CHAPTER 17

17.001 Chief Financial Officer. As provided in s. 4(c), Art. IV of the State Constitution, the Chief Financial Officer is the chief fiscal officer of the state and is responsible for settling and approving accounts against the state and keeping all state funds and securities. History. — s. 12, ch. 2003-261. 17.002 Definition. For the purposes of this chapter, the term “department” means the Department of Financial Services. History. — s. 13, ch. 2003-261. 17.011 Assistant Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer of the state may appoint an assistant Chief Financial Officer to hold office during the pleasure of the Chief Financial Officer. History. — s. 2, ch. 67-424; s. 14, ch. 2003-261. 17.02 Place of residence and office. The Chief Financial Officer shall reside at the seat of government of this state and shall hold office in a room in the capitol. History. — s. 2, ch. 8, 1845; ch. 1845, 1871; RS 94; GS 98; RGS 111; CGL 141; s. 53, ch. 95-147; s. 15, ch. 2003-261. 17.03 To audit claims against the state. (1) The Chief Financial Officer of this state, using generally accepted auditing procedures for testing or sampling, shall examine, audit, and settle all accounts, claims, and demands, whatsoever, against the state, arising under any law or resolution of the Legislature, and issue a warrant directing the payment out of the State Treasury of such amount as he or she allows thereon. (2) The Chief Financial Officer may establish dollar thresholds applicable to each invoice amount and other criteria for testing or sampling invoices on a preaudit and postaudit basis. The Chief Financial Officer may revise such thresholds and other criteria for an agency or the unit of any agency as he or she deems appropriate. (3) The Chief Financial Officer may adopt and disseminate to the agencies procedural and documentation standards for payment requests and may provide training and technical assistance to the agencies for these standards. (4) The Chief Financial Officer shall have the legal duty of delivering all state warrants and shall be charged with the official responsibility of the protection and security of the state warrants while in his or her custody. The Chief Financial Officer may delegate this authority to other state agencies or officers. History. — s. 1, ch. 146, 1848; RS 95; GS 99; RGS 112; CGL 142; s. 1, ch. 71-173; s. 1, ch. 79-95; s. 1, ch. 83-132; s. 54, ch. 95-147; s. 1, ch. 95-312; s. 1, ch. 97-96; s. 16, ch. 2003-261. 17.031 Security of Chief Financial Officer’s office. The Chief Financial Officer may engage the full-time services of two law enforcement officers, with power of arrest, to prevent all acts of a criminal nature directed at the property in the custody or control of the Chief Financial Officer. While so assigned, such officers shall be under the direction and supervision of the Chief Financial Officer, and their salaries and expenses shall be paid from the general fund of the office of Chief Financial Officer. History. — s. 1, ch. 71-174; s. 17, ch. 2003-261. 17.04 To audit and adjust accounts of officers and those indebted to the state. The Chief Financial Officer, using generally accepted auditing procedures for testing or sampling, shall examine, audit, adjust, and settle the accounts of all the officers of this state, and any other person in anywise entrusted with, or who may have received any property, funds, or moneys of this state, or who may be in anywise indebted or accountable to this state for any property, funds, or moneys, and require such officer or persons to render full accounts thereof, and to yield up such property or funds according to law, or pay such moneys into the treasury of this state, or to such officer or agent of the state as may be appointed to receive the same, and on failure so to do, to cause to be instituted and prosecuted proceedings, criminal or civil, at law or in equity, against such persons, according to law. The Chief Financial Officer may conduct investigations within or outside of this state as it deems necessary to aid in the enforcement of this section. If during an investigation the Chief Financial Officer has reason to believe that any criminal statute of this state has or may have been violated, the Chief Financial Officer shall refer any records tending to show such violation to state or federal law enforcement or prosecutorial agencies and shall provide investigative assistance to those agencies as required. History. — s. 4, ch. 8, 1845; RS 96; GS 100; RGS 113; CGL 143; ss. 12, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 2, ch. 95-312; s. 1, ch. 95-426; s. 18, ch. 2003-261; s. 1, ch. 2016-165. 17.0401 Confidentiality of information relating to financial investigations. Except as otherwise provided by this section, information relative to an investigation conducted by the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to s. 17.04, including any consumer complaint, is confidential and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution until the investigation is completed or ceases to be active. Any information relating to an investigation conducted pursuant to s. 17.04 shall remain confidential and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution after the investigation is completed or ceases to be active if the Chief Financial Officer submits the information to any law enforcement or prosecutorial agency for further investigation. Such information shall remain confidential and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution until that agency’s investigation is completed or ceases to be active. For purposes of this section, an investigation shall be considered “active” so long as the Chief Financial Officer or any law enforcement or prosecutorial agency is proceeding with reasonable dispatch and has a reasonable good faith belief that the investigation may lead to the filing of an administrative, civil, or criminal proceeding. This section shall not be construed to prohibit disclosure of information that is required by law to be filed with the Department of Financial Services or the Office of Financial Regulation and that, but for the investigation, would otherwise be subject to public disclosure. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the Chief Financial Officer from providing information to any law enforcement or prosecutorial agency. Any law enforcement or prosecutorial agency receiving confidential information from the Chief Financial Officer in connection with its official duties shall maintain the confidentiality of the information as provided for in this section. History. — s. 1, ch. 95-425; s. 3, ch. 96-406; s. 19, ch. 2003-261; s. 2, ch. 2016-165. 