The Florida Senate

839.04  County officers not to speculate in county warrants or certificates.

839.05  Municipal officers not to speculate in municipal scrip.

839.06  Collectors not to deal in warrants, etc.; removal.

839.08  Public officer not to purchase supplies for public use from herself or himself.

839.09  Boards not to purchase supplies from members of boards.

839.091  Purchasing supplies; exemption from penalties.

839.10  No officer or board to bid for public work.

839.11  Extortion by officers of the state.

839.12  Officer failing to keep record of costs.

839.13  Falsifying records.

839.14  Officer withholding records from successor.

839.15  Judicial officer withholding records.

839.16  Fraud of clerk in drawing jury.

839.17  Misappropriation of moneys by commissioners to make sales.

839.18  Penalty for officer assuming to act before qualification.

839.19  Failure to execute process generally.

839.20  Refusal to execute criminal process.

839.21  Refusal to receive prisoner.

839.23  Officer taking insufficient bail.

839.24  Penalty for failure to perform duty required of officer.

839.25  Official misconduct.

839.26  Misuse of confidential information.

839.04  County officers not to speculate in county warrants or certificates.--Any county court judge, clerk of the circuit court, sheriff, tax collector, property appraiser or their deputies, county commissioner, school board members, superintendent of schools, or any other county officer who buys up at a discount, or in any manner, directly or indirectly, speculates in jurors' or witnesses' certificates or in any warrants drawn upon the county treasurer for the payment of money out of any public fund of this state or of any county, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, and shall be removed from office.

History.--ss. 1, 2, ch. 3419, 1883; RS 2558; GS 3465; RGS 5334; CGL 7467; s. 1, ch. 69-300; s. 1014, ch. 71-136; s. 32, ch. 73-334; s. 1, ch. 77-102.

839.05  Municipal officers not to speculate in municipal scrip.--Any mayor, marshal, treasurer, clerk, tax collector or other officer of any incorporated city or town, or any deputy of such officer, who buys up at a discount, or in any manner, directly or indirectly, speculates in any scrip or other evidence of indebtedness issued by the municipal corporation of which she or he is an officer, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, and shall be removed from office.

History.--ss. 1, 2, ch. 3464, 1883; RS 2559; GS 3466; RGS 5335; CGL 7468; s. 1015, ch. 71-136; s. 242, ch. 77-104; s. 1318, ch. 97-102.

839.06  Collectors not to deal in warrants, etc.; removal.--No tax collector of any county shall, either directly or indirectly, purchase or receive in exchange any Comptroller's warrants, county orders, jurors' certificates or school district orders for a less amount than expressed on the face of such orders or demand, and any such person so offending shall, for each offense, be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.083, and be removed from office.

History.--Ch. 4010, 1891; s. 40, ch. 4322, 1895; GS 3467; s. 39, ch. 5596, 1907; RGS 5336; CGL 7469; s. 1016, ch. 71-136.

839.08  Public officer not to purchase supplies for public use from herself or himself.--No state or county officer shall purchase supplies or materials for public use from herself or himself or from any firm or corporation in which the officer is interested, nor in any manner share in the proceeds of such purchase. Any person violating this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

History.--s. 1, ch. 5186, 1903; GS 3469; RGS 5338; CGL 7471; s. 1018, ch. 71-136; s. 1319, ch. 97-102.

839.09  Boards not to purchase supplies from members of boards.--No state or county board or municipal board or council shall purchase supplies, goods or materials for public use from any firm or corporation in which any member of such board is either directly or indirectly interested, nor shall any such board pay for such supplies, goods or materials so purchased. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083; provided, that no member of any board aforesaid who shall have recorded her or his vote against such illegal purchase, or who shall have been absent at the taking of the vote thereon, shall be convicted of a violation of this section.

History.--s. 2, ch. 5186, 1903; GS 3470; s. 1, ch. 5692, 1907; RGS 5339; CGL 7472; s. 1019, ch. 71-136; s. 1320, ch. 97-102.

839.091  Purchasing supplies; exemption from penalties.--

(1)  No person shall be subject to prosecution under ss. 839.08 and 839.09 when such purchases are:

(a)  Made from the lowest bidder under sealed bids;

(b)  Where such purchases are made at current market prices under a rotation system by which purchases are rotated among the different suppliers; or

(c)  Where purchases are made at current market prices and are for an aggregate amount in any calendar year of not more than $1,000.

