Bill Text: FL S0774 | 2023 | Regular Session | Comm Sub

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Ethics Requirements for Public Officials

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (? 2-1)

Status: (Passed) 2023-05-12 - Chapter No. 2023-49 [S0774 Detail]

Download: Florida-2023-S0774-Comm_Sub.html
       Florida Senate - 2023                              CS for SB 774
       
       
        
       By the Committee on Ethics and Elections; and Senator Brodeur
       
       
       
       
       
       582-02584-23                                           2023774c1
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to ethics requirements for public
    3         officials; amending s. 99.061, F.S.; requiring
    4         candidates for specified elective offices to file a
    5         full and public disclosure at the time of qualifying;
    6         authorizing candidates to file a certain verification
    7         or receipt with the qualifying officer unless certain
    8         conditions exist; conforming provisions to changes
    9         made by the act; amending s. 112.3142, F.S.; requiring
   10         commissioners of community redevelopment agencies to
   11         complete annual ethics training; exempting
   12         commissioners who assumed office after a specified
   13         date from completing the required annual ethics
   14         training for that calendar year; reenacting and
   15         amending s. 112.3144, F.S.; requiring specified local
   16         officers to file full and public disclosures;
   17         requiring the Commission on Ethics to accept federal
   18         income tax returns, financial statements, and other
   19         forms or attachments showing sources of income for a
   20         specified purpose; deleting the prohibition on
   21         including a federal income tax return or a copy
   22         thereof for certain filings; requiring the commission
   23         to allow a filer to include attachments and other
   24         supporting documentation with his or her disclosure;
   25         revising the notice the commission sends to specified
   26         persons; requiring that disclosure statements be filed
   27         using the commission’s electronic filing system;
   28         deleting provisions relating to financial statements
   29         filed by mail; revising a provision requiring the
   30         commission to adopt a specified rule; requiring an
   31         individual appointed to replace an elected local
   32         officer who leaves office before the end of his or her
   33         term to file a full and public disclosure of financial
   34         interests within 30 days after his or her appointment
   35         and annually for the remainder of his or her term in
   36         office; amending s. 112.31445, F.S.; requiring the
   37         commission to publish a specified notice on the
   38         electronic filing system for the disclosure of
   39         financial interests; requiring that the filing system
   40         allow a filer to include attachments and other
   41         supporting documentation; amending s. 112.31446, F.S.;
   42         requiring that the electronic filing system allow a
   43         filer to submit attachments and other supporting
   44         documentation when a disclosure is filed; reenacting
   45         and amending s. 112.3145, F.S.; deleting a prohibition
   46         on including a federal income tax return or copy
   47         thereof in a financial disclosure; deleting a
   48         provision requiring specified local officers to file
   49         reports with the supervisor of elections of the
   50         officer’s county of principal employment or residence;
   51         requiring local officers to file their quarterly
   52         reports of the names of clients they represent for a
   53         fee or commission with the commission; deleting a
   54         provision requiring the commission to provide a
   55         specified list to the supervisors of elections;
   56         requiring the commission to allow a filer to include
   57         attachments or other documentation when filing a
   58         disclosure; deleting a provision requiring supervisors
   59         of elections to receive and provide notice of
   60         delinquencies of the disclosure of financial
   61         interests; requiring the commission to provide a
   62         certain notice by e-mail, beginning on a specified
   63         date; providing that, beginning on a specified date,
   64         paper forms will no longer be provided; requiring the
   65         commission to determine which persons have not
   66         submitted a required disclosure within a specified
   67         timeframe; requiring the commission to send periodic
   68         specified notices to such persons; requiring that
   69         disclosure statements be filed using the electronic
   70         filing system, beginning on a specified date; revising
   71         the criteria for a rule that the commission must adopt
   72         regarding the electronic filing of disclosure
   73         statements; requiring the commission to determine the
   74         amount of fines for all delinquent filers, beginning
   75         on a specified date; conforming provisions to changes
   76         made by the act; amending s. 112.317, F.S.; increasing
   77         the maximum civil penalty allowed for certain
   78         violations related to statements of financial
   79         disclosure; amending s. 112.3215, F.S.; revising
   80         lobbying investigation requirements; authorizing the
   81         commission to dismiss certain complaints and
   82         investigations; requiring the commission to issue a
   83         specified public report if it dismisses such a
   84         complaint or investigation; amending s. 112.324, F.S.;
   85         authorizing the commission to dismiss financial
   86         disclosure complaints or referrals alleging de minimis
   87         violations; authorizing the commission to dismiss
   88         specified proceedings at any stage of disposition if a
   89         certain condition is met; providing an effective date.
   90          
   91  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   92  
   93         Section 1. Subsection (5) and paragraph (a) of subsection
   94  (7) of section 99.061, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
   95         99.061 Method of qualifying for nomination or election to
   96  federal, state, county, or district office.—
   97         (5) At the time of qualifying for office, each candidate
   98  for a constitutional office, or for another elective office
   99  subject to an annual filing requirement pursuant to s. 112.3144,
  100  shall file a full and public disclosure of financial interests
  101  pursuant to s. 8, Art. II of the State Constitution, which must
  102  be verified under oath or affirmation pursuant to s.
