Adjusting Firm License Compliance

The adjusting firm application was made available to firms on November 18, 2021. The Department has allowed the firms more than six months to comply with the law effective July 1, 2021. (See ss. 626.112(7)(a) and 626.8696, F.S.)

We published an article in our November, 2021 newsletter advising firms the application portal was operational. The Bureau of Licensing also sent emails to all adjusting firm appointing entities and other interested parties announcing the start date for the application process. We published another article in our February 2022 issue reminding agencies they were required to apply for a license.

Having provided ample notice and time for adjusting firms to comply, the Department will soon open formal investigative cases on any adjusting firm that is not in compliance with s. 626.112(9), F.S.

An adjusting firm that is owned and operated by a single licensed adjuster conducting business in his or her individual name and not employing or otherwise using the services of, or appointing, other adjusters, is exempt from the adjusting firm licensing requirements.

This means an individual public adjuster can no longer personally appoint a public adjuster apprentice. As soon as a public adjuster decides to use the services of at least one apprentice, that public adjuster must now hold an adjusting firm license to be compliant with s. 626.112(9), F.S.

Once your firm is licensed, you may access eAppoint your adjusting firm's MyProfile account to appoint licensed adjusters or apprentices.

Please make sure to monitor and update your adjusting firm's MyProfile account with any changes to your email address to make sure you don't miss future emails from us relating to the firm's license.

Title Agencies: Data Filing 2022

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (Office) is conducting its annual Title Agencies Data Filing pursuant to sections 624.307 and 627.782, F.S. and Rule 69O-186.013, F.A.C.

Title Insurance Agencies licensed at any time during Calendar Year 2021 are required filers. There are no exceptions - even if your agency closed during 2021.

Your submission is due to the Office no later than 11:59PM ET on Tuesday, May 31, 2022.

The Office's reporting system called the Insurance Regulation Filing System, found at this link: https://irfs.fldfs.com/

A How To Guide is also available at:

https://floir.com/siteDocuments/TitleFilingInstructions.pdf

• Using your IRFS account username and password, log into the new system. If you have not used IRFS before, create a new account.
• New users must subscribe their agency(ies) using the Entity Management on the User Menu. Select the Licensee/Agencies tab.
• Select Add Licensee/ Agency.
• Type in the Agency Name and click Search.
• Select your agency next to its name and click the Add Selected button at the bottom of the screen.
• Select Create Filing on the top right corner.
• In the Data Collection tile, click Begin.
• STEP 1: Select the agency for which you are creating the filing from the Licensees/Agencies tab. Click Next.
• STEP 2: Select the Title Insurance Data Calls for Agencies. Click Next.
• STEP 3: Skip step Three, which is for group filings (not permitted with this data call).
• STEP 4: Review the information. Click Create. You will be redirected to the Workbench.
• View and edit the filing on the Workbench by clicking the Filing ID in the first column.
• Expand components by clicking on the plus sign.
• The data template must be downloaded from within IRFS, completed locally on your computer, and then uploaded back in the same Web page in Excel format. Either Excel 2003(.xls) or Excel 2007 (.xlsx) will be accepted.

The full template contains eight tabs:

1. Version - includes the Office's contact information and reporting date reminder
2. Instructions - data template must be downloaded from IRFS for the purpose of reporting information
3. Report_Lines - Two columns extend down a series of questions and required responses (enter either text or numeric in the two columns, as shown)
4. Schedule A - Additional agency information
5. Schedule B - Agent activities
6. Schedule C (Residential) - Title agent statistical information submission for 1-4 residential units
7. Schedule C (Commercial) - Title agent statistical information submission for commercial units.
8. Agency Comments - Check the questions on this tab. If any appear with "Comments Required" it means your responses on previous tabs suggest that clarification is required for the item(s) noted. Clarifications must be understandable and justifiable when reviewed by the Office. You may contact the  Office if you have questions.

• In the Company Contacts Component, other email accounts subscribed to your agency will be listed under Add Company Contact. Include additional email addresses that are not subscribers of the agency in the text box. Any email listed in this component will receive email notifications about the filing. Click Save.
• Select the Title Insurance Agency Filing Certification. The certification must be completed by an agency officer (electronic signature accepted). Type the year 2020 at the top, the officer's name in the middle and the officer's title at the bottom. Press the down arrow to save the certification.
• You can include a cover letter. This an optional component for the filing.
• Include any additional and optional information that is deemed important to the overall submission. These optional items may be uploaded as PDF documents  under the "Other Documents" component.
• There is an optional Response to Request for Clarification component that may be ignored during the initial filing. This is for use only if the Office has questions after reviewing your filing.
• When all mandatory components are Complete, your filing may be submitted by clicking on the Submit button.
• You and any accounts listed in Company Contacts will receive an email  receipt with your Filing ID. If you do not receive an email and the submission status does not change to Received, contact the Office's Market Research and Technology Unit at:  TitleAgencyReporting@floir.com.
  
  Further instructions are available on the Office's website at:

Title Agency Data Call Reporting

If you have questions regarding this filing process, please email the Office at: TitleAgencyReporting@floir.com or contact the Market Data Collections Unit at 850-413-3147. If phone lines are busy you are encouraged to send your questions by email. Your email may request that a representative from Market Data Collections call you (remember to provide your number). Calls will be returned in the order your email messages are received.

Email inquiries should be sent to  TitleAgencyReporting@floir.com.

FIFEC Annual Meeting - June 8-10, 2022 

The Florida Insurance Fraud Education Committee (FIFEC) has opened registration for the 2022 FIFEC Conference scheduled from June 8 – 10, 2022 at the Caribe Royale All-Suites Resort and Convention Center in Orlando. A joint venture between Florida’s Division of Insurance Fraud and the state’s special investigation units, this year marks FIFEC’s 30th Anniversary as a not-for-profit educational organization with a mission to provide education on identifying, investigating and prosecuting insurance fraud cases. The FIFEC staff is focused on hosting another fantastic event to ensure that this year’s conference delivers on this mission.

You may earn Florida CE credits by attending the FIFEC Conference as all 61 presentations offered have been accredited for up to 16 Florida Adjuster CEUs and 16 Florida Attorney CLEs! Your registration includes your choice of up to 8 accredited courses on a wide range of important, timely and relevant insurance topics; The Exhibitors’ Welcome Reception; The Awards Luncheon Banquet; 2 continental breakfasts; 2 evening networking events with entertainment and refreshments; delicious snacks during breaks and a welcome gift. Click https://www.fifec.org/registration-2022 to register and take advantage of the discounted rate currently available. 

Many of the courses offered at FIFEC may provide Florida general lines agents with approved CE credits! General lines agents attending FIFEC can learn more about how insurance fraud impacts Florida while securing CE credits towards your CE requirement.

The Caribe Royale is offering a special FIFEC rate starting at $165/night for a suite and $265 for a two-bedroom villa with a full kitchen. The resort fee is waived, and parking is complimentary for overnight guests. This special rate is available 3 days before and after the conference so that you may extend your stay in the Orlando area for business or pleasure at great savings. Click https://www.fifec.org/hotel to secure reserve these special FIFEC rates.  For additional information, please contact us at info@fifec.org. We look forward to seeing you this June!