Ethics can be an individual’s core values and/ or norms, or a set of standards or code of conduct for government, business, and communities that can guide individual or group decisions, behaviors, and/or activities.
Floridians deserve a government that operates at the highest level of ethical integrity. Such a government must establish ethical standards for public officials and recognize the right of citizens to guard against the abuse of the public’s trust.
- Florida’s first successful constitutional initiative resulted in the adoption of the 1976 Sunshine Amendment, providing constitutional guarantees of ethical standards in government. To enforce those standards, the Sunshine Amendment requires there be an independent commission (the Florida Commission on Ethics) to investigate complaints alleging breaches of the public trust by public officers and employees.
Florida’s Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees is found in Chapter 112 of the Florida Statutes. The Ethics Code is intended to ensure that public officials conduct themselves independently and impartially, not using their offices for private gain.
What would be a public official ethics violation?
According to the Ethics Code some violations include –
- Solicitation and Acceptance of Gifts
Public officers, employees, local government attorneys, and candidates are prohibited from accepting anything of value, such as a gift, loan, reward, promise of future employment, favor, or service, that is based on the understanding that their vote, official action, or judgement would be influenced by such gift. Section 112.313 (2), Florida Statutes.
- Misuse of Public Position
Public officers and employees, and local government attorneys are prohibited from corruptly using or attempting to use their official positions or the resources there of to obtain a special privilege or benefit for themselves or others. Section 112.313(6), Florida Statutes.
- Voting Conflicts of Interest
No county, municipal, or other local public officer shall vote in an official capacity upon any measure which would inure to his or her special private gain or loss, or which the officer knows would inure to the special private gain or loss of any principal by whom he or she is retained, of the parent organization or subsidiary or sibling of a corporate principle by which he or she is retained, of a relative, or of a business associate. Excerpted from section 112.3143, Florida Statutes.
Visit to learn more about Florida Ethics Laws and Violations –
Florida Code of Ethics: Click Here to Access
Florida Commission on Ethics: 2020 Guide to the Sunshine Amendment and Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees
What is Public Official Financial Disclosure?
All constitutionally elected officers in Florida are required to file the full financial disclosure form (FORM 6) by July 1 every year with the Florida Commission on Ethics.
FORM 6 requires politicians to provide a detailed release of their account information including assets, liabilities, and sources of income over $1,000 and their values, as well as net worth. Officials may opt to file their most recent income tax return in lieu of listing sources of income.
What about my public officials’ Form 6?
Floridians can search for public official’s FORM 6 financial disclosure forms here.
Financial Disclosure Process, Deadline, and Fees:
Financial disclosure is due July 1 of each year for the preceding calendar year. A grace period is in effect until September 1. If the disclosure is not filed or postmarked by September 1, an automatic fine of $25 per day will begin to accrue and will continue to build until the disclosure is filed, or the fine reaches $1,500.
Fines may be appealed to the Commission, which can waive or reduce the fine, if unusual circumstances prevented the filer from filing on time.
Are there public officials who do not file on time? Yes, many.
View a report on public officials who have either not yet filed, or filed after the reporting deadline, and who accrued or are accruing automatic fines here.
That is a small price to pay for nondisclosure.
$1,500 is a small fee to pay to avoid disclosing financial information. The Florida Commission on Ethics should increase the fine limit significantly to incentivize elected officials to have higher financial ethical standards.