Source: https://archive.flsenate.gov/cgi-bin/view_page.pl?Tab=session&Submenu=1&FT=D&File=sb1916.html&Directory=session/2010/Senate/bills/billtext/html/
Timestamp: 2020-02-26 07:56:51
Document Index: 113641666

Matched Legal Cases: ['arty\n247', 'arty\n248', 'art:\n428', 'art\n431', 'art,\n436', 'art.\n439']

Florida Senate - 2010                                    SB 1916
6-01814A-10                                           20101916__
2         An act relating to standards of conduct; amending s.
3         112.313, F.S.; revising the definition of “public
4         officer”; revising provisions prohibiting doing
5         business with one’s agency; providing applicability to
6         units of government and persons related to or having a
7         specified relationship with a public officer or
8         employee; expanding the list of persons who have a
9         relationship with a public officer or employee who may
10         not accept compensation given to influence a vote or
11         action; expanding the list of entities with which a
12         public officer or employee may not have a conflicting
13         employment or contractual relationship and expanding
14         the prohibition to include certain association or
15         affiliation; providing that a public officer may not
16         represent or advocate on behalf of an entity before a
17         legislative, advisory, or regulatory body of which the
18         public official is a member; prohibiting elective
19         public officers of state, county, or municipal
20         legislative, advisory, or regulatory bodies from
21         maintaining certain forms of employment or
22         relationships with organizations whose purposes might
23         be advanced or benefited by acts of the body of which
24         the public officer is a member, from lobbying other
25         state, county, or municipal legislative, advisory, or
26         regulatory bodies or agencies on behalf or for the
27         benefit of private parties, or from serving in certain
28         advisory capacities that advocate on behalf of private
29         parties under certain circumstances; prohibiting a
30         member of the Legislature from representing persons or
31         entities before certain governing or legislative
32         bodies or agencies; prohibiting a member of the
33         Legislature, an appointed state officer, an employee
34         of the legislative branch, or a member of any state
35         regulatory body from appearing, representing, or
36         advocating on behalf of a person or entity before the
37         body of which the individual is an officer, employee,
38         or member, from having any employment, relationship,
39         or affiliation with any entity that appears before the
40         body of which the individual is an employee or member
41         or in which the business or interests of the entity
42         might be advanced by action of the legislative body of
43         which the individual is an employee or member, from
44         having any employment or association with any entity
45         that lobbies or appears or advocates before the
46         legislative body of which the person is an employee or
47         member, or from being employed by or associated with
48         any entity that provides advisory services before the
49         legislative body of which the individual is an
50         employee or member; prohibiting elective public
51         officers of certain entities from lobbying before
52         other such entities for the benefit of private parties
53         or from serving as advisers to private parties when
54         the purpose of the position is to lobby elected
55         members for the benefit of the private party; amending
56         s. 112.316, F.S.; revising construction of the code of
57         ethics for public officers and employees; clarifying
58         intent that public officers or certain employees may
59         not accept certain lobbying, consulting, or advisory
60         roles; amending s. 112.317, F.S.; providing criminal
61         penalties for violations of the code of ethics for
62         public officers and employees; amending s. 420.5061,
63         F.S.; conforming a cross-reference; providing an
64         effective date.
66  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
68         Section 1. Subsections (1), (3), (4), (7), and (9) of
69  section 112.313, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
70         112.313 Standards of conduct for public officers, employees
71  of agencies, and local government attorneys.—
72         (1) DEFINITION.—As used in this section, unless the context
73  otherwise requires, the term “public officer” includes:
74         (a) Any person elected to any state, county, or municipal
75  office or position.
76         (b) Any person or appointed to or holding any position hold
77  office in any state, county, or municipal agency or board who is
78  vested with any delegated legislative or quasi-legislative
79  authority, including any person serving on any an advisory body.
80         (3) DOING BUSINESS WITH ONE’S AGENCY.—No public officer or
81  employee of an agency acting in his or her official capacity as
82  a purchasing agent, or public officer acting in his or her
83  official capacity, shall either directly or indirectly purchase,
84  rent, or lease any realty, goods, or services for his or her own
85  unit of government or agency from any business entity or
86  organization of which the officer or employee or the officer’s
87  or employee’s spouse, or child, or other relative, including any
88  person with whom the public officer or employee has or maintains
89  a cohabitational, intimate, or financially beneficial or
90  dependent relationship, is an officer, partner, director, or
91  proprietor or in which such officer or employee or the officer’s
92  or employee’s spouse, or child, or other relative, including any
93  person with whom the public officer or employee has or maintains
94  a cohabitational, intimate, or financially beneficial or
95  dependent relationship, or any combination of them, has a
96  material interest. Nor shall A public officer or employee or the
97  officer’s or employee’s spouse, child, or other relative,
98  including any person with whom the public officer or employee
99  has or maintains a cohabitational, intimate, or financially
100  beneficial or dependent relationship, acting in a private
101  capacity, shall not rent, lease, or sell any realty, goods, or
102  services to the officer’s or employee’s own agency, if he or she
103  is a state officer or employee, or to any political subdivision
104  or any agency thereof served by that public, if he or she is
105  serving as an officer or employee of that political subdivision.
