The Florida Senate

Records, or information contained therein, held by the legislative branch of government which, if held by an agency as defined in s. 119.011, or any other unit of government, would be confidential or exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1), or otherwise exempt from public disclosure, and records or information of the same type held by the Legislature.

A formal complaint about a member or officer of the Legislature or about a lobbyist and the records relating to the complaint, until the complaint is dismissed, a determination as to probable cause has been made, a determination that there are sufficient grounds for review has been made and no probable cause panel is to be appointed, or the respondent has requested in writing that the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives make public the complaint or other records relating to the complaint, whichever occurs first.

A legislatively produced draft, and a legislative request for a draft, of a bill, resolution, memorial, or legislative rule, and an amendment thereto, which is not provided to any person other than the member or members who requested the draft, an employee of the Legislature, a member of the Legislature who is a supervisor of the legislative employee, a contract employee or consultant retained by the Legislature, or an officer of the Legislature.

A draft of a bill analysis or fiscal note until the bill analysis or fiscal note is provided to a person other than an employee of the Legislature, a contract employee or consultant retained by the Legislature, or an officer of the Legislature.

A draft, and a request for a draft, of a reapportionment plan or redistricting plan and an amendment thereto. Any supporting documents associated with such plan or amendment until a bill implementing the plan, or the amendment, is filed.

Records prepared for or used in executive sessions of the Senate until 10 years after the date on which the executive session was held.

Portions of records of former legislative investigating committees whose records are sealed or confidential as of June 30, 1993, which may reveal the identity of any witness, any person who was a subject of the inquiry, or any person referred to in testimony, documents, or evidence retained in the committee’s records; however, this exemption does not apply to a member of the committee, its staff, or any public official who was not a subject of the inquiry.

Requests by members for an advisory opinion concerning the application of the rules of either house pertaining to ethics, unless the member requesting the opinion authorizes in writing the release of such information. All advisory opinions shall be open to inspection except that the identity of the member shall not be disclosed in the opinion unless the member requesting the opinion authorizes in writing the release of such information.

Portions of correspondence held by the legislative branch which, if disclosed, would reveal: information otherwise exempt from disclosure by law; an individual’s medical treatment, history, or condition; the identity or location of an individual if there is a substantial likelihood that releasing such information would jeopardize the health or safety of that individual; or information regarding physical abuse, child abuse, spouse abuse, or abuse of the elderly.

“Committee” means the committee of each house charged by the presiding officer with responsibility for ethical conduct of lobbyists.

“Compensation” means a payment, distribution, loan, advance, reimbursement, deposit, salary, fee, retainer, or anything of value provided or owed to a lobbying firm, directly or indirectly, by a principal for any lobbying activity.

“Division” means the Division of Legislative Information Services within the Office of Legislative Services.

“Expenditure” means a payment, distribution, loan, advance, reimbursement, deposit, or anything of value made by a lobbyist or principal for the purpose of lobbying. The term “expenditure” does not include contributions or expenditures reported pursuant to chapter 106 or federal election law, campaign-related personal services provided without compensation by individuals volunteering their time, any other contribution or expenditure made by or to a political party, or any other contribution or expenditure made by an organization that is exempt from taxation under 26 U.S.C. s. 527 or s. 501(c)(4).

“Legislative action” means introduction, sponsorship, testimony, debate, voting, or any other official action on any measure, resolution, amendment, nomination, appointment, or report of, or any matter which may be the subject of action by, either house of the Legislature or any committee thereof.

“Lobbying” means influencing or attempting to influence legislative action or nonaction through oral or written communication or an attempt to obtain the goodwill of a member or employee of the Legislature.

“Lobbying firm” means any business entity, including an individual contract lobbyist, that receives or becomes entitled to receive any compensation for the purpose of lobbying, where any partner, owner, officer, or employee of the business entity is a lobbyist.

“Lobbyist” means a person who is employed and receives payment, or who contracts for economic consideration, for the purpose of lobbying, or a person who is principally employed for governmental affairs by another person or governmental entity to lobby on behalf of that other person or governmental entity.

“Principal” means the person, firm, corporation, or other entity which has employed or retained a lobbyist.

Registration is required for each principal represented.

Registration shall include a statement signed by the principal or principal’s representative that the registrant is authorized to represent the principal. The principal shall also identify and designate its main business on the statement authorizing that lobbyist pursuant to a classification system approved by the Office of Legislative Services.

A registrant shall promptly send a written statement to the division canceling the registration for a principal upon termination of the lobbyist’s representation of that principal. Notwithstanding this requirement, the division may remove the name of a registrant from the list of registered lobbyists if the principal notifies the office that a person is no longer authorized to represent that principal.

Every registrant shall be required to state the extent of any direct business association or partnership with any current member of the Legislature.

Each lobbying firm and each principal shall preserve for a period of 4 years all accounts, bills, receipts, computer records, books, papers, and other documents and records necessary to substantiate compensation. Any documents and records retained pursuant to this section may be subpoenaed for audit by legislative subpoena of either house of the Legislature, and the subpoena may be enforced in circuit court.

All registrations shall be open to the public.

Any person who is exempt from registration under the rule shall not be considered a lobbyist for any purpose.

For each principal represented by more than one lobbying firm, the division shall aggregate the reporting-period and calendar-year compensation reported as provided or owed by the principal.

The reporting statements shall be filed no later than 45 days after the end of each reporting period. The four reporting periods are from January 1 through March 31, April 1 through June 30, July 1 through September 30, and October 1 through December 31, respectively. The statements shall be rendered in the identical form provided by the respective houses and shall be open to public inspection. Reporting statements must be filed by electronic means as provided in s. 11.0455.

Each house of the Legislature shall provide by rule, or both houses may provide by joint rule, a procedure by which a lobbying firm that fails to timely file a report shall be notified and assessed fines. The rule shall provide for the following:

Notwithstanding s. 112.3148, s. 112.3149, or any other provision of law to the contrary, no lobbyist or principal shall make, directly or indirectly, and no member or employee of the Legislature shall knowingly accept, directly or indirectly, any expenditure, except floral arrangements or other celebratory items given to legislators and displayed in chambers the opening day of a regular session.

No person shall provide compensation for lobbying to any individual or business entity that is not a lobbying firm.

The committee shall render advisory opinions to any person who seeks advice as to whether the facts in a particular case would constitute a violation of this section.

The committee shall make sufficient deletions to prevent disclosing the identity of persons in the decisions or opinions.

