Sunday, October 28, 2018

Florida Commission on Ethics: Profile by National Conference of State Legislatures

Looking at Florida's dysfunctional Ethics Commission through the eyes of the National Conference of State Legislatures, which identifies 24.5 staff positions and a budget of $2,613,712, with it says is not required to conduct ethics training and that such training attendance is not mandatory.  And it shows.  And one of the Commissioners' seats has been vacant for a year.  The Governor gets to appoint five members -- no more than three from one political party.  And Governor RICK SCOTT has left a Democratic seat vacant for more than a year, causing deadlocks and desuetude (non-enforcement).  Enough.





Florida
Florida Commission on Ethics
Virlindia Doss, Executive Director P.O. Drawer 15709
Tallahassee, FL 32317-5709

P: (850) 488-7864
F: (850) 488-3077
Email: 
doss.virlindia@leg.state.fl.usWebsite: http://www.ethics.state.fl.us/
Created 1974 (Fla. Stat. § 112.320 - § 112.326).
Physical address:
3600 Maclay Boulevard, South, Suite 201 Tallahassee, FL 32312
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Commission Composition & Structure
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Branch of government in which commission is located
Legislative
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Approximate number of commission employees
24.5
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Approximate commission budget
$2,613,372
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Number of Commissioners
9
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Who can serve on the commission?
There are no positions that must be filled by any particular profession or occupation, except that one member appointed by the governor must be a former city or county official.
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Who is ineligible to serve?
Lobbyists; public employees; persons holding any other state, county or municipal office.
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Who appoints members?
Five appointed by governor; two appointed by speaker of the house; two by president of the senate.
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What is the appointment procedure?
The five governor's appointees are subject to confirmation by the senate.
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Additional information
The governor cannot appoint more than three members from the same political party; the speaker's appointees cannot be from the same political party; and the president's appointees cannot be from the same political party.
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Do commissioners receive a salary?
No
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Are commissioners reimbursed for expenses?
Yes
Length of commissioner’s term in office
2 years
Term limits
May not serve more than two full terms in succession
Activities prohibited for commissioners
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Cannot be a lobbyist before state and local governmental entities
Can commissioners be removed from office?
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Yes
Removed by whom and for what cause?
For “cause” by majority vote of the governor, the president of the senate, the speaker of the house, and the chief justice
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Are commissioners required to file a financial disclosure?
Yes
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Commission Jurisdiction
Commission Jurisdiction
Yes
Elected Official
Appointed Official
Public Employees
Local
Statewide
Executive Branch
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X
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Legislative Branch
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X
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Lobbyists
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X
Local Government
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Political Candidates
X
X
X
V endors/Contractors
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Powers & Duties:
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Develop forms
Issue advisory opinions Issue an annual report Subpoena witnesses
Investigate complaints
Adopt rules implementing legislative standards
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Ethics Training
Groups Trained:
Training Offered
Online
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Executive Branch X
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X
Executive Branch
Employees X X
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Legislators X
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X
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Legislative Employees X X
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Lobbyists X
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Local Government X X
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The commission conducts ethics training on:
Ethics laws Ethics rules
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Is this in addition to in-house ethics training?
Yes
Are ethics training resources available on the website?
Yes
Is the commission required by law to offer ethics training?
No
Is attendance mandatory?
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No
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Complaint Procedure
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Who can initiate a complaint?
General public Public officials
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Is the complaint form available online?
Yes
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Can a complaint be filed online?
No
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If commissioners can file a complaint, do they have to recuse themselves from the investigation and/or hearings related to the case?
Commissioners cannot file complaints, therefore do not need to recuse themselves
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Is the commission authorized to investigate complaints?
Yes
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Is the complaint kept confidential?
Yes
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At what point is the complaint made public?
At the point the commission decides not to order an investigation; after preliminary investigation when the commission decides whether probable cause exists; or when the complaint is waived by the subject official
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All records, unless information is exempt or confidential pursuant to Florida public records law.
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What information is made public?
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Does the commission have the authority to dismiss complaints?
Yes
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Process for handling frivolous complaints
Complaints are dismissed if the facts as alleged do not constitute a breach of the public trust or if the Commission finds that the public interest would not be served by proceeding further.
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Are advisory opinions made public?
Yes
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Is there an appeal process?
To a district court of appeal (one step below the Fla. supreme court)
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Is the commission authorized to prosecute complaints?
Yes
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Does the commission have the authority to levy sanctions?
No

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