WHAT’S OUR PURPOSE
The purpose of the section is to provide an organization within The Florida Bar open to all members in good standing who have an interest in administrative law and procedure at both the state and federal levels.
WHAT WE PROVIDE
The Section provides a forum for the improvement and development of the fields of administrative law and procedure and agency practice. The Section provides opportunities for continuing education for members, professional growth, publishing, and leadership, as well as awards for outstanding service.
WHO WE SERVE
The section serves the public generally and The Florida Bar in interpreting and carrying out the professional needs and objectives in these fields.
Message from the Chair:
“Welcome to the Florida Bar Administrative Law Section online resource center.”
Congratulations to Brittany Finkbeiner, Jodi-Ann Livingstone, and our section chair, Brian Newman, on their recent appointments to be Administrative Law Judges at the Division of Administrative Hearings!
Congratulations to our very own executive council member Judge Anthony Miller on being sworn in (while maintaining appropriate social distancing!) as the newest circuit judge in the 2nd Judicial Circuit!
On Friday, April 3, 2020 Governor DeSantis appointed me to serve as a circuit judge in the 2nd Judicial Circuit. Therefore, I submitted my resignation as a county judge, and yesterday Judge Layne Smith, my assigned mentor judge, swore me in as the newest circuit judge for our Circuit!! As you can see we made every effort to adhere to the COVID-19 social distancing guidelines. I am excited to take on this new challenge!!
Posted by Anthony B. Miller on Tuesday, April 7, 2020
Update on Changes to the Uniform Rules of Procedure
An ad hoc committee tasked with reviewing the Uniform Rules of Procedure has submitted recommended changes to the Executive Council of the Administrative Law Section. The recommended changes may be viewed here.
The recommended changes address, among other things: filing by e-mail, new requirements for qualified representatives, contents of the notice of rights, new requirements relating to service of papers, appearances by specifically-named persons, intervention, additional requirements in connection with the duty to confer, a new rule regarding disqualification of the presiding officer, the computation of time, informal proceedings, emergency action and bid protests.
Members of the Committee are: Paul Drake (Reporter), Seann Frazier, Judge Yolonda Green, Judge Elizabeth McArthur, Judge Li Nelson, Shaw Stiller, Judge Dave Watkins and Larry Sellers (Chair).
The Committee’s work included some 13 meetings over 15 months. It benefited greatly from numerous public comments. The Committee initially solicited suggestions and then developed several drafts that were distributed for comment, including drafts dated June 18, September 18 and November 4–all of which were posted on the Section web site. Updates on the Committee’s work were provided to the Section’s Executive Council in June and November. The Second Report of the Uniform Rules of Procedure Committee dated November 1 may be viewed here.
Following this second report, the Committee solicited and evaluated additional comments and issued yet another draft for comment, dated January 31, 2020. The Committee received several new comments and issued its recommended changes, dated April 27, 2020.
If the Executive Council approves the recommended changes, then these will be submitted to the Administration Commission, which has the exclusive authority to propose and adopt changes to the Uniform Rules of Procedure.
The Uniform Rules were last updated in 2013 based on recommendations from the Section. For a summary of these changes, see the April 2013 issue of the ALS newsletter. As in 2013, any amendments to the Uniform Rules will become effective only if formally proposed and adopted by the Administration Commission in accordance with the rulemaking process in the APA.
Registration for this program can be found here.
HELPFUL LINKS
Section Budget/Financial Operations
Hot Topics
See some hot topics in administrative law and submit your own suggestions.
Strategic Plan for 2016-2021
The Strategic Plan lays out the objectives and goals that the Administrative Law Section seeks to accomplish over the next five years. The Strategic Plan explains how the Administrative Law Section could adopt business practices to assist it with reaching the goals and objectives discussed.
State and Federal Government and Administrative Practice Certification
Being certified in state and federal government and administrative practice means joining the top echelon of attorneys in those fields. Certification shows potential clients or employers that the certified attorney has achieved a high level of understanding and experience in state and federal government and administrative practice.
The Florida Bar
The Florida Bar is the organization of all lawyers licensed by the Supreme Court of Florida to practice law in the state. The Florida Bar’s core functions are to: Regulate the practice of law in Florida; ensure the highest standards of legal professionalism in Florida; and protect the public by prosecuting unethical attorneys and preventing the unlicensed practice of law.
Florida Government Agencies
The executive branch of Florida’s government is made up of 35 separate and distinct agencies, who have been tasked with the enforcement of the laws of Florida. These agencies have been delegated rulemaking authority by the Legislature of Florida in order to achieve that goal.
Florida Legislature (Online Sunshine)
The official site of the Florida Legislature, Online Sunshine contains the current and historical statutes of Florida, information on legislative and executive branch lobbyists, joint legislative committees and other entities, as well as other important legislative information.
Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH)
When state agency actions affect the interests of Floridians, they have a place where their grievances may be heard – independently. Unlike complaints against federal agencies and agencies in many other states, grievances against Florida agency actions most often appear before a central panel for administrative adjudication. In Florida, citizens have the right to be heard before an independent judiciary at the Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH).
Florida Administrative Register & Code
The Florida Administrative Register is published on the internet free of charge by the Florida Department of State as just one of its programs to increase public access to Florida government. There, Floridians are able to leave comments on rules and learn about rulemaking procedures. The Florida Administrative Code is the list of rules that have been promulgated by the 35 state agencies of Florida.
Joint Administrative Procedures Committee
The Joint Administrative Procedures Committee conducts continuous oversight of executive branch actions implementing legislatively delegated powers, ensuring that each action has an adequate statutory basis, that all applicable procedures are followed, and that no illegal rules are imposed on the people of Florida.
Upcoming Events
See what events are coming up on the Administrative Law Section calendar, from CLE events to networking opportunities.