The Florida Senate

The term “governing board or officer” means each individual or group of individuals, including, but not limited to, trustees, having lawful authority to withdraw, pay, or disburse public funds from the depository thereof.

The term “public funds” means all moneys under the jurisdiction or control of the state, a county, or a municipality, including any district, authority, commission, board, or agency thereof and the judicial branch, and includes all manner of pension and retirement funds and all other funds held, as trust funds or otherwise, for any public purpose.

For the purpose of providing for the direct deposit of public funds under the circumstances herein specified, each governing board or officer is authorized to establish the form or forms of checks, warrants, or other instruments for the withdrawal, payment, or disbursement of the public funds under its control, and to change the form thereof from time to time. However, nothing in this section shall be construed as eliminating or impairing the requirements of any statute, rule, or ordinance relating to any official or other action or signatures necessary to authorize the withdrawal, payment, or disbursement of such public funds.

If authorized in writing by the person entitled to the withdrawal, payment, or disbursement of public funds, such checks, warrants, or other instruments may provide for direct deposit of the public funds to the account of the person entitled to receive the same in any financial institution which is designated in writing by such person and which has lawful authority to accept such deposits. The written authorization of the person entitled to receive such public funds shall be filed with the appropriate governing board or officer. Direct deposit of public funds may be by any electronic or other medium approved for such purpose by the governing board or officer having jurisdiction or control of such public funds.