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Private Investigative, Security and Recovery Industry News July 2021 (Volume 33, Number 1)

Division News: The Latest from the Division of Licensing

Message from the Director

As spring changes to summer, we are seeing a return to normalcy ? or perhaps a new normalcy ? after the devastation of the past year. Offices are open and vaccination rates are rising: both good things. We continue to require appointments for regional office visits and are working to increase customer capacity. The incoming application volume continues unabated: we are averaging the same number of new applications (of all types) in a month that we received in a year in 2004. The numbers are truly staggering.

Despite the unprecedented number of files, our staff have continued to work diligently and with an eye toward quality. I continue to be impressed by the team's attention to detail and their unflagging optimism in the face of difficulty. Every day we are working to be better at serving licensees and applicants. During this pandemic year we have implemented a customer appointment portal for regional offices, rolled out online "D" and "G" renewals, and finalized a pilot program for tax collector offices to take "D" applications. I am excited about all of the enhancements coming with the new computer system that is being built.

Thank you for your continued patience.

Stephen D. Hurm Director, Division of Licensing

Online Class D Security Officer and Class G Statewide Firearm License Renewals

We are pleased to announce Class D Security Officer Licenses and Class G Statewide Firearm Licenses can now be renewed online at cwrex..

Our team is committed to the goal of providing world class service and increasing the ease and availability of renewal services for over 160,000 Class D Security Officer Licensees and nearly 30,000 Class G Statewide Firearm Licensees is a vitally important part of achieving that goal.

The Division of Licensing will continue to mail renewal notices, and license holders will need this document to initiate the online renewal process.

Our Class D license holders will be able to complete the entire renewal process ? including submitting a renewal application, uploading a passport-style photo, and paying fees ? online and will receive their renewal licenses by mail.

Our Class G license holders will be able to upload passport-style photos, pay fees, and submit renewal applications online. In the final steps of the online renewal process, the system will prompt licensees to submit the required original Certificate of Firearms Proficiency for Statewide Firearm License (Form FDACS-16005) either by mail to Post Office Box 5767, Tallahassee, FL 32314, or at one of our nine regional offices in the following locations: Doral, Plantation, Fort Walton, Jacksonville, North Port, Orlando, Tallahassee, Tampa, and West Palm Beach. Class G license holders will also receive their renewal licenses by mail.

It is important to note the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services does not charge a fee for mailing a renewal notice or for mailing or downloading a new application package. Any website charging consumers a fee for assistance with obtaining renewal or application documents is not affiliated with the department. The department will only charge applicable fees, as set by law, upon submission of the application to the department.

Emergency Orders Expired June 26, 2021

Emergency Orders 2021-011 (Extending Emergency Order 2020-004) and 2021-010 (Extending Emergency Order 2020-010) expired June 26, 2021.

Any license that expired during the emergency order period will no longer be considered valid after June 26, 2021. Chapter 493 license holders cannot work with an expired license. Concealed Weapon or Firearm License holders cannot legally carry a concealed weapon or firearm with an expired license.

Licensees who need to renew a license should act immediately and have multiple options for renewing: ? For fastest service, Concealed Weapon or Firearm Licensees, Class "D" Security Officer Licensees, and Class "G" Statewide Firearm Licensees should renew online by visiting our website. ? Concealed weapon license renewals can also be completed by mail, at an FDACS Regional Office, or at a participating tax collector office. Visit our website to find a service location near you. ? Appointments are required at FDACS Regional Offices; to schedule, please visit our Regional Office page. Select the office you plan to visit, and then select "Renew My License" to access available appointments. ? Contact participating tax collectors directly concerning appointments and availability of services.

