Florida 2024 Regular Session Status: In Committee

SB 734 — Government Accountability

Last action — Died in Appropriations

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2024 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Government Accountability; Prohibiting specified individuals from soliciting or accepting anything of value from a foreign country of concern; prohibiting a person from lobbying a county, municipality, or special district unless he or she is registered as a lobbyist with the Commission on Ethics; requiring the commission to investigate a lobbyist or principal upon receipt of a sworn complaint containing certain allegations; requiring the commission to provide the chief executive officer of the county or municipality or the governing body of the special district with a report on the findings and recommendations arising out of the investigation, etc.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

624 added · 592 removed

624 line(s) added, 592 removed.

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Florida Senate - 2024 CS for CS for SB 734 By the Committees on Ethics and Elections;
Florida Senate - 2024 CS for SB 734 By the Committee on Community Affairs;
and Community Affairs;
and Senator Ingoglia 578-02599-24 2024734c1 A bill to be entitled An act relating to government accountability;
and Senator Ingoglia 582-02916-24 2024734c2 A bill to be entitled An act relating to government accountability;
prohibiting a person from lobbying a county, municipality, or special district unless he or she is registered as a lobbyist with the Commission on Ethics;
prohibiting a person from lobbying a county, municipality, or special district unless he or she is registered as a lobbyist;
requiring that lobbyist registrations be made available to the public on its website;
requiring that lobbyist registrations be made available to the public;
establishing procedures for canceling a lobbyist’s registration;
establishing procedures for canceling of a lobbyist’s registration;
requiring counties, municipalities, or special districts to be diligent in determining whether certain persons have registered with the commission;
authorizing a county, municipality, or special district to establish a lobbyist registration fee;
prohibiting counties, municipalities, or special districts from authorizing nonregistered persons to lobby specified entities;
requiring a county, municipality, or special district to monitor compliance with lobbyist registration requirements;
requiring the commission to investigate a lobbyist or principal upon receipt of a sworn complaint containing certain allegations;
requiring a Commission on Ethics and Public Trust established by a county or municipality or the Commission on Ethics, as applicable, to investigate a lobbyist or principal upon receipt of a sworn complaint containing certain allegations;
requiring the commission to provide the chief executive officer of the county or municipality or the governing body of the special district with a report on the findings and recommendations arising out of the investigation;
requiring a Commission on Ethics and Public Trust or the Commission on Ethics, as applicable, to provide the chief executive officer of the county or municipality or the governing body of the special district with a report on the findings and recommendations arising out of the investigation;
authorizing the chief executive officer of the county or municipality or the governing body of the special district to enforce the findings and Page 1 of 19 CODING:
authorizing the chief executive officer of the county Page 1 of 20 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2024 CS for CS for SB 734 582-02916-24 2024734c2 recommendations;
Florida Senate - 2024 CS for SB 734 578-02599-24 2024734c1 or municipality or the governing body of the special district to enforce the findings and recommendations;
providing that specified provisions preempt and supersede specified ordinances or charter provisions adopted before a specified date;
authorizing counties and municipalities to adopt ordinances, and special districts to adopt rules, governing lobbyist registration and fees;
providing construction;
conforming cross-references;
conforming cross- references;
28.35(1)(b), 112.3136(1), 112.3251, 288.012(6)(d), 288.8014(4), 288.9604(3)(a), 295.21(4)(d), 406.06(5), 447.509(1)(d), 627.311(5)(m), 1002.33(26)(a), 1002.333(6)(f), and 1002.83(9), F.S., relating to Page 2 of 19 CODING:
28.35(1)(b), 112.3136(1), 112.3251, 288.012(6)(d), 288.8014(4), 288.9604(3)(a), Page 2 of 20 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2024 CS for CS for SB 734 582-02916-24 2024734c2 members of the executive council of the Florida Clerks of Court Operations Corporation, standards of conduct for officers and employees of entities serving as chief administrative officers of political subdivisions, the ethics code and standards of conduct for citizen support and direct-support organizations, senior managers and members of the board of directors of the direct-support organization of State of Florida international offices, standards of conduct for members of the board of directors of Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc., directors of the Florida Development Finance Corporation, standards of conduct for the board of directors of Florida Is For Veterans, Inc., standards of conduct for district and associate medical examiners, prohibited actions of employee organizations, their members, agents, representatives, or persons acting on their behalf, standards of conduct for senior managers, officers, and members of the board of governors of the Office of Insurance Regulation, standards of conduct and financial disclosure for members of a governing board of a charter school, those operating schools of hope, and standards of conduct for members of an early learning coalition, respectively, to incorporate the amendments made to s.