17.041 County and district accounts and claims. (1) It shall be the duty of the Chief Financial Officer to adjust and settle, or cause to be adjusted and settled, all accounts and claims heretofore or hereafter reported to it by the Auditor General, the appropriate county or district official, or any person against all county and district officers and employees, and against all other persons entrusted with, or who may have received, any property, funds, or moneys of a county or district or who may be in anywise indebted to or accountable to a county or district for any property, funds, moneys, or other thing of value, and to require such officer, employee, or person to render full accounts thereof and to yield up such property, funds, moneys, or other thing of value according to law to the officer or authority entitled by law to receive the same. (2) On the failure of such officer, employee, or person to adjust and settle such account, or to yield up such property, funds, moneys, or other thing of value, the Chief Financial Officer shall direct the attorney for the board of county commissioners, the district school board, or the district, as the case may be, entitled to such account, property, funds, moneys, or other thing of value to represent such county or district in enforcing settlement, payment, or delivery of such account, property, funds, moneys, or other thing of value. The Chief Financial Officer may enforce such settlement, payment, or delivery pursuant to s. 17.20. (3) Should the attorney for the county or district aforesaid be disqualified or unable to act, and no other attorney be furnished by the county or district, or should the Chief Financial Officer otherwise deem it advisable, such account or claim may be certified to the Department of Legal Affairs by the Chief Financial Officer, to be prosecuted by the Department of Legal Affairs at county or district expense, as the case may be, including necessary per diem and travel expense in accordance with s. 112.061, as now or hereafter amended. Such expenses, when approved by the Chief Financial Officer, shall be paid forthwith by such county or district. (4) If it appears to the Chief Financial Officer that any criminal statute of this state has or may have been violated by such defaulting officer, employee, or person, such information, evidence, documents, and other things tending to show such a violation, whether in the hands of the Chief Financial Officer, the Auditor General, the county, or the district, shall be forthwith turned over to the proper state attorney for inspection, study, and such action as may be deemed proper, or the same may be brought to the attention of the proper grand jury. (5) No such account or claim, after it has been certified to the Chief Financial Officer, may be settled for less than the amount due according to law without the written consent of the Chief Financial Officer, and any attempt to make settlement in violation of this subsection shall be deemed null and void. A county or district board desiring to make such a settlement shall incorporate the proposed settlement into a resolution, stating that the proposed settlement is contingent upon the Chief Financial Officer’s approval, and shall submit two copies of the resolution to the department. The Chief Financial Officer shall return one copy with his or her action endorsed thereon. (6) No settlement of account of any such officer, employee, or person, with the county or district, or any of their officers or agents, made in an amount or manner other than as authorized by law or for other than a lawful county or district purpose, shall be binding upon such county or district unless and until approved by the Chief Financial Officer, or unless more than 4 years shall have elapsed from the date of such settlement. (7) Nothing in this section shall supersede the continuing duty of the proper county and district officers to require any officer, employee, or person to render full accounts of and to yield up according to law to the officer or authority entitled by law to receive the same, any property, funds, moneys, or other thing of value as to which such officer, employee, or person is in anywise indebted to or accountable to such county or district. The provisions of this section provide for collections and recoveries which the proper county or district officers have failed to make, and for correction of settlements made in an amount or manner other than as authorized by law. History. — s. 1, ch. 59-145; s. 8, ch. 69-82; s. 1, ch. 69-300; ss. 11, 12, 35, 69-106; s. 1, ch. 73-334; s. 7, ch. 77-104; s. 2, ch. 83-132; s. 55, ch. 95-147; s. 20, ch. 2003-261. 17.0415 Transfer and assignment of claims. In order to facilitate their collection from third parties, the Chief Financial Officer may authorize the assignment of claims among the state, its agencies, and its subdivisions, whether arising from criminal, civil, or other judgments in state or federal court. The state, its agencies, and its subdivisions, may assign claims under such terms as are mutually acceptable to the Chief Financial Officer and the assignee and assignor. The assigned claim may be enforced as a setoff to any claim against the state, its agencies, or its subdivisions, by garnishment or in the same manner as a judgment in a civil action. Claims against the state, its agencies, and its subdivisions resulting from the condemnation of property protected by the provisions of s. 4, Art. X of the State Constitution are not subject to setoff pursuant to this section. History. — s. 1, ch. 91-209; s. 21, ch. 2003-261. 17.0416 Authority to provide services on a fee basis. The Chief Financial Officer, through the Department of Financial Services, may provide accounting and payroll services on a fee basis under contractual agreement with eligible entities, including, but not limited to, state universities, community colleges, units of local government, constitutional officers, and any other person or entity having received any property, funds, or moneys from the state. All funds collected by the department under these contracts shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund. History. — s. 1, ch. 2004-390; s. 14, ch. 2012-116. 17.05 Subpoenas; sworn statements; enforcement proceedings. (1) The Chief Financial Officer may demand and require full answers on oath from any and every person, party or privy to any account, claim, or demand against or by the state, such as it may be the Chief Financial Officer’s official duty to examine into, and which answers the Chief Financial Officer may require to be in writing and to be sworn to before the Chief Financial Officer or the department or before any judicial officer or clerk of any court of the state so as to enable the Chief Financial Officer to determine the justice or legality of such account, claim, or demand. (2) In exercising authority under this chapter, the Chief Financial Officer or his or her designee may: (a) Issue subpoenas, administer oaths, and examine witnesses. (b) Require or permit a person to file a statement in writing, under oath or otherwise as the Chief Financial Officer or his or her designee requires, as to all the facts and circumstances concerning the matter to be audited, examined, or investigated. (3) Subpoenas shall be issued by the Chief Financial Officer or his or her designee under seal commanding such witnesses to appear before the Chief Financial Officer or his or her representative or the department at a specified time and place and to bring books, records, and documents as specified or to submit books, records, and documents for inspection. Such subpoenas may be served by an authorized representative of the Chief Financial Officer or the department. (4) In the event of noncompliance with a subpoena issued pursuant to this section, the Chief Financial Officer or the department may petition the circuit court of the county in which the person subpoenaed resides or has his or her principal place of business for an order requiring the subpoenaed person to appear and testify and to produce books, records, and documents as specified in the subpoena. The court may grant legal, equitable, or injunctive relief, including, but not limited to, issuance of a writ of ne exeat or the restraint by injunction or appointment of a receiver of any transfer, pledge, assignment, or other disposition of such person’s assets or any concealment, alteration, destruction, or other disposition of subpoenaed books, records, or documents, as the court deems appropriate, until such person has fully complied with such subpoena and the Chief Financial Officer or the department has completed the audit, examination, or investigation. The Chief Financial Officer or the department is entitled to the summary procedure provided in s. 51.011, and the court shall advance the cause on its calendar. Costs incurred by the Chief Financial Officer or the department to obtain an order granting, in whole or in part, such petition for enforcement of a subpoena shall be charged against the subpoenaed person, and failure to comply with such order shall be a contempt of court. History. — s. 5, ch. 8, 1845; RS 97; GS 101; RGS 114; CGL 144; s. 1, ch. 73-334; s. 56, ch. 95-147; s. 1, ch. 99-155; s. 22, ch. 2003-261. 