60L-39.009. Employee Contributions and Campaign Events (Repealed)

(1) The FSECC shall be the only workplace charitable fundraising program in state government that receives official state coordination and support at any given time, as provided in Section 110.181(1)(a), F.S.

(2) Contributions shall be made only by public officials and employees, shall be entirely voluntary, and designated to charitable organizations approved for inclusion in the campaign unless such contributions are collected as part of a campaign event, pursuant to Section 110.181(1)(b), F.S.

(3) The primary method for employees to contribute designated funds shall be through recurring payroll deductions pledged for a specific calendar year or through a lump sum, one-time cash or check contribution in lieu of payroll deductions. Such pledged payroll deductions or one-time cash or check contribution shall be made using the electronic pledge system offered by the fiscal agent for the campaign. The fiscal agent shall provide an input form for employees unable to enter their pledge directly into the electronic pledge system. This form shall be available upon request and on the Department’s website: www.fsecc.com.

(4) Agencies are also authorized to sponsor campaign events during work hours to raise awareness of the campaign, generate funds, and promote use of payroll deductions. The agency head or designee shall approve such activities and shall ensure that:

(a) No employee is coerced to participate or otherwise singled out for not participating in campaign events or declining to contribute or pledge funds;

(b) Workplace events benefit the FSECC as a whole and do not target any particular participating charity(ies); and

(c) In order to be considered work time, the resultant absence of employees from their workstations is not detrimental to operations, does not require travel away from the official worksite and does not impose significant potential for injury. Otherwise, the agency head shall determine if participation in a campaign event shall require the use of accrued leave or leave without pay, in accordance with Chapter 60L-34, F.A.C.

(5) For agency sponsored campaign events used to generate undesignated funds for a specified campaign cycle, the agency head or designee shall ensure that the collected cash or check donations are submitted to the fiscal agent pursuant to the procedures and timelines established for that year’s campaign. Agencies are permitted to utilize a portion of the undesignated funds received to offset the cost of an agency sponsored campaign event. In such cases the agency shall document and report such expenditures to the fiscal agent.

(6) To minimize administrative costs associated with processing designated donations, the minimum amount that may be designated by an employee to a charity is ten dollars ($10.00).

(7) Employees who make contributions by check shall make the check payable to the Florida State Employees’ Charitable Campaign or FSECC and not their designated charity(ies).

(8) The agency or agency designee shall ensure that all the designated lump sum, one-time contributions that are made in lieu of payroll deduction are collected and submitted to the fiscal agent pursuant to the procedures and timelines established for that year’s campaign.

(9) Pursuant to Florida Commission on Ethics Opinion CEO 06-15, private entities or individuals not employed by the State of Florida may contribute monies or in-kind donations such as door prizes or meals through the fiscal agent for the express purpose of supporting agency efforts to generate interest and participation in the campaign. Such entities may not make any donation to the charitable organizations approved for inclusion in the campaign, inasmuch as the purpose of the FSECC is to direct charitable fundraising towards state employees, as provided in Section 110.181(1), F.S.

(10) Campaign events at Department managed facilities shall be pre-authorized by and coordinated with the Division of Real Estate Development and Management, pursuant to Chapter 60H-6, F.A.C.

(11) Time spent by employees who the agency has assigned to coordinate, communicate, or provide training related to the campaign, or who attend training or events held to recognize their role or contribution to the campaign, shall be considered work time.

(12) Participating charities may attend agency sponsored campaign events; however, agencies may not permit, plan, or conduct distribution or display of any materials, solicitation, or services of any specific charity within State facilities as part of the campaign.

(13) Charitable organizations are permitted to publicize their activities and solicit employee participation in the FSECC through the news media or other private outlets outside State facilities. Charitable organizations seeking to raise funds shall not contact employees at the work place for any purpose related to fundraising. However, the fiscal agent may contact employees or distribute approved campaign materials solely for the purpose of performing fiscal agent duties.

Rulemaking Authority 110.181(3) FS. Law Implemented 110.181 FS. History–New 5-16-10, Amended 2-17-13, 12-27-15.