Florida 2024 Regular Session

Florida House Bill H0759 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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3	3	HB 759 2024
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10	10	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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14	14	A bill to be entitled 1
15	15	An act relating to the Solicitation of Contributions 2
16	16	Act; amending s. 496.404, F.S.; revising the 3
17	17	definition of the term "solicitation"; creating s. 4
18	18	496.4151, F.S.; defining the term "panhandling"; 5
19	19	prohibiting panhandling under certain circumstances; 6
20	20	prohibiting a person from approaching an operator or 7
21	21	other occupant of a motor vehicle for the purpose of 8
22	22	panhandling; providing penalties; amending s. 496.417, 9
23	23	F.S.; providing additional violations that constitute 10
24	24	a felony; amending s. 496.425, F.S.; revising the 11
25	25	definition of the term "facility"; conforming penalty 12
26	26	provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 13
27	27	496.426, F.S.; requiring individuals engaged in 14
28	28	solicitation in certain areas to identify on whose 15
29	29	behalf and for what purpose contributions are being 16
30	30	solicited; including additional statutory provisions 17
31	31	in the Solicitation of Contributions Act; amending ss. 18
32	32	496.401, 496.403, 496.409, 496.410, 496.415, 49 6.416, 19
33	33	496.418, 496.419, 496.420, 496.421, 496.422, 496.423, 20
34	34	496.424, and 617.0601, F.S.; conforming cross -21
35	35	references; providing an effective date. 22
36	36	23
37	37	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 24
38	38	25
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40	40	HB 759 2024
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47	47	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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51	51	Section 1. Section 496.404, Florida Stat utes, is amended 26
52	52	to read: 27
53	53	496.404 Definitions. —As used in ss. 496.401-496.430 ss. 28
54	54	496.401-496.424, the term: 29
55	55	(1) "Charitable organization" means a person who is or 30
56	56	holds herself or himself out to be established for any 31
57	57	benevolent, educational, philanth ropic, humane, scientific, 32
58	58	artistic, patriotic, social welfare or advocacy, public health, 33
59	59	environmental conservation, civic, or other eleemosynary 34
60	60	purpose, or a person who in any manner employs a charitable 35
61	61	appeal as the basis for any solicitation or an a ppeal that 36
62	62	suggests that there is a charitable purpose to any solicitation. 37
63	63	The term includes a chapter, branch, area office, or similar 38
64	64	affiliate soliciting contributions within the state for a 39
65	65	charitable organization that has its principal place of busin ess 40
66	66	outside the state. 41
67	67	(2) "Charitable purpose" means a benevolent, 42
68	68	philanthropic, patriotic, educational, humane, scientific, 43
69	69	artistic, public health, social welfare or advocacy, 44
70	70	environmental conservation, civic, or other eleemosynary 45
71	71	objective. 46
72	72	(3) "Charitable sales promotion" means an advertising or 47
73	73	sales campaign conducted by a commercial co -venturer which 48
74	74	represents that the purchase or use of goods or services offered 49
75	75	by the commercial co -venturer benefits a charitable 50
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84	84	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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86	86
87	87
88	88	organization. The provision of advertising services to a 51
89	89	charitable organization does not, in itself, constitute a 52
90	90	charitable sales promotion. 53
91	91	(4) "Commercial co-venturer" means a person who, for 54
92	92	profit, regularly and primarily is engaged in trade or commerce 55
93	93	other than in connect ion with solicitation of contributions and 56
94	94	who conducts a charitable sales promotion or a sponsor sales 57
95	95	promotion. 58
96	96	(5) "Contribution" means the promise, pledge, or grant of 59
97	97	money or property, financial assistance, or any other thing of 60
98	98	value in response to a solicitation. The term includes, in the 61
99	99	case of a charitable organization or sponsor offering goods and 62
100	100	services to the public, the difference between the direct cost 63
101	101	of the goods and services to the charitable organization or 64
102	102	sponsor and the price at which the charitable organization or 65
103	103	sponsor or a person acting on behalf of the charitable 66
104	104	organization or sponsor resells those goods or services to the 67
105	105	public. The term does not include: 68
106	106	(a) Bona fide fees, dues, or assessments paid by members 69
107	107	if membership is not conferred solely as consideration for 70
108	108	making a contribution in response to a solicitation; 71
109	109	(b) Funds obtained by a charitable organization or sponsor 72
110	110	pursuant to government grants or contracts; 73
111	111	(c) Funds obtained as an allocation from a United Way 74
112	112	organization that is duly registered with the department; or 75
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121	121	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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125	125	(d) Funds received from an organization duly registered 76