106  The foregoing shall not apply to district offices maintained by
107  legislators when such offices are located in the legislator’s
108  place of business or when such offices are on property wholly or
109  partially owned by the legislator. This subsection shall not
110  affect or be construed to prohibit contracts entered into prior
111  to:
112         (a) October 1, 1975.
113         (b) Qualification for elective office.
114         (c) Appointment to public office.
115         (d) Beginning public employment.
116         (4) UNAUTHORIZED COMPENSATION.—No public officer, employee
117  of an agency, or local government attorney or his or her spouse
118  or minor child or other relative, including any person with whom
119  the public officer or employee has or maintains a
120  cohabitational, intimate, or financially dependent relationship,
121  shall, at any time, accept any compensation, payment, or thing
122  of value when such public officer, employee, or local government
123  attorney or other person knows, or, with the exercise of
124  reasonable care, should know, that it was given to influence a
125  vote or other action in which the officer, employee, or local
126  government attorney was expected to participate in his or her
127  official capacity.
128         (7) CONFLICTING EMPLOYMENT, ASSOCIATION, AFFILIATION, OR
129  CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP.—
130         (a) No public officer or employee of an agency shall have
131  or hold any employment, association, affiliation, or contractual
132  relationship with any business or professional entity, firm,
133  association, or organization or any agency which is subject to
134  the regulation of, or is doing business with, an agency of which
135  he or she is an officer or employee, excluding those
136  organizations and their officers who, when acting in their
137  official capacity, enter into or negotiate a collective
138  bargaining contract with the state or any municipality, county,
139  or other political subdivision of the state; nor shall an
140  officer or employee of an agency have or hold any employment, or
141  contractual, or professional relationship, association, or
142  affiliation that will create a continuing or frequently
143  recurring conflict between his or her private interests and the
144  performance of his or her public duties or that would impede the
145  full and faithful discharge of his or her public duties or
146  create the appearance of a conflict or impropriety.
147         1. When the agency referred to is that certain kind of
148  special tax district created by general or special law and is
149  limited specifically to constructing, maintaining, managing, and
150  financing improvements in the land area over which the agency
151  has jurisdiction, or when the agency has been organized pursuant
152  to chapter 298, then employment with, or entering into a
153  contractual relationship with, such business entity by a public
154  officer or employee of such agency shall not be prohibited by
155  this subsection or be deemed a conflict per se. However, conduct
156  by such officer or employee that is prohibited by, or otherwise
157  frustrates the intent of, this section shall be deemed a
158  conflict of interest in violation of the standards of conduct
159  set forth by this section.
160         2. When the agency referred to is a legislative body and
161  the regulatory power over the business entity resides in another
162  agency, or when the regulatory power which the legislative body
163  exercises over the business entity or agency is strictly through
164  the enactment of laws or ordinances, then employment or a
165  contractual relationship with such business entity by a public
166  officer or employee of a legislative body shall not be
167  prohibited by this subsection or be deemed a conflict.
168         (b) This subsection shall not prohibit a public officer or
169  employee from practicing in a particular profession or
170  occupation when such practice by persons holding such public
171  office or employment is required or permitted by law or
172  ordinance, provided that the public officer or employee does not
173  have or maintain any kind of employment, association, or
174  affiliation with any professional or business firm, entity,
175  association, or organization that engages in, provides, or
176  renders any services that may encompass any kind of
177  representation or advocacy before the legislative or regulatory
178  body of which the public officer or employee is a member.