17.075 Form of state warrants and other payment orders; rules. (1) The Chief Financial Officer is authorized to establish the form or forms of state warrants which are to be drawn by him or her and of other orders for payment or disbursement of moneys out of the State Treasury and to change the form thereof from time to time as the Chief Financial Officer may consider necessary or appropriate. Such orders for payment may be in any form, but, regardless of form, each order shall be subject to the accounting and record-keeping requirements applicable to state warrants. (2) The Chief Financial Officer shall adopt rules establishing accounting and record-keeping procedures for all payments made by electronic transfer of funds or by any other means. Such procedures shall be consistent with the statutory requirements applicable to payments by state warrant. History. — s. 1, ch. 77-240; s. 6, ch. 79-400; s. 4, ch. 81-277; s. 1, ch. 83-120; s. 23, ch. 2003-261. 17.076 Direct deposit of funds. (1) As used in this section, the term “beneficiary” means any person who is drawing salary or retirement benefits from the state or who is the recipient of any lawful payment from state funds. (2) The Chief Financial Officer shall establish a program for the direct deposit of funds to the account of the beneficiary of such a payment or disbursement in any financial institution equipped for electronic fund transfers, which institution is designated in writing by such beneficiary and has lawful authority to accept such deposits. Direct deposit of funds shall be by any electronic or other transfer medium approved by the Chief Financial Officer for such purpose. (3) The Chief Financial Officer may contract with an authorized financial institution for the services necessary to operate the program. In order to implement the provisions of this section, the Chief Financial Officer may deposit with that financial institution the funds payable to the beneficiaries, in lump sum, by Chief Financial Officer’s warrant to make the authorized direct deposits. (4) The written authorization of a beneficiary shall be filed with the department or its designee. Such authorization shall remain in effect until withdrawn in writing by the beneficiary or dishonored by the designated financial institution. (5) All direct deposit records made prior to October 1, 1986, are exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1). With respect to direct deposit records made on or after October 1, 1986, the names of the authorized financial institutions and the account numbers of the beneficiaries are confidential and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution. Notwithstanding this exemption and the provisions of s. 119.071(5)(b), the department may provide a state university, upon request, with that university’s employee or vendor direct deposit authorization information on file with the department in order to accommodate the transition to the university accounting system. The state university shall maintain the confidentiality of all such information provided by the department. (6) To cover the department’s actual costs for processing the direct deposit of funds other than salary or retirement benefits, the department may charge the beneficiary of the direct deposit a reasonable fee. The department may collect the fee by direct receipt from the beneficiary or by subtracting the amount of the fee from the funds due the beneficiary. Such fees collected by the department shall be deposited into the Department of Financial Services Administrative Trust Fund. (7) All new recipients of retirement benefits from this state shall be paid by direct deposit of funds. A retiree may request from the department an exemption from the provisions of this subsection when such retiree can demonstrate a hardship. The department may pay retirement benefits by state warrant when deemed administratively necessary. History. — s. 2, ch. 81-277; s. 1, ch. 83-120; s. 3, ch. 83-132; s. 1, ch. 86-64; s. 2, ch. 90-360; s. 3, ch. 95-312; s. 4, ch. 96-406; s. 2, ch. 99-155; s. 24, ch. 2003-261; ss. 5, 6, ch. 2003-399; s. 1, ch. 2004-41; s. 1, ch. 2006-1; s. 2, ch. 2019-3. 17.08 Accounts, etc., on which warrants drawn, to be filed. All accounts, vouchers, and evidence, upon which warrants have heretofore been, or shall hereafter be, drawn upon the treasury by the Chief Financial Officer shall be filed and deposited in the office of Chief Financial Officer or the office of the Chief Financial Officer’s designee, in accordance with requirements established by the Secretary of State. History. — ch. 351, 1851; RS 100; GS 104; RGS 117; CGL 147; s. 4, ch. 95-312; s. 2, ch. 97-96; s. 25, ch. 2003-261. 17.09 Application for warrants for salaries. All public officers who are entitled to salaries in this state, shall make their application for warrants in writing, stating for what terms and the amount they claim, which written application shall be filed by the Chief Financial Officer as vouchers for the warrants issued thereupon. History. — s. 1, ch. 1567, 1866; RS 101; GS 105; RGS 118; CGL 148; s. 26, ch. 2003-261. 17.10 Record of warrants and of state funds and securities. The Chief Financial Officer shall cause to be entered in the warrant register a record of the warrants issued during the previous month, and shall make such entry in the record so required to be kept as shall show the number of each warrant issued, in whose favor drawn, and the date it was issued. He or she shall account for all state funds and securities. History. — s. 1, ch. 1536, 1866; RS 103; GS 107; ch. 7270, 1917; RGS 119; CGL 149; s. 4, ch. 83-132; s. 27, ch. 2003-261. 17.11 To report disbursements made. (1) The Chief Financial Officer shall make in all his or her future annual reports an exhibit stated from the record of disbursements made during the fiscal year, and the several heads of expenditures under which such disbursements were made. (2) The Chief Financial Officer shall also cause to have reported from the Financial Management Subsystem no less than quarterly the disbursements which agencies made to small businesses, as defined in the Florida Small and Minority Business Assistance Act; to certified minority business enterprises in the aggregate; and to certified minority business enterprises broken down into categories of minority persons, as well as gender and nationality subgroups. This information shall be made available to the agencies, the Office of Supplier Diversity, the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Each agency shall be responsible for the accuracy of information entered into the Financial Management Subsystem for use in this reporting. History. — s. 3, ch. 1536, 1866; RS 104; GS 108; RGS 120; CGL 150; s. 5, ch. 83-132; s. 6, ch. 85-104; s. 2, ch. 94-322; s. 1312, ch. 95-147; s. 12, ch. 99-155; s. 7, ch. 2000-286; s. 28, ch. 2003-261; s. 18, ch. 2007-157; s. 1, ch. 2026-174. 