Bill > S0686

This bill makes several changes to Florida law aimed at improving government accountability and transparency. It clarifies that the Governor, Commissioner of Education, or their designees can notify the Legislative Auditing Committee about entities failing to comply with auditing and financial reporting requirements, while excluding water management districts from certain audit mandates. The bill also prohibits legislators or candidates from accepting employment with private entities that receive state funding if it appears to be for the purpose of influencing their legislative role, and establishes stricter standards for officers and board members of certain economic development corporations, requiring them to adhere to ethics laws and imposing a cooling-off period before they can lobby their former organizations. Additionally, it enhances transparency by requiring more entities, including counties, municipalities, and special districts, to post their budgets and budget amendments online for extended periods, and it strengthens provisions related to official misconduct, bribery, and bid tampering by clarifying definitions and expanding the scope of these laws to include public contractors. The bill also updates financial disclosure requirements for elected municipal officers and requires various governmental entities, including school districts, colleges, universities, and state agencies, to establish internal controls to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse, and to ensure the reliability of financial records and the safeguarding of assets. Finally, it adjusts the threshold for state single audits and requires more detailed reporting and follow-up on audit findings for local governmental entities and educational institutions.