Skip to main content
Find a Lawyer

Florida Statutes Title XXIX. Public Health § 400.509. Registration of particular service providers exempt from licensure;  certificate of registration;  regulation of registrants

Current as of January 01, 2023 | Updated by FindLaw Staff

(1) Any organization that provides companion services or homemaker services and does not provide a home health service to a person is exempt from licensure under this part.  However, any organization that provides companion services or homemaker services must register with the agency.  An organization under contract with the Agency for Persons with Disabilities which provides companion services only for persons with a developmental disability, as defined in s. 393.063, is exempt from registration.

(2) The requirements of part II of chapter 408 apply to the provision of services that require registration or licensure pursuant to this section and part II of chapter 408 and entities registered by or applying for such registration from the Agency for Health Care Administration pursuant to this section.  Each applicant for registration and each registrant must comply with all provisions of part II of chapter 408.  Registration or a license issued by the agency is required for the operation of an organization that provides companion services or homemaker services.

(3) In accordance with s. 408.805, applicants and registrants shall pay fees for all registrations issued under this part, part II of chapter 408, and applicable rules.  The amount of the fee shall be $50 per biennium.

(4) Each registrant must obtain the employment or contract history of persons who are employed by or under contract with the organization and who will have contact at any time with patients or clients in their homes by:

(a) Requiring such persons to submit an employment or contractual history to the registrant;  and

(b) Verifying the employment or contractual history, unless through diligent efforts such verification is not possible.  The agency shall prescribe by rule the minimum requirements for establishing that diligent efforts have been made.

There is no monetary liability on the part of, and no cause of action for damages arises against, a former employer of a prospective employee of or prospective independent contractor with a registrant who reasonably and in good faith communicates his or her honest opinions about the former employee's or contractor's job performance.  This subsection does not affect the official immunity of an officer or employee of a public corporation.

(5) A person that offers or advertises to the public a service for which registration is required must include in its advertisement the registration number issued by the Agency for Health Care Administration.

(6) In addition to any other penalties imposed pursuant to this section or part, the agency may assess costs related to an investigation that results in a successful prosecution, excluding costs associated with an attorney's time.

(7) The Agency for Health Care Administration shall adopt rules to administer this section and part II of chapter 408.

Back to chapter list
Previous part of code Next part of code
Back to chapter list

Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Florida Statutes Title XXIX. Public Health § 400.509. Registration of particular service providers exempt from licensure;  certificate of registration;  regulation of registrants - last updated January 01, 2023 | https://codes.findlaw.com/fl/title-xxix-public-health/fl-st-sect-400-509/

Read this complete Florida Statutes Title XXIX. Public Health § 400.509. Registration of particular service providers exempt from licensure;  certificate of registration;  regulation of registrants on Westlaw

FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature or via Westlaw before relying on it for your legal needs.

Was this helpful?

Search all Florida Codes

Welcome to FindLaw's Cases & Codes

A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw's Learn About the Law.

Go to Learn About the Law

Latest Blog Posts

For Legal Professionals

Learn About the Law

Get help with your legal needs

FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.

Go to Learn About the Law

Need to find an attorney?

Search our directory by legal issue

Enter information in one or both fields (Required)

    More Options
    Copied to clipboard