1. (1) DEFINITIONS.—The following definitions apply to the Direct Deposit Program (“Program”):

   1. (a) “Account” means the checking or savings bank account at a Financial Institution that is identified on the Direct Deposit Authorization Form or in the Direct Deposit Request, to which the Beneficiary’s payments will be transmitted.
   2. (b) “Beneficiary” has the same meaning as in section 17.076, F.S.
   3. (c) “Department” means the Department of Financial Services, an agency of the State of Florida.
   4. (d) “Direct Deposit Authorization Form” means the paper form submitted by a Beneficiary to the Division to request participation in the Program. Form DFS-A1-26E, Direct Deposit Authorization Form, effective 11/25, which is hereby incorporated by reference and available at HYPERLINK "https://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-18627"https://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-18627.
   5. (e) “Direct Deposit Request” means the online submission made by a Beneficiary to request participation in the Program.
   6. (f) “Division” means the Division of Accounting and Auditing within the Department.
   7. (g) “Financial Institution” means a bank, national association, savings and loan association, mutual savings bank, or a credit union which is chartered by either any state or the federal government and authorized by the applicable federal reserve bank to receive commercial automated clearing house transactions and is thus eligible to receive State of Florida direct deposits by electronic funds transfer.
   8. (h) “FRS Retiree” has the same meaning as in section 121.021(60), F.S.
   9. (i) “Other Payee” means any Beneficiary receiving lawful payment from state funds other than a State Employee, FRS Retiree, or Supplier.
   10. (j) “State Employee” means a person receiving wages from the State of Florida.
   11. (k) “Supplier” means a Beneficiary receiving lawful payment from state funds in exchange for the provision of goods or services.
   12. (l) “Wages” have the same meaning as in Rule 69I-31.103, F.A.C.

2. (2) ENROLLMENT.—

   1. (a) To enroll in the Program:

      1. State Employees must submit a Direct Deposit Request through the State’s secure human resource information system (HRIS) website at https://peoplefirst.myflorida.com/.

      2. FRS Retirees must submit a Direct Deposit Request through the Florida Retirement System’s online portal available through the Department of Management Services website at www.dms.myflorida.com/workforce_operations/retirement/retirees. FRS Retirees can request assistance via phone at (850)907-6500, toll-free phone at (844)377-1888, or email at retirement@dms.myflorida.com.

      3. Suppliers must register as vendors within MyFloridaMarketPlace and submit a Direct Deposit Request through the Florida Integrated Payee System (“FLIPS”) portal at https://floridapayee.apexportal.net/.

      4. Other Payees must submit a Direct Deposit Request through the FLIPS portal.

   2. (b) Suppliers and Other Payees will be asked to provide the following information on the FLIPS portal:

      1. Company contact information.

      2. Tax registration information.

      3. Banking information.

      4. Business classification.

      5. Physical address.

   3. (c) Suppliers and Other Payees must receive an invitation from the Division or the agency making payment before enrolling in the Program via the FLIPS portal. The Division or agency making payment will only issue an invitation once the Division or agency making payment confirms:

      1. the accuracy of the Supplier’s or Other Payee’s information;

      2. that the Supplier or Other Payee is entitled to receive payment from state funds; and

      3. that the Supplier or Other Payee has received at least one (1) payment from the State of Florida via warrant within the past twelve (12) months.

   4. (d) If a Beneficiary is unable to submit an online Direct Deposit Request due to emergency circumstances, the Beneficiary may instead submit a Direct Deposit Authorization Form to the Division via mail at 200 East Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0359, with an explanation demonstrating how the emergency circumstances render submission of an online Direct Deposit Request impossible or impractical.

3. (3) AUTHORIZATION.—

   1. (a) The individual submitting a Direct Deposit Request must be the Beneficiary or be authorized to act on behalf of the Beneficiary and must be an authorized signer on the Account.

