HB 987 - Department of Financial Services Organization

• Reorganizes the Department of Financial Services divisions and authorizes the Chief Financial Officer to establish additional divisions, bureaus, or offices as needed for efficient operations.

• Redirects $0.50 from a $4 probate petition service charge to the Department of Financial Services' Administrative Trust Fund to support clerk education provided by the Florida Clerks of Court Operations Corporation.

• Eliminates the requirement that the Florida Clerks of Court Operations Corporation contract with the Department of Financial Services for audits of individual clerks' expenditures.

• Exempts all audit and accounting positions in the Department of Financial Services' Division of Accounting and Auditing from career service requirements.

• Changes service of process fees from being deposited into the Insurance Regulatory Trust Fund to the Administrative Trust Fund, and establishes the Division of Consumer Services with authority to impose administrative penalties up to $2,500 for licensed entities and up to $1,000 for individuals who fail to respond to consumer complaints within 20 days.

• Takes effect July 1, 2015.