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2022 Florida Statutes (including 2022C, 2022D, 2022A, and 2023B)
Chapter 11
LEGISLATIVE ORGANIZATION, PROCEDURES, AND STAFFING
LEGISLATIVE ORGANIZATION, PROCEDURES, AND STAFFING
CHAPTER 11
LEGISLATIVE ORGANIZATION, PROCEDURES, AND STAFFING
11.011 Special session; convened by Legislature.
11.02 Notice of special or local legislation or certain relief acts.
11.021 Evidence of publication of notice.
11.03 Proof of publication of notice.
11.031 Official census.
11.0431 Legislative records; intent of legislation; exemption from public disclosure.
11.044 Legislative intent and purpose.
11.045 Lobbying before the Legislature; registration and reporting; exemptions; penalties.
11.0451 Requirements for reinstitution of lobbyist registration after felony conviction.
11.0455 Electronic filing of compensation reports and other information.
11.047 Contingency fees; prohibitions; penalties.
11.061 State, state university, and community college employee lobbyists; registration; recording attendance; penalty; exemptions.
11.062 Use of state funds for lobbying prohibited; penalty.
11.065 Claims against state; limitations; notice.
11.066 Suits seeking monetary damages against the state or its agencies; payment of judgments; appropriations required.
11.07 Method of enrolling bills, etc.
11.111 Continuance of certain causes for term of Legislature and period of time prior and subsequent thereto and committee workdays.
11.12 Salary, subsistence, and mileage of members and employees; expenses authorized by resolution; appropriation; preaudit.
11.13 Compensation of members.
11.131 Monetary supplements prohibited.
11.135 Legislative committees, units, and offices; expenditures.
11.143 Standing or select committees; powers.
11.1465 Services provided to Legislature.
11.147 Office of Legislative Services.
11.151 Annual legislative appropriation to contingency fund for use of Senate President and House Speaker.
11.241 Permanent statutory revision plan created.
11.242 Powers, duties, and functions as to statutory revision.
11.2421 Florida Statutes 2022 adopted.
11.2422 Statutes repealed.
11.2423 Laws or statutes not repealed.
11.2424 Laws not repealed.
11.2425 Rights reserved under repealed statutes.
11.2427 Conflict of laws.
11.243 Publishing Florida Statutes; price, sale.
11.249 Commissioners to the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws.
11.25 Salaries and expenditures not subject to control of executive agencies.
11.26 Legislative employees; employment restrictions.
11.40 Legislative Auditing Committee.
11.42 The Auditor General.
11.45 Definitions; duties; authorities; reports; rules.
11.47 Penalties; failure to make a proper audit or examination; making a false report; failure to produce documents or information.
11.51 Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability.
11.62 Legislative review of proposed regulation of unregulated functions.
11.90 Legislative Budget Commission.
11.9005 Government Efficiency Task Force.
11.93 Short title.
11.931 Applicability.
11.932 Definitions.
11.933 Qualifications of delegates and alternate delegates.
11.9331 Appointment of delegates by Legislature.
11.9332 Appointment by majority vote of each chamber; pairing delegates and alternate delegates.
11.9333 Recall; filling a vacancy; special legislative session.
11.9334 Method of appointment and recall.
11.9335 Reimbursement of per diem and travel expenses.
11.9336 Oath.
11.9337 Filing of oath; issuance of commission.
11.934 Instructions to delegates.
11.9341 Duties of alternate delegates.
11.9342 Vote cast outside the scope of instructions or limits; status of vote.
11.9343 Vote cast outside the scope of instructions or limits; appointment forfeited.
11.9344 Vote cast outside the scope of instructions or limits; status of application.
11.9345 Vote cast outside the scope of instructions; criminal liability.
11.935 Article V convention advisory group.
11.9351 Oversight of delegates with respect to instructions.
11.9352 Advisory determination concerning a vote outside the scope of instructions.
11.011 Special session; convened by Legislature.—
(1) The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, by joint proclamation duly filed with the Department of State, may convene the Legislature in special session pursuant to the authority of s. 3, Art. III of the State Constitution.
(2) The Legislature may also be convened in special session in the following manner: When 20 percent of the members of the Legislature shall execute in writing and file with the Department of State their certificates that conditions warrant the convening of the Legislature into special session, the Department of State shall, within 7 days after receiving the requisite number of such certificates, poll the members of the Legislature, and upon the affirmative vote of three-fifths of the members of both houses, shall forthwith fix the day and hour for the convening of such special session. Notice thereof shall be given each member by registered mail within 7 days after receiving the requisite number of said certificates. The time for convening of said session shall not be less than 14 days nor more than 21 days from the date of mailing said notices. In pursuance of said certificates, affirmative vote of the membership, and notice, the Legislature shall convene in special session. Should the Department of State fail to receive the requisite number of said certificates requesting the convening of a special session of the Legislature within a period of 60 days after receipt of the first of said certificates, all certificates previously filed shall be rendered null and void and no special session shall be called, and said certificates shall not be used at any future time for the convening of the Legislature.
(3) During any special session convened pursuant to this section, only such legislative business may be transacted as is within the purview of the purpose or purposes stated in the proclamation, the certificates filed with the Secretary of State, or in a communication from the Governor or as is introduced by consent of two-thirds of the membership of each house.
History.—Former s. 2, Art. III of the Constitution of 1885, as amended; converted to statutory law by s. 10, Art. XII of the Constitution as revised in 1968; s. 6, ch. 69-52; ss. 10, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 1, ch. 96-318.
Note.—Subsection (2) former s. 11.012.
11.02 Notice of special or local legislation or certain relief acts.—The notice required to obtain special or local legislation or any relief act specified in s. 11.065 shall be by publishing the identical notice as provided in chapter 50 or circulated throughout the county or counties where the matter or thing to be affected by such legislation shall be situated one time at least 30 days before introduction of the proposed law into the Legislature or, if the notice is not published on a publicly accessible website as provided in s. 50.0311 and there is no newspaper circulated throughout or published in the county, by posting for at least 30 days at not fewer than three public places in the county or each of the counties, one of which places shall be at the courthouse in the county or counties where the matter or thing to be affected by such legislation shall be situated. Notice of special or local legislation shall state the substance of the contemplated law, as required by s. 10, Art. III of the State Constitution. Notice of any relief act specified in s. 11.065 shall state the name of the claimant, the nature of the injury or loss for which the claim is made, and the amount of the claim against the affected municipality’s revenue-sharing trust fund.
History.—s. 1, ch. 3708, 1887; RS 66; GS 67; RGS 78; CGL 94; s. 1, ch. 13791, 1929; s. 2, ch. 69-52; s. 5, ch. 69-216; s. 1, ch. 78-302; s. 1, ch. 78-307; s. 2, ch. 96-318; s. 9, ch. 2021-17; s. 9, ch. 2022-103.
11.021 Evidence of publication of notice.—The evidence that such notice has been published shall be established in the Legislature before such bill shall be passed, and such evidence shall be filed or preserved with the bill in the Department of State in such manner as the Legislature shall provide.
History.—Former s. 21, Art. III of the Constitution of 1885, as amended; converted to statutory law by s. 10, Art. XII of the Constitution as revised in 1968; ss. 10, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 3, ch. 96-318.
11.03 Proof of publication of notice.—
(1) Affidavit of proof of publication of such notice of intention to apply therefor, may be made, in substantially the following general form, but such form shall not be exclusive:
STATE OF FLORIDA
COUNTY OF
Before the undersigned authority personally appeared , who on oath does solemnly swear (or affirm) that she or he has knowledge of the matters stated herein; that a notice stating the substance of a contemplated law or proposed bill relating to
(here identify bill)
has been published at least 30 days prior to this date, by being printed in the issues of (here state day, month and year of issue or issues) of the , a newspaper or newspapers published in County or Counties, Florida (or) there being no newspaper, by being posted for at least 30 days prior to this date at three public places in County or Counties, one of which places was at the courthouse of said county or counties, where the matter or thing to be affected by the contemplated law is situated; that a copy of the notice that has been published as aforesaid and also this affidavit of proof of publication are attached to the proposed bill or contemplated law, and such copy of the notice so attached is by reference made a part of this affidavit.
Sworn to (or affirmed) and subscribed before me this day of , (year) , by (name of person making statement) .
(Signature of Notary Public - State of Florida)
(Print, Type, or Stamp Commissioned Name of Notary Public)
Personally Known OR Produced Identification
Type of Identification Produced
(2) Such affidavit of proof of publication shall be attached to the contemplated law when it is introduced into the Legislature. A true copy of the notice published or posted shall also be attached to the bill when introduced, but it shall not be necessary to enter said published or posted notice, or proof thereof, in the journals. The fact that such notice was established in the Legislature shall in every case be recited upon the journals of the Senate and of the House of Representatives, and the notice published and affidavit of publication thereof shall accompany the bill throughout the Legislature and be preserved as a part thereof in the Department of State.
History.—s. 2, ch. 3708, 1887; RS 67; GS 68; RGS 79; CGL 95; s. 1, ch. 13791, 1929; s. 1, ch. 21635, 1943; ss. 10, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 6, ch. 95-147; s. 11, ch. 98-246.
11.031 Official census.—
(1) All acts of the Florida Legislature based upon population and all constitutional apportionments shall be based upon the last federal decennial statewide census.
(2) No special county or district census shall be effective for any purposes other than to ascertain the population for the purpose of interpreting an existing law relating to additional judges of the circuit court and additional county court judges, but no existing population or apportionment act shall be affected by a special census.
(3) The last federal decennial statewide census shall not be effective for the purpose of affecting acts of the Legislature enacted prior thereto which apply only to counties of the state within a stated population bracket until July 1 of the year following the taking of such census.
History.—ss. 1, 2, ch. 57-126; ss. 1, 2, ch. 59-28; s. 1, ch. 59-264; s. 1, ch. 59-410; s. 2, ch. 63-572; s. 3, ch. 73-333.
11.0431 Legislative records; intent of legislation; exemption from public disclosure.—
(1) It is the policy of the Legislature that every person has the right to inspect and copy records of the Senate and the House of Representatives received in connection with the official business of the Legislature as provided for by the constitution of this state. To that end, public records shall be open to personal inspection and copying at reasonable times except when specific public necessity justifies that public records be exempt from such inspection and copying.
(2) The following public records are exempt from inspection and copying:
(a) 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.
(b) 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.
(c) 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.
(d) 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.
(e) 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.
(f) Records prepared for or used in executive sessions of the Senate until 10 years after the date on which the executive session was held.
(g) 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.
(h) 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.
(i) 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.
(3) Any record created prior to July 1, 1993, which was not available to the public from the house, commission, committee, or office of the legislative branch that created the record, is exempt from inspection and copying until July 1, 1993. Prior to July 1, 1993, the presiding officer of each house shall determine which records held by that house should remain exempt from inspection and copying. The presiding officers of both houses shall jointly determine which records held by joint committees should remain exempt from inspection and copying. No later than July 1, 1993, the presiding officers shall publish a list of records that remain exempt from inspection and copying.
(4) For purposes of this section, “public record” means all documents, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, films, sound recordings, or other material, regardless of physical form or characteristics, made or received pursuant to law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction of official business by the legislative branch.
(5) Nothing herein shall be construed to limit the authority of each house of the Legislature to adopt rules pursuant to s. 24, Art. I of the State Constitution.
History.—s. 1, ch. 93-405.
11.044 Legislative intent and purpose.—The Legislature finds that the operation of open and responsible government requires the fullest opportunity to be afforded to the people to petition their government for the redress of grievances and to express freely their opinions on legislative action. Further, the Legislature finds that preservation of the integrity of the governmental decisionmaking process is essential to the continued functioning of an open government. Therefore, in order to preserve and maintain the integrity of the process and to better inform the citizens of the efforts to influence legislative branch action, the Legislature finds it necessary to require the public disclosure of the identity, expenditures, and activities of certain persons who attempt to influence actions of the legislative branch.
History.—s. 1, ch. 93-121.
Note.—Former s. 11.043.
11.045 Lobbying before the Legislature; registration and reporting; exemptions; penalties.—
(1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) “Committee” means the committee of each house charged by the presiding officer with responsibility for ethical conduct of lobbyists.
(b) “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.
(c) “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 does not include:
1. 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 affiliated party committee, 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).
2. A public-legislative use, which is the use of a public facility or public property that is made available by a governmental entity to a legislator for a public purpose, regardless of whether the governmental entity is required to register a person as a lobbyist pursuant to this section.
(d) “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 that may be the subject of action by, either house of the Legislature or any committee thereof.
(e) “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.
(f) “Lobbying firm” means any business entity, including an individual contract lobbyist, which 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.
(g) “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.
(h) “Office” means the Office of Legislative Services.
(i) “Principal” means the person, firm, corporation, or other entity which has employed or retained a lobbyist.
(2) Each house of the Legislature shall provide by rule, or may provide by a joint rule adopted by both houses, for the registration of lobbyists who lobby the Legislature. The rule may provide for the payment of a registration fee. The rule may provide for exemptions from registration or registration fees. The rule shall provide that:
(a) Registration is required for each principal represented.
(b) 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.
(c) A registrant shall promptly send a written statement to the office canceling the registration for a principal upon termination of the lobbyist’s representation of that principal. However, the office 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.
(d) Every registrant shall be required to state the extent of any direct business association or partnership with any current member of the Legislature.
(e) 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.
(f) All registrations shall be open to the public.
(g) Any person who is exempt from registration under the rule shall not be considered a lobbyist for any purpose.
(3) Each house of the Legislature shall provide the following reporting requirements by rule:
(a)1. Each lobbying firm shall file a compensation report with the office for each calendar quarter during any portion of which one or more of the firm’s lobbyists were registered to represent a principal. The report must include the:
a. Full name, business address, and telephone number of the lobbying firm;
b. Name of each of the firm’s lobbyists; and
c. Total compensation provided or owed to the lobbying firm from all principals for the reporting period, reported in one of the following categories: $0; $1 to $49,999; $50,000 to $99,999; $100,000 to $249,999; $250,000 to $499,999; $500,000 to $999,999; $1 million or more.
2. For each principal represented by one or more of the firm’s lobbyists, the lobbying firm’s compensation report must also include the:
a. Full name, business address, and telephone number of the principal; and
b. Total compensation provided or owed to the lobbying firm for the reporting period, reported in one of the following categories: $0; $1 to $9,999; $10,000 to $19,999; $20,000 to $29,999; $30,000 to $39,999; $40,000 to $49,999; or $50,000 or more. If the category “$50,000 or more” is selected, the specific dollar amount of compensation must be reported, rounded up or down to the nearest $1,000.
3. If the lobbying firm subcontracts work from another lobbying firm and not from the original principal:
a. The lobbying firm providing the work to be subcontracted shall be treated as the reporting lobbying firm’s principal for reporting purposes under this paragraph; and
b. The reporting lobbying firm shall, for each lobbying firm identified under subparagraph 2., identify the name and address of the principal originating the lobbying work.
4. The senior partner, officer, or owner of the lobbying firm shall certify to the veracity and completeness of the information submitted pursuant to this paragraph.
(b) For each principal represented by more than one lobbying firm, the office shall aggregate the reporting-period and calendar-year compensation reported as provided or owed by the principal.
(c) 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.
(d) 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 must provide the following:
1. Upon determining that the report is late, the person designated to review the timeliness of reports shall immediately notify the lobbying firm as to the failure to timely file the report and that a fine is being assessed for each late day. The fine shall be $50 per day per report for each late day, not to exceed $5,000 per report.
2. Upon receipt of the report, the person designated to review the timeliness of reports shall determine the amount of the fine due based upon the earliest of the following:
a. When a report is actually received by the lobbyist registration and reporting office.
b. When the electronic receipt issued pursuant to s. 11.0455 is dated.
3. Such fine must be paid within 30 days after the notice of payment due is transmitted by the Lobbyist Registration Office, unless appeal is made to the office. The moneys shall be deposited into the Legislative Lobbyist Registration Trust Fund.
4. A fine may not be assessed against a lobbying firm the first time any reports for which the lobbying firm is responsible are not timely filed. However, to receive the one-time fine waiver, all reports for which the lobbying firm is responsible must be filed within 30 days after notice that any reports have not been timely filed is transmitted by the Lobbyist Registration Office. A fine shall be assessed for any subsequent late-filed reports.
5. Any lobbying firm may appeal or dispute a fine, based upon unusual circumstances surrounding the failure to file on the designated due date, and may request and is entitled to a hearing before the General Counsel of the Office of Legislative Services, who shall recommend to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, or their respective designees, that the fine be waived in whole or in part for good cause shown. The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, or their respective designees, may concur in the recommendation and waive the fine in whole or in part. Any such request must be made within 30 days after the notice of payment due is transmitted by the Lobbyist Registration Office. In such case, the lobbying firm shall, within the 30-day period, notify the person designated to review the timeliness of reports in writing of his or her intention to request a hearing.
6. A lobbying firm may request that the filing of a report be waived upon good cause shown, based on unusual circumstances. The request must be filed with the General Counsel of the Office of Legislative Services, who shall make a recommendation concerning the waiver request to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives may grant or deny the request.
7. All lobbyist registrations for lobbyists who are partners, owners, officers, or employees of a lobbying firm that fails to timely pay a fine are automatically suspended until the fine is paid or waived, and the office shall promptly notify all affected principals of any suspension or reinstatement.
8. The person designated to review the timeliness of reports shall notify the coordinator of the office of the failure of a lobbying firm to file a report after notice or of the failure of a lobbying firm to pay the fine imposed.
(4)(a) 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.
(b) No person shall provide compensation for lobbying to any individual or business entity that is not a lobbying firm.
(5) Each house of the Legislature shall provide by rule a procedure by which a person, when in doubt about the applicability and interpretation of this section in a particular context, may submit in writing the facts for an advisory opinion to the committee of either house and may appear in person before the committee. The rule shall provide a procedure by which:
(a) 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.
(b) The committee shall make sufficient deletions to prevent disclosing the identity of persons in the decisions or opinions.
(c) All advisory opinions of the committee shall be numbered, dated, and open to public inspection.
(6) Each house of the Legislature shall provide by rule for keeping all advisory opinions of the committees relating to lobbying firms, lobbyists, and lobbying activities. The rule shall also provide that each house keep a current list of registered lobbyists along with reports required of lobbying firms under this section, all of which shall be open for public inspection.
(7) Each house of the Legislature shall provide by rule that a committee of either house investigate any person upon receipt of a sworn complaint alleging a violation of this section, s. 112.3148, or s. 112.3149 by such person; also, the rule shall provide that a committee of either house investigate any lobbying firm upon receipt of audit information indicating a possible violation other than a late-filed report. Such proceedings shall be conducted pursuant to the rules of the respective houses. If the committee finds that there has been a violation of this section, s. 112.3148, or s. 112.3149, it shall report its findings to the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as appropriate, together with a recommended penalty, to include a fine of not more than $5,000, reprimand, censure, probation, or prohibition from lobbying for a period of time not to exceed 24 months. Upon the receipt of such report, the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall cause the committee report and recommendations to be brought before the respective house and a final determination shall be made by a majority of said house.
(8) Any person required to be registered or to provide information pursuant to this section or pursuant to rules established in conformity with this section who knowingly fails to disclose any material fact required by this section or by rules established in conformity with this section, or who knowingly provides false information on any report required by this section or by rules established in conformity with this section, commits a noncriminal infraction, punishable by a fine not to exceed $5,000. Such penalty shall be in addition to any other penalty assessed by a house of the Legislature pursuant to subsection (7).
(9) There is hereby created the Legislative Lobbyist Registration Trust Fund, to be used for the purpose of funding any office established for the administration of the registration of lobbyists lobbying the Legislature, including the payment of salaries and other expenses, and for the purpose of paying the expenses incurred by the Legislature in providing services to lobbyists. The trust fund is not subject to the service charge to general revenue provisions of chapter 215. Fees collected pursuant to rules established in accordance with subsection (2) shall be deposited into the Legislative Lobbyist Registration Trust Fund.
History.—s. 1, ch. 78-268; s. 1, ch. 90-502; s. 1, ch. 91-292; s. 2, ch. 93-121; s. 1, ch. 96-203; s. 1, ch. 98-136; s. 2, ch. 2000-122; s. 1, ch. 2000-232; ss. 1, 2, ch. 2005-359; s. 11, ch. 2006-275; ss. 27, 30, ch. 2011-6; HJR 7105, 2011 Regular Session; s. 1, ch. 2012-51; s. 1, ch. 2015-28.
11.0451 Requirements for reinstitution of lobbyist registration after felony conviction.—A person convicted of a felony after January 1, 2006, may not be registered as a lobbyist pursuant to s. 11.045 until the person:
(1) Has been released from incarceration and any postconviction supervision, and has paid all court costs and court-ordered restitution; and
(2) Has had his or her civil rights restored.
History.—s. 9, ch. 2005-359; s. 1, ch. 2007-5.
11.0455 Electronic filing of compensation reports and other information.—
(1) As used in this section, the term “electronic filing system” means an Internet system for recording and reporting lobbying compensation and other required information by reporting period.
(2) Each lobbying firm that is required to file reports with the Office of Legislative Services pursuant to s. 11.045 must file such reports with the office by means of the office’s electronic filing system.
(3) A report filed pursuant to this section must be completed and filed through the electronic filing system not later than 11:59 p.m. of the day designated in s. 11.045. A report not filed by 11:59 p.m. of the day designated is a late-filed report and is subject to the penalties under s. 11.045(3).
(4) Each report filed pursuant to this section is deemed to meet the certification requirements of s. 11.045(3)(a)4., and as such subjects the person responsible for filing and the lobbying firm to the provisions of s. 11.045(7) and (8). Persons given a secure sign-on to the electronic filing system are responsible for protecting it from disclosure and are responsible for all filings using such credentials, unless they have notified the office that their credentials have been compromised.
(5) The electronic filing system developed by the office must:
(a) Be based on access by means of the Internet.
(b) Be accessible by anyone with Internet access using standard web-browsing software.
(c) Provide for direct entry of compensation report information as well as upload of such information from software authorized by the office.
(d) Provide a method that prevents unauthorized access to electronic filing system functions.
(6) Each house of the Legislature shall provide by rule, or may provide by a joint rule adopted by both houses, procedures to implement and administer this section, including, but not limited to:
(a) Alternate filing procedures in case the office’s electronic filing system is not operable.
(b) The issuance of an electronic receipt to the person submitting the report indicating and verifying the date and time that the report was filed.
(7) Each house of the Legislature shall provide by rule that the office make all the data filed available on the Internet in an easily understood and accessible format. The Internet website must also include, but not be limited to, the names and business addresses of lobbyists, lobbying firms, and principals, the affiliations between lobbyists and principals, and the classification system designated and identified by each principal pursuant to s. 11.045(2).
History.—s. 3, ch. 2005-359; s. 2, ch. 2012-51.
11.047 Contingency fees; prohibitions; penalties.—
(1) “Contingency fee” means a fee, bonus, commission, or nonmonetary benefit as compensation which is dependent or in any way contingent on the enactment, defeat, modification, or other outcome of any specific legislative action.
(2) No person may, in whole or in part, pay, give, or receive, or agree to pay, give, or receive, a contingency fee. However, this subsection does not apply to claims bills.
(3) Any person who violates this section commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. If such person is a lobbyist, the lobbyist shall forfeit any fee, bonus, commission, or profit received in violation of this section and is subject to the penalties set forth in s. 11.045. When the fee, bonus, commission, or profit is nonmonetary, the fair market value of the benefit shall be used in determining the amount to be forfeited. All forfeited benefits collected shall be deposited into the Legislative Lobbyist Registration Trust Fund.
(4) This section does not apply to any contract providing for compensation by contingency fee which is in existence on the date this act becomes a law and which does not provide for compensation by contingency fee for lobbying after December 31, 1993.
(5) Nothing in this section may be construed to prohibit any salesperson engaging in legitimate state business on behalf of a company from receiving compensation or commission as part of a bona fide contractual arrangement with that company.
History.—s. 3, ch. 93-121.
11.061 State, state university, and community college employee lobbyists; registration; recording attendance; penalty; exemptions.—
(1) Any person employed by any executive, judicial, or quasi-judicial department of the state or community college or state university who seeks to encourage the passage, defeat, or modification of any legislation by personal appearance or attendance before the House of Representatives or the Senate, or any committee thereof, shall, prior thereto, register as a lobbyist with the joint legislative office on a form to be provided by the joint legislative office in the same manner as any other lobbyist is required to register, whether by rule of either house or otherwise. This shall not preclude any person from contacting her or his legislator regarding any matter during hours other than the established business hours of the person’s respective agency, state university, or community college.
(2)(a) Each state, state university, or community college employee registered pursuant to the provisions of this section shall:
1. Record with the chair of the committee any attendance before any committee during established business hours of the agency, state university, or community college employing the person.
2. Record with the joint legislative office any attendance in the legislative chambers, committee rooms, legislative offices, legislative hallways, and other areas in the immediate vicinity during the established business hours of the agency, state university, or community college employing the person.
(b) 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.
(3) Any state, state university, or community college employee who violates any provision of this section by not registering with the joint legislative office as a lobbyist or by failing to record hours spent as a lobbyist in areas and activities as set forth in this section during the established business hours of the agency, state university, or community college employing the person shall have deducted from her or his salary an amount equivalent to her or his hourly wage times the number of hours that she or he was in violation of this section.
(4) Any person employed by any executive, judicial, or quasi-judicial department of the state or by any community college or state university whose position is designated in that department’s budget as being used during all, or a portion of, the fiscal year for lobbying shall comply with the provisions of subsection (1), but shall be exempt from the provisions of subsections (2) and (3).
History.—s. 1, ch. 74-161; s. 2, ch. 78-268; s. 1, ch. 85-69; s. 9, ch. 95-147; s. 878, ch. 2002-387.
11.062 Use of state funds for lobbying prohibited; penalty.—
(1) No funds, exclusive of salaries, travel expenses, and per diem, appropriated to, or otherwise available for use by, any executive, judicial, or quasi-judicial department shall be used by any state employee or other person for lobbying purposes, which shall include the cost for publication and distribution of each publication used in lobbying; other printing; media; advertising, including production costs; postage; entertainment; and telephone and telegraph. Any state employee of any executive, judicial, or quasi-judicial department who violates the provisions of this section shall have deducted from her or his salary the amount of state moneys spent in violation of this section.
(2)(a) 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.
(b) 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.
(c) 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.
(d) 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.
(e) 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.
History.—s. 2, ch. 74-161; s. 4, ch. 93-121; s. 10, ch. 95-147.
11.065 Claims against state; limitations; notice.—
(1) No claims against the state shall be presented to the Legislature more than 4 years after the cause for relief accrued. Any claim presented after this time of limitation shall be void and unenforceable.
(2) All relief acts of the Legislature shall be for payment in full. No further claims for relief shall be submitted to the Legislature in the future.
(3) Notice shall be given as provided in s. 11.02 prior to the introduction of any relief act which provides for the payment of the claim from funds scheduled for distribution to a municipality from the revenue-sharing trust fund for municipalities.
History.—ss. 1, 2, ch. 26953, 1951; s. 25, ch. 74-382; s. 1, ch. 78-307.
Note.—Former s. 95.37.
11.066 Suits seeking monetary damages against the state or its agencies; payment of judgments; appropriations required.—
(1) As used in this section, the term “appropriation made by law” has the same meaning as in s. 1(c), Art. VII of the State Constitution and means money allocated for a specific purpose by the Legislature by law in a general appropriations act or a special appropriations act.
(2) The state and each state agency, when exercising its inherent police power to protect the public health, safety, or welfare, is presumed to be acting to prevent a public harm. A person may rebut this presumption in a suit seeking monetary damages from the state or a state agency only by clear and convincing evidence to the contrary.
(3) Neither the state nor any of its agencies shall pay or be required to pay monetary damages under the judgment of any court except pursuant to an appropriation made by law. To enforce a judgment for monetary damages against the state or a state agency, the sole remedy of the judgment creditor, if there has not otherwise been an appropriation made by law to pay the judgment, is to petition the Legislature in accordance with its rules to seek an appropriation to pay the judgment.
(4) Notwithstanding s. 74.091, a judgment for monetary damages against the state or any of its agencies may not be enforced through execution or any common-law remedy against property of the state or its agencies, and a writ of execution therefor may not be issued against the state or its agencies. Moreover, it is a defense to an alternative writ of mandamus issued to enforce a judgment for monetary damages against the state or a state agency that there is no appropriation made by law to pay the judgment.
(5) The property of the state, the property of any state agency, or any monetary recovery made on behalf of the state or any state agency is not subject to a lien of any kind.
History.—s. 40, ch. 91-109; s. 1, ch. 2001-266.
11.07 Method of enrolling bills, etc.—
(1) All bills and joint resolutions passed by the Senate and House of Representatives shall be duly enrolled, on paper, by the Secretary of the Senate or the Clerk of the House of Representatives, accordingly as the bills or joint resolutions may have originated in the Senate or House of Representatives, before they shall be presented to the Governor or filed in the Department of State.
(2) Coded indicators of words to be added or deleted from existing sections of the Florida Statutes or the State Constitution, as authorized by the rules of the Senate and House of Representatives, shall not be deleted upon enrolling of the act. However, such indicators are solely for the convenience of those using the pamphlet and session laws and shall not be considered to constitute a part of the act as passed.
(3) The size, style and quality of the paper to be used shall be prescribed by the Department of State and furnished by it, in sufficient quantities, to the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives. The cost of said enrolling paper shall be paid for by the Legislature from the appropriation for legislative expense.
History.—ss. 1, 2, ch. 7346, 1917; RGS 82; CGL 98; s. 1, ch. 25005, 1949; s. 1, ch. 29741, 1955; s. 3, ch. 69-52; ss. 10, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 6, ch. 96-318.
11.111 Continuance of certain causes for term of Legislature and period of time prior and subsequent thereto and committee workdays.—Any proceeding before any court, municipality, or agency of government of this state shall stand continued, without the continuance being charged against any party, during any session of the Legislature and for a period of time 15 days prior to any session of the Legislature and 15 days subsequent to the conclusion of any session of the Legislature, and during any period of required committee work and for a period of time 1 day prior and 1 day subsequent thereto, when either attorney representing the litigants is a legislator or when a member of the Legislature is a party or witness or is scheduled to appear before any municipal government, administrative board, or agency, when notice to that effect is given to the convening authority by such member. The time period for determining the right to a speedy trial shall be tolled during the period of the continuance, but the providing of such a continuance shall not act as a waiver to the right to a speedy trial. The immunity herein granted shall, upon the filing of a notice by the witness, extend to any member not an attorney who is engaged in any proceeding before any court or any state, county, or municipal agency or board in a representative capacity for any individual or group or as a witness in any proceeding. After said notice has been filed by a member of the Legislature called as a witness, the proceeding may proceed notwithstanding such notice if the party calling such member as a witness shall agree.
History.—s. 1, ch. 15995, 1933; CGL 1936 Supp. 4356(1); s. 1, ch. 61-176; s. 1, ch. 67-2(X); s. 1, ch. 70-28; s. 1, ch. 77-119; s. 9, ch. 96-318.
Note.—Former s. 54.08.
11.12 Salary, subsistence, and mileage of members and employees; expenses authorized by resolution; appropriation; preaudit.—
(1) The Chief Financial Officer is authorized to pay the salary, subsistence, and mileage of the members of the Legislature as the same shall be authorized by law. The Chief Financial Officer may pay the compensation of employees of the Legislature, together with reimbursement for their authorized travel as provided in s. 112.061, and such expense of the Legislature as shall be authorized by law, a concurrent resolution, a resolution of either house, or rules adopted by the respective houses, provided the total amount appropriated to the legislative branch shall not be altered, upon receipt of such warrant therefor. The number, duties, and compensation of the employees of the respective houses and of their committees shall be determined as provided by the rules of the respective house or in this chapter. Each legislator may designate no more than two employees to attend sessions of the Legislature, and those employees who change their places of residence in order to attend the session shall be paid subsistence at a rate to be established by the President of the Senate for Senate employees and the Speaker of the House of Representatives for House employees. Such employees, in addition to subsistence, shall be paid transportation expenses in accordance with s. 112.061(7) and (8) for actual transportation between their homes and the seat of government in order to attend the legislative session and return home, as well as for two round trips during the course of any regular session of the Legislature.
(2) All vouchers covering legislative expenses shall be preaudited by the Chief Financial Officer, and, if found to be correct, state warrants shall be issued therefor.
History.—ss. 1, 2, ch. 12077, 1927; CGL 103; ss. 1, 2, ch. 21933, 1943; s. 1, ch. 23638, 1947; s. 1, ch. 24157, 1947; s. 1, ch. 24997, 1949; s. 1, ch. 29627, 1955; s. 1, ch. 57-15; ss. 2, 3, ch. 67-371; s. 4, ch. 69-52; s. 1, ch. 79-2; s. 1, ch. 85-61; s. 1, ch. 88-6; s. 1, ch. 90-252; s. 1, ch. 91-34; s. 11, ch. 95-147; s. 2, ch. 98-136; s. 1, ch. 2003-261.
11.13 Compensation of members.—
(1)(a) The annual salaries of members of the Senate and House of Representatives, payable in 12 equal monthly installments, shall be:
1. The President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives, $25,000 each.
2. All other members of the Senate and House of Representatives, $18,000 each.
(b) 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.
(2) During the time the Legislature is in session, each legislator shall be paid subsistence at a rate to be established by the President of the Senate for members of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives for members of the House. Each legislator, in addition to subsistence, shall be paid travel expenses in accordance with s. 112.061(7) and (8) for actual travel between the legislator’s home and the seat of government for not more than one round trip per week or fraction of a week during any regular, special, or extraordinary session of the Legislature or for the convening of either the House or Senate for official business.
(3) Members of any standing or select committee or subcommittee thereof shall receive per diem and travel expenses as provided in s. 112.061 from the appropriation for legislative expenses.
(4) Each member of the Legislature shall be entitled to receive a monthly allowance for intradistrict expenses in an amount set annually by the President of the Senate for members of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives for members of the House. In setting the amount, the costs of maintaining a legislative district office or offices that provide an appropriate level of constituent services shall be considered. The procedure for disbursement of the monthly intradistrict expense allowed shall be set from time to time by the Office of Legislative Services, with the approval of the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives or their respective designees. Such expenses shall be a proper expense of the Legislature and shall be disbursed from the appropriation for legislative expense. The expenses provided under this subsection shall not include any travel and per diem reimbursed under subsections (2) and (3) or the rules of either house.
(5)(a) 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.
(b) 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.
(c) 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.
(6) The pay of members of the Senate and House of Representatives shall be only as set by law.
History.—s. 1, ch. 19626, 1939; CGL 1940 Supp. 103(1); s. 1, ch. 20839, 1941; s. 3, ch. 21933, 1943; s. 1, ch. 24999, 1949; s. 1, ch. 26539, 1951; s. 2, ch. 29627, 1955; s. 1, ch. 57-343; s. 1, ch. 57-1988; s. 1, ch. 62-7; s. 2, ch. 63-400; s. 1, ch. 69-3; s. 5, ch. 69-52; s. 8, ch. 69-82; ss. 31, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 1, ch. 73-113; s. 1, ch. 77-88; s. 1, ch. 79-215; s. 1, ch. 79-224; s. 1, ch. 81-99; s. 1, ch. 81-259; s. 8, ch. 85-322; s. 12, ch. 95-147; s. 3, ch. 98-136; s. 1, ch. 99-333; s. 2, ch. 2003-261.
11.131 Monetary supplements prohibited.—All laws or parts of laws, both general or local, which provide a monetary supplement to state legislators from county funds, either as a direct salary supplement or as an expense allowance or as reimbursement for expenses, are hereby repealed. This act shall not be construed to repeal any laws or parts of laws which provide for salaries or expenses to legislative aides or assistants or for the maintenance of a legislative delegation office.
History.—s. 1, ch. 67-602.
11.135 Legislative committees, units, and offices; expenditures.—The Legislature hereby declares and determines that its standing and select committees and all units and offices of the legislative branch of government are not agencies of government as expressed in chapter 216; and no power shall rest in the Executive Office of the Governor or its successor to release or withhold funds appropriated to them, nor to affect the lawful expenditure of such appropriated funds as provided by law and the rules or decisions of the Legislature. Agencies of the executive branch shall have no power to determine the number or fix the compensation of the employees of any standing or select committee or any unit or office of the Legislature or to exercise any manner of control over them.
History.—s. 10, ch. 96-318.
11.143 Standing or select committees; powers.—
(1) Each standing or select committee, or subcommittee thereof, is authorized to invite public officials and employees and private individuals to appear before the committee for the purpose of submitting information to it. Each such committee is authorized to maintain a continuous review of the work of the state agencies concerned with its subject area and the performance of the functions of government within each such subject area and for this purpose to request reports from time to time, in such form as the committee designates, concerning the operation of any state agency and presenting any proposal or recommendation such agency may have with regard to existing laws or proposed legislation in its subject area.
(2) In order to carry out its duties, each such committee is empowered with the right and authority to inspect and investigate the books, records, papers, documents, data, operation, and physical plant of any public agency in this state, including any confidential information.
(3)(a) 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.
(b) 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.
(c) 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.
(d) 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.
(4)(a) 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.
(b) 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.
(5) All witnesses summoned before any such committee shall receive reimbursement for travel expenses and per diem at the rates provided in s. 112.061. However, the fact that such reimbursement is not tendered at the time the subpoena is served does not excuse the witness from appearing as directed therein.
History.—s. 3, ch. 68-35; s. 9, ch. 69-52; s. 1, ch. 69-72; (3)(c) formerly s. 9, Art. III of the Constitution of 1885, as amended; converted to statutory law by s. 10, Art. XII of the Constitution as revised in 1968; s. 8, ch. 71-136; s. 1, ch. 77-121; s. 1, ch. 91-429; s. 2, ch. 94-170; s. 1307, ch. 95-147; s. 12, ch. 96-318.
11.1465 Services provided to Legislature.—The House of Representatives and the Senate shall be independently responsible for providing the following services to their respective members and committees:
(1) Legal research and drafting of legislation for individual members and committees.
(2) Review of legislation and drafting of amendments.
(3) The preparation of bill summaries.
(4) Providing staff facilities comparable in quality and adequacy to those which the Legislature provides for other departments of state government, and, to the extent that funds are available, providing such other adequate expert assistance as may be necessary to assist each house in performing its required functions.
(5) To the extent that funds are available, furnishing each standing committee such professional assistance as may be required in order to provide comprehensive research capabilities for each such committee.
History.—s. 2, ch. 72-178; s. 9, ch. 85-322.
11.147 Office of Legislative Services.—
(1) The Office of Legislative Services, designated as such by joint rule of the Legislature or by agreement between the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, shall provide support services that are determined by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to be necessary and that can be effectively and efficiently provided jointly to both houses.
(2) The joint committees and other joint units of the Legislature shall be governed by joint rules of the Senate and House of Representatives.
(3) The Office of Legislative Services shall deliver such vouchers covering legislative expenses as required to the Chief Financial Officer and, if found to be correct, state warrants shall be issued therefor.
History.—s. 7, ch. 68-35; s. 13, ch. 69-52; s. 1, ch. 71-329; s. 3, ch. 72-178; s. 2, ch. 77-468; s. 1, ch. 78-121; s. 11, ch. 85-322; s. 1, ch. 86-204; s. 32, ch. 90-268; s. 2, ch. 91-34; s. 13, ch. 95-147; s. 13, ch. 96-318; s. 4, ch. 98-136; s. 3, ch. 2003-261; s. 11, ch. 2011-34.
11.151 Annual legislative appropriation to contingency fund for use of Senate President and House Speaker.—There is established a legislative contingency fund consisting of $20,000 for the President of the Senate and $20,000 for the Speaker of the House of Representatives, which amounts shall be set aside annually from moneys appropriated for legislative expense. These funds shall be disbursed by the Chief Financial Officer upon receipt of vouchers authorized by the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Such funds may be expended at the unrestricted discretion of the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives in carrying out their official duties during the entire period between the date of their election as such officers at the organizational meeting held pursuant to s. 3(a), Art. III of the State Constitution and the next general election.
History.—s. 1, ch. 63-328; s. 17, ch. 69-52; s. 10, ch. 85-322; s. 4, ch. 2003-261; s. 35, ch. 2005-71; ss. 29, 53, ch. 2006-26; s. 4, ch. 2006-122.
11.241 Permanent statutory revision plan created.—There is created a permanent statutory revision plan to be implemented and maintained under the supervision of the Office of Legislative Services.
History.—s. 2, ch. 67-472; s. 13, ch. 68-35; ss. 29, 30, ch. 69-52; s. 6, ch. 72-178; s. 13, ch. 98-136.
11.242 Powers, duties, and functions as to statutory revision.—The powers, duties, and functions of the Office of Legislative Services in the operation and maintenance of a statutory revision program shall be as follows:
(1) To conduct a systematic and continuing study of the statutes and laws of this state for the purpose of reducing their number and bulk, removing inconsistencies, redundancies, and unnecessary repetitions and otherwise improving their clarity and facilitating their correct and proper interpretation; and for the same purpose, to prepare and submit to the Legislature reviser’s bills and bills for the amendment, consolidation, revision, repeal, or other alterations or changes in any general statute or laws or parts thereof of a general nature and application of the preceding session or sessions which may appear to be subject to revision. Any revision, either complete, partial, or topical, prepared for submission to the Legislature shall be accompanied by revision and history notes relating to the same, showing the changes made therein and the reason for such recommended change.
(2) To carry on the arrangements and identification of the general statutes and laws of the state, as adopted in the Florida Statutes, and the contents of the same, by adding thereto, in the future and in proper place, all new matter belonging therein; this new material to be compiled, revised, and republished periodically in continuation of the present systems, matters, tables, and other material as contained in the Florida Statutes.
(3) Reviser’s bills shall not deal with nor carry forward into the Florida Statutes any statute of any of the following classes:
(a) 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.
(b) 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.
(c) Statutes relating to, for, or concerning only a certain municipal corporation.
(d) Statutes relating to, for or concerning only one or more designated individuals or corporations.
(e) Statutes incorporating a designated individual corporation or making a grant thereto.
(f) Road designation laws.
(4) The published edition of the Florida Statutes shall contain the following:
(a) 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.
(b) The Florida Constitution.
(c) Complete indexes of all the material in the statutes.
(d) Such other matters, notes, data, and other material as may be deemed necessary or admissible by the Office of Legislative Services for reference, convenience, or interpretation.
(5) In carrying on the work of statutory revision and in preparing the Florida Statutes for publication:
(a) 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.
(b) 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.
(c) 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.
(d) Any two or more sections, chapters, or laws, or parts thereof, may be consolidated.
(e) Any section, chapter, or law, or part thereof, may be transferred from one location to another.
(f) 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.
(g) Subsections, sections, chapters, and titles may be renumbered and reference thereto may be changed to agree with such renumbering.
(h) 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.
(i) 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.
(j) All statutes and laws, or parts thereof, which grant duplicative, redundant, or unused rulemaking authority, shall be omitted through the process of reviser’s bills duly enacted by the Legislature. Rulemaking authority shall be deemed unused if the provision has been in effect for more than 5 years and no rule has been promulgated in reliance thereon.
(k) 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.
(l) 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.
(6) To award contracts from time to time for editorial work in the preparation of copy and other necessary material, and for printing; and to pay for such other things as are authorized to be done and performed as part of a statutory revision program under the laws of this state.
(7) To exchange Florida Statutes, and other available publications, with the officers, boards, and agencies of other states and of the United States, and with other governments.
(8) To exercise all other powers, duties, and functions necessary or convenient for properly carrying out the provisions of this law and all other laws relating to statutory revision.
History.—s. 3, ch. 67-472; s. 14, ch. 68-35; ss. 23, 29, 30, ch. 69-52; s. 1, ch. 70-169; s. 1, ch. 70-439; s. 2, ch. 71-355; s. 7, ch. 72-178; s. 4, ch. 81-259; s. 27, ch. 90-335; s. 14, ch. 98-136; s. 2, ch. 99-2; s. 3, ch. 2012-51; s. 9, ch. 2012-116.
11.2421 Florida Statutes 2022 adopted.—The accompanying revision, consolidation, and compilation of the public statutes of 2021 of a general and permanent nature, excepting tables, rules, indexes, and other related matter contained therein, prepared by the Office of Legislative Services under the provisions of s. 11.242, together with corrections, changes, and amendments to and repeals of provisions of Florida Statutes 2021 enacted in additional reviser’s bill or bills by the 2022 Legislature, is adopted and enacted as the official statute law of the state under the title of “Florida Statutes 2022” and shall take effect immediately upon publication. Said statutes may be cited as “Florida Statutes 2022,” “Florida Statutes,” or “F.S. 2022.”
History.—s. 1, ch. 20719, 1941; s. 1, ch. 22000, 1943; s. 1, ch. 22858, 1945; s. 1, ch. 24337, 1947; s. 1, ch. 25035, 1949; s. 1, ch. 26484, 1951; s. 1, ch. 27991, 1953; s. 1, ch. 29615, 1955; s. 1, ch. 57-1; s. 1, ch. 59-1; s. 1, ch. 61-1; s. 1, ch. 63-2; s. 1, ch. 65-1; s. 1, ch. 67-1; s. 9, ch. 67-472; s. 1, ch. 69-352; ss. 29, 30, ch. 69-52; s. 1, ch. 71-251; s. 1, ch. 73-70; s. 1, ch. 75-169; s. 1, ch. 77-266; s. 1, ch. 79-281; s. 1, ch. 81-2; s. 1, ch. 83-61; s. 1, ch. 85-59; s. 1, ch. 87-83; s. 1, ch. 89-64; s. 1, ch. 91-44; s. 1, ch. 93-272; s. 1, ch. 95-347; s. 1, ch. 97-97; s. 1, ch. 99-10; s. 1, ch. 2003-25; s. 1, ch. 2004-4; s. 1, ch. 2005-1; s. 1, ch. 2006-3; s. 1, ch. 2007-7; s. 1, ch. 2008-3; s. 1, ch. 2009-19; s. 1, ch. 2010-3; s. 1, ch. 2011-2; s. 1, ch. 2012-4; s. 1, ch. 2013-13; s. 1, ch. 2014-16; s. 1, ch. 2015-1; s. 1, ch. 2016-8; s. 1, ch. 2017-2; s. 1, ch. 2018-109; s. 1, ch. 2019-2; s. 1, ch. 2020-1; s. 1, ch. 2021-50; s. 1, ch. 2022-3.
Note.—Former s. 16.19.
11.2422 Statutes repealed.—Every statute of a general and permanent nature enacted by the State or by the Territory of Florida at or prior to the May 17-21, 2021, special legislative session, and every part of such statute, not included in Florida Statutes 2022, as adopted by s. 11.2421, as amended, or recognized and continued in force by reference therein or in ss. 11.2423 and 11.2424, as amended, is repealed.
History.—s. 2, ch. 20719, 1941; s. 2, ch. 22000, 1943; s. 2, ch. 22858, 1945; s. 2, ch. 24337, 1947; s. 2, ch. 25035, 1949; s. 2, ch. 26484, 1951; s. 2, ch. 27991, 1953; s. 2, ch. 29615, 1955; s. 2, ch. 57-1; s. 2, ch. 59-1; s. 2, ch. 61-1; s. 2, ch. 63-2; s. 2, ch. 65-1; s. 2, ch. 67-1; s. 1, ch. 69-352; s. 1, ch. 71-251; s. 1, ch. 73-70; s. 1, ch. 75-169; s. 1, ch. 77-266; s. 1, ch. 79-281; s. 1, ch. 81-2; s. 1, ch. 83-61; s. 1, ch. 85-59; s. 1, ch. 87-83; s. 1, ch. 89-64; s. 1, ch. 91-44; s. 2, ch. 93-272; s. 2, ch. 95-347; s. 2, ch. 97-97; s. 2, ch. 99-10; s. 2, ch. 2003-25; s. 2, ch. 2004-4; s. 2, ch. 2005-1; s. 2, ch. 2006-3; s. 2, ch. 2007-7; s. 2, ch. 2008-3; s. 2, ch. 2009-19; s. 2, ch. 2010-3; s. 2, ch. 2011-2; s. 2, ch. 2012-4; s. 2, ch. 2013-13; s. 2, ch. 2014-16; s. 2, ch. 2015-1; s. 2, ch. 2016-8; s. 2, ch. 2017-2; s. 2, ch. 2018-109; s. 2, ch. 2019-2; s. 2, ch. 2020-1; s. 2, ch. 2021-50; s. 2, ch. 2022-3.
Note.—Former s. 16.20.
11.2423 Laws or statutes not repealed.—
(1) No special or local statute, or statute, local, limited or special in its nature, shall be repealed by the Florida Statutes, now or hereafter adopted, and, for the purpose of this saving from repeal any statute of the following classes shall be taken to be included in such exception, namely:
(a) Any statutes for or concerning only a certain county or certain designated counties.
(b) Any statute for, or concerning or operative in only a portion of the state.
(c) Any statute for or concerning only a certain municipal corporation.
(d) Any statute for or concerning only a designated individual corporation or corporations.
(e) Any statute incorporating a designated individual corporation, or making a grant thereto.
(f) Any statute of such limited or local application as makes its inclusion in a general statute impracticable or undesirable.
(g) Road designation laws.
(h) Severability section in any law.
(i) 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.
(2) The foregoing enumeration of classes of statutes not repealed shall not be construed to imply a repeal of other statutes which are local, limited or special in their nature.
History.—s. 3, ch. 20719, 1941; s. 3, ch. 22000, 1943; s. 3, ch. 22858, 1945; s. 3, ch. 24337, 1947; s. 3, ch. 25035, 1949; s. 3, ch. 26484, 1951; s. 3, ch. 27991, 1953; s. 3, ch. 59-1; s. 3, ch. 77-104; s. 5, ch. 99-205; s. 4, ch. 99-243.
Note.—Former s. 16.21.
11.2424 Laws not repealed.—Laws enacted at the November 15-19, 2021, special session and the 2022 regular session are not repealed by the adoption and enactment of the Florida Statutes 2022 by s. 11.2421, as amended, but shall have full effect as if enacted after its said adoption and enactment.
History.—s. 4, ch. 20719, 1941; s. 4, ch. 22000, 1943; s. 4, ch. 22858, 1945; s. 4, ch. 24337, 1947; s. 4, ch. 25035, 1949; s. 4, ch. 26484, 1951; s. 4, ch. 27991, 1953; s. 3, ch. 29615, 1955; s. 3, ch. 57-1; s. 1, ch. 57-233; s. 4, ch. 59-1; s. 3, ch. 61-1; s. 3, ch. 63-2; s. 3, ch. 65-1; s. 3, ch. 67-1; s. 1, ch. 69-352; s. 1, ch. 71-251; s. 1, ch. 73-70; s. 1, ch. 75-169; s. 1, ch. 77-266; s. 1, ch. 79-281; s. 1, ch. 81-2; s. 1, ch. 83-61; s. 1, ch. 85-59; s. 1, ch. 87-83; s. 1, ch. 89-64; s. 1, ch. 91-44; s. 3, ch. 93-272; s. 3, ch. 95-347; s. 3, ch. 97-97; s. 3, ch. 99-10; s. 3, ch. 2003-25; s. 3, ch. 2004-4; s. 3, ch. 2005-1; s. 3, ch. 2006-3; s. 3, ch. 2007-7; s. 3, ch. 2008-3; s. 3, ch. 2009-19; s. 3, ch. 2010-3; s. 3, ch. 2011-2; s. 3, ch. 2012-4; s. 3, ch. 2013-13; s. 3, ch. 2014-16; s. 3, ch. 2015-1; s. 3, ch. 2016-8; s. 3, ch. 2017-2; s. 3, ch. 2018-109; s. 3, ch. 2019-2; s. 3, ch. 2020-1; s. 3, ch. 2021-50; s. 3, ch. 2022-3.
Note.—Former s. 16.22.
11.2425 Rights reserved under repealed statutes.—The repeal of any statute by the adoption and enactment of Florida Statutes 2022, by s. 11.2421, as amended, shall not affect any right accrued before such repeal or any civil remedy where a suit is pending.
History.—s. 5, ch. 20719, 1941; s. 5, ch. 22000, 1943; s. 5, ch. 22858, 1945; s. 5, ch. 24337, 1947; s. 5, ch. 25035, 1949; s. 5, ch. 26484, 1951; s. 5, ch. 27991, 1953; s. 4, ch. 29615, 1955; s. 4, ch. 57-1; s. 5, ch. 59-1; s. 4, ch. 61-1; s. 4, ch. 63-2; s. 4, ch. 65-1; s. 4, ch. 67-1; s. 1, ch. 69-352; s. 1, ch. 71-251; s. 1, ch. 73-70; s. 1, ch. 75-169; s. 1, ch. 77-266; s. 1, ch. 79-281; s. 1, ch. 81-2; s. 1, ch. 83-61; s. 1, ch. 85-59; s. 1, ch. 87-83; s. 1, ch. 89-64; s. 1, ch. 91-44; s. 4, ch. 93-272; s. 4, ch. 95-347; s. 4, ch. 97-97; s. 4, ch. 99-10; s. 4, ch. 2003-25; s. 4, ch. 2004-4; s. 4, ch. 2005-1; s. 4, ch. 2006-3; s. 4, ch. 2007-7; s. 4, ch. 2008-3; s. 4, ch. 2009-19; s. 4, ch. 2010-3; s. 4, ch. 2011-2; s. 4, ch. 2012-4; s. 4, ch. 2013-13; s. 4, ch. 2014-16; s. 4, ch. 2015-1; s. 4, ch. 2016-8; s. 4, ch. 2017-2; s. 4, ch. 2018-109; s. 4, ch. 2019-2; s. 4, ch. 2020-1; s. 4, ch. 2021-50; s. 4, ch. 2022-3.
Note.—Former s. 16.23.
11.2427 Conflict of laws.—If any section in the civil part of the Florida Statutes, creating a crime or prescribing a punishment, conflicts with any section in the part relating to crimes, the latter shall prevail.
History.—s. 9, ch. 20719, 1941; s. 7, ch. 25035, 1949; s. 7, ch. 26484, 1951.
Note.—Former s. 16.27.
11.243 Publishing Florida Statutes; price, sale.—
(1) The Office of Legislative Services shall continue the statutory revision system heretofore adopted in this state and shall bring the general acts of the Legislature within the revision system, as promptly after the adjournment of the legislative session as possible.
(2) All copies of the Florida Statutes shall be delivered by the printer to the Office of Legislative Services, which shall distribute copies to the public and governmental entities, including the judicial branch, at a price to be fixed by the Office of Legislative Services.
(3) All moneys collected from the sale of the Florida Statutes or other publications shall be deposited in the Grants and Donations Trust Fund within the Legislature.
History.—s. 4, ch. 67-472; s. 15, ch. 68-35; ss. 24, 28-30, ch. 69-52; s. 2, ch. 70-245; s. 1, ch. 70-439; s. 2, ch. 71-355; s. 8, ch. 72-178; s. 17, ch. 96-318; s. 15, ch. 98-136; s. 1, ch. 2006-122.
11.249 Commissioners to the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws.—
(1) The Governor shall appoint, subject to confirmation by the Senate, three commissioners to the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. Such appointed commissioners, together with any residents of the state who because of long service in the cause of the uniformity of state legislation shall have been elected life members from this state of the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, shall constitute Florida’s representatives to the national conference.
(2) The commissioners shall examine the subjects of marriage and dissolution of marriage, insolvency, form of notarial certificates, descent and distribution of property, acknowledgment of deeds, execution and probate of wills, and other subjects; ascertain the best means to effect assimilation and uniformity in the laws of the state, and cooperate and advise with similar commissions appointed for a like purpose in other states of the union; and, if wise and practicable, draft uniform laws to be submitted for the approval and adoption of the several states, and devise and recommend such other course of action as shall best accomplish the purposes of this section.
(3) Said appointed commissioners shall serve for 4 years. All commissioners and the associate member shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for travel expenses as provided in s. 112.061.
(4) The coordinator of the Office of Legislative Services shall designate an appropriate legislative employee to serve as an associate member and secretary to the Florida commissioners to the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. He or she shall prepare and sign all vouchers authorized by law and keep such records as directed by the commissioners.
History.—s. 1, ch. 4447, 1895; GS 66; RGS 77; CGL 93; s. 1, ch. 61-42; s. 19, ch. 63-400; s. 2, ch. 67-472; ss. 1, 29, 30, ch. 69-52; s. 12, ch. 72-178; s. 1, ch. 73-300; s. 1, ch. 77-85; s. 1, ch. 88-70; s. 30, ch. 95-147; s. 18, ch. 98-136; s. 10, ch. 2010-102.
Note.—Former s. 11.01; s. 13.10.
11.25 Salaries and expenditures not subject to control of executive agencies.—
(1) The Legislature hereby declares and determines that the employees of the several offices, committees, and other divisions of the Legislature are and shall continue to be groups of employees employed by the Legislature to perform such services as may be provided by law, by rule of the respective house, or directed by the joint committee, whichever is applicable. Such offices, committees and divisions are not agencies of government within the intent of the Legislature as expressed in chapters 216 and 287.
(2) Agencies of the executive branch shall have no power to determine the number or fix the compensation of legislative employees or exercise any manner of control over them. The selection of such employees, the determination of their qualifications and compensation, and the establishment of policies relating to their work, including hours of work, leave, and other matters, shall be the sole prerogative of the Legislature.
History.—s. 9, ch. 25369, 1949; ss. 1-4, ch. 29659, 1955; ss. 2, 3, ch. 67-371; s. 18, ch. 68-35; s. 25, ch. 69-52; ss. 31, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 4, ch. 77-104; s. 5, ch. 92-279; s. 55, ch. 92-326.
11.26 Legislative employees; employment restrictions.—No employee of the Legislature shall:
(1) Subject to the provisions of s. 11.0431, reveal to any person outside the area of the employee’s direct responsibility the contents or nature of any request for services made by any member of the Legislature, except with the consent of the member making such request.
(2) Give legal advice on any subject to any person, firm, or corporation, except members or staff of the Legislature.
(3) No full-time legislative employee shall be otherwise employed, except with the written permission of the presiding officer of the house by which he or she is employed. Employees of joint committees must have the permission of the presiding officers of both houses.
History.—s. 11, ch. 25369, 1949; s. 19, ch. 68-35; s. 26, ch. 69-52; s. 1, ch. 75-208; s. 2, ch. 93-405; s. 15, ch. 95-147; s. 19, ch. 96-318.
11.40 Legislative Auditing Committee.—
(1) The Legislative Auditing Committee 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.
(2) Following notification by the Auditor General, the Department of Financial Services, the Division of Bond Finance of the State Board of Administration, the Governor or his or her designee, or the Commissioner of Education or his or her designee of the failure of a local governmental entity, district school board, charter school, or charter technical career center to comply with the applicable provisions within s. 11.45(5)-(7), s. 218.32(1), s. 218.38, or s. 218.503(3), the Legislative Auditing Committee may schedule a hearing to determine if the entity should be subject to further state action. If the committee determines that the entity should be subject to further state action, the committee shall:
(a) 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 that such action must 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 this paragraph.
(b) In the case of a special district created by:
1. A special act, notify the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the standing committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives charged with special district oversight as determined by the presiding officers of each respective chamber, the legislators who represent a portion of the geographical jurisdiction of the special district, and the Department of Economic Opportunity that the special district has failed to comply with the law. Upon receipt of notification, the Department of Economic Opportunity shall proceed pursuant to s. 189.062 or s. 189.067. If the special district remains in noncompliance after the process set forth in s. 189.0651, or if a public hearing is not held, the Legislative Auditing Committee may request the department to proceed pursuant to s. 189.067(3).
2. A local ordinance, notify the chair or equivalent of the local general-purpose government pursuant to s. 189.0652 and the Department of Economic Opportunity that the special district has failed to comply with the law. Upon receipt of notification, the department shall proceed pursuant to s. 189.062 or s. 189.067. If the special district remains in noncompliance after the process set forth in s. 189.0652, or if a public hearing is not held, the Legislative Auditing Committee may request the department to proceed pursuant to s. 189.067(3).
3. Any manner other than a special act or local ordinance, notify the Department of Economic Opportunity that the special district has failed to comply with the law. Upon receipt of notification, the department shall proceed pursuant to s. 189.062 or s. 189.067(3).
(c) 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.
(3)(a) 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.
(b) 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.
(c) 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.
(d) 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.
(e) 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.
(f) 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.
(g) 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.
(h) 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.
(i) 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.
History.—s. 1, ch. 67-470; s. 1, ch. 69-82; s. 1, ch. 73-6; s. 18, ch. 95-147; s. 21, ch. 96-318; s. 13, ch. 2001-266; s. 879, ch. 2002-387; s. 5, ch. 2003-261; s. 1, ch. 2004-5; s. 1, ch. 2004-305; s. 4, ch. 2005-359; s. 1, ch. 2009-74; s. 12, ch. 2011-34; s. 11, ch. 2011-52; s. 35, ch. 2011-142; s. 1, ch. 2011-144; s. 2, ch. 2014-22; s. 1, ch. 2016-22; s. 1, ch. 2019-15.
Note.—Former s. 11.181.
11.42 The Auditor General.—
(1) The Auditor General appointed in this section is the auditor that is required by s. 2, Art. III of the State Constitution.
(2) The Auditor General shall be appointed to office to serve at the pleasure of the Legislature, by a majority vote of the members of the Legislative Auditing Committee, subject to confirmation by both houses of the Legislature. At the time of her or his appointment, the Auditor General shall have been certified under the Public Accountancy Law in this state for a period of at least 10 years and shall have had not less than 10 years’ experience in an accounting or auditing related field. Vacancies in the office shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
(3)(a) 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.
(b) 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.
(4) The Auditor General, before entering upon the duties of the office, shall take and subscribe the oath of office required of state officers by the State Constitution.
(5) The appointment of the Auditor General may be terminated at any time by a majority vote of both houses of the Legislature.
(6)(a) 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.
(b) 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.
(7) The Auditor General may make and enforce reasonable rules and regulations necessary to facilitate audits which she or he is authorized to perform.
(8) No officer or salaried employee of the Office of the Auditor General shall serve as the representative of any political party or on any executive committee or other governing body thereof; serve as an executive, officer, or employee of any political party committee, organization, or association; or be engaged on behalf of any candidate for public office in the solicitation of votes or other activities in behalf of such candidacy. Neither the Auditor General nor any employee of the Auditor General may become a candidate for election to public office unless she or he first resigns from office or employment. No officer or salaried employee of the Auditor General shall actively engage in any other business or profession or be otherwise employed without the prior written permission of the Auditor General.
(9) Sections 11.25(1) and 11.26 shall not apply to the Auditor General.
History.—s. 3, ch. 67-470; s. 3, ch. 69-82; s. 1, ch. 86-217; s. 1, ch. 91-162; s. 1, ch. 94-322; s. 1308, ch. 95-147; s. 2, ch. 95-395; s. 24, ch. 96-318; s. 1, ch. 97-2; s. 71, ch. 97-190; s. 1, ch. 99-4; s. 2, ch. 99-333; s. 14, ch. 2001-266; s. 6, ch. 2003-261.
Note.—Former s. 11.183.
11.45 Definitions; duties; authorities; reports; rules.—
(1) DEFINITIONS.—As used in ss. 11.40-11.51, the term:
(a) “Abuse” means behavior that is deficient or improper when compared with behavior that a prudent person would consider a reasonable and necessary operational practice given the facts and circumstances. The term includes the misuse of authority or position for personal gain.
(b) “Audit” means a financial audit, operational audit, or performance audit.
(c) “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 a body or officer expressly stated in this paragraph are separately placed by law.
(d) “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 auditing standards generally accepted in the United States and government auditing standards. When applicable, the scope of financial audits must encompass the additional activities necessary to establish compliance with the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996, 31 U.S.C. ss. 7501-7507, and other applicable federal law.
(e) “Fraud” means obtaining something of value through willful misrepresentation, including, but not limited to, intentional misstatements or intentional omissions of amounts or disclosures in financial statements to deceive users of financial statements, theft of an entity’s assets, bribery, or the use of one’s position for personal enrichment through the deliberate misuse or misapplication of an organization’s resources.
(f) “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.
(g) “Local governmental entity” means a county agency, municipality, tourist development council, county tourism promotion agency, or special district as defined in s. 189.012. The term does not include any housing authority established under chapter 421.
(h) “Management letter” means a statement of the auditor’s comments and recommendations.
(i) “Operational audit” means an audit whose purpose is to evaluate management’s performance in establishing and maintaining internal controls, including controls designed to prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse, and in administering assigned responsibilities in accordance with applicable laws, administrative rules, contracts, grant agreements, and other guidelines. Operational audits must be conducted in accordance with government auditing standards. Such audits examine internal controls that are designed and placed in operation to promote and encourage 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, and identify weaknesses in those internal controls.
(j) “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:
1. Economy, efficiency, or effectiveness of the program.
2. Structure or design of the program to accomplish its goals and objectives.
3. Adequacy of the program to meet the needs identified by the Legislature or governing body.
4. Alternative methods of providing program services or products.
5. Goals, objectives, and performance measures used by the agency to monitor and report program accomplishments.
6. The accuracy or adequacy of public documents, reports, or requests prepared under the program by state agencies.
7. Compliance of the program with appropriate policies, rules, or laws.
8. Any other issues related to governmental entities as directed by the Legislative Auditing Committee.
(k) “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.
(l) “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.
(m) “Waste” means the act of using or expending resources unreasonably, carelessly, extravagantly, or for no useful purpose.
(2) DUTIES.—The Auditor General shall:
(a) 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.
(b) Annually conduct a financial audit of state government.
(c) Annually conduct financial audits of all state universities and Florida College System institutions and verify the accuracy of the amounts certified by each state university and Florida College System institution chief financial officer pursuant to ss. 1011.45 and 1011.84.
(d) 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, and the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind.
(e) Once every 3 years, conduct financial audits of the accounts and records of all district school boards in counties that have populations of 150,000 or more, according to the most recent federal decennial statewide census.
(f) At least every 3 years, conduct operational audits of the accounts and records of state agencies, state universities, state colleges, district school boards, the Florida Clerks of Court Operations Corporation, water management districts, and the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind.
(g) At least every 3 years, conduct a performance audit of the local government financial reporting system, which, for the purpose of this chapter, means any statutory provision 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 the 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:
1. Enhance citizen participation in local government;
2. Improve the financial condition of local governments;
3. Provide essential government services in an efficient and effective manner; and
4. Improve decisionmaking on the part of the Legislature, state agencies, and local government officials on matters relating to local government.
(h) At least every 3 years, conduct a performance audit of the Department of Revenue’s administration of the ad valorem tax laws as described in s. 195.096. The audit report shall report on the activities of the ad valorem tax program of the Department of Revenue related to the ad valorem tax rolls. The Auditor General shall include, for at least four counties reviewed, findings as to the accuracy of assessment procedures, projections, and computations made by the department, using the same generally accepted appraisal standards and procedures to which the department and the property appraisers are required to adhere. However, the report may not include any findings or statistics related to any ad valorem tax roll that is in litigation between the state and county officials at the time the report is issued.
(i) Once every 3 years, review a sample of internal audit reports at each state agency, as defined in s. 20.055(1), to determine compliance with current Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing or, if appropriate, government auditing standards.
(j) 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 notify each member of the audited entity’s governing body and the Legislative Auditing Committee of the results of his or her determination. For purposes of this paragraph, local governmental entities do not include water management districts.
(k) Contact each district school board, as defined in s. 1003.01(1), with the findings and recommendations contained within the Auditor General’s previous operational audit report. The district school board shall provide the Auditor General with evidence of the initiation of corrective action within 45 days after the date it is requested by the Auditor General and evidence of completion of corrective action within 180 days after the date it is requested by the Auditor General. If the district school board fails to comply with the Auditor General’s request or is unable to take corrective action within the required timeframe, the Auditor General shall notify the Legislative Auditing Committee.
(l) At least once every 3 years, conduct operational audits of the accounts and records of eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding organizations receiving eligible contributions under s. 1002.395, including any contracts for services with related entities, to determine compliance with the provisions of that section. Such audits shall include, but not be limited to, a determination of the eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding organization’s compliance with s. 1002.395(6)(j). The Auditor General shall provide its report on the results of the audits to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chief Financial Officer, and the Legislative Auditing Committee, within 30 days of completion of the audit.
(m) At least once every 7 years, conduct an operational and financial audit of each large-hub commercial service airport. Each operational audit shall include, at a minimum, an assessment of compliance with s. 332.0075, including compliance with chapter 287, and compliance with the public records and public meetings laws of this state. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “large-hub commercial service airport” means a publicly owned airport that has at least 1 percent of the annual passenger boardings in the United States as reported by the Federal Aviation Administration.
(n) At least once every 3 years, conduct an operational audit of the Florida Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Association. Each operational audit shall include, at a minimum, an assessment of compliance with ss. 766.303-766.315 and compliance with the public records and public meetings laws of this state. The first operational audit must be completed by August 15, 2021.
The Auditor General shall perform his or her duties independently but under the general policies established by the Legislative Auditing Committee. This subsection does not limit the Auditor General’s discretionary authority to conduct other audits or engagements of governmental entities as authorized in subsection (3).
(3) AUTHORITY FOR AUDITS AND OTHER ENGAGEMENTS.—The Auditor General may, pursuant to his or her own authority, or at the direction of the Legislative Auditing Committee, conduct audits or other engagements as determined appropriate by the Auditor General of:
(a) The accounts and records of any governmental entity created or established by law.
(b) The information technology programs, activities, functions, or systems of any governmental entity created or established by law.
(c) The accounts and records of any charter school created or established by law.
(d) 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.
(e) 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.
(f) State financial assistance provided to any nonstate entity as defined by s. 215.97.
(g) The Tobacco Settlement Financing Corporation created pursuant to s. 215.56005.
(h) Any purchases of federal surplus lands for use as sites for correctional facilities as described in s. 253.037.
(i) 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.
(j) 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.
(k) The records pertaining to the use of funds from voluntary contributions on a motor vehicle registration application or on a driver license application authorized pursuant to ss. 320.023 and 322.081.
(l) The records pertaining to the use of funds from the sale of specialty license plates described in chapter 320.
(m) The acquisitions and divestitures related to the Florida Communities Trust Program created pursuant to chapter 380.
(n) The Florida Water Pollution Control Financing Corporation created pursuant to s. 403.1837.
(o) The school readiness program, including the early learning coalitions under part VI of chapter 1002.
(p) CareerSource Florida, Inc., the state board as defined in s. 445.002, or the programs or entities created by the state board under s. 445.004.
(q) 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.
(r) The Florida Engineers Management Corporation created pursuant to chapter 471.
(s) The books and records of any permitholder that conducts race meetings or jai alai exhibitions under chapter 550.
(t) The corporation defined in part II of chapter 946, known as the Prison Rehabilitative Industries and Diversified Enterprises, Inc., or PRIDE Enterprises.
(u) The Florida Virtual School.
(v) Virtual education providers receiving state funds or funds from local ad valorem taxes.
(w) The accounts and records of a nonprofit scholarship-funding organization participating in a state sponsored scholarship program authorized by chapter 1002.
(x) The Florida Tourism Industry Marketing Corporation.
(y) Tourist development councils and county tourism promotion agencies.
(4) SCHEDULING AND STAFFING OF AUDITS.—
(a) 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.
(b) 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.
(c) 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.
(d) 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.
(e) 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.
(5) PETITION FOR AN AUDIT BY THE AUDITOR GENERAL.—
(a) 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.
(b) 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:
1. The elector’s printed name;
2. The signature of the elector;
3. The elector’s residence address;
4. The elector’s date of birth; and
5. The date signed.
All petitions must be submitted for verification within 1 calendar year after the audit petition origination by the municipal electors.
(6) REQUEST BY A LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY FOR AN AUDIT BY THE AUDITOR GENERAL.—Whenever a local governmental entity requests the Auditor General to conduct an audit of all or part of its operations and the Auditor General conducts the audit under his or her own authority or at the direction of the Legislative Auditing Committee, the expenses of the audit shall be paid by the local governmental entity. The Auditor General shall estimate the cost of the audit. Fifty percent of the cost estimate shall be paid by the local governmental entity before the initiation of the audit and deposited into the General Revenue Fund of the state. After the completion of the audit, the Auditor General shall notify the local governmental entity of the actual cost of the audit. The local governmental entity shall remit the remainder of the cost of the audit to the Auditor General for deposit into the General Revenue Fund of the state. If the local governmental entity fails to comply with paying the remaining cost of the audit, the Auditor General shall notify the Legislative Auditing Committee.