All advisory opinions of the committee shall be numbered, dated, and open to public inspection.

Be based on access by means of the Internet.

Be accessible by anyone with Internet access using standard web-browsing software.

Provide for direct entry of compensation report information as well as upload of such information from software authorized by the division.

Provide a method that prevents unauthorized access to electronic filing system functions.

Alternate filing procedures in case the division’s electronic filing system is not operable.

The issuance of an electronic receipt to the person submitting the report indicating and verifying the date and time that the report was filed.

Each state, state university, or community college employee registered pursuant to the provisions of this section shall:

Any person who appears before a committee or subcommittee of the House of Representatives or the Senate at the request of the committee or subcommittee chair as a witness or for informational purposes shall be exempt from the provisions of this subsection.

A department of the executive branch, a state university, a community college, or a water management district may not use public funds to retain a lobbyist to represent it before the legislative or executive branch. However, full-time employees of a department of the executive branch, a state university, a community college, or a water management district may register as lobbyists and represent that employer before the legislative or executive branch. Except as a full-time employee, a person may not accept any public funds from a department of the executive branch, a state university, a community college, or a water management district for lobbying.

A department of the executive branch, a state university, a community college, or a water management district that violates this subsection may be prohibited from lobbying the legislative or executive branch for a period not exceeding 2 years.

This subsection shall not be construed to prohibit a department of the executive branch, a state university, a community college, or a water management district from retaining a lobbyist for purposes of representing the entity before the executive or legislative branch of the Federal Government. Further, any person so retained is not subject to the prohibitions of this subsection.

A person who accepts public funds as compensation for lobbying in violation of this subsection may be prohibited from registering to lobby before the legislative or executive branch for a period not exceeding 2 years.

A person may file a written complaint with the Commission on Ethics alleging a violation of this subsection. The commission shall investigate and report its finding to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Governor and Cabinet. Based upon the report of the Commission on Ethics or upon its own finding that a violation of this subsection has occurred, a house of the Legislature may discipline the violator according to its rules, and the Governor or the Governor and Cabinet, as applicable, may prohibit the violator from lobbying before the executive branch for a period not exceeding 2 years after the date of the formal determination of a violation. The Commission on Ethics shall adopt rules necessary to conduct investigations under this paragraph.

The annual salaries of members of the Senate and House of Representatives, payable in 12 equal monthly installments, shall be:

Effective July 1, 1986, and each July 1 thereafter, the annual salaries of members of the Senate and House of Representatives shall be adjusted by the average percentage increase in the salaries of state career service employees for the fiscal year just concluded. The Appropriations Committee of each house shall certify to the Office of Legislative Services the average percentage increase in the salaries of state career service employees before July 1 of each year. The Office of Legislative Services shall, as of July 1 of each year, determine the adjusted annual salaries as provided herein.

All expenditures of the Senate, House of Representatives, and offices, committees, and divisions of the Legislature shall be made pursuant to and, unless changed as provided below, within the limits of budgetary estimates of expenditure for each fiscal year prepared and submitted prior to June 15 by the administrative head of each such house, office, committee, or division and approved by the President of the Senate as to Senate budgets, by the Speaker of the House of Representatives as to House budgets, and by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives acting jointly as to joint committees and other units of the Legislature. Amounts in the approved estimates of expenditure may be transferred between budgetary units within the Senate, House of Representatives, and joint activities by the original approving authority. Funds may be transferred between items of appropriation to the Legislature when approved by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, provided the total amount appropriated to the legislative branch shall not be altered. The Office of Legislative Services shall formulate and present to each house and office thereof recommendations concerning the form and preparation of such budgets and procedures for their adoption and transmission.

Thirty days prior to the date established by s. 216.023 for submission of legislative budgets by all state agencies to the Governor, all budgetary units required to submit estimates of expenditures as provided by paragraph (a) shall annually submit tentative estimates of their financial needs for the next fiscal year beginning July 1 to the authorities required by that paragraph so that the financial needs of the Legislature for the ensuing fiscal year may be reported to the Governor by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives as required by s. 216.081.

The Office of Legislative Services shall submit on forms prescribed by the Chief Financial Officer requested allotments of appropriations for the fiscal year. It shall be the duty of the Chief Financial Officer to release the funds and authorize the expenditures for the legislative branch to be made from the appropriations on the basis of the requested allotments. However, the aggregate of such allotments shall not exceed the total appropriations available for the fiscal year.

In order to carry out its duties, each such committee, whenever required, may issue subpoena and other necessary process to compel the attendance of witnesses before such committee, and the chair thereof shall issue the process on behalf of the committee, in accordance with the rules of the respective house. The chair or any other member of such committee may administer all oaths and affirmations in the manner prescribed by law to witnesses who appear before the committee for the purpose of testifying in any matter concerning which the committee desires evidence.

Each such committee, whenever required, may also compel by subpoena duces tecum the production of any books, letters, or other documentary evidence, including any confidential information, it desires to examine in reference to any matter before it.

Either house during the session may punish by fine or imprisonment any person not a member who has been guilty of disorderly or contemptuous conduct in its presence or of a refusal to obey its lawful summons, but such imprisonment must not extend beyond the final adjournment of the session.

The sheriffs in the several counties or a duly constituted agent of a Florida legislative committee 18 years of age or older shall make such service and execute all process or orders when required by such committees. Sheriffs shall be paid as provided for in s. 30.231.

Whoever willfully affirms or swears falsely in regard to any material matter or thing before any such committee is guilty of false swearing, which constitutes a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

If a witness fails to respond to the lawful subpoena of any such committee at a time when the Legislature is not in session or, having responded, fails to answer all lawful inquiries or to turn over evidence that has been subpoenaed, such committee may file a complaint before any circuit court of the state setting up such failure on the part of the witness. On the filing of such complaint, the court shall take jurisdiction of the witness and the subject matter of the complaint and shall direct the witness to respond to all lawful questions and to produce all documentary evidence in the possession of the witness which is lawfully demanded. The failure of a witness to comply with such order of the court constitutes a direct and criminal contempt of court, and the court shall punish the witness accordingly.

Statutes relating to, for, or concerning only one or more counties or parts thereof, except in cases where the subject matter of the statute relates to the creation or jurisdiction of state or county courts.

Statutes relating to, for, or concerning and operative in only a portion of the state, except in cases where the subject matter of the statute relates to the creation or jurisdiction of state or county courts.

Statutes relating to, for, or concerning only a certain municipal corporation.

