This document does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill sponsor or House of Representatives.
STORAGE NAME: h0505z1.LFS.DOCX
DATE: 4/17/2024
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STAFF FINAL BILL ANALYSIS
BILL #: CS/HB 505 Tax Collectors
SPONSOR(S): Local Administration, Federal Affairs & Special Districts Subcommittee; Truenow
TIED BILLS: IDEN./SIM. BILLS: SB 958
FINAL HOUSE FLOOR ACTION: 110 Y’s
3 N’s GOVERNOR’S ACTION: Approved
SUMMARY ANALYSIS
CS/HB 505 passed the House on March 6, 2024, as SB 958.
The Florida Constitution requires the powers, duties, compensation, and method of payment of state and
county officers to be determined by general law. Current law provides a uniform salary schedule to ensure a
fair and equitable payment of officers performing equivalent duties for the state across different counties. The
final salary of county constitutional officers is calculated using a formula that includes a base salary, population
adjustment, and variables based on wage growth over time.
Current law prohibits the payment of extra compensation to any public employee in the state for services that
have been previously rendered. This provision has been interpreted to include the payment of a bonus to
existing employees for services for which they have already performed and been compensated, in the absence
of a preexisting employment contract making such bonuses a part of their salary.
Qualifying state employees, veterans, servicemembers, and law enforcement officers are eligible to receive a
lump-sum monetary benefit for adopting a child within the child welfare system. This benefit provides a
payment of $10,000 for adopting a child classified as difficult to place and $5,000 for other children. Adoption
benefits are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis and are subject to appropriation.
The bill makes the following revisions to current law concerning local government employees:
Increases the base salary used in the formula for calculating tax collector and elected district school
superintendent salaries by $5,000.
Allows tax collector employees to be eligible for a lump-sum monetary benefit for adopting a child on
the same terms as law enforcement officers.
Allows tax collectors to budget for and pay a hiring or retention bonus to employees if the expenditure is
approved of by the Department of Revenue.
Allows district school boards to contract with county tax collectors to authorize tax collector employees
to administer road tests on school grounds.
The bill has no fiscal impact to state government and may have an insignificant negative fiscal impact on local
governments.
The bill was approved by the Governor on April 15, 2024, ch. 2024-90, L.O.F., and will become
effective on July 1, 2024.
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I. SUBSTANTIVE INFORMATION
A. EFFECT OF CHANGES:
Present Situation
Compensation of County Officials
The Florida Constitution requires the powers, duties, compensation, and method of payment of state
and county officers to be determined by general law.
1
Current law provides a uniform salary schedule to ensure fair and equitable payment of officers
performing equivalent duties for the state across different counties.
2
The statutory salary schedule
applies to all designated officers in all counties, except those officials whose salaries are set by a
county charter or officials in a chartered consolidated form of government.
3
The salary schedule classifies counties in six groups based on population.
4
These groups range from
population group I, consisting of counties with fewer than 50,000 residents, to population group VI,
consisting of counties with 1,000,000 or more residents.
5
The salary rate of the official is calculated by
adding the base salary for the county’s population group to the product of the county’s group rate and
the number of residents in excess of the minimum for the population group.
6
The current rates for all
county officers, except sheriffs and county commissioners, are:
Population
Group #
County Population Range Current Law Base Salary
Minimum Maximum
I -0- 49,999 $21,250
II 50,000 99,999 $24,400
III 100,000 199,999 $27,550
IV 200,000 399,999 $30,175
V 400,000 999,999 $33,325
VI 1,000,000 N/A $36,475
The salary paid to each county constitutional officer is determined by the product of the salary rate
calculated from the relevant section of ch. 145, F.S., the annual factor,
7
the cumulative annual
factor,
8
and the initial factor.
9
The annual factor and the cumulative annual factor are certified each
year by the Department of Management Services.
10
Each constitutional officer is eligible for an
additional $2,000 per year if that officer meets the certification requirement applicable to the office.
11
1
See art. II, s. 5(c), Fla. Const. (requiring compensation of county officers to be fixed by law), art. III, s. 11(a)(21), Fla. Const.
(prohibiting special acts and general laws of local application on any subject when prohibited by a general law passed by a three-fifths
vote of the membership of each house), and s. 145.16, F.S. (prohibiting special laws and general laws of local application for county
commissioners, county constitutional officers, school superintendents, and school board members).
2
S. 145.011(2), F.S.
3
S. 145.012, F.S.
4
See ss. 145.011 and 145.11, F.S.
5
See s. 145.11(1), F.S.
6
Id.
7
S. 145.19(1)(a), F.S. The “annual factor” is one plus the lesser of the average percentage increase in the salaries of state career
service employees for the current fiscal year or seven percent.
8
S. 145.19(1)(b), F.S. The “cumulative annual factor” of the product of all annual factors prior to the current fiscal year.
9
S. 145.19(1)(c), F.S. The “initial factor” is 1.292.
10
S. 145.19(2), F.S.
11
See e.g. s. 145.11(2), F.S. (certification requirements for tax collector established by Dept. of Revenue).
