(1) As used in this section, the term:

(a) “Disclosure of financial interests” or “disclosure” includes a full and public disclosure of financial interests and a final full and public disclosure of financial interests, and any amendments thereto.

(b) “Electronic filing system” means an Internet-based system for receiving, reporting, and publishing disclosures of financial interests, statements of financial interests, or any other form that is required under s. 112.3144 or s. 112.3145.

(c) “Statement of financial interests” or “statement” includes a statement of financial interests and a final statement of financial interests, and any amendments thereto.

(2) By January 1, 2022, the commission shall procure and test an electronic filing system. At a minimum, the electronic filing system must:

(a) Provide access through the Internet for the completion and submission of disclosures of financial interests, statements of financial interests, or any other form that is required under s. 112.3144 or s. 112.3145.

(b) Make filings available in a searchable format that is accessible by an individual using standard Internet-browsing software.

(c) Issue a verification or receipt that the commission has received the submitted disclosure or statement.

(d) Provide security that prevents unauthorized access to the electronic filing system’s functions or data.

(e) Provide a method for an attorney or a certified public accountant licensed in this state to complete the disclosure or statement and certify that he or she prepared the disclosure or statement in accordance with s. 112.3144 or s. 112.3145 and the instructions for completing the disclosure or statement, and that, upon his or her reasonable knowledge and belief, the information on the disclosure or statement is true and correct.

(3) Each unit of government shall provide an e-mail address to any of its officers, members, or employees who must file a disclosure of financial interests or a statement of financial interests, and provide such e-mail addresses to the commission by February 1 of each year. A person required to file a disclosure of financial interests or statement of financial interests must inform the commission immediately of any change in his or her e-mail address.

(4) The commission shall provide each person required to file a disclosure of financial interests or statement of financial interests a secure log-in to the electronic filing system. Such person is responsible for protecting his or her secure log-in credentials from disclosure and is responsible for all filings submitted to the commission with such credentials, unless the person has notified the commission that his or her credentials have been compromised.

(5) If the electronic filing system is inoperable which prevents timely submission of disclosures of financial interests or statements of financial interests, as determined by the commission chair, or if the Governor has declared a state of emergency and a person required to submit a disclosure or statement resides in an area included in the state of emergency which prevents the submission of the disclosure or statement electronically, the commission chair must extend the filing deadline for submission of the disclosures or statements by the same period of time for which the system was inoperable or by 90 days for persons who reside in an area included in a state of emergency, whichever is applicable.

(6)(a) All secure login credentials held by the commission for the purpose of allowing access to the electronic filing system are exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution.

(b) Information entered in the electronic filing system for purposes of financial disclosure is exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution. Information entered in the electronic filing system is no longer exempt once the disclosure of financial interests or statement of financial interests is submitted to the commission or, in the case of a candidate, filed with a qualifying officer, whichever occurs first.

(c) This subsection is subject to the Open Government Sunset Review Act in accordance with s. 119.15 and shall stand repealed on October 2, 2024, unless reviewed and saved from repeal through reenactment by the Legislature.

History.—s. 1, ch. 2019-40; s. 1, ch. 2019-97.