Florida Senate - 2022 CS for CS for SB 510
By the Committees on Rules; and Ethics and Elections; and
Senators Brodeur and Rodrigues
595-02954-22 2022510c2
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to financial disclosures; amending s.
3 99.061, F.S.; revising qualification requirements for
4 certain candidates; amending s. 112.3144, F.S.;
5 revising the date by which full and public disclosure
6 of financial interests must be filed electronically;
7 requiring the Commission on Ethics to accept only
8 disclosures in paper form through a specified date;
9 requiring the commission to post a specified notice on
10 its website for a certain timeframe; requiring the
11 commission to accept federal income tax returns,
12 financial statements, and other forms or attachments
13 showing sources of income for a specified purpose;
14 deleting the prohibition on including a federal income
15 tax return or a copy thereof for certain filings;
16 revising the date by which paper forms will no longer
17 be provided; revising the date by which certain
18 notices must be delivered electronically; revising the
19 date by which the commission must provide verification
20 of receiving a disclosure, upon the request of the
21 filer; revising the date by which a written
22 declaration satisfies the condition that the
23 disclosure be sworn; requiring specified local
24 officers to file a full and public disclosure of
25 financial interests; requiring members of the
26 Commission on Ethics and the Florida Elections
27 Commission to file a full and public disclosure of
28 financial interests; amending s. 112.31445, F.S.;
29 requiring the commission to publish a specified notice
30 regarding electronic filing to filers; requiring the
31 commission to post a specified notice regarding paper
32 forms for a certain timeframe; providing an additional
33 specification for the electronic filing of full and
34 public disclosures; amending s. 112.31446, F.S.;
35 revising minimum requirements for the electronic
36 filing system; amending s. 112.3145, F.S.; requiring
37 certain local officers to file their statements of
38 financial interests with a specified supervisor of
39 elections until a specified date; requiring the
40 electronic filing of certain documents after a
41 specified date; requiring the commission to accept
42 only statements of financial interests, final
43 statements of financial interests, and any amendments
44 thereto, or any other forms submitted in paper form
45 until a specified date; requiring the commission to
46 post a specified notice on its website for a certain
47 timeframe; removing the future prohibition on
48 including a federal income tax return or a copy
49 thereof in a filing; revising the date by which paper
50 forms will no longer be provided; requiring certain
51 delinquency notices to be sent by certified mail until
52 a specified date; prohibiting certain delinquency
53 notices from being sent by certified mail after a
54 specified date; exempting specified local officers
55 from filing a statement of financial interests to
56 conform to changes made by the act; amending s.
57 112.324, F.S.; authorizing the commission to dismiss
58 financial disclosure complaints alleging de minimis
59 violations; authorizing the commission to adopt
60 emergency rules for a specified purpose, subject to
61 specified conditions; providing for expiration of the
62 emergency rulemaking authority; providing effective
63 dates.
64
65 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
66
67 Section 1. Effective January 1, 2023, subsection (5) and
68 paragraph (a) of subsection (7) of section 99.061, Florida
69 Statutes, are amended to read:
70 99.061 Method of qualifying for nomination or election to
71 federal, state, county, or district office.—
72 (5) At the time of qualifying for office, each candidate
73 for a constitutional office and each candidate for other
74 elective office subject to an annual filing requirement under s.
75 112.3144 shall file a full and public disclosure of financial
76 interests pursuant to s. 8, Art. II of the State Constitution,
77 which must be verified under oath or affirmation pursuant to s.
78 92.525(1)(a), and a candidate for any other office, including
79 local elective office, shall file a statement of financial
80 interests pursuant to s. 112.3145. A candidate subject to an
81 annual filing requirement under s. 112.3144 may submit a
82 verification or receipt of electronic filing pursuant to s.
83 112.3144(4). A candidate subject to an annual filing requirement
84 under s. 112.3145 may file a verification or receipt of
85 electronic filing pursuant to s. 112.3145(2)(c) unless the
86 candidate is required to file a full and public disclosure of
87 financial interests pursuant to s. 8, Art. II of the State
88 Constitution or this subsection.
89 (7)(a) In order for a candidate to be qualified, the
90 following items must be received by the filing officer by the
91 end of the qualifying period:
92 1. A properly executed check drawn upon the candidate’s
93 campaign account payable to the person or entity as prescribed
94 by the filing officer in an amount not less than the fee
95 required by s. 99.092, unless the candidate obtained the
96 required number of signatures on petitions pursuant to s.