17.12 Authorized to issue warrants to tax collector or sheriff for payment. Whenever it shall appear to the satisfaction of the Chief Financial Officer from examination of the books of his or her office that the tax collector or the sheriff for any county in this state has paid into the State Treasury, through mistake or otherwise, a larger or greater sum than is actually due from such collector or sheriff, then the Chief Financial Officer may issue a warrant to such collector or sheriff for the sum so found to be overpaid. History. — ch. 1762, 1870; RS 105; GS 109; RGS 121; CGL 151; s. 58, ch. 95-147; s. 29, ch. 2003-261. 17.13 To replace warrants lost or destroyed. (1) The Chief Financial Officer is required to replace any Chief Financial Officer’s warrants that may have been lost or destroyed, or may hereafter be lost or destroyed, upon the owner thereof or the owner’s agent or attorney presenting the Chief Financial Officer the statement, under oath, reciting the number, date, and amount of any warrant or the best and most definite description in his or her knowledge and the circumstances of its loss; if the Chief Financial Officer deems it necessary, the owner or the owner’s agent or attorney shall file in the office of the Chief Financial Officer a surety bond, or a bond with securities, to be approved by one of the judges of the circuit court or one of the justices of the Supreme Court, in a penalty of not less than twice the amount of any warrants so replaced, conditioned to indemnify the state and any innocent holders thereof from any damages that may accrue from such replacement. (2) The Chief Financial Officer is required to replace any Chief Financial Officer’s warrant that may have been lost or destroyed, or may hereafter be lost or destroyed, when sent to any payee via any state agency when such warrant is lost or destroyed prior to being received by the payee and provided the director of the state agency to whom the warrant was sent presents to the Chief Financial Officer a statement, under oath, reciting the number, date, and amount of the warrant lost or destroyed, the circumstances surrounding the loss or destruction of such warrant, and any additional information that the Chief Financial Officer shall request in regard to such warrant. (3) Any replacement Chief Financial Officer’s warrant issued in pursuance of the above provisions shall be of the same validity as the original was before its loss. History. — ss. 1, 3, ch. 1758, 1870; RS 106; GS 110; RGS 122; CGL 152; s. 1, ch. 24280, 1947; s. 1, ch. 73-148; s. 59, ch. 95-147; s. 30, ch. 2003-261; s. 2, ch. 2026-174. 17.14 To prescribe forms. The Chief Financial Officer may prescribe the forms of all papers, vouchers, reports and returns and the manner of keeping the accounts and papers to be used by the officers of this state or other persons having accounts, claims, or demands against the state or entrusted with the collection of any of the revenue thereof or any demand due the same, which form shall be pursued by such officer or other persons. History. — s. 12, ch. 8, 1845; RS 107; GS 111; RGS 123; CGL 153; s. 4, ch. 71-377; s. 31, ch. 2003-261. 17.16 Seal. The office of the Chief Financial Officer shall have an official seal by which its proceedings are authenticated. History. — s. 7, ch. 8, 1845; RS 108; GS 112; RGS 124; CGL 154; s. 32, ch. 2003-261; s. 2, ch. 2004-390. 17.17 Examination by Governor and report. The office of Chief Financial Officer, and the books, files, documents, records, and papers shall always be subject to the examination of the Governor of this state, or any person the Governor may authorize to examine the same; and on the first day of January of each and every year, or oftener if called for by the Governor, the Chief Financial Officer shall make a full report of all his or her official acts and proceedings for the last fiscal year to the Governor, to be laid before the Legislature with the Governor’s message, and shall make such further report as the constitution may require. History. — s. 8, ch. 8, 1845; RS 109; GS 113; ch. 7342, 1917; RGS 125; CGL 155; s. 60, ch. 95-147; s. 33, ch. 2003-261. 17.20 Assignment of claims for collection. (1) The Chief Financial Officer shall charge the state attorneys with the collection of all claims that are placed in their hands for collection of money or property for the state or any county or special district, or that it otherwise requires them to collect. The charges are evidence of indebtedness of a state attorney against whom any charge is made for the full amount of the claim, until the charges have been collected and paid into the treasury of the state or of the county or special district or the legal remedies of the state have been exhausted, or until the state attorney demonstrates to the Chief Financial Officer that the failure to collect the charges is not due to negligence and the Chief Financial Officer has made a proper entry of satisfaction of the charge against the state attorney. (2) The Chief Financial Officer may assign the collection of any claim to a collection agent or agents who are registered and in good standing pursuant to chapter 559, if the Chief Financial Officer determines the assignation to be cost-effective. The Chief Financial Officer may authorize the agent or agents to add a fee to the amount to be collected. (3) Each agency shall be responsible for exercising due diligence in securing full payment of all accounts receivable and other claims due the state. (a) No later than 120 days after the date on which the account or other claim was due and payable, unless another period is approved by the Chief Financial Officer, and after exhausting other lawful measures available to the agency, each agency shall report the delinquent accounts receivable as directed by the Chief Financial Officer to the appropriate collection agent for further action, excluding those agencies that collect delinquent accounts pursuant to independent statutory authority. (b) An agency that has delinquent accounts receivable, which the agency considers to be of a nature that assignment to a collection agency would be inappropriate, may request in writing for an exemption for those accounts. The request shall fully explain the nature of the delinquent accounts receivable and the reasons the agency believes such accounts would be precluded from being assigned to a collection agency. The Chief Financial Officer shall disapprove the request in writing unless the agency shows that a demonstrative harm to the state will occur as a result of assignment to a collection agency. (c) Agencies that have delinquent accounts receivable, which accounts are of such a nature that it would not be appropriate to transfer collection of those delinquent accounts to the Chief Financial Officer within 120 days after the date they are due and payable, may request in writing a different period of time