Bill Text: FL S0734 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Government Accountability
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (? 2-1)
Status: (Failed) 2024-03-08 - Died in Appropriations [S0734 Detail]
Download: Florida-2024-S0734-Introduced.html
Bill Title: Government Accountability
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (? 2-1)
Status: (Failed) 2024-03-08 - Died in Appropriations [S0734 Detail]
Download: Florida-2024-S0734-Introduced.html
Florida Senate - 2024 SB 734 By Senator Ingoglia 11-00654C-24 2024734__ 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to government accountability; amending 3 s. 112.313, F.S.; defining the term “foreign country 4 of concern”; prohibiting specified individuals from 5 soliciting or accepting anything of value from a 6 foreign country of concern; creating s. 112.3262, 7 F.S.; defining terms; prohibiting a person from 8 lobbying a county, municipality, or special district 9 unless he or she is registered as a lobbyist; 10 establishing registration requirements; requiring that 11 lobbyist registrations be made available to the 12 public; establishing procedures for canceling a 13 lobbyist’s registration; authorizing a county, 14 municipality, or special district to establish a 15 lobbyist registration fee; requiring a county, 16 municipality, or special district to monitor 17 compliance with lobbyist registration requirements; 18 requiring a Commission on Ethics and Public Trust 19 established by a county or municipality or the 20 Commission on Ethics to investigate a lobbyist or 21 principal upon receipt of a sworn complaint containing 22 certain allegations; requiring a Commission on Ethics 23 and Public Trust, or the Commission on Ethics if there 24 is no Commission on Ethics and Public Trust, to 25 provide the chief executive officer of the county or 26 municipality with a report on the findings and 27 recommendations arising out of the investigation; 28 requiring the Commission on Ethics to provide the 29 governing body of the special district with a report 30 on the findings and recommendations arising out of the 31 investigation; authorizing the chief executive officer 32 of the county or municipality or the governing body of 33 the special district to enforce the findings and 34 recommendations; authorizing counties and 35 municipalities to adopt ordinances, and special 36 districts to adopt rules, governing lobbyist 37 registration and fees; providing construction; 38 amending s. 112.32155, F.S.; requiring specified 39 lobbyists to file a certain registration by means of 40 the electronic filing system maintained by the 41 Commission on Ethics; requiring that registrations be 42 completed and filed within a specified timeframe on a 43 specified day and updates to such registration be 44 completed and filed within a specified timeframe; 45 amending s. 125.73, F.S.; prohibiting the governing 46 body of a county from renewing or extending the 47 employment contract of a county administrator during a 48 specified timeframe; providing an exception; creating 49 s. 125.75, F.S.; prohibiting the governing body of a 50 county from renewing or extending the employment 51 contract of a county general counsel during a 52 specified timeframe; providing an exception; amending 53 s. 166.021, F.S.; prohibiting the governing body of a 54 municipality from renewing or extending the employment 55 contract of a chief executive officer or municipal 56 general counsel during a specified timeframe; 57 providing exceptions; amending s. 166.041, F.S.; 58 defining the term “present”; providing that, for a 59 quorum, two members of the governing body must be 60 physically present, and others may appear through the 61 use of certain technology; making technical changes; 62 amending s. 1001.50, F.S.; prohibiting a district 63 school board from renewing or extending the employment 64 contract of a district school superintendent during a 65 specified timeframe; providing an exception; creating 66 s. 1012.336, F.S.; prohibiting a district school board 67 from renewing or extending the employment contract of 68 a district school board general counsel during a 69 specified timeframe; providing an exception; amending 70 s. 112.061, F.S.; conforming cross-references; 71 reenacting ss. 28.35(1)(b), 112.3136(1), 112.3251, 72 288.012(6)(d), 288.8014(4), 288.9604(3)(a), 73 295.21(4)(d), 406.06(5), 447.509(1)(d), 627.311(5)(m), 74 1002.33(26)(a), 1002.333(6)(f), and 1002.83(9), F.S., 75 relating to members of the executive council of the 76 Florida Clerks of Court Operations Corporation, 77 standards of conduct for officers and employees of 78 entities serving as chief administrative officers of 79 political subdivisions, the