Florida Statute 838.014 | Lawyer Caselaw & Research

The 2024 Florida Statutes

Title XLVI
CRIMES

Chapter 838
BRIBERY; MISUSE OF PUBLIC OFFICE

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F.S. 838.014

838.014 Definitions.—As used in this chapter, the term:

(1) “Benefit” means gain or advantage, or anything regarded by the person to be benefited as a gain or advantage, including the doing of an act beneficial to any person in whose welfare he or she is interested, including any commission, gift, gratuity, property, commercial interest, or any other thing of economic value not authorized by law.

(2) “Bid” includes a response to an “invitation to bid,” “invitation to negotiate,” “request for a quote,” or “request for proposals” as those terms are defined in s. 287.012.

(3) “Commodity” means any goods, merchandise, wares, produce, chose in action, land, article of commerce, or other tangible or intangible property, real, personal, or mixed, for use, consumption, production, enjoyment, or resale.

(4) “Governmental entity” means an agency or entity of the state, a county, municipality, or special district or any other public entity created or authorized by law.

(5) “Harm” means pecuniary or other loss, disadvantage, or injury to the person affected.

(6) “Public contractor” means, for purposes of ss. 838.022 and 838.22 only:

(a) Any person, as defined in s. 1.01(3), who has entered into a contract with a governmental entity; or

(b) Any officer or employee of a person, as defined in s. 1.01(3), who has entered into a contract with a governmental entity.

(7) “Public servant” means:

(a) Any officer or employee of a governmental entity, including any executive, legislative, or judicial branch officer or employee;

(b) Any person, except a witness, who acts as a general or special magistrate, receiver, auditor, arbitrator, umpire, referee, consultant, or hearing officer while performing a governmental function; or

(c) A candidate for election or appointment to any of the officer positions listed in this subsection, or an individual who has been elected to, but has yet to officially assume the responsibilities of, public office.

(8) “Service” means any kind of activity performed in whole or in part for economic benefit.

History.—s. 59, ch. 74-383; s. 317, ch. 96-410; s. 1824, ch. 97-102; s. 2, ch. 2003-158; s. 99, ch. 2004-11; s. 1, ch. 2016-151.

F.S. 838.014 on Google Scholar

F.S. 838.014 on Casetext

Amendments to 838.014

Arrestable Offenses / Crimes under Fla. Stat. 838.014

Level: Degree
Misdemeanor/Felony: First/Second/Third

Current data shows no reason an arrest or criminal charge should have occurred directly under Florida Statute 838.014.

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases Citing Statute 838.014

Total Results: 20

In Re: Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases-Report 2018-03.

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2018-09-27

Citation: 253 So. 3d 995

Snippet: normal activities of daily living. § 838.014(7), Fla. Stat. "Public servant" means

In Re: Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases-Report 2017-09.

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2018-03-08

Citation: 238 So. 3d 192

Snippet: Definitions. § 838.014, Fla. Stat. § 838.014(5), Fla. Stat. "Harm"

Bateman v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2017-12-20

Citation: 240 So. 3d 36

Snippet: obtaining the permit was within 2In 2013, section 838.014(4) defined “corruptly” or “with corrupt intent”

In Re: Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases—report 2016-10

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2017-04-13

Citation: 214 So. 3d 1290

Snippet: “knowingly and intentionally.” It also amended section 838.014, Florida Statutes (2016), to include definitions

In Re STANDARD JURY INSTRUCTIONS IN CRIMINAL CASES—REPORT 2016-03

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2016-10-27

Citation: 202 So. 3d 830

Snippet: the normal activities of daily living. § 838.014 (6), Fla. Stat. “Public servant--means (a)

Richard S. Batterson v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2016-06-17

Citation: 217 So. 3d 1062, 2016 Fla. App. LEXIS 19704

Snippet: the public official’s public duties.1 Section 838.014(1), Florida Statutes (2013), defines “benefit”

