HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STAFF ANALYSIS
BILL #: CS/HB 1597 Ethics
SPONSOR(S): Ethics, Elections & Open Government Subcommittee, Brackett
TIED BILLS: IDEN./SIM. BILLS: CS/SB 7014
REFERENCE ACTION ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR or
BUDGET/POLICY CHIEF
1) Ethics, Elections & Open Government 14 Y, 1 N, As CS Skinner Toliver
Subcommittee
2) State Affairs Committee 14 Y, 2 N Skinner Williamson
SUMMARY ANALYSIS
The Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees (Code of Ethics) establishes ethical standards for public
officials and is intended to ensure that public officials conduct themselves independently and impartially. The
Commission on Ethics (Commission) is an independent commission that, in part, maintains financial disclosure
filings of constitutional officers and state officers and employees, administers fines for late filed annual financial
disclosures, and administers the executive branch lobbying registration and reporting laws. The Commission
investigates possible violations and other alleged breaches of the public trust within the Code of Ethics when it
receives a legally sufficient complaint or a referral.
The bill makes several changes to the Code of Ethics:
Creates statutory timeframes for completion of investigations of alleged ethics violations conducted by
the Commission.
Conforms the maximum civil penalty for a violation of the constitutional prohibition against lobbying by a
public officer to those for other violations of ethics laws.
Provides that terms of Commission members are limited to two total terms, rather than two consecutive
terms.
Adds candidates for public office to the categories of persons authorized to recover c osts and attorney
fees for defending against a maliciously filed ethics complaint.
Requires a vote of six Commission members to reject or deviate from a recommendation of counsel
representing the Commission.
Makes clarifying changes and removes obsolete language.
The bill might have a fiscal impact on state government but does not appear to have a fiscal impact on local
governments. See Fiscal Analysis & Economic Impact Statement.
This docum ent does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill sponsor or House of Representatives .
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FULL ANALYSIS
I. SUBSTANTIVE ANALYSIS
A. EFFECT OF PROPOSED CHANGES:
Background
The Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees
The Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees (Code of Ethics) 1 establishes ethical standards
for public officials and is intended to ensure that public officials conduct themselves independently and
impartially, not using their offices for private gain other than compensation provided by law. 2 The Code
of Ethics pertains to various ethical issues, such as ethics trainings, voting conflicts, full and public
disclosure of financial interests, standards of conduct, and the Commission on Ethics (Commission). 3
Commission on Ethics
The Florida Constitution requires the creation of an independent commission “to conduct investigations
and make public reports on all complaints concerning breach of public trust by public officers or
employees not within the jurisdiction of the judicial qualifications commission.” 4 The Commission was
created in 1974 “to serve as guardian of the standards of conduct” for state and local public officials
and employees.5 The state constitution and state law designate the Commission as the independent
commission referred to in the state constitution.6 The Commission is composed of nine members: five
members appointed by the Governor, two by the President of the Senate, and two by the Speaker of
the House of Representatives.7 No more than five members of the Commission may be from the same
political party and no member may hold public employment. 8 Commissioners serve two year terms but
may not serve more than two full terms consecutively.9 The Commission must employ an executive
director10 who serves as the “chief administrative employee and is responsible for carrying out the
directives of the Commission and for supervising its staff.” 11The Commission’s duties consist, in part,
of:
Rendering advisory opinions to public officials. 12
Making recommendations to disciplinary officials when appropriate for violations of ethics and
disclosure laws.13
Administering the executive branch lobbying registration and reporting law. 14
Maintaining financial disclosure filings of constitutional officers and state officers and
employees.15
Administering automatic fines for public officers and employees who fail to timely file the
required annual financial disclosure.16
1 See Pt. III, Ch. 112, F.S.; see also Art. II, s. 8(h)(1), FLA. CONST .
2 Florida Commission on Ethics, Guide to the Sunshine Amendment and Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees , available
at http://www.ethics.state.fl.us/Documents/Publications/GuideBookletInternet.pdf (last visited Jan. 20, 2024).
3 See Pt. III, Ch. 112, F.S.
4 Article II, s. 8(g), FLA. CONST .
5 Florida Commission on Ethics, Guide to the Sunshine Amendment and Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees, available
at http://www.ethics.state.fl.us/Documents/Publications/GuideBookletInternet.pdf (last visited Jan. 20, 2024); See also s. 112.320,
F.S.
6 Article II, s. 8(j)(3), FLA. CONST .; S. 112.320, F.S.
7 Section 112.321(1), F.S.
8 Id.
9 Id.
10 Section 112.321(4), F.S.
11 Commission on Ethics, Statement of Organization and Operation, available at
https://ethics.state.fl.us/documents/ethics/statement%20of%20org.pdf?cp=2024120 (last visited Jan. 20, 2024).