126	126	with the department that is exempt from federal income taxation 77
127	127	under s. 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code and described in s. 78
128	128	501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code. 79
129	129	(6) "Crisis" means an event that garners widespread 80
130	130	national or global media coverage due to an actual or perceived 81
131	131	threat of harm to an individual, a group, or a community. 82
132	132	(7) "Department" means the Department of Agriculture and 83
133	133	Consumer Services. 84
134	134	(8) "Disaster" means a natural, technological, or civil 85
135	135	event, including, but not limited to, an explosion, chemical 86
136	136	spill, earthquake, tsunami, landslide, volcanic activity, 87
137	137	avalanche, wildfire, tornado, hurricane, drought, or flood, 88
138	138	which affects one or more countries and causes damage of 89
139	139	sufficient severity and magnitude to result in: 90
140	140	(a) An official declaration of a state of emergency; or 91
141	141	(b) An official request for international assistance. 92
142	142	(9) "Division" means the Division of Consumer Services of 93
143	143	the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. 94
144	144	(10) "Educational institutions" means those institutions 95
145	145	and organizations described in s. 212.08(7)(cc)8.a. The term 96
146	146	includes private nonprofit organizations, the purpose of which 97
147	147	is to raise funds for schools teaching grades kindergarten 98
148	148	through grade 12, colleges, and universities, including a 99
149	149	nonprofit newspaper of free or paid circulation primarily on 100
150	150
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158	158	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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160	160
161	161
162	162	university or college campuses which holds a current exe mption 101
163	163	from federal income tax under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal 102
164	164	Revenue Code, an educational television network or system 103
165	165	established pursuant to s. 1001.26, and a nonprofit television 104
166	166	or radio station that is a part of such network or system and 105
167	167	that holds a current exemption from federal income tax under s. 106
168	168	501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The term also includes a 107
169	169	nonprofit educational cable consortium that holds a current 108
170	170	exemption from federal income tax under s. 501(c)(3) of the 109
171	171	Internal Revenue Code, the primary purpose of which is the 110
172	172	delivery of educational and instructional cable television 111
173	173	programming and the members of which are composed exclusively of 112
174	174	educational organizations that hold a valid consumer certificate 113
175	175	of exemption and that are either an educational institution as 114
176	176	defined in this subsection or qualified as a nonprofit 115
177	177	organization pursuant to s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue 116
178	178	Code. 117
179	179	(11) "Emergency service employee" means an employee who is 118
180	180	a firefighter, as defined in s. 633.102, or ambulance driver, 119
181	181	emergency medical technician, or paramedic, as defined in s. 120
182	182	401.23. 121
183	183	(12) "Federated fundraising organization" means a 122
184	184	federation of independent charitable organizations that have 123
185	185	voluntarily joined together, including, but not limited to, a 124
186	186	united way or community chest, for purposes of raising and 125
187	187
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195	195	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
196	196
197	197
198	198
199	199	distributing contributions for and among themselves and where 126
200	200	membership does not confer operating authority and control of 127
201	201	the individual organization upon the federated group 128
202	202	organization. 129
203	203	(13) "Fundraising costs" means those costs incurred in 130
204	204	inducing others to make contributions to a charitable 131
205	205	organization or sponsor for which the contributors will receive 132
206	206	no direct economic benefit. Fundraising costs include, but are 133
207	207	not limited to, salaries, rent, acquiring and obtaining mailing 134
208	208	lists, printing, mailing, and all direct and indirect costs of 135
209	209	soliciting, as well as the cost of unsolicited merchandise sent 136
210	210	to encourage contributions. 137
211	211	(14) "Law enforcement officer" means a p erson who is 138
212	212	elected, appointed, or employed by a municipality or the state 139
213	213	or a political subdivision thereof and: 140
214	214	(a) Who is vested with authority to bear arms and make 141
215	215	arrests and whose primary responsibility is the prevention and 142
216	216	detection of crime o r the enforcement of the criminal, traffic, 143
217	217	or highway laws of the state; or 144
218	218	(b) Whose responsibility includes supervision, protection, 145
219	219	care, custody, or control of inmates within a correctional 146
220	220	institution. 147
221	221	(15) "Management and general costs" means al l such costs 148
222	222	of a charitable organization or sponsor which are not 149
223	223	identifiable with a single program or fundraising activity but 150
224	224