Other important items that were mentioned in the expired emergency orders are outlined below: ? Applicants for a Class "G" license must submit proof of 28 hours of in person range and classroom training taught and administered by a Class "K" licensee as required by Section 493.6105(5), Florida Statutes, and Rule 5N-1.132(l)(a), Florida Administrative Code. Live video conference training administered after June 26, 2021, will not be accepted. ? Applicants for a new Class "G" license must provide certification of physical fitness by a physician or physician assistant as required by Section 493.6108(2), Florida Statutes. ? License holders who renew late will again pay a late fee as required by either Section 493.6113(4), Florida Statutes, or Section 790.06(11)(a), Florida Statutes. ? Class "G" license holders must provide 4 hours of firearms requalification annually to the department or face suspension; however, a Class "G" license holder who was unable to complete training in 2020 will not be required to complete the missed training to be in compliance. ? License holders must renew their licenses as required in Section 493.6113(1), Florida Statutes, and Section 790.06(1) and (11), Florida Statutes. ? Security Officer Training must be administered in person as required by Sections 493.6303(4)(a) and 493.6304(2) (b), Florida Statutes. Live video conference training administered after June 26, 2021, will not be accepted.

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? Fingerprinting services as authorized by Sections 493.6105(3)(j) and 790.06(5)(c), Florida Statutes, are available at FDACS Regional Offices by appointment.

? Please contact our Public Inquiry Center at (850) 245-5691 or through Live Chat with questions.

Highlights from the Private Investigation, Recovery, and Security Advisory Council Meetings

Friday, February 12, 2021

? Director Steve Hurm presented the council with his DOL status report. The report included the following highlights:

The division's evaluation team is meeting with two vendors that are being considered to develop the division's nextgeneration computer system. The selection of the vendor is anticipated within a week, and work is scheduled to begin in early March.

The division is looking at ways to handle the high demand for appointments in the regional offices. Currently, the division is receiving 800-1,000 calls per day from applicants and licensees trying to book appointments. Regional office leadership has implemented expanded business hours and alternate Saturday office hours to accommodate the demand. All division regional offices are currently open.

Management is finalizing details that will allow the division to participate in the National Rap Back program, the federal counterpart to FDLE's fingerprint retention program.

Since the last council meeting, the Bureau of Regulation and Enforcement has taken disciplinary action against 307 licenses, with 214 suspensions and 93 license revocations.

? Greg Gibson, the Chief of Investigative Services, commented briefly on the monumental effort put forth by OALE investigators at the Super Bowl in Tampa. Investigation Manager Ric Strong reported that in the three-day period between February 3 and February 5, OALE investigators made contact with 3,501 security officers while on duty in Tampa. He said that the most common violation was the failure of licensed security officers to have their identification card in their possession.

? John Raymaker, the Chief of the Bureau of Regulation and Enforcement, stated that a revised version of Rule 5N-1.113, Florida Administrative Code, had been formally adopted on February 10. He noted that no substantive changes had been made to the rule. Rather, the rule revision was done to update statutory references and to remove duplicative disciplinary guidelines.

? Amy Topol, Senior Management Analyst with the Division of Licensing, reported that the development of phase I (basic training) for new hires into the department's investigative workforce in OALE is complete. The team working on the project is finalizing phase II, which will cover training in investigative skills and statutory requirements, by identifying subject matter experts to build the content for each module.

? Industry representatives raised several issues for discussion.

K. C. Poulin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Critical Intervention Services, a security firm in Clearwater, Florida, expressed concerns about the quality of the security officer training that is being administered on Zoom platforms. Mr. Raymaker said that future legislation would include such standards and protocols and that the division would seek input from the industry when drafting statutory language relating to online training.

Several of those in attendance offered comments related property management companies providing security services to their tenants. A specific issue raised at this meeting related these companies properly paying taxes. Chairman D'Agata acknowledged that this is a complex legal issue that involves not only the Division of Licensing but the Department of Revenue as well.

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Friday, May 14, 2021

? Chairman D'Agata presented his remarks to the council:

The industry is concerned about the sporadic hours and closure of the regional offices due to the pandemic, but thanked the division for the extraordinary effort and output while facing unprecedented conditions.