97 99.095. The filing fee for a special district candidate is not
98 required to be drawn upon the candidate’s campaign account. If a
99 candidate’s check is returned by the bank for any reason, the
100 filing officer must shall immediately notify the candidate, and
101 the candidate has shall have until the end of qualifying to pay
102 the fee with a cashier’s check purchased from funds of the
103 campaign account. Failure to pay the fee as provided in this
104 subparagraph disqualifies shall disqualify the candidate.
105 2. The candidate’s oath required by s. 99.021, which must
106 contain the name of the candidate as it is to appear on the
107 ballot; the office sought, including the district or group
108 number if applicable; and the signature of the candidate, which
109 must be verified under oath or affirmation pursuant to s.
110 92.525(1)(a).
111 3. If the office sought is partisan, the written statement
112 of political party affiliation required by s. 99.021(1)(b); or
113 if the candidate is running without party affiliation for a
114 partisan office, the written statement required by s.
115 99.021(1)(c).
116 4. The completed form for the appointment of campaign
117 treasurer and designation of campaign depository, as required by
118 s. 106.021.
119 5. The full and public disclosure or statement of financial
120 interests required by subsection (5). A public officer who has
121 filed the full and public disclosure or statement of financial
122 interests with the Commission on Ethics or the supervisor of
123 elections before prior to qualifying for office may file a copy
124 of that disclosure at the time of qualifying or a verification
125 or receipt of electronic filing as provided in subsection (5).
126 Section 2. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1), subsection (2),
127 paragraph (c) of subsection (6), paragraphs (a) and (c) of
128 subsection (7), and subsection (8) of section 112.3144, Florida
129 Statutes, are amended to read:
130 112.3144 Full and public disclosure of financial
131 interests.—
132 (1)(a) An officer who is required by s. 8, Art. II of the
133 State Constitution to file a full and public disclosure of his
134 or her financial interests for any calendar or fiscal year, or
135 any other person required by law to file a disclosure under this
136 section, shall file that disclosure with the Florida Commission
137 on Ethics. Additionally, an officer who is required to file a
138 full and public disclosure of his or her financial interests
139 under this part and to complete annual ethics training pursuant
140 to s. 112.3142 must certify on his or her full and public
141 disclosure of financial interests that he or she has completed
142 the required training.
143 (2) Beginning January 1, 2023 2022, all disclosures filed
144 with the commission must be filed electronically through an
145 electronic filing system that is created and maintained by the
146 commission as provided in s. 112.31446. Through December 31,
147 2022, the commission may accept only disclosures filed in paper
148 form. The commission shall post a notice on its website
149 informing filers that paper forms must be used for filing
150 through December 31, 2022. The commission may not remove the
151 notice until January 1, 2023.
152 (6)
153 (c) Each separate source and amount of income which exceeds
154 $1,000 must be identified. For the purposes of reporting income,
155 the commission shall accept federal income tax returns,
156 financial statements, and other forms or attachments showing
157 sources of income Beginning January 1, 2022, a federal income
158 tax return may not be used for purposes of reporting income, and
159 the commission may not accept a federal income tax return or a
160 copy thereof.
161 (7)(a) Beginning January 1, 2022, a filer may not include
162 in a filing to the commission a federal income tax return or a
163 copy thereof; a social security number; a bank, mortgage, or
164 brokerage account number; a debit, charge, or credit card
165 number; a personal identification number; or a taxpayer
166 identification number. If a filer includes such information in
167 his or her filing, the information may be made available as part
168 of the official records of the commission available for public
169 inspection and copying unless redaction is requested by the
170 filer. The commission is not liable for the release of social
171 security numbers or bank account, debit, charge, or credit card
172 numbers included in a filing to the commission if the filer has
173 not requested redaction of such information.
174 (c) The commission must conspicuously post a notice, in
175 substantially the following form, in the instructions for the
176 electronic filing system specifying that:
177 1. Any filer submitting information through the electronic
178 filing system may not include a federal income tax return or a
179 copy thereof; a social security number; a bank, mortgage, or
180 brokerage account number; a debit, charge, or credit card
181 number; a personal identification number; or a taxpayer
182 identification number in any filing unless required by law.