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In 2023, the Office of Economic and Demographic Research provided the following sample
computation for the Alachua County Clerk of Circuit Court, Property Appraiser, Supervisor of Elections,
and Tax Collector:
12
Sample Computation of Salary
2022 Countywide Population Estimate 287,872
Group Number (IV) Minimum 200,000
Corresponding Base Salary (i.e., Group IV) $30,175
Corresponding Group Rate (i.e., Group IV) 0.01575
Initial Factor 1.292
Certified Annual Factor 1.0577
Certified Cumulative Annual Factor 3.9081
Salary = [$30,175 + [(287,872 - 200,000) x 0.01575] ] x 1.292 x 1.0577 x 3.9081 = $168,544
Compensation of Elected District School Superintendents
Each school district is led by a district school superintendent who is responsible for general oversight of
the district and preforming certain duties and responsibilities.
13
District school superintendents are
elected by the qualified electors of the county, unless the electors of the county have approved a
resolution or special act to convert the position into one appointed and employed by the district school
board.
14
Appointed district school superintendents must be compensated at a reasonable annual salary
determined using statutorily enumerated factors.
15
Elected district school superintendents are
compensated using the same methodology as county officers, with a base salary equal to the current
rates for all county officers except sheriffs and county commissioners.
16
Public Employee Bonuses
Current law generally prohibits the payment of extra compensation to any public employee in the state
for services that have been previously rendered.
17
Numerous Florida Attorney General opinions have
been issued interpreting this prohibition, including one that found a bonus to existing employees for
services for which they have already performed and been compensated, in the absence of a preexisting
employment contract making such bonuses a part of their salary, violated the prohibition.
18
12
Office of Economic and Demographic Research, Salaries of Elected County Constitutional Officers and School District Officials for
Fiscal Year 2023-24, at 3, http://edr.state.fl.us/Content/local-government/reports/finsal23.pdf (last visited Jan. 20, 2024).
13
Ss, 1001.49 and 1001.51, F.S.
14
Art. IX, s. 5., Fla. Const.
15
S. 1001.50(3), F.S.
16
S. 145.19(2), F.S. Also compare s. 145.09(1), F.S. (base salary for supervisors of elections) with s. 1001.47, F.S (base salary for
elected district school superintendents).
17
See s. 215.425(1), F.S. (prohibiting extra compensation and providing a list of exceptions).
18
Op. Att’y Gen. Fla. 91-51 (1991).
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Adoption Benefits
A qualifying state employee,
19
veteran,
20
or servicemember
21
who adopts a child within the child
welfare system is eligible to receive a lump-sum monetary benefit per child: $10,000 for a child who is
classified as difficult-to-place
22
and $5,000 for other children. Law enforcement officers are also eligible
for this benefit, except the lump-sums received are $25,000 and $10,000, respectively.
23
The adoption monetary benefit is limited to one award per adopted child within the child welfare
system.
24
Benefits are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis and are subject to appropriation.
25
The chart below documents the total number of adoption monetary benefits requested and received in
the last four fiscal years (FYs):
26
Child Welfare System Adoption Benefits 2019-2023
FY
Child
Welfare
Adoptions
Number of
Awards
Awards as a Percent
of Child Welfare
Adoptions
Appropriations
27
Expenditures
2019-20 4,548 275 6% $2,750,000 $2,732,000
2020-21 3,904 263 7% $2,750,000 $2,674,370
2021-22 3,888 323 8% $3,233,700 $3,225,000
2022-23 3,602 412 11% $8,377,470 $4,345,000
The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) holds an annual open enrollment period to
receive applications for the adoption monetary benefit between the first business day of January and
the last business day of March. For multiple adoptions, the applicant must submit a separate
application for each child. DCF must review all timely applications and determine who is eligible to
receive the benefit. Applications
28
must be processed in the order they were received during the open
enrollment period.
29
Applicants must include in their application packets a certified copy of the final order of adoption
naming the applicant as the adoptive parent.
While the Chief Financial Officer of DCF transfers the
funds to award recipients, not every applicant can apply for the adoption monetary benefit directly to
DCF. Current law requires veterans and servicemembers to apply directly to DCF to receive the benefit;
19
Qualifying adoptive employee means a full-time or part-time employee of a state agency, a charter school, or the Florida Virtual
School who adopts a child within the child welfare system on or after July 1, 2015. Independent contractors do not meet this definition.
S. 409.1664(1)(c), F.S.
20
Veteran means a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service and who was discharged or released under honorable
conditions only or who later received an upgraded discharge under honorable conditions, notwithstanding any action by the United
States Department of Veterans Affairs on individuals discharged or released with other than honorable discharges. Ss. 1.01(14),
409.1664(1)(f), F.S.
21
Servicemember means any person serving as a member of the United States Armed Forces on active duty or state active duty and
all members of the Florida National Guard and United States Reserve Forces. Ss. 250.01(19), 409.1664(1)(d), F.S.