The industry has growing concerns about taxation on labor and requests that the division coordinate a meeting with industry representatives and the Department of Revenue to address concerns about security agencies not properly paying state taxes.

The industry and the division should work together to promote professionalism and educate members of the industry about potential career paths. A quarterly recognition program that identifies a division employee or industry representative who is going above and beyond could be part of this effort.

? Director Steve Hurm presented the council with his DOL status report. The report included the following highlights:

The emergency order suspending expiration dates for all license type and suspending in person training requirements for D licensees is set to expire on June 26, 2021. When the emergency order expires, online training will no longer be an option. Licensees are encouraged to renew now as the emergency order is unlikely to be extended. Online renewals are available for D and G licensees so they will not need to visit a regional office.

The division began utilizing online scheduling for regional offices on March 1, 2021. The volume of applications the division has been receiving is unprecedented and the industry's patience as the division works through the backlog is appreciated.

The division has had multiple staff changes, including: Brandee Jurkowski has moved to the director's office to be division coordinator for the new computer system. Karen Hansford is now the Bureau Chief for License Issuance. Katrina Williams is now the Assistant Bureau Chief for License Issuance and will be in charge of all second level review. Jordan Anderson will be leaving the division to work at his father's law firm.

The number of active licensees continues to grow, with an overall increase of 6.56% across all license types. The division has received 289,000 new applications for concealed weapons permits in fiscal year 2020-2021. For programs regulated under chapter 493, the division has received over 400,000 new and renewal applications.

Since the last council meeting, the Bureau of Regulation and Enforcement has taken disciplinary action against 617 licensees, with 253 suspensions and 364 license revocations.

? Greg Gibson, Chief of Investigative Services, and Ric Strong, Section Chief for Regulatory Investigations, commented that the pandemic has limited investigative work but that the department will resume industry sweeps when they are able to fill positions in the Regulatory Investigations Section.

? Industry representatives raised the following concerns:

Chris Burns of AGR Recovery expressed concerns about appointments in the regional offices being scheduled 4 months out and requested more availability for appointments for 493 licensees. Mr. Hurm stated that this was already underway, and more appointments were being made available for 493 licensees in the regional offices. Additionally, licensees are able to drop off applications at the regional offices, and D and G licensees are able to renew online. Mr. Hurm encouraged licensees to call the division if they are having difficulty and division staff will facilitate an appointment.Several of those in attendance offered comments related property management companies providing security services to their tenants. A specific issue raised at this meeting related these companies properly paying taxes. Chairman D'Agata acknowledged that this is a complex legal issue that

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involves not only the Division of Licensing but the Department of Revenue as well. Richard Stein of All Florida Investigation Security Services asked about the possibility of opening a regional office

in Port St. Lucie. Mr. Hurm stated that the division is discussing the possibility of creating satellite offices in Port St. Lucie as well as several other locations. The division is also exploring purchasing a vehicle to create a mobile licensing station. There was discussion related to scanning and uploading training certificates. The division would like to have training certificates come from schools and instructors rather than from applicants. This would eliminate the issue of fraudulent certificates. Chairman D'Agata noted that National Law Enforcement Appreciation Week was observed the week of May 9, 2021. He thanked law enforcement for their tireless contribution to our country. The council had a moment of silence for those members of law enforcement who made the greatest sacrifice. Mark Perez, Special Agent in Charge at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, thanked the council for acknowledging Law Enforcement Appreciation Week. He stated he is honored to be part of this profession and thankful for the cooperation of the citizens of this state.

Florida Association of Licensed Investigators Conference

On June 18, 2021, Executive leadership attended the Florida Association of Licensed Investigators Conference in Cocoa Beach. The conference provided an opportunity for the division to share recent updates and for attendees to ask questions and share concerns. Director Steve Hurm gave a presentation outlining the actions the division took during the pandemic and the plans to move forward post-pandemic. Amy Topol was introduced at the conference as the new Assistant Director for the division.

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