  103  92.525(1)(a), and a candidate for any other office, including
  104  local elective office, shall file a statement of financial
  105  interests pursuant to s. 112.3145. A candidate who is subject to
  106  an annual filing requirement under s. 112.3144 may file a
  107  verification or receipt of electronic filing pursuant to s.
  108  112.3144(4). A candidate who is subject to an annual filing
  109  requirement under s. 112.3145 may file a verification or receipt
  110  of electronic filing pursuant to s. 112.3145(2)(c) unless the
  111  candidate is required to file a full and public disclosure of
  112  financial interests pursuant to s. 8, Art. II of the State
  113  Constitution or this subsection.
  114         (7)(a) In order for a candidate to be qualified, the
  115  following items must be received by the filing officer by the
  116  end of the qualifying period:
  117         1. A properly executed check drawn upon the candidate’s
  118  campaign account payable to the person or entity as prescribed
  119  by the filing officer in an amount not less than the fee
  120  required by s. 99.092, unless the candidate obtained the
  121  required number of signatures on petitions pursuant to s.
  122  99.095. The filing fee for a special district candidate is not
  123  required to be drawn upon the candidate’s campaign account. If a
  124  candidate’s check is returned by the bank for any reason, the
  125  filing officer shall immediately notify the candidate and the
  126  candidate shall have until the end of qualifying to pay the fee
  127  with a cashier’s check purchased from funds of the campaign
  128  account. Failure to pay the fee as provided in this subparagraph
  129  shall disqualify the candidate.
  130         2. The candidate’s oath required by s. 99.021, which must
  131  contain the name of the candidate as it is to appear on the
  132  ballot; the office sought, including the district or group
  133  number if applicable; and the signature of the candidate, which
  134  must be verified under oath or affirmation pursuant to s.
  135  92.525(1)(a).
  136         3. If the office sought is partisan, the written statement
  137  of political party affiliation required by s. 99.021(1)(b); or
  138  if the candidate is running without party affiliation for a
  139  partisan office, the written statement required by s.
  140  99.021(1)(c).
  141         4. The completed form for the appointment of campaign
  142  treasurer and designation of campaign depository, as required by
  143  s. 106.021.
  144         5. The full and public disclosure or statement of financial
  145  interests required by subsection (5). A public officer who has
  146  filed the full and public disclosure or statement of financial
  147  interests with the Commission on Ethics before or the supervisor
  148  of elections prior to qualifying for office may file a copy of
  149  that disclosure or a verification or receipt of electronic
  150  filing as provided in subsection (5) at the time of qualifying.
  151         Section 2. Paragraph (e) of subsection (2) of section
  152  112.3142, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  153         112.3142 Ethics training for specified constitutional
  154  officers, elected municipal officers, and commissioners.—
  155         (2)
  156         (e) The Legislature intends that a constitutional officer,
  157  a commissioner of a community redevelopment agency, or an
  158  elected municipal officer who is required to complete ethics
  159  training pursuant to this section receive the required training
  160  as close as possible to the date that he or she assumes office.
  161  A constitutional officer, a commissioner of a community
  162  redevelopment agency, or an elected municipal officer assuming a
  163  new office or new term of office on or before March 31 must
  164  complete the annual training on or before December 31 of the
  165  year in which the term of office began. A constitutional
  166  officer, a commissioner of a community redevelopment agency, or
  167  an elected municipal officer assuming a new office or new term
  168  of office after March 31 is not required to complete ethics
  169  training for the calendar year in which the term of office
  170  began.
  171         Section 3. Notwithstanding the expiration date in section
  172  92 of chapter 2022-157, Laws of Florida, paragraph (c) of
  173  subsection (6), paragraphs (a) and (c) of subsection (7),
  174  subsection (8), and subsection (10) of section 112.3144, Florida
  175  Statutes, are reenacted and amended, and paragraph (d) is added
  176  to subsection (1) of that section, to read:
  177         112.3144 Full and public disclosure of financial
  178  interests.—
  179         (1)
  180         (d)The following local officers must comply with the
  181  financial disclosure requirements of s. 8, Art. II of the State
  182  Constitution and this section:
  183         1.Mayors.
  184         2.Elected members of the governing body of a municipality.
  185         (6)
  186         (c) Each separate source and amount of income which exceeds
  187  $1,000 must be identified. For the purpose of a filer reporting
  188  income, the commission shall accept federal income tax returns,
  189  financial statements, and other forms or attachments showing
  190  sources of income Beginning January 1, 2023, a federal income
  191  tax return may not be used for purposes of reporting income, and
  192  the commission may not accept a federal income tax return or a
  193  copy thereof.