for transfer of collection of such accounts. The request shall fully explain the nature of the delinquent accounts receivable and include a recommendation as to an appropriate period. (4) Each October 1, each agency shall submit a report to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Chief Financial Officer which includes: (a) A detailed list and total of all accounts that were referred for collection and the status of such accounts, including the date referred, any amounts collected, and the total that remains uncollected. (b) A list and total of all delinquent accounts that were not referred to a collection agency, the reasons for not referring those accounts, and the actions taken by the agency to collect. (c) A list of all accounts or claims, including a description and the total amount of each account or claim, which were written off or waived by the agency for any reason during the prior fiscal year, the reason for being written off, and whether any of those accounts continue to be pursued by a collection agent. (5) Each December 1, the Chief Financial Officer shall provide to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a report that details the following information for any contracted collection agent: (a) The amount of claims referred for collection by each agency, cumulatively and annually. (b) The number of accounts by age and amount. (c) A listing of those agencies that failed to report known claims to the Chief Financial Officer in a timely manner as prescribed in subsection (3). (d) The total amount of claims collected, cumulatively and annually. (6) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in any contract providing for the location or collection of unclaimed property, the Chief Financial Officer may authorize the contractor to deduct its fees and expenses for services provided under the contract from the unclaimed property that the contractor has recovered or collected under the contract. The Chief Financial Officer shall annually report to the Governor, President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives the total amount collected or recovered by each contractor during the previous fiscal year and the total fees and expenses deducted by each contractor. History. — ss. 1, 2, ch. 1413, 1863; RS 112; GS 116; RGS 128; CGL 158; ss. 12, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 6, ch. 83-132; s. 62, ch. 95-147; s. 6, ch. 95-312; s. 1, ch. 97-60; s. 34, ch. 2003-261; s. 2, ch. 2010-151; s. 2, ch. 2014-17. 17.21 Not to allow any claim of state attorney against state until report made. The Chief Financial Officer shall not audit or allow any claim which any state attorney may have against the state for services who shall fail to make any report which by law the state attorney is required to make to the Chief Financial Officer of claims of the state which it is his or her duty to collect. History. — s. 3, ch. 1413, 1863; RS 113; GS 117; RGS 129; CGL 159; s. 63, ch. 95-147; s. 35, ch. 2003-261. 17.22 Notice to Department of Legal Affairs. Whenever the Chief Financial Officer forwards any bond or account or claim for suit to any state attorney, he or she shall advise the Department of Legal Affairs of the fact, giving it the amount of the claim and other necessary particulars for its full information upon the subject. History. — s. 2, ch. 2083, 1877; RS 114; GS 118; RGS 130; CGL 160; s. 5, ch. 71-377; s. 36, ch. 2003-261. 17.25 May certify copies. The Chief Financial Officer may certify, under his or her seal of office, copies of any record, paper, or document, by law placed in the Chief Financial Officer’s custody, keeping, and care; and such certified copy shall have the same force and effect as evidence as the original would have. History. — s. 13, ch. 8, 1845; RS 117; GS 121; RGS 133; CGL 163; s. 64, ch. 95-147; s. 37, ch. 2003-261. 17.26 Cancellation of state warrants not presented within 1 year. (1) If any state warrant issued by the Chief Financial Officer or Comptroller against any fund in the State Treasury is not presented for payment within 1 year after the last day of the month in which it was originally issued, the Chief Financial Officer may cancel the warrant and credit the amount of the warrant to the fund upon which it is drawn. If the warrant so canceled was issued against a fund that is no longer operative, the amount of the warrant shall be credited to the General Revenue Fund. The Chief Financial Officer shall not honor any state warrant after it has been canceled. (2) The funds represented by a warrant canceled under subsection (1) are presumed abandoned by the payee or person entitled to the warrant and shall be reported and remitted as unclaimed property under s. 717.117, except that written notice to the apparent owner of the unclaimed property is not required before filing of the report. An action may not be commenced thereafter for recovery of funds represented by the warrant, except as provided by chapter 717. This subsection applies to all warrants issued on or after July 1, 1992. (3) When a warrant canceled under subsection (1) represents funds that are in whole or in part derived from federal contributions and disposition of the funds under chapter 717 would cause a loss of the federal contributions, the Governor shall certify to the Chief Financial Officer that funds represented by such warrants are for that reason exempt from treatment as unclaimed property. Obligations represented by warrants are unenforceable after 1 year from the last day of the month in which the warrant was originally issued. An action may not be commenced thereafter on the obligation unless authorized by the federal program from which the original warrant was funded and unless payment of the obligation is authorized to be made from the current federal funding. When a payee or person entitled to a warrant subject to this subsection requests payment, and payment from current federal funding is authorized by the federal program from which the original warrant was funded, the Chief Financial Officer may, upon investigation, issue a new warrant to be paid out of the proper fund in the State Treasury, provided the payee or other person executes under oath the statement required by s. 17.13 or surrenders the canceled warrant. (4) If a valid obligation of the state is due, owing, and unpaid and it becomes unenforceable for any reason because of the provisions and limitations contained in this section, the person entitled to payment on the obligation may present a claim for relief to the Legislature, provided the claim is made within the time limitations presently provided by law. (5) This section does not extend any applicable statute of limitations or revive any barred claim with respect to any state obligation outstanding and unpaid on July 1, 1995. History. — ss. 1, 2, ch. 22006, 1943; s. 1, ch. 29645, 1955; s. 1, ch. 73-220; s. 2, ch. 85-61; s. 1, ch. 88-256; s. 7, ch. 95-312; s. 2, ch. 2001-60; s. 38, ch. 2003-261. 