183 2. Information submitted through the electronic filing
184 system may be open to public inspection and copying.
185 3. Any filer has a right to request that the commission
186 redact from his or her filing any social security number, bank
187 account number, or debit, charge, or credit card number
188 contained in the filing. Such request must be made in writing
189 and delivered to the commission. The request must specify the
190 information to be redacted and the specific section or sections
191 of the disclosure in which it was included.
192 (8) Forms or fields of information for compliance with the
193 full and public disclosure requirements of s. 8, Art. II of the
194 State Constitution shall be prescribed by the commission. The
195 commission shall allow a filer to include attachments or other
196 supporting documentation when filing a disclosure. The
197 commission shall give notice of disclosure deadlines and
198 delinquencies and distribute forms in the following manner:
199 (a) Not later than May 1 of each year, the commission shall
200 prepare a current list of the names, e-mail addresses, and
201 physical addresses of and the offices held by every person
202 required to file full and public disclosure annually by s. 8,
203 Art. II of the State Constitution, or other state law. Each unit
204 of government shall assist the commission in compiling the list
205 by providing to the commission not later than February 1 of each
206 year the name, e-mail address, physical address, and name of the
207 office held by such person within the respective unit of
208 government as of December 31 of the preceding year.
209 (b) Not later than June 1 of each year, the commission
210 shall distribute a copy of the form prescribed for compliance
211 with full and public disclosure and a notice of the filing
212 deadline to each person on the list. Beginning January 1, 2023
213 2022, no paper forms will not be provided. The notice required
214 under this paragraph and instructions for electronic submission
215 of the form and any accompanying attachments must be delivered
216 by e-mail.
217 (c) Not later than August 1 of each year, the commission
218 shall determine which persons on the list have failed to file
219 full and public disclosure and shall send delinquency notices to
220 such persons. Each notice must state that a grace period is in
221 effect until September 1 of the current year. Beginning January
222 1, 2023 2022, the notice required under this paragraph must be
223 delivered by e-mail and must be redelivered on a weekly basis by
224 e-mail as long as a person remains delinquent.
225 (d) Disclosures must be received by the commission not
226 later than 5 p.m. of the due date. However, any disclosure that
227 is postmarked by the United States Postal Service by midnight of
228 the due date is deemed to have been filed in a timely manner,
229 and a certificate of mailing obtained from and dated by the
230 United States Postal Service at the time of the mailing, or a
231 receipt from an established courier company which bears a date
232 on or before the due date, constitutes proof of mailing in a
233 timely manner. Beginning January 1, 2023 2022, upon request of
234 the filer, the commission must provide verification to the filer
235 that the commission has received the filed disclosure.
236 (e) Beginning January 1, 2023 2022, a written declaration,
237 as provided for under s. 92.525(2), accompanied by an electronic
238 signature satisfies the requirement that the disclosure be
239 sworn.
240 (f) Any person who is required to file full and public
241 disclosure of financial interests and whose name is on the
242 commission’s list, and to whom notice has been sent, but who
243 fails to timely file is assessed a fine of $25 per day for each
244 day late up to a maximum of $1,500; however this $1,500
245 limitation on automatic fines does not limit the civil penalty
246 that may be imposed if the statement is filed more than 60 days
247 after the deadline and a complaint is filed, as provided in s.
248 112.324. The commission must provide by rule the grounds for
249 waiving the fine and the procedures by which each person whose
250 name is on the list and who is determined to have not filed in a
251 timely manner will be notified of assessed fines and may appeal.
252 The rule must provide for and make specific the following:
253 1. The amount of the fine due is based upon the earliest of
254 the following:
255 a. When a statement is actually received by the office.
256 b. When the statement is postmarked.
257 c. When the certificate of mailing is dated.
258 d. When the receipt from an established courier company is
259 dated.
260 2. Upon receipt of the disclosure statement or upon accrual
261 of the maximum penalty, whichever occurs first, the commission
262 shall determine the amount of the fine which is due and shall
263 notify the delinquent person. The notice must include an
264 explanation of the appeal procedure under subparagraph 3. Such
265 fine must be paid within 30 days after the notice of payment due
266 is transmitted, unless an appeal is made to the commission
267 pursuant to subparagraph 3. The moneys shall be deposited into
268 the General Revenue Fund.