  194         (7)(a) Beginning January 1, 2023, a filer may not include
  195  in a filing to the commission a federal income tax return or a
  196  copy thereof; a social security number; a bank, mortgage, or
  197  brokerage account number; a debit, charge, or credit card
  198  number; a personal identification number; or a taxpayer
  199  identification number. If a filer includes such information in
  200  his or her filing, the information may be made available as part
  201  of the official records of the commission available for public
  202  inspection and copying unless redaction is requested by the
  203  filer. The commission is not liable for the release of social
  204  security numbers or bank account, debit, charge, or credit card
  205  numbers included in a filing to the commission if the filer has
  206  not requested redaction of such information.
  207         (c) The commission must conspicuously post a notice, in
  208  substantially the following form, in the instructions for the
  209  electronic filing system specifying that:
  210         1. Any filer submitting information through the electronic
  211  filing system may not include a federal income tax return or a
  212  copy thereof; a social security number; a bank, mortgage, or
  213  brokerage account number; a debit, charge, or credit card
  214  number; a personal identification number; or a taxpayer
  215  identification number in any filing unless required by law.
  216         2. Information submitted through the electronic filing
  217  system may be open to public inspection and copying.
  218         3. Any filer has a right to request that the commission
  219  redact from his or her filing any social security number, bank
  220  account number, or debit, charge, or credit card number
  221  contained in the filing. Such request must be made in writing
  222  and delivered to the commission. The request must specify the
  223  information to be redacted and the specific section or sections
  224  of the disclosure in which it was included.
  225         (8) Forms or fields of information for compliance with the
  226  full and public disclosure requirements of s. 8, Art. II of the
  227  State Constitution must shall be prescribed by the commission.
  228  The commission shall allow a filer to include attachments or
  229  other supporting documentation when filing a disclosure. The
  230  commission shall give notice of disclosure deadlines and
  231  delinquencies and distribute forms in the following manner:
  232         (a) Not later than May 1 of each year, the commission shall
  233  prepare a current list of the names, e-mail addresses, and
  234  physical addresses of and the offices held by every person
  235  required to file full and public disclosure annually by s. 8,
  236  Art. II of the State Constitution, or other state law. Each unit
  237  of government shall assist the commission in compiling the list
  238  by providing to the commission not later than February 1 of each
  239  year the name, e-mail address, physical address, and name of the
  240  office held by such person within the respective unit of
  241  government as of December 31 of the preceding year.
  242         (b) Not later than June 1 of each year, the commission
  243  shall distribute a copy of the form prescribed for compliance
  244  with full and public disclosure and a notice of the filing
  245  deadline to each person on the list. Beginning January 1, 2022,
  246  no paper forms will not be provided by mail. The notice required
  247  under this paragraph and instructions for electronic submission
  248  of the form and any accompanying attachments must be delivered
  249  by e-mail.
  250         (c) Not later than August 1 of each year, the commission
  251  shall determine which persons on the list have failed to file
  252  full and public disclosure and shall send delinquency notices to
  253  such persons. Each notice must state that a grace period is in
  254  effect until September 1 of the current year. Beginning January
  255  1, 2022, the notice required under this paragraph must be
  256  delivered by e-mail and must be redelivered on a weekly basis by
  257  e-mail as long as a person remains delinquent.
  258         (d) Disclosure statements required to be filed with the
  259  commission must be filed on the commission’s electronic filing
  260  system as provided in s. 112.31446 Disclosures must be received
  261  by the commission not later than 5 p.m. of the due date.
  262  However, any disclosure that is postmarked by the United States
  263  Postal Service by midnight of the due date is deemed to have
  264  been filed in a timely manner, and a certificate of mailing
  265  obtained from and dated by the United States Postal Service at
  266  the time of the mailing, or a receipt from an established
  267  courier company which bears a date on or before the due date,
  268  constitutes proof of mailing in a timely manner. Beginning
  269  January 1, 2023, upon request of the filer, the commission must
  270  provide verification to the filer that the commission has
  271  received the filed disclosure.
  272         (e) Beginning January 1, 2023, a written declaration, as
  273  provided for under s. 92.525(2), accompanied by an electronic
  274  signature satisfies the requirement that the disclosure be
  275  sworn.
  276         (f) Any person who is required to file full and public
  277  disclosure of financial interests and whose name is on the
  278  commission’s list, and to whom notice has been sent, but who
  279  fails to timely file is assessed a fine of $25 per day for each
  280  day late up to a maximum of $1,500; however this $1,500
  281  limitation on automatic fines does not limit the civil penalty
  282  that may be imposed if the statement is filed more than 60 days
  283  after the deadline and a complaint is filed, as provided in s.
  284  112.324. The commission must provide by rule the grounds for
  285  waiving the fine and the procedures by which each person whose
  286  name is on the list and who is determined to have not filed in a
  287  timely manner will be notified of assessed fines and may appeal.
  288  The rule must provide for and make specific that the amount of
  289  the fine due is based upon when the disclosure is filed on the
  290  commission’s electronic filing system that is created and
  291  maintained by the commission as provided in s. 112.31446. the
  292  following:
  293         1. The amount of the fine due is based upon the earliest of
  294  the following:
  295         a. When a statement is actually received by the office.
  296         b. When the statement is postmarked.
