IMPORTANT NEWS...

Fiscal Year 2008-09 Budget Funds DBPR Priorities

June 11, 2008

Tallahassee—Today Governor Charlie Crist signed the FY 2008-2009 budget, which provides funding for important services of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (department).  The funding for these department priorities will allow the agency to continue its commitment to improve the quality of service to licensees and the public.

“This budget gives us the tools and resources to serve our customers more efficiently,” said Interim Secretary Chuck Drago.  “I thank Governor Crist and the Legislature for their careful consideration of the needs of Florida businesses, even in this challenging budget year.”

The total approved budget for DBPR is $139.9 million. Budget highlights for Fiscal Year 2008-09 include:

• Additional staff, $1.1 million: The Legislature provided additional staff necessary to increase the department’s ability to provide services to Florida businesses, specifically to:
• meet workload demands in the Division of Hotels and Restaurants’ food and lodging inspection program;
• to meet federal requirements in regards to Real Estate Appraisers;
• to oversee the increased number of boxing and mixed martial arts events; and,
• to provide more efficient investigations of licensed and unlicensed individuals and businesses providing services in the professions regulated by the Department. 

• Document Management System, $2.5 million:  Third and final year of implementing a department-wide document management system, which provides accelerated access to licensing documents and greater responsiveness to customers of the department.  This new system will improve customer service within the Department. 

• Application Management Services and additional information technology staff, $2.9 million:  The department will begin transitioning the application management service for the single licensing system from an out-sourced contract to in-house support.  The current contract ends on December 31, 2008.  After the transition year, there will be a significant annual cost savings, as well as increased efficiencies in the ability of the department to make changes to the system for enhancements and licensure requirements modifications.   

The Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s mission is to license efficiently and regulate fairly.  The Department licenses more than one million businesses and professionals ranging from real estate agents, veterinarians, and accountants to contractors and cosmetologists. For more information, please visit www.MyFloridaLicense.com.

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