Nonresident public adjuster’s qualifications, bond.

(1) The department shall, upon application therefor, issue a license to an applicant for a nonresident public adjuster’s license upon determining that the applicant has paid the applicable license fees required under s. 624.501 and:

(a) Is a natural person at least 18 years of age.

(b) Has passed to the satisfaction of the department a written Florida public adjuster’s examination of the scope prescribed in s. 626.241(6).

(c) Is self-employed as a public adjuster or associated with or employed by a public adjusting firm or other public adjuster. Applicants licensed as nonresident public adjusters under this section must be appointed as such in accordance with the provisions of ss. 626.112 and 626.451. Appointment fees in the amount specified in s. 624.501 must be paid to the department in advance. The appointment of a nonresident public adjuster shall continue in force until suspended, revoked, or otherwise terminated, but subject to biennial renewal or continuation by the licensee in accordance with procedures prescribed in s. 626.381 for licensees in general.

(d) Is trustworthy and has such business reputation as would reasonably assure that he or she will conduct his or her business as a nonresident public adjuster fairly and in good faith and without detriment to the public.

(e) Has been licensed and employed as a public adjuster in the applicant’s state of residence on a continual basis for the past 6 months, or, if the applicant’s state of residence does not issue licenses to individuals who act as public adjusters, the applicant has been licensed and employed as a resident insurance company adjuster, a public adjuster, or an independent adjuster in his or her state of residence or any other state on a continual basis for the past 6 months.

(2) The applicant shall furnish the following with his or her application:

(a) A complete set of his or her fingerprints. The applicant’s fingerprints must be certified by an authorized law enforcement officer. The department may not authorize an applicant to take the required examination or issue a nonresident public adjuster’s license to the applicant until the department has received a report from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation relative to the existence or nonexistence of a criminal history report based on the applicant’s fingerprints.

(b) If currently licensed as a resident public adjuster in the applicant’s state of residence, a certificate or letter of authorization from the licensing authority of the applicant’s state of residence, stating that the applicant holds a current or comparable license to act as a public adjuster and has held the license continuously for the past 6 months. The certificate or letter of authorization must be signed by the insurance commissioner or his or her deputy or the appropriate licensing official and must disclose whether the adjuster has ever had any license or eligibility to hold any license declined, denied, suspended, revoked, or placed on probation or whether an administrative fine or penalty has been levied against the adjuster and, if so, the reason for the action.

(c) If the applicant’s state of residence does not require licensure as a public adjuster and the applicant has been licensed as a resident insurance adjuster in his or her state of residence or any other state, a certificate or letter of authorization from the licensing authority stating that the applicant holds or has held a license to act as such an insurance adjuster and has held the license continuously for the past 6 months. The certificate or letter of authorization must be signed by the insurance commissioner or his or her deputy or the appropriate licensing official and must disclose whether or not the adjuster has ever had any license or eligibility to hold any license declined, denied, suspended, revoked, or placed on probation or whether an administrative fine or penalty has been levied against the adjuster and, if so, the reason for the action.

(3) At the time of application for license as a nonresident public adjuster, the applicant shall file with the department a bond executed and issued by a surety insurer authorized to transact surety business in this state, in the amount of $50,000, conditioned for the faithful performance of his or her duties as a nonresident public adjuster under the license applied for. Thereafter, the applicant shall maintain the bond unimpaired throughout the existence of the license and for 1 year after the expiration or termination of the license.

(a) The bond must be in favor of the department and must specifically authorize recovery by the department of the damages sustained if the licensee commits fraud or unfair practices in connection with his or her business as nonresident public adjuster.

(b) The aggregate liability of the surety for all the damages may not exceed the amount of the bond. The bond may not be terminated unless at least 30 days’ written notice is given to the licensee and filed with the department.

(4) The usual and customary records pertaining to transactions under the license of a nonresident public adjuster must be retained for at least 3 years after completion of the adjustment and must be made available in this state to the department upon request. The failure of a nonresident public adjuster to properly maintain records and make them available to the department upon request constitutes grounds for the immediate suspension of the license issued under this section.

(5) If available, the department shall verify the nonresident applicant’s licensing status through the producer database maintained by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or its affiliates or subsidiaries.