179         (c) No public officer in an elective office of any state,
180  county, or municipal legislative or regulatory body shall have,
181  maintain, or hold any kind of employment, or professional or
182  business relationship, association, or affiliation of any kind,
183  or any contractual relationship with any individual, business or
184  professional entity, firm, association, or organization the
185  business, financial, or professional operations, affairs,
186  undertakings, interests, endeavors, or services of which are
187  affected, are in any manner advanced, or may in any manner be
188  benefited by any act of the legislative body of which the public
189  officer is a part or member. The proscription in this paragraph
190  is intended to prohibit public officers who are in an elective
191  office of any state, county, or municipal legislative or
192  regulatory body from being engaged, retained, hired, or employed
193  in any capacity as a consultant, lobbyist, counselor, or adviser
194  to any individual, entity, organization, firm, or association
195  that advocates or promotes any legislative action or that
196  receives funding from or as a consequence of any legislative
197  action of the legislative or regulatory body of which the public
198  officer is a part or member. However, the proscription in this
199  paragraph shall not prohibit passive membership, affiliation, or
200  association with any professional, trade, religious, or
201  fraternal association which is not operated for profit, is not a
202  political action committee, and does not provide any financial
203  compensation or benefits to its members.
204         (d) A public officer in an elective office of any state,
205  county, or municipal legislative, advisory, or regulatory body
206  is prohibited from:
207         1. Lobbying any other state, county, or municipal
208  legislative, advisory, or regulatory body or agency on behalf or
209  for the benefit of any private individual, entity, firm, or
210  organization; or
211         2. Being hired, employed, retained, or otherwise acting as
212  an adviser, consultant, or counselor to, or an advocate for or
213  on behalf of, any private individual, entity, or organization
214  when the intent, subject, purpose, or object of the engagement,
215  employment, or position is to lobby any other state, county, or
216  municipal legislative, advisory, or regulatory body or agency on
217  behalf or for the benefit of any private individual, entity,
218  firm, or organization.
219         (9) POSTEMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONS; STANDARDS OF CONDUCT FOR
220  LEGISLATORS AND LEGISLATIVE EMPLOYEES.—
221         (a)1. It is the intent of the Legislature to implement by
222  statute the provisions of s. 8(e), Art. II of the State
223  Constitution relating to legislators, statewide elected
224  officers, appointed state officers, and designated public
225  employees.
226         2. As used in this paragraph:
227         a. “Employee” means:
228         (I) Any person employed in the executive or legislative
229  branch of government holding a position in the Senior Management
230  Service as defined in s. 110.402 or any person holding a
231  position in the Selected Exempt Service as defined in s. 110.602
232  or any person having authority over policy or procurement
233  employed by the Department of the Lottery.
234         (II) The Auditor General, the director of the Office of
235  Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, the
236  Sergeant at Arms and Secretary of the Senate, and the Sergeant
237  at Arms and Clerk of the House of Representatives.
238         (III) The executive director of the Legislative Committee
239  on Intergovernmental Relations and the executive director and
240  deputy executive director of the Commission on Ethics.
241         (IV) An executive director, staff director, or deputy staff
242  director of each joint committee, standing committee, or select
243  committee of the Legislature; an executive director, staff
244  director, executive assistant, analyst, or attorney of the
245  Office of the President of the Senate, the Office of the Speaker
246  of the House of Representatives, the Senate Majority Party
247  Office, Senate Minority Party Office, House Majority Party
248  Office, or House Minority Party Office; or any person, hired on
249  a contractual basis, having the power normally conferred upon
250  such persons, by whatever title.
251         (V) The Chancellor and Vice Chancellors of the State
252  University System; the general counsel to the Board of Governors
253  of the State University System; and the president, provost, vice
254  presidents, and deans of each state university.
255         (VI) Any person, including an other-personal-services
256  employee, having the power normally conferred upon the positions
257  referenced in this sub-subparagraph.
258         b. “Appointed state officer” means any member of an
259  appointive board, commission, committee, council, or authority
260  of the executive or legislative branch of state government whose
261  powers, jurisdiction, and authority are not solely advisory and
262  include the final determination or adjudication of any personal
263  or property rights, duties, or obligations, other than those
264  relative to its internal operations.
