Bill Text: FL S1534 | 2018 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Government Integrity

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2018-03-10 - Died in Ethics and Elections [S1534 Detail]

Download: Florida-2018-S1534-Introduced.html
       Florida Senate - 2018                                    SB 1534
       
       
        
       By Senator Mayfield
       
       
       
       
       
       17-00660A-18                                          20181534__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to government integrity; repealing s.
    3         11.061, F.S., relating to state, state university, and
    4         community college employee lobbyists; amending ss.
    5         14.32 and 20.055, F.S.; requiring the Chief Inspector
    6         General and each agency inspector general,
    7         respectively, to determine within a specified
    8         timeframe whether reasonable cause exists to believe
    9         that fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, or misconduct
   10         in government has occurred; requiring such findings to
   11         be reported to the Legislature, the Commission on
   12         Ethics, and certain law enforcement agencies; amending
   13         s. 17.325, F.S.; requiring copies of certain records
   14         to be provided monthly to the Legislature by a
   15         specified date; creating s. 106.114, F.S.; providing
   16         definitions; prohibiting certain public service
   17         announcements by specified governmental entities,
   18         persons acting on behalf of such entities, and elected
   19         officials; providing applicability; amending s.
   20         110.1245, F.S.; authorizing the Department of
   21         Management Services to adopt certain rules relating to
   22         individuals or groups of employees who initiate a
   23         complaint under the Whistle-blower’s Act; providing
   24         for awards to employees for cost savings realized from
   25         such complaints; requiring the appropriate agency
   26         inspector general to take certain actions regarding an
   27         award payment; providing limitations on such awards;
   28         prohibiting certain employees who are at fault for
   29         misspending or attempted misspending of public funds
   30         from receiving such awards at the department head’s
   31         discretion; amending s. 112.313, F.S.; revising
   32         applicability of certain provisions relating to
   33         contractual relationships; providing that contractual
   34         relationships held by business entities are deemed
   35         held by public officers or employees in certain
   36         situations; prohibiting a public officer or an
   37         employee of an agency from soliciting specified
   38         employment or contractual relationships; requiring
   39         certain offers and solicitations of employment or
   40         contractual relationships to be disclosed to certain
   41         persons; requiring such disclosures be made to the
   42         Commission on Ethics under certain circumstances;
   43         authorizing the commission to investigate such
   44         disclosures; providing a definition; prohibiting
   45         agency directors from receiving compensation for
   46         certain representation for a specified period
   47         following vacation of office; revising applicability;
   48         amending s. 112.3142, F.S.; requiring certain ethics
   49         training for governing board members of special
   50         districts and water management districts; authorizing
   51         certain continuing education courses to satisfy the
   52         ethics training requirement; deleting a requirement
   53         that the Commission on Ethics adopt certain rules
   54         relating to ethics training class course content;
   55         providing course content requirements; encouraging
   56         training providers to seek accreditation; amending s.
   57         112.3143, F.S.; prohibiting governing board members of
   58         special districts or school districts from voting in
   59         an official capacity on specified matters; prohibiting
   60         county, municipal, or other local public officers or
   61         governing board members of special districts or school
   62         districts from participating in specified matters;
   63         amending s. 112.3144, F.S.; requiring certain mayors
   64         and members of a governing body of a municipality to
   65         file a full and public disclosure of financial
   66         interests; providing disclosure requirements; amending
   67         s. 112.3145, F.S.; providing disclosure requirements
   68         regarding annual ethics training on a statement of
   69         financial interests; providing applicability; amending
   70         s. 112.31455, F.S.; applying provisions relating to
   71         the collection of unpaid fines for failure to file
   72         disclosures of financial interests to school
   73         districts; amending s. 112.3148, F.S.; conforming
   74         provisions to specified local government lobbyist
   75         registration requirements; creating s. 112.3181, F.S.;
   76         prohibiting statewide elected officers and legislators
   77         from soliciting employment offers or investment advice
   78         arising out of official or political activities;
   79         providing exceptions; prohibiting such officers or
   80         legislators from soliciting or accepting investment
   81         advice from, or soliciting or entering into certain
   82         profitmaking relationships with, a lobbyist or
   83         principal; providing an exception; providing
   84         definitions; requiring lobbyists and principals to
   85         disclose certain prohibited solicitations to the
   86         commission; authorizing the commission to investigate
   87         such disclosures; requiring a statewide elected
   88         officer or legislator to disclose the acceptance of
   89         new employment or increased compensation to the
   90         commission; requiring the commission to publish such
   91         disclosures on its website; authorizing the commission
   92         to adopt certain forms and rules; amending s.
   93         112.3185, F.S.; providing definitions; prohibiting
   94         certain officers and employees from soliciting
   95         employment or contractual relationships from or
   96         negotiating employment or contractual relationships
   97         with certain employers; providing exceptions;
   98         requiring disclosure of certain offers of employment
   99         or contractual relationships; revising applicability;
  100         amending s. 112.3187, F.S.; replacing the term “gross
  101         mismanagement” with the term “mismanagement”;
  102         conforming provisions to changes made by the act;
  103         amending s. 112.3215, F.S., and reenacting subsection
  104         (15); revising definitions; requiring an executive
  105         branch lobbyist to electronically register with the
  106         commission; revising lobbyist registration,
  107         compensation report, principal designation
  108         cancellation, and investigation requirements; revising
  109         lobbyist registration fees; authorizing the commission
  110         to dismiss certain complaints and investigations;
  111         repealing s. 112.3261, F.S., relating to registration
  112         and reporting for lobbying water management districts;
  113         creating s. 112.3262, F.S.; providing definitions;
  114         requiring the commission to create the Local
  115         Government Lobbyist Registration System; providing for
  116         the future removal of local government authority to
  117         enact a rule or ordinance requiring lobbyists to
  118         register with the local government; requiring
  119         lobbyists to register with the commission before
  120         lobbying governmental entities as of a specified date;
  121         providing registration requirements and fees;
  122         providing responsibilities for lobbyists, governmental
  123         entities, the commission, and the Governor; providing
  124         civil penalties; authorizing the suspension of certain
  125         lobbyists under certain circumstances; authorizing the
  126         commission to adopt rules; requiring the commission to
  127         provide advisory opinions for specified purposes;
  128         amending s. 218.32, F.S.; requiring the Department of
  129         Financial Services to file an annual report with the
  130         Legislature and the commission by a specified date;
  131         amending ss. 112.3188, 112.3189, and 112.31895, F.S.;
  132         conforming provisions to changes made by the act;
  133         declaring that the act fulfills an important state
  134         interest; providing effective dates.
  135          
  136  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
  137  
  138         Section 1. Section 11.061, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
  139         Section 2. Subsection (6) is added to section 14.32,
  140  Florida Statutes, to read:
  141         14.32 Office of Chief Inspector General.—
  142         (6)Within 6 months after the Chief Inspector General
  143  initiates any investigation of fraud, waste, abuse,
  144  mismanagement, or misconduct in government, he or she shall
  145  determine whether reasonable cause exists to believe that fraud,
  146  waste, abuse, mismanagement, or misconduct in government has
  147  occurred. If such reasonable cause does not exist, the Chief
  148  Inspector General must make a new determination every 3 months
  149  until the investigation is closed or he or she determines that
  150  such reasonable cause exists. If the Chief Inspector General
  151  determines that such reasonable cause exists, he or she must
  152  report such findings to the President of the Senate, the Speaker
  153  of the House of Representatives, the Commission on Ethics, and
  154  any law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction over the
  155  subject matter.
  156         Section 3. Present subsections (4) and (5) of section
  157  17.325, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (5) and
  158  (6), respectively, and a new subsection (4) is added to that
  159  section, to read:
  160         17.325 Governmental efficiency hotline; duties of Chief
  161  Financial Officer.—
  162         (4)Copies of records entered pursuant to subsection (3)
  163  must be provided to the President of the Senate and the Speaker
  164  of the House of Representatives by the 15th day of the following
  165  month.
  166         Section 4. Present paragraphs (e) and (f) of subsection (7)
  167  of section 20.055, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as
  168  paragraphs (f) and (g), respectively, and a new paragraph (e) is
  169  added to that subsection, to read:
  170         20.055 Agency inspectors general.—
  171         (7) In carrying out the investigative duties and
  172  responsibilities specified in this section, each inspector
  173  general shall initiate, conduct, supervise, and coordinate
  174  investigations designed to detect, deter, prevent, and eradicate
  175  fraud, waste, mismanagement, misconduct, and other abuses in
  176  state government. For these purposes, each inspector general
  177  shall:
  178         (e)Within 6 months after initiating any investigation of
  179  fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, or misconduct in government,
  180  determine whether reasonable cause exists to believe that fraud,
  181  waste, abuse, mismanagement, or misconduct in government has
  182  occurred. If such reasonable cause does not exist, the inspector
  183  general must make a new determination every 3 months until the
  184  investigation is closed or he or she determines that such
  185  reasonable cause exists. If an inspector general determines that
  186  such reasonable cause exists, he or she must report such
  187  findings to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the
  188  House of Representatives, the Commission on Ethics, and any law
  189  enforcement agency that has jurisdiction over the subject
  190  matter.
  191         Section 5. Section 106.114, Florida Statutes, is created to
  192  read:
  193         106.114Elected official advertising.—
  194         (1)As used in this section, the term:
  195         (a)“Governmental entity” means any executive, judicial, or
  196  quasi-judicial department; state university; community college;
  197  water management district; or political subdivision.
  198         (b)“Public service announcement” means any message
  199  communicated by radio, television, electronic communication, or
  200  billboard that promotes or announces an issue of public
  201  importance, concern, or welfare.