Statutes relating to, for or concerning only one or more designated individuals or corporations.

Statutes incorporating a designated individual corporation or making a grant thereto.

Road designation laws.

The Florida Statutes, as adopted and enacted, together with the laws of a general nature enacted at any current session of the Legislature and directed to be embodied in said edition.

The Florida Constitution.

Complete indexes of all the material in the statutes.

Such other matters, notes, data, and other material as may be deemed necessary or admissible by the Division of Statutory Revision of the Office of Legislative Services for reference, convenience, or interpretation.

All amendments made to any section or chapter, or any part thereof, of the Florida Statutes or session laws of this state by any current session of the Legislature, whenever such amendments in express terms refer to sections or chapters of said statutes or session laws, shall be incorporated with the body of the text of the Florida Statutes.

All sections, chapters, or titles of the Florida Statutes or session laws of this state which are expressly repealed by any current session of the Legislature shall be omitted.

All laws of a general and permanent nature which are of general application throughout the state enacted by any current session of the Legislature shall be compiled and included, assigning thereto in all appropriate places such chapter and section identification, by the decimal system of numbering heretofore embodied in the Florida Statutes, as is appropriate and proper, but all chapters and sections so compiled shall be indicated with a history note, clearly showing that said section or chapter was not a part of the revision at the time of its adoption and giving the proper legislative session law chapter and section number. The matter included under the authority of this subsection shall be incorporated as enacted in any current session and shall be prima facie evidence of such law in all courts of the state.

Any two or more sections, chapters, or laws, or parts thereof, may be consolidated.

Any section, chapter, or law, or part thereof, may be transferred from one location to another.

The form or arrangement of any section, chapter, or law, or part thereof, may be altered or changed by transferring, combining, or dividing the same.

Subsections, sections, chapters, and titles may be renumbered and reference thereto may be changed to agree with such renumbering.

Grammatical, typographical, and like errors may be corrected and additions, alterations, and omissions, not affecting the construction or meaning of the statutes or laws, may be freely made.

All statutes and laws, or parts thereof, which have expired, become obsolete, been held invalid by a court of last resort, have had their effect or have served their purpose, or which have been repealed or superseded, either expressly or by implication, shall be omitted through the process of reviser’s bills duly enacted by the Legislature.

All statutes and laws general in form but of such local or limited application as to make their inclusion in the Florida Statutes or any revision or supplement thereof impracticable, undesirable, or unnecessary shall be omitted therefrom, without effecting a repeal thereof.

All things relating to form, position, order, or arrangement of the revision, not inconsistent with the Florida Statutes system, which may be found desirable or necessary for the improvement, betterment, or perfection of same, may be done.

Any statutes for or concerning only a certain county or certain designated counties.

Any statute for, or concerning or operative in only a portion of the state.

Any statute for or concerning only a certain municipal corporation.

Any statute for or concerning only a designated individual corporation or corporations.

Any statute incorporating a designated individual corporation, or making a grant thereto.

Any statute of such limited or local application as makes its inclusion in a general statute impracticable or undesirable.

Road designation laws.

Severability section in any law.

Any act of the Legislature declaring a trust fund to be exempt from termination pursuant to s. 19(f), Art. III of the State Constitution.

May take under investigation any matter within the scope of an audit, review, or examination either completed or then being conducted by the Auditor General or the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, and, in connection with such investigation, may exercise the powers of subpoena by law vested in a standing committee of the Legislature.

Shall provide oversight and management of the website developed pursuant to s. 215.985.

In the case of a local governmental entity or district school board, direct the Department of Revenue and the Department of Financial Services to withhold any funds not pledged for bond debt service satisfaction which are payable to such entity until the entity complies with the law. The committee shall specify the date such action shall begin, and the directive must be received by the Department of Revenue and the Department of Financial Services 30 days before the date of the distribution mandated by law. The Department of Revenue and the Department of Financial Services may implement the provisions of this paragraph.

In the case of a special district, notify the Department of Community Affairs that the special district has failed to comply with the law. Upon receipt of notification, the Department of Community Affairs shall proceed pursuant to the provisions specified in s. 189.421.

In the case of a charter school or charter technical career center, notify the appropriate sponsoring entity, which may terminate the charter pursuant to ss. 1002.33 and 1002.34.

As used in this subsection, “independent contract auditor” means a state-licensed certified public accountant or firm with which a state-licensed certified public accountant is currently employed or associated who is actively engaged in the accounting profession.

Audits specified in this subsection cover the quarterly compensation reports for the previous calendar year for a random sample of 3 percent of all legislative branch lobbying firms and a random sample of 3 percent of all executive branch lobbying firms calculated using as the total number of such lobbying firms those filing a compensation report for the preceding calendar year. The committee shall provide for a system of random selection of the lobbying firms to be audited.

The committee shall create and maintain a list of not less than 10 independent contract auditors approved to conduct the required audits. Each lobbying firm selected for audit in the random audit process may designate one of the independent contract auditors from the committee’s approved list. Upon failure for any reason of a lobbying firm selected in the random selection process to designate an independent contract auditor from the committee’s list within 30 calendar days after being notified by the committee of its selection, the committee shall assign one of the available independent contract auditors from the approved list to perform the required audit. No independent contract auditor, whether designated by the lobbying firm or by the committee, may perform the audit of a lobbying firm where the auditor and lobbying firm have ever had a direct personal relationship or any professional accounting, auditing, tax advisory, or tax preparing relationship with each other. The committee shall obtain a written, sworn certification subject to s. 837.06, both from the randomly selected lobbying firm and from the proposed independent contract auditor, that no such relationship has ever existed.

Each independent contract auditor shall be engaged by and compensated solely by the state for the work performed in accomplishing an audit under this subsection.

Any violations of law, deficiencies, or material misstatements discovered and noted in an audit report shall be clearly identified in the audit report and be determined under the rules of either house of the Legislature or under the joint rules, as applicable.

If any lobbying firm fails to give full, frank, and prompt cooperation and access to books, records, and associated backup documents as requested in writing by the auditor, that failure shall be clearly noted by the independent contract auditor in the report of audit.

The committee shall establish procedures for the selection of independent contract auditors desiring to enter into audit contracts pursuant to this subsection. Such procedures shall include, but not be limited to, a rating system that takes into account pertinent information, including the independent contract auditor’s fee proposals for participating in the process. All contracts under this subsection between an independent contract auditor and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate shall be terminable by either party at any time upon written notice to the other, and such contracts may contain such other terms and conditions as the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate deem appropriate under the circumstances.

