FL S1534

Repeals state employee lobbyist registration requirements and establishes a unified Local Government Lobbyist Registration System administered by the Commission on Ethics, effective October 1, 2019, replacing individual governmental entity registration systems.

Requires Chief Inspector General and agency inspectors general to determine within 6 months whether reasonable cause exists for fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, or misconduct investigations, with mandatory re-evaluation every 3 months until closure or probable cause determination, with findings reported to the Legislature and Commission on Ethics.

Creates new ethics standards for statewide elected officers and legislators prohibiting solicitation of employment offers or investment advice from lobbyists and principals, with required disclosure of new employment from state-funded entities or lobbying firms within 30 days of acceptance.

Establishes whistleblower award program allowing department heads to authorize awards up to $50,000 for career service employees based on cost savings from verified complaints, with reduced awards for employees partially at fault for misspending.

Requires mayors and governing body members of municipalities with $10 million or more in annual revenue to file full financial disclosures and specifies that ethics training certifications and training provider names must be included on all officer financial interest filings beginning January 1, 2019.