  297         c. When the certificate of mailing is dated.
  298         d. When the receipt from an established courier company is
  299  dated.
  300         2. Upon receipt of the disclosure statement or upon accrual
  301  of the maximum penalty, whichever occurs first, the commission
  302  shall determine the amount of the fine which is due and shall
  303  notify the delinquent person. The notice must include an
  304  explanation of the appeal procedure under subparagraph 2. 3.
  305  Such fine must be paid within 30 days after the notice of
  306  payment due is transmitted, unless appeal is made to the
  307  commission pursuant to subparagraph 2. 3. The moneys shall be
  308  deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
  309         2.3. Any reporting person may appeal or dispute a fine,
  310  based upon unusual circumstances surrounding the failure to file
  311  on the designated due date, and may request and is entitled to a
  312  hearing before the commission, which may waive the fine in whole
  313  or in part for good cause shown. Any such request must be in
  314  writing and received by the commission within 30 days after the
  315  notice of payment due is transmitted. In such a case, the
  316  reporting person must, within the 30-day period, notify the
  317  person designated to review the timeliness of reports in writing
  318  of his or her intention to bring the matter before the
  319  commission. For purposes of this subparagraph, “unusual
  320  circumstances” does not include the failure to monitor an e-mail
  321  account or failure to receive notice if the person has not
  322  notified the commission of a change in his or her e-mail
  323  address.
  324         (g) Any person subject to the annual filing of full and
  325  public disclosure under s. 8, Art. II of the State Constitution,
  326  or other state law, whose name is not on the commission’s list
  327  of persons required to file full and public disclosure is not
  328  subject to the fines or penalties provided in this part for
  329  failure to file full and public disclosure in any year in which
  330  the omission occurred, but nevertheless is required to file the
  331  disclosure statement.
  332         (h) The notification requirements and fines of this
  333  subsection do not apply to candidates or to the first filing
  334  required of any person appointed to elective constitutional
  335  office or other position required to file full and public
  336  disclosure, unless the person’s name is on the commission’s
  337  notification list and the person received notification from the
  338  commission. The appointing official shall notify such newly
  339  appointed person of the obligation to file full and public
  340  disclosure by July 1. The notification requirements and fines of
  341  this subsection do not apply to the final filing provided for in
  342  subsection (10).
  343         (i) Notwithstanding any provision of chapter 120, any fine
  344  imposed under this subsection which is not waived by final order
  345  of the commission and which remains unpaid more than 60 days
  346  after the notice of payment due or more than 60 days after the
  347  commission renders a final order on the appeal must be submitted
  348  to the Department of Financial Services as a claim, debt, or
  349  other obligation owed to the state, and the department shall
  350  assign the collection of such fine to a collection agent as
  351  provided in s. 17.20.
  352         (10) Each person required to file full and public
  353  disclosure of financial interests shall file a final disclosure
  354  statement within 60 days after leaving his or her public
  355  position for the period between January 1 of the year in which
  356  the person leaves and the last day of office or employment,
  357  unless within the 60-day period the person takes another public
  358  position requiring financial disclosure under s. 8, Art. II of
  359  the State Constitution, or is otherwise required to file full
  360  and public disclosure for the final disclosure period. The head
  361  of the agency of each person required to file full and public
  362  disclosure for the final disclosure period shall notify such
  363  persons of their obligation to file the final disclosure and may
  364  designate a person to be responsible for the notification
  365  requirements of this subsection. When an elected local officer
  366  specified in paragraph (1)(d) leaves office before the
  367  expiration of his or her term, each individual appointed to
  368  replace such officer for the remainder of that term shall file a
  369  full and public disclosure of financial interests within 30 days
  370  after the date of appointment and must file a full and public
  371  disclosure of financial interests annually thereafter for the
  372  remainder of his or her term in office.
  373         Section 4. Subsections (4) and (5) are added to section
  374  112.31445, Florida Statutes, to read:
  375         112.31445 Electronic filing system; full and public
  376  disclosure of financial interests.—
  377         (4) The commission shall publish a notice on the electronic
  378  filing system instructing filers to redact a social security
  379  number; a bank, mortgage, or brokerage account number; a debit,
  380  charge, or credit card number; a personal identification number;
  381  or a taxpayer identification number in their filings.
  382         (5) The electronic filing system must allow a filer to
  383  include attachments or other supporting documentation when
  384  submitting a disclosure through the system.
  385         Section 5. Paragraph (f) is added to subsection (2) of
  386  section 112.31446, Florida Statutes, to read:
  387         112.31446 Electronic filing system for financial
  388  disclosure.—
  389         (2) By January 1, 2022, the commission shall procure and
  390  test an electronic filing system. At a minimum, the electronic
  391  filing system must:
  392         (f)Allow a filer to include attachments or other
  393  supporting documentation when submitting a disclosure or a
  394  statement through the system.