The committee shall adopt guidelines that govern random audits and field investigations conducted pursuant to this subsection. The guidelines shall ensure that similarly situated compensation reports are audited in a uniform manner. The guidelines shall also be formulated to encourage compliance and detect violations of the legislative and executive lobbying compensation reporting requirements in ss. 11.045 and 112.3215 and to ensure that each audit is conducted with maximum efficiency in a cost-effective manner. In adopting the guidelines, the committee shall consider relevant guidelines and standards of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants to the extent that such guidelines and standards are applicable and consistent with the purposes set forth in this subsection.

All audit reports of legislative lobbying firms shall, upon completion by an independent contract auditor, be delivered to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives for their respective review and handling. All audit reports of executive branch lobbyists, upon completion by an independent contract auditor, shall be delivered by the auditor to the Commission on Ethics.

To carry out her or his duties the Auditor General shall make all spending decisions within the annual operating budget approved by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The Auditor General shall employ qualified persons necessary for the efficient operation of the Auditor General’s office and shall fix their duties and compensation and, with the approval of the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, shall adopt and administer a uniform personnel, job classification, and pay plan for such employees.

No person shall be employed as a financial auditor who does not possess the qualifications to take the examination for a certificate as certified public accountant under the laws of this state, and no person shall be employed or retained as legal adviser, on either a full-time or a part-time basis, who is not a member of The Florida Bar.

The headquarters of the Auditor General shall be at the state capital, but to facilitate auditing and to eliminate unnecessary traveling the Auditor General may establish field offices located outside the state capital. The Auditor General shall be provided with adequate quarters to carry out the position’s functions in the state capital and in other areas of the state.

All payrolls and vouchers for the operations of the Auditor General’s office shall be submitted to the Chief Financial Officer and, if found to be correct, payments shall be issued therefor.

“Audit” means a financial audit, operational audit, or performance audit.

“County agency” means a board of county commissioners or other legislative and governing body of a county, however styled, including that of a consolidated or metropolitan government, a clerk of the circuit court, a separate or ex officio clerk of the county court, a sheriff, a property appraiser, a tax collector, a supervisor of elections, or any other officer in whom any portion of the fiscal duties of the above are under law separately placed.

“Financial audit” means an examination of financial statements in order to express an opinion on the fairness with which they are presented in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and an examination to determine whether operations are properly conducted in accordance with legal and regulatory requirements. Financial audits must be conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and government auditing standards as adopted by the Board of Accountancy.

“Governmental entity” means a state agency, a county agency, or any other entity, however styled, that independently exercises any type of state or local governmental function.

“Local governmental entity” means a county agency, municipality, or special district as defined in s. 189.403, but does not include any housing authority established under chapter 421.

“Management letter” means a statement of the auditor’s comments and recommendations.

“Operational audit” means a financial-related audit whose purpose is to evaluate management’s performance in administering assigned responsibilities in accordance with applicable laws, administrative rules, and other guidelines and to determine the extent to which the internal control, as designed and placed in operation, promotes and encourages the achievement of management’s control objectives in the categories of compliance, economic and efficient operations, reliability of financial records and reports, and safeguarding of assets.

“Performance audit” means an examination of a program, activity, or function of a governmental entity, conducted in accordance with applicable government auditing standards or auditing and evaluation standards of other appropriate authoritative bodies. The term includes an examination of issues related to:

“Political subdivision” means a separate agency or unit of local government created or established by law and includes, but is not limited to, the following and the officers thereof: authority, board, branch, bureau, city, commission, consolidated government, county, department, district, institution, metropolitan government, municipality, office, officer, public corporation, town, or village.

“State agency” means a separate agency or unit of state government created or established by law and includes, but is not limited to, the following and the officers thereof: authority, board, branch, bureau, commission, department, division, institution, office, officer, or public corporation, as the case may be, except any such agency or unit within the legislative branch of state government other than the Florida Public Service Commission.

Conduct audits of records and perform related duties as prescribed by law, concurrent resolution of the Legislature, or as directed by the Legislative Auditing Committee.

Annually conduct a financial audit of state government.

Annually conduct financial audits of all universities and district boards of trustees of community colleges.

Annually conduct financial audits of the accounts and records of all district school boards in counties with populations of fewer than 150,000, according to the most recent federal decennial statewide census.

Through fiscal year 2008-2009, annually conduct an audit of the Wireless Emergency Telephone System Fund as described in s. 365.173.

Annually conduct audits of the accounts and records of the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind.

At least every 2 years, conduct operational audits of the accounts and records of state agencies and universities. In connection with these audits, the Auditor General shall give appropriate consideration to reports issued by state agencies’ inspectors general or universities’ inspectors general and the resolution of findings therein.

At least every 2 years, conduct a performance audit of the local government financial reporting system, which, for the purpose of this chapter, means any statutory provisions related to local government financial reporting. The purpose of such an audit is to determine the accuracy, efficiency, and effectiveness of the reporting system in achieving its goals and to make recommendations to the local governments, the Governor, and the Legislature as to how the reporting system can be improved and how program costs can be reduced. The Auditor General shall determine the scope of such audits. The local government financial reporting system should provide for the timely, accurate, uniform, and cost-effective accumulation of financial and other information that can be used by the members of the Legislature and other appropriate officials to accomplish the following goals:

Once every 3 years, conduct performance audits of the Department of Revenue’s administration of the ad valorem tax laws as described in s. 195.096.

Once every 3 years, conduct financial audits of the accounts and records of all district school boards in counties with populations of 125,000 or more, according to the most recent federal decennial statewide census.

Once every 3 years, review a sample of each state agency’s internal audit reports to determine compliance with current Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing or, if appropriate, government auditing standards.

Conduct audits of local governmental entities when determined to be necessary by the Auditor General, when directed by the Legislative Auditing Committee, or when otherwise required by law. No later than 18 months after the release of the audit report, the Auditor General shall perform such appropriate followup procedures as he or she deems necessary to determine the audited entity’s progress in addressing the findings and recommendations contained within the Auditor General’s previous report. The Auditor General shall provide a copy of his or her determination to each member of the audited entity’s governing body and to the Legislative Auditing Committee.

The accounts and records of any governmental entity created or established by law.

The information technology programs, activities, functions, or systems of any governmental entity created or established by law.

The accounts and records of any charter school created or established by law.

