475.180 Nonresident licenses.
475.180 Nonresident licenses.
(1) Notwithstanding the prelicensure requirements set forth under ss. 475.17(2) and (6) and 475.175, the commission in its discretion may enter into written agreements with similar licensing authorities of other states, territories, or jurisdictions of the United States or foreign national jurisdictions to ensure for Florida licensees nonresident licensure opportunities comparable to those afforded to nonresidents by this section. Whenever the commission determines that another jurisdiction does not offer nonresident licensure to Florida licensees substantially comparable to those afforded to licensees of that jurisdiction by this section, the commission shall require licensees of that jurisdiction who apply for nonresident licensure to meet education, experience, and examination requirements substantially comparable to those required by that jurisdiction with respect to Florida licensees who seek nonresident licensure, not to exceed such requirements as prescribed in ss. 475.17(2) and (6) and 475.175.
(2)(a) Any applicant who is not a resident of this state shall file an irrevocable consent that suits and actions may be commenced against her or him in any county of this state in which a plaintiff having a cause of action or suit against her or him resides, and that service of any process or pleading in suits or actions against her or him may be made by delivering the process or pleading to the director of the Division of Real Estate by certified mail, return receipt requested, and also to the licensee by registered mail addressed to the licensee at her or his designated principal place of business. Service, when so made, must be taken and held in all courts to be as valid and binding upon the licensee as if made upon her or him in this state within the jurisdiction of the court in which the suit or action is filed. The irrevocable consent must be in a form prescribed by the department and be acknowledged before a notary public.
(b) Any resident licensee who becomes a nonresident shall, within 60 days, notify the commission of the change in residency and comply with nonresident requirements. Failure to notify and comply is a violation of the license law, subject to the penalties in s. 475.25.
(c) All nonresident applicants and licensees shall comply with all requirements of commission rules and this part. The commission may adopt rules necessary for the regulation of nonresident licensees.
History. s. 138, ch. 94-119; s. 367, ch. 97-103; s. 12, ch. 98-246.