Florida Senate - 2024 CS for SB 734 578-02599-24 2024734c1 295.21(4)(d), 406.06(5), 447.509(1)(d), 627.311(5)(m), 1002.33(26)(a), 1002.333(6)(f), and 1002.83(9), F.S., relating to members of the executive council of the Florida Clerks of Court Operations Corporation, standards of conduct for officers and employees of entities serving as chief administrative officers of political subdivisions, the ethics code and standards of conduct for citizen support and direct-support organizations, senior managers and members of the board of directors of the direct-support organization of State of Florida international offices, standards of conduct for members of the board of directors of Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc., directors of the Florida Development Finance Corporation, standards of conduct for the board of directors of Florida Is For Veterans, Inc., standards of conduct for district and associate medical examiners, prohibited actions of employee organizations, their members, agents, representatives, or persons acting on their behalf, standards of conduct for senior managers, officers, and members of the board of governors of the Office of Insurance Regulation, standards of conduct and financial disclosure for members of a governing board of a charter school, those operating schools of hope, and standards of conduct for members of an early learning coalition, respectively, to incorporate the amendments made to s.
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Florida Senate - 2024 CS for CS for SB 734 582-02916-24 2024734c2 Section 1.
Florida Senate - 2024 CS for SB 734 578-02599-24 2024734c1 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
90 Section 1.
112.3262 Lobbying before special districts, counties, and municipalities;
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registration and reporting.— Page 4 of 19 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2024 CS for CS for SB 734 582-02916-24 2024734c2 (1) As used in this section, the term:
Florida Senate - 2024 CS for SB 734 578-02599-24 2024734c1 112.3262 Lobbying before special districts, counties, and municipalities;
registration and reporting.— (1) As used in this section, the term:
(2) A person may not lobby a county, municipality, or special district unless he or she is registered as a lobbyist with the commission to lobby a county, municipality, or special district.
(2) A person may not lobby a county, municipality, or special district unless he or she is registered as a lobbyist with such entity.
The commission shall note in a public database that such person is registered to lobby a county, municipality, or special district.
The statement must also identify and designate the principal’s main business and authorize the registrant pursuant to a classification system approved by the commission.
The statement must also identify and designate the principal’s main business and authorize the registrant pursuant to a classification system approved by the county, municipality, or special district, as applicable.
Any changes in the information provided pursuant to this subsection must be disclosed within 15 days after the change occurs by the lobbyist filing a new registration form.
Any changes in the information provided pursuant to this subsection must be disclosed within 15 days after the change occurs by filing a new registration form.
The lobbyist shall disclose under oath on a lobbyist registration form used by the commission all of the following information:
The registration form must require each lobbyist to disclose, under oath, all of the following information:
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(a) The lobbyist’s name and business address.
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Florida Senate - 2024 CS for CS for SB 734 582-02916-24 2024734c2 (a) The lobbyist’s name and business address.
Florida Senate - 2024 CS for SB 734 578-02599-24 2024734c1 (b) The name and business address of each principal represented.
(b) The name and business address of each principal represented.
(3) The commission shall make the registrations of lobbyists who register to lobby a county, municipality, or special district available to the public on its website.
(3) In lieu of creating its own lobbyist registration form, a county, municipality, or special district may accept a completed legislative branch or executive branch lobbyist registration form.
(4) A lobbyist shall promptly send a written statement to the commission canceling the registration for a principal upon termination of the lobbyist’s representation of that principal.
(4) A county, municipality, or special district shall make lobbyist registrations available to the public.
The commission may remove the name of a lobbyist from the list of registered lobbyists for counties, municipalities, and special districts if the principal notifies the state that a person is no longer authorized to represent that principal before such entity.
If a county, municipality, or special district maintains a website, the website must make available a database of currently registered lobbyists and principals.
(5) A county, municipality, or special district shall be diligent in determining whether persons required to register with the commission pursuant to this section have complied.
(5) A lobbyist shall promptly send a written statement to the county, municipality, or special district, as applicable, canceling the registration for a principal upon termination of the lobbyist’s representation of that principal.
A county, municipality, or special district may not knowingly authorize a person who is not registered pursuant to this section to lobby the county, municipality, or special district.
A county, municipality, or special district may remove the name of a lobbyist from the list of registered lobbyists if the principal notifies the county, municipality, or district that a person is no longer authorized to represent that principal.
(6) Upon receipt of a sworn complaint alleging that a lobbyist or principal has failed to register with the commission to lobby a county, municipality, or special district or has knowingly submitted false information in a report or registration required under this section, the commission shall Page 6 of 19 CODING:
(6) A county, municipality, or special district may establish an annual lobbyist registration fee, not to exceed $40, for each principal represented.
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The county, municipality, or special district may use registration fees only to administer this section.