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232	232	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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236	236	which are indispensable to the conduct of such programs and 151
237	237	activities and the charitable organization or sponsor's 152
238	238	existence. 153
239	239	(16) "Membership" means the relationship of a person to an 154
240	240	organization which entitles her or him to the privileges, 155
241	241	professional standing, honors, or other direct benefit of the 156
242	242	organization in addition to the right to vote, elect officers, 157
243	243	and hold office in the organization. 158
244	244	(17) "Owner" means a person who has a direct or indirect 159
245	245	interest in a professional fundraising consultant or 160
246	246	professional solicitor. 161
247	247	(18) "Parent organization" means that part of a charitable 162
248	248	organization or sponsor which coo rdinates, supervises, or 163
249	249	exercises control over policy, fundraising, and expenditures or 164
250	250	assists or advises one or more of the organization's chapters, 165
251	251	branches, or affiliates in this state. 166
252	252	(19) "Person" means an individual, organization, trust, 167
253	253	foundation, group, association, entity, partnership, 168
254	254	corporation, or society or any combination thereof. 169
255	255	(20) "Professional fundraising consultant" means a person 170
256	256	who is retained by a charitable organization or sponsor for a 171
257	257	fixed fee or rate under a written ag reement to plan, manage, 172
258	258	conduct, carry on, advise, consult, or prepare material for a 173
259	259	solicitation of contributions in this state but who does not 174
260	260	solicit contributions or employ, procure, or engage any 175
261	261
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269	269	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
270	270
271	271
272	272
273	273	compensated person to solicit contributions and who does not at 176
274	274	any time have custody or control of contributions. A bona fide 177
275	275	volunteer or bona fide employee or salaried officer of a 178
276	276	charitable organization or sponsor maintaining a permanent 179
277	277	establishment in this state is not a professional fundraising 180
278	278	consultant. An attorney, investment counselor, or banker who 181
279	279	advises an individual, corporation, or association to make a 182
280	280	charitable contribution is not a professional fundraising 183
281	281	consultant as the result of such advice. 184
282	282	(21) "Professional solicitor" means a person who, for 185
283	283	compensation, performs for a charitable organization or sponsor 186
284	284	a service in connection with which contributions are or will be 187
285	285	solicited in, or from a location in, this state by the 188
286	286	compensated person or by a person it employs, procures, or 189
287	287	otherwise engages, directly or indirectly, to solicit 190
288	288	contributions, or a person who plans, conducts, manages, carries 191
289	289	on, advises, consults, directly or indirectly, in connection 192
290	290	with the solicitation of contributions for or on behalf of a 193
291	291	charitable organization or sponsor but who does not qualify as a 194
292	292	professional fundraising consultant. A bona fide volunteer or 195
293	293	bona fide employee or salaried officer of a charitable 196
294	294	organization or sponsor maintaining a permanent establishment in 197
295	295	this state is not a professional solicitor. An attorney, 198
296	296	investment counselor, or banker who advises an individual, 199
297	297	corporation, or association to make a charitable contribution is 200
298	298
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306	306	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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310	310	not a professional solicitor as the result of such advice. 201
311	311	(22) "Program service costs" means all expenses incurred 202
312	312	primarily to accomplish the charitable organization or sponsor's 203
313	313	stated purposes. The term does not include fundraising costs. 204
314	314	(23) "Religious institution" means a church, 205
315	315	ecclesiastical or denominational organization, or establish ed 206
316	316	physical place for worship in this state at which nonprofit 207
317	317	religious services and activities are regularly conducted and 208
318	318	carried on and includes those bona fide religious groups that do 209
319	319	not maintain specific places of worship. The term also includes 210
320	320	a separate group or corporation that forms an integral part of a 211
321	321	religious institution that is exempt from federal income tax 212
322	322	under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and that is not 213
323	323	primarily supported by funds solicited outside its own 214
324	324	membership or congregation. 215
325	325	(24) "Solicitation" means a request, directly or 216
326	326	indirectly, for money, property, financial assistance, or any 217
327	327	other thing of value on the plea or representation that such 218
328	328	money, property, financial assistance, or other thing of value 219
329	329	or a portion of it will be used for a charitable or sponsor 220
330	330	purpose or will benefit a charitable organization or sponsor. 221
331	331	The term includes, but is not limited to, the following methods 222