12 Section 112.322(3)(a), F.S.
13 Section 112.322(2)(b), F.S.
14 Sections 112.3215 and 112.32155, F.S.
15 Section 112.3144, F.S.
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The Commission may make rules that are necessary to provide for its practices and procedures and to
interpret disclosures and prohibitions.17
Procedures on Complaints and Violations
The Commission investigates alleged breaches of the public trust and other violations of the Code of
Ethics. To begin an investigation, the Commission must receive either a written complaint signed under
oath or affirmation or a written referral is received — which at least six members of the Commission
determine is sufficient to indicate a violation has occurred — from the Governor, the Department of Law
Enforcement, a state attorney, or a United States Attorney.18 Within five days of receipt of either of
those complaints, the Commission must transmit a copy to the alleged violator. 19
Upon the issuance of an order to investigate by the Commission’s Executive Director, a Commission
investigator begins a preliminary investigation of each legally sufficient complaint or referral to
determine if there is probable cause that a violation has occurred. 20 The investigator, after finishing the
initial investigation, writes an investigatory report21 and transmits it to the alleged violator and to an
advocate,22 who serves as counsel for the Commission on the matter. 23 The alleged violator is given 14
days from the mailing of the investigator’s report to provide a written response. 24 Upon receipt of the
investigator’s report, the advocate must make a written probable cause recommendation to the
Commission.25 The alleged violator must receive a copy of such recommendation and he or she then
has at least seven days from the date it was mailed to provide a written response for the Commission’s
consideration.26 The Commission then schedules a probable cause hearing, with a notice of such
hearing provided to the parties at least 14 days prior to the hearing. 27
If the Commission does not find probable cause that the alleged violations were committed, the
complaint or referral is dismissed.28 If the Commission does find probable cause exists, it must provide
notice to the alleged violator of such finding, who then has 14 days following the mailing of the notice to
request a public hearing.29 However, the Commission may require a public hearing regardless of
whether the alleged violator requests a hearing.30 The Commission may also conduct further
investigations and enter into stipulations and settlements as it finds to be just and in the state’s best
interests.31
The Commission may conduct a public hearing or transfer the case to the Division of Administrative
Hearings (DOAH) for such hearing.32 For hearings conducted by the Commission, final orders 33 are
16 Section 112.31455, F.S.; see also Florida Commission on Ethics , Guide to the Sunshine Amendment and Code of Ethics for Public
Officers and Employees, available at http://www.ethics.state.fl.us/Documents/Publications/GuideBookletInternet.pdf (last visited Jan.
20, 2024).
17 Section 112.322(9)(a) and (b), F.S.
18 Section 112.324(1), F.S.
19 Id.
20 Section 112.324(3), F.S.; see r. 34-5.002(2), F.A.C.
21 See r. 34-5.004(7), F.A.C.
22 The Advocate presenting the matter before the Commission must be an Assistant Attorney General or another attorney designated
by the Commission as Advocate. The Advocate represents the Commission in its prosecu torial function. Rule 34-5.0045(2), F.A.C.
23 Rule 34-5.006(1) and (3), F.A.C.; r. 34-17.010(1) and (3), F.A.C.
24 Rule 34-5.006(2), F.A.C.; r. 34-17.010(2), F.A.C.
25 Rule 34-5.006(3), F.A.C; r. 34-17.010(3), F.A.C.
26 Id.
27 Rule 34-5.006(4); r. 34-17.010(4), F.A.C.
28 Section 112.324(3), F.S.
29 Id.
30 Id.
31 Id.
32 Rule 34-5.010, F.A.C.; r. 34-17.013, F.A.C.; see also ss. 120.569(2) and 120.57(1), F.S.
33 A “final order” means a written final decision which results from a proceeding under s. 120.56, s. 120.565, s. 120.569, s. 120.57, s.
120.573, or s. 120.574 which is not a rule, and which is not excepted from the definition of a rule, and which has been filed with the
agency clerk, and includes final agency actions which are affirmative, negative, injunctive, or declaratory in form. A final order
includes all materials explicitly adopted in it. The clerk shall indicate the date of filing on the order. Section 120.52(7), F.S.
