(1) The following acts constitute grounds for which the disciplinary actions specified in subsection (2) may be taken:

(a) Attempting to register or renewing registration by bribery, by fraudulent misrepresentation, or through an error of the board;

Terms Used In Florida Statutes 481.2251

  • Board: means the Board of Architecture and Interior Design. See Florida Statutes 481.203
  • Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
  • Interior design: includes , but is not limited to, reflected ceiling plans, space planning, furnishings, and the fabrication of nonstructural elements within and surrounding interior spaces of buildings. See Florida Statutes 481.203
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • person: includes individuals, children, firms, associations, joint adventures, partnerships, estates, trusts, business trusts, syndicates, fiduciaries, corporations, and all other groups or combinations. See Florida Statutes 1.01
  • Registered interior designer: means a natural person who holds a valid certificate of registration to practice interior design. See Florida Statutes 481.203
(b) Having an interior design license, certification, or registration revoked, suspended, or otherwise acted against, including the denial of licensure, registration, or certification by the licensing authority of another jurisdiction for any act which would constitute a violation of this part or of chapter 455;
(c) Being convicted or found guilty of a crime in any jurisdiction which directly relates to the provision of interior design services or to the ability to provide interior design services;
(d) False, deceptive, or misleading advertising;
(e) Making or filing a report which the registrant knows to be false, intentionally or negligently failing to file a report or record required by state or federal law, or willfully impeding or obstructing such filing or inducing another person to do so. Such reports or records shall include only those which are signed in the capacity as a registered interior designer;
(f) Making deceptive, untrue, or fraudulent representations in the provision of interior design services;
(g) Accepting and performing professional responsibilities which the registrant knows or has reason to know that she or he is not competent to perform;
(h) Rendering or offering to render architectural services; or
(i) Committing an act of fraud or deceit, or of negligence, incompetency, or misconduct, in the practice of interior design.
(2) When the board finds any person guilty of any of the grounds set forth in subsection (1), it may enter an order taking the following action or imposing one or more of the following penalties:

(a) Refusal to register the applicant;
(b) Refusal to renew an existing registration;
(c) Removal from the state registry; or
(d) Imposition of an administrative fine not to exceed $500 for each violation or separate offense and a fine of up to $2,500 for matters pertaining to a material violation of the Florida Building Code as reported by a local jurisdiction.