent. As a part of each appointment there shall be a certified statement or affidavit of an appropriate officer or official of the appointing insurer stating that to the best of the insurer’s knowledge and belief the applicant, or its principals in the case of a corporation or other legal entity, has met the requirements of s. 626.8417.History.—s. 120, ch. 90-363; s. 277, ch. 97-102.
FL Stat § 626.8423 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXXVII - Insurance|Chapter 626 - Insurance Field Representatives and Operations|Part V - Title Insurance Agents (Ss. 626.841-626.8473)|626.8423 - Investigation of applicants for license or renewal or continuation.

626.8423 Investigation of applicants for license or renewal or continuation.—The department may propound reasonable interrogatories, in addition to those contained in the application, to any applicant for a title insurance agent’s license or appointment or for renewal or continuation of such a license or appointment relating to the applicant’s qualifications, residence, and prospective place of business and any other matter which the department considers necessary or advisable for the protection of the public and to ascertain the applicant’s qualifications. The department may, upon receipt of the application, make such further investigation as it considers advisable of the applicant’s character, experience, background, and fitness for the license.History.—s. 7, ch. 85-185; s. 1, ch. 86-286; s. 121, ch. 90-363; s. 114, ch. 92-318.
FL Stat § 626.8427 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXXVII - Insurance|Chapter 626 - Insurance Field Representatives and Operations|Part V - Title Insurance Agents (Ss. 626.841-626.8473)|626.8427 - Number of applications for licensure required; exemption; effect of expiration of license.

626.8427 Number of applications for licensure required; exemption; effect of expiration of license.—(1) After a license as a title insurance agent has been issued to a title insurance agent, the agent is not required to file another license application for a similar license, irrespective of the number of insurers to be represented by the agent, unless:(a) The agent is specifically ordered by the department to complete a new application; or(b) During any period of 48 months since the filing of the original license application, the agent was not appointed, unless in the case of individuals the failure to be so appointed was due to military service, in which event the period within which a new application is not required may, in the discretion of the department, be extended for 12 months following the date of discharge from military service if the military service does not exceed 3 years, but in no event shall the period be extended under this clause for a period of more than 6 years from the date of filing the original application.(2) The department shall not charge a fee for filing an application for license with respect to any applicant for license who is exempted under this section from filing an application.(3) Upon the expiration or termination of a title insurance agent’s appointment, the title insurance agent is without authority conferred by the license and shall not engage or attempt to engage in any activity requiring a title insurance agent’s license and appointment. The agent shall not again be granted an appointment until he or she fully qualifies therefor as provided in this chapter. An application shall be required in all cases for qualification of a new title insurance agent’s license when application is made after the expiration of 4 years from the date of the expiration or termination of the last appointment held by a licensee.History.—s. 9, ch. 85-185; s. 1, ch. 86-286; s. 122, ch. 90-363; s. 114, ch. 92-318; s. 278, ch. 97-102; s. 16, ch. 2001-142; s. 967, ch. 2003-261.
FL Stat § 626.843 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXXVII - Insurance|Chapter 626 - Insurance Field Representatives and Operations|Part V - Title Insurance Agents (Ss. 626.841-626.8473)|626.843 - Renewal, continuation, reinstatement, termination of title insurance agent’s appointment.

626.843 Renewal, continuation, reinstatement, termination of title insurance agent’s appointment.—(1) The appointment of a title insurance agent shall continue in force until suspended, revoked, or otherwise terminated, but subject to a renewed request filed by the insurer every 24 months after the original issue date of the appointment, accompanied by payment of the renewal appointment fee and taxes as prescribed in s. 624.501.(2) Title insurance agent appointments shall be renewed pursuant to s. 626.381 for insurance representatives in general.(3) The appointment issued shall remain in effect for so long as the appointment represented thereby continues in force as provided in this section.History.—s. 10, ch. 85-185; s. 1, ch. 86-286; s. 22, ch. 87-226; s. 6, ch. 89-305; s. 123, ch. 90-363; s. 114, ch. 92-318; s. 57, ch. 2003-267; s. 50, ch. 2003-281.
FL Stat § 626.8433 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXXVII - Insurance|Chapter 626 - Insurance Field Representatives and Operations|Part V - Title Insurance Agents (Ss. 626.841-626.8473)|626.8433 - Filing of reasons for terminating appointment of title insurance agent; confidential information.

626.8433 Filing of reasons for terminating appointment of title insurance agent; confidential information.—(1) Any title insurer that is terminating the appointment of a title insurance agent, whether such termination is by direct action of the appointing title insurer or by failure to renew or continue the appointment as provided, shall file with the department a statement of the reasons, if any, for, and the facts relative to, such termination.(2) In the case of a termination by failure to renew or continue the appointment, the information required under subsection (1) shall be filed with the department as soon as possible, and at all events within 30 days, after the date notice of intention not to renew or continue was filed with the department. In all other cases, the information required under subsection (1) shall be filed with the department at the time, or at all events within 10 days after, notice of the termination was filed with the department.(3) Any information, document, record, or statement furnished to the department under subsection (1) is confidential and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1).History.—s. 11, ch. 85-185; s. 1, ch. 86-286; s. 124, ch. 90-363; s. 114, ch. 92-318; s. 7, ch. 93-80; s. 375, ch. 96-406.
FL Stat § 626.8437 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXXVII - Insurance|Chapter 626 - Insurance Field Representatives and Operations|Part V - Title Insurance Agents (Ss. 626.841-626.8473)|626.8437 - Grounds for denial, suspension, revocation, or refusal to renew license or appointment.

626.8437 Grounds for denial, suspension, revocation, or refusal to renew license or appointment.—The department shall deny, suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew or continue the license or appointment of any title insurance agent or agency, and it shall suspend or revoke the eligibility to hold a license or appointment of such person, if it finds that as to the applicant, licensee, appointee, or any principal thereof, any one or more of the following grounds exist:(1) Lack of one or more of the qualifications for the license or appointment as specified in ss. 626.8417, 626.8418, and 626.8419.(2) Material misstatement, misrepresentation, or fraud in obtaining, or attempting to obtain, the license or appointment.(3) Willful misrepresentation of any title insurance policy or commitment, or willful deception with regard to any such policy or commitment, done either in person or by any form of dissemination of information or advertising.(4) Demonstrated lack of fitness or trustworthiness to represent a title insurer in the issuance of its commitments or policies of title insurance.(5) Demonstrated lack of reasonably adequate knowledge and technical competence to engage in the transactions authorized by the license or appointment.(6) Fraudulent or dishonest practices in the conduct of business under the license or appointment.(7) Misappropriation, conversion, or unlawful withholding of moneys belonging to title insurers or insureds or others and received in conduct of business under the license or appointment.(8) Unlawful rebating, or attempting to unlawfully rebate, or unlawfully dividing, or offering to unlawfully divide, title insurance premiums, fees, or charges with another, as prohibited by s. 626.9541(1)(h)3.(9) Willful failure to comply with, or willful violation of, any proper order or rule of the department or willful violation of any provision of the Florida Insurance Code.(10) The licensee if an individual, or the partners if a partnership, or owner if a sole proprietorship, or the officers if a corporation, having been found guilty of or having pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to a felony or a crime punishable by imprisonment of 1 year or more under the law of the United States or of any state or under the law of any other country which involves moral turpitude, without regard to whether a judgment of conviction has been entered by the court having jurisdiction of such cases.(11) Failure to timely submit data as required by s. 627.782.History.—s. 12, ch. 85-185; s. 1, ch. 86-286; s. 5, ch. 89-305; s. 125, ch. 90-363; s. 114, ch. 92-318; s. 48, ch. 98-199; s. 2, ch. 2012-206; s. 10, ch. 2014-112; s. 25, ch. 2019-140.
FL Stat § 626.844 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXXVII - Insurance|Chapter 626 - Insurance Field Representatives and Operations|Part V - Title Insurance Agents (Ss. 626.841-626.8473)|626.844 - Grounds for discretionary refusal, suspension, or revocation of license or appointment.

626.844 Grounds for discretionary refusal, suspension, or revocation of license or appointment.—The department may, in its discretion, deny, suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew or continue the license or appointment of any title insurance agent or agency, and it may suspend or revoke the eligibility to hold a license or appointment of any such title insurance agent or agency if it finds that as to the applicant or licensee or appointee, or any principal thereof, any one or more of the following grounds exist under circumstances for which such denial, suspension, revocation, or refusal is not mandatory under s. 626.8437:(1) Any cause for which issuance of the license or appointment could have been refused had it then existed and been known to the department.(2) Violation of any provision of the Florida Insurance Code in the course of dealing under the license or appointment.(3) Violation of any lawful order or rule of the department.(4) Failure or refusal upon demand to pay over to any title insurer that the appointee represents or has represented any money coming into the hands of such appointee and belonging to the title insurer.(5) Engaging in unfair methods of competition or in unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of business, as prohibited under part IX of this chapter, or having otherwise shown himself or herself to be a source of injury or loss to the public or to be detrimental to the public interest.(6) The licensee if an individual, or the partners if a partnership, or owner if a sole proprietorship, or the officers if a corporation, having been found guilty of or having pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to a felony or a crime punishable by imprisonment of 1 year or more under the law of the United States or of any state or under the law of any other country, without regard to whether a judgment of conviction has been entered by the court having jurisdiction of such cases.History.—s. 13, ch. 85-185; s. 1, ch. 86-286; s. 126, ch. 90-363; s. 114, ch. 92-318; s. 279, ch. 97-102; s. 49, ch. 98-199; s. 49, ch. 2001-63; s. 26, ch. 2019-140.
FL Stat § 626.8443 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXXVII - Insurance|Chapter 626 - Insurance Field Representatives and Operations|Part V - Title Insurance Agents (Ss. 626.841-626.8473)|626.8443 - Duration of suspension or revocation.

626.8443 Duration of suspension or revocation.—(1) The department shall, in its order suspending a title insurance agent’s or agency’s license or appointment or in its order suspending the eligibility of a person to hold or apply for such license or appointment, specify the period during which the suspension is to be in effect, but such period may not exceed 2 years. The license, appointment, or eligibility will remain suspended during the period so specified, subject, however, to any rescission or modification of the order by the department, or modification or reversal thereof by the court, prior to expiration of the suspension period. A license, appointment, or eligibility that has been suspended may not be reinstated except upon request for such reinstatement, but the department may not grant such reinstatement if it finds that the circumstance or circumstances for which the license, appointment, and eligibility was suspended still exist or are likely to recur.(2) A licensee and appointee whose license has been revoked by the department does not have the right to apply for a new license or appointment for 2 years from the effective date of the revocation or, if judicial review of such revocation is sought, for 2 years from the date of the final court order or decree affirming the revocation. The department shall not, however, grant a new license or appointment or reinstate eligibility to hold such license or appointment if it finds that the circumstance or circumstances for which the previous license and appointment was revoked still exist or are likely to recur.(3) If licenses of any person as a title insurance agent or agency have been revoked twice, the department shall not thereafter grant or issue a title insurance agent’s or agency’s license to such person.(4) During the period of suspension or after revocation of the license and appointment, the former licensee shall not engage in or attempt to profess to engage in any transaction or business for which a license or appointment is required under this code or directly or indirectly own, control, or be employed in any manner by any insurance agent or agency or adjuster or adjusting firm.History.—s. 14, ch. 85-185; s. 1, ch. 86-286; s. 23, ch. 87-226; s. 127, ch. 90-363; s. 114, ch. 92-318; s. 50, ch. 98-199; s. 19, ch. 2021-113.