Florida's constitution was revised in 1968 to require that a code of ethics for all state employees and non-judicial officers prohibiting conflict between public duty and private interests be prescribed by law. The "Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees" adopted by the Legislature is found in Chapter 112 (Part III) of the Florida Statutes. In 1974, when criminal penalties initially applied to violations of the Code were eliminated in favor of administrative enforcement, the Legislature created the Commission on Ethics. The Florida Commission on Ethics is located in Florida's capital city of Tallahassee and is responsible for investigating and issuing public reports on complaints of violations of the law by public officers and employees. In addition, the Commission provides legally binding advisory opinions interpreting the ethics laws and carries out the State's financial disclosure laws
Executive Director
The Florida Commission on Ethics
3600 Maclay Boulevard South, Suite 201
Tallahassee, FL 32312
Mailing Address:
The Florida Commission on Ethics
P. O. Drawer 15709
Tallahassee, FL 32317-5709
Phone: (850) 488-7864
Fax: (850) 488-3077
Largest City:
Jacksonville (735,617 - pop. 2000, U.S. Census Bureau)
Jacksonville's Mayor, General Counsel and Ethics Commission developed and passed an Ethics Code in 1999. The Code is innovative because it does not just emphasize laws, rather it establishes aspirational goals for employee conduct. The Code mandates ethics training for city employees and officials, and it creates a unique system of Ethics Officers, which includes a Department Ethics Officer that serves as a resource within each department.
Contact Information:
City of Jacksonville Ethics Office
117 W. Duval Street, #450
Jacksonville, FL 32202
Phone: (904) 630-1476
Fax: (904) 630-2670
Miami (362,420 - pop. 2000, U.S. Census Bureau)
Miami's City Clerk's Office provides candidate and committee information, including documentation on ethics and campaign issues. The City's Purchasing Department has their own Code of Ethics.
Tampa (303,447 - pop. 2000, U.S. Census Bureau)
Tampa's Department of Human Resources serves as the City of Tampa Ethics Office and is responsible for those duties as set forth in the City's Ethics Code.
Largest County:
Miami-Dade (2,341,167 - est. pop. 2003, U.S. Census Bureau)
Miami-Dade's Commission on Ethics and Public Trust was created in 1996 by citizens who went to the polls in response to all the corruption and unethical behavior in government. The Ethics Commission is in place to investigate allegations of unethical behavior in government, to provide legal and ethical advice to employees and officials, and to increase the understanding of the County's ethics laws in the public and private sector.
Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust
19 West Flagler, Suite 209
Miami, FL 33130
Phone: (305) 579-9093
Fax: (305) 579-0273
Broward (1,731,347 - est. pop. 2003, U.S. Census Bureau)
In 1996, the Office of Professional Standards was established to investigate complaints filed under the County's Whistleblower Program. The Office assists the County Attorney's Office (which has an Ethics and Legislative Law Section) and the Human Resources Division in training County Ethics and Conflict of Interest policies to county employees.
Contact Information:
Phone - (954) 357-7896
Palm Beach (1,216,282 - est. pop. 2003, U.S. Census Bureau)
Other links of interest:
Common Cause Floridais a non-profit, non-partisan citizens' lobby organization that works to make government more accountable to the people.
Ben Wilcox, Executive Director
Common Cause Flordia
704 W.Madison St.
Tallahassee, Florida 32304
Phone: (850) 222-3883
Fax : (850) 222-3906