17.27 Microfilming and destroying records and correspondence. (1) The Department of Financial Services may destroy general correspondence files and also any other records which the department may deem no longer necessary to preserve in accordance with retention schedules and destruction notices established under rules of the Division of Library and Information Services, records and information management program, of the Department of State. Such schedules and notices relating to financial records of the department shall be subject to the approval of the Auditor General. (2) The Department of Financial Services may photograph, microphotograph, or reproduce on film such documents and records as it may select, in such manner that each page will be exposed in exact conformity with the original. (3) The Department of Financial Services may destroy any of such documents after they have been photographed and filed in accordance with the provisions of subsection (1). (4) Photographs or microphotographs in the form of film or prints of any records made in compliance with the provisions of this section shall have the same force and effect as the originals thereof would have, and shall be treated as originals for the purpose of their admissibility in evidence. Duly certified or authenticated reproductions of such photographs or microphotographs shall be admitted in evidence equally with the original photographs or microphotographs. History. — ss. 1-3, ch. 23909, 1947; ss. 12, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 6, ch. 71-377; s. 1, ch. 77-102; s. 1, ch. 78-177; s. 2, ch. 86-163; s. 39, ch. 2003-261. 17.28 Chief Financial Officer may authorize biweekly salary payments. The Chief Financial Officer may permit biweekly salary payments to personnel upon written request by a specific state agency. History. — s. 1, ch. 67-425; s. 40, ch. 2003-261; s. 1, ch. 2013-18. 17.29 Authority to prescribe rules. The Chief Financial Officer may adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement this chapter and the duties assigned by statute or the State Constitution. Such rules may include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) Procedures or policies relating to the processing of payments from salaries, other personal services, or any other applicable appropriation. (2) Procedures for processing interagency and intraagency payments that do not require the issuance of a state warrant. (3) Procedures or policies requiring that payments made by the state for goods, services, or anything of value be made by electronic means, including, but not limited to, debit cards, credit cards, or electronic funds transfers. (4) A method that reasonably accommodates persons who, because of technological, financial, or other hardship, may not be able to receive payments by electronic means. The Chief Financial Officer may make payments by state warrant if deemed administratively necessary. History. — s. 7, ch. 83-132; s. 65, ch. 95-147; s. 7, ch. 98-200; s. 41, ch. 2003-261; s. 3, ch. 2010-151. 17.30 Dissemination of information. The Chief Financial Officer may disseminate, in any form or manner he or she considers appropriate, information regarding the Chief Financial Officer’s official duties. History. — s. 8, ch. 83-132; s. 66, ch. 95-147; s. 42, ch. 2003-261. 17.32 Annual report of trust funds; duties of Chief Financial Officer. (1) On February 1 of each year, the Chief Financial Officer shall present to the Governor and the Legislature a report listing all trust funds as defined in s. 215.32. The report must contain the following data elements for each fund for the preceding fiscal year: (a) The fund code. (b) The title. (c) The fund type according to generally accepted accounting principles. (d) The statutory authority. (e) The beginning cash balance. (f) Direct revenues. (g) Nonoperating revenues. (h) Operating disbursements. (i) Nonoperating disbursements. (j) The ending cash balance. (k) The department and budget entity in which the fund is located. (2) The report shall separately list all funds that received no revenues other than interest earnings or transfers from the General Revenue Fund or from other trust funds during the preceding fiscal year. (3) The report shall separately list all funds that had unencumbered balances in excess of $2 million in each of the 2 preceding fiscal years. History. — s. 4, ch. 92-142; s. 43, ch. 2003-261; s. 30, ch. 2010-102. 17.325 Governmental efficiency hotline; duties of Chief Financial Officer. (1) The Chief Financial Officer shall establish and operate a statewide toll-free telephone hotline to receive information or suggestions from the residents of this state on how to improve the operation of government, increase governmental efficiency, and eliminate waste in government. (2) The Chief Financial Officer shall operate the hotline 24 hours a day. The Chief Financial Officer may advertise the availability of the hotline in newspapers of general circulation in this state and shall provide for the posting of notices in conspicuous places in state agency offices, city halls, county courthouses, and places in which there is exposure to significant numbers of the general public, including, but not limited to, local convenience stores, shopping malls, shopping centers, gasoline stations, or restaurants. The Chief Financial Officer shall use the slogan “Tell us where we can ‘Get Lean’” for the hotline and in advertisements for the hotline. (3) Each telephone call on the hotline shall be received by the office of the Chief Financial Officer, and the office of the Chief Financial Officer shall conduct an evaluation to determine if it is appropriate for the telephone call to be processed as a “Get Lean” telephone call. If it is determined that the telephone call should be processed as a “Get Lean” telephone call, a record of each suggestion or item of information received shall be entered into a log kept by the Chief Financial Officer. A caller on the hotline may remain anonymous, and, if the caller provides his or her name, the name shall be confidential. If a caller discloses that he or she is a state employee, the Chief Financial Officer, in addition to maintaining a record as required by this section, may refer any information or suggestion from the caller to an existing state awards program administered by the affected agency. The affected agency shall conduct a preliminary evaluation of the efficacy of any suggestion or item of information received through the hotline and shall provide the Chief Financial Officer with a preliminary determination of the amount of revenues the state might save by implementing the suggestion or making use of the information. (4) Any person who provides any information through the hotline shall be immune from liability for any use of such information and shall not be subject to any retaliation by any employee of the state for providing such information or making such suggestion. (5) The Chief Financial Officer shall adopt any rule necessary to implement the establishment, operation, and advertisement of the hotline. History. — s. 4, ch. 92-316; s. 29, ch. 96-399; s. 2, ch. 97-60; s. 44, ch. 2003-261; s. 31, ch. 2010-102; s. 8, ch. 2012-212. 