(d)  For utility services, newspaper advertising, telephone or telegraph service, insurance premiums, or similar services.

(2)  The provisions of this section shall not apply to counties of the state with population of more than 100,000.

History.--ss. 1, 3, ch. 26934, 1951.

839.10  No officer or board to bid for public work.--No state or county officer nor member of any state or county board shall bid for, or enter into, or be in any manner interested in any contract for public work for which the said officer or state or county board is or may be a party to the letting. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083; provided, that no member of any board aforesaid who shall have recorded her or his vote against the letting of such contract, or who shall have been absent at the taking of the vote thereon, shall be convicted of a violation of this section.

History.--s. 3, ch. 5186, 1903; GS 3471; RGS 5340; CGL 7473; s. 1020, ch. 71-136; s. 1321, ch. 97-102.

839.11  Extortion by officers of the state.--Any officer of this state who willfully charges, receives, or collects any greater fees or services than the officer is entitled to charge, receive, or collect by law is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

History.--RS 2569; GS 3481; RGS 5354; CGL 7489; s. 1021, ch. 71-136; s. 1, ch. 79-132; s. 9, ch. 79-163; s. 1322, ch. 97-102.

839.12  Officer failing to keep record of costs.--If any clerk of a court, sheriff, or county court judge neglects or refuses to keep a record book of the costs which she or he charges, she or he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.083. Such record book shall be prima facie evidence in the courts of the amounts charged therein, in all cases in which any such officer is prosecuted for charging more costs than are allowed by law.

History.--ss. 3, 4, ch. 3252, 1881; RS 2570; GS 3482; RGS 5355; CGL 7490; s. 1022, ch. 71-136; s. 32, ch. 73-334; s. 1323, ch. 97-102.

839.13  Falsifying records.--

(1)  If any judge, justice, mayor, alderman, clerk, sheriff, coroner, or other public officer, or any person whatsoever, shall steal, embezzle, alter, corruptly withdraw, falsify or avoid any record, process, charter, gift, grant, conveyance, or contract, or any paper filed in any judicial proceeding in any court of this state, or shall knowingly and willfully take off, discharge or conceal any issue, forfeited recognizance, or other forfeiture, or other paper above mentioned, or shall forge, deface, or falsify any document or instrument recorded, or filed in any court, or any registry, acknowledgment, or certificate, or shall fraudulently alter, deface, or falsify any minutes, documents, books, or any proceedings whatever of or belonging to any public office within this state; or if any person shall cause or procure any of the offenses aforesaid to be committed, or be in anywise concerned therein, the person so offending shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(2)  In any prosecution under this section, it shall not be necessary to prove the ownership or value of any paper or instrument involved.

History.--s. 19, Feb. 10, 1832; RS 2571; GS 3483; RGS 5357; CGL 7492; s. 1023, ch. 71-136.

839.14  Officer withholding records from successor.--If any officer, after the expiration of the time for which she or he may have been appointed or elected, or in case of death, her or his executors and administrators, or the person in possession thereof, shall willfully and unlawfully withhold or detain from her or his successors the records, papers, documents, or other writings appertaining and belonging to her or his office, or mutilate, destroy, take away, or otherwise prevent the complete possession by her or his successors of said records, documents, papers, or other writings, she or he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

History.--s. 21, Feb. 10, 1832; RS 2572; GS 3485; RGS 5360; CGL 7495; s. 1024, ch. 71-136; s. 1324, ch. 97-102.

839.15  Judicial officer withholding records.--Any justice of the Supreme Court or judge of the circuit court who, upon resignation or on being impeached, fails to file all papers and records in her or his possession belonging to her or his court with the proper clerk shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

History.--s. 3, ch. 3007, 1877; RS 2573; GS 3486; RGS 5361; CGL 7496; s. 1025, ch. 71-136; s. 32, ch. 73-334; s. 1325, ch. 97-102.

839.16  Fraud of clerk in drawing jury.--If the clerk of any court shall be guilty of any fraud, either by practicing on a jury box previous to a draft, or in drawing a juror, or in returning into the box any juror which had been lawfully drawn out and drawing or substituting another in her or his stead, or in any other way in the drawing of jurors, the clerk shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.083.

History.--s. 30, ch. 1628, 1868; RS 2575; GS 3491; RGS 5371; CGL 7505; s. 1026, ch. 71-136; s. 1326, ch. 97-102.