Johnson v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2016-02-26

Citation: 185 So. 3d 1282, 2016 Fla. App. LEXIS 2869, 2016 WL 746257

Snippet: disadvantage, or injury to- the person affected.” § 838.014(5), Fla. Stat. (2011) (emphasis added). Thus, a

William R. Crews v. State of Florida

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2015-11-25

Citation: 183 So. 3d 329, 40 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 653, 2015 Fla. LEXIS 2626

Snippet: officer subject to governor’s suspension power); § 838.014(6) (defining "public servant” to include state

Ellison v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2014-01-08

Citation: 132 So. 3d 291, 2014 WL 51865, 2014 Fla. App. LEXIS 156

Snippet: assume the responsibilities of, public office. § 838.014(6), Fla. Stat. (2008). The defendant insists he

In re Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases-Report No. 2012-04

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2013-12-05

Citation: 131 So. 3d 720, 38 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 877, 2013 WL 6305393, 2013 Fla. LEXIS 2640

Snippet: rewarded or compensated. Give if applicable. § 838.014(d), Fla.Stat. For the purpose of the laws against

In re Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2013-09-26

Citation: 123 So. 3d 54, 38 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 680, 2013 WL 5381712, 2013 Fla. LEXIS 2067

Snippet: harm to another]. Definitions. Fla. Stat. § 838.014.(1). “Benefit” means gain or advantage or anything

State v. Flansbaum-Talabisco

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2013-07-24

Citation: 121 So. 3d 568, 2013 Fla. App. LEXIS 11602, 2013 WL 3811759

Snippet: of economic value not authorized by law. *575§ 838.014(1), Fla. Stat. (2010). Defining “benefit” as simply

Gonot v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2013-05-01

Citation: 112 So. 3d 679, 2013 WL 1810623, 2013 Fla. App. LEXIS 6926

Snippet: municipal, or special district agency or entity.” § 838.014(6)(a), Fla. Stat. (2007). The statute distinguishes

Nugent v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2010-10-06

Citation: 45 So. 3d 528, 2010 Fla. App. LEXIS 15026, 2010 WL 3893854

Snippet: disadvantage, or injury to the person affected." § 838.014(5), Fla. Stat. "Or else" may sound ominous, but

WASSERSTROM v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2009-09-30

Citation: 21 So. 3d 55, 2009 Fla. App. LEXIS 14517, 2009 WL 3103855

Snippet: knowingly and dishonestly for a wrongful purpose." § 838.014(4), Fla. Stat. (2004). [2] "Benefit" is defined

In Re Jury Instructions in Crim. Cases

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2005-09-01

Citation: 911 So. 2d 766, 2005 WL 2095664

Snippet: performance of [his][her] public duty].]. Definition § 838.014(6), Fla. Stat. "Corruptly" means acting knowingly

Crist v. Jaber

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2005-07-07

Citation: 908 So. 2d 426, 2005 WL 1577998

Snippet: Communications, LLC, 841 So.2d at 452 n. 4. Section 838.014(1), Florida Statutes (2003), the unlawful compensation

Clement v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2005-02-02

Citation: 895 So. 2d 446, 2005 Fla. App. LEXIS 860, 2005 WL 231207

Snippet: the definition of “public servant” from section 838.014(4), Florida Statutes (1983). Short, 483 So.2d at

State v. Castillo

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2004-04-22

Citation: 877 So. 2d 690, 2004 WL 856754

Snippet: 016(1), Fla. Stat. (1999) (emphasis added). Section 838.014, Florida Statutes (1999), defines the terms "benefit"

Florida Bar v. Cueto

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2002-03-21

Citation: 834 So. 2d 152, 27 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 264, 2002 Fla. LEXIS 437, 2002 WL 432551

Snippet: public servant....” (Emphasis added.) Section 838.014(6), Florida Statutes (2000), defines "corruptly”