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Florida Statute 15.16 | Lawyer Caselaw & Research
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Florida Statute 15.16 - Full Text and Legal Analysis

The 2024 Florida Statutes (including 2025 Special Session C)

Title IV
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
Chapter 15
SECRETARY OF STATE
View Entire Chapter
F.S. 15.16
15.16 Reproduction of records; admissibility in evidence; electronic receipt and transmission of records; certification; acknowledgment.
(1) The Department of State may cause to be made copies of any records maintained by it by miniature photographic microfilming or microphotographic processes or any other photographic, mechanical, or other process heretofore or hereafter devised, including electronic data processing.
(2) Photographs, nonerasable optical images, or microphotographs in the form of film, facsimiles, or prints of any records made in compliance with the provisions of this section shall have the same force and effect as the originals thereof and shall be treated as originals for the purpose of their admissibility in evidence. Duly certified or authenticated reproductions of such photographs, nonerasable optical images, or microphotographs shall be admitted in evidence equally with the original photographs, nonerasable optical images, or microphotographs.
(3)(a) The Department of State may cause to be received electronically any records that are required or authorized to be filed with it pursuant to chapter 48, chapter 55, chapter 117, chapter 118, chapter 495, chapter 605, chapter 606, chapter 607, chapter 610, chapter 617, chapter 620, chapter 621, chapter 679, chapter 713, or chapter 865, through facsimile or other electronic transfers, for the purpose of filing such records. The originals of all such electronically transmitted records must be executed in the manner provided in paragraph (5)(b). The receipt of such electronic transfer constitutes delivery to the department as required by law. The department may use electronic transmissions for purposes of notice in the administration of chapters 48, 55, 117, 118, 495, 605, 606, 607, 610, 617, 620, 621, 679, and 713 and s. 865.09. The Department of State may collect e-mail addresses for purposes of notice and communication in the performance of its duties and may require filers and registrants to furnish such e-mail addresses when presenting documents for filing.
(b) The department may implement a password-protected system for any record electronically received pursuant to paragraph (a) and may require filers to produce supplemental materials to use such system, including, but not limited to, an original signature of the filer and verification of credentials. The department may also implement a password-protected system that allows entities organized under the chapters specified in paragraph (a) to identify authorized account holders for the purpose of electronically filing records related to the entity. If the department implements such a system, it must send to each e-mail address on file with the Division of Corporations on January 1, 2024, a code to participate in a password-protected system. The department may require verification of the identity of an authorized account holder before the account holder is authorized to electronically file a record with the department.
(c)1. E-mail addresses collected by the Department of State pursuant to this subsection are exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution. This exemption applies to e-mail addresses held by the Department of State before, on, or after the effective date of the exemption.
2. Secure login credentials held by the Department of State for the purpose of allowing a person to electronically file records under this subsection are exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution. This exemption applies to secure login credentials held by the Department of State before, on, or after the effective date of the exemption. For purposes of this subparagraph, the term “secure login credentials” means information held by the department for purposes of authenticating a user logging into a user account on a computer, a computer system, a computer network, or an electronic device; an online user account accessible over the Internet, whether through a mobile device, a website, or any other electronic means; or information used for authentication or password recovery.
3. This paragraph is subject to the Open Government Sunset Review Act in accordance with s. 119.15 and shall stand repealed on October 2, 2028, unless reviewed and saved from repeal through reenactment by the Legislature.
(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the department may certify or acknowledge and electronically transmit any record maintained by it. The certification must be evidenced by a certification code on each page transmitted which must include the filing number of the document, date of transmission, and page number of the total number of pages transmitted, and a sequential certification number assigned by the department which will identify the transmission and be available for verification of any transmitted acknowledgment or certified document.
(5) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Department of State shall determine for purposes of electronic filing of any document placed under its jurisdiction for filing or recordation:
(a) The appropriate format, which must be retrievable or reproducible in typewritten or printed form and must be legible.
(b) The manner of execution, which may include any symbol, manual, facsimile, conformed, or electronic signature adopted by a person with the present intent to authenticate a document.
(c) The method of electronic transmission, and fee payment for such document.
(d) The amount of any fee surcharge or discount for the use of an electronic filing format.
(6) The Department of State may use government or private sector contractors in the promotion or provision of any electronic filing services.
(7) The Secretary of State may issue apostilles conforming to the requirements of the international treaty known as the Hague Convention of 1961 and may charge a fee for the issuance of apostilles not to exceed $10 per apostille. The Secretary of State has the sole authority in this state to establish, in accordance with the laws of the United States, the requirements and procedures for the issuance of apostilles.
(8) The Department of State may use government or private sector contractors in the promotion or provision of any electronic filing services and may discount the filing fee in an amount equal to the convenience charge for such electronic filings.
History.s. 1, ch. 67-15; ss. 10, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 1, ch. 89-341; s. 1, ch. 93-281; s. 12, ch. 99-218; s. 72, ch. 99-251; s. 3, ch. 2001-195; s. 1, ch. 2001-200; s. 1, ch. 2009-72; s. 1, ch. 2009-129; s. 11, ch. 2012-116; s. 12, ch. 2015-148; s. 1, ch. 2022-190; s. 1, ch. 2023-52; s. 1, ch. 2023-53.