   2. (b) If submitting a Direct Deposit Authorization Form pursuant to paragraph (2)(d), the submission must include a copy of at least one of the following acceptable forms of identification that contain the authorized signer’s signature:

      1. Valid U.S. driver license;

      2. State-issued ID with photo and signature;

      3. U.S. Resident Alien card;

      4. U.S. Non-Resident Alien card;

      5. Passport; or

      6. U.S. Military ID.

4. (4) CHANGE ACTIONS.—A participating Beneficiary must notify the Division of a change in the Account number, Financial Institution, Beneficiary’s Social Security Number or Employer Identification Number, or Beneficiary’s name. State Employees must satisfy this requirement by updating their profile information within PeopleFirst. FRS Retirees must satisfy this requirement by updating their profile information within the Florida Retirement System’s online portal. Suppliers and Other Payees must satisfy this requirement by updating their profile information within FLIPS. All Beneficiaries may satisfy this requirement by submitting an updated Direct Deposit Authorization Form with a “change request” if they cannot use one of the online portals pursuant to paragraph (2)(d). Only an authorized signer of the Beneficiary can make any changes to the Beneficiary’s direct deposit information.

5. (5) TERMINATION.—

   1. (a) Vountary Termination. State Employees must voluntarily terminate their participation in the Program by updating their profile information within PeopleFirst. FRS Retirees must voluntarily terminate their participation in the Program by updating their profile information within the Florida Retirement System’s online portal. Suppliers and Other Payees must voluntarily terminate their participation in the Program by updating their profile information within FLIPS. All Beneficiaries may voluntarily terminate their participation in the Program by submitting a Direct Deposit Authorization Form or by providing a signed letter with photocopy of valid ID with a “stop request” if they cannot use one of the online portals pursuant to paragraph (2)(d). Authorization will remain in effect until terminated with sufficient notice to the Division to allow adequate time to effect termination.

   2. (b) Involuntary Termination. A Beneficiary’s participation in the Program may be involuntarily terminated upon any of the following events:

      1. The Beneficiary does not receive a payment via direct deposit for a continuous period of 14 months or more.

      2. The Division receives a written request from the employing agency that a State Employee be disqualified from the Program. In its request, the employing agency must include adequate justification and documentation supporting its position that the State Employee should not be allowed to participate in the Program. The following will be considered adequate justification:

      a. A State Employee has been on leave without pay, was overpaid, and as of the day immediately following the State Employee’s pay day, owes to the State as a result of the overpayment.

      b. A State Employee has been on leave without pay resulting in overpayment of salary for two consecutive pay periods.

      c. A State Employee has been on leave without pay resulting in overpayment of salary for three pay periods out of the previous six pay periods.

      3. The Division receives written request from the Division of Retirement that an FRS Retiree be disqualified from the Program.

      4. The Division receives information from the Financial Institution indicating that the Account has been closed.

      5. The Division determines or reasonably suspects that the Beneficiary is engaged is fraud or unauthorized activity on the Account.

      6. A Supplier or Other Payee violates the FLIPS terms of use.

   3. (c) Re-Enrollment After Termination. A Beneficiary must submit a new Direct Deposit Request or Direct Deposit Authorization Form pursuant to subsection (2)(d) to resume participation after termination. A State Employee terminated pursuant to subparagraph (5)(b)2. will regain eligibility once the State Employee has not been on unauthorized leave without pay for a period of six (6) continuous months. The State Employee’s new Direct Deposit Request or Direct Deposit Authorization Form must include an attached written statement from the employing agency certifying that the State Employee has regained his or her eligibility to participate in the Program.
   4. (d) Payments After Termination. After termination, a Beneficiary will be paid by warrant for any wages, retirement benefits, or other outstanding payments until the Beneficiary again becomes eligible to participate and re-enrolls in the Program pursuant to paragraph (5)(c).
6. (6) IMPROPER PAYMENTS.—In the event a direct deposit results in an improper payment to a Beneficiary, the agency making payment must notify the Division immediately upon learning of the improper payment. In the event recovery by the Division is not possible, the agency making payment will be notified that it must pursue collection pursuant to Chapter 69I-21, F.A.C. The agency making payment must attempt to recover improper payments and notify the Division of the resolution of the case.

Rulemaking Authority 17.075(2), 17.076, 17.14, 17.29 FS. Law Implemented 17.075(2), 17.076, 17.14, 17.29 FS. History–New 7-30-87, Amended 5-12-97, Formerly 3A-22.002, Amended 2-15-15, 1-7-26.