332	332	of requesting or securing the promise, pledge, or grant of 223
333	333	money, property, financial assistance, or any other thing of 224
334	334	value: 225
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343	343	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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347	347	(a) Making any oral or written request; 226
348	348	(b) Making any announcement to the press, on radio or 227
349	349	television, by telephone or telegraph, or by any other 228
350	350	communication device concerning an appeal or campa ign by or for 229
351	351	any charitable organization or sponsor or for any charitable or 230
352	352	sponsor purpose; 231
353	353	(c) Distributing, circulating, posting, or publishing any 232
354	354	handbill, written advertisement, or other publication that 233
355	355	directly or by implication seeks to obtain any contribution; or 234
356	356	(d) Selling or offering or attempting to sell any 235
357	357	advertisement, advertising space, book, card, coupon, chance, 236
358	358	device, magazine, membership, merchandise, subscription, 237
359	359	sponsorship, flower, admission, ticket, food, or other service 238
360	360	or tangible good, item, or thing of value, or any right of any 239
361	361	description in connection with which any appeal is made for any 240
362	362	charitable organization or sponsor or charitable or sponsor 241
363	363	purpose, or when the name of any charitable organization or 242
364	364	sponsor is used or referred to in any such appeal as an 243
365	365	inducement or reason for making the sale or when, in connection 244
366	366	with the sale or offer or attempt to sell, any statement is made 245
367	367	that all or part of the proceeds from the sale will be used for 246
368	368	any charitable or sponsor purpose or will benefit any charitable 247
369	369	organization or sponsor ; or 248
370	370	(e) Approaching or making contact with any other 249
371	371	individual on a road or right -of-way and directly or by 250
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380	380	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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384	384	implication seeking to obtain any contribution . 251
385	385	252
386	386	A solicitation is consi dered as having taken place regardless of 253
387	387	whether the person making the solicitation receives any 254
388	388	contribution. A solicitation does not occur when a person 255
389	389	applies for a grant or an award to the government or to an 256
390	390	organization that is exempt from federal income taxation under 257
391	391	s. 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code and described in s. 258
392	392	501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code and is duly registered with 259
393	393	the department. 260
394	394	(25) "Sponsor" means a group or person who is or holds 261
395	395	herself or himself out to be soliciting contributions by the use 262
396	396	of a name that implies that the group or person is in any way 263
397	397	affiliated with or organized for the benefit of emergency 264
398	398	service employees or law enforcement officers and the group or 265
399	399	person is not a charitable organizati on. The term includes a 266
400	400	chapter, branch, or affiliate that has its principal place of 267
401	401	business outside the state if such chapter, branch, or affiliate 268
402	402	solicits or holds itself out to be soliciting contributions in 269
403	403	this state. 270
404	404	(26) "Sponsor purpose" means a program or endeavor 271
405	405	performed to benefit emergency service employees or law 272
406	406	enforcement officers. 273
407	407	(27) "Sponsor sales promotion" means an advertising or 274
408	408	sales campaign conducted by a commercial co -venturer who 275
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417	417	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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421	421	represents that the purchase or use of go ods or services offered 276
422	422	by the commercial co -venturer will be used for a sponsor purpose 277
423	423	or donated to a sponsor. The provision of advertising services 278
424	424	to a sponsor does not, in itself, constitute a sponsor sales 279
425	425	promotion. 280
426	426	Section 2. Section 496.4151, Florida Statutes, is created 281
427	427	to read: 282
428	428	496.4151 Panhandling prohibited. — 283
429	429	(1) As used in this section, the term "panhandling" means 284
430	430	requesting of another person that he or she give money or 285
431	431	anything of value for the private use of the person making the 286
432	432	request. 287
433	433	(2) A person may not engage in panhandling: 288
434	434	(a) Within 50 feet, in any direction, of: 289
435	435	1. An entrance to or exit from commercially zoned 290
436	436	property. 291
437	437	2. A bus stop or a facility as defined in s. 496.425(1). 292
438	438	3. An automatic teller machine or an entrance to a bank. 293
439	439	4. A parking lot, parking garage, parking meter, or 294
440	440	parking pay station. 295
441	441	5. A public restroom. 296
442	442	(b) Within 100 feet, in any direction, of a child care 297
443	443	facility or school attended by any students in prekindergarten 298
444	444	through grade 12. 299
445	445	(c) On a right-of-way or road as defined in s. 334.03. 300
