The Florida Senate

608.703  Interrogatories by Department of State.--

(1)  The Department of State may direct to any limited liability company or foreign limited liability company subject to this chapter, and to any member or manager of any limited liability company or foreign limited liability company subject to this chapter, any interrogatories reasonably necessary and proper to enable the Department of State to ascertain whether the limited liability company or foreign limited liability company has complied with all of the provisions of this chapter applicable to the limited liability company or foreign limited liability company. The interrogatories shall be answered within 30 days after the date of mailing, or within such additional time as fixed by the Department of State. The answers to the interrogatories shall be full and complete and shall be made in writing and under oath. If the interrogatories are directed to an individual, they shall be answered by the individual, and if directed to a limited liability company or foreign limited liability company, they shall be answered by a manager of a manager-managed company, a member of a member-managed company, or a fiduciary if the company is in the hands of a receiver, trustee, or other court-appointed fiduciary.

(2)  The Department of State need not file any record in a court of competent jurisdiction to which the interrogatories relate until the interrogatories are answered as provided in this chapter, and not then if the answers thereto disclose that the record is not in conformity with the requirements of this chapter or if the Department of State has determined that the parties to such document have not paid all fees, taxes, and penalties due and owing this state. The Department of State shall certify to the Department of Legal Affairs, for such action as the Department of Legal Affairs may deem appropriate, all interrogatories and answers which disclose a violation of this chapter.

(3)  The Department of State may, based upon its findings hereunder or as provided in s. 213.053(15), bring an action in circuit court to collect any penalties, fees, or taxes determined to be due and owing the state and to compel any filing, qualification, or registration required by law. In connection with such proceeding, the department may, without prior approval by the court, file a lis pendens against any property owned by the corporation and may further certify any findings to the Department of Legal Affairs for the initiation of any action permitted pursuant to this chapter which the Department of Legal Affairs may deem appropriate.

(4)  The Department of State shall have the power and authority reasonably necessary to enable it to administer this chapter efficiently, to perform the duties herein imposed upon it, and to adopt reasonable rules necessary to carry out its duties and functions under this chapter.

History.--s. 1, ch. 99-315; s. 6, ch. 2006-85.