The Florida Senate

106.082  Commissioner of Agriculture candidates; campaign contribution limits.--

(1)  No business which is inspected, licensed, or otherwise authorized to do business as a food outlet or convenience store pursuant to chapter 500; or any director, officer, lobbyist, or controlling interest of that business; and no political committee or committee of continuous existence representing the interests of such business shall make or solicit a contribution in excess of $100, for any election, to or on behalf of any candidate for the office of Commissioner of Agriculture. The provisions of this subsection shall not prevent any candidate for the office of Commissioner of Agriculture or members of that candidate's immediate family from contributing to that candidate's campaign as otherwise permitted by law.

(2)  No candidate for the office of Commissioner of Agriculture may solicit or accept a campaign contribution in excess of $100 from any business or person who is licensed or inspected or otherwise authorized to do business as a food outlet or convenience store pursuant to chapter 500; or any director, officer, lobbyist, or controlling interest of that person or business; or any political committee or committee of continuous existence that represents that person.

(3)  No employee of the Department of Agriculture may solicit a campaign contribution for any candidate for the office of Commissioner of Agriculture from any person or business who is licensed, inspected, or otherwise authorized to do business as a food outlet or convenience store pursuant to chapter 500; or any director, officer, lobbyist, or controlling interest of that person; or any political committee or committee of continuous existence that represents that person. For purposes of this section, "employee of the department" means any person employed in the Department of Agriculture holding a position in the Senior Management Service as defined in s. 110.402; any person holding a position in the Selected Exempt Service as defined in s. 110.602; any person having authority over food outlet or convenience store regulation, or inspection supervision; or any person, hired on a contractual basis, having the power normally conferred upon such person, by whatever title.

(4)  Any person who commits a willful violation of this section commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

History.--s. 38, ch. 92-180; s. 35, ch. 99-2.