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454	454	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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458	458	(d) At a public transit stop or in a public transit 301
459	459	vehicle. 302
460	460	(e) While the person being solicited is waiting to be 303
461	461	admitted to a commercial establishment. 304
462	462	(f) By touching the person being s olicited. 305
463	463	(g) With the use of profane or abusive language. 306
464	464	(h) While under the influence of alcohol or after having 307
465	465	illegally used a controlled substance as defined in s. 892.02. 308
466	466	(i) Between the hours of 4 p.m. and 9 a.m. 309
467	467	(3) A person may not appro ach an operator or other 310
468	468	occupant of a motor vehicle for the purpose of panhandling. 311
469	469	(4) A first violation of subsection (2) or subsection (3) 312
470	470	is punishable by imprisonment for 30 days and a fine of not more 313
471	471	than $100. A second or subsequent violation is punishable by 314
472	472	imprisonment for 60 days and a fine of not more than $200. 315
473	473	Section 3. Section 496.417, Florida Statutes, is amended 316
474	474	to read: 317
475	475	496.417 Criminal penalties. —Except as otherwise provided 318
476	476	in ss. 496.401-496.430 ss. 496.401-496.424, and in addition to 319
477	477	any administrative or civil penalties, a any person who 320
478	478	willfully and knowingly violates ss. 496.401-496.430 ss. 321
479	479	496.401-496.424 commits a felony of the third degree, punishable 322
480	480	as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. For a 323
481	481	second or subsequent conviction, such violation constitutes a 324
482	482	felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 325
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491	491	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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495	495	775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. 326
496	496	Section 4. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) and subsection 327
497	497	(11) of section 496.425, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 328
498	498	496.425 Solicitation of funds within public transportation 329
499	499	facilities.— 330
500	500	(1) As used in this section: 331
501	501	(b) "Facility" means any public transportation facility or 332
502	502	right-of-way, including, but not limited to, railroad stations, 333
503	503	bus stations, ship ports, ferry terminals, roadside welcome 334
504	504	stations, highway service plazas, airports served by scheduled 335
505	505	passenger service, or highway rest stations , or rights-of-way or 336
506	506	roads as defined in s. 334.03 . 337
507	507	(11) A person who solicits funds in violation of any of 338
508	508	the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the 339
509	509	second degree, punishable by fine as provided in s. 775.083. 340
510	510	Upon a second or subsequent conviction, such person is guilty of 341
511	511	a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable by fine as 342
512	512	provided in s. 775.083. 343
513	513	Section 5. Subsection (4) of section 496.426, Florida 344
514	514	Statutes, is renumbered as subsection (5) and amended, and a new 345
515	515	subsection (4) is added to that section, to read: 346
516	516	496.426 Registration and solicitation require ments.— 347
517	517	(4) Individuals engaged in solicitation on a road, right -348
518	518	of-way, or facility as defined in s. 496.425(1) must: 349
519	519	(a) Clearly identify the name of the charitable 350
520	520
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523	523
524	524
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528	528	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
529	529
530	530
531	531
532	532	organization or named individual on whose behalf contributions 351
533	533	are being solicited. 352
534	534	(b) Clearly identify the charitable purpose for which 353
535	535	contributions are being solicited. 354
536	536	(5)(4) If any provision of this section or the application 355
537	537	thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the 356
538	538	invalidity does not affect other provisions or application of 357
539	539	this section or the Solicitation of Contributions Act, ss. 358
540	540	496.401-496.430 ss. 496.401-496.424, which can be given effect 359
541	541	without the invalid provision or application, and to this end 360
542	542	the provisions of this section are declared severable. 361
543	543	Section 6. Section 496.401, Florida Statutes, is amended 362
544	544	to read: 363
545	545	496.401 Short title. —Sections 496.401-496.430 496.401-364
546	546	496.424 may be cited as the "Solicitation of Contributions Act." 365
547	547	Section 7. Section 496.403, Florida Statutes, is amended 366
548	548	to read: 367
549	549	496.403 Application. —Sections 496.401-496.430 496.401-368
550	550	496.424 do not apply to bona fide religious institutions, 369
551	551	educational institutions, and state agencies or other government 370
552	552	entities or persons or organizations who solicit or act as 371
553	553	professional fundraising consultants solely on behalf of those 372
554	554	entities, or to blood establishments as defined in s. 373
555	555	381.06014(1)(a). Sections 496.401-496.430 496.401-496.424 do not 374
556	556	apply to political contributions solicited in accordance with 375
557	557
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565	565	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