ethics code and standards 80 of conduct for citizen support and direct-support 81 organizations, senior managers and members of the 82 board of directors of the direct-support organization 83 of State of Florida international offices, standards 84 of conduct for members of the board of directors of 85 Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc., directors of the Florida 86 Development Finance Corporation, standards of conduct 87 for the board of directors of Florida Is For Veterans, 88 Inc., standards of conduct for district and associate 89 medical examiners, prohibited actions of employee 90 organizations, their members, agents, representatives, 91 or persons acting on their behalf, standards of 92 conduct for senior managers, officers and members of 93 the board of governors of the Office of Insurance 94 Regulation, standards of conduct and financial 95 disclosure for members of a governing board of a 96 charter school, those operating schools of hope, and 97 standards of conduct for members of an early learning 98 coalition, respectively, to incorporate the amendments 99 made to s. 112.313, F.S., in references thereto; 100 providing an effective date. 101 102 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 103 104 Section 1. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 112.313, 105 Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 106 112.313 Standards of conduct for public officers, employees 107 of agencies, and local government attorneys.— 108 (1) DEFINITIONSDEFINITION.—As used in this section, unless 109 the context otherwise requires, the term: 110 (a) “Foreign country of concern” has the same meaning as in 111 s. 286.101. 112 (b) “Public officer” includes any person elected or 113 appointed to hold office in any agency, including any person 114 serving on an advisory body. 115 (2) SOLICITATION OR ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS.— 116 (a) ANopublic officer, an employee of an agency, a local 117 government attorney, or a candidate for nomination or election 118 may notshallsolicit or accept anything of value to the 119 recipient, including a gift, loan, reward, promise of future 120 employment, favor, or service, based upon any understanding that 121 the vote, official action, or judgment of the public officer, 122 employee, local government attorney, or candidate would be 123 influenced thereby. 124 (b) A public officer, an employee of an agency, a local 125 government attorney, or a candidate for nomination or election 126 may not solicit or accept anything of value to the recipient, 127 including a gift, loan, reward, promise of future employment, 128 favor, or service, from a foreign country of concern. 129 Section 2. Section 112.3262, Florida Statutes, is created 130 to read: 131 112.3262 Lobbying before special districts, counties, and 132 municipalities; registration and reporting.— 133 (1) As used in this section, the term: 134 (a) “Lobby” or “lobbies” means to seek, on behalf of 135 another person or group, to influence a county, municipality, or 136 special district with respect to a decision of that entity in 137 either an area of policy or procurement or an attempt to obtain 138 the goodwill of an official or employee of such entity. The term 139 “lobby” or “lobbies” must be interpreted and applied 140 consistently with the rules of the commission implementing s. 141 112.3215. 142 (b) “Lobbyist” has the same meaning as in s. 112.3215. 143 (c) “Principal” has the same meaning as in s. 112.3215. 144 (2) A person may not lobby a county, municipality, or 145 special district unless he or she is registered as a lobbyist 146 with such entity. Such registration is due upon the person’s 147 initial retention as a lobbyist, is renewable on a calendar-year 148 basis thereafter, and must be filed using the electronic filing 149 system provided under s. 112.32155. Such person shall, at the 150 time of registration, provide a statement signed by the 151 principal or principal’s representative stating that the 152 registrant is authorized to represent the principal. The 153 statement must also identify and designate the principal’s main 154 business and authorize the registrant pursuant to a 155 classification system approved by the county, municipality, or 156 special district, as applicable. Any changes in the information 157 provided pursuant to this subsection must be disclosed within 15 158 days after the change occurs by filing a new registration form. 159 The registration form must require each lobbyist to disclose, 160 under oath, all of the following: 161 (a) The lobbyist’s name and business address. 162 (b) The name and business address of each principal 163 represented. 