F.S. 15.16 on Google Scholar

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Amendments to 15.16


Arrestable Offenses / Crimes under Fla. Stat. 15.16
Level: Degree
Misdemeanor/Felony: First/Second/Third

Current data shows no reason an arrest or criminal charge should have occurred directly under Florida Statute 15.16.



Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

📡 Real-time webhook data - Cases automatically updated when new citations are found

Cases Citing Statute 15.16

Total Results: 10

Allen Ward Cox v. State of Florida

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2024-07-11

Snippet: premeditated aggravator); Colley v. State, 310 So. 3d 2, 15-16 (Fla. 2020) (rejecting argument that Florida has

Added to database: 2025-08-29 19:02:59

State of Florida v. Zachary Joseph Penna

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2024-05-02

Snippet: accused] of his Miranda[9] rights.” Majority op. at 15-16. I respectfully dissent. Our state constitution

Added to database: 2025-08-29 19:02:59

David P. Trotti v. Rick Scott, Governor

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2018-11-26

Citation: 271 So. 3d 904

Snippet: So. 2d 777 (Fla. 1974). See dissenting op. at 15-16 (Quince, J.). We should not condone this practice

Added to database: 2025-08-29 19:02:59

State of Florida v. Earvin Smith

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2018-04-12

Citation: 241 So. 3d 53

Snippet: 2006-266, § 1, Laws of Fla., codified at § 775.15(16)(a), Fla. Stat. (2006) ; Lawson v. State , 51 So

Added to database: 2025-08-29 19:02:59

Palm Beach County School Board, etc. v. Janie Doe 1, etc.

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2017-01-26

Citation: 210 So. 3d 41, 42 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 23, 2017 WL 372059, 2017 Fla. LEXIS 190

Snippet: (Fla. 3d DCA 2009); Page v. McMullan, 849 So.2d 15, 16 (Fla. 1st DCA 2003) (stating that amendments “may

Added to database: 2025-08-29 19:02:59

League of Women Voters of Florida v. Detzner

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2015-12-02

Citation: 179 So. 3d 258, 2015 WL 7753054

Snippet: configuration of the remaining six districts — 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, and 17 — is the subject of the dispute between

Added to database: 2025-08-29 19:02:59

Florida Virtual School, etc. v. K12, Inc.

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2014-09-18

Citation: 148 So. 3d 97, 39 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 569, 2014 WL 4638694, 2014 Fla. LEXIS 2823

Snippet: became a public agency. See ch. 79-65, §§ 15-16, Laws of Fla. At the time of the last amendment

Added to database: 2025-08-29 19:02:59

Richard Masone v. City of Aventura

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2014-06-12

Citation: 147 So. 3d 492, 2014 WL 2609201

Snippet: statute.’ ” Id. (quoting 5 McQuillin Mun. Corp. § 15:16 (3d ed. 2012)).

Added to database: 2025-08-29 19:02:59

City of Palm Bay v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2013-05-16

Citation: 114 So. 3d 924, 38 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 322, 2013 WL 2096257, 2013 Fla. LEXIS 1000

Snippet: purposes of the statute.” 5 McQuillin Mun. Corp. § 15:16 (3d ed. 2012). Here, it is undisputed that the Palm

Added to database: 2025-08-29 19:02:59

State v. Wright

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2000-02-17

Citation: 753 So. 2d 1227, 25 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 153, 2000 Fla. LEXIS 93, 2000 WL 183487

Snippet: Petitioner’s Initial Brief on the Merits at 1, 3, 8, 15-16. In the trial court, the State stipulated that the

Added to database: 2025-08-29 19:02:59