839.17  Misappropriation of moneys by commissioners to make sales.--Any commissioner or master in chancery, having received the purchase money or the securities resulting from any of the sales authorized by law, who shall fail to deliver such moneys and securities, or either of them, to the executor or administrator, or the person entitled to receive the same, upon the order of the court, unless she or he is rendered unable to do so by some cause not attributable to her or his own default or neglect, shall be fined in a sum equal to the amount received from the purchaser, and shall be guilty of a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

History.--s. 30, ch. 1628, 1868; RS 2576; GS 3492; RGS 5372; CGL 7506; s. 1027, ch. 71-136; s. 1327, ch. 97-102.

839.18  Penalty for officer assuming to act before qualification.--Whoever being elected, or appointed, to any office assumes to perform any of the duties thereof before qualification, according to law, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

History.--RS 2737; GS 3732; RGS 5757; CGL 7987; s. 1028, ch. 71-136.

839.19  Failure to execute process generally.--Any sheriff or other officer authorized to execute process, who willfully or corruptly refuses or neglects to execute and return, according to law, any process delivered to him or her, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

History.--RS 2577; GS 3497; RGS 5382; CGL 7421; s. 1029, ch. 71-136; s. 1328, ch. 97-102.

839.20  Refusal to execute criminal process.--If any officer authorized to serve process, willfully and corruptly refuses to execute any lawful process to him or her directed and requiring him or her to apprehend and confine any person convicted or charged with an offense, or willfully and corruptly omits or delays to execute such process, whereby such person escapes and goes at large, the officer shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

History.--s. 15, ch. 1637, 1868; RS 2578; GS 3498; RGS 5383; CGL 7522; s. 1030, ch. 71-136; s. 1329, ch. 97-102.

839.21  Refusal to receive prisoner.--Any jailer or other officer, who willfully refuses to receive into the jail or into her or his custody a prisoner lawfully directed to be committed thereto on a criminal charge or conviction, or any lawful process whatever, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

History.--s. 14, ch. 1637, 1868; RS 2579; GS 3499; RGS 5384; CGL 7523; s. 1031, ch. 71-136; s. 1330, ch. 97-102.

839.23  Officer taking insufficient bail.--An official who takes bail which the official knows is not sufficient, accepts a surety she or he knows does not have the qualifications required by law, or accepts as a surety a professional bond agent who is not registered with the clerk of the circuit court and qualified to act as surety shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. An official convicted of violating this section may be removed from office by the Governor.

History.--s. 78, ch. 19554, 1939; CGL 1940 Supp. 8663(78); s. 175, ch. 70-339; s. 1032, ch. 71-136; s. 1331, ch. 97-102.

Note.--Former s. 903.35.

839.24  Penalty for failure to perform duty required of officer.--A sheriff, county court judge, prosecuting officer, court reporter, stenographer, interpreter, or other officer required to perform any duty under the criminal procedure law who willfully fails to perform his or her duty shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

History.--s. 317, ch. 19554, 1939; CGL 1940 Supp. 8663(330); s. 176, ch. 70-339; s. 1033, ch. 71-136; s. 32, ch. 73-334; s. 1, ch. 77-119; s. 1332, ch. 97-102.

Note.--Former s. 925.01.

839.25  Official misconduct.--

(1)  "Official misconduct" means the commission of the following act by a public servant, with corrupt intent to obtain a benefit for himself or herself or another or to cause unlawful harm to another: knowingly falsifying, or causing another to falsify, any official record or official document.

(2)  "Corrupt" means done with knowledge that act is wrongful and with improper motives.

(3)  Official misconduct under this section is a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

History.--s. 62, ch. 74-383; s. 38, ch. 75-298; s. 10, ch. 79-163; s. 3, ch. 91-223; s. 1333, ch. 97-102.

Note.--Former s. 838.031.

839.26  Misuse of confidential information.--Any public servant who, in contemplation of official action by herself or himself or by a governmental unit with which the public servant is associated, or in reliance on information to which she or he has access in her or his official capacity and which has not been made public, commits any of the following acts:

(1)  Acquisition of a pecuniary interest in any property, transaction, or enterprise or gaining of any pecuniary or other benefit which may be affected by such information or official action;

(2)  Speculation or wagering on the basis of such information or action; or

(3)  Aiding another to do any of the foregoing,

shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

History.--s. 63, ch. 74-383; s. 39, ch. 75-298; s. 208, ch. 91-224; s. 1334, ch. 97-102.

Note.--Former s. 838.041.