The 2023 Florida Statutes
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State health officials Rony Francois, Timothy Cerio, and Dr. Ana Viamonte Ros told Betancur that Florida ceased the licensing of naturopaths in 1959, see Fla. Stat. § 462.023, with the exception of seven individuals allowed to practice under a grandfather statute, see id. § 462.2001, and the practice of naturopathy without a state license is a third degree felony, see id. § 462.17(5). Betancur responded that the Council had exclusive authority to license naturopaths; Florida could not prevent a naturopath from practicing; and the naturopaths who practiced under the grandfather statute held fraudulent licenses. The Council later purportedly licensed several naturopaths, including Jose Canas, a Florida citizen.
The relevant statute at issue, though not cited by Plaintiff, is § 462.023, which provides: