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A bill to be entitled

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An act relating to the prohibition of the acceptance of

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expenditures; amending s. 11.045, F.S.; exempting food and

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beverage expenditures from the gift ban at certain events;

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requiring that any such food and beverage expenditures be

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consumed at the event; limiting the total value of such

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expenditures; providing an effective date.

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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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     Section 1.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of section

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11.045, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

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     11.045  Lobbying before the Legislature; registration and

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reporting; exemptions; penalties.--

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     (4)(a)  Notwithstanding s. 112.3148, s. 112.3149, or any

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other provision of law to the contrary, no lobbyist or principal

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shall make, directly or indirectly, and no member or employee of

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the Legislature shall knowingly accept, directly or indirectly,

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any expenditure, except for the following:

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     1. Floral arrangements or other celebratory items given to

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legislators and displayed in chambers the opening day of a

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regular session;.

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     2. Food or beverages at an event, meeting, or function held

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for the sole purpose of providing information on legislative,

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community, or governmental issues or having a specific education

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component; or

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     3. Food or beverages associated with an organizational,

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governmental, professional, or public interest function or

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reception.

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Any allowable food or beverage expenditure must be consumed at

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the event, meeting, function, or reception and may not exceed a

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total value of $20.

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     Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.