164 (c) The existence of any direct or indirect business 165 association, partnership, or financial relationship the lobbyist 166 has with any officer or employee of the county, municipality, or 167 special district which he or she lobbies or intends to lobby. 168 (d) In lieu of creating its own lobbyist registration form, 169 a county, municipality, or special district may accept a 170 completed legislative branch or executive branch lobbyist 171 registration form. 172 (3) A county, municipality, or special district shall make 173 available to the public copies of lobbyist registrations 174 submitted pursuant to subsection (2). If a county, municipality, 175 or special district maintains a website, a database of currently 176 registered lobbyists and principals must be available on the 177 website. 178 (4) A lobbyist shall promptly send a written statement to 179 the county, municipality, or special district, as applicable, 180 canceling the registration for a principal upon termination of 181 the lobbyist’s representation of that principal. A county, 182 municipality, or special district may remove the name of a 183 lobbyist from the list of registered lobbyists if the principal 184 notifies the district that a person is no longer authorized to 185 represent that principal. 186 (5) A county, municipality, or special district may 187 establish an annual lobbyist registration fee, not to exceed 188 $40, for each principal represented. The county, municipality, 189 or special district may use registration fees only to administer 190 this section. 191 (6) A county, municipality, or special district shall be 192 diligent in ascertaining whether persons required to register 193 pursuant to this section have complied. A county, municipality, 194 or special district may not knowingly authorize a person who is 195 not registered to lobby pursuant to this section. 196 (7)(a) Upon receipt of a sworn complaint alleging that a 197 lobbyist or principal has failed to register with a county or 198 municipality or has knowingly submitted false information in a 199 report or registration required under this section, a Commission 200 on Ethics and Public Trust established by the county or 201 municipality or, if the county or municipality has not 202 established such a commission, the Commission on Ethics shall 203 investigate the lobbyist or principal pursuant to the procedures 204 established under s. 112.324. The commission shall provide the 205 chief executive officer of the county or municipality with a 206 report of its findings and recommendations arising out of any 207 investigation conducted under this paragraph. The chief 208 executive officer of the county or municipality may enforce the 209 commission’s findings and recommendations. 210 (b) Upon the receipt of a sworn complaint alleging that a 211 lobbyist or principal has failed to register with a special 212 district or has knowingly submitted false information in a 213 report or registration required under this section, the 214 Commission on Ethics shall investigate the lobbyist or principal 215 pursuant to the procedures established under s. 112.324. The 216 commission shall provide the governing body of the special 217 district with a report of its findings and recommendations 218 arising out of any investigation conducted under this paragraph. 219 The governing body of the special district may enforce the 220 commission’s findings and recommendations. 221 (8) Counties and municipalities may adopt ordinances, and 222 special districts may adopt rules, to establish procedures to 223 govern the registration of lobbyists, including the adoption of 224 forms and the establishment of a lobbyist registration fee. 225 (9) This section does not preempt or supersede any 226 ordinance or charter provision establishing a lobbyist 227 registration program adopted before July 1, 2024, but this 228 section shall prevail to the extent of any conflict. In 229 accordance with s. 112.326, any ordinance or rule adopted 230 pursuant to this section may include additional or more 231 stringent disclosure requirements so long as the requirements do 232 not otherwise conflict with this section. 233 Section 3. Subsections (2) and (3) of section 112.32155, 234 Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 235 112.32155 Electronic filing of compensation reports and 236 other information.— 237 (2)(a) Each lobbying firm who is required to file reports 238 with the Commission on Ethics pursuant to s. 112.3215 must file 239 such reports with the commission by means of the electronic 240 filing system. 241 (b) Each lobbyist who is required to file a registration 242 pursuant to s. 112.3262 must file his or her registration by 243 means of the electronic filing system. 