This bill amends sections 112.3144 and 112.3145 of the Florida Statutes to introduce a provision that prohibits the assessment of a fine for a reporting person's first late filing of a disclosure or statement of financial interests, provided certain conditions are met. Specifically, a fine will not be imposed if the disclosure is filed before the individual accrues the maximum automatic fine for that filing year and if the individual has not previously received a waiver of an automatic fine. The bill also clarifies that this provision applies to fines that begin to accrue after September 1, 2026.

Additionally, the bill modifies the language regarding the assessment of fines for late filings, changing "Any person" to "Except as provided in subparagraph 3., a person" in both sections. This change aligns with the new provision that allows for a waiver of fines under specific circumstances. The bill aims to provide a more lenient approach for first-time offenders while maintaining the structure for assessing fines for subsequent late filings. The act is set to take effect upon becoming law.

Statutes affected:
H 1369 Filed: 112.3144, 112.3145