  395         Section 6. Notwithstanding the expiration date in section
  396  95 of chapter 2022-157, Laws of Florida, paragraphs (b) and (e)
  397  of subsection (2), paragraphs (a) and (c) of subsection (4),
  398  subsection (6), and subsection (8) of section 112.3145, Florida
  399  Statutes, are reenacted and amended to read:
  400         112.3145 Disclosure of financial interests and clients
  401  represented before agencies.—
  402         (2)
  403         (b) Each state or local officer, except local officers
  404  specified in s. 112.3144(1)(d), and each specified state
  405  employee shall file a statement of financial interests no later
  406  than July 1 of each year. Each state officer, local officer, and
  407  specified state employee shall file a final statement of
  408  financial interests within 60 days after leaving his or her
  409  public position for the period between January 1 of the year in
  410  which the person leaves and the last day of office or
  411  employment, unless within the 60-day period the person takes
  412  another public position requiring financial disclosure under
  413  this section or s. 8, Art. II of the State Constitution or
  414  otherwise is required to file full and public disclosure or a
  415  statement of financial interests for the final disclosure
  416  period. Each state or local officer who is appointed and each
  417  specified state employee who is employed shall file a statement
  418  of financial interests within 30 days from the date of
  419  appointment or, in the case of a specified state employee, from
  420  the date on which the employment begins, except that any person
  421  whose appointment is subject to confirmation by the Senate shall
  422  file before prior to confirmation hearings or within 30 days
  423  from the date of appointment, whichever comes first.
  424         (e) Beginning January 1, 2024, a statement of financial
  425  interests, and a final statement of financial interests and any
  426  amendments thereto, or any other form required by this section,
  427  except any statement of a candidate who is not subject to an
  428  annual filing requirement, must be filed electronically through
  429  an electronic filing system created and maintained by the
  430  commission as provided in s. 112.31446.
  431         (4)(a) Beginning January 1, 2024, a filer may not include
  432  in a filing to the commission a federal income tax return or a
  433  copy of thereof; a social security number; a bank, mortgage, or
  434  brokerage account number; a debit, charge, or credit card
  435  number; a personal identification number; or a taxpayer
  436  identification number. If a filer includes such information in
  437  his or her filing, the information may be made available as part
  438  of the official records of the commission available for public
  439  inspection and copying unless redaction is requested by the
  440  filer. The commission is not liable for the release of social
  441  security numbers, bank account numbers, or debit, charge, or
  442  credit card numbers included in a filing to the commission if
  443  the filer has not requested redaction of the information.
  444         (c) The commission must conspicuously post a notice, in
  445  substantially the following form, in the instructions for the
  446  electronic filing system specifying that:
  447         1. Any filer submitting information through the electronic
  448  filing system may not include a federal income tax return or a
  449  copy thereof; a social security number; a bank, mortgage, or
  450  brokerage account number; a debit, charge, or credit card
  451  number; a personal identification number; or a taxpayer
  452  identification number in any filing unless required by law.
  453         2. Information submitted through the electronic filing
  454  system may be open to public inspection and copying.
  455         3. Any filer has a right to request that the commission
  456  redact from his or her filing any social security number, bank
  457  account number, or debit, charge, or credit card number
  458  contained in the filing. Such request must be made in writing
  459  and delivered to the commission. The request must specify the
  460  information to be redacted and the specific section or sections
  461  of the disclosure in which it was included.
  462         (6) Each elected constitutional officer, state officer,
  463  local officer, and specified state employee shall file a
  464  quarterly report of the names of clients represented for a fee
  465  or commission, except for appearances in ministerial matters,
  466  before agencies at his or her level of government. For the
  467  purposes of this part, agencies of government shall be
  468  classified as state-level agencies or agencies below state
  469  level. Each local officer shall file such report with the
  470  supervisor of elections of the county in which the officer is
  471  principally employed or is a resident. Each state officer,
  472  elected constitutional officer, and specified state employee,
  473  and local officer shall file such report with the commission.
  474  The report must shall be filed only when a reportable
  475  representation is made during the calendar quarter and must
  476  shall be filed no later than the last day of each calendar
  477  quarter, for the previous calendar quarter. Representation
  478  before any agency shall be deemed to include representation by
  479  such officer or specified state employee or by any partner or
  480  associate of the professional firm of which he or she is a
  481  member and of which he or she has actual knowledge. For the
  482  purposes of this subsection, the term “representation before any
  483  agency” does not include appearances before any court or the
  484  Deputy Chief Judge of Compensation Claims or judges of
  485  compensation claims or representations on behalf of one’s agency
  486  in one’s official capacity. Such term does not include the
  487  preparation and filing of forms and applications merely for the
  488  purpose of obtaining or transferring a license based on a quota
  489  or a franchise of such agency or a license or operation permit
  490  to engage in a profession, business, or occupation, so long as
  491  the issuance or granting of such license, permit, or transfer
  492  does not require substantial discretion, a variance, a special
  493  consideration, or a certificate of public convenience and
  494  necessity.
