CS/CS/HB 817 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0817-02-c2 Page 1 of 4 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S A bill to be entitled 1 An act relating to authorized agents of tax 2 collectors; amending s. 320.03, F.S.; requiring a tax 3 collector, upon petition, to appoint a general lines 4 insurance agency as an authorized agent of the tax 5 collector for the purpose of issuing titles, 6 registration certificates, registration license 7 plates, validation stickers, and mobile home stickers; 8 requiring the agency to file a performance bond with 9 the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles; 10 requiring the agency to provide audited financial 11 statements to the department; authorizing the agency 12 to provide services solely to its customers; limiting 13 the number of locations at which the agency may offer 14 services; requiring the tax collector to authorize the 15 agency to access the electronic filing system; 16 specifying provisions of law to which the agency is 17 subject; authorizing the department to adopt rules; 18 providing an appropriation; providing an effective 19 date. 20 21 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 22 23 Section 1. Subsection (11) is added to section 320.03, 24 Florida Statutes, to read: 25 CS/CS/HB 817 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0817-02-c2 Page 2 of 4 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S 320.03 Registration; duties of tax collectors; 26 International Registration Plan. — 27 (11)(a) Upon petitio n by the agent in charge of a general 28 lines insurance agency licensed under chapter 626 and appointed 29 to write motor vehicle insurance, each tax collector must 30 appoint such agency as an authorized agent of the tax collector 31 for the purpose of issuing title s, registration certificates, 32 registration license plates, validation stickers, and mobile 33 home stickers to applicants, excluding issuance of registration 34 or trip permits pursuant to s. 320.0715, and providing to 35 applicants for each the option to register emergency contact 36 information and the option to be contacted with information 37 about state and federal benefits available as a result of 38 military service, subject to the requirements of law, in 39 accordance with rules of the department. 40 (b) A general lines insurance agency appointed as an 41 authorized agent of a tax collector under this subsection: 42 1. Must file a performance bond of $2 million with the 43 department. 44 2. Must provide to the department audited financial 45 statements, prepared by a certified publi c accountant licensed 46 to practice in this state, for each of the previous 2 years 47 demonstrating that the agency has produced policy premium in 48 excess of $500 million in each of the previous 2 years. 49 3. Is not required to provide services described in 50 CS/CS/HB 817 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0817-02-c2 Page 3 of 4 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S paragraph (a) to the general public and may choose to provide 51 such services solely to its customers in the normal course of 52 business. 53 4. May offer such services at no more than five locations 54 in each county in which the agency has a branch office. 55 5. Must be authorized by the tax collector pursuant to 56 paragraph (10)(c) to access the electronic filing system. 57 6. Is subject to all provisions of law as though such 58 agent were a private tag agency or agent, except where the 59 context clearly indicates otherwise . 60 (c) The department may adopt rules to administer this 61 subsection, including, but not limited to, rules establishing 62 information that must be contained in the petition to offer 63 services under this subsection, information that must be 64 contained in the audited financial statements required under 65 subparagraph (b)2., and enforcement authority for noncompliance. 66 Section 2. For the 2024-2025 fiscal year, the sum of 67 $939,800 in nonrecurring funds from the Highway Safety Operating 68 Trust Fund is appropriated to the Department of Highway Safety 69 and Motor Vehicles to provide equipment and installation to a 70 general lines insurance agency licensed under chapter 626, 71 Florida Statutes, and appointed to write motor vehicle insurance 72 which has been appointed by a tax collector as an authorized 73 agent for issuing titles, registration certificates, 74 registration license plates, validation stickers, and mobile 75 CS/CS/HB 817 2024 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb0817-02-c2 Page 4 of 4 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S home stickers. 76 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024. 77