1. (1) Certification Eligibility.

   1. (a) To be eligible for certification an applicant shall be a not-for-profit corporation created for the purpose of operating a domestic violence center. The not-for-profit corporation may be affiliated with a local government entity or a larger private organization but must be a distinct entity with its own corporate structure and budget. Existing domestic violence centers initially certified prior to November 30, 2009, shall be exempt from the foregoing requirement. All funding and budget issues pertaining to the operation of the domestic violence program must be reported independently from other activities. The domestic violence center’s primary mission shall be the provision of services to victims of domestic violence, as defined in Section 741.28, F.S.
   2. (b) When an applicant is seeking certification within the service area of an existing certified center, the applicant shall demonstrate the unmet need in that service area.
   3. (c) Only applicants that meet the certification standards as detailed in this rule chapter and that have been in operation and providing domestic violence services for 18 consecutive months, including 12 months operation of an emergency shelter, as detailed in this rule chapter and Section 39.905, F.S., may apply to the Department for certification.

   4. (d) Applicants for initial certification must demonstrate an ability to operate, garner community support, and maintain solvency by providing proof of the following:

      1. Satisfactory food safety inspection report completed within the last 365 days by the local Department of Health office.

      2. Satisfactory fire safety inspection report completed within the last 365 days by the local fire authority.

      3. Financial ability to provide services and shelter.

      4. Maintenance of all records pertaining to the operation of the domestic violence program and provision of services in a manner such that the records are readily accessible.

2. (2) Application. Applicants must first register for access to the Department of Children and Families’ Privilege and Certification System (PCS). Upon registration approval by the Department, the application for initial certification shall be submitted through PCS on Form CF 613, Domestic Violence Center Application for Initial Certification, (October 2025), which is incorporated by reference and available at HYPERLINK "http://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-18937"http://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-18937. The full-time administrator, board president, or the designated representative of a corporation shall complete the application. The application shall include the following attachments:

   1. (a) Business Plan. The business plan shall provide a comprehensive description of all administrative and programmatic activities for current and future operations. The plan must include the following:

      1. Executive Summary. The executive summary shall include, at a minimum, the mission, goals, objectives, and history of organization.

      2. Community Support. The applicant must demonstrate that the organization is publicly supported, both programmatically and financially. Written endorsement by local law enforcement agencies, and three letters of support from community partners shall also be included.

      3. Financial Plan. The financial plan shall include the organization’s income statement, which identifies revenues by source and expenditures by category; 25 percent local match in the form of cash, in-kind services, or a combination thereof; an independent financial audit covering the previous 18 months operation as a domestic violence program, conducted by a certified public accountant licensed under Chapter 473, F.S.; and a plan for sustainability with projected revenues and expenditures for the 24 months of operation following date of certification.

      4. Management Plan. The management plan shall include a detailed description of the organization’s legal and organizational structure, including names, contact information and resumes for the management team, board of directors, and, if applicable, any advisory boards. The plan must include documentation of the selection process, code of conduct, duties and responsibilities, training requirements, and minutes from the past six meetings of the board of directors, and, if applicable, any advisory boards. Copies of by-laws, IRS tax exemption determination letter, Federal Employment Identification (FEID) number, city business license, county business license, and certificate of status or acknowledgement letter of registration from the Florida Department of State shall also be included.

      5. Market Analysis and Plan. The market analysis shall include a description of the local need for domestic violence services and how those needs are met or unmet. The applicant must demonstrate that services address a need identified in the most current statewide needs assessment approved by the Department. The current needs assessment may be obtained from the Office of Domestic Violence. Descriptions of the service area and demographics, efforts to avoid duplication of services, and strategies for public awareness and fundraising shall also be included.

      6. Personnel Plan. The personnel plan shall include an organizational chart identifying all center employees. The plan must clearly describe each employee’s responsibilities, and include clear lines of authority, accountability, and lines of communication; processes for evaluations and disciplinary action; position descriptions; and the shift schedule for the emergency shelter. The personnel plan must also include the applicant’s staff training and development plan and meet the requirements provided in Rule 65H-1.013, F.A.C., and an explanation of measures utilized to maintain the safety of persons receiving services, including, at a minimum, any background screening, reference checks, verification of previous employment, and certifications of applicant’s employees.