  495         (8) Beginning January 1, 2024, forms for compliance with
  496  the disclosure requirements of this section and a current list
  497  of persons subject to disclosure must shall be created by the
  498  commission and provided to each supervisor of elections. The
  499  commission shall allow a filer to include attachments or other
  500  supporting documentation when filing a disclosure. Beginning
  501  January 1, 2024, the commission and each supervisor of elections
  502  shall give notice of disclosure deadlines, and delinquencies,
  503  and instructions distribute forms in the following manner:
  504         (a)1. Not later than May 1 of each year, the commission
  505  shall prepare a current list of the names, e-mail addresses, and
  506  physical addresses of, and the offices or positions held by,
  507  every state officer, local officer, and specified employee. Each
  508  unit of government shall assist the commission in compiling the
  509  list by providing to the commission not later than February 1 of
  510  each year the name, e-mail address, physical address, and name
  511  of agency of, and the office or position held by, each state
  512  officer, local officer, or specified state employee within the
  513  respective unit of government as of December 31 of the preceding
  514  year.
  515         2. Not later than May 15 of each year, the commission shall
  516  provide each supervisor of elections with a current list of all
  517  local officers required to file with such supervisor of
  518  elections.
  519         (b) Beginning January 1, 2024, the commission shall notify,
  520  by e-mail, not later than June 1 of each year, all persons
  521  required to file a statement of financial interests, of all of
  522  the following:
  523         1.All applicable filing deadlines for completing and
  524  filing the statement of financial interests, prescribed under
  525  subsection (3), on the commission’s electronic filing system.
  526         2.Instructions on how to complete and file the statement
  527  of financial interests, as prescribed by subsection (3), on the
  528  commission’s electronic filing system.
  529         3.Instructions on how to upload attachments and
  530  documentation onto the commission’s electronic filing system.
  531  
  532  Beginning January 1, 2024, paper forms may not be provided and
  533  persons required to file a statement of financial interests must
  534  complete and file their statement of financial interests on the
  535  commission’s electronic filing system pursuant to paragraph
  536  (2)(e) Not later than June 1 of each year, the commission and
  537  each supervisor of elections, as appropriate, shall distribute a
  538  copy of the form prescribed for compliance with subsection (3)
  539  and a notice of all applicable disclosure forms and filing
  540  deadlines to each person required to file a statement of
  541  financial interests. Beginning January 1, 2024, no paper forms
  542  will be provided. The notice required under this paragraph and
  543  instructions for electronic submission must be delivered by e
  544  mail.
  545         (c)1.Beginning January 1, 2024, but no later than August
  546  1, 2024, and each August 1 thereafter, the commission shall
  547  determine the persons required to file a statement of financial
  548  interests pursuant to this part who have failed to do so and the
  549  commission shall send delinquency notices by e-mail to these
  550  persons. The commission shall redeliver weekly by e-mail such
  551  notice as long as the person remains delinquent.
  552         2.Each notice must state all of the following:
  553         a.A grace period is in effect until September 1 of the
  554  current year.
  555         b.Investigative or disciplinary action based upon the
  556  delinquency may not be taken by the agency head or commission if
  557  the statement is filed by September 1 of the current year, which
  558  includes the imposition of a daily fine of $25 for each day
  559  late, up to a maximum penalty of $1,500.
  560         c.If upon the filing of a sworn complaint the commission
  561  finds that a person has failed to timely file the statement
  562  within 60 days after September 1 of the current year, such
  563  person is subject to the penalties imposed in s. 112.317 Not
  564  later than August 1 of each year, the commission and each
  565  supervisor of elections shall determine which persons required
  566  to file a statement of financial interests in their respective
  567  offices have failed to do so and shall send delinquency notices
  568  to these persons. Through December 31, 2023, delinquency notices
  569  must be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested. Each
  570  notice must state that a grace period is in effect until
  571  September 1 of the current year; that no investigative or
  572  disciplinary action based upon the delinquency will be taken by
  573  the agency head or commission if the statement is filed by
  574  September 1 of the current year; that, if the statement is not
  575  filed by September 1 of the current year, a fine of $25 for each
  576  day late will be imposed, up to a maximum penalty of $1,500; for
  577  notices distributed by a supervisor of elections, that he or she
  578  is required by law to notify the commission of the delinquency;
  579  and that, if upon the filing of a sworn complaint the commission
  580  finds that the person has failed to timely file the statement
  581  within 60 days after September 1 of the current year, such
  582  person will also be subject to the penalties provided in s.
  583  112.317. Beginning January 1, 2024, notice required under this
  584  paragraph must be delivered by e-mail and must be redelivered on
  585  a weekly basis by e-mail as long as the person remains
  586  delinquent.
  587         (d) Beginning January 1, 2024, disclosure statements
  588  required to be filed with the commission must be filed using the
  589  commission’s electronic filing system pursuant to s. 112.31446
  590  by 5 p.m. on the due date No later than November 15 of each
  591  year, the supervisor of elections in each county shall certify
  592  to the commission a list of the names and addresses of, and the
  593  offices or positions held by, all persons who have failed to
  594  timely file the required statements of financial interests. The
  595  certification must include the earliest of the dates described
  596  in subparagraph (g)1. The certification shall be on a form
  597  prescribed by the commission and shall indicate whether the
  598  supervisor of elections has provided the disclosure forms and
  599  notice as required by this subsection to all persons named on
  600  the delinquency list.
