The purpose of the Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH) is to provide a uniform and impartial forum for the trial and resolution of disputes between private citizens and organizations and agencies of the state in an efficient and timely manner. In addition, the division maintains a statewide mediation and adjudication system for the efficient and timely resolution of disputed workers' compensation claims.

The division is headed by a division director who serves as the chief administrative law judge and is appointed by the Administration Commission (Governor and Cabinet) and confirmed by the Florida Senate. The division is administratively housed in the Department of Management Services, but is not subject to the control, supervision, or direction of the department. The division's headquarters are in Tallahassee.

The division administers two programs: the Adjudication of Disputes program and the Workers' Compensation Appeals program.

The Adjudication of Disputes program employs 65 positions as of June 30, 2020. These include the director and chief judge, the deputy chief judge, and 31 administrative law judges, with one administrative secretary or administrative assistant assigned to three judges. These judges oversee the hearing and resolution of challenges to state agency rules, proceedings in which the substantial interests of a party are determined by a state agency and hearing involving disputed issues of material fact between private citizens and state entities and private organizations and state entities.

The Workers' Compensation Appeals program employs 175 positions.  Judges mediate and adjudicate disputed workers' compensation benefits.

An administrative proceeding is initiated when an agency action or inaction adversely affects a private party's substantial interests. The agency is almost always a party to the proceedings. Cases often come to administrative law judges after an administrative hearing before agency staff or an agency head. 

Cases come to judges of compensation claims after parties are unable to reach agreement on outstanding issues and one party files a petition for benefits. The law provides for mandatory mediation within 130 days of filing such a petition. 

Administrative law judges conduct hearings as authorized by Ch. 120, Florida Statutes. Most cases are brought

• to challenge an agency rule as an invalid delegation of legislative authority; or

• to resolve disputes between an agency and a person whose substantial interests will be affected by an agency decision (other than a rule). State law does not define the term substantial; it is interpreted on a case-by-case basis.

Division cases encompass a variety of issues, and involve multiple state agencies. The division conducts other hearings as set out in law, such as cases brought under the Baker Act (involuntary commitment to a mental institution). Judges of compensation claims hear disputes brought under the many varied provisions of the state's workers' compensation law, Ch. 440, Florida Statutes.

Administrative law judges issue either final orders or recommended orders.

• Final orders are issued in rule challenges, reviews of agencies' declaratory statements, Baker Act cases, appropriate education for exceptional students cases, voluntary medical malpractice arbitration, Florida Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Association cases, and other cases.
• Recommended orders contain an administrative law judge's official recommendations. The head of the involved agency may accept, modify, or reject the recommended order.  However, an administrative law judge's findings of fact in a recommended order are considered conclusive unless the findings do not comply with essential requirements of law or are not supported by competent substantial evidence. Orders by administrative law judges may be appealed to Florida's First District Court of Appeal or the district court of appeal where a party resides, or as otherwise provided by law.

Judges of compensation claims issue final disposition orders (merit, lump sum settlement, and stipulation orders) and procedural orders. Orders of the judges of compensation claims may be appealed to the Florida First District Court of Appeals.

During Fiscal Year 2019-20, state agencies and other governmental entities referred 6,316 requests for assignment of an administrative law judge, compared to 7,105 requires filed the previous year. This is an 11% decrease from the previous fiscal year.

Of these cases, 1,944 were Baker Act cases. During Fiscal Year 2019-20, each administrative law judge conducted an average of 222 hearings, writing an average of 101 recommended or final orders. Each administrative judge closed an average of 40 cases (excluding Baker Act cases). During this same period, DOAH judges held a total of 4,475 hearing hours.

The Division is 100 percent trust funded. Some state entities must pay filing fees or other fees to utilize the division's hearing services. These funds are derived from assessments paid by insurance carriers writing workers' compensation insurance and self-insurers into the Workers' Compensation Administration Trust Fund. The assessment may not exceed 2.75% of net premiums collected. The assessment rate for calendar year 2019 is 0.90%.  

Other Reports
Division of Administrative Hearings, annual reports

Websites of Interest
Division of Administrative Hearings Case Search
Division of Administrative Hearings Recent Decisions
The Florida Bar Journal

Performance measures and standards for the department may be found in its Long Range Program Plan.

Chapters 120 (Adjudication of Disputes Program) and 440, (Workers' Compensation Appeals Program), Florida Statutes.

Division of Administrative Hearings Clerk's Office, 850-488-9675 email:  AskDOAH@doah.state.fl.us

Office of the Judges of Compensation Claims Clerk's Office and Workers' Compensation-related inquiries, email:  AskOJCC@doah.state.fl.us

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