Florida Senate - 2026                                     SB 572
       
       
        
       By Senator Harrell
       
       
       
       
       
       31-00857-26                                            2026572__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to ethics for public employees;
    3         amending s. 112.312, F.S.; revising the definition of
    4         the term “relative” to include foster parents and
    5         foster children; reenacting s. 1001.421, F.S.,
    6         relating to gifts to district school board members, to
    7         incorporate the amendment made to s. 112.312, F.S., in
    8         a reference thereto; providing an effective date.
    9          
   10  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   11  
   12         Section 1. Subsection (21) of section 112.312, Florida
   13  Statutes, is amended to read:
   14         112.312 Definitions.—As used in this part and for purposes
   15  of the provisions of s. 8, Art. II of the State Constitution,
   16  unless the context otherwise requires:
   17         (21) “Relative,” unless otherwise specified in this part,
   18  means an individual who is related to a public officer or
   19  employee as father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister,
   20  uncle, aunt, first cousin, nephew, niece, husband, wife, father
   21  in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in
   22  law, sister-in-law, stepfather, stepmother, stepson,
   23  stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half brother, half
   24  sister, grandparent, great grandparent, grandchild, great
   25  grandchild, step grandparent, step great grandparent, step
   26  grandchild, or step great grandchild; an individual who, while
   27  the public officer or employee was a minor, was his or her
   28  legally recognized foster parent in the jurisdiction where the
   29  relationship occurred or an individual who is a current or
   30  former legally recognized foster child of the public officer or
   31  employee in the jurisdiction where the relationship occurs or
   32  occurred; a, person who is engaged to be married to the public
   33  officer or employee or who otherwise holds himself or herself
   34  out as or is generally known as the person whom the public
   35  officer or employee intends to marry or with whom the public
   36  officer or employee intends to form a household;, or any other
   37  natural person having the same legal residence as the public
   38  officer or employee.
   39         Section 2. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
   40  made by this act to section 112.312, Florida Statutes, in a
   41  reference thereto, section 1001.421, Florida Statutes, is
   42  reenacted to read:
   43         1001.421 Gifts.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law
   44  to the contrary, district school board members and their
   45  relatives, as defined in s. 112.312(21), may not directly or
   46  indirectly solicit any gift, or directly or indirectly accept
   47  any gift in excess of $50, from any person, vendor, potential
   48  vendor, or other entity doing business with the school district.
   49  The term “gift” has the same meaning as in s. 112.312(12).
   50         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.