  601         (e) Statements must be received by the commission not later
  602  than 5 p.m. of the due date. However, any statement that is
  603  postmarked by the United States Postal Service by midnight of
  604  the due date is deemed to have been filed in a timely manner,
  605  and a certificate of mailing obtained from and dated by the
  606  United States Postal Service at the time of the mailing, or a
  607  receipt from an established courier company which bears a date
  608  on or before the due date, constitutes proof of mailing in a
  609  timely manner. Beginning January 1, 2023, upon request of the
  610  filer, the commission must provide verification to the filer
  611  that the commission has received the filed statement.
  612         (f) Beginning January 1, 2023, the statement must be
  613  accompanied by a declaration as provided in s. 92.525(2) and an
  614  electronic acknowledgment thereof.
  615         (f)(g) Any person who is required to file a statement of
  616  financial interests and whose name is on the commission’s list,
  617  and to whom notice has been sent, but who fails to timely file
  618  is assessed a fine of $25 per day for each day late up to a
  619  maximum of $1,500; however, this $1,500 limitation on automatic
  620  fines does not limit the civil penalty that may be imposed if
  621  the statement is filed more than 60 days after the deadline and
  622  a complaint is filed, as provided in s. 112.324. The commission
  623  must provide by rule the grounds for waiving the fine and
  624  procedures by which each person whose name is on the list and
  625  who is determined to have not filed in a timely manner will be
  626  notified of assessed fines and may appeal. The rule must provide
  627  for and make specific that the amount of the fine due is based
  628  upon the date and time that the disclosure is filed on the
  629  electronic filing system as provided in s. 112.31446. the
  630  following:
  631         1. Beginning January 1, 2024, The amount of the fine due is
  632  based upon the earliest of the following:
  633         a. When a statement is actually received by the office.
  634         b. When the statement is postmarked.
  635         c. When the certificate of mailing is dated.
  636         d. When the receipt from an established courier company is
  637  dated.
  638         2. for a specified state employee, or a state officer, or
  639  local officer, upon receipt of the disclosure statement by the
  640  commission or upon accrual of the maximum penalty, whichever
  641  occurs first, and for a local officer upon receipt by the
  642  commission of the certification from the local officer’s
  643  supervisor of elections pursuant to paragraph (d), the
  644  commission shall determine the amount of the fine which is due
  645  and shall notify the delinquent person. The notice must include
  646  an explanation of the appeal procedure under subparagraph 2. 3.
  647  The fine must be paid within 30 days after the notice of payment
  648  due is transmitted, unless appeal is made to the commission
  649  pursuant to subparagraph 2. 3. The moneys are to be deposited
  650  into the General Revenue Fund.
  651         2.3. Any reporting person may appeal or dispute a fine,
  652  based upon unusual circumstances surrounding the failure to file
  653  on the designated due date, and may request and is entitled to a
  654  hearing before the commission, which may waive the fine in whole
  655  or in part for good cause shown. Any such request must be in
  656  writing and received by the commission within 30 days after the
  657  notice of payment due is transmitted. In such a case, the
  658  reporting person must, within the 30-day period, notify the
  659  person designated to review the timeliness of reports in writing
  660  of his or her intention to bring the matter before the
  661  commission. For purposes of this subparagraph, the term “unusual
  662  circumstances” does not include the failure to monitor an e-mail
  663  account or failure to receive notice if the person has not
  664  notified the commission of a change in his or her e-mail
  665  address.
  666         (g)(h) Any state officer, local officer, or specified
  667  employee whose name is not on the list of persons required to
  668  file an annual statement of financial interests is not subject
  669  to the penalties provided in s. 112.317 or the fine provided in
  670  this section for failure to timely file a statement of financial
  671  interests in any year in which the omission occurred, but
  672  nevertheless is required to file the disclosure statement.
  673         (h)(i) The notification requirements and fines of this
  674  subsection do not apply to candidates or to the first or final
  675  filing required of any state officer, specified employee, or
  676  local officer as provided in paragraph (2)(b).
  677         (i)(j) Notwithstanding any provision of chapter 120, any
  678  fine imposed under this subsection which is not waived by final
  679  order of the commission and which remains unpaid more than 60
  680  days after the notice of payment due or more than 60 days after
  681  the commission renders a final order on the appeal must be
  682  submitted to the Department of Financial Services as a claim,
  683  debt, or other obligation owed to the state, and the department
  684  shall assign the collection of such a fine to a collection agent
  685  as provided in s. 17.20.
  686         Section 7. Subsection (1) of section 112.317, Florida
  687  Statutes, is amended to read:
  688         112.317 Penalties.—
  689         (1) Any violation of this part, including, but not limited
  690  to, failure to file disclosures required by this part or
  691  violation of any standard of conduct imposed by this part, or
  692  any violation of s. 8, Art. II of the State Constitution, in
  693  addition to any criminal penalty or other civil penalty
  694  involved, under applicable constitutional and statutory
  695  procedures, constitutes grounds for, and may be punished by, one
  696  or more of the following:
  697         (a) In the case of a public officer:
  698         1. Impeachment.