244 (3)(a) A report filed pursuant to this section must be 245 completed and filed through the electronic filing system not 246 later than 11:59 p.m. of the day designated in s. 112.3215. A 247 report not filed by 11:59 p.m. of the day designated is a late 248 filed report and is subject to the penalties under s. 249 112.3215(5). 250 (b) A registration filed pursuant to s. 112.3262 must be 251 completed and filed by 11:59 p.m. on the day the lobbyist is 252 retained, and an update to a registration must be completed and 253 filed no later than 15 days after a change. 254 Section 4. Subsection (5) is added to section 125.73, 255 Florida Statutes, to read: 256 125.73 County administrator; appointment, qualifications, 257 compensation.— 258 (5) The governing body of a county may not renew or extend 259 the employment contract of a county administrator during the 8 260 months immediately preceding a general election for county 261 mayor, if applicable, or for members of the governing body of 262 the county unless the governing body approves such renewal or 263 extension by a unanimous vote. 264 Section 5. Section 125.75, Florida Statutes, is created to 265 read: 266 125.75 County general counsel contract.—The governing body 267 of a county may not renew or extend the contract of a county 268 general counsel during the 8 months immediately preceding a 269 general election for county mayor, if applicable, or for members 270 of the governing body of the county unless the governing body 271 approves such renewal or extension by a unanimous vote. 272 Section 6. Present subsection (9) of section 166.021, 273 Florida Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (10), and a new 274 subsection (9) is added to that section, to read: 275 166.021 Powers.— 276 (9)(a) The governing body of a municipality may not renew 277 or extend the employment contract of a chief executive officer 278 of the municipality during the 8 months immediately preceding a 279 general election for the municipal mayor or for members of the 280 governing body of the municipality unless the governing body 281 approves such renewal or extension by a unanimous vote. 282 (b) The governing body of a municipality may not renew or 283 extend the employment contract of a municipal general counsel 284 during the 8 months immediately preceding a general election for 285 the municipal mayor or for members of the governing body of the 286 municipality unless the governing body approves such renewal or 287 extension by a unanimous vote. 288 Section 7. Present paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of 289 section 166.041, Florida Statutes, is redesignated as paragraph 290 (c), and a new paragraph (b) is added to that subsection, and 291 subsection (5) of that section is amended, to read: 292 166.041 Procedures for adoption of ordinances and 293 resolutions.— 294 (1) As used in this section, the following words and terms 295 shall have the following meanings unless some other meaning is 296 plainly indicated: 297 (b) “Present” means a member of a governing body having, 298 for the purpose of determining a quorum or voting on matters 299 before the governing body, the ability to participate 300 meaningfully in the deliberation of the governing body, either 301 by the member’s physical presence at the meeting or by his or 302 her use of technology that allows the member to see, hear, and 303 speak at the meeting as if physically present. 304 (5) A majority of the members of the governing body 305 constitutesshall constitutea quorum. An affirmative vote of a 306 majority of a quorum present is necessary to enact any ordinance 307 or adopt any resolution; except that two-thirds of the 308 membership of the board is required to enact an emergency 309 ordinance. On final passage, the vote of each member of the 310 governing body voting mustshallbe entered inonthe official 311 record of the meeting. All ordinances or resolutions passed by 312 the governing bodyshallbecome effective 10 days after passage 313 or as otherwise provided therein. For the purposes of 314 determining whether the majority of the members of the governing 315 body are present, when at least two members of the governing 316 body are physically present, a member of the governing body may 317 be considered present if, by the use of any technology, the 318 member can participate in the deliberation of the governing 319 body. 320 Section 8. Subsection (2) of section 1001.50, Florida 321 Statutes, is amended to read: 322 1001.50 Superintendents employed under Art. IX of the State 323 Constitution.— 324 (2) Each district school board shall enter into an 325 employment contract with the district school superintendent and 326 shall adopt rules relating to his or her appointment; however, 327 if the employment contract contains a provision for severance 328 pay, it must include the provisions required by s. 215.425. The 329 district school board may not renew or extend the employment 330 contract of a superintendent during the 8 months immediately 331 preceding a general election for district school board members 332 unless the district school board approves such renewal or 333 extension by a unanimous vote. 334 Section 9. Section 1012.336, Florida Statutes, is created 335 to read: 336 1012.336 Contracts with district school board general 337 counsels.—A district school board may not renew or extend the 338 employment contract of a district school board general counsel 339 during the 8 months immediately preceding a general election for 340 district school board members unless the district school board 341 approves such renewal or extension by a unanimous vote. 342 Section 10. Paragraphs (a) and (c) of subsection (14) of 343 section 112.061, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 344 112.061 Per diem and travel expenses of public officers, 345 employees, and authorized persons; statewide travel management 346 system.— 347 (14) APPLICABILITY TO COUNTIES, COUNTY OFFICERS, DISTRICT 348 SCHOOL BOARDS, SPECIAL DISTRICTS, AND METROPOLITAN PLANNING 349 ORGANIZATIONS.— 350 (a) The following entities may establish rates that vary 351 from the per diem rate provided in paragraph (6)(a), the 352 subsistence rates provided in paragraph (6)(b), or the mileage 353 rate provided in paragraph (7)(d) if those rates are not less 354 than the statutorily established rates that are in effect for 355 the 2005-2006 fiscal year: 356 1. The governing body of a county by the enactment of an 357 ordinance or resolution; 358 2. A county constitutional officer, pursuant to s. 1(d), 359 Art. VIII of the State Constitution, by the establishment of 360 written policy; 361 3. The governing body of a district school board by the 362 adoption of rules; 363 4. The governing body of a special district, as defined in 364 s. 189.012, except those special districts that are subject to 365 s. 166.021(10)s. 166.021(9), by the enactment of a resolution; 366 or 367 5. Any metropolitan planning organization created pursuant 368 to s. 339.175 or any other separate legal or administrative 369 entity created pursuant to s. 339.175 of which a metropolitan 370 planning organization is a member, by the enactment of a 371 resolution. 372 (c) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, 373 counties, county constitutional officers and entities governed 374 by those officers, district school boards, special districts, 375 and metropolitan planning organizations, other than those 376 subject to s. 166.021(10)s. 166.021(9), remain subject to the 377 requirements of this section. 378 Section 11. For the purpose of incorporating the amendments 379 made by this act to section 112.313, Florida Statutes, in 380 references thereto, paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section 381 28.35, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read: 382 28.35 Florida Clerks of Court Operations Corporation.— 383 (1) 384 (b)1. The executive council shall be composed of eight 385 clerks of the court elected by the clerks of the courts for a 386 term of 2 years, with two clerks from counties with a population 387 of fewer than 100,000, two clerks from counties with a 388 population of at least 100,000 but fewer than 500,000, two 389 clerks from counties with a population of at least 500,000 but 390 fewer than 1 million, and two clerks from counties with a 391 population of 1 million or more. The executive council shall 392 also include, as ex officio members, a designee of the President 393 of the Senate and a designee of the Speaker of the House of 394 Representatives. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall 395 designate one additional member to represent the state courts 396 system. 397 2. Members of the executive council of the corporation are 398 subject to ss. 112.313(1)-(8), (10), (12), and (15); 112.3135; 399 and 112.3143(2). For purposes of applying ss. 112.313(1)-(8), 400 (10), (12), and (15); 112.3135; and 112.3143(2) to activities of 401 executive council members, members shall be considered public 402 officers and the corporation shall be considered the members’ 403 agency. 404 Section 12. For the purpose of incorporating the amendments 405 made by this act to section 112.313, Florida Statutes, in 406 references thereto, subsection (1) of section 112.3136, Florida 407 Statutes, is reenacted to read: 408 112.3136 Standards of conduct for officers and employees of 409 entities serving as chief administrative officer of political 410 subdivisions.—The officers, directors, and chief executive 411 officer of a corporation, partnership, or other business entity 412 that is serving as the chief administrative or executive officer 413 or employee of a political subdivision, and any business entity 414 employee who is acting as the chief administrative or executive 415 officer or employee of the political subdivision, for the 416 purposes of the following sections, are public officers and 417 employees who are subject to the following standards of conduct 418 of this part: 419 (1) Section 112.313, and their “agency” is the political 420 subdivision that they serve; however, the contract under which 421 the business entity serves as chief executive or administrative 422 officer of the political subdivision is not deemed to violate s. 423 112.313(3) or (7). 424 Section 13. For the purpose of incorporating the amendments 425 made by this act to section 112.313, Florida Statutes, in 426 references thereto, section 112.3251, Florida Statutes, is 427 reenacted to read: 428 112.3251 Citizen support and direct-support organizations; 429 standards of conduct.—A citizen support or direct-support 430 organization created or authorized pursuant to law must adopt 431 its own ethics code. The ethics code must contain the standards 432 of conduct and disclosures required under ss. 112.313 and 433 112.3143(2), respectively. However, an ethics code adopted 434 pursuant to this section is not required to contain the 435 standards of conduct specified in s. 112.313(3) or (7). The 436 citizen support or direct-support organization may adopt 437 additional or more stringent standards of conduct and disclosure 438 requirements if those standards of conduct and disclosure 439 requirements do not otherwise conflict with this part. The 440 ethics code must be conspicuously posted on the citizen support 441 or direct-support organization’s website. 442 Section 14. For the purpose of incorporating the amendments 443 made by this act to section 112.313, Florida Statutes, in 444 references thereto, paragraph (d) of subsection (6) of section 445 288.012, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read: 446 288.012 State of Florida international offices; direct 447 support organization.—The Legislature finds that the expansion 448 of international trade and tourism is vital to the overall 449 health and growth of the economy of this state. This expansion 450 is hampered by the lack of technical and business assistance, 451 financial assistance, and information services for businesses in 452 this state. The Legislature finds that these businesses could be 453 assisted by providing these services at State of Florida 454 international offices. The Legislature further finds that the 455 accessibility and provision of services at these offices can be 456 enhanced through cooperative agreements or strategic alliances 457 between private businesses and state, local, and international 458 governmental entities. 459 (6) 460 (d) The senior managers and members of the board of 461 directors of the organization are subject to ss. 112.313(1)-(8), 462 (10), (12), and (15); 112.3135; and 112.3143(2). For purposes of 463 applying ss. 112.313(1)-(8), (10), (12), and (15); 112.3135; and 464 112.3143(2) to activities of the president and staff, those 465 persons shall be considered public officers or employees and the 466 corporation shall be considered their agency. The exemption set 467 forth in s. 112.313(12) for advisory boards applies to the 468 members of board of directors. Further, each member of the board 469 of directors who is not otherwise required to file financial 470 disclosures pursuant to s. 8, Art. II of the State Constitution 471 or s. 112.3144, shall file disclosure of financial interests 472 pursuant to s. 112.3145. 473 Section 15. For the purpose of incorporating the amendments 474 made by this act to section 112.313, Florida Statutes, in 475 references thereto, subsection (4) of section 288.8014, Florida 476 Statutes, is reenacted to read: 477 288.8014 Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc.; organization; board of 478 directors.— 479 (4) The Legislature determines that it is in the public 480 interest for the members of the board of directors to be subject 481 to the requirements of ss. 112.313, 112.3135, and 112.3143, 482 notwithstanding the fact that the board members are not public 483 officers or employees. For purposes of those sections, the board 484 members shall be considered to be public officers or employees. 