269 3. Any reporting person may appeal or dispute a fine, based
270 upon unusual circumstances surrounding the failure to file on
271 the designated due date, and may request and is entitled to a
272 hearing before the commission, which may waive the fine in whole
273 or in part for good cause shown. Any such request must be in
274 writing and received by the commission within 30 days after the
275 notice of payment due is transmitted. In such a case, the
276 reporting person must, within the 30-day period, notify the
277 person designated to review the timeliness of reports in writing
278 of his or her intention to bring the matter before the
279 commission. For purposes of this subparagraph, “unusual
280 circumstances” does not include the failure to monitor an e-mail
281 account or failure to receive notice if the person has not
282 notified the commission of a change in his or her e-mail
283 address.
284 (g) Any person subject to the annual filing of full and
285 public disclosure under s. 8, Art. II of the State Constitution,
286 or other state law, whose name is not on the commission’s list
287 of persons required to file full and public disclosure is not
288 subject to the fines or penalties provided in this part for
289 failure to file full and public disclosure in any year in which
290 the omission occurred, but nevertheless is required to file the
291 disclosure statement.
292 (h) The notification requirements and fines of this
293 subsection do not apply to candidates or to the first filing
294 required of any person appointed to elective constitutional
295 office or other position required to file full and public
296 disclosure, unless the person’s name is on the commission’s
297 notification list and the person received notification from the
298 commission. The appointing official shall notify such newly
299 appointed person of the obligation to file full and public
300 disclosure by July 1. The notification requirements and fines of
301 this subsection do not apply to the final filing provided for in
302 subsection (10).
303 (i) Notwithstanding any provision of chapter 120, any fine
304 imposed under this subsection which is not waived by final order
305 of the commission and which remains unpaid more than 60 days
306 after the notice of payment due or more than 60 days after the
307 commission renders a final order on the appeal must be submitted
308 to the Department of Financial Services as a claim, debt, or
309 other obligation owed to the state, and the department shall
310 assign the collection of such fine to a collection agent as
311 provided in s. 17.20.
312 Section 3. Effective January 1, 2023, paragraphs (d) and
313 (e) are added to subsection (1) of section 112.3144, Florida
314 Statutes, to read:
315 112.3144 Full and public disclosure of financial
316 interests.—
317 (1)
318 (d) The following local officers must comply with the
319 financial disclosure requirements of s. 8, Art. II of the State
320 Constitution and this section:
321 1. Mayors.
322 2. City commissioners.
323 3. Elected members of a city council; town council; village
324 council; or other governing body of a city, town, or village.
325 4. City, county, town, or village managers.
326 (e) Each member of the commission and the Florida Elections
327 Commission must comply with the financial disclosure
328 requirements of s. 8, Art. II of the State Constitution and this
329 section.
330 Section 4. Subsections (4), (5), and (6) are added to
331 section 112.31445, Florida Statutes, to read:
332 112.31445 Electronic filing system; full and public
333 disclosure of financial interests.—
334 (4) The commission shall publish a notice on the electronic
335 filing system instructing filers to redact a social security
336 number; a bank, mortgage, or brokerage account number; a debit,
337 charge, or credit card number; a personal identification number;
338 or a taxpayer identification number in their filings.
339 (5) The commission shall post a notice on the main webpage
340 of the electronic filing system informing filers that the
341 electronic filing system will not accept any electronic filings
342 until January 1, 2023, and that paper forms must be used through
343 December 31, 2022, in accordance with s. 112.3144(2). The
344 commission may not remove the notice until January 1, 2023.
345 (6) The electronic filing system must allow a filer to
346 include attachments or other supporting documentation when
347 submitting a disclosure through the system.
348 Section 5. Subsection (2) of section 112.31446, Florida
349 Statutes, is amended to read:
350 112.31446 Electronic filing system for financial
351 disclosure.—
352 (2) By January 1, 2022, the commission shall procure and
353 test an electronic filing system. Upon the electronic filing
354 system’s implementation At a minimum, the electronic filing
355 system must meet the following minimum requirements:
356 (a) Provide access through the Internet for the completion
357 and submission of disclosures of financial interests, statements
358 of financial interests, or any other form that is required under
359 s. 112.3144 or s. 112.3145.
