Fla. Stat. 648.27
Licenses and appointments; general


(1)

A license may not be issued except in compliance with this chapter, and may not be issued except to an individual. A firm, partnership, association, or corporation, as such, may not be licensed.

(2)

For the protection of the people of this state, the department may not issue, renew, or permit to exist any license or appointment except in compliance with this chapter. The department may not issue, renew, or permit to exist a license or appointment for any individual found to be untrustworthy or incompetent who has had his or her eligibility to hold a license or appointment revoked, or who has not established to the satisfaction of the department that he or she is qualified therefor in accordance with this chapter.

(3)

The department may propound any reasonable interrogatories to an applicant for a license or appointment under this chapter or on any renewal thereof, relating to his or her qualifications, residence, prospective place of business, and any other matters which are deemed necessary or expedient in order to protect the public and ascertain the qualifications of the applicant. The department may also conduct any reasonable inquiry or investigation it sees fit, relative to the determination of the applicant’s fitness to be licensed or appointed or to continue to be licensed or appointed. Upon the request of the department, a law enforcement agency shall inform the department of any specific criminal charge filed against any applicant and the final disposition of such charge.

(4)

If upon the basis of the completed application for a license or appointment and such further inquiry or investigation the department deems the applicant to be unfit as to character and background or lacking in one or more of the required qualifications for the license or appointment, the department shall disapprove the application.

(5)

The license of a bail bond agent shall continue in force, without further examination unless deemed necessary by the department, until suspended, revoked, or otherwise terminated.

(6)

The original license issued to a licensee under this chapter shall remain outstanding and in effect for so long as the license represented thereby continues in force as provided in this section. The department may at any time require the licensee to produce his or her department-issued photo identification.

(7)

Any person who represents a surety company, whose duties are restricted to bail bonds, and who comes under the definition of “service representative” as provided in s. 626.015 shall be licensed and appointed as a bail bond agent.

(8)

An individual who is appointed as a managing general agent to supervise or manage bail bond business written in this state must also be licensed as a bail bond agent. In the case of an entity, at least one owner, officer, or director at each office location must be licensed as a bail bond agent.

(9)

If, upon application for an appointment and such investigation as the department may make, it appears to the department that an individual has been actively engaged or is currently actively engaged in bail bond activities without being appointed as required, the department may, if it finds that such failure to be appointed is an error on the part of the insurer or employer so represented, issue or authorize the issuance of the appointment as applied for, but subject to the condition that, before the appointment is issued, all fees and taxes which would have been due had the applicant been so appointed during such current and prior periods, together with a continuation fee for such current and prior terms of appointment, shall be paid to the department. Failure to notify the department within the required time period shall result in the appointing entity being assessed a delinquent fee of $250. Delinquent fees shall be paid by the appointing entity and shall not be charged to the appointee.

Source: Section 648.27 — Licenses and appointments; general, https://www.­flsenate.­gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/0648.­27 (accessed Aug. 7, 2025).

648.24
Declaration of public policy
648.25
Definitions
648.26
Department of Financial Services
648.27
Licenses and appointments
648.29
Build-up funds posted by bail bond agent
648.30
Licensure and appointment required
648.31
Appointment taxes and fees
648.33
Bail bond rates
648.34
Bail bond agents
648.35
Professional bail bond agent
648.36
Bail bond agent’s records
648.38
Licensure examination for bail bond agents
648.39
Termination of appointment of managing general agents, bail bond agents, and bail bond agencies
648.40
Application for appointment of professional bail bond agents
648.42
Registration of bail bond agents
648.43
Power of attorney
648.44
Prohibitions
648.45
Actions against a licensee
648.46
Procedure for disciplinary action against licensees
648.48
Witnesses and evidence
648.49
Duration of suspension or revocation
648.50
Effect of suspension, revocation upon associated licenses and licensees
648.51
Surrender of license
648.52
Administrative fine
648.53
Probation
648.55
All bail bond agents of same agency
648.57
Penalty
648.58
Injunctive proceedings
648.279
Scope of license
648.285
Bond agency
648.295
Reporting and accounting of funds
648.315
Number of applications for licensure required
648.355
Limited surety agents and professional bail bond agents
648.365
Statistical reporting requirements
648.381
Reexamination
648.382
Appointment of bail bond agents and bail bond agencies
648.383
Renewal, continuation, reinstatement, and termination of appointment
648.384
Effect of expiration of appointment
648.385
Continuing education required
648.386
Qualifications for prelicensing and continuing education schools and instructors
648.387
Bail bond agent in charge
648.388
Insurer must appoint managing general agent
648.421
Notice of change of address or telephone number
648.441
Furnishing supplies to unlicensed bail bond agent prohibited
648.442
Collateral security
648.525
Civil assessment
648.571
Failure to return collateral
648.3875
Bail bond agent in charge
648.4425
Notice

Current through Fall 2025

§ 648.27. Licenses & appointments; general's source at flsenate​.gov