The proposed law would apply to denials of licensing applications submitted through reciprocity or endorsement programs where the denial is based on a finding that the requirements for licensure in the original state are not substantially equivalent to the requirements of Florida or are otherwise insufficient for licensure in this state.

House Bill 1273 would amend 455.213, Florida Statutes, to include the following language:
(15)(a) Before the board, or the department if there is no board, denies an application for licensure by reciprocity or by endorsement based on a finding that the requirements of the basis license in another jurisdiction are not substantially equivalent to or are otherwise insufficient for a license in this state, the board, or the department if there is no board, must submit the finding to the secretary for review. The secretary may agree with the finding and deny the application for licensure or disagree with the finding and issue the license. The decision must be entered according to the secretary's finding.
(b) If the secretary finds that the requirements of a basis license in another jurisdiction are substantially equivalent to or are otherwise sufficient for a license in this state, the board, or the department if there is no board, must make the same finding for similar applicants from the same jurisdiction, unless the requirements of the basis license change.
(c) As used in this subsection, the term "basis license" means the license or the licensure requirements of another jurisdiction which are used to meet the requirements for a license in this state.

If enacted, this would apply to all licensing decisions involving reciprocity or endorsement for any type of license governed by the DBPR.

If enacted, this law would go into effect on July 1, 2024.