Bill > H0353

This bill revises provisions related to expressway authorities, which are state agencies responsible for building and operating expressways, by implementing stricter ethics rules and requiring county approval for toll increases in certain counties. Specifically, it modifies the membership composition of expressway authorities in counties defined by section 125.011(1) of Florida Statutes, which generally refers to larger, more populous counties, and introduces new prohibitions on activities for board members and executive directors, such as personally representing others for compensation before the authority for two years after leaving their position. The bill also establishes the role of an ethics officer within each authority, mandates annual disclosure of certain relationships and real property interests that could create conflicts of interest, and requires the development and regular review of a code of ethics policy for all authority employees and consultants, with ongoing ethics education for employees. Furthermore, for expressway authorities in counties defined by section 125.011(1), any proposed increase in tolls must now receive approval from a supermajority vote of the county's governing board, subject to existing contractual obligations related to outstanding debt.