by Kathleen Haughney
The News Service of Florida
The newly appointed chair of the Senate’s ethics committee hinted Thursday that proposals to give the Florida Ethics Commission some muscle may stand a chance this year, after being brushed aside the past few years.
Long looked at as a “toothless tiger,” the commission asked lawmakers last spring to examine a legislative package that would have given the group independent investigation powers and enhanced penalties for those found guilty by the commission. However, the measures never got to the floor of either chamber.
But that legislative package may have a chance this year, said committee chair Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla (R-Miami), who said there could be some room to make the body a little stronger.
“I wouldn’t necessarily characterize them as toothless, though I think there is a need to perhaps make the teeth a little sharper,” he said.
The Ethics Commission currently investigates public officials if a third party files a complaint against the public official.
It also issues advisory opinions and offers ethics counseling to public officials regarding state ethics’ laws. It cannot, however, initiate investigations.
The legislative agenda was approved a week ago by the Ethics Commission and presented to Diaz de la Portilla and other committee members Thursday by deputy executive director Virlindia Doss.
The agenda was identical to last year’s legislative proposals, Doss told members. In addition to the independent investigation powers and enhanced penalties, the commission also suggested a new requirement that the governor, lieutenant governor and Cabinet members put their financial holdings into blind trusts. Gov.-elect Rick Scott has already indicated he may put his investment interests into a blind trust.
Last week, Ethics Commission members acknowledged that strengthening the body that can investigate lawmakers is a tough sell, but Chair Roy Rogers said at the meeting “Who knows? This might be the year that ethics becomes the buzz.”
Doss, in her presentation to lawmakers, also noted that unlike many other proposals that legislators will consider this spring, the commission’s agenda does not rely on money.
“We’re proud to say there’s no fiscal impact,” she said.
Diaz de la Portilla said he still needed to thoroughly examine the proposals, but that he was interested in ethics legislation.
“Obviously they’ve been coming to the Legislature with similar proposals for a number of years,” he said. “But this is my first year in the Legislature, so I’m going to take a look at it.”