  202         (2)A governmental entity, a person acting on behalf of a
  203  governmental entity, or an elected official may not use or
  204  authorize the use of an elected official’s name, image,
  205  likeness, official uniform, badge, or other symbol of office in
  206  a public service announcement beginning on the date that the
  207  public official becomes a candidate for reelection or election
  208  to public office and ending on the date of the general election
  209  for which the candidate intends to qualify if such announcement
  210  is paid for with public funds or if the time or space for such
  211  announcement is donated by the media. This subsection does not
  212  apply to bona fide news events, such as public debates broadcast
  213  by a licensed broadcaster.
  214         Section 6. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1) and
  215  paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section 110.1245, Florida
  216  Statutes, are amended, and subsection (6) is added to that
  217  section, to read:
  218         110.1245 Savings sharing program; bonus payments; other
  219  awards.—
  220         (1)(a) The Department of Management Services shall adopt
  221  rules that prescribe procedures and promote a savings sharing
  222  program for an individual or group of employees who propose
  223  procedures or ideas that are adopted and that result in
  224  eliminating or reducing state expenditures, including procedures
  225  or ideas that are proposed by an individual or group of
  226  employees who initiate a complaint under the Whistle-blower’s
  227  Act, if such proposals are placed in effect and may be
  228  implemented under current statutory authority.
  229         (b) Each agency head shall recommend employees individually
  230  or by group to be awarded an amount of money, which amount shall
  231  be directly related to the cost savings realized. Each agency
  232  inspector general shall recommend employees individually or by
  233  group to be awarded an amount of money which shall be directly
  234  related to the cost savings realized from the complaint
  235  initiated under the Whistle-blower’s Act. Each proposed award
  236  and amount of money must be approved by the Legislative Budget
  237  Commission, except as provided in subsection (6).
  238         (2) In June of each year, bonuses shall be paid to
  239  employees from funds authorized by the Legislature in an
  240  appropriation specifically for bonuses. Each agency shall
  241  develop a plan for awarding lump-sum bonuses, which plan shall
  242  be submitted no later than September 15 of each year and
  243  approved by the Office of Policy and Budget in the Executive
  244  Office of the Governor. Such plan shall include, at a minimum,
  245  but is not limited to:
  246         (a) A statement that bonuses are subject to specific
  247  appropriation by the Legislature, except as provided in
  248  subsection (6).
  249         (6)Whistle-blower’s Act awards shall be awarded by each
  250  agency, and each department head is authorized to incur
  251  expenditures to provide an award to employees individually or by
  252  group who initiated a complaint under the Whistle-blower Act if
  253  such complaint results in cost savings in excess of $1,000. The
  254  award shall be paid from funds of the specific appropriation or
  255  trust fund to which the benefits of the savings inure. The
  256  agency inspector general to whom the whistle-blower’s complaint
  257  was made or referred shall certify the identity of the employee
  258  or employees who initiated such complaint and, in coordination
  259  with the department head or the department head’s designee, the
  260  amount of savings resulting from the complaint. If more than one
  261  employee makes a relevant report, the award shall be distributed
  262  in proportion to the employee’s contribution to the
  263  investigation as certified by the agency inspector general.
  264  Awards shall be in the following amounts:
  265         (a)A career service employee shall be awarded the greater
  266  of 10 percent of the savings or $500, except that such an
  267  employee may not be awarded more than $50,000 in a year. If the
  268  employee is partially or wholly at fault, as certified by the
  269  agency inspector general, for any misspending or attempted
  270  misspending of public funds identified in the complaint, the
  271  employee is not eligible for an award or the employee’s award is
  272  limited to $500, at the discretion of the department head.
  273         (b)A Senior Management Service or Selected Exempt Service
  274  employee shall be awarded 5 percent of the savings, except that
  275  such an employee may not be awarded more than $1,000 in a year.
  276  If the employee is partially or wholly at fault, as certified by
  277  the agency inspector general, for any misspending or attempted
  278  misspending of public funds identified in the complaint, the
  279  employee is not eligible for an award.
  280         Section 7. Subsections (7), (9), and (15) of section
  281  112.313, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  282         112.313 Standards of conduct for public officers, employees
  283  of agencies, and local government attorneys.—
  284         (7) CONFLICTING EMPLOYMENT OR CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP.—
  285         (a) A No public officer or employee of an agency may not
  286  shall have or hold any employment or contractual relationship
  287  with any business entity or any agency that which is subject to
  288  the regulation of, or is doing business with, the officer’s or
  289  employee’s an agency. This paragraph does not apply to of which
  290  he or she is an officer or employee, excluding those
  291  organizations and their officers who, when acting in their
  292  official capacity, enter into or negotiate a collective
  293  bargaining contract with the state or any municipality, county,
  294  or other political subdivision of the state. Such; nor shall an
  295  officer or employee may not of an agency have or hold any
  296  employment or contractual relationship that will create a
  297  continuing or frequently recurring conflict between his or her
  298  private interests and the performance of his or her public
  299  duties or that would impede the full and faithful discharge of
  300  his or her public duties. For purposes of this subsection, if a
  301  public officer or employee of an agency holds a material
  302  interest in a business entity other than a publicly traded
  303  entity, or is an officer, director, or member who manages such
  304  an entity, contractual relationships held by the business entity
  305  are deemed to be held by the public officer or employee.
  306         1. When the agency referred to is a that certain kind of
  307  special tax district created by general or special law and is
  308  limited specifically to constructing, maintaining, managing, and
  309  financing improvements in the land area over which the agency
  310  has jurisdiction, or when the agency has been organized pursuant
  311  to chapter 298, then employment with, or entering into a
  312  contractual relationship with, such a business entity by a
  313  public officer or employee of such an agency is shall not be
  314  prohibited by this subsection or be deemed a conflict per se.
  315  However, conduct by such officer or employee that is prohibited
  316  by, or otherwise frustrates the intent of, this section must
  317  shall be deemed a conflict of interest in violation of the
  318  standards of conduct set forth by this section.
  319         2. When the agency referred to is a legislative body and
  320  the regulatory power over the business entity resides in another
  321  agency, or when the regulatory power that which the legislative
  322  body exercises over the business entity or agency is strictly
  323  through the enactment of laws or ordinances, then employment
  324  with, or entering into a contractual relationship with, such a
  325  business entity by a public officer or employee of such a
  326  legislative body is shall not be prohibited by this subsection
  327  or be deemed a conflict based on the regulatory power of the
  328  legislative body, unless prohibited or deemed a conflict by
  329  another law.
  330         (b) This subsection does shall not prohibit a public
  331  officer or employee from practicing in a particular profession
  332  or occupation when such practice by persons holding such public
  333  office or employment is required or permitted by law or
  334  ordinance.
  335         (c)A public officer or an employee of an agency may not
  336  solicit any employment or contractual relationship prohibited by
  337  this subsection.
  338         (d)A public officer or an employee of an agency must
  339  disclose to the head of his or her agency, the general counsel
  340  or inspector general of his or her agency, or any other officer
  341  or attorney designated by the head of his or her agency any
  342  offer of employment or contractual relationship that is
  343  prohibited by this subsection.
  344         (e)If a public officer or an employee of an agency, or a
  345  person acting on his or her behalf, solicits employment with any
  346  business entity or any agency that is subject to the regulation
  347  of, or is doing business with, the officer’s or employee’s
  348  agency in violation of paragraph (c), the solicited business
  349  entity or agency must disclose such solicitation to the head of
  350  the officer’s or employee’s agency. If such solicitation is by
  351  or on behalf of the head of the agency or a member of a body
  352  that is the head of the agency, the solicited business entity or
  353  agency must disclose such solicitation to the commission. The
  354  commission may investigate such disclosure as if it were a valid
  355  complaint under this part.
  356         (9) POSTEMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONS; STANDARDS OF CONDUCT FOR
  357  LEGISLATORS AND LEGISLATIVE EMPLOYEES.—
  358         (a)1. It is the intent of the Legislature to implement by
  359  statute the provisions of s. 8(e), Art. II of the State
  360  Constitution relating to legislators, statewide elected
  361  officers, appointed state officers, and designated public
  362  employees.
  363         2. As used in this paragraph:
  364         a. “Employee” means:
  365         (I) Any person employed in the executive or legislative
  366  branch of government holding a position in the Senior Management
  367  Service as defined in s. 110.402 or any person holding a
  368  position in the Selected Exempt Service as defined in s. 110.602
  369  or any person having authority over policy or procurement
  370  employed by the Department of the Lottery.
  371         (II) The Auditor General, the director of the Office of
  372  Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, the
  373  Sergeant at Arms and Secretary of the Senate, and the Sergeant
  374  at Arms and Clerk of the House of Representatives.
  375         (III) The executive director and deputy executive director
  376  of the Commission on Ethics.
  377         (IV) An executive director, staff director, or deputy staff
  378  director of each joint committee, standing committee, or select
  379  committee of the Legislature; an executive director, staff
  380  director, executive assistant, analyst, or attorney of the
  381  Office of the President of the Senate, the Office of the Speaker
  382  of the House of Representatives, the Senate Majority Party
  383  Office, Senate Minority Party Office, House Majority Party
  384  Office, or House Minority Party Office; or any person, hired on
  385  a contractual basis, having the power normally conferred upon
  386  such persons, by whatever title.
  387         (V) The Chancellor and Vice Chancellors of the State
  388  University System; the general counsel to the Board of Governors
  389  of the State University System; and the president, provost, vice
  390  presidents, and deans of each state university.
  391         (VI) Any person, including an other-personal-services
  392  employee, having the power normally conferred upon the positions
  393  referenced in this sub-subparagraph.
  394         b. “Appointed state officer” means any member of an
  395  appointive board, commission, committee, council, or authority
  396  of the executive or legislative branch of state government whose
  397  powers, jurisdiction, and authority are not solely advisory and
  398  include the final determination or adjudication of any personal
  399  or property rights, duties, or obligations, other than those
  400  relative to its internal operations.