485 In addition to the postemployment restrictions of s. 112.313(9), 486 a person appointed to the board of directors must agree to 487 refrain from having any direct interest in any contract, 488 franchise, privilege, project, program, or other benefit arising 489 from an award by Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc., during the term of 490 his or her appointment and for 6 years after the termination of 491 such appointment. It is a misdemeanor of the first degree, 492 punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, for a person 493 to accept appointment to the board of directors in violation of 494 this subsection or to accept a direct interest in any contract, 495 franchise, privilege, project, program, or other benefit granted 496 by Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc., to an awardee within 6 years after 497 the termination of his or her service on the board. Further, 498 each member of the board of directors who is not otherwise 499 required to file financial disclosure under s. 8, Art. II of the 500 State Constitution or s. 112.3144 shall file disclosure of 501 financial interests under s. 112.3145. 502 Section 16. For the purpose of incorporating the amendments 503 made by this act to section 112.313, Florida Statutes, in a 504 reference thereto, paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section 505 288.9604, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read: 506 288.9604 Creation of the corporation.— 507 (3)(a)1. A director may not receive compensation for his or 508 her services, but is entitled to necessary expenses, including 509 travel expenses, incurred in the discharge of his or her duties. 510 Each appointed director shall hold office until his or her 511 successor has been appointed. 512 2. Directors are subject to ss. 112.313(1)-(8), (10), (12), 513 and (15); 112.3135; and 112.3143(2). For purposes of applying 514 ss. 112.313(1)-(8), (10), (12), and (15); 112.3135; and 515 112.3143(2) to activities of directors, directors are considered 516 public officers and the corporation is considered their agency. 517 Section 17. For the purpose of incorporating the amendments 518 made by this act to section 112.313, Florida Statutes, in 519 references thereto, paragraph (d) of subsection (4) of section 520 295.21, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read: 521 295.21 Florida Is For Veterans, Inc.— 522 (4) GOVERNANCE.— 523 (d) The Legislature finds that it is in the public interest 524 for the members of the board of directors to be subject to the 525 requirements of ss. 112.313, 112.3135, and 112.3143. 526 Notwithstanding the fact that they are not public officers or 527 employees, for purposes of ss. 112.313, 112.3135, and 112.3143, 528 the board members shall be considered to be public officers or 529 employees. In addition to the postemployment restrictions of s. 530 112.313(9), a person appointed to the board of directors may not 531 have direct interest in a contract, franchise, privilege, 532 project, program, or other benefit arising from an award by the 533 corporation during the appointment term and for 2 years after 534 the termination of such appointment. A person who accepts 535 appointment to the board of directors in violation of this 536 subsection, or accepts a direct interest in a contract, 537 franchise, privilege, project, program, or other benefit granted 538 by the corporation to an awardee within 2 years after the 539 termination of his or her service on the board, commits a 540 misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 541 775.082 or s. 775.083. Further, each member of the board of 542 directors who is not otherwise required to file financial 543 disclosure under s. 8, Art. II of the State Constitution or s. 544 112.3144 shall file a statement of financial interests under s. 545 112.3145. 546 Section 18. For the purpose of incorporating the amendments 547 made by this act to section 112.313, Florida Statutes, in a 548 reference thereto, subsection (5) of section 406.06, Florida 549 Statutes, is reenacted to read: 550 406.06 District medical examiners; associates; suspension 551 of medical examiners.— 552 (5) District medical examiners and associate medical 553 examiners are public officers for purposes of s. 112.313 and the 554 standards of conduct prescribed thereunder. 555 Section 19. For the purpose of incorporating the amendments 556 made by this act to section 112.313, Florida Statutes, in 557 references thereto, paragraph (d) of subsection (1) of section 558 447.509, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read: 559 447.509 Other unlawful acts.— 560 (1) Employee organizations, their members, agents, or 561 representatives, or any persons acting on their behalf are 562 hereby prohibited from: 563 (d) Offering anything of value to a public officer as 564 defined in s. 112.313(1) which the public officer is prohibited 565 from accepting under s. 112.313(2). 