      7. Operations Plan. The operations plan shall include a description of the facilities with city of location, equipment, and assets. Approval of the shelter facilities signed by local authorized zoning, building, and other applicable permitting agencies, based upon inspections not more than 60 days prior to the date of filing the certification application is required. Those buildings that have pre-established schedules with local regulatory agencies for annual re-inspection may submit written documentation of the results of such inspection held within the past calendar year. The operations plan must also include the applicant’s emergency management plan and meet the requirements provided in Rule 65H-1.013, F.A.C.

      8. Service Plan. The service plan shall include an identification and comprehensive description of each service required by Section 39.905, F.S., and any additional services and programs provided by the applicant. The description must illustrate the manner in which services will be integrated with existing resources for domestic violence victims, for example, inter-agency agreements. For each of the services required in Section 39.905, F.S., the applicant must address the needs of underserved communities including those with limited access to resources, and specific efforts to reach these populations within the organization’s service area. Documentation of services shall include services provided during the previous 18 months of operation as a domestic violence program and include the number of persons served for each required service, and the demographics of the people served.

   2. (b) Operating Policies and Procedures Manual. The applicant’s operating policies and procedures manual must meet the requirements provided in Rule 65H-1.013, F.A.C.
   3. (c) The Department will conduct an on-site review of the applicant’s facilities. Upon completion of the full application review, the applicant will be notified in writing of the status of its request for certification.

3. (3) Certification.

   1. (a) Certification is for one year and automatically expires on June 30 of each year unless extended to allow implementation of a corrective action plan as set forth in Rule 65H-1.017, F.A.C.
   2. (b) The Department will annually renew a center’s certification upon the June 30 expiration date provided the center has received a favorable monitoring report from the Department or contracted entity.
   3. (c) Failure to comply with any of the requirements in Section 39.905, F.S. or this rule chapter constitutes grounds to deny, suspend, revoke the certification as provided in Rule 65H-1.017, F.A.C. However, if the corrective action period extends beyond the June 30 expiration date, the Department will extend the certification for a period not to exceed 180 calendar days to allow the center to complete a corrective action plan as provided in Rule 65H-1.017, F.A.C.
   4. (d) Certification is non-transferable and valid only for the center and designated service area listed on the certificate issued by the Department.
   5. (e) The center may operate shelters at different locations. If the center wishes to change the location of a shelter, close a shelter, or open additional shelter locations during an existing certification period, the center must notify the Department, in writing, at least 30 days prior to the change or addition, and request approval from the Department. The Department will grant approval for additional shelter locations if the center is financially and programmatically capable of supporting additional locations, the new or additional location is within the center’s designated service area, and there is no pending corrective action pertaining to the center. If the Department does not grant approval for additional sites, the provider may not utilize funds distributed through the formula as set forth in Rule 65H-1.018, F.A.C. to operate those locations.

4. (4) Provisional Certification.

   1. (a) The Department may issue a provisional certification pursuant to section 39.905(1)(h), F.S., to applicants who have not met the requirements of paragraph (1)(c) and subparagraph (2)(a)3. of this rule, if the applicant meets all other statutory and administrative requirements of Chapter 65H-1, F.A.C. of a certified domestic violence center.
   2. (b) Within 90 days of receiving provisional certification, the center must be able to staff its emergency shelter 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
   3. (c) The Department will not issue a provisional certificate when doing so would place the health, safety, or welfare of individuals at risk.
   4. (d) The Department will take any monitoring and enforcement action as set out in Chapter 65H-1, F.A.C. against a center holding a provisional certification. The Department will revoke a provisional certification when a center is found to be out of compliance with certification standards to the extent operations place the health, safety, or welfare of participants at risk.
   5. (e) A provisional certification expires 18 months after issuance and will not be reissued.

Rulemaking Authority 39.903, 39.905 FS. Law Implemented 39.903, 39.905 FS. History–New 11-30-09, Formerly 65H-1.001, 65H-1.002, Amended 2-5-15, 5-4-20, 1-11-26.