17.41 Department of Financial Services Tobacco Settlement Clearing Trust Fund. (1) The Department of Financial Services Tobacco Settlement Clearing Trust Fund, which shall be referred to as the “Lawton Chiles Trust Fund,” is created within that department. (2) Funds to be credited to the Tobacco Settlement Clearing Trust Fund shall consist of payments received by the state from settlement of State of Florida v. American Tobacco Co. , No. 95-1466AH (Fla. 15th Cir. Ct. 1996). Moneys received from the settlement and deposited into the trust fund are exempt from the service charges imposed under s. 215.20. (3)(a) Subject to approval of the Legislature, all or any portion of the state’s right, title, and interest in and to the tobacco settlement agreement may be sold to the Tobacco Settlement Financing Corporation created pursuant to s. 215.56005. Any such sale shall be a true sale and not a borrowing. (b) Any moneys received by the state pursuant to any residual interest retained in the tobacco settlement agreement or the payments to be made under the tobacco settlement agreement shall be deposited into the Tobacco Settlement Clearing Trust Fund. (4) The department shall disburse funds, by nonoperating transfer, from the Tobacco Settlement Clearing Trust Fund to the tobacco settlement trust funds of the various agencies or to the Biomedical Research Trust Fund in the Department of Health, as appropriate, in amounts equal to the annual appropriations made from those agencies’ trust funds in the General Appropriations Act. (5) Pursuant to the provisions of s. 19(f)(3), Art. III of the State Constitution, the Tobacco Settlement Clearing Trust Fund is exempt from the termination provisions of s. 19(f)(2), Art. III of the State Constitution. History. — s. 1, ch. 99-197; s. 3, ch. 2000-122; s. 2, ch. 2000-128; s. 1, ch. 2001-73; s. 45, ch. 2003-261; s. 1, ch. 2004-282; s. 1, ch. 2004-350; s. 2, ch. 2021-43; s. 1, ch. 2022-150. 17.42 Opioid Settlement Clearing Trust Fund. (1) The Opioid Settlement Clearing Trust Fund is created within the department. (2) Funds to be credited to the Opioid Settlement Clearing Trust Fund shall consist of payments received by the state from settlements reached with distributors as part of In re Mallinckrodt PLC , Case No. 20-12522 (Bankr. D. Del. 2021) and any other similar settlements in opioid-related litigation or bankruptcy. Funds received from such settlements and deposited into the trust fund are exempt from the service charges imposed under s. 215.20. (3) Funds deposited into the Opioid Settlement Clearing Trust Fund shall be subdivided as follows: (a) Regional subfund. — The following amounts shall be deposited into the regional subfund each year: 1. From 2022 to 2027, inclusive, 47 percent. 2. From 2028 to 2030, inclusive, 41 percent. 3. From 2031 to 2033, inclusive, 40 percent. 4. From 2034 to 2036, inclusive, 39 percent. 5. From 2037 to any subsequent year, inclusive, 35 percent. (b) State subfund. — The state subfund shall be funded with all remaining funds after funds allocated for the regional subfund are deposited. (4) The department is authorized to draw warrants for amounts for which the Department of Legal Affairs notifies the Chief Financial Officer to draw warrants and withdraw such amounts from the regional subfund to pay amounts due pursuant to the terms of any allocation agreement or settlement to a county within the state that: (a) Has a population of at least 300,000 according to the United States Census Bureau population estimates as of July 1, 2019, released March 2020, or the United States Decennial Census of 2020, released August and September 2021; (b) Has an opioid task force of which the county is a member or operates in connection with its municipalities or others on a local or regional basis. As used in this paragraph, the term “task force” includes any department, committee, commission, or bureau established by the county to collect information related to substance abuse disorders in the county and provide that information to the county, along with recommendations on responding to the opioid epidemic, so long as the department, committee, commission, or bureau allows municipalities and others to participate in whatever process is undertaken; (c) As of December 31, 2021, has an abatement plan that has been adopted or is being used to respond to the opioid epidemic; (d) As of December 31, 2021, provides or contracts with others to provide substance abuse prevention, recovery, and treatment services to its citizens; and (e) Enters or has entered into an interlocal written agreement with a majority of the municipalities located within the county’s boundaries. As used in this paragraph, the term “majority” means more than 50 percent of the population of the municipalities located within the boundaries of a county. For purposes of calculating a majority, individuals living in unincorporated portions of a county may not be counted. (5) The department shall disburse funds from the state subfund, by nonoperating transfer, of the Opioid Settlement Clearing Trust Fund to the opioid settlement trust funds of the various agencies, as appropriate, as provided in the General Appropriations Act. (6) Funds disbursed or transferred under this section shall be used by the state, its agencies, its contractors, and its subdivisions and their contractors to abate the opioid epidemic. (7) Pursuant to s. 19(f)(3), Art. III of the State Constitution, the Opioid Settlement Clearing Trust Fund is exempt from the termination provisions of s. 19(f)(2), Art. III of the State Constitution. History. — s. 1, ch. 2022-161. 17.43 Federal Law Enforcement Trust Fund. (1) The Federal Law Enforcement Trust Fund is created within the Department of Financial Services. The department may deposit into the trust fund receipts and revenues received as a result of federal criminal, administrative, or civil forfeiture proceedings and receipts and revenues received from federal asset-sharing programs. The trust fund is exempt from the service charges imposed by s. 215.20. (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351, any balance in the trust fund at the end of any fiscal year shall remain in the trust fund at the end of the year and shall be available for carrying out the purposes of the trust fund. History. — s. 1, ch. 98-278; s. 2, ch. 99-84; s. 1, ch. 2001-65; s. 46, ch. 2003-261; s. 5, ch. 2004-234; s. 2, ch. 2007-14. 17.51 Oath and certificate of Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall, within 10 days before he or she enters upon the duties of office, take and subscribe an oath or affirmation faithfully to discharge the duties of office, which oath or affirmation must be deposited with the Department of State. The Chief Financial Officer shall also file with the Department of State a certificate attesting that the retiring Treasurer or Chief Financial Officer has filed receipts from his or her successor for balance of cash, and for all bonds and other securities held by the Treasurer or Chief Financial Officer as such, and a certificate from each board of which he or she is made by law ex officio treasurer, that he or she has satisfactorily accounted to such board as its treasurer. History. — s. 3, ch. 9, 1845; s. 2, ch. 3684, 1887; RS 118; GS 123; RGS 134; CGL 164; ss. 10, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 1, ch. 71-19; s. 67, ch. 95-147; s. 1, ch. 98-34; s. 47, ch. 2003-261. Note. — Former s. 18.01. 17.52 Moneys paid on warrants. The Division of Treasury shall pay all warrants on the treasury drawn by the Chief Financial Officer or Comptroller and other orders by the Chief Financial Officer or Comptroller for the disbursement of state funds by electronic means or by means of a magnetic tape or any other transfer medium. No moneys shall be paid out of the treasury except on such warrants or other orders of the Chief Financial Officer or Comptroller. History. — s. 5, ch. 9, 1845; RS 119; GS 124; RGS 135; CGL 165; s. 1, ch. 73-266; s. 1, ch. 75-115; s. 2, ch. 83-120; s. 1, ch. 83-122; s. 1, ch. 91-244; s. 48, ch. 2003-261. Note. — Former s. 18.02. 