  401         c. “State agency” means an entity of the legislative,
  402  executive, or judicial branch of state government over which the
  403  Legislature exercises plenary budgetary and statutory control.
  404         d.“Agency director” means a secretary, as that term is
  405  defined in s. 20.03, the chief administrative employee or
  406  officer of a department headed by the Governor and the Cabinet,
  407  or the chief administrative employee or officer of any body
  408  established or granted legislative or executive authority by the
  409  State Constitution, including, but not limited to, the State
  410  Board of Education, the Board of Governors of the State
  411  University System, the State Board of Administration, and the
  412  Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, but excluding the
  413  Legislature, the judiciary, or any constituent component of
  414  either. “Agency director” also includes any person, including an
  415  other-personal-services employee, having the power normally
  416  conferred upon such secretary, employee, or officer.
  417         3.a. No member of the Legislature, appointed state officer,
  418  or statewide elected officer shall personally represent another
  419  person or entity for compensation before the government body or
  420  agency of which the individual was an officer or member for a
  421  period of 2 years following vacation of office. No member of the
  422  Legislature shall personally represent another person or entity
  423  for compensation during his or her term of office before any
  424  state agency other than judicial tribunals or in settlement
  425  negotiations after the filing of a lawsuit.
  426         b. For a period of 2 years following vacation of office, a
  427  former member of the Legislature may not act as a lobbyist for
  428  compensation before an executive branch agency, agency official,
  429  or employee. The terms used in this sub-subparagraph have the
  430  same meanings as provided in s. 112.3215.
  431         4.a.An agency director who is so employed on or after
  432  January 8, 2019, may not personally represent another person or
  433  entity for compensation before any state agency other than the
  434  Legislature or judicial tribunals or in settlement negotiations
  435  after the filing of a lawsuit for a period of 2 years following
  436  vacation of position, except when employed by and representing
  437  another state agency.
  438         b. An agency employee, including an agency employee who was
  439  employed on July 1, 2001, in a Career Service System position
  440  that was transferred to the Selected Exempt Service System under
  441  chapter 2001-43, Laws of Florida, may not personally represent
  442  another person or entity for compensation before the agency with
  443  which he or she was employed for a period of 2 years following
  444  vacation of position, except when unless employed by and
  445  representing another state agency of state government.
  446         5. Any person violating this paragraph is shall be subject
  447  to the penalties provided in s. 112.317 and a civil penalty of
  448  an amount equal to the compensation which the person receives
  449  for the prohibited conduct.
  450         6.This paragraph is not applicable to:
  451         a.A person employed by the Legislature or other agency
  452  prior to July 1, 1989;
  453         b.A person who was employed by the Legislature or other
  454  agency on July 1, 1989, whether or not the person was a defined
  455  employee on July 1, 1989;
  456         c.A person who was a defined employee of the State
  457  University System or the Public Service Commission who held such
  458  employment on December 31, 1994;
  459         d.A person who has reached normal retirement age as
  460  defined in s. 121.021(29), and who has retired under the
  461  provisions of chapter 121 by July 1, 1991; or
  462         e.Any appointed state officer whose term of office began
  463  before January 1, 1995, unless reappointed to that office on or
  464  after January 1, 1995.
  465         (b) In addition to the provisions of this part which are
  466  applicable to legislators and legislative employees by virtue of
  467  their being public officers or employees, the conduct of members
  468  of the Legislature and legislative employees shall be governed
  469  by the ethical standards provided in the respective rules of the
  470  Senate or House of Representatives which are not in conflict
  471  herewith.
  472         (15) ADDITIONAL EXEMPTION.—
  473         (a) An No elected public officer may not shall be held in
  474  violation of subsection (7) if the officer maintains an
  475  employment relationship with an entity which is currently a tax
  476  exempt organization under s. 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code
  477  and which contracts with or otherwise enters into a business
  478  relationship with the officer’s agency and:
  479         1.(a) The officer’s employment is not directly or
  480  indirectly compensated as a result of such contract or business
  481  relationship;
  482         2.(b) The officer has in no way participated in the
  483  agency’s decision to contract or to enter into the business
  484  relationship with his or her employer, whether by participating
  485  in discussion at the meeting, by communicating with officers or
  486  employees of the agency, or otherwise; and
  487         3.(c) The officer abstains from voting on any matter which
  488  may come before the agency involving the officer’s employer,
  489  publicly states to the assembly the nature of the officer’s
  490  interest in the matter from which he or she is abstaining, and
  491  files a written memorandum as provided in s. 112.3143.
  492         (b)This subsection does not apply to an officer who begins
  493  his or her term of office on or after January 8, 2019.
  494         Section 8. Subsection (2) of section 112.3142, Florida
  495  Statutes, is amended to read:
  496         112.3142 Ethics training for specified constitutional
  497  officers, and elected municipal officers, and members of a
  498  governing board of a special district or water management
  499  district.—
  500         (2)(a) All constitutional officers must complete 4 hours of
  501  ethics training each calendar year which addresses, at a
  502  minimum, s. 8, Art. II of the State Constitution, the Code of
  503  Ethics for Public Officers and Employees, and the public records
  504  and public meetings laws of this state. This requirement may be
  505  satisfied by completion of a continuing legal education class or
  506  other continuing professional education class, seminar, or
  507  presentation if the required subjects are covered.
  508         (b) Beginning January 1, 2015, All elected municipal
  509  officers must complete 4 hours of ethics training each calendar
  510  year which addresses, at a minimum, s. 8, Art. II of the State
  511  Constitution, the Code of Ethics for Public Officers and
  512  Employees, and the public records and public meetings laws of
  513  this state. This requirement may be satisfied by completion of a
  514  continuing legal education class or other continuing
  515  professional education class, seminar, or presentation if the
  516  required subjects are covered.
  517         (c) Beginning January 1, 2019, all members of the governing
  518  board of a special district or water management district must
  519  complete 4 hours of ethics training each calendar year which
  520  addresses, at a minimum, s. 8, Art. II of the State
  521  Constitution, the Code of Ethics for Public Officers and
  522  Employees, and the public records and public meetings laws of
  523  this state.
  524         (d)The requirements specified in paragraphs (a), (b), and
  525  (c) may be satisfied by completion of a continuing legal
  526  education class or other continuing professional education
  527  class, seminar, or presentation, if the required subjects are
  528  covered.
  529         (e)The commission shall adopt rules establishing minimum
  530  Course content for the portion of an ethics training class which
  531  addresses s. 8, Art. II of the State Constitution and the Code
  532  of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees must include one or
  533  more of the following:
  534         1.Doing business with one’s own agency;
  535         2.Conflicting employment or contractual relationships;
  536         3.Misuse of position;
  537         4.Disclosure or use of certain information;
  538         5.Gifts and honoraria, including solicitation and
  539  acceptance of gifts, and unauthorized compensation;
  540         6.Post-officeholding restrictions;
  541         7.Restrictions on the employment of relatives;
  542         8.Voting conflicts if the officer is a member of a
  543  collegial body and votes in his or her official capacity;
  544         9.Financial disclosure requirements, including the
  545  automatic fine and appeal process;
  546         10. Commission procedures on ethics complaints and
  547  referrals; and
  548         11.The importance of and the process for obtaining
  549  advisory opinions rendered by the commission.
  550         (f)Training providers are encouraged to seek accreditation
  551  from any applicable licensing body for courses offered pursuant
  552  to this subsection.
  553         (g)(d) The Legislature intends that a constitutional
  554  officer, or elected municipal officer, or member of the
  555  governing board of a special district or water management
  556  district who is required to complete ethics training pursuant to
  557  this section receive the required training as close as possible
  558  to the date that he or she assumes office. A constitutional
  559  officer, or elected municipal officer, or member of the
  560  governing board of a special district or water management
  561  district assuming a new office or new term of office on or
  562  before March 31 must complete the annual training on or before
  563  December 31 of the year in which the term of office began. A
  564  constitutional officer, or elected municipal officer, or member
  565  of the governing board of a special district or water management
  566  district assuming a new office or new term of office after March
  567  31 is not required to complete ethics training for the calendar
  568  year in which the term of office began.
  569         Section 9. Subsections (3) and (4) of section 112.3143,
  570  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  571         112.3143 Voting conflicts.—
  572         (3)(a) A No county, municipal, or other local public
  573  officer or governing board member of a special district or
  574  school district may not shall vote in an official capacity upon
  575  any measure which would inure to his or her special private gain
  576  or loss; which he or she knows would inure to the special
  577  private gain or loss of any principal by whom he or she is
  578  retained or to the parent organization or subsidiary of a
  579  corporate principal by which he or she is retained, other than
  580  an agency as defined in s. 112.312(2); or which he or she knows
  581  would inure to the special private gain or loss of a relative or
  582  business associate of the public officer or board member. Such
  583  public officer or board member shall, prior to the vote being
  584  taken, publicly state to the assembly the nature of the
  585  officer’s or member’s interest in the matter from which he or
  586  she is abstaining from voting and, within 15 days after the vote
  587  occurs, disclose the nature of his or her interest as a public
  588  record in a memorandum filed with the person responsible for
  589  recording the minutes of the meeting, who shall incorporate the
  590  memorandum in the minutes.
  591         (b) However, a commissioner of a community redevelopment
  592  agency created or designated pursuant to s. 163.356 or s.
  593  163.357, or an officer of an independent special tax district
  594  elected on a one-acre, one-vote basis, is not prohibited from
  595  voting, when voting in said capacity.
  596         (4) A county, municipal, or other local public officer;
  597  governing board member of a special district or school district;
  598  or No appointed public officer may not shall participate in any
  599  matter which would inure to the officer’s or member’s special
  600  private gain or loss; which the officer or member knows would
  601  inure to the special private gain or loss of any principal by
  602  whom he or she is retained or to the parent organization or
  603  subsidiary of a corporate principal by which he or she is
  604  retained; or which he or she knows would inure to the special
  605  private gain or loss of a relative or business associate of the
  606  public officer or board member, without first disclosing the
  607  nature of his or her interest in the matter.
  608         (a) Such disclosure, indicating the nature of the conflict,
  609  shall be made in a written memorandum filed with the person
  610  responsible for recording the minutes of the meeting, prior to
  611  the meeting in which consideration of the matter will take
  612  place, and shall be incorporated into the minutes. Any such
  613  memorandum shall become a public record upon filing, shall
  614  immediately be provided to the other members of the agency, and
  615  shall be read publicly at the next meeting held subsequent to
  616  the filing of this written memorandum.
  617         (b) In the event that disclosure has not been made prior to
  618  the meeting or that any conflict is unknown prior to the
  619  meeting, the disclosure shall be made orally at the meeting when
  620  it becomes known that a conflict exists. A written memorandum
  621  disclosing the nature of the conflict shall then be filed within
  622  15 days after the oral disclosure with the person responsible
  623  for recording the minutes of the meeting and shall be
  624  incorporated into the minutes of the meeting at which the oral
  625  disclosure was made. Any such memorandum shall become a public
  626  record upon filing, shall immediately be provided to the other
  627  members of the agency, and shall be read publicly at the next
  628  meeting held subsequent to the filing of this written
  629  memorandum.
  630         (c) For purposes of this subsection, the term “participate”
  631  means any attempt to influence the decision by oral or written
  632  communication, whether made by the officer or member or at the
  633  officer’s or member’s direction.
  634         Section 10. Subsections (1) and (2) and paragraph (c) of
  635  subsection (8) of section 112.3144, Florida Statutes, are
  636  amended to read:
  637         112.3144 Full and public disclosure of financial
  638  interests.—
  639         (1)(a) An officer or a member who is required by s. 8, Art.
  640  II of the State Constitution to file a full and public
  641  disclosure of his or her financial interests for any calendar or
  642  fiscal year shall file that disclosure with the Florida
  643  Commission on Ethics. Additionally, beginning January 1, 2015,
  644  an officer who is required to complete annual ethics training
  645  pursuant to s. 112.3142 must certify on his or her full and
  646  public disclosure of financial interests that he or she has
  647  completed the required training.
  648         (b)Each elected mayor and member of the governing body of
  649  a municipality that had $10 million or more in total revenue for
  650  the 3 consecutive fiscal years ending prior to the year the
  651  disclosure covers shall file a full and public disclosure of
  652  financial interests with the Commission on Ethics. Each elected
  653  mayor and member of the governing body of such municipality
  654  shall continue to file a full and public disclosure until the
  655  municipality has less than $10 million in total revenue for 3
  656  consecutive fiscal years. For purposes of this paragraph, the
  657  verified report that the Department of Financial Services files
  658  with the Commission on Ethics in accordance with s. 218.32(3)
  659  shall be the sole basis for determining whether a municipality
  660  has $10 million or more in total revenue, except that a
  661  municipality that has not had its annual financial report
  662  certified in accordance with s. 218.32 on or before November 30
  663  of the year in which it is due shall be considered to have $10
  664  million or more in total revenue for such year. If an
  665  uncertified report is subsequently certified by the Department
  666  of Financial Services, the certified report shall be used in any
  667  disclosure period beginning after the report is certified.
  668         (c)An officer or a member who is required to complete
  669  annual ethics training pursuant to s. 112.3142 must certify on
  670  his or her full and public disclosure of financial interests
  671  that he or she has completed the required training.
  672  Additionally, beginning January 1, 2019, an officer or a member
  673  who is required to complete annual ethics training pursuant to
  674  s. 112.3142 must provide the name of the training provider on
  675  his or her full and public disclosure of financial interests.
  676         (2) An officer or a member a person who is required,
  677  pursuant to s. 8, Art. II of the State Constitution, to file a
  678  full and public disclosure of financial interests and who has
  679  filed a full and public disclosure of financial interests for
  680  any calendar or fiscal year is shall not be required to file a
  681  statement of financial interests pursuant to s. 112.3145(2) and
  682  (3) for the same year or for any part thereof notwithstanding
  683  any requirement of this part. If an incumbent in an elective
  684  office has filed the full and public disclosure of financial
  685  interests to qualify for election to the same office or if a
  686  candidate for office holds another office subject to the annual
  687  filing requirement, the qualifying officer shall forward an
  688  electronic copy of the full and public disclosure of financial
  689  interests to the commission no later than July 1. The electronic
  690  copy of the full and public disclosure of financial interests
  691  satisfies the annual disclosure requirement of this section. A
  692  candidate who does not qualify until after the annual full and
  693  public disclosure of financial interests has been filed pursuant
  694  to this section shall file a copy of his or her disclosure with
  695  the officer before whom he or she qualifies.
  696         (8)
  697         (c) For purposes of this section, an error or omission is
  698  immaterial, inconsequential, or de minimis if the original
  699  filing provided sufficient information for the public to
  700  identify potential conflicts of interest. However, failure to
  701  certify completion of annual ethics training required under s.
  702  112.3142 or provide the name of the training provider does not
  703  constitute an immaterial, inconsequential, or de minimis error
  704  or omission.
  705         Section 11. Subsection (4) and paragraph (c) of subsection
  706  (10) of section 112.3145, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  707         112.3145 Disclosure of financial interests and clients
  708  represented before agencies.—
  709         (4) Beginning January 1, 2015, An officer who is required
  710  to complete annual ethics training pursuant to s. 112.3142 must
  711  certify on his or her statement of financial interests that he
  712  or she has completed the required training. Beginning January 1,
  713  2019, an officer or a member who is required to complete annual
  714  ethics training pursuant to s. 112.3142 must provide the name of
  715  the training provider on his or her statement of financial
  716  interests.
  717         (10)
  718         (c) For purposes of this section, an error or omission is
  719  immaterial, inconsequential, or de minimis if the original
  720  filing provided sufficient information for the public to
  721  identify potential conflicts of interest. However, failure to
  722  certify completion of annual ethics training required under s.
  723  112.3142 or provide the name of the training provider does not
  724  constitute an immaterial, inconsequential, or de minimis error
  725  or omission.
  726         Section 12. The amendments made by this act to ss. 112.3144
  727  and 112.3145, Florida Statutes, apply to disclosures filed for
  728  the 2018 calendar year and all subsequent calendar years.
  729         Section 13. Subsection (1) of section 112.31455, Florida
  730  Statutes, is amended to read:
  731         112.31455 Collection methods for unpaid automatic fines for
  732  failure to timely file disclosure of financial interests.—
  733         (1) Before referring any unpaid fine accrued pursuant to s.
  734  112.3144(5) or s. 112.3145(7) to the Department of Financial
  735  Services, the commission shall attempt to determine whether the
  736  individual owing such a fine is a current public officer or
  737  current public employee. If so, the commission may notify the
  738  Chief Financial Officer or the governing body of the appropriate
  739  county, municipality, school district, or special district of
  740  the total amount of any fine owed to the commission by such
  741  individual.
  742         (a) After receipt and verification of the notice from the
  743  commission, the Chief Financial Officer or the governing body of
  744  the county, municipality, school district, or special district
  745  shall begin withholding the lesser of 10 percent or the maximum
  746  amount allowed under federal law from any salary-related
  747  payment. The withheld payments shall be remitted to the
  748  commission until the fine is satisfied.
  749         (b) The Chief Financial Officer or the governing body of
  750  the county, municipality, school district, or special district
  751  may retain an amount of each withheld payment, as provided in s.
  752  77.0305, to cover the administrative costs incurred under this
  753  section.
  754         Section 14. Effective October 1, 2019, paragraph (b) of
  755  subsection (2) of section 112.3148, Florida Statutes, is amended
  756  to read:
  757         112.3148 Reporting and prohibited receipt of gifts by
  758  individuals filing full or limited public disclosure of
  759  financial interests and by procurement employees.—
  760         (2) As used in this section:
  761         (b)1. “Lobbyist” means any natural person who, for
  762  compensation, seeks, or sought during the preceding 12 months,
  763  to influence the governmental decisionmaking of a reporting
  764  individual or procurement employee or his or her agency or
  765  seeks, or sought during the preceding 12 months, to encourage
  766  the passage, defeat, or modification of any proposal or
  767  recommendation by the reporting individual or procurement
  768  employee or his or her agency.
  769         2. With respect to an agency that is a governmental entity
  770  as defined in s. 112.3262 has established by rule, ordinance, or
  771  law a registration process for persons seeking to influence
  772  decisionmaking or to encourage the passage, defeat, or
  773  modification of any proposal or recommendation by such agency or
  774  an employee or official of the agency, the term “lobbyist”
  775  includes only a person who is required to be registered as a
  776  lobbyist in accordance with s. 112.3262 such rule, ordinance, or
  777  law or who was during the preceding 12 months required to be
  778  registered as a lobbyist in accordance with such rule,
  779  ordinance, or law. At a minimum, such a registration system must
  780  require the registration of, or must designate, persons as
  781  “lobbyists” who engage in the same activities as require
  782  registration to lobby the Legislature pursuant to s. 11.045.
  783         Section 15. Section 112.3181, Florida Statutes, is created
  784  to read:
  785         112.3181Additional standards for statewide elected
  786  officers and legislators.—
  787         (1)A statewide elected officer or member of the
  788  Legislature may not solicit an employment offer or investment
  789  advice arising out of official or political activities engaged
  790  in while he or she is an officer or a legislator or a candidate
  791  for such office, except in the following circumstances:
  792         (a)The officer or legislator may solicit or accept future
  793  employment, including professional partnerships, in the last 180
  794  days of his or her term of office if he or she is ineligible to
  795  run for reelection or has publicly announced, and filed a letter
  796  or other written notice with the qualifying officer with whom
  797  reelection qualification papers are filed, that he or she is not
  798  and does not intend to become a candidate for reelection.
  799         (b)The officer or legislator may solicit or accept
  800  employment from any prospective employer in a profession or
  801  occupation in which he or she has formerly engaged, has been
  802  formally educated or trained, or is licensed, unless such
  803  employment is prohibited by other general law.
  804         (2)A statewide elected officer or member of the
  805  Legislature may not solicit or accept investment advice from or
  806  solicit or enter into an investment, joint venture, or other
  807  profitmaking relationship with a lobbyist or principal, as those
  808  terms are defined in s. 11.045 or s. 112.3215. However, the
  809  officer or legislator may buy or sell listed, publicly traded
  810  securities of a principal without the advice of a lobbyist or
  811  principal unless such action violates s. 112.313. For purposes
  812  of this section, the term “investment, joint venture, or other
  813  profitmaking relationship” does not include an employment
  814  relationship or any enterprise organized to employ or engage the
  815  personal services of individuals including the officer or
  816  legislator. For purposes of this section, the terms “investment
  817  advice” and “profitmaking relationship” do not include a client
  818  relationship with a licensed investment broker, licensed
  819  investment advisor, or similarly licensed professional to whom
  820  the officer or legislator pays ordinary and reasonable fees for
  821  services, regardless of such broker’s, advisor’s, or
  822  professional’s status as a lobbyist’s principal or a nonlobbyist
  823  employee of such principal.
  824         (3)A lobbyist or principal who receives a solicitation
  825  prohibited by this section by or on behalf of a statewide
  826  elected officer or member of the Legislature must disclose such
  827  solicitation to the commission. Any other person who receives
  828  such solicitation may disclose such solicitation to the
  829  commission. The commission may investigate any disclosure under
  830  this subsection as if it were a valid complaint under this part.
  831         (4)(a)A statewide elected officer or a member of the
  832  Legislature must file a written disclosure with the commission
  833  upon acceptance of the following:
  834         1.Any new employment with or increased compensation from
  835  an entity that receives state funds directly by appropriation;
  836         2.Any new employment with or increased compensation from
  837  an agency;
  838         3.Any new employment the offer of which arose out of
  839  official or political activities engaged in while he or she was
  840  a statewide elected officer, a member of the Legislature, or a
  841  candidate for such office; or
  842         4.Any new employment with or increased compensation from a
  843  lobbyist, a principal of a lobbyist, or a lobbying firm.
  844         (b) The disclosure must identify the applicable
  845  subparagraph of paragraph (a), employer, position, salary or
  846  other compensation, and effective date of employment or
  847  increased compensation. Such disclosure must be filed within 30
  848  days after he or she accepts the employment or increased
  849  compensation or before the effective date of employment or
  850  increased compensation, whichever date is earliest. With respect
  851  to employment or increased compensation accepted or effective
  852  between December 31, 2017, and July 1, 2018, the officer or
  853  legislator must file such disclosure within 30 days after July
  854  1, 2018. The commission shall publish such disclosures with the
  855  officer’s or legislator’s full financial disclosure on its
  856  website. The commission may adopt forms for disclosure and may
  857  adopt rules requiring electronic submission of the disclosure
  858  required by this subsection.
  859         Section 16. Present subsections (7) and (8) of section
  860  112.3185, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (8)
  861  and (9), respectively, present subsections (1) and (8) are
  862  amended, and a new subsection (7) is added to that section, to
  863  read:
  864         112.3185 Additional standards for state officers and agency
  865  employees.—
  866         (1) For the purposes of this section:
  867         (a) “Contractual services” shall be defined as set forth in
  868  chapter 287.
  869         (b) “Agency” means any state officer, department, board,
  870  commission, or council of the executive, legislative, or
  871  judicial branch of state government and includes the Public
  872  Service Commission.
  873         (c)“Covered officer” means a state officer who is serving
  874  in a position that is not an elective position. The term does
  875  not include a person who is appointed to fill an unexpired term
  876  of an elective office.
  877         (d)“Negotiate” or “negotiation” means a response to an
  878  offer or solicitation of offers of an employment or contractual
  879  relationship, including the submission of a resume, an
  880  application, or any other information demonstrating interest on
  881  the part of a prospective employee and interviewing or engaging
  882  in other communication intended to lead to an offer or
  883  acceptance of an employment or contractual relationship.
  884         (e)“Reporting employee” means any agency employee who is a
  885  reporting individual or procurement employee, as those terms are
  886  defined in s. 112.3148.
  887         (f)“Restricted employer,” with respect to any state
  888  officer or agency employee, means any entity that does business
  889  with or is subject to regulation by an agency employing the
  890  covered officer or reporting employee and any person or entity
  891  from whom the covered officer or reporting employee may not
  892  solicit a gift under s. 112.3148(3).
  893         (g)“Subject to regulation by an agency” means subject to
  894  regulation by agency action as defined in s. 120.52(2) or its
  895  substantial equivalent. The term does not include regulatory
  896  power exercised strictly through the enactment of general laws.
  897         (7)A covered officer or reporting employee who is employed
  898  in such position on or after January 8, 2019, may not solicit an
  899  employment or contractual relationship from or negotiate an
  900  employment or contractual relationship with a restricted
  901  employer except as provided in this subsection.
  902         (a)A covered officer or reporting employee may solicit a
  903  future employment or contractual relationship from or negotiate
  904  a future employment or contractual relationship with a
  905  restricted employer within 90 days before the expiration of the
  906  officer’s term of office, if the officer does not seek
  907  reappointment, or within 90 days before the officer’s or
  908  employee’s termination or retirement date, if he or she provides
  909  notice of termination or retirement to the head of his or her
  910  agency, the general counsel or inspector general of his or her
  911  agency, or any other officer or attorney designated by the head
  912  of his or her agency.
  913         (b)If a covered officer or reporting employee has been
  914  notified by his or her appointing authority or employing agency
  915  that he or she will be discharged from office or dismissed or
  916  terminated from employment, he or she may solicit a future
  917  employment or contractual relationship from or negotiate a
  918  future employment or contractual relationship with a restricted
  919  employer at any time after such notice but not sooner than 180
  920  days before his or her employment is scheduled to end.
  921         (c)A covered officer or reporting employee must disclose
  922  to the head of his or her agency, the general counsel or
  923  inspector general of his or her agency, or any other officer or
  924  attorney designated by the head of his or her agency any offer
  925  from a restricted employer of an employment or contractual
  926  relationship. After such disclosure, a covered officer or
  927  reporting employee may negotiate an employment or contractual
  928  relationship with the restricted employer if expressly
  929  authorized by the head of his or her agency or the agency head’s
  930  authorized designee. Permission may be withheld only if the
  931  agency head or his or her authorized designee determines such
  932  negotiation poses an actual or potential conflict with the
  933  interests of the state or the agency.
  934         (d)This subsection does not authorize any employment or
  935  contractual relationship solicitation otherwise prohibited by
  936  general law.
  937         (9)(8)Subsections (1) through (6) of this section do not
  938  apply is not applicable to any employee of the Public Service
  939  Commission who was so employed on or before December 31, 1994,
  940  unless so employed on or after January 8, 2019.
  941         Section 17. Subsection (2), paragraph (e) of subsection
  942  (3), and paragraph (b) of subsection (5) of section 112.3187,
  943  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  944         112.3187 Adverse action against employee for disclosing
  945  information of specified nature prohibited; employee remedy and
  946  relief.—
  947         (2) LEGISLATIVE INTENT.—It is the intent of the Legislature
  948  to prevent agencies or independent contractors from taking
  949  retaliatory action against an employee who reports to an
  950  appropriate agency violations of law on the part of a public
  951  employer or independent contractor that create a substantial and
  952  specific danger to the public’s health, safety, or welfare. It
  953  is further the intent of the Legislature to prevent agencies or
  954  independent contractors from taking retaliatory action against
  955  any person who discloses information to an appropriate agency
  956  alleging improper use of governmental office, gross waste of
  957  funds, or any other abuse or gross neglect of duty on the part
  958  of an agency, public officer, or employee.
  959         (3) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this act, unless otherwise
  960  specified, the following words or terms shall have the meanings
  961  indicated:
  962         (e) “Gross Mismanagement” means a continuous or repeated
  963  pattern of neglect of managerial duty, managerial abuses,
  964  wrongful or arbitrary and capricious actions, or deceptive,
  965  fraudulent, or criminal conduct which may have a substantial
  966  adverse economic impact.
  967         (5) NATURE OF INFORMATION DISCLOSED.—The information
  968  disclosed under this section must include:
  969         (b) Any act or suspected act of gross mismanagement,
  970  malfeasance, misfeasance, gross waste of public funds, suspected
  971  or actual Medicaid fraud or abuse, or gross neglect of duty
  972  committed by an employee or agent of an agency or independent
  973  contractor.
  974         Section 18. Paragraphs (a), (f), and (h) of subsection (1),
  975  subsections (3) and (4), paragraph (a) of subsection (5), and
  976  subsections (7) and (8) of section 112.3215, Florida Statutes,
  977  are amended, and subsection (15) of that section is reenacted,
  978  to read:
  979         112.3215 Lobbying before the executive branch or the
  980  Constitution Revision Commission; registration and reporting;
  981  investigation by commission.—
  982         (1) For the purposes of this section:
  983         (a) “Agency” means the Governor; the, Governor and
  984  Cabinet;, or any department, division, bureau, board,
  985  commission, or authority of the executive branch; the State
  986  Board of Education; or the Board of Governors of the State
  987  University System. In addition, “agency” means shall mean the
  988  Constitution Revision Commission as provided by s. 2, Art. XI of
  989  the State Constitution.
  990         (f) “Lobbying” “Lobbies” means seeking, on behalf of
  991  another person, to influence an agency with respect to a
  992  decision of the agency in the area of policy or procurement or
  993  an attempt to obtain the goodwill of an agency official or
  994  employee. “Lobbying” “Lobbies” also means influencing or
  995  attempting to influence, on behalf of another, the Constitution
  996  Revision Commission’s action or nonaction through oral or
  997  written communication or an attempt to obtain the goodwill of a
  998  member or employee of the Constitution Revision Commission.
  999         (h) “Lobbyist” means a person who is employed and receives
 1000  payment, or who contracts for economic consideration, for the
 1001  purpose of lobbying, or a person who is principally employed for
 1002  governmental affairs by another person or governmental entity to
 1003  lobby on behalf of that other person or governmental entity. The
 1004  term “principally employed for governmental affairs” means that
 1005  one of the principal or most significant responsibilities of the
 1006  employee to the employer is overseeing the employer’s various
 1007  relationships with government or representing the employer in
 1008  its contacts with government. “Lobbyist” does not include a
 1009  person who is:
 1010         1. An attorney, or any person, who represents a client in a
 1011  judicial proceeding or in a formal administrative proceeding
 1012  conducted pursuant to chapter 120 or any other formal hearing
 1013  before an agency, board, commission, or authority of this state.
 1014         2. An officer or employee of an agency, or of a legislative
 1015  or judicial branch entity, or a political subdivision of this
 1016  state acting in the normal course of his or her office or
 1017  duties.
 1018         3. A confidential informant who is providing, or wishes to
 1019  provide, confidential information to be used for law enforcement
 1020  purposes.
 1021         4. A person who seeks lobbies to procure a contract
 1022  pursuant to chapter 287 which contract is less than the
 1023  threshold for CATEGORY ONE as provided in s. 287.017.
 1024         (3) A person may not lobby an agency until such person has
 1025  electronically registered as a lobbyist with the commission.
 1026  Such registration shall be due upon initially being retained to
 1027  lobby and is renewable on a calendar year basis thereafter. The
 1028  commission shall request authorization from the principal with
 1029  the principal’s name, business address, e-mail address, and
 1030  telephone number to confirm that the registrant is authorized to
 1031  represent the principal. Upon registration the person shall
 1032  provide a statement signed by the principal or principal’s
 1033  representative that the registrant is authorized to represent
 1034  the principal. The principal or principal’s representative shall
 1035  also identify and designate its main business pursuant to the
 1036  North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) six-digit
 1037  numerical code that most accurately describes the principal’s
 1038  main business. Registration is not complete until the commission
 1039  receives the principal’s authorization and the registration fee
 1040  on the statement authorizing that lobbyist pursuant to a
 1041  classification system approved by the commission. The
 1042  registration shall require each lobbyist to attest to disclose,
 1043  under oath, the following information:
 1044         (a) Full legal name, e-mail address, telephone number, Name
 1045  and business address;
 1046         (b) The full name, e-mail address, telephone number, and
 1047  business address of each principal represented;
 1048         (c) His or her area of interest;
 1049         (d) The agencies before which he or she will appear; and
 1050         (d)(e) The existence of any direct or indirect business
 1051  association, partnership, or financial relationship with any
 1052  employee of an agency with which he or she lobbies, or intends
 1053  to lobby, as disclosed in the registration.
 1054         (4) The annual lobbyist registration fee shall be set by
 1055  the commission by rule, not to exceed $20 $40 for each principal
 1056  represented plus, for each principal, a fee not to exceed $5 for
 1057  each agency after the first.
 1058         (5)(a)1. Each lobbying firm shall file a compensation
 1059  report with the commission for each calendar quarter during any
 1060  portion of which one or more of the firm’s lobbyists were
 1061  registered to represent a principal. The report shall include
 1062  the:
 1063         a. Full name, e-mail address, business address, and
 1064  telephone number of the lobbying firm;
 1065         b. Name of each of the firm’s lobbyists; and
 1066         c. Total compensation provided or owed to the lobbying firm
 1067  from all principals for the reporting period, reported in one of
 1068  the following categories: $0; $1 to $49,999; $50,000 to $99,999;
 1069  $100,000 to $249,999; $250,000 to $499,999; $500,000 to
 1070  $999,999; $1 million or more.
 1071         2. For each principal represented by one or more of the
 1072  firm’s lobbyists, the lobbying firm’s compensation report shall
 1073  also include the:
 1074         a. Full name, e-mail address, business address, and
 1075  telephone number of the principal; and
 1076         b. Total compensation provided or owed to the lobbying firm
 1077  for the reporting period, reported in one of the following
 1078  categories: $0; $1 to $9,999; $10,000 to $19,999; $20,000 to
 1079  $29,999; $30,000 to $39,999; $40,000 to $49,999; or $50,000 or
 1080  more. If the category “$50,000 or more” is selected, the
 1081  specific dollar amount of compensation must be reported, rounded
 1082  up or down to the nearest $1,000.
 1083         3. If the lobbying firm subcontracts work from another
 1084  lobbying firm and not from the original principal:
 1085         a. The lobbying firm providing the work to be subcontracted
 1086  shall be treated as the reporting lobbying firm’s principal for
 1087  reporting purposes under this paragraph; and
 1088         b. The reporting lobbying firm shall, for each lobbying
 1089  firm identified under subparagraph 2., identify the name and
 1090  address of the principal originating the lobbying work.
 1091         4. The senior partner, officer, or owner of the lobbying
 1092  firm shall certify to the veracity and completeness of the
 1093  information submitted pursuant to this paragraph.
 1094         (7) A lobbyist shall promptly send a written statement to
 1095  the commission canceling the designation of registration for a
 1096  principal in his or her registration upon termination of such
 1097  the lobbyist’s representation of that principal. The commission
 1098  may cancel a lobbyist’s designation of a principal upon the
 1099  principal’s notification that the lobbyist is no longer
 1100  authorized to represent the principal Notwithstanding this
 1101  requirement, the commission may remove the name of a lobbyist
 1102  from the list of registered lobbyists if the principal notifies
 1103  the office that a person is no longer authorized to represent
 1104  that principal.
 1105         (8)(a) The commission shall investigate every sworn
 1106  complaint that is filed with it alleging that a person covered
 1107  by this section has failed to register, has failed to submit a
 1108  compensation report, has made a prohibited expenditure, or has
 1109  knowingly submitted false information in any report or
 1110  registration required in this section.
 1111         (b) All proceedings, the complaint, and other records
 1112  relating to the investigation are confidential and exempt from
 1113  the provisions of s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State
 1114  Constitution, and any meetings held pursuant to an investigation
 1115  are exempt from the provisions of s. 286.011(1) and s. 24(b),
 1116  Art. I of the State Constitution either until the alleged
 1117  violator requests in writing that such investigation and
 1118  associated records and meetings be made public or until the
 1119  commission determines, based on the investigation, whether
 1120  probable cause exists to believe that a violation has occurred.
 1121         (c) The commission shall investigate any lobbying firm,
 1122  lobbyist, principal, agency, officer, or employee upon receipt
 1123  of information from a sworn complaint or from a random audit of
 1124  lobbying reports indicating that the individual or entity has
 1125  intentionally failed to disclose any material fact or has
 1126  knowingly submitted false information in any report required by
 1127  this section or by rules adopted pursuant to this section a
 1128  possible violation other than a late-filed report.
 1129         (d) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a)-(c), the commission may
 1130  dismiss any complaint or investigation resulting from a random
 1131  audit of lobbying reports, at any stage of disposition, if it
 1132  determines that the public interest is not served by proceeding
 1133  further, in which case the commission must issue a public report
 1134  stating with particularity its reasons for the dismissal.
 1135         (e)1. Records relating to an audit conducted pursuant to
 1136  this section or an investigation conducted pursuant to this
 1137  section or s. 112.32155 are confidential and exempt from s.
 1138  119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution.
 1139         2. Any portion of a meeting wherein such investigation or
 1140  audit is discussed is exempt from s. 286.011 and s. 24(b), Art.
 1141  I of the State Constitution.
 1142         3. The exemptions no longer apply if the lobbying firm
 1143  requests in writing that such investigation and associated
 1144  records and meetings be made public or the commission determines
 1145  there is probable cause that the audit reflects a violation of
 1146  the reporting laws.
 1147         (15) The commission shall adopt rules to administer this
 1148  section, which shall prescribe forms for registration and
 1149  compensation reports, procedures for registration, and
 1150  procedures that will prevent disclosure of information that is
 1151  confidential as provided in this section.
 1152         Section 19. Effective October 1, 2019, section 112.3261,
 1153  Florida Statutes, is repealed.
 1154         Section 20. Section 112.3262, Florida Statutes, is created
 1155  to read:
 1156         112.3262Lobbying before governmental entities.—
 1157         (1)As used in this section, the term:
 1158         (a)“Governmental entity” or “entity” means a water
 1159  management district created in s. 373.069 and operating under
 1160  the authority of chapter 373, a hospital district, a children’s
 1161  services district, an authority as that term is defined in s.
 1162  348.0002, a port authority as defined in s. 315.02, a county, a
 1163  municipality, a school district, or a special district.
 1164         (b)“Lobbying” means seeking, on behalf of another person,
 1165  to influence a governmental entity with respect to a decision of
 1166  the entity in an area of policy or procurement or an attempt to
 1167  obtain the goodwill of an official or employee of a governmental
 1168  entity. The term does not include representing a client in any
 1169  stage of applying for or seeking approval of an application for
 1170  a license, permit, or waiver of a regulation or other
 1171  administrative action, or opposition to such action, provided
 1172  such action does not require legislative discretion and is
 1173  subject to judicial review by petitioning for writ of
 1174  certiorari.
 1175         (c)“Lobbyist” means a person who is employed and receives
 1176  payment, or who contracts for economic consideration, for the
 1177  purpose of lobbying, or a person who is principally employed for
 1178  governmental affairs by another person or governmental entity to
 1179  lobby on behalf of such person or governmental entity. The term
 1180  does not include a person who:
 1181         1.Represents a client in a judicial proceeding or in a
 1182  formal administrative proceeding before a governmental entity.
 1183         2.Is an officer or employee of an agency acting in the
 1184  normal course of his or her duties.
 1185         3.Consults under contract with the governmental entity and
 1186  communicates with the entity’s governing body, or an employee of
 1187  the governing body, regarding issues related to the scope of
 1188  services in his or her contract.
 1189         4.Is an employee, officer, or board member of a
 1190  homeowners’ association, condominium association, or
 1191  neighborhood association when addressing, in his or her capacity
 1192  as an employee, officer, or board member of such association, an
 1193  issue impacting the association or its members.
 1194         5.Is a confidential informant who is providing, or wishes
 1195  to provide, confidential information to be used for law
 1196  enforcement purposes.
 1197         6.Is an expert witness who is retained or employed by an
 1198  employer, principal, or client to provide only scientific,
 1199  technical, or other specialized information provided in agenda
 1200  materials or testimony only in public hearings, provided the
 1201  expert identifies such employer, principal, or client at such
 1202  hearing.
 1203         7.Seeks to procure a contract the value of which is less
 1204  than $20,000 or a contract procured pursuant to s. 287.056.
 1205         (d)“Principal” has the same meaning as in s. 112.3215.
 1206         (e)“Principally employed for governmental affairs” means
 1207  that one of the employee’s principal or most significant
 1208  responsibilities to the employer is overseeing the employer’s
 1209  various governmental relationships or representing the employer
 1210  in its contacts made with an officer or employee of a
 1211  governmental entity.
 1212         (2)The Commission on Ethics shall create the Local
 1213  Government Lobbyist Registration System to register lobbyists
 1214  who wish to lobby governmental entities in accordance with this
 1215  section. Beginning October 1, 2019, any governmental entity rule
 1216  or ordinance that requires lobbyist registration is preempted
 1217  and replaced by the registration system established by this
 1218  subsection. However, in accordance with s. 112.326, a
 1219  governmental entity may adopt a rule or ordinance to regulate
 1220  lobbyist conduct and may require compensation reporting,
 1221  disclosure of contacts made with an officer or employee of a
 1222  governmental entity, or any other activity related to lobbyist
 1223  conduct, other than registration. A governmental entity may not
 1224  charge a fee for registration of lobbyists and principals, and a
 1225  fee may not be charged in the enforcement of lobbyist regulation
 1226  except as may be reasonable and necessary to cover the cost of
 1227  such enforcement.
 1228         (3)Beginning October 1, 2019, a person may not lobby a
 1229  governmental entity until such person has electronically
 1230  registered as a lobbyist with the commission. Such initial
 1231  registration shall be due upon being retained to lobby and is
 1232  renewable annually on the anniversary of the lobbyist’s
 1233  registration or in the month of the lobbyist’s birth as selected
 1234  by the lobbyist at the time of registration. The commission
 1235  shall request authorization from the principal using the
 1236  principal’s name, business address, e-mail address, and
 1237  telephone number to confirm that the registrant is authorized to
 1238  represent the principal. The principal or principal’s
 1239  representative shall identify and designate its main business
 1240  using the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
 1241  six-digit numerical code that most accurately describes its main
 1242  business. Registration is incomplete until the commission
 1243  receives the principal’s authorization and the lobbyist’s
 1244  registration fee. Any change in the information required by this
 1245  subsection must be disclosed within 15 days after such change
 1246  occurs by the lobbyist updating his or her registration. The
 1247  commission may require separate registration submissions for
 1248  each county and multi-county governmental entity, but each
 1249  submission may include, without an additional fee, any
 1250  governmental entity in the county for which the submission is
 1251  made. A person required to register as a lobbyist under this
 1252  subsection must register through the electronic system and must
 1253  attest to the following:
 1254         (a)His or her full legal name, birth month, e-mail
 1255  address, telephone number, and business address.
 1256         (b)The name, e-mail address, telephone number, and
 1257  business address of each principal.
 1258         (c)The name of each governmental entity lobbied or
 1259  intended to be lobbied on behalf of the principal.
 1260         (d)Any direct or indirect business association,
 1261  partnership, or financial relationship with an official or
 1262  employee of a governmental entity lobbied or intended to be
 1263  lobbied on behalf of the principal.
 1264         (4)The annual lobbyist registration fee shall be
 1265  established by commission rule but may not exceed $20 for each
 1266  principal represented for one county and governmental entities
 1267  therein or one multi-county governmental entity and may not
 1268  exceed $5 for each additional county and governmental entities
 1269  therein or additional multi-county governmental entities.
 1270         (5)The commission shall publish a lobbyist directory of
 1271  all lobbyist registrations on the Internet.
 1272         (6)A lobbyist shall promptly provide a written statement
 1273  to the commission canceling the designation of a principal in
 1274  his or her registration upon termination of such representation.
 1275  The commission may cancel a lobbyist’s designation of a
 1276  principal upon the principal’s notification that the lobbyist is
 1277  no longer authorized to represent such principal.
 1278         (7)A governmental entity must use reasonable efforts to
 1279  ascertain whether a lobbyist has registered pursuant to this
 1280  section. A governmental entity may not knowingly authorize an
 1281  unregistered lobbyist to lobby the entity.
 1282         (8)(a)Except as provided in subsection (9), the commission
 1283  shall investigate every sworn complaint that is filed with it
 1284  alleging that a person covered by this section has failed to
 1285  register or has knowingly submitted false information in any
 1286  registration required in this section.
 1287         (b)If the commission finds no probable cause to believe
 1288  that a violation of this section occurred, it shall dismiss the
 1289  complaint and send a copy of the complaint, findings, and
 1290  summary to the complainant and the alleged violator. If the
 1291  commission finds probable cause to believe that a violation of
 1292  this section occurred, it shall report the results of its
 1293  investigation to the Governor and send, by certified mail, a
 1294  copy of the report to the alleged violator. Upon request
 1295  submitted to the Governor in writing, a person whom the
 1296  commission finds probable cause to believe has violated this
 1297  section shall be entitled to a public hearing. Such person shall
 1298  be deemed to have waived the right to a public hearing if the
 1299  request is not received within 14 days after a copy of the
 1300  report is mailed. However, the Governor may require a public
 1301  hearing and may conduct such further investigation as he or she
 1302  deems necessary.
 1303         (c)If the Governor finds that a violation occurred, he or
 1304  she may reprimand or censure the violator or assess a civil
 1305  penalty against the violator in accordance with this section.
 1306         (d)Upon discovery of a violation of this section, a person
 1307  or governmental entity may file a sworn complaint with the
 1308  commission.
 1309         (9)(a)Upon a first complaint to the commission alleging a
 1310  violation of subsection (3) by a lobbyist, or upon any complaint
 1311  against a lobbyist received before January 1, 2020, the
 1312  commission shall, within 30 days after receipt of the complaint,
 1313  issue a warning letter to the lobbyist directing him or her to
 1314  consult the obligations of lobbyists under this section and
 1315  dismiss the complaint.
 1316         (b)On or after January 1, 2020, notwithstanding the civil
 1317  penalties provided in s. 112.317, a lobbyist found by the
 1318  commission to have violated subsection (3) is subject to:
 1319         1.For a first violation, a civil penalty not to exceed
 1320  $500.
 1321         2.For a second or subsequent violation committed within 12
 1322  months after the Governor determines that a first violation has
 1323  been committed, a civil penalty of at least $200 but not more
 1324  than $1000 or a 1-year suspension from lobbying any governmental
 1325  entity associated with the violation. A governmental entity may
 1326  impose additional civil penalties not to exceed $500 per
 1327  violation, and notwithstanding paragraph (c), may suspend the
 1328  lobbyist from lobbying the governmental entity and its agencies
 1329  on behalf of any principal for up to 2 years.
 1330         (c)The civil penalties and suspensions provided in this
 1331  subsection shall be applied on a per-principal basis with
 1332  suspensions affecting only those principals for whom
 1333  unregistered lobbying occurred.
 1334         (10)By January 1, 2019, a governmental entity’s governing
 1335  body, or the entity’s designee, shall notify the commission of
 1336  any ordinance or rule that imposes additional or more stringent
 1337  obligations with respect to lobbyist compensation reporting, or
 1338  other conduct involving lobbying activities, and shall forward
 1339  to the commission a copy of any associated form that has been
 1340  established to facilitate compliance with such ordinance or
 1341  rule. Beginning January 1, 2019, each governmental entity is
 1342  encouraged to conform its lobbyist registration system, if any,
 1343  to accommodate regular digital distribution of lobbyist
 1344  registration data from the commission so that initial
 1345  registration of a lobbyist pursuant to subsection (3) is
 1346  accomplished without having to supply the lobbyist and principal
 1347  information to more than one lobbyist registration system. The
 1348  commission shall cooperate to the extent reasonably practicable
 1349  to ensure such coordination of information.
 1350         (11)The commission may adopt rules to establish procedures
 1351  to administer the Local Government Lobbyist Registration System,
 1352  including the staggering of registration renewal dates based on
 1353  the anniversary of the lobbyist’s registration or the month of
 1354  the lobbyist’s birth, as selected by the lobbyist at the time of
 1355  registration, the adoption of forms, the method of registering
 1356  specific entities lobbied, the exchange of information with
 1357  local governmental entities, and the establishment of fees
 1358  authorized in this section.
 1359         (12)A person, when in doubt about the applicability and
 1360  interpretation of this section, may submit in writing to the
 1361  commission the facts of the situation with a request for an
 1362  advisory opinion to establish a standard of duty. An advisory
 1363  opinion shall be rendered by the commission and, until amended
 1364  or revoked, is binding on the conduct of the person who sought
 1365  the opinion, unless material facts were omitted or misstated in
 1366  the request.
 1367         Section 21. Present subsection (3) of section 218.32,
 1368  Florida Statutes, is renumbered as subsection (4), and a new
 1369  subsection (3) is added to that section, to read:
 1370         218.32 Annual financial reports; local governmental
 1371  entities.—
 1372         (3)The department shall annually by December 1 file a
 1373  verified report with the Legislature and the Commission on
 1374  Ethics showing the total revenues for each municipality in each
 1375  of the 3 prior fiscal years and whether the municipality timely
 1376  filed its annual financial report in accordance with this
 1377  section. The report must also indicate each municipality that
 1378  does not have a certified annual financial report in each such
 1379  year.
 1380         Section 22. Subsection (1) of section 112.3188, Florida
 1381  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1382         112.3188 Confidentiality of information given to the Chief
 1383  Inspector General, internal auditors, inspectors general, local
 1384  chief executive officers, or other appropriate local officials.—
 1385         (1) The name or identity of any individual who discloses in
 1386  good faith to the Chief Inspector General or an agency inspector
 1387  general, a local chief executive officer, or other appropriate
 1388  local official information that alleges that an employee or
 1389  agent of an agency or independent contractor:
 1390         (a) Has violated or is suspected of having violated any
 1391  federal, state, or local law, rule, or regulation, thereby
 1392  creating and presenting a substantial and specific danger to the
 1393  public’s health, safety, or welfare; or
 1394         (b) Has committed an act of gross mismanagement,
 1395  malfeasance, misfeasance, gross waste of public funds, or gross
 1396  neglect of duty
 1397  
 1398  may not be disclosed to anyone other than a member of the Chief
 1399  Inspector General’s, agency inspector general’s, internal
 1400  auditor’s, local chief executive officer’s, or other appropriate
 1401  local official’s staff without the written consent of the
 1402  individual, unless the Chief Inspector General, internal
 1403  auditor, agency inspector general, local chief executive
 1404  officer, or other appropriate local official determines that:
 1405  the disclosure of the individual’s identity is necessary to
 1406  prevent a substantial and specific danger to the public’s
 1407  health, safety, or welfare or to prevent the imminent commission
 1408  of a crime; or the disclosure is unavoidable and absolutely
 1409  necessary during the course of the audit, evaluation, or
 1410  investigation.
 1411         Section 23. Paragraph (c) of subsection (3), subsection
 1412  (4), and paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of section 112.3189,
 1413  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 1414         112.3189 Investigative procedures upon receipt of whistle
 1415  blower information from certain state employees.—
 1416         (3) When a person alleges information described in s.
 1417  112.3187(5), the Chief Inspector General or agency inspector
 1418  general actually receiving such information shall within 20 days
 1419  of receiving such information determine:
 1420         (c) Whether the information actually disclosed demonstrates
 1421  reasonable cause to suspect that an employee or agent of an
 1422  agency or independent contractor has violated any federal,
 1423  state, or local law, rule, or regulation, thereby creating and
 1424  presenting a substantial and specific danger to the public’s
 1425  health, safety, or welfare, or has committed an act of gross
 1426  mismanagement, malfeasance, misfeasance, gross waste of public
 1427  funds, or gross neglect of duty.
 1428         (4) If the Chief Inspector General or agency inspector
 1429  general under subsection (3) determines that the information
 1430  disclosed is not the type of information described in s.
 1431  112.3187(5), or that the source of the information is not a
 1432  person who is an employee or former employee of, or an applicant
 1433  for employment with, a state agency, as defined in s. 216.011,
 1434  or that the information disclosed does not demonstrate
 1435  reasonable cause to suspect that an employee or agent of an
 1436  agency or independent contractor has violated any federal,
 1437  state, or local law, rule, or regulation, thereby creating and
 1438  presenting a substantial and specific danger to the public’s
 1439  health, safety, or welfare, or has committed an act of gross
 1440  mismanagement, malfeasance, misfeasance, gross waste of public
 1441  funds, or gross neglect of duty, the Chief Inspector General or
 1442  agency inspector general shall notify the complainant of such
 1443  fact and copy and return, upon request of the complainant, any
 1444  documents and other materials that were provided by the
 1445  complainant.
 1446         (5)(a) If the Chief Inspector General or agency inspector
 1447  general under subsection (3) determines that the information
 1448  disclosed is the type of information described in s.
 1449  112.3187(5), that the source of the information is from a person
 1450  who is an employee or former employee of, or an applicant for
 1451  employment with, a state agency, as defined in s. 216.011, and
 1452  that the information disclosed demonstrates reasonable cause to
 1453  suspect that an employee or agent of an agency or independent
 1454  contractor has violated any federal, state, or local law, rule,
 1455  or regulation, thereby creating a substantial and specific
 1456  danger to the public’s health, safety, or welfare, or has
 1457  committed an act of gross mismanagement, malfeasance,
 1458  misfeasance, gross waste of public funds, or gross neglect of
 1459  duty, the Chief Inspector General or agency inspector general
 1460  making such determination shall then conduct an investigation,
 1461  unless the Chief Inspector General or the agency inspector
 1462  general determines, within 30 days after receiving the
 1463  allegations from the complainant, that such investigation is
 1464  unnecessary. For purposes of this subsection, the Chief
 1465  Inspector General or the agency inspector general shall consider
 1466  the following factors, but is not limited to only the following
 1467  factors, when deciding whether the investigation is not
 1468  necessary:
 1469         1. The gravity of the disclosed information compared to the
 1470  time and expense of an investigation.
 1471         2. The potential for an investigation to yield
 1472  recommendations that will make state government more efficient
 1473  and effective.
 1474         3. The benefit to state government to have a final report
 1475  on the disclosed information.
 1476         4. Whether the alleged whistle-blower information primarily
 1477  concerns personnel practices that may be investigated under
 1478  chapter 110.
 1479         5. Whether another agency may be conducting an
 1480  investigation and whether any investigation under this section
 1481  could be duplicative.
 1482         6. The time that has elapsed between the alleged event and
 1483  the disclosure of the information.
 1484         Section 24. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section
 1485  112.31895, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 1486         112.31895 Investigative procedures in response to
 1487  prohibited personnel actions.—
 1488         (3) CORRECTIVE ACTION AND TERMINATION OF INVESTIGATION.—
 1489         (a) The Florida Commission on Human Relations, in
 1490  accordance with this act and for the sole purpose of this act,
 1491  is empowered to:
 1492         1. Receive and investigate complaints from employees
 1493  alleging retaliation by state agencies, as the term “state
 1494  agency” is defined in s. 216.011.
 1495         2. Protect employees and applicants for employment with
 1496  such agencies from prohibited personnel practices under s.
 1497  112.3187.
 1498         3. Petition for stays and petition for corrective actions,
 1499  including, but not limited to, temporary reinstatement.
 1500         4. Recommend disciplinary proceedings pursuant to
 1501  investigation and appropriate agency rules and procedures.
 1502         5. Coordinate with the Chief Inspector General in the
 1503  Executive Office of the Governor and the Florida Commission on
 1504  Human Relations to receive, review, and forward to appropriate
 1505  agencies, legislative entities, or the Department of Law
 1506  Enforcement disclosures of a violation of any law, rule, or
 1507  regulation, or disclosures of gross mismanagement, malfeasance,
 1508  misfeasance, nonfeasance, neglect of duty, or gross waste of
 1509  public funds.
 1510         6. Review rules pertaining to personnel matters issued or
 1511  proposed by the Department of Management Services, the Public
 1512  Employees Relations Commission, and other agencies, and, if the
 1513  Florida Commission on Human Relations finds that any rule or
 1514  proposed rule, on its face or as implemented, requires the
 1515  commission of a prohibited personnel practice, provide a written
 1516  comment to the appropriate agency.
 1517         7. Investigate, request assistance from other governmental
 1518  entities, and, if appropriate, bring actions concerning,
 1519  allegations of retaliation by state agencies under subparagraph
 1520  1.
 1521         8. Administer oaths, examine witnesses, take statements,
 1522  issue subpoenas, order the taking of depositions, order
 1523  responses to written interrogatories, and make appropriate
 1524  motions to limit discovery, pursuant to investigations under
 1525  subparagraph 1.
 1526         9. Intervene or otherwise participate, as a matter of
 1527  right, in any appeal or other proceeding arising under this
 1528  section before the Public Employees Relations Commission or any
 1529  other appropriate agency, except that the Florida Commission on
 1530  Human Relations must comply with the rules of the commission or
 1531  other agency and may not seek corrective action or intervene in
 1532  an appeal or other proceeding without the consent of the person
 1533  protected under ss. 112.3187-112.31895.
 1534         10. Conduct an investigation, in the absence of an
 1535  allegation, to determine whether reasonable grounds exist to
 1536  believe that a prohibited action or a pattern of prohibited
 1537  action has occurred, is occurring, or is to be taken.
 1538         Section 25. The Legislature finds that a proper and
 1539  legitimate state purpose is served when mechanisms are
 1540  established to secure and sustain the public’s trust in public
 1541  officers and employees. Therefore, the Legislature determines
 1542  and declares that this act fulfills an important state interest.
 1543         Section 26. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
 1544  act, this act shall take effect July 1, 2018.

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