265         c. “State agency” means an entity of the legislative,
266  executive, or judicial branch of state government over which the
267  Legislature exercises plenary budgetary and statutory control.
268         3. No member of the Legislature, appointed state officer,
269  or statewide elected officer shall personally represent another
270  person or entity for compensation before the government body or
271  agency of which the individual was an officer or member for a
272  period of 2 years following vacation of office. No member of the
273  Legislature shall personally represent another person or entity
274  for compensation during his or her term of office before the
275  governing or legislative body of a county, municipality, special
276  district, or school district; before any state agency other than
277  judicial tribunals or in settlement negotiations after the
278  filing of a lawsuit; or before Congress or any agency of the
279  Federal Government.
280         4. No member of the Legislature, appointed state officer,
281  employee of the legislative branch, or member of any state
282  regulatory body shall:
283         a. Appear on behalf of, or represent or advocate in favor
284  or on behalf of, another person or entity before the government
285  body or agency of which the individual is an officer, employee,
286  or member;
287         b. Have, maintain, or hold any employment, position, or
288  professional or business relationship, association, or
289  affiliation of any kind or any contractual relationship with any
290  business or professional entity, firm, association, or
291  organization that appears before the body of which the
292  individual is an employee or member or the business or
293  professional operations, affairs, interests, undertakings,
294  services, or endeavors of which are advanced, or may be
295  benefited, in any degree, by any act of the legislative body of
296  which the individual is an employee or member;
297         c. Have, maintain, or hold any employment, position, or
298  professional or business relationship or association or
299  affiliation of any kind with any business or professional
300  entity, firm, association, or organization that lobbies or
301  appears or advocates before the legislative body of which such
302  individual is an employee or member or which otherwise
303  represents individuals or business entities before the
304  legislative body of which the individual is an employee or
305  member with the intent, design, purpose, or objective of
306  promoting, advancing, or causing any positive, favorable, or
307  negative action or vote by such legislative body, including the
308  passage, amendment, modification, or nonpassage or veto of any
309  proposed law or legislative enactment; or
310         d. Have, maintain, or hold any employment or position as a
311  consultant, counselor, attorney, or adviser to any individual,
312  entity, firm, association, or organization that provides or
313  renders services representing or advocating on behalf or for the
314  benefit of any individual, organization, or entity before the
315  legislative body of which such individual is an employee or
316  member, or which represents, lobbies, or appears or advocates
317  before the legislative body of which such individual is an
318  employee or member or which otherwise represents individuals or
319  business entities before the legislative body of which the
320  individual is an employee or member with the design, intent,
321  purpose, or objective of promoting or causing any positive,
322  favorable, or negative action or vote by such legislative body,
323  including the passage, amendment, modification, or nonpassage or
324  veto of any proposed law or legislative enactment.
325         5. A public officer in an elective office of any state,
326  county, or municipal legislative, advisory, or regulatory body
327  is prohibited from:
328         a. Lobbying any other state, county, or municipal
329  legislative, advisory, or regulatory body or agency on behalf or
330  for the benefit of any private individual, entity, or
331  organization; or
332         b. Acting as an adviser, counselor, or consultant to, or an
333  advocate for or on behalf or for the benefit of, any private
334  individual, entity, or organization when the subject, purpose,
335  or object of the engagement, employment, or position is to lobby
336  any other state, county, or municipal legislative advisory or
337  regulatory body or agency on behalf or for the benefit of any
338  private individual, entity, or organization.
339         c. Acting as an adviser, counselor, or consultant to, or an
340  advocate for or on behalf or for the benefit of, any private
341  individual, entity, or organization when the subject, purpose,
342  or object of the engagement, employment, or position is to lobby
343  any state, county, or municipal legislative, advisory, or
344  regulatory body or agency on behalf or for the benefit or any
345  private individual, entity, or organization, including being a
346  partner or associate of, or having or maintaining any
347  professional or business relationship or affiliation with, any
348  individual, professional firm, or entity that engages or
349  participates in any kind of lobbying activity or that advocates
350  on behalf or for the benefit of any private individual, entity,
351  or organization when the subject, purpose, or object of the
352  engagement, employment, or position is to lobby or advocate
353  before any other state, county, or municipal legislative,
354  advisory, or regulatory body or agency.
355         d. Acting as an adviser, consultant, or counselor to, or an
356  advocate for or on behalf or for the benefit of, any entity of
357  which any relative of the public officer is a shareholder,
358  officer, director, or employee or with which the relative of the
359  public officer is otherwise affiliated or associated in any
360  capacity.
361         6.4. An agency employee, including an agency employee who
362  was employed on July 1, 2001, in a Career Service System
363  position that was transferred to the Selected Exempt Service
364  System under chapter 2001-43, Laws of Florida, may not
365  personally represent another person or entity for compensation
366  before the agency with which he or she was employed for a period
367  of 2 years following vacation of position, unless employed by
368  another agency of state government.
369         7.5. Any person violating this paragraph shall be subject
370  to the penalties provided in s. 112.317 and a civil penalty of
371  an amount equal to the compensation which the person receives
372  for the prohibited conduct.
