(1)(a) As used in this section, “finder” means a person who is not regularly employed by, or not a partner or officer of, an underwriter, bank, banker, or financial consultant or adviser and who enters into an understanding with either the issuer or the managing underwriter, or both, for any paid or promised compensation or valuable consideration directly or indirectly, expressly or impliedly, to act solely as an intermediary between such issuer and managing underwriter for the purpose of influencing any transaction in the purchase of such bonds.
(b) No underwriter, commercial bank, investment banker, or financial consultant or adviser shall pay any finder any bonus, fee, or gratuity in connection with the sale of general obligation bonds or revenue bonds issued by any unit of local government, unless full disclosure is made to the unit of local government prior to or concurrently with the submission of a purchase proposal for bonds by the underwriter, commercial bank, investment banker, or financial consultant or adviser and subsequently in the official statement or offering circular, if any, detailing the name and address of any finder and the amount of bonus, fee, or gratuity paid to such finder.
(2) The willful violation of this section is a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. (3) No violation of this section shall affect the validity of the bond issue.