566	566
567	567
568	568
569	569	the election laws of this state. 376
570	570	Section 8. Subsection (1) of section 496.409, Florida 377
571	571	Statutes, is amended to read: 378
572	572	496.409 Registration and duties of professional 379
573	573	fundraising consultant. — 380
574	574	(1) A person may not act as a professional fundraising 381
575	575	consultant unless he or she h as first complied with the 382
576	576	requirements of ss. 496.401-496.430 ss. 496.401-496.424 and has 383
577	577	obtained approval of the department of a registration statement 384
578	578	in accordance with subsection (6). A person may not act as a 385
579	579	professional fundraising consultant afte r the expiration, 386
580	580	suspension, or cancellation of his or her registration. 387
581	581	Section 9. Subsections (1), (4), and (13) of section 388
582	582	496.410, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 389
583	583	496.410 Registration and duties of professional 390
584	584	solicitors.— 391
585	585	(1) A No person may not act as a professional solicitor 392
586	586	unless the person has first complied with ss. 496.401-496.430 393
587	587	the requirements of ss. 496.401 -496.424 and has obtained 394
588	588	approval of the department of a registration statement in 395
589	589	accordance with subsection (5). A p erson may not act as a 396
590	590	professional solicitor after the expiration, suspension, or 397
591	591	cancellation of his or her registration. 398
592	592	(4) A professional solicitor must, at the time of 399
593	593	application or renewal of registration, file with and have 400
594	594
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602	602	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
603	603
604	604
605	605
606	606	approved by the depar tment a bond, to which the professional 401
607	607	solicitor is the principal obligor in the sum of $50,000, with 402
608	608	one or more sureties authorized to do business in this state. 403
609	609	The professional solicitor must maintain the bond in effect as 404
610	610	long as the registration is in effect; however, the liability of 405
611	611	the surety under the bond must not exceed an all -time aggregate 406
612	612	liability of $50,000. The bond, which may be in the form of a 407
613	613	rider to a larger blanket liability bond, must be payable to the 408
614	614	state and to any person who may have a cause of action against 409
615	615	the principal obligor of the bond for any liability arising out 410
616	616	of a violation by the obligor of any provision of ss. 496.401-411
617	617	496.430 ss. 496.401-496.424, or any rule adopted pursuant 412
618	618	thereto. 413
619	619	(13) Unless otherwise prov ided in ss. 496.401-496.430 ss. 414
620	620	496.401-496.424, any material change in any information filed 415
621	621	with the department pursuant to this section must be reported in 416
622	622	writing to the department within 7 days after the change occurs. 417
623	623	Section 10. Subsections (1) and (8) of section 496.415, 418
624	624	Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 419
625	625	496.415 Prohibited acts. —It is unlawful for any person in 420
626	626	connection with the planning, conduct, or execution of any 421
627	627	solicitation or charitable or sponsor sales promotion to: 422
628	628	(1) Operate in violation of, or fail to comply with, ss. 423
629	629	496.401-496.430 the requirements of ss. 496.401 -496.424. 424
630	630	(8) Represent that a charitable organization or sponsor 425
631	631
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639	639	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
640	640
641	641
642	642
643	643	will receive a fixed or estimated percentage of the gross 426
644	644	revenue from a solicitation campaign greater than that 427
645	645	identified in filings with the department pursuant to ss. 428
646	646	496.401-496.430 ss. 496.401-496.424, or that a charitable 429
647	647	organization or sponsor will receive an actual or estimated 430
648	648	dollar amount or percentage per unit of goods or services 431
649	649	purchased or used in the charitable or sponsor sales promotion 432
650	650	that is greater than that agreed to by the commercial co -433
651	651	venturer and the charitable organization or sponsor. 434
652	652	Section 11. Section 496.416, Florida Statutes, is amended 435
653	653	to read: 436
654	654	496.416 Violation as deceptive or unfair trade practice. —A 437
655	655	Any person who commits an act or practice that violates any 438
656	656	provision of ss. 496.401-496.430 ss. 496.401-496.424 commits an 439
657	657	unfair or deceptive act or practice or unfair method of 440
658	658	competition in violation of ch apter 501, part II, and is subject 441
659	659	to the penalties and remedies provided for such violation. 442
660	660	Section 12. Subsection (2) of section 496.418, Florida 443
661	661	Statutes, is amended to read: 444
662	662	496.418 Recordkeeping and accounting. — 445
663	663	(2) Each charitable organizati on, sponsor, professional 446
664	664	fundraising consultant, and professional solicitor must keep for 447
665	665	a period of at least 3 years true and accurate records as to its 448
666	666	activities in this state which are covered by ss. 496.401-449
667	667	496.430 ss. 496.401-496.424. The records must be made available, 450
668	668
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672	672
