(1) The Department of Law Enforcement may establish a citizen support organization to provide assistance, funding, and promotional support for activities authorized for Florida Missing Children’s Day under s. 683.23.

(2) As used in this section, the term “citizen support organization” means an organization that is:

(a) A Florida corporation not for profit incorporated under chapter 617 and approved by the Department of State.

(b) Organized and operated to conduct programs and activities; raise funds; request and receive grants, gifts, and bequests of money; acquire, receive, hold, invest, and administer, in its own name, securities, funds, objects of value, or other property, either real or personal; and make expenditures to or for the direct or indirect benefit of the department in furtherance of Florida Missing Children’s Day.

(3) The citizen support organization is not a registered lobbyist within the meaning of s. 11.045.

(4) The citizen support organization is specifically authorized to collect and expend funds to be used for awards; public awareness and awards ceremonies, workshops, and other meetings, including distribution materials for public education and awareness; travel; Internet and web-hosting services; administrative costs, including personnel costs; costs of audits; and costs of facilities rental.

(5) The activities of the citizen support organization must be determined by the department to be consistent with the goals and mission of the department and in the best interests of the state and approved in writing by the department to operate for the direct or indirect benefit of the department. The approval shall be given in a letter of agreement from the department.

(6)(a) The department may fix and collect charges for the rental of facilities and properties managed by the department and may permit, without charge, appropriate use of administrative services, property, and facilities of the department by the citizen support organization, subject to this section. The use must be directly in keeping with the approved purposes of the citizen support organization and may not be made at times or places that would unreasonably interfere with opportunities for the public to use such facilities for established purposes. Any money received from rentals of facilities and properties managed by the department may be held in the Operating Trust Fund of the department or in a separate depository account in the name of the citizen support organization and subject to the provisions of the letter of agreement with the department. The letter of agreement must provide that any funds held in the separate depository account in the name of the citizen support organization must revert to the department if the citizen support organization is no longer approved by the department to operate in the best interests of the state.

(b) The department may adopt rules with which a citizen support organization must comply in order to use department administrative services, property, or facilities.

(c) The department may not authorize the use of any administrative services, property, or facilities of the state by a citizen support organization that does not provide equal membership and employment opportunities to all persons regardless of race, color, religion, gender, age, or national origin.

(7) The citizen support organization shall provide for an independent annual financial audit in accordance with s. 215.981. Copies of the audit shall be provided to the department, the Office of Policy and Budget in the Executive Office of the Governor, and the Cabinet.

History.—s. 10, ch. 2008-249; s. 24, ch. 2014-96; s. 1, ch. 2018-54.