(7) AUDITOR GENERAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.—
(a) 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.
(b) 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.
(c) 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 Accountability Program of the Department of Economic Opportunity.
(d) 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.
(e) 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.
(f) 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.
(g) 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.
(h) 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 by December 1 of each year a report that includes a projected 2-year work plan identifying the audit and other accountability activities to be undertaken and 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.
(i) The Auditor General shall annually transmit by July 15, to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Department of Financial Services, a list of all school districts, charter schools, charter technical career centers, Florida College System institutions, state universities, and local governmental entities that have failed to comply with the transparency requirements as identified in the audit reports reviewed pursuant to paragraph (b) and those conducted pursuant to subsection (2).
(j) The Auditor General shall notify the Legislative Auditing Committee of any financial or operational audit report prepared pursuant to this section which indicates that a district school board, state university, or Florida College System institution has failed to take full corrective action in response to a recommendation that was included in the two preceding financial or operational audit reports.
1. The committee may direct the district school board or the governing body of the state university or Florida College System institution to provide a written statement to the committee explaining why full corrective action has not been taken or, if the governing body intends to take full corrective action, describing the corrective action to be taken and when it will occur.
2. If the committee determines that the written statement is not sufficient, the committee may require the chair of the district school board or the chair of the governing body of the state university or Florida College System institution, or the chair’s designee, to appear before the committee.
3. If the committee determines that the district school board, state university, or Florida College System institution has failed to take full corrective action for which there is no justifiable reason or has failed to comply with committee requests made pursuant to this section, the committee shall refer the matter to the State Board of Education or the Board of Governors, as appropriate, to proceed in accordance with s. 1008.32 or s. 1008.322, respectively.
(8) RULES OF THE AUDITOR GENERAL.—The Auditor General, in consultation with the Board of Accountancy, shall adopt rules for the form and conduct of all financial audits performed by independent certified public accountants pursuant to ss. 215.981, 218.39, 1001.453, 1002.395, 1004.28, and 1004.70. The rules for audits of local governmental entities, charter schools, charter technical career centers, and district school boards must include, but are not limited to, requirements for the reporting of information necessary to carry out the purposes of the Local Governmental Entity, Charter School, Charter Technical Career Center, and District School Board Financial Emergencies Act as stated in s. 218.501.
(9) TECHNICAL ADVICE PROVIDED BY THE AUDITOR GENERAL.—The Auditor General may provide technical advice to:
(a) 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.
(b) Governmental entities on their financial and accounting systems, procedures, and related matters.
(c) Governmental entities on promoting the building of competent and efficient accounting and internal audit organizations in their offices.
History.—s. 6, ch. 67-470; s. 6, ch. 69-82; s. 1, ch. 72-6; ss. 1, 2, ch. 73-234; s. 1, ch. 75-122; s. 1, ch. 76-73; s. 1, ch. 77-102; s. 2, ch. 79-183; ss. 1, 3, 6, ch. 79-589; s. 1, ch. 81-167; s. 1, ch. 83-55; s. 1, ch. 83-106; s. 1, ch. 84-241; s. 1, ch. 85-80; s. 14, ch. 86-204; s. 2, ch. 86-217; s. 1, ch. 87-114; s. 4, ch. 89-87; s. 30, ch. 89-169; s. 9, ch. 90-110; s. 19, ch. 90-227; s. 65, ch. 91-45; s. 17, ch. 91-282; s. 2, ch. 91-429; s. 91, ch. 92-142; s. 136, ch. 92-279; s. 55, ch. 92-326; s. 15, ch. 94-249; s. 1309, ch. 95-147; s. 1, ch. 95-214; s. 1, ch. 95-380; s. 12, ch. 95-396; s. 26, ch. 96-318; s. 1, ch. 96-324; s. 21, ch. 97-96; s. 1, ch. 97-111; s. 1, ch. 97-255; s. 26, ch. 97-271; s. 3, ch. 99-333; s. 1, ch. 2000-151; s. 4, ch. 2000-264; s. 31, ch. 2000-355; s. 36, ch. 2000-371; s. 30, ch. 2001-140; s. 15, ch. 2001-266; s. 1, ch. 2002-1; s. 17, ch. 2002-22; s. 880, ch. 2002-387; s. 2, ch. 2004-305; s. 1, ch. 2004-331; s. 3, ch. 2004-484; s. 1, ch. 2005-171; s. 7, ch. 2006-190; s. 5, ch. 2009-68; s. 1, ch. 2009-214; s. 2, ch. 2010-5; s. 13, ch. 2011-34; s. 1, ch. 2011-49; s. 1, ch. 2011-52; s. 36, ch. 2011-142; s. 1, ch. 2012-5; s. 1, ch. 2012-134; s. 1, ch. 2013-15; s. 1, ch. 2013-51; s. 19, ch. 2013-252; s. 1, ch. 2014-17; s. 55, ch. 2014-22; s. 1, ch. 2014-39; s. 15, ch. 2014-184; s. 1, ch. 2014-223; s. 1, ch. 2015-2; s. 1, ch. 2015-98; ss. 5, 36, ch. 2016-62; s. 1, ch. 2017-116; s. 13, ch. 2017-233; s. 1, ch. 2018-5; s. 2, ch. 2019-15; s. 1, ch. 2019-103; s. 31, ch. 2020-30; s. 1, ch. 2020-167; s. 1, ch. 2021-27; s. 1, ch. 2021-134.
Note.—Former s. 11.186.
11.47 Penalties; failure to make a proper audit or examination; making a false report; failure to produce documents or information.—
(1) All officers whose respective offices the Auditor General or the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability is authorized to audit or examine shall enter into their public records sufficient information for proper audit or examination, and shall make the same available to the Auditor General or the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability on demand.
(2) The willful failure or refusal of the Auditor General, director of the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, or any staff employed by the Auditor General or the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability to make a proper audit or examination in line with his or her duty, the willful making of a false report as to any audit or examination, or the willful failure or refusal to report a shortage or misappropriation of funds or property shall be cause for removal from such office or employment, and the Auditor General, the director of the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, or a staff member shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(3) Any person who willfully fails or refuses to provide access to an employee, officer, or agent of an entity subject to an audit or to furnish or produce any book, record, paper, document, data, or sufficient information necessary to a proper audit or examination which the Auditor General or the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability is by law authorized to perform commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(4) Any officer who willfully fails or refuses to furnish or produce any book, record, paper, document, data, or sufficient information necessary to a proper audit or examination which the Auditor General or the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability is by law authorized to perform, shall be subject to removal from office.
History.—s. 7, ch. 69-82; s. 9, ch. 71-136; s. 22, ch. 95-147; s. 27, ch. 96-318; s. 16, ch. 2001-266; s. 3, ch. 2019-15.
11.51 Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability.—
(1) The Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability is authorized to examine all entities and records listed in s. 11.45(3).
(2) At the conclusion of an examination, the designated representative of the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability shall discuss the examination with the official whose office is examined and submit to that official the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability’s preliminary findings. If the official is not available for receipt of the preliminary findings, clearly designated as such, delivery thereof is presumed to be made when it is delivered to his or her office. Whenever necessary, the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability may request the official to submit his or her written statement of explanation or rebuttal within 15 days after the receipt of the findings. If the response time is not requested to be within 15 days, the official shall submit his or her response within 30 days after receipt of the preliminary findings.
(3) No later than 18 months after the release of a report of the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, the agencies that are the subject of that report shall provide data and other information that describes with specificity what the agencies have done to respond to the recommendations contained in the report. The Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability may verify the data and information provided by the agencies. If the data and information provided by the agencies are deemed sufficient and accurate, the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability shall report to the Legislative Auditing Committee and to the legislative standing committees concerned with the subject areas of the audit. The report shall include a summary of the agencies’ responses, the evaluation of those responses, and any recommendations deemed to be appropriate.
(4) Work papers held by the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability which relate to an authorized project or a research product are exempt from s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution. The exemption applies to work papers held by the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability before, on, or after the effective date of the exemption.
History.—s. 2, ch. 90-110; s. 16, ch. 94-249; s. 30, ch. 96-318; s. 1, ch. 96-380; s. 6, ch. 2001-86; s. 17, ch. 2001-266; s. 3, ch. 2004-305; s. 14, ch. 2011-34; s. 1, ch. 2011-35.
11.62 Legislative review of proposed regulation of unregulated functions.—
(1) This section may be cited as the “Sunrise Act.”
(2) It is the intent of the Legislature:
(a) 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
(b) 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.
(3) In determining whether to regulate a profession or occupation, the Legislature shall consider the following factors:
(a) 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;
(b) 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;
(c) 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;
(d) Whether the public is or can be effectively protected by other means; and
(e) Whether the overall cost-effectiveness and economic impact of the proposed regulation, including the indirect costs to consumers, will be favorable.
(4) The proponents of legislation that provides for the regulation of a profession or occupation not already expressly subject to state regulation shall provide, upon request, the following information in writing to the state agency that is proposed to have jurisdiction over the regulation and to the legislative committees to which the legislation is referred:
(a) The number of individuals or businesses that would be subject to the regulation;
(b) The name of each association that represents members of the profession or occupation, together with a copy of its codes of ethics or conduct;
(c) 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;
(d) 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;
(e) 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;
(f) 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;
(g) A copy of any federal legislation mandating regulation;
(h) An explanation of the reasons why other types of less restrictive regulation would not effectively protect the public;
(i) The cost, availability, and appropriateness of training and examination requirements;
(j) The cost of regulation, including the indirect cost to consumers, and the method proposed to finance the regulation;
(k) The cost imposed on applicants or practitioners or on employers of applicants or practitioners as a result of the regulation;
(l) The details of any previous efforts in this state to implement regulation of the profession or occupation; and
(m) Any other information the agency or the committee considers relevant to the analysis of the proposed legislation.
(5) The agency shall provide the Legislature with information concerning the effect of proposed legislation that provides for new regulation of a profession or occupation regarding:
(a) The departmental resources necessary to implement and enforce the proposed regulation;
(b) The technical sufficiency of the proposal for regulation, including its consistency with the regulation of other professions and occupations under existing law; and
(c) If applicable, any alternatives to the proposed regulation which may result in a less restrictive or more cost-effective regulatory scheme.
(6) When making a recommendation concerning proposed legislation providing for new regulation of a profession or occupation, a legislative committee shall determine:
(a) 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);
(b) The least restrictive and most cost-effective regulatory scheme that will adequately protect the public; and
(c) The technical sufficiency of the proposed legislation, including its consistency with the regulation of other professions and occupations under existing law.
History.—s. 6, ch. 91-429; s. 1, ch. 94-218; s. 133, ch. 99-251.
11.90 Legislative Budget Commission.—
(1) There is created the Legislative Budget Commission, which is the joint Legislative Budget Commission created in s. 19, Art. III of the State Constitution, composed of seven members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate and seven members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Each member shall serve at the pleasure of the officer who appointed the member. A vacancy on the commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. From November of each odd-numbered year through October of each even-numbered year, the chairperson of the commission shall be appointed by the President of the Senate and the vice chairperson of the commission shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. From November of each even-numbered year through October of each odd-numbered year, the chairperson of the commission shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the vice chairperson of the commission shall be appointed by the President of the Senate. The terms of members shall be for 2 years and shall run from the organization of one Legislature to the organization of the next Legislature.
(2) The Legislative Budget Commission shall be governed by joint rules of the Senate and the House of Representatives which shall remain in effect until repealed or amended by concurrent resolution.
(3) The commission shall convene at the call of the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives at least quarterly. A majority of the commission members of each house plus one additional member from either house constitutes a quorum. Action by the commission requires a majority vote of the members present of each house.
(4) The commission may conduct its meetings through teleconferences or other similar means.
(5) The commission shall be staffed by legislative staff members, as assigned by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(6) The commission has the power and duty to:
(a) Review and approve or disapprove budget amendments recommended by the Governor or the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court as provided in chapter 216.