566 Section 20. For the purpose of incorporating the amendments 567 made by this act to section 112.313, Florida Statutes, in 568 references thereto, paragraph (m) of subsection (5) of section 569 627.311, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read: 570 627.311 Joint underwriters and joint reinsurers; public 571 records and public meetings exemptions.— 572 (5) 573 (m) Senior managers and officers, as defined in the plan of 574 operation, and members of the board of governors are subject to 575 the provisions of ss. 112.313, 112.3135, 112.3143, 112.3145, 576 112.316, and 112.317. Senior managers, officers, and board 577 members are also required to file such disclosures with the 578 Commission on Ethics and the Office of Insurance Regulation. The 579 executive director of the plan or his or her designee shall 580 notify each newly appointed and existing appointed member of the 581 board of governors, senior manager, and officer of his or her 582 duty to comply with the reporting requirements of s. 112.3145. 583 At least quarterly, the executive director of the plan or his or 584 her designee shall submit to the Commission on Ethics a list of 585 names of the senior managers, officers, and members of the board 586 of governors who are subject to the public disclosure 587 requirements under s. 112.3145. Notwithstanding s. 112.313, an 588 employee, officer, owner, or director of an insurance agency, 589 insurance company, or other insurance entity may be a member of 590 the board of governors unless such employee, officer, owner, or 591 director of an insurance agency, insurance company, other 592 insurance entity, or an affiliate provides policy issuance, 593 policy administration, underwriting, claims handling, or payroll 594 audit services. Notwithstanding s. 112.3143, such board member 595 may not participate in or vote on a matter if the insurance 596 agency, insurance company, or other insurance entity would 597 obtain a special or unique benefit that would not apply to other 598 similarly situated insurance entities. 599 Section 21. For the purpose of incorporating the amendments 600 made by this act to section 112.313, Florida Statutes, in a 601 reference thereto, paragraph (a) of subsection (26) of section 602 1002.33, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read: 603 1002.33 Charter schools.— 604 (26) STANDARDS OF CONDUCT AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.— 605 (a) A member of a governing board of a charter school, 606 including a charter school operated by a private entity, is 607 subject to ss. 112.313(2), (3), (7), and (12) and 112.3143(3). 608 Section 22. For the purpose of incorporating the amendments 609 made by this act to section 112.313, Florida Statutes, in a 610 reference thereto, paragraph (f) of subsection (6) of section 611 1002.333, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read: 612 1002.333 Persistently low-performing schools.— 613 (6) STATUTORY AUTHORITY.— 614 (f) Schools of hope operated by a hope operator shall be 615 exempt from chapters 1000-1013 and all school board policies. 616 However, a hope operator shall be in compliance with the laws in 617 chapters 1000-1013 relating to: 618 1. The student assessment program and school grading 619 system. 620 2. Student progression and graduation. 621 3. The provision of services to students with disabilities. 622 4. Civil rights, including s. 1000.05, relating to 623 discrimination. 624 5. Student health, safety, and welfare. 625 6. Public meetings and records, public inspection, and 626 criminal and civil penalties pursuant to s. 286.011. The 627 governing board of a school of hope must hold at least two 628 public meetings per school year in the school district in which 629 the school of hope is located. Any other meetings of the 630 governing board may be held in accordance with s. 120.54(5)(b)2. 631 7. Public records pursuant to chapter 119. 632 8. The code of ethics for public officers and employees 633 pursuant to ss. 112.313(2), (3), (7), and (12) and 112.3143(3). 634 Section 23. For the purpose of incorporating the amendments 635 made by this act to section 112.313, Florida Statutes, in a 636 reference thereto, subsection (9) of section 1002.83, Florida 637 Statutes, is reenacted to read: 638 1002.83 Early learning coalitions.— 639 (9) Each member of an early learning coalition is subject 640 to ss. 112.313, 112.3135, and 112.3143. For purposes of s. 641 112.3143(3)(a), each voting member is a local public officer who 642 must abstain from voting when a voting conflict exists. 643 Section 24. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.