17.54 Annual report to Governor. The Chief Financial Officer shall make a report in detail to the Governor, with a copy to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives as soon after the 1st day of July of each year as it is practicable to prepare same of the transactions of the Division of Treasury for the preceding fiscal year, embracing a statement of the receipts and payments on account of each of the several funds of which he or she has the care and custody. History. — s. 2, ch. 3563, 1885; RS 122; GS 127; RGS 138; CGL 168; s. 1, ch. 23094, 1945; s. 3, ch. 91-244; s. 70, ch. 95-147; s. 50, ch. 2003-261. Note. — Former s. 18.05. 17.55 Examination by and monthly statements to the Governor. The office of the Chief Financial Officer, and the books, files, documents, records, and papers thereof, shall always be subject to the examination of the Governor of the state, or any person he or she may authorize to examine same. The Chief Financial Officer shall exhibit to the Governor monthly a trial balance sheet from the Division of Treasury and a statement of all the credits, moneys, or effects on hand on the day for which such trial balance sheet is made, and such statement accompanying such trial balance sheet shall particularly describe the exact character of funds, credits, and securities, and shall state in detail the amount which he or she may have representing cash, including any not yet entered upon the books of his or her office, and such statement shall be certified and signed by the Chief Financial Officer officially. History. — s. 3, ch. 3563, 1885; RS 123; s. 1, ch. 4588, 1897; GS 128; RGS 139; CGL 169; s. 2, ch. 73-266; s. 71, ch. 95-147; s. 51, ch. 2003-261. Note. — Former s. 18.06. 17.555 Division of Treasury to keep record of warrants and of state funds and securities. The Division of Treasury shall keep a record of the warrants or other orders of the Chief Financial Officer which the Division of Treasury pays and shall account for all state funds and securities. History. — s. 4, ch. 3563, 1885; RS 124; GS 129; RGS 140; CGL 170; s. 3, ch. 73-266; s. 4, ch. 91-244; s. 72, ch. 95-147; s. 1, ch. 95-280; s. 52, ch. 2003-261. Note. — Former s. 18.07. 17.56 Division of Treasury to maintain all warrants paid. The Division of Treasury shall maintain all warrants drawn by the Chief Financial Officer and paid by the Division of Treasury for 10 years after the date on which a warrant was presented for payment. History. — s. 5, ch. 3563, 1885; RS 125; GS 130; RGS 141; CGL 171; s. 1, ch. 23093, 1945; s. 4, ch. 73-266; s. 5, ch. 91-244; s. 54, ch. 2003-261; s. 1, ch. 2019-140. Note. — Former s. 18.08. 17.57 Deposits and investments of state money. (1)(a) As used in this subsection, the term “pecuniary factor” means a factor that the Chief Financial Officer, or other party authorized to invest on his or her behalf, prudently determines is expected to have a material effect on the risk or returns of an investment based on appropriate investment horizons consistent with applicable investment objectives and funding policy. The term does not include the consideration of the furtherance of any social, political, or ideological interests. (b) The Chief Financial Officer, or other parties with the permission of the Chief Financial Officer, shall deposit the money of the state or any money in the State Treasury in such qualified public depositories of the state as will offer satisfactory collateral security for such deposits, pursuant to chapter 280. It is the duty of the Chief Financial Officer, consistent with the cash requirements of the state, to keep such money fully invested or deposited as provided herein in order that the state may realize maximum earnings and benefits. Nothing in this section shall preclude credit unions designated as public depositories from participation. (c) Notwithstanding any other law except for s. 215.472, when deciding whether to invest and when investing, the Chief Financial Officer, or other party authorized to invest on his or her behalf, must make decisions based solely on pecuniary factors and may not subordinate the interests of the people of this state to other objectives, including sacrificing investment return or undertaking additional investment risk to promote any nonpecuniary factor. The weight given to any pecuniary factor must appropriately reflect a prudent assessment of its impact on risk or returns. (2) The Chief Financial Officer shall make funds available to meet the disbursement needs of the state. Funds which are not needed for this purpose shall be placed in qualified public depositories that will pay rates established by the Chief Financial Officer at levels not less than the prevailing rate for United States Treasury securities with a corresponding maturity. In the event money is available for interest-bearing time deposits or savings accounts as provided herein and qualified public depositories are unwilling to accept such money and pay thereon the rates established above, then such money which qualified public depositories are unwilling to accept shall be invested in: (a) Direct United States Treasury obligations. (b) Obligations of the Federal Farm Credit Banks. (c) Obligations of the Federal Home Loan Bank and its district banks. (d) Obligations of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, including participation certificates. (e) Obligations guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association. (f) Obligations of the Federal National Mortgage Association. (g) Commercial paper of prime quality of the highest letter and numerical rating as provided for by at least one nationally recognized rating service. (h) Time drafts or bills of exchange drawn on and accepted by a commercial bank, otherwise known as “bankers acceptances,” which are accepted by a member bank of the Federal Reserve System having total deposits of not less than $400 million or which are accepted by a commercial bank which is not a member of the Federal Reserve System with deposits of not less than $400 million and which is licensed by a state government or the Federal Government, and whose senior debt issues are rated in one of the two highest rating categories by a nationally recognized rating service and which are held in custody by a domestic bank which is a member of the Federal Reserve System. (i) Corporate obligations or corporate master notes of any corporation within the United States, if the long-term obligations of such corporation are rated by at least two nationally recognized rating services in any one of the four highest classifications. However, if such obligations are rated by only one nationally recognized rating service, then the obligations shall be rated in any one of the two highest classifications. (j) Obligations of the Student Loan Marketing Association. (k) Obligations of the Resolution Funding Corporation. (l) Mortgage-backed securities of the highest credit quality. (m) Asset-backed securities rated by at least two nationally recognized rating services in any one of the three highest classifications. However, if such obligations are rated by only one nationally recognized rating service, the obligations must be rated in any one of the two highest classifications. (n) Any obligations not previously listed which are guaranteed as to principal and interest by the full faith and credit of the United States Government or are obligations of United States agencies or instrumentalities which are rated in the highest catego