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676	676	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
677	677
678	678
679	679
680	680	without subpoena, to the department for inspection and must be 451
681	681	furnished no later than 10 working days after requested. 452
682	682	Section 13. Subsections (1) and (4), paragraph (f) of 453
683	683	subsection (5), and subsection (8) of section 496.419, Florida 454
684	684	Statutes, are amended to read: 455
685	685	496.419 Powers of the department. — 456
686	686	(1) The department may conduct an investigation of any 457
687	687	person or organization whenever there is an appearance, either 458
688	688	upon complaint or otherwise, that a violation of ss. 496.401-459
689	689	496.430 ss. 496.401-496.424 or s. 496.426 or of any rule adopted 460
690	690	or of any order issued pursuant thereto has been committed or is 461
691	691	about to be committed. 462
692	692	(4) The department may enter an order imposing one or more 463
693	693	of the penalties set forth in subs ection (5) if the department 464
694	694	finds that a charitable organization, sponsor, professional 465
695	695	fundraising consultant, or professional solicitor, or an agent, 466
696	696	servant, or employee thereof has: 467
697	697	(a) Violated or is operating in violation of any of the 468
698	698	provisions of ss. 496.401-496.430 ss. 496.401-496.424 or s. 469
699	699	496.426 or of the rules adopted or orders issued thereunder; 470
700	700	(b) Made a material false statement in an application, 471
701	701	statement, or report required to be filed under ss. 496.401-472
702	702	496.430 ss. 496.401-496.424 or s. 496.426; 473
703	703	(c) Refused or failed, or any of its principal officers 474
704	704	has refused or failed, after notice, to produce any records of 475
705	705
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708	708
709	709
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713	713	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
714	714
715	715
716	716
717	717	such organization or to disclose any information required to be 476
718	718	disclosed under ss. 496.401-496.430 ss. 496.401-496.424 or s. 477
719	719	496.426 or the rules of the department; or 478
720	720	(d) Made a material false statement in response to any 479
721	721	request or investigation by the department, the Department of 480
722	722	Legal Affairs, or the State Attorney. 481
723	723	(5) Upon a finding as set forth in subsection (4 ), the 482
724	724	department may enter an order doing one or more of the 483
725	725	following: 484
726	726	(f) Except as provided in paragraph (g), imposing an 485
727	727	administrative fine not to exceed $5,000 for each act or 486
728	728	omission that constitutes a violation of ss. 496.401-496.430 ss. 487
729	729	496.401-496.424 or s. 496.426 or a rule or order. With respect 488
730	730	to a s. 501(c)(3) organization, the penalty imposed pursuant to 489
731	731	this subsection may not exceed $500 per violation for failure to 490
732	732	register under s. 496.405 or file for an exemption under s. 491
733	733	496.406(2). The penalty shall be the entire amount per violation 492
734	734	and is not a daily penalty; and 493
735	735	(8) The department shall report any substantiated criminal 494
736	736	violation of ss. 496.401-496.430 ss. 496.401-496.424 or s. 495
737	737	496.426 to the proper prosecuting authority for p rompt 496
738	738	prosecution. 497
739	739	Section 14. Subsections (1) and (3) of section 496.420, 498
740	740	Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 499
741	741	496.420 Civil remedies and enforcement. — 500
742	742
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745	745
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750	750	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
751	751
752	752
753	753
754	754	(1) In addition to other remedies authorized by law, the 501
755	755	department may bring a civil action in circuit court to enforce 502
756	756	ss. 496.401-496.430 ss. 496.401-496.424 or s. 496.426 . Upon a 503
757	757	finding that a person has violated any of these sections, a 504
758	758	court may make any necessary order or enter a judgment 505
759	759	including, but not limited to, a temporary or perma nent 506
760	760	injunction, a declaratory judgment, the appointment of a general 507
761	761	or special magistrate or receiver, the sequestration of assets, 508
762	762	the reimbursement of persons from whom contributions have been 509
763	763	unlawfully solicited, the distribution of contributions pur suant 510
764	764	to the charitable or sponsor purpose expressed in the 511
765	765	registration statement or pursuant to the representations made 512
766	766	to the person solicited, the reimbursement of the department for 513
767	767	investigative costs and attorney fees and costs, and any other 514
768	768	equitable relief the court finds appropriate. Upon a finding 515
769	769	that a person has violated any provision of ss. 496.401-496.430 516
770	770	ss. 496.401-496.424 or s. 496.426 with actual knowledge or 517
771	771	knowledge fairly implied on the basis of objective 518
772	772	circumstances, a court may enter an order imposing a civil fine 519
773	773	in the Class III category pursuant to s. 570.971 for each 520
774	774	violation. 521
775	775	(3) The department may terminate an investigation or an 522
776	776	action upon acceptance of a person's written assurance of 523
