350.001 Legislative intent.—The Florida Public Service Commission has been and shall continue to be an arm of the legislative branch of government. The Public Service Commission shall perform its duties independently. It is the desire of the Legislature that the Governor participate in the appointment process of commissioners to the Public Service Commission. The Legislature accordingly […]
350.01 Florida Public Service Commission; terms of commissioners; vacancies; election and duties of chair; quorum; proceedings; public records and public meetings exemptions.— (1) The Florida Public Service Commission shall consist of five commissioners appointed pursuant to s. 350.031. (2)(a) Each commissioner serving on July 1, 1978, shall be permitted to remain in office until the completion of his […]
350.011 Florida Public Service Commission; jurisdiction; powers and duties.—The state regulatory agency heretofore known as the Florida Railroad and Public Utilities Commission or Florida Public Utilities Commission shall be known and hereafter called Florida Public Service Commission, and all rights, powers, duties, responsibilities, jurisdiction, and judicial powers now vested in said Railroad and Public Utilities Commission […]
350.03 Power of Governor to remove and to fill vacancies.—The Governor shall have the same power to remove, suspend, or appoint to fill vacancies in the office of commissioners as in other offices, as set forth in s. 7, Art. IV of the State Constitution. History.—s. 1, ch. 4700, 1899; GS 2884; RGS 4609; CGL 6694; […]
350.031 Florida Public Service Commission Nominating Council.— (1)(a) There is created a Florida Public Service Commission Nominating Council consisting of 12 members. At least one member of the council must be 60 years of age or older. Six members, including three members of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be a member of the minority […]
350.04 Qualifications of commissioners.—A commissioner may not, at the time of appointment or during his or her term of office: (1) Have any financial interest, other than ownership of shares in a mutual fund, in any business entity which, either directly or indirectly, owns or controls any public utility regulated by the commission, in any public utility […]
350.041 Commissioners; standards of conduct.— (1) STATEMENT OF INTENT.—In addition to the provisions of part III of chapter 112, which are applicable to public service commissioners by virtue of their being public officers and full-time employees of the legislative branch of government, the conduct of public service commissioners shall be governed by the standards of conduct provided […]
350.042 Ex parte communications.— (1) A commissioner should accord to every person who is legally interested in a proceeding, or the person’s lawyer, full right to be heard according to law, and, except as authorized by law, shall neither initiate nor consider ex parte communications concerning the merits, threat, or offer of reward in any proceeding under […]
350.043 Enforcement and interpretation.—Any violation of s. 350.031, s. 350.04, s. 350.041, s. 350.042, or s. 350.0605 by a commissioner, former commissioner, former employee, or Public Service Commission Nominating Council member shall be punishable as provided in ss. 112.317 and 112.324. The Commission on Ethics is hereby given the power and authority to investigate complaints of […]
350.05 Oath of office.—Before entering upon the duties of his or her office each commissioner shall subscribe to the following oath: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support, protect and defend the Constitution and Government of the United States and of the State of Florida; that I am qualified to hold office under […]
350.06 Place of meeting; expenditures; employment of personnel; records availability and fees.— (1) The offices of said commissioners shall be in the vicinity of Tallahassee, but the commissioners may hold sessions anywhere in the state at their discretion. (2) All sums of money authorized to be paid on account of said commissioners shall be paid out of the […]
350.0603 Rulemaking authority and procedures for purchases.—The Florida Public Service Commission may adopt rules and procedures for purchases of commodities and services, including procurement of vehicles, office space, and contractual services necessary for efficient operation. These procedures must recognize that fair and open competition is a basic tenet of public procurement and that both documentation of […]
350.0605 Former commissioners and employees; representation of clients before commission.— (1) Any former commissioner of the Public Service Commission is prohibited from appearing before the commission representing any client or any industry regulated by the Public Service Commission for a period of 2 years following termination of service on the commission. (2) Any former employee of the commission […]
350.061 Public Counsel; appointment; oath; restrictions on Public Counsel and his or her employees.— (1) The committee designated by joint rule of the Legislature or by agreement between the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives as the Committee on Public Counsel Oversight shall appoint a Public Counsel to represent the general […]
350.0611 Public Counsel; duties and powers.—It shall be the duty of the Public Counsel to provide legal representation for the people of the state in proceedings before the commission and in proceedings before counties pursuant to s. 367.171(8). The Public Counsel shall have such powers as are necessary to carry out the duties of his or […]
350.0612 Public Counsel; location.—The Public Counsel shall maintain his or her office in Leon County on the premises of the commission or, if suitable space there cannot be provided, at such other place convenient to the offices of the commissioners as will enable him or her to carry out expeditiously the duties and functions of his […]
350.0613 Public Counsel; employees; receipt of pleadings.—The committee may authorize the Public Counsel to employ clerical and technical assistants whose qualifications, duties, and responsibilities the committee shall from time to time prescribe. The committee may from time to time authorize retention of the services of additional attorneys or experts to the extent that the best interests […]
350.0614 Public Counsel; compensation and expenses.— (1) The salaries and expenses of the Public Counsel and his or her employees shall be allocated by the committee only from moneys appropriated to the Public Counsel by the Legislature. (2) The Legislature declares and determines that the Public Counsel is under the legislative branch of government within the intention of […]
350.111 “Regulated company” defined.—As used in ss. 350.111-350.117 and ss. 350.121-350.128, “regulated company” means any public utility as defined in s. 366.02 or any person holding a valid and current certificate from the commission under chapter 351, chapter 364, chapter 365, or chapter 367. History.—ss. 3, 6, ch. 80-289; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; s. 6, […]
350.113 Florida Public Service Regulatory Trust Fund; moneys to be deposited therein.— (1) There is hereby created in the State Treasury a special fund to be designated as the “Florida Public Service Regulatory Trust Fund” which shall be used in the operation of the commission in the performance of the various functions and duties required of it […]