360 (b) Make filings available in a searchable format that is
361 accessible by an individual using standard Internet-browsing
362 software.
363 (c) Issue a verification or receipt that the commission has
364 received the submitted disclosure or statement.
365 (d) Provide security that prevents unauthorized access to
366 the electronic filing system’s functions or data.
367 (e) Provide a method for an attorney or a certified public
368 accountant licensed in this state to complete the disclosure or
369 statement and certify that he or she prepared the disclosure or
370 statement in accordance with s. 112.3144 or s. 112.3145 and the
371 instructions for completing the disclosure or statement, and
372 that, upon his or her reasonable knowledge and belief, the
373 information on the disclosure or statement is true and correct.
374 (f) Allow a filer to include attachments or other
375 supporting documentation when submitting a disclosure or a
376 statement through the system.
377 Section 6. Paragraphs (d) and (e) of subsection (2),
378 paragraphs (a) and (c) of subsection (4), and paragraphs (b) and
379 (c) of subsection (8) of section 112.3145, Florida Statutes, are
380 amended to read:
381 112.3145 Disclosure of financial interests and clients
382 represented before agencies.—
383 (2)
384 (d) State officers and specified state employees shall file
385 their statements of financial interests with the commission.
386 Through December 31, 2023, local officers shall file their
387 statements of financial interests with the supervisor of
388 elections of the county in which they permanently reside.
389 Through December 31, 2023, local officers who do not permanently
390 reside in any county in this the state shall file their
391 statements of financial interests with the supervisor of
392 elections of the county in which their agency maintains its
393 headquarters. Persons seeking to qualify as candidates for local
394 public office shall file their statements of financial interests
395 with the officer before whom they qualify.
396 (e) Beginning January 1, 2024 2023, a statement of
397 financial interests and a final statement of financial
398 interests, and any amendments thereto, or any other form
399 required by this section, except any statement of a candidate
400 who is not subject to an annual filing requirement, all
401 statements filed with the commission must be filed
402 electronically through an electronic filing system that is
403 created and maintained by the commission as provided in s.
404 112.31446. Through December 31, 2023, the commission may only
405 accept from filers who file with the commission a statement of
406 financial interests, a final statement of financial interests,
407 and any amendments thereto, or any other form required by this
408 section submitted in paper form. The commission shall post a
409 notice on its website informing filers who file with the
410 commission that paper forms must be used for filing through
411 December 31, 2023. The commission may not remove the notice
412 until January 1, 2024.
413 (4)(a) Beginning January 1, 2023, a filer may not include
414 in a filing to the commission a federal income tax return or a
415 copy of thereof; a social security number; a bank, mortgage, or
416 brokerage account number; a debit, charge, or credit card
417 number; a personal identification number; or a taxpayer
418 identification number. If a filer includes such information in
419 his or her filing, the information may be made available as part
420 of the official records of the commission available for public
421 inspection and copying unless redaction is requested by the
422 filer. The commission is not liable for the release of social
423 security numbers, bank account numbers, or debit, charge, or
424 credit card numbers included in a filing to the commission if
425 the filer has not requested redaction of the information.
426 (c) The commission must conspicuously post a notice, in
427 substantially the following form, in the instructions for the
428 electronic filing system specifying that:
429 1. Any filer submitting information through the electronic
430 filing system may not include a federal income tax return or a
431 copy thereof; a social security number; a bank, mortgage, or
432 brokerage account number; a debit, charge, or credit card
433 number; a personal identification number; or a taxpayer
434 identification number in any filing unless required by law.
435 2. Information submitted through the electronic filing
436 system may be open to public inspection and copying.
437 3. Any filer has a right to request that the commission
438 redact from his or her filing any social security number, bank
439 account number, or debit, charge, or credit card number
440 contained in the filing. Such request must be made in writing
441 and delivered to the commission. The request must specify the
442 information to be redacted and the specific section or sections
443 of the disclosure in which it was included.
