A new law makes it easier to prosecute public officials and government contractors on corruption charges.

  • New anti-public corruption law
  • State attorneys say it will make it easier to prosecute corruption

“If we want more jobs, we have to make sure there’s no corruption here," said Florida Governor Rick Scott.

Scott ceremonially signed the legislation Thursday at an event in Brevard County.

“The most important thing. [What] it’s going to do is prevent anybody from being pushed to do the wrong thing," Scott said.

“I think folks who would hold the public trust need to have a little bit of awe of the law," said attorney Wade Vose, who specializes in local government law.

"I think by making it an easier standard to prosecute folks for public corruption, it's going to put people on notice that that type of behavior is unacceptable," Vose added.

Vose thinks the new anti-public corruption law will potentially save taxpayers millions of dollars.

"One of the statutes that makes it easier to prosecute on is bid tampering,” Vose said. “The way government saves money when it goes out for various services is putting things out to bid. When you are doing that in an unfair way, governments and the taxpayers pay more."

"I think what's important is if there's one case it's bad,” Scott said. “It hurts the entire reputation of the state."

Governor Scott said one of the most important elements of the anti-corruption law gives the State Attorney's Office more power to prosecute.

"The whole point of this legislation was to cut that corruption tax because there is tax, fraud and waste built into so much of the corruption that goes on with government contracts," shared State Attorney Phil Archer, who represents Brevard & Seminole County.

"So this bill will help give prosecutors and investigators the tool they need to fight that corruption," Archer continued.

State leaders believe their fight against corruption will increase accountability and transparency in local government across the state of Florida.

"The way we have to look at it is we want everybody to live to the highest standards," Gov. Scott added.

"We have a number of agencies in Central Florida that contract with local governments and this is going to put them on notice that now they are going to have to follow those rules," Vose said.