Consolidation Plans
The Division of Administrative Hearings is consolidating OJCC District Offices in 2022. The following changes are anticipated at this time, but are subject to change as this process proceeds.
Daytona (DAY)
Flagler and Volusia Counties; Brevard County added from MEL
Ft. Lauderdale (FTL)
Broward County; No change
Ft. Myers (FTM)
Lee, Charlotte, Collier Counties; Glades and Hendry Counties added from WPB
DeSoto county transferred to SAR
Gainesville (GNS) - Consolidated (see Districts TLH, JAX and ORL)
Alachua and Columbia Counties to JAX; Marion County to ORL; Dixie, Gilchrist, and Levy Counties to TLH.
Jacksonville (JAX)
Baker, Bradford, Clay, Duval, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns Counties; Alachua and Columbia added from GNS.
Lakeland (LKL) - Consolidated (see Districts TPA, SAR)
Hardee and Highlands Counties to SAR; Polk County to TPA.
Melbourne (MEL) - Consolidated (see Districts WPB, DAY)
Brevard County to DAY; Indian River and Okeechobee Counties to WPB.
Miami (MIA)
Dade County; Monroe County added from Pt. St. Lucie.
Orlando (ORL)
Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole Counties; Marion County added from GNS.
Panama City (PMC) -
Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Walton Counties.
Liberty County transferred to TLH.
Pensacola (PNS) -
Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa Counties; No Change.
Port St. Lucie (PSL) - Consolidated (see Districts WPB).
Monroe County to MIA; Martin and St. Lucie Counties to WPB.
Sarasota (SAR) -
Manatee and Sarasota Counties; Hardee and Highlands Counties added from LKL
St. Petersburg (SPT) -
Pasco and Pinellas Counties; No Change.
Tallahassee (TLH) -
Franklin, Gadsden, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor and Wakulla Counties; Dixie, Gilchrist, and Levy Counties added from GNS
Tampa (TPA) -
Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Sumpter Counties; Polk County added from LKL
West Palm Beach (WPB) -
Palm Beach County; Martin and St. Lucie Counties added from PSL; Indian River and Okechobee Counties added from MEL.
This is going to be a huge inconvenience to injured workers to have to travel further to other counties. 440.25 (4)(d) requires the hearing to be held in the county where the injury occurred unless otherwise agreed. So will VTS offices still be set up in other counties for the injured worker to attend in his county?
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