Bill > S0092

Introduced Session

An act relating to employee protections; amending s. 112.313, F.S.; defining terms; providing that public officers, public employees, and local government attorneys commit a breach of the public trust when they initiate adverse personnel actions against specified agency employees or independent contractors under certain circumstances; providing construction; creating s. 112.3242, F.S.; providing legislative intent; defining terms; prohibiting agencies and independent contractors from taking specified actions against employees or certain persons for disclosing certain information to the Commission on Ethics; providing applicability; requiring that information disclosed include specified violations or alleged violations; requiring disclosure of specified information to the commission under specified circumstances; providing that specified provisions protect employees and persons who submit written complaints to the commission or provide information to an investigator during an investigation of a complaint or referral; providing applicability; authorizing certain employees or applicants for employment to file complaints in accordance with specified provisions; authorizing certain complainants to pursue a specified administrative remedy or a civil action within a specified timeframe; requiring specified relief; providing applicability; providing that it is an affirmative defense to certain actions that the adverse personnel action was predicated on grounds other than the exercising of certain protected rights; providing construction; amending s. 112.324, F.S.; requiring the Commission on Ethics to deliver copies of complaints and any amendment thereto to the Public Employees Relations Commission upon receiving a written request from the agency; providing that such delivery does not affect specified exemptions in regard to the complaint and amendments; requiring that such delivery be within a reasonable timeframe; requiring that the Commission on Ethics redact certain information under specified conditions; requiring the commission to deliver complaints and any amendment thereto to certain persons upon a notarized written request; providing that such delivery does not affect the specified exemptions of the complaint; requiring that such delivery be within a reasonable timeframe; requiring that the commission redact certain information under specified conditions; creating s. 112.3243, F.S.; authorizing certain employees to file a complaint with the commission within a specified timeframe; requiring that the commission acknowledge receipt of such complaint and provide copies of the complaint and any other information to the agency head or independent contractor within a specified timeframe; requiring the commission to conduct informal fact-finding regarding legally sufficient complaints and provide, within a specified timeframe, a certain report to the agency head or independent contractor; providing that the commission is empowered to take specified actions; requiring the commission to notify a complainant of the status of the investigation and actions taken when appropriate; requiring the commission to make a certain determination and provide a fact-finding report to specified entities under specified conditions; requiring the commission to file such determination and report with the agency head or independent contractor under specified conditions; requiring the commission to provide a certain notice to specified entities under specified conditions; requiring the commission to terminate investigations under specified circumstances; prohibiting disciplinary action against an employee under specified conditions; authorizing complainants to file a complaint against the employer agency with the Public Employees Relations Commission; providing that such commission has jurisdiction over such complaints; authorizing the Commission on Ethics to adopt rules; reenacting s. 112.3136(1), F.S., relating to standards of conduct for officers and employees of entities serving as chief administrative officer of political subdivisions, to incorporate the amendment made to s. 112.313, F.S., in a reference thereto; providing an effective date.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Don Gaetz (R)*, 

Other Sponsors (1)

Senate Rules Hearing (12:00:00 2/17/2026 412 Knott Building) (on 02/17/2026)

Official Document