The accounts and records of any direct-support organization or citizen support organization created or established by law. The Auditor General is authorized to require and receive any records from the direct-support organization or citizen support organization, or from its independent auditor.

The public records associated with any appropriation made by the Legislature to a nongovernmental agency, corporation, or person. All records of a nongovernmental agency, corporation, or person with respect to the receipt and expenditure of such an appropriation shall be public records and shall be treated in the same manner as other public records are under general law.

State financial assistance provided to any nonstate entity as defined by s. 215.97.

The Tobacco Settlement Financing Corporation created pursuant to s. 215.56005.

Any purchases of federal surplus lands for use as sites for correctional facilities as described in s. 253.037.

Enterprise Florida, Inc., including any of its boards, advisory committees, or similar groups created by Enterprise Florida, Inc., and programs. The audit report may not reveal the identity of any person who has anonymously made a donation to Enterprise Florida, Inc., pursuant to this paragraph. The identity of a donor or prospective donor to Enterprise Florida, Inc., who desires to remain anonymous and all information identifying such donor or prospective donor are confidential and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution. Such anonymity shall be maintained in the auditor’s report.

The Florida Development Finance Corporation or the capital development board or the programs or entities created by the board. The audit or report may not reveal the identity of any person who has anonymously made a donation to the board pursuant to this paragraph. The identity of a donor or prospective donor to the board who desires to remain anonymous and all information identifying such donor or prospective donor are confidential and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution. Such anonymity shall be maintained in the auditor’s report.

The records pertaining to the use of funds from voluntary contributions on a motor vehicle registration application or on a driver’s license application authorized pursuant to ss. 320.023 and 322.081.

The records pertaining to the use of funds from the sale of specialty license plates described in chapter 320.

The transportation corporations under contract with the Department of Transportation that are acting on behalf of the state to secure and obtain rights-of-way for urgently needed transportation systems and to assist in the planning and design of such systems pursuant to ss. 339.401-339.421.

The acquisitions and divestitures related to the Florida Communities Trust Program created pursuant to chapter 380.

The Florida Water Pollution Control Financing Corporation created pursuant to s. 403.1837.

The school readiness system, including the early learning coalitions, created under s. 411.01.

The Florida Special Disability Trust Fund Financing Corporation created pursuant to s. 440.49.

Workforce Florida, Inc., or the programs or entities created by Workforce Florida, Inc., created pursuant to s. 445.004.

The corporation defined in s. 455.32 that is under contract with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation to provide administrative, investigative, examination, licensing, and prosecutorial support services in accordance with the provisions of s. 455.32 and the practice act of the relevant profession.

The Florida Engineers Management Corporation created pursuant to chapter 471.

The Investment Fraud Restoration Financing Corporation created pursuant to chapter 517.

The books and records of any permitholder that conducts race meetings or jai alai exhibitions under chapter 550.

The corporation defined in part II of chapter 946, known as the Prison Rehabilitative Industries and Diversified Enterprises, Inc., or PRIDE Enterprises.

The Florida Virtual School pursuant to s. 1002.37.

Each financial audit required or authorized by this section, when practicable, shall be made and completed within not more than 9 months following the end of each audited fiscal year of the state agency or political subdivision, or at such lesser time which may be provided by law or concurrent resolution or directed by the Legislative Auditing Committee. When the Auditor General determines that conducting any audit or engagement otherwise required by law would not be possible due to workload or would not be an efficient or effective use of his or her resources based on an assessment of risk, then, in his or her discretion, the Auditor General may temporarily or indefinitely postpone such audits or other engagements for such period or any portion thereof, unless otherwise directed by the committee.

The Auditor General may, when in his or her judgment it is necessary, designate and direct any auditor employed by the Auditor General to audit any accounts or records within the authority of the Auditor General to audit. The auditor shall report his or her findings for review by the Auditor General, who shall prepare the audit report.

The audit report when final shall be a public record. The audit workpapers and notes are not a public record; however, those workpapers necessary to support the computations in the final audit report may be made available by a majority vote of the Legislative Auditing Committee after a public hearing showing proper cause. The audit workpapers and notes shall be retained by the Auditor General until no longer useful in his or her proper functions, after which time they may be destroyed.

At the conclusion of the audit, the Auditor General or the Auditor General’s designated representative shall discuss the audit with the official whose office is subject to audit and submit to that official a list of the Auditor General’s findings which may be included in the audit report. If the official is not available for receipt of the list of audit findings, then delivery is presumed to be made when it is delivered to his or her office. The official shall submit to the Auditor General or the designated representative, within 30 days after the receipt of the list of findings, his or her written statement of explanation or rebuttal concerning all of the findings, including corrective action to be taken to preclude a recurrence of all findings.

The Auditor General shall provide the successor independent certified public accountant of a district school board with access to the prior year’s working papers in accordance with the Statements on Auditing Standards, including documentation of planning, internal control, audit results, and other matters of continuing accounting and auditing significance, such as the working paper analysis of balance sheet accounts and those relating to contingencies.

The Legislative Auditing Committee shall direct the Auditor General to make an audit of any municipality whenever petitioned to do so by at least 20 percent of the registered electors in the last general election of that municipality pursuant to this subsection. The supervisor of elections of the county in which the municipality is located shall certify whether or not the petition contains the signatures of at least 20 percent of the registered electors of the municipality. After the completion of the audit, the Auditor General shall determine whether the municipality has the fiscal resources necessary to pay the cost of the audit. The municipality shall pay the cost of the audit within 90 days after the Auditor General’s determination that the municipality has the available resources. If the municipality fails to pay the cost of the audit, the Department of Revenue shall, upon certification of the Auditor General, withhold from that portion of the distribution pursuant to s. 212.20(6)(d)5. which is distributable to such municipality, a sum sufficient to pay the cost of the audit and shall deposit that sum into the General Revenue Fund of the state.

At least one registered elector in the most recent general election must file a letter of intent with the municipal clerk prior to any petition of the electors of that municipality for the purpose of an audit. Each petition must be submitted to the supervisor of elections and contain, at a minimum:

All petitions must be submitted for verification within 1 calendar year after the audit petition origination by the municipal electors.

The Auditor General shall notify the Legislative Auditing Committee of any local governmental entity, district school board, charter school, or charter technical career center that does not comply with the reporting requirements of s. 218.39. The committee shall proceed in accordance with s. 11.40(5).