444 (8) Forms for compliance with the disclosure requirements
445 of this section and a current list of persons subject to
446 disclosure shall be created by the commission and provided to
447 each supervisor of elections. The commission and each supervisor
448 of elections shall give notice of disclosure deadlines and
449 delinquencies and distribute forms in the following manner:
450 (b) Not later than June 1 of each year, the commission and
451 each supervisor of elections, as appropriate, shall distribute a
452 copy of the form prescribed for compliance with subsection (3)
453 and a notice of all applicable disclosure forms and filing
454 deadlines to each person required to file a statement of
455 financial interests. Beginning January 1, 2024 2023, no paper
456 forms will not be provided. The notice required under this
457 paragraph and instructions for electronic submission must be
458 delivered by e-mail.
459 (c) Not later than August 1 of each year, the commission
460 and each supervisor of elections shall determine which persons
461 required to file a statement of financial interests in their
462 respective offices have failed to do so and shall send
463 delinquency notices to these persons. Through December 31, 2023,
464 delinquency notices must be sent by certified mail, return
465 receipt requested. Each notice must state that a grace period is
466 in effect until September 1 of the current year; that no
467 investigative or disciplinary action based upon the delinquency
468 will be taken by the agency head or commission if the statement
469 is filed by September 1 of the current year; that, if the
470 statement is not filed by September 1 of the current year, a
471 fine of $25 for each day late will be imposed, up to a maximum
472 penalty of $1,500; for notices distributed by a supervisor of
473 elections, that he or she is required by law to notify the
474 commission of the delinquency; and that, if upon the filing of a
475 sworn complaint the commission finds that the person has failed
476 to timely file the statement within 60 days after September 1 of
477 the current year, such person will also be subject to the
478 penalties provided in s. 112.317. Beginning January 1, 2024
479 2023, notice required under this paragraph:
480 1. May not be sent by certified mail.
481 2. Must be delivered by e-mail and must be redelivered on a
482 weekly basis by e-mail as long as the person remains delinquent.
483 Section 7. Effective January 1, 2023, paragraph (b) of
484 subsection (2) of section 112.3145, Florida Statutes, is amended
485 to read:
486 112.3145 Disclosure of financial interests and clients
487 represented before agencies.—
488 (2)
489 (b) Each state or local officer, except local officers
490 specified in s. 112.3144(1)(d), and each specified state
491 employee shall file a statement of financial interests no later
492 than July 1 of each year. Each state officer, local officer, and
493 specified state employee shall file a final statement of
494 financial interests within 60 days after leaving his or her
495 public position for the period between January 1 of the year in
496 which the person leaves and the last day of office or
497 employment, unless within the 60-day period the person takes
498 another public position requiring financial disclosure under
499 this section or s. 8, Art. II of the State Constitution or
500 otherwise is required to file full and public disclosure or a
501 statement of financial interests for the final disclosure
502 period. Each state or local officer who is appointed and each
503 specified state employee who is employed shall file a statement
504 of financial interests within 30 days after from the date of
505 appointment or, in the case of a specified state employee, after
506 from the date on which the employment begins, except that any
507 person whose appointment is subject to confirmation by the
508 Senate shall file before prior to confirmation hearings or
509 within 30 days after from the date of appointment, whichever
510 comes first.
511 Section 8. Paragraph (a) of subsection (11) of section
512 112.324, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
513 112.324 Procedures on complaints of violations and
514 referrals; public records and meeting exemptions.—
515 (11)(a) Notwithstanding subsections (1)-(8), the commission
516 may dismiss any complaint or referral at any stage of
517 disposition if it determines that the violation that is alleged
518 or has occurred is a de minimis violation attributable to
519 inadvertent or unintentional error. In determining whether a
520 violation was de minimis, the commission shall consider whether
521 the interests of the public were protected despite the
522 violation. This subsection does not apply to complaints or
523 referrals pursuant to ss. 112.3144 and 112.3145.
524 Section 9. (1) The Commission on Ethics is authorized, and
525 all conditions are deemed met, to adopt emergency rules pursuant
526 to s. 120.54(4), Florida Statutes, for adopting the form for the
527 full and public disclosure of financial interests, and any
528 related filing instructions and procedures, to implement the
529 amendments made by this act.
530 (2) Notwithstanding any other law, emergency rules adopted
531 pursuant to subsection (1) are effective for 6 months after
532 adoption and may be renewed during the pendency of permanent
533 rules addressing the subject of the emergency rules.
534 (3) This section expires January 1, 2023.
535 Section 10. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
536 act, this act shall take effect upon becoming a law.