(7) A county, municipality, or special district must be Page 6 of 20 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2024 CS for CS for SB 734 582-02916-24 2024734c2 investigate the lobbyist or principal pursuant to the procedures established under s.
Florida Senate - 2024 CS for SB 734 578-02599-24 2024734c1 diligent in ascertaining whether persons required to register pursuant to this section have complied.
A county, municipality, or special district may not knowingly authorize a person who is not registered pursuant to this section to lobby the county, municipality, or special district.
(8)(a) Upon receipt of a sworn complaint alleging that a lobbyist or principal has failed to register with a county or municipality or has knowingly submitted false information in a report or registration required under this section, a Commission on Ethics and Public Trust established by the county or municipality or, if the county or municipality has not established such a commission, the Commission on Ethics shall investigate the lobbyist or principal pursuant to the procedures established under s.
The commission shall provide the chief executive officer of the county or municipality or the governing body of the special district with a report of its findings and recommendations arising out of any investigation conducted under this subsection.
The commission shall provide the chief executive officer of the county or municipality with a report of its findings and recommendations arising out of any investigation conducted under this subsection.
The chief executive officer of the county or municipality or the governing body of the special district may enforce the commission’s findings and recommendations.
The chief executive officer of the county or municipality may enforce the commission’s findings and recommendations.
(7) This section preempts and supersedes any ordinance or charter provision establishing a lobbyist registration program adopted before July 1, 2024.
(b) Upon receipt of a sworn complaint alleging that a lobbyist or principal has failed to register with a special district or has knowingly submitted false information in a report or registration required under this section, the commission shall investigate the lobbyist or principal pursuant to the procedures established under s.
112.324.
The commission shall provide the governing body of the special district with a report of its findings and recommendations arising out of any investigation conducted under this subsection.
The governing body of the special district may enforce the commission’s Page 7 of 20 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2024 CS for SB 734 578-02599-24 2024734c1 findings and recommendations.
(9) Counties and municipalities may adopt ordinances, and special districts may adopt rules, to establish procedures to govern the registration of lobbyists, including the adoption of forms and the establishment of a lobbyist registration fee.
(10) This section does not preempt or supersede any ordinance or charter provision establishing a lobbyist registration program adopted before July 1, 2024, but this section shall prevail to the extent of any conflict.
In accordance with s.
112.326, any ordinance or rule adopted pursuant to this section may include additional or more stringent disclosure requirements so long as the requirements do not otherwise conflict with this section.
125.75 Contract for the county attorney.—The governing body of a county may not renew or extend the contract of the county attorney during the 8 months immediately preceding a general election for county mayor, if applicable, or for members of the governing body of the county unless the governing body approves Page 7 of 19 CODING:
125.75 Contract for the county attorney.—The governing body of a county may not renew or extend the contract of the county attorney during the 8 months immediately preceding a general election for county mayor, if applicable, or for members of the Page 8 of 20 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2024 CS for CS for SB 734 582-02916-24 2024734c2 such renewal or extension by a unanimous vote.
Florida Senate - 2024 CS for SB 734 578-02599-24 2024734c1 governing body of the county unless the governing body approves such renewal or extension by a unanimous vote.
The district school board may not renew or extend the employment contract of a superintendent during the 8 months immediately preceding a general election for district school board members Page 8 of 19 CODING:
The district school board may not renew or extend the employment contract of a superintendent during the 8 months immediately Page 9 of 20 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2024 CS for CS for SB 734 582-02916-24 2024734c2 unless the district school board approves such renewal or extension by a unanimous vote.
Florida Senate - 2024 CS for SB 734 578-02599-24 2024734c1 preceding a general election for district school board members unless the district school board approves such renewal or extension by a unanimous vote.
1(d), Art.
1(d), Page 10 of 20 CODING:
VIII of the State Constitution, by the establishment of Page 9 of 19 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2024 CS for CS for SB 734 582-02916-24 2024734c2 written policy;
Florida Senate - 2024 CS for SB 734 578-02599-24 2024734c1 Art.
VIII of the State Constitution, by the establishment of written policy;
The executive council shall be composed of eight clerks of the court elected by the clerks of the courts for a term of 2 years, with two clerks from counties with a population of fewer than 100,000, two clerks from counties with a population of at least 100,000 but fewer than 500,000, two Page 10 of 19 CODING:
The executive council shall be composed of eight clerks of the court elected by the clerks of the courts for a term of 2 years, with two clerks from counties with a population of fewer than 100,000, two clerks from counties with a Page 11 of 20 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2024 CS for CS for SB 734 582-02916-24 2024734c2 clerks from counties with a population of at least 500,000 but fewer than 1 million, and two clerks from counties with a population of 1 million or more.
Florida Senate - 2024 CS for SB 734 578-02599-24 2024734c1 population of at least 100,000 but fewer than 500,000, two clerks from counties with a population of at least 500,000 but fewer than 1 million, and two clerks from counties with a population of 1 million or more.
