Florida HB 603: Ethics for Public Employees

Bill Text

HB 603 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb603-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to ethics for public employees; 2
amending s. 112.312, F.S.; revising the definition of 3
the term "relative" to include foster parents and 4
foster children; reenacting s. 1001.421, F.S., 5
relating to gifts to district school board members, to 6
incorporate the amendment made to s. 112.312, F.S., in 7
a reference thereto; providing an effective date. 8
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 10
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Section 1. Subsection (21) of section 112.312, Florida 12
Statutes, is amended to read: 13
112.312 Definitions.—As used in this part and for purposes 14
of the provisions of s. 8, Art. II of the State Constitution, 15
unless the context otherwise requires: 16
(21) "Relative," unless otherwise specified in this part, 17
means an individual who is related to a public officer or 18
employee as father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, 19
uncle, aunt, first cousin, nephew, niece, husband, wife, father-20
in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-21
law, sister-in-law, stepfather, stepmother, stepson, 22
stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half brother, half 23
sister, grandparent, great grandparent, grandchild, great 24
grandchild, step grandparent, step great grandparent, step 25

HB 603 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb603-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

grandchild, or step great grandchild; an individual who, while 26
the public officer or employee was a minor, was his or her 27
legally recognized foster parent in the jurisdiction where the 28
relationship occurred or an individual who is a current or 29
former legally recognized foster child of the public officer or 30
employee in the jurisdiction where the relationship occurs or 31
occurred; a, person who is engaged to be married to the public 32
officer or employee or who otherwise holds himself or herself 33
out as or is generally known as the person whom the public 34
officer or employee intends to marry or with whom the public 35
officer or employee intends to form a household;, or any other 36
natural person having the same legal residence as the public 37
officer or employee. 38
Section 2. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment 39
made by this act to section 112.312, Florida Statutes, in a 40
reference thereto, section 1001.421, Florida Statutes, is 41
reenacted to read: 42
1001.421 Gifts.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law 43
to the contrary, district school board members and their 44
relatives, as defined in s. 112.312(21), may not directly or 45
indirectly solicit any gift, or directly or indirectly accept 46
any gift in excess of $50, from any person, vendor, potential 47
vendor, or other entity doing business with the school district. 48
The term "gift" has the same meaning as in s. 112.312(12). 49
Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 50