777	777	voluntary compliance with ss. 496.401-496.430 ss. 496.401-524
778	778	496.424 or s. 496.426 . Acceptance of an assurance may be 525
779	779
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787	787	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
788	788
789	789
790	790
791	791	conditioned on commitment to reimburse donors or to take other 526
792	792	appropriate corrective action. An assurance is not evidence of a 527
793	793	prior violation of any of these sections. Howe ver, unless an 528
794	794	assurance has been rescinded by agreement of the parties or 529
795	795	voided by a court for good cause, subsequent failure to comply 530
796	796	with the terms of an assurance is prima facie evidence of a 531
797	797	violation of one or more of these sections. 532
798	798	Section 15. Section 496.421, Florida Statutes, is amended 533
799	799	to read: 534
800	800	496.421 More stringent local provisions not preempted by 535
801	801	ss. 496.401-496.430 ss. 496.401-496.424.—Sections 496.401-536
802	802	496.430 496.401-496.424 do not preempt more stringent county or 537
803	803	municipal provisions or restrict local units of government from 538
804	804	adopting more stringent provisions, and, in such case, such 539
805	805	provisions must be complied with if the registrant desires to 540
806	806	solicit within the geographic district of such local unit of 541
807	807	government. 542
808	808	Section 16. Section 496.422, Florida Statutes, is amended 543
809	809	to read: 544
810	810	496.422 Duties of the Department of State. —The Department 545
811	811	of State shall include in the materials it sends to persons or 546
812	812	organizations seeking to register as nonprofit corporations, 547
813	813	pursuant to chapter 617, and include with the annual report 548
814	814	notice to be filed with the Department of State each year, a 549
815	815	notice of the registration and disclosure requirements of ss. 550
816	816
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819	819
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824	824	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
825	825
826	826
827	827
828	828	496.401-496.430 ss. 496.401-496.424. 551
829	829	Section 17. Subsections (1) and (4) of section 4 96.423, 552
830	830	Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 553
831	831	496.423 Public information; annual report. — 554
832	832	(1) The department shall develop a public information 555
833	833	program, which should include a plan to distribute information 556
834	834	to the public, to further the purposes of ss. 496.401-496.430 557
835	835	ss. 496.401-496.424. 558
836	836	(4) The department shall prepare an annual public report 559
837	837	to be submitted to the Governor, the President of the Senate, 560
838	838	the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Commissioner of 561
839	839	Agriculture, and the Attorney G eneral summarizing such 562
840	840	information filed under ss. 496.401-496.430 ss. 496.401-496.424 563
841	841	which the department determines will assist the public in making 564
842	842	informed and knowledgeable decisions concerning contributions. 565
843	843	The report must include the following: 566
844	844	(a) A list of complaints filed for which violations were 567
845	845	found to have occurred in each of the following categories: 568
846	846	charitable organizations, sponsors, professional solicitors, and 569
847	847	professional fundraising consultants. 570
848	848	(b) A list of the number of inves tigations by the 571
849	849	department, and enforcement actions commenced under ss. 496.401-572
850	850	496.430 ss. 496.401-496.424 and the disposition of those 573
851	851	actions. 574
852	852	(c) A list of those charitable organizations and sponsors 575
853	853
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857	857
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861	861	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
862	862
863	863
864	864
865	865	which have voluntarily submitted an audited finan cial statement 576
866	866	pursuant to s. 496.407 or an audit with an opinion prepared by 577
867	867	an independent certified public accountant. 578
868	868	Section 18. Section 496.424, Florida Statutes, is amended 579
869	869	to read: 580
870	870	496.424 Rulemaking authority. —The department has the 581
871	871	authority to adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 582
872	872	to implement ss. 496.401-496.430 the provisions of ss. 496.401 -583
873	873	496.424 or s. 496.426 . 584
874	874	Section 19. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section 585
875	875	617.0601, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 586
876	876	617.0601 Members, generally. — 587
877	877	(1) 588
878	878	(b) The articles of incorporation or bylaws of any 589
879	879	corporation not for profit that maintains chapters or affiliates 590
880	880	may grant representatives of such chapters or affiliates the 591
881	881	right to vote in conjunction with the board of directors of the 592
882	882	corporation notwithstanding applicable quorum or voting 593
883	883	requirements of this chapter if the corporation is registered 594
884	884	with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 595
885	885	pursuant to ss. 496.401-496.430 ss. 496.401-496.424, the 596
886	886	Solicitation of Contributions Act. 597
887	887	Section 20. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024. 598