(1) Every terminal supplier, importer, or wholesaler, except a municipality, county, state agency, federal agency, school board, or special district, shall file with the department a bond or bonds in the penal sum of not more than $100,000. The sum of such bond shall be approximately 3 times the average monthly diesel fuels tax and local option tax on diesel fuels paid or due during the preceding 12 calendar months, with a surety approved by the department. The licensee shall be the principal obligor and the state shall be the obligee, conditioned upon the faithful compliance with the provisions of this chapter, including the local option tax laws. If the sum of 3 times a licensee’s average monthly tax is less than $50, no bond shall be required.

(2) When the liability upon the bond filed as provided in subsection (1) shall be discharged or reduced, whether by judgment rendered, payment made, or otherwise, or if in the opinion of the department any surety on the bond theretofore given has become unsatisfactory or unacceptable, the department may require the licensee to file a new bond with satisfactory surety in the same form and amount.

(3) If such new bond is furnished as provided in subsection (2), the department shall cancel and surrender the bond of the licensee for which such new bond is substituted. If the licensee fails to post the new bond, the department shall forthwith cancel the license of the licensee.

(4) If the department decides that the amount of the existing bond is insufficient to ensure payment to the state of the amount of tax and any penalties and interest for which the licensee is liable, the licensee shall forthwith, upon the written demand of the department, file additional bond in the same manner and form with like security thereon. The department shall forthwith cancel the license of any licensee failing to file the additional bond.

(5) Any surety on any bond furnished by a licensee, as provided in this section, shall be released and discharged from all liability to the state accruing on such bond after the expiration of 60 days from the date upon which such surety has lodged with the department a written request to be released and discharged. Such request shall not operate to relieve, release, or discharge such surety from any liability already accrued, or which shall accrue, before the expiration of the 60-day period. The department shall, promptly on receipt of such request, notify the licensee who furnished such bond, and, unless the licensee on or before the expiration of the 60-day period files with the department a new bond with a surety company satisfactory to the department in the amount and form as provided in subsection (1), the department shall forthwith cancel the license of such licensee. If the new bond is furnished, the department shall cancel and surrender the bond of the licensee for which the new bond is substituted.

History.—s. 6, ch. 19446, 1939; CGL 1940 Supp. 1167(108); s. 7, ch. 26718, 1951; s. 7, ch. 63-253; s. 5, ch. 65-371; s. 2, ch. 65-420; ss. 21, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 1, ch. 70-995; s. 1, ch. 75-21; s. 5, ch. 77-149; s. 54, ch. 78-95; s. 26, ch. 83-3; s. 8, ch. 83-137; s. 2, ch. 83-138; s. 83, ch. 95-417.

Note.—Former s. 209.06.