1. Ethics: How Things Work
Presented by: Kerrie Stillman, Florida Commission on Ethics

2. Disclosure or use of info not available to members of the public, gained because of your official position
Your benefit or the benefit of any other person or business
Applies to both current and former officials/employees
Exception - info relating exclusively to governmental practices
Inside Information

3. Benefit to self or others
Corrupt Intent
Benefit to self or others
Misuse
Misuse

4. Conflicting Employment
Regulated by
Doing business
with
CONFLICT
Conflicting Employment

6. Business Prohibitions
cannot purchase, rent, or lease any realty, goods, or services for your agency from any business which you, your spouse or child is an officer, partner, director, proprietor, or has a material interest
Business Prohibitions

7. In your private capacity, cannot rent, lease, or sell any realty goods or services to your office or any other offices within your political subdivision

8. Nepotism Prohibited from: Appointing Employing Promoting Advancing
Recommending
Nepotism

9. Financial Disclosure Due July 1st and published online
Read directions, check website, call for help
Forms 6X and 6F
$25/per day fine after Sept. 1st
Collections/Salary withholding/garnishment
Financial Disclosure

10. Gifts Solicitation or acceptance of gifts Unauthorized compensation
“The” gifts law
Gifts

11. Solicitation & Acceptance Unauthorized Compensation
Public officer
Employee
Local gov’t attorney
Candidate
Things of value
Based on understanding
Public officer
Employee
Local gov’t attorney
Spouse & minor child
Knowledge
Reasonable Care
Given To Influence
Quid Pro Quo

12. The Gifts Law
Applies to Reporting Individuals (RI) only

13. Anything you accept or that is accepted on your behalf, given directly or indirectly for your benefit, for which equal or greater consideration (payment) is not given within 90 days

14. Exceptions
Section (12)(b), F.S.

15. Gifts from lobbyists or vendors
Lobbyist - compensated and seeking to influence agency
Vendor - business entity doing business directly with an agency
Between $25-$100 reported by donor
Over $100 prohibited
Gifts from lobbyists or vendors

16. Not Relatives & Not Lobbyists
Anyone other than a relative or lobbyist
Gifts are acceptable
Over $100 reported by the official
Not Relatives & Not Lobbyists

17. Gifts and Political Committees
Gifts given by political committees are prohibited
Applies to RI and immediate family
Civil Penalty=3 x value in addition to regular complaint penalties
Gifts and Political Committees

18. Two year restriction
Revolving Doors

20. Opinion Requests INFORMAL FORMAL Question Staff Letter Question Staff
Commission
Opinion
Opinion Requests

21. Complaints Complaints on Form 50 Referrals Self-initiated
FDLE, State Attorney, Governor, Federal Prosecutor
Self-initiated
Willful failure to file disclosure
Confidential & Exempt
Complaints

22. Sufficiency
Probable Cause
Final Action

23. www.ethics.state.fl.us 850-488-7864 Visit our training page
Research opinions
Download forms
View Form 6
Check form receipt