112.3136 Standards of conduct for officers and employees of entities serving as chief administrative officer of political subdivisions.—The officers, directors, and chief executive officer of a corporation, partnership, or other business entity that is serving as the chief administrative or executive officer or employee of a political subdivision, and any business entity employee who is acting as the chief administrative or executive officer or employee of the political subdivision, for the purposes of the following sections, are public officers and employees who are subject to the following standards of conduct Page 11 of 19 CODING:
112.3136 Standards of conduct for officers and employees of entities serving as chief administrative officer of political subdivisions.—The officers, directors, and chief executive officer of a corporation, partnership, or other business entity that is serving as the chief administrative or executive officer or employee of a political subdivision, and any business entity employee who is acting as the chief administrative or executive officer or employee of the political subdivision, for the purposes of the following sections, are public officers and Page 12 of 20 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2024 CS for CS for SB 734 582-02916-24 2024734c2 of this part:
Florida Senate - 2024 CS for SB 734 578-02599-24 2024734c1 employees who are subject to the following standards of conduct of this part:
288.012 State of Florida international offices;
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direct- Page 12 of 19 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2024 CS for CS for SB 734 582-02916-24 2024734c2 support organization.—The Legislature finds that the expansion of international trade and tourism is vital to the overall health and growth of the economy of this state.
Florida Senate - 2024 CS for SB 734 578-02599-24 2024734c1 288.012 State of Florida international offices;
direct- support organization.—The Legislature finds that the expansion of international trade and tourism is vital to the overall health and growth of the economy of this state.
For the purpose of incorporating the amendments made by this act to section 112.313, Florida Statutes, in references thereto, subsection (4) of section 288.8014, Florida Page 13 of 19 CODING:
For the purpose of incorporating the amendments made by this act to section 112.313, Florida Statutes, in Page 14 of 20 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2024 CS for CS for SB 734 582-02916-24 2024734c2 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
Florida Senate - 2024 CS for SB 734 578-02599-24 2024734c1 references thereto, subsection (4) of section 288.8014, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
For the purpose of incorporating the amendments made by this act to section 112.313, Florida Statutes, in references thereto, paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section Page 14 of 19 CODING:
For the purpose of incorporating the amendments made by this act to section 112.313, Florida Statutes, in Page 15 of 20 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2024 CS for CS for SB 734 582-02916-24 2024734c2 288.9604, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
Florida Senate - 2024 CS for SB 734 578-02599-24 2024734c1 references thereto, paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section 288.9604, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
112.313(9), a person appointed to the board of directors may not have direct interest in a contract, franchise, privilege, project, program, or other benefit arising from an award by the corporation during the appointment term and for 2 years after Page 15 of 19 CODING:
112.313(9), a person appointed to the board of directors may not have direct interest in a contract, franchise, privilege, project, program, or other benefit arising from an award by the Page 16 of 20 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2024 CS for CS for SB 734 582-02916-24 2024734c2 the termination of such appointment.
Florida Senate - 2024 CS for SB 734 578-02599-24 2024734c1 corporation during the appointment term and for 2 years after the termination of such appointment.
447.509 Other unlawful acts.— (1) Employee organizations, their members, agents, or representatives, or any persons acting on their behalf are hereby prohibited from:
447.509 Other unlawful acts.— (1) Employee organizations, their members, agents, or representatives, or any persons acting on their behalf are Page 17 of 20 CODING:
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Florida Senate - 2024 CS for CS for SB 734 582-02916-24 2024734c2 (d) Offering anything of value to a public officer as defined in s.
Florida Senate - 2024 CS for SB 734 578-02599-24 2024734c1 hereby prohibited from:
(d) Offering anything of value to a public officer as defined in s.
112.313, an employee, officer, owner, or director of an insurance agency, insurance company, or other insurance entity may be a member of the board of governors unless such employee, officer, owner, or director of an insurance agency, insurance company, other Page 17 of 19 CODING:
112.313, an employee, officer, owner, or director of an insurance agency, insurance company, or other insurance entity may be a member of the board of governors unless such employee, officer, owner, or Page 18 of 20 CODING:
Florida Senate - 2024 CS for CS for SB 734 582-02916-24 2024734c2 insurance entity, or an affiliate provides policy issuance, policy administration, underwriting, claims handling, or payroll audit services.
Florida Senate - 2024 CS for SB 734 578-02599-24 2024734c1 director of an insurance agency, insurance company, other insurance entity, or an affiliate provides policy issuance, policy administration, underwriting, claims handling, or payroll audit services.
2.
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Student progression and graduation.
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Florida Senate - 2024 CS for CS for SB 734 582-02916-24 2024734c2 3.
Florida Senate - 2024 CS for SB 734 578-02599-24 2024734c1 2.
Student progression and graduation.
3.
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Action History