(b) Develop the long-range financial outlook described in s. 19, Art. III of the State Constitution.
(c) Exercise all other powers and perform any other duties prescribed by the Legislature.
(7) The commission shall review proposed budget amendments associated with information technology that involve more than one agency, that have an outcome that impacts another agency, or that exceed $500,000 in total cost over a 1-year period.
(8) The commission may convene to transfer or appropriate unappropriated surplus funds to the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund created under s. 252.3711.
History.—s. 37, ch. 2000-371; ss. 15, 25, ch. 2001-56; s. 1, ch. 2001-66; s. 33, ch. 2001-261; s. 1, ch. 2003-5; s. 1, ch. 2006-119; s. 1, ch. 2009-80; s. 2, ch. 2013-44; s. 1, ch. 2017-126; s. 1, ch. 2022-1.
11.9005 Government Efficiency Task Force.—
(1) There is created the Government Efficiency Task Force. The task force shall convene no later than January 2007, and each 4th year thereafter. The task force shall be composed of 15 members. Five members shall be appointed by the President of the Senate, five members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and five members shall be appointed by the Governor. The task force shall be composed of members of the Legislature and representatives from the private and public sectors, as designated by the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Governor. Each member shall serve at the pleasure of the officer who appointed the member. A vacancy on the task force shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. The terms of the members shall be for 1 year.
(2) The task force shall elect a chair from among its members.
(3) The task force shall meet as necessary, but at least quarterly, at the call of the chair and at the time and place designated by him or her. The task force may conduct its meetings through teleconferences or other similar means.
(4) Members of the task force are entitled to receive reimbursement for per diem and travel expenses pursuant to s. 112.061.
(5) The task force shall develop recommendations for improving governmental operations and reducing costs. Staff to assist the task force in performing its duties shall be assigned by the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Governor. The task force shall consider reports issued by the Auditor General, the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, and agency inspectors general in developing its recommendations.
(6) The task force shall complete its work within 1 year and submit its recommendations to the chairperson and vice chairperson of the Legislative Budget Commission, the Governor, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The task force may submit all or part of its recommendations at any time during the year, but a final report summarizing its recommendations must be submitted at the completion of its work.
History.—s. 2, ch. 2006-119.
11.93 Short title.—Sections 11.93-11.9352 may be cited as the “Article V Constitutional Convention Act.”
History.—s. 1, ch. 2014-52.
11.931 Applicability.—Sections 11.93-11.9352 shall apply when an Article V convention is called for the purpose of proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States.
History.—s. 2, ch. 2014-52.
11.932 Definitions.—As used in ss. 11.93-11.9352, the term:
(1) “Alternate delegate” means an individual who is appointed as an alternate delegate as provided by law.
(2) “Article V convention” means a convention called for by the states under Article V of the Constitution of the United States for the purpose of proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States.
(3) “Chamber” means either the Senate or the House of Representatives.
(4) “Delegate” means an individual appointed to represent Florida at an Article V convention.
(5) “Paired delegate” means the delegate with whom an alternate delegate is paired.
History.—s. 3, ch. 2014-52.
11.933 Qualifications of delegates and alternate delegates.—
(1) To be appointed as a delegate or alternate delegate to an Article V convention, a person must:
(a) Reside in this state.
(b) Be a registered voter in this state.
(c) Not be registered or required to be registered as a lobbyist under the laws of this state.
(2) A person may not be appointed as a delegate if he or she holds a federal office.
History.—s. 4, ch. 2014-52.
11.9331 Appointment of delegates by Legislature.—
(1) Whenever an Article V convention is called, the Senate and House of Representatives shall appoint, under rules adopted jointly by the Senate and House of Representatives:
(a) The number of delegates allocated to represent Florida.
(b) An equal number of alternate delegates.
(2) Unless otherwise established by the rules of procedure of an Article V convention, it is presumed that Florida has two delegates and two alternate delegates designated to represent the state.
(3) If the Legislature is not in session when delegates must be appointed, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall call the Legislature into special session pursuant to s. 11.011 for the purpose of appointing delegates and alternate delegates.
History.—s. 5, ch. 2014-52.
11.9332 Appointment by majority vote of each chamber; pairing delegates and alternate delegates.—
(1) To be appointed as a delegate or an alternate delegate, a person must receive, in each chamber, the vote of a majority of all the members elected to that chamber.
(2) At the time of appointment, each alternate delegate must be paired with a delegate as provided by a concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature.
History.—s. 6, ch. 2014-52.
11.9333 Recall; filling a vacancy; special legislative session.—
(1) The Legislature may, at any time, recall a delegate or alternate delegate and replace that delegate or alternate delegate with an individual appointed under ss. 11.93-11.9352.
(2) The Legislature may, at any time, fill a vacancy in the office of delegate or alternate delegate with a person appointed under ss. 11.93-11.9352. If the Legislature is not in session when a vacancy occurs with respect to both a delegate and the paired alternate delegate, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall call the Legislature into special session pursuant to s. 11.011 for the purpose of appointing a delegate and an alternate delegate to fill the vacancies.
History.—s. 7, ch. 2014-52.
11.9334 Method of appointment and recall.—The Legislature shall appoint or recall delegates or alternate delegates by concurrent resolution.
History.—s. 8, ch. 2014-52.
11.9335 Reimbursement of per diem and travel expenses.—A delegate or alternate delegate shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for per diem and travel expenses pursuant to s. 112.061.
History.—s. 9, ch. 2014-52.
11.9336 Oath.—Each delegate and alternate delegate shall, before exercising any function of the position, execute an oath in the state and in writing that the delegate or alternate delegate will:
(1) Support the Constitution of the United States and the State Constitution.
(2) Faithfully abide by and execute any instructions to delegates and alternate delegates adopted by the Legislature.
(3) Otherwise faithfully discharge the duties of a delegate or alternate delegate.
History.—s. 10, ch. 2014-52; s. 2, ch. 2015-2.
11.9337 Filing of oath; issuance of commission.—The executed oath of a delegate or alternate delegate shall be filed with the Secretary of State. After the oath is filed, the Governor shall issue a commission to the delegate or alternate delegate.
History.—s. 11, ch. 2014-52.
11.934 Instructions to delegates.—
(1) When delegates and alternate delegates are appointed, the Legislature shall adopt a concurrent resolution to provide instructions to the delegates and alternate delegates regarding the rules of procedure and any other matter relating to the Article V convention that the Legislature considers necessary.
(2) The Legislature may amend the instructions at any time by concurrent resolution.
History.—s. 12, ch. 2014-52.
11.9341 Duties of alternate delegates.—An alternate delegate:
(1) Shall act in the place of the paired delegate when the paired delegate is absent from the Article V convention.
(2) Replaces the paired delegate if the alternate delegate’s paired delegate vacates the office.
History.—s. 13, ch. 2014-52.
11.9342 Vote cast outside the scope of instructions or limits; status of vote.—A vote cast by a delegate or an alternate delegate at an Article V convention is void if the vote is outside the scope of:
(1) The instructions established by a concurrent resolution adopted pursuant to ss. 11.93-11.9352; or
(2) The limits placed by the Legislature in a concurrent resolution or memorial that calls for an Article V convention for the purpose of proposing one or more amendments to the Constitution of the United States on the subjects and amendments that may be considered by the Article V Convention.
History.—s. 14, ch. 2014-52.
11.9343 Vote cast outside the scope of instructions or limits; appointment forfeited.—
(1) A delegate or alternate delegate forfeits his or her appointment by virtue of a vote or attempt to vote that is outside the scope of:
(a) The instructions established by a concurrent resolution adopted pursuant to ss. 11.93-11.9352; or
(b) The limits placed by the Legislature in a concurrent resolution or memorial that calls for an Article V convention for the purpose of proposing one or more amendments to the Constitution of the United States on the subjects and amendments that may be considered by the Article V convention.
(2) If a delegate forfeits an appointment under subsection (1), the paired alternate delegate of the delegate becomes the delegate at the time the forfeiture of the appointment occurs.
History.—s. 15, ch. 2014-52.
11.9344 Vote cast outside the scope of instructions or limits; status of application.—The application of the Legislature to call an Article V convention for proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States ceases to be a continuing application and shall be treated as having no effect if all of the delegates and alternate delegates vote or attempt to vote outside the scope of:
(1) The instructions established by a concurrent resolution adopted pursuant to ss. 11.93-11.9352; or
(2) The limits placed by the Legislature in a concurrent resolution or memorial that calls for an Article V convention for the purpose of proposing one or more amendments to the Constitution of the United States on the subjects and amendments that may be considered by the Article V convention.
History.—s. 16, ch. 2014-52.
11.9345 Vote cast outside the scope of instructions; criminal liability.—A delegate or alternate delegate commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, who signs an oath of office as required by s. 11.9336 in the state and who thereafter violates the oath by knowingly or intentionally voting or attempting to vote outside the scope of:
(1) The instructions established by a concurrent resolution adopted pursuant to ss. 11.93-11.9352; or
(2) The limits placed by the Legislature in a concurrent resolution or memorial that calls for an Article V convention for the purpose of proposing one or more amendments to the Constitution of the United States on the subjects and amendments that may be considered by the Article V convention.
History.—s. 17, ch. 2014-52.
11.935 Article V convention advisory group.—
(1) As used in this section, the term “advisory group” means the Article V convention delegate advisory group.
(2) The advisory group consists of the following members:
(a) An attorney appointed by the President of the Senate.
(b) An attorney appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(c) An attorney selected by agreement of the attorneys appointed under paragraphs (a) and (b), who shall serve as chair of the advisory group.
(3) The advisory group shall meet at the call of the chair and shall establish the policies and procedures that the advisory group determines necessary to carry out ss. 11.93-11.9352.
(4) Upon the request of a delegate or alternate delegate, the advisory group shall advise the delegate or alternate delegate whether there is reason to believe that an action or an attempt to take an action by a delegate or alternate delegate would:
(a) Violate the instructions established by a concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature under ss. 11.93-11.9352; or
(b) Exceed the limits placed by the Legislature in a concurrent resolution or memorial that calls for an Article V convention for the purpose of proposing one or more amendments to the Constitution of the United States on the subjects and amendments that may be considered by the Article V convention.
(5) The advisory group:
(a) May render an advisory determination under this section in any summary manner considered appropriate by the advisory group.
(b) Shall render an advisory determination under this section within 24 hours after receiving a request for a determination.
(c) Shall transmit a copy of an advisory determination under this section in the most expeditious manner possible to the delegate or alternate delegate who requested the advisory determination.
(6) If the advisory group renders an advisory determination under this section, the advisory group may also take an action permitted under s. 11.9351.
History.—s. 18, ch. 2014-52.
11.9351 Oversight of delegates with respect to instructions.—
(1) The advisory group, on its own motion, or upon the request of the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, or the Attorney General, shall advise the Attorney General whether there is reason to believe that a vote or an attempt to vote by a delegate or alternate delegate has:
(a) Violated the instructions established by a concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature under ss. 11.93-11.9352; or
(b) Exceeded the limits placed by the Legislature in a concurrent resolution or memorial that calls for an Article V convention for the purpose of proposing one or more amendments to the Constitution of the United States on the subjects and amendments that may be considered by the Article V convention.
(2) The advisory group shall issue the advisory determination under this section by one of the following summary procedures:
(a) Without notice or an evidentiary proceeding; or
(b) After a hearing conducted by the advisory group.
(3) The advisory group shall render an advisory determination under this section within 24 hours after receiving a request for an advisory determination.
(4) The advisory group shall transmit a copy of an advisory determination in the most expeditious manner possible to the Attorney General.
History.—s. 19, ch. 2014-52.
11.9352 Advisory determination concerning a vote outside the scope of instructions.—Immediately, upon receipt of an advisory determination that finds that a vote or attempt to vote by a delegate or alternate delegate is a violation as described in s. 11.9351 or in excess of the authority of the delegate or alternate delegate, the Attorney General shall inform the delegates, alternate delegates, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Article V convention that:
(1) The vote or attempt to vote did not comply with Florida law, is void, and has no effect.
(2) The credentials of the delegate or alternate delegate who is the subject of the determination are revoked.
History.—s. 20, ch. 2014-52.