373         8.6. This paragraph is not applicable to:
374         a. A person employed by the Legislature or other agency
375  prior to July 1, 1989;
376         b. A person who was employed by the Legislature or other
377  agency on July 1, 1989, whether or not the person was a defined
378  employee on July 1, 1989;
379         c. A person who was a defined employee of the State
380  University System or the Public Service Commission who held such
381  employment on December 31, 1994;
382         d. A person who has reached normal retirement age as
383  defined in s. 121.021(29), and who has retired under the
384  provisions of chapter 121 by July 1, 1991; or
385         e. Any appointed state officer whose term of office began
386  before January 1, 1995, unless reappointed to that office on or
387  after January 1, 1995.
388         (b) In addition to the provisions of this part which are
389  applicable to legislators and legislative employees by virtue of
390  their being public officers or employees, the conduct of members
391  of the Legislature and legislative employees shall be governed
392  by the ethical standards provided in the respective rules of the
393  Senate or House of Representatives which are not in conflict
394  herewith.
395         Section 2. Section 112.316, Florida Statutes, is amended to
396  read:
397         112.316 Construction.—
398         (1) It is not the intent of this part, nor shall it be
399  construed, to prevent any officer or employee of a state agency
400  or county, city, or other political subdivision of the state or
401  any legislator or legislative employee from accepting other
402  employment or following any pursuit which does not:
403         (a) Involve lobbying in any form, including any consulting
404  or advisory role to any individual, entity, or firm involved in
405  lobbying in any form;
406         (b) Interfere, or is not likely to interfere, with the full
407  and faithful discharge by such officer, employee, legislator, or
408  legislative employee of his or her duties to the state or the
409  county, city, or other political subdivision of the state
410  involved; or
411         (c) Create an appearance of impropriety.
412         (2) It is the intent of this part to strictly prohibit any
413  public officer or employee of any state, county, or municipal
414  legislative or governing body from acting as an adviser or
415  consultant to, or an advocate for or on behalf of, any private
416  individual, entity, or organization when the subject, purpose,
417  or object of the employment, engagement, or position is to lobby
418  any other state, county, or municipal governing, legislative,
419  advisory, or regulatory body or agency on behalf or for the
420  benefit of any private individual, entity, or organization, or
421  to assist any other individual in doing so.
422         Section 3. Subsection (8) is added to section 112.317,
423  Florida Statutes, to read:
424         112.317 Penalties.—
425         (8) Except for a violation involving the failure to file a
426  disclosure required under this part or for any omission in a
427  disclosure required under this part:
428         (a) Any public officer or employee who violates any
429  provision of this part or who conceals, fails to disclose, or
430  aids the commission or furtherance of any violation of this part
431  or aids in concealing any violation of this part; or
432         (b) Any private individual who participates in, conceals,
433  or aids the commission or furtherance of any violation of this
434  part or aids in concealing any violation of this part,
436  commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in
437  s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, in addition to any other
438  civil penalty provided in this part.
439         Section 4. Section 420.5061, Florida Statutes, is amended
440  to read:
441         420.5061 Transfer of agency assets and liabilities.—The
442  corporation is the legal successor in all respects to the
443  agency, is obligated to the same extent as the agency under any
444  agreements existing on December 31, 1997, and is entitled to any
445  rights and remedies previously afforded the agency by law or
446  contract, including specifically the rights of the agency under
447  chapter 201 and part VI of chapter 159. Effective January 1,
448  1998, all references under Florida law to the agency are deemed
449  to mean the corporation. The corporation shall transfer to the
450  General Revenue Fund an amount which otherwise would have been
451  deducted as a service charge pursuant to s. 215.20(1) if the
452  Florida Housing Finance Corporation Fund established by s.
453  420.508(5), the State Apartment Incentive Loan Fund established
454  by s. 420.5087(7), the Florida Homeownership Assistance Fund
455  established by s. 420.5088(4), the HOME Investment Partnership
456  Fund established by s. 420.5089(1), and the Housing
457  Predevelopment Loan Fund established by s. 420.525(1) were each
458  trust funds. For purposes of s. 112.313, the corporation is
459  deemed to be a continuation of the agency, and the provisions
460  thereof are deemed to apply as if the same entity remained in
461  place. Any employees of the agency and agency board members
462  covered by s. 112.313(9)(a)8. s. 112.313(9)(a)6. shall continue
463  to be entitled to the exemption in that subparagraph,
464  notwithstanding being hired by the corporation or appointed as
465  board members of the corporation.
466         Section 5. This act shall take effect July 1, 2010.