  1. Died in Appropriations

  2. CS/CS by Ethics and Elections read 1st time

  3. Now in Appropriations

  4. Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)

  5. CS/CS by Ethics and Elections; YEAS 8 NAYS 0

  6. CS by Community Affairs read 1st time

  7. On Committee agenda-- Ethics and Elections, 02/05/24, 2:30 pm, 37 Senate Building

  8. Now in Ethics and Elections

  9. Remaining references corrected to Ethics and Elections; Appropriations

  10. Original reference(s) removed: Rules

  11. Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)

  12. CS by Community Affairs; YEAS 7 NAYS 0

  13. On Committee agenda-- Community Affairs, 01/29/24, 1:30 pm, 401 Senate Building

  14. Introduced

  15. Referred to Community Affairs; Ethics and Elections; Rules

  16. Filed

Sponsors

  • Ethics and Elections · Primary
  • Community Affairs · Primary
  • Ingoglia · Primary

Sponsorship breakdown

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3 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 161 not signed on

Sponsors (3)

  • Ethics and Elections
  • Community Affairs
  • Ingoglia

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (161)

161 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 161 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Favorable with Committee Substitute

Passed 8 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 5000
Unaffiliated 1001
Democrat 2000
Total 8001
% of votes cast 89%0%0%11%
How each member voted (9)
Member Party Vote
Ingoglia — Yea
Powell — Not Voting
Polsky, Tina Scott Democrat Yea
Rouson, Darryl Ervin Democrat Yea
Burgess, Danny Republican Yea
Grall, Erin Republican Yea
Martin, