Florida Agencies Get "Legal" With Licensure Bill

Editor’s Note: A law passed during the waning days of the 2005 legislative session required all insurance agencies operating in Florida to apply for licensure or registration by October 1, 2006. Until its passage, Florida had been the only state in the country that did not have some form of agency licensing. State regulators had long sought the bill, claiming it was necessary to protect consumers from being taken advantage of by individuals engaged in illegal or unethical conduct. While agent groups supported the bill in general, they fought hard for a “grandfather” registration clause for some existing agencies.

As October 1 loomed and the Department of Financial Services, which oversees the licensing requirements, was bombarded with last-minute applications, the powers-that-be decided to give agencies until November 1 to file before imposing administrative penalties. Here’s a look at where things stand now.