  699         2. Removal from office.
  700         3. Suspension from office.
  701         4. Public censure and reprimand.
  702         5. Forfeiture of no more than one-third of his or her
  703  salary per month for no more than 12 months.
  704         6. A civil penalty not to exceed $20,000 $10,000.
  705         7. Restitution of any pecuniary benefits received because
  706  of the violation committed. The commission may recommend that
  707  the restitution penalty be paid to the agency of which the
  708  public officer was a member or to the General Revenue Fund.
  709         (b) In the case of an employee or a person designated as a
  710  public officer by this part who otherwise would be deemed to be
  711  an employee:
  712         1. Dismissal from employment.
  713         2. Suspension from employment for not more than 90 days
  714  without pay.
  715         3. Demotion.
  716         4. Reduction in his or her salary level.
  717         5. Forfeiture of no more than one-third salary per month
  718  for no more than 12 months.
  719         6. A civil penalty not to exceed $20,000 $10,000.
  720         7. Restitution of any pecuniary benefits received because
  721  of the violation committed. The commission may recommend that
  722  the restitution penalty be paid to the agency by which the
  723  public employee was employed, or of which the officer was deemed
  724  to be an employee, or to the General Revenue Fund.
  725         8. Public censure and reprimand.
  726         (c) In the case of a candidate who violates this part or s.
  727  8(a) and (i), Art. II of the State Constitution:
  728         1. Disqualification from being on the ballot.
  729         2. Public censure.
  730         3. Reprimand.
  731         4. A civil penalty not to exceed $20,000 $10,000.
  732         (d) In the case of a former public officer or employee who
  733  has violated a provision applicable to former officers or
  734  employees or whose violation occurred before the officer’s or
  735  employee’s leaving public office or employment:
  736         1. Public censure and reprimand.
  737         2. A civil penalty not to exceed $20,000 $10,000.
  738         3. Restitution of any pecuniary benefits received because
  739  of the violation committed. The commission may recommend that
  740  the restitution penalty be paid to the agency of the public
  741  officer or employee or to the General Revenue Fund.
  742         (e) In the case of a person who is subject to the standards
  743  of this part, other than a lobbyist or lobbying firm under s.
  744  112.3215 for a violation of s. 112.3215, but who is not a public
  745  officer or employee:
  746         1. Public censure and reprimand.
  747         2. A civil penalty not to exceed $20,000 $10,000.
  748         3. Restitution of any pecuniary benefits received because
  749  of the violation committed. The commission may recommend that
  750  the restitution penalty be paid to the agency of the person or
  751  to the General Revenue Fund.
  752         Section 8. Present paragraph (d) of subsection (8) of
  753  section 112.3215, Florida Statutes, is redesignated as paragraph
  754  (e), a new paragraph (d) is added to that subsection, and
  755  paragraph (c) of that subsection is amended, to read:
  756         112.3215 Lobbying before the executive branch or the
  757  Constitution Revision Commission; registration and reporting;
  758  investigation by commission.—
  759         (8)
  760         (c) The commission shall investigate any lobbying firm,
  761  lobbyist, principal, agency, officer, or employee upon receipt
  762  of information from a sworn complaint or from a random audit of
  763  lobbying reports indicating that the entity or individual has
  764  intentionally failed to disclose any material fact or has
  765  knowingly submitted false information in any report required by
  766  this section or by rules adopted pursuant to this section a
  767  possible violation other than a late-filed report.
  768         (d)Notwithstanding paragraphs (a), (b), and (c), the
  769  commission may dismiss any complaint or investigation resulting
  770  from a random audit of lobbying reports, at any state of
  771  disposition, if it determines that the public interest is not
  772  served by proceeding further, in which case the commission must
  773  issue a public report stating with particularity its reasons for
  774  the dismissals.
  775         Section 9. Paragraph (a) of subsection (11) and subsection
  776  (12) of section 112.324, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  777         112.324 Procedures on complaints of violations and
  778  referrals; public records and meeting exemptions.—
  779         (11)(a) Notwithstanding subsections (1)-(8), the commission
  780  may dismiss any complaint or referral at any stage of
  781  disposition if it determines that the violation that is alleged
  782  or has occurred is a de minimis violation attributable to
  783  inadvertent or unintentional error. In determining whether a
  784  violation was de minimis, the commission shall consider whether
  785  the interests of the public were protected despite the
  786  violation. This subsection does not apply to complaints or
  787  referrals pursuant to ss. 112.3144 and 112.3145.
  788         (12) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (1)-(8),
  789  the commission may, at its discretion, dismiss any complaint or
  790  referral, or dismiss any proceeding brought under s. 112.3215 at
  791  any stage of disposition should it determine that the public
  792  interest would not be served by proceeding further, in which
  793  case the commission shall issue a public report stating with
  794  particularity its reasons for the dismissal.
  795         Section 10. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.

feedback