22
A difficult-to-place child means a child 1) who DCF or a licensed child-placing agency has permanent custody of, 2) who established
a significant emotional ties with his or her foster parents or is not likely to be adopted because he or she is eight years of age or older,
developmentally disabled, physical or emotionally handicapped, is a member of a racial group that is disproportionately represented
among children in the permanent custody of DCF of a licensed child-placing agency, or is a member of a sibling group, and 3) for whom
a reasonable but unsuccessful effort was made to place the child without providing a maintenance subsidy (except when the child is
adopted by the child’s foster parents or relative caregiver). S. 409.166(2)(d), F.S.
23
S. 409.1664(2), F.S.
24
S. 409.1664(2)(b), F.S.
25
S. 409.1664(2)(c) and (3), F.S.
26
Emails from the Florida Department of Children and Families on file with the Health & Human Services Committee (Feb. 6-7, 2024).
27
The appropriation was increased in FY 2022-23 to accommodate a law change making law enforcement officers eligible for an
award. Funds not spent by the end of each fiscal year revert to the General Revenue Fund. Email from the Florida Department of
Children and Families on file with the Health & Human Services Committee (Feb. 7, 2024). See s. 3, ch. 2022-23, Laws of Fla.
28
Florida Department of Children and Families, CF-FSP 5327 Adoption Benefits For State Employees And Other Eligible Applicants,
(Oct. 21, 2022), available at https://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-14887 (last visited Feb. 7, 2024).
29
R. 65C-16.021; see s. 409.1664(6), F.S.
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however, state employees must apply to their own agency head, employees at a charter school
30
or the
Florida Virtual School
31
must apply to their respective school director, and a law enforcement officer
must apply to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
32
When the demand for the adoption benefit exceeds the supply of appropriated funds, denied applicants
do not have to submit a new application during the next open enrollment period. Instead, DCF will
automatically consider this pool of eligible applicants for future appropriations.
33
Instruction in Motor Vehicle Operation
Each school district is responsible for providing a course of study and instruction in the safe and lawful
operation of a motor vehicle that is available to students in secondary schools.
34
The course may use
instructional personnel employed by the school district or contract with a commercial driving school or
instructor certified under ch. 488, F.S.
35
The courses are financed by a $0.50 annual fee charged to
each driver as part of the driver license fee.
36
Effect of the Bill
Compensation of County Officials and Public Employee Bonuses
The bill increases the base salary for tax collectors and elected district school superintendents in each
population group by $5,000. The table below reflects salary adjustments made by the bill:
Elected County
Officials
Population
Group #
County Population
Range
Current
Law Base
Salary
Base
Salary
Under Bill Minimum Maximum
Tax Collectors and
Elected District
School
Superintendents
I -0- 49,999 $21,250 $26,250
II 50,000 99,999 $24,400 $29,400
III 100,000 199,999 $27,550 $32,550
IV 200,000 399,999 $30,175 $35,175
V 400,000 999,999 $33,325 $38,325
VI 1,000,000 N/A $36,475 $41,475
If this base salary had been in effect during FY 2023-24, the total salary of each county tax collector
and elected district school superintendent would have increased by approximately $26,703 relative to
current law. The bill authorizes tax collectors, notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, to budget
for and pay a hiring or retention bonus to employees if the expenditure is approved by the Department
of Revenue in the respective tax collector's budget.
Adoption Benefits
The bill provides that tax collector employees may qualify for a lump-sum monetary benefit of $25,000
for adopting a difficult to place child in the welfare system, or $10,000 for other children. The tax
collector employee must be domiciled in the state and may only receive the benefit if they adopt the
child on or after July 1, 2024. A tax collector employee must apply to DCF to receive the benefit.
30
All charter schools in Florida are public schools and part of the state’s program of public education. s. 1002.33(1), F.S.
31
The Florida Virtual School provides online and distance learning education. The school is governed by a board of trustees appointed
by the Governor, and the board of trustees is a public agency. Current law advises that all employees except temporary, seasonal, and
student employees may be classified as state employees for purposes of Florida Retirement System benefits. S. 1002.37, F.S.
32
Ss. 409.1664(3), (7), F.S.
33
R. 65C-16.021; see s. 409.1664(6), F.S.
34
S. 1003.48(1), F.S.
35
S. 1003.48(2), F.S.
36
S. 1003.48(4), F.S.
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Instruction in Motor Vehicle Operation
The bill allows district school boards to contract with the county tax collector to authorize a tax collector
employee to administer road tests on school grounds at one or more secondary schools in the district.
II. FISCAL ANALYSIS & ECONOMIC IMPAC T STATEMENT
A. FISCAL IMPACT ON STATE GOVERNMENT:
1. Revenues:
None.
2. Expenditures:
Specific Appropriation 326 of the General Appropriations Act for FY 2024-25 includes an
appropriation of $17.7 million for adoption incentives. While it is unknown how many tax collector
employees will adopt children from the child welfare system or apply for the adoption benefit, all
benefits are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis and are subject to appropriation.
B. FISCAL IMPACT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
1. Revenues:
None.
2. Expenditures:
The bill may have an indeterminate negative fiscal impact on local governments due to an increase
in the base salary rate for tax collectors and elected district school superintendents and the extent
to which each county provides bonuses for tax collector employees.
C. DIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACT ON PRIVATE SECTOR:
None.
D. FISCAL COMMENTS:
None.