The Auditor General, in consultation with the Board of Accountancy, shall review all audit reports submitted pursuant to s. 218.39. The Auditor General shall request any significant items that were omitted in violation of a rule adopted by the Auditor General. The items must be provided within 45 days after the date of the request. If the governmental entity does not comply with the Auditor General’s request, the Auditor General shall notify the Legislative Auditing Committee. The committee shall proceed in accordance with s. 11.40(5).

The Auditor General shall provide annually a list of those special districts which are not in compliance with s. 218.39 to the Special District Information Program of the Department of Community Affairs.

During the Auditor General’s review of audit reports, he or she shall contact those units of local government, as defined in s. 218.403, that are not in compliance with s. 218.415 and request evidence of corrective action. The unit of local government shall provide the Auditor General with evidence of corrective action within 45 days after the date it is requested by the Auditor General. If the unit of local government fails to comply with the Auditor General’s request, the Auditor General shall notify the Legislative Auditing Committee. The committee shall proceed in accordance with s. 11.40(5).

The Auditor General shall notify the Governor or the Commissioner of Education, as appropriate, and the Legislative Auditing Committee of any audit report reviewed by the Auditor General pursuant to paragraph (b) which contains a statement that a local governmental entity, charter school, charter technical career center, or district school board has met one or more of the conditions specified in s. 218.503. If the Auditor General requests a clarification regarding information included in an audit report to determine whether a local governmental entity, charter school, charter technical career center, or district school board has met one or more of the conditions specified in s. 218.503, the requested clarification must be provided within 45 days after the date of the request. If the local governmental entity, charter school, charter technical career center, or district school board does not comply with the Auditor General’s request, the Auditor General shall notify the Legislative Auditing Committee. If, after obtaining the requested clarification, the Auditor General determines that the local governmental entity, charter school, charter technical career center, or district school board has met one or more of the conditions specified in s. 218.503, he or she shall notify the Governor or the Commissioner of Education, as appropriate, and the Legislative Auditing Committee.

The Auditor General shall annually compile and transmit to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Legislative Auditing Committee a summary of significant findings and financial trends identified in audit reports reviewed in paragraph (b) or otherwise identified by the Auditor General’s review of such audit reports and financial information, and identified in audits of district school boards conducted by the Auditor General. The Auditor General shall include financial information provided pursuant to s. 218.32(1)(e) for entities with fiscal years ending on or after June 30, 2003, within his or her reports submitted pursuant to this paragraph.

If the Auditor General discovers significant errors, improper practices, or other significant discrepancies in connection with his or her audits of a state agency or state officer, the Auditor General shall notify the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Legislative Auditing Committee. The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall promptly forward a copy of the notification to the chairs of the respective legislative committees, which in the judgment of the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives are substantially concerned with the functions of the state agency or state officer involved. Thereafter, and in no event later than the 10th day of the next succeeding legislative session, the person in charge of the state agency involved, or the state officer involved, as the case may be, shall explain in writing to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and to the Legislative Auditing Committee the reasons or justifications for such errors, improper practices, or other significant discrepancies and the corrective measures, if any, taken by the agency.

The Auditor General shall transmit to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Legislative Auditing Committee by December 1 of each year a list of statutory and fiscal changes recommended by the Auditor General. The Auditor General may also transmit recommendations at other times of the year when the information would be timely and useful for the Legislature.

The Department of Education in the development of a compliance supplement for the financial audit of a district school board conducted by an independent certified public accountant.

Governmental entities on their financial and accounting systems, procedures, and related matters.

Governmental entities on promoting the building of competent and efficient accounting and internal audit organizations in their offices.

The Legislative Auditing Committee shall appoint a director of the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability by majority vote of the committee, subject to confirmation by a majority vote of the Senate and the House of Representatives. At the time of appointment, the director must have had 10 years’ experience in policy analysis and program evaluation. The reappointment of a director is subject to confirmation by a majority vote of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Legislative Auditing Committee may appoint an interim director.

The appointment of the director may be terminated at any time by a majority vote of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The director shall take and subscribe to the oath of office required of state officers by the State Constitution.

Until such time as each house confirms the appointment of the director, the appointee shall perform the functions as provided by law.

The director shall make all spending decisions under the annual operating budget approved by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The director shall employ and set the compensation of such professional, technical, legal, and clerical staff as may be necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, in accordance with the joint policies and procedures of the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and may remove these personnel. The staff must be chosen to provide a broad background of experience and expertise and, to the maximum extent possible, to represent a range of disciplines that includes law, engineering, public administration, environmental science, policy analysis, economics, sociology, and philosophy.

An officer or full-time employee of the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability may not serve as the representative of any political party or on any executive committee or other governing body thereof; receive remuneration for activities on behalf of any candidate for public office; or engage, on behalf of any candidate for public office, in the solicitation of votes or other activities in behalf of such candidacy. Neither the director of the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability nor any employee of that office may become a candidate for election to public office unless he or she first resigns from office or employment.

The identifiable cost of each program.

The specific purpose of each program, as well as the specific public benefit derived therefrom.

Progress toward achieving the outputs and outcomes associated with each program.

An explanation of circumstances contributing to the state agency’s ability to achieve, not achieve, or exceed its projected outputs and outcomes, as defined in s. 216.011, associated with each program.

Alternate courses of action that would result in administration of the same program in a more efficient or effective manner. The courses of action to be considered must include, but are not limited to:

The consequences of discontinuing such program. If any discontinuation is recommended, such recommendation must be accompanied by a description of alternatives to implement such recommendation, including an implementation schedule for discontinuation and recommended procedures for assisting state agency employees affected by the discontinuation.

Determination as to public policy, which may include recommendations as to whether it would be sound public policy to continue or discontinue funding the program, either in whole or in part, in the existing manner.

Whether current performance measures and standards should be reviewed or amended to assist agencies’ and the judicial branch’s efforts in achieving outputs and outcome measures.

Whether the information reported as part of the state’s performance-based program budgeting system has relevance and utility for the evaluation of each program.

Whether state agency management has established control systems sufficient to ensure that performance data are maintained and supported by state agency records and accurately presented in state agency performance reports.

Maintain a continuous review of the statutory authority on which each administrative rule is based and, whenever such authority is eliminated or significantly changed by repeal, amendment, holding by a court of last resort, or other factor, advise the agency concerned of the fact.

Maintain a continuous review of administrative rules and identify and request an agency to repeal any rule or any provision of any rule which reiterates or paraphrases any statute or for which the statutory authority has been repealed.

Review administrative rules and advise the agencies concerned of its findings.