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issued recommending a penalty.34 For hearings conducted by a DOAH administrative law judge (ALJ),
the judge issues a recommended order to the Commission. 35 Jurisdiction may be relinquished back to
the Commission from DOAH when a dispute of material fact no longer exists as determined by the
ALJ.36
The Commission may, at its discretion, dismiss any complaint or referral at any stage of disposition
should it determine that the public interest would not be served by proceeding further, but a report must
be issued stating with particularity its reason for dismissal. 37 The Commission may also dismiss any
complaint or referral if it determines that the violation that is alleged or has occurred is a de minimis
violation38 attributable to inadvertent or unintentional error.39
Lobbying Prohibition by a Public Officer
The Florida Constitution prohibits lobbying by certain public officers during public service and for a six-
year period following vacation of public office.40 The prohibitions address lobbying on issues of policy,
appropriations, or procurement before the federal government, the Legislature, any state government
body or agency, or any political subdivision.41 The following officers are subject to this prohibition:
Statewide elected officers.
Members of the Legislature.
County commissioners.
Constitutional county officers and county charter officers.
School board members.
School superintendents.
Elected municipal officers.
Elected special district officers in special districts with ad valorem taxing authority.
Secretaries, executive directors, and other administrative heads of executive branch
departments.42
If the Commission finds that this prohibition has been violated by a public officer, the Commission
reports such finding to the Governor, who may publicly censure and reprimand such officer, impose a
civil penalty no greater than $10,000, and require forfeiture to the General Revenue Fund of any
pecuniary benefits derived from the violation.43
Penalties for Violations
Current law provides a range of penalty provisions for violations of the Code of Ethics that cover public
officers and employees, former public officers and employees, candidates, lobbyists, and lobbying
firms.44 Depending on the position that the individual holds, there are different penalties that can be
enforced, including:
Impeachment, removal from office, or dismissal of employment.
Suspension from office or employment.
Disqualification from being on the ballot.
Demotion.
Reduction in salary.
Forfeiture of no more than one-third of his or her salary per month for no more than 12 months.
Public censure and reprimand.
34 The Commission is without jurisdiction to enter into a stipulation or settlement which imposes any penalty and penalties may only
be imposed by the appropriate disciplinary authority. Section 112.324(3), F.S.
35 Rule 34-5.024(1), F.A.C.; r. 34-17.018(1), F.A.C.; see also s. 120.57(1)(k), F.S. and r. 28-106.216, F.A.C.
36 Section 120.57(1)(i), F.S.
37 Section 112.324(12), F.S
38 A de minimis violation is any violation that is unintentional and not material in nature. Section 112.324(11)(b), F.S.
39 Section 112.324(11)(a), F.S.
40 Art. II, s. 8(f), FLA. CONST .
41 Art. II, s. 8(f)(2), FLA. CONST .
42 Art. II, s. 8(f)(3), FLA. CONST .
43 Section 112.3122(4), F.S.
44 Section 112.317(1), F.S.
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A civil penalty not to exceed $20,000.
Restitution of any pecuniary benefits received because of the violation committed. 45
Although the Commission does not have the authority to directly impose the above penalties, 46 in its
findings, the Commission makes recommendations to the appropriate disciplinary authority for the
individual or entity who was found in violation of the Code of the Ethics. 47
Redress for Defense against a Maliciously Filed Complaint
If the Commission determines that a person has filed a complaint against a public officer or employee
with malicious intent to injure the reputation of such officer or employee, such complainant is liable for
the costs and reasonable attorney fees related to the public officer’s or employee’s defense against the
complaint.48
Effect of the Bill
The bill creates the following statutory timeframes for completion of investigations of alleged ethics
violations conducted by the Commission:
Requires the Commission to complete its preliminary investigation, which concludes with the
probable cause determination, no later than one year after the beginning of the preliminary
investigation.
Requires the Commission to begin a preliminary investigation within 30 days of the
Commission’s receipt of a technically and legally sufficient referral or complaint.
Creates a 60-day deadline from the date of the Commission’s receipt of an initial complaint for
the complainant to file an amended complaint.
Requires an investigatory report to be completed no later than 150 days after issuance of the
order to investigate.
Allows the Commission, at any one Commission meeting held during the preliminary
investigation, to order a one-time extension for additional investigation up to 60 days; requires
the Commission to document the reasons for extension during that meeting; and requires the
Commission to transmit those documented reasons to the alleged violator and complainant
within five days from the order of extension.
Requires an investigatory report be transmitted to the alleged violator and counsel representing
the Commission no later than five days after completion of the report.
Requires the counsel representing the Commission to make a written probable cause
recommendation to the Commission no later than 15 days after receiving an investigatory
report.
Requires the Commission to transmit the counsel’s written recommendation to the alleged
violator no later than five days after its completion.
Requires the alleged violator be given 14 days to respond in writing after the mailing date of the
counsel’s written recommendation.
Requires the Commission, upon receipt of the counsel’s written recommendation, to schedule
the probable cause hearing for the next C