Have the duties prescribed by chapter 120 concerning the adoption and promulgation of rules.

Generally review agency action pursuant to the operation of the Administrative Procedure Act.

Report to the Legislature at least annually, no later than the first week of the regular session, and recommend needed legislation or other appropriate action. Such report shall include the number of objections voted by the committee, the number of suspensions recommended by the committee, the number of administrative determinations filed on the invalidity of a proposed or existing rule, the number of petitions for judicial review filed on the invalidity of a proposed or existing rule, and the outcomes of such actions.

Consult regularly with legislative standing committees which have jurisdiction over the subject areas addressed in agency proposed rules regarding legislative authority for the proposed rules and other matters relating to legislative authority for agency action.

Adopt rules and regulations necessary for its own organization and operation and for that of its staff, consistent with general law and the rules of each house.

Appoint an executive director and general counsel, by majority vote of the members of the committee, and fill any vacancy in that office in the same manner.

Have general administrative responsibility for the operations of its staff.

Have standing to seek judicial review, on behalf of the Legislature or the citizens of this state, of the validity or invalidity of any administrative rule to which the committee has voted an objection and which has not been withdrawn, modified, repealed, or amended to meet the objection. Judicial review under this paragraph shall not be initiated until the Governor and the agency head of the agency making the rule to which the committee has objected have been notified of the committee’s proposed action and have been given a reasonable opportunity, not to exceed 60 days, for consultation with the committee. The committee is authorized to expend public funds from its appropriation for the purpose of seeking judicial review.

Maintain a continuous review of the administrative rulemaking process, including a review of agency procedure and of complaints based on such agency procedure.

Establish measurement criteria to evaluate whether agencies are complying with the delegation of legislative authority in adopting and implementing rules.

That no profession or occupation be subject to regulation by the state unless the regulation is necessary to protect the public health, safety, or welfare from significant and discernible harm or damage and that the police power of the state be exercised only to the extent necessary for that purpose; and

That no profession or occupation be regulated by the state in a manner that unnecessarily restricts entry into the practice of the profession or occupation or adversely affects the availability of the professional or occupational services to the public.

Whether the unregulated practice of the profession or occupation will substantially harm or endanger the public health, safety, or welfare, and whether the potential for harm is recognizable and not remote;

Whether the practice of the profession or occupation requires specialized skill or training, and whether that skill or training is readily measurable or quantifiable so that examination or training requirements would reasonably assure initial and continuing professional or occupational ability;

Whether the regulation will have an unreasonable effect on job creation or job retention in the state or will place unreasonable restrictions on the ability of individuals who seek to practice or who are practicing a given profession or occupation to find employment;

Whether the public is or can be effectively protected by other means; and

Whether the overall cost-effectiveness and economic impact of the proposed regulation, including the indirect costs to consumers, will be favorable.

The number of individuals or businesses that would be subject to the regulation;

The name of each association that represents members of the profession or occupation, together with a copy of its codes of ethics or conduct;

Documentation of the nature and extent of the harm to the public caused by the unregulated practice of the profession or occupation, including a description of any complaints that have been lodged against persons who have practiced the profession or occupation in this state during the preceding 3 years;

A list of states that regulate the profession or occupation, and the dates of enactment of each law providing for such regulation and a copy of each law;

A list and description of state and federal laws that have been enacted to protect the public with respect to the profession or occupation and a statement of the reasons why these laws have not proven adequate to protect the public;

A description of the voluntary efforts made by members of the profession or occupation to protect the public and a statement of the reasons why these efforts are not adequate to protect the public;

A copy of any federal legislation mandating regulation;

An explanation of the reasons why other types of less restrictive regulation would not effectively protect the public;

The cost, availability, and appropriateness of training and examination requirements;

The cost of regulation, including the indirect cost to consumers, and the method proposed to finance the regulation;

The cost imposed on applicants or practitioners or on employers of applicants or practitioners as a result of the regulation;

The details of any previous efforts in this state to implement regulation of the profession or occupation; and

Any other information the agency or the committee considers relevant to the analysis of the proposed legislation.

The departmental resources necessary to implement and enforce the proposed regulation;

The technical sufficiency of the proposal for regulation, including its consistency with the regulation of other professions and occupations under existing law; and

If applicable, any alternatives to the proposed regulation which may result in a less restrictive or more cost-effective regulatory scheme.

Whether the regulation is justified based on the criteria specified in subsection (3), the information submitted pursuant to request under subsection (4), and the information provided under subsection (5);

The least restrictive and most cost-effective regulatory scheme that will adequately protect the public; and

The technical sufficiency of the proposed legislation, including its consistency with the regulation of other professions and occupations under existing law.

The Legislature finds and declares that there is a need for an official body to:

It is the purpose of this section to improve coordination and cooperation among state government and local governments, other states, and the Federal Government through the establishment of a Florida Legislative Committee on Intergovernmental Relations.

Eight legislative members, to include four members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate and four members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The terms of the legislative members are for 2 years and must run from the organization of one Legislature to the organization of the next Legislature.

Seven members appointed by the Governor from elected and appointed state and local officials and other interested citizens. The terms of the gubernatorial appointments are for 2 years and must run from general election to general election. The Governor shall make appointments within 20 days after each general election, and the members may be reappointed. The committee may make recommendations to the Governor regarding appointments.

Each member of the committee who is a public officer shall perform the duties of a member of the committee as additional duties required of the member in his or her other official capacity.

The chair and vice chair must be legislators appointed for 1-year terms, with the appointments alternating between the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The chair and vice chair may not be members of the same house of the Legislature. If both the chair and vice chair are absent at any meeting, the voting members present shall elect a temporary chair by a majority vote.

If a representative of the counties or of the municipalities or a legislator ceases to be an officer or member of the unit he or she is appointed to represent, his or her membership on the committee must terminate immediately, and there will be a vacancy in the membership. Within 30 days, such vacancy shall be filled in the manner of the regular appointment, and the person so appointed shall serve only to the end of the unexpired term and until his or her successor is appointed and qualified.

The presiding officers of the Legislature should be guided in their appointments by consideration of the legislators’ expertise, interest, and experience, including legislative committee service in the field of intergovernmental relations.

Eight of the members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.

Serve as a forum for the discussion and study of intergovernmental problems.

To the extent not otherwise provided by law, evaluate on a continuous basis the interrelationships among local, regional, state, interstate, and federal agencies in the provision of public services in Florida and, as appropriate, prepare studies and recommendations to improve organizational structure, operational efficiency, allocation of functional responsibilities, delivery of services, and related matters.

Analyze the structure, functions, revenue requirements, and fiscal policies of the state and its political subdivisions; conduct studies of economic, administrative, tax, and revenue matters for all levels of state government; and make recommendations for improvement.

Examine proposed and existing federal and state programs, assess their impact upon this state and its political subdivisions, and provide such assessments and recommendations, when appropriate, to the Legislature, the Governor, the Florida Congressional Delegation, or any other group, public or private, whose activities affect intergovernmental relations.

Encourage and, when appropriate, coordinate studies relating to intergovernmental relations conducted by universities; state, local, and federal agencies; and research and consulting organizations.

Review the recommendations of national commissions studying federal, state, and local government relationships and problems and assess their possible application to this state.

Issue annual reports of its findings and recommendations to be transmitted to the Governor and the presiding officer of each house of the Legislature not less than 60 days before the convening of each regular session of the Legislature. The reports must set forth the reasons and supporting data for each recommendation and must include draft legislation to implement the recommendations. Recommendations regarding economic and taxation issues must be accompanied by supportive analyses of economic data. The committee may issue special or interim reports on specific subjects.

The committee may apply for, contract for, receive, and expend for its purposes any appropriations or grants from the state or its political subdivisions, the Federal Government, or any other source, public or private.

As soon as practicable after the enactment or adoption of any new state program or increase in the level of services rendered in an existing program, which action substantially increases the expenditures of or reduces the revenue or revenue-producing ability of counties or municipalities, the committee shall analyze the action. The committee shall send its analysis and report thereon to the Governor and presiding officers of the Legislature no later than 30 days before the convening of the next regular legislative session. Each analysis must include the committee’s recommendation and its identification of new sources of revenue required to fund the increased cost of, or to offset the revenue loss incurred because of, the action.

The committee shall consult with the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives in determining its priorities, and shall provide the standing committees of the Legislature assistance concerning intergovernmental issues.

The committee shall hold meetings at least semiannually at the call of the chair and may meet at other times as necessary. The committee may hold hearings on matters within its purview which are in the public interest. All meetings and hearings must be open to the public and must be conducted in accordance with s. 24(b), Art. I of the State Constitution.

Each officer, board, commission, council, department, or agency of state government and each political subdivision of the state shall, when not inconsistent with any law, rule, or regulation regarding confidentiality, make available all facts, records, information, and data requested by the committee and in all ways cooperate with the committee in carrying out the functions and duties imposed by this section.

The committee may establish advisory committees, the membership of which may or may not be made up, in whole, from members of the committee.

The committee shall adopt rules necessary for its own organization and operation and for that of its staff, consistent with general law and the rules of each house.

The committee shall employ and set the compensation of an executive director, who shall serve at its pleasure. Within available funds, the executive director may employ and set the compensation of professional, technical, legal, or clerical staff as may be necessary, and may remove these personnel. The executive director, with the consent of the committee, may acquire the services of consultants and enter into contracts on behalf of the committee.

The staff of the committee shall be governed by the same rules as are the personnel of the Legislature and shall receive the same rights and benefits accruing to legislative personnel. The committee staff shall be members of the Florida Retirement System, and the committee shall make employer contributions for this purpose.

Upon request of the committee, the Office of Legislative Services is directed to provide office space and equipment as the committee deems necessary.

A member of the committee is not entitled to a salary for duties performed as a member of the committee, except that the members are entitled to reimbursement for per diem and travel expenses in accordance with s. 112.061.

Political subdivisions of the state may appropriate funds to the committee to share in the cost of operations.

Any requests by the Legislature for the performance of specific functions or studies requiring additional staff or expenses beyond the basic annual appropriations must be accompanied by funds for such purposes.

The funding of the committee will be part of the continuing legislative appropriation.

Progress on the Everglades Construction Project.

Changes to the Everglades Construction Project.

Actual revenues, compared to projected revenues.

Projected acquisition costs, construction costs, operation and maintenance costs, and projected revenues, over the succeeding 5 years.

Review and approve or disapprove budget amendments recommended by the Governor or the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court as provided in chapter 216.

Develop the long-range financial outlook described in s. 19, Art. III of the State Constitution.

The Legislative Sunset Committee established under this subsection shall be a joint committee composed of 10 members: five members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate and five members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The presiding officer of each house shall appoint a chair who shall serve as co-chair of the joint committee established under this subsection. Each co-chair shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing presiding officer for a term of 2 years or until the next general election.

Statutorily created responsibilities of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Department of Citrus, including the Citrus Commission.

Department of Environmental Protection.

Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

Water management districts.

Department of Children and Family Services.

Department of Community Affairs.

Department of Management Services.

Department of State.

Advisory committees for the Florida Community College System.

Advisory committees for the State University System.

Agency for Workforce Innovation.

Department of Education.

Department of the Lottery.

Agency for Health Care Administration.

Agency for Persons with Disabilities.

Department of Elderly Affairs.

Department of Health.

Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

Department of Transportation.

Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Advisory committees for the State Board of Administration.

Department of Financial Services, including the Financial Services Commission.

Department of Revenue.

Department of Corrections.

Department of Juvenile Justice.

Department of Law Enforcement.

Department of Legal Affairs.

Justice Administrative Commission.

Parole Commission.

Executive Office of the Governor.

Florida Public Service Commission.

Make recommendations on the abolition, continuation, or reorganization of each state agency and its advisory committees and on the need for the performance of the functions of the agency and its advisory committees.

Make recommendations on the consolidation, transfer, or reorganization of programs within state agencies not under review when the programs duplicate functions performed in agencies under review.

Propose legislation necessary to carry out the committee’s recommendations under paragraph (a) or paragraph (b).

Make recommendations on the abolition, continuation, or reorganization of each state agency and its advisory committees and on the need for the performance of the functions of the agency and its advisory committees. If the committee recommends continuation or reorganization, the committee shall include in its recommendations the report of the Small Business Regulatory Advisory Council, as provided in s. 288.7001, regarding the rules of each agency.

Make recommendations on the consolidation, transfer, or reorganization of programs within state agencies not under review when the programs duplicate functions performed in agencies under review.

If not otherwise provided by law, property in the custody of an abolished state agency or advisory committee shall be transferred to the Department of Management Services.

If not otherwise provided by law, records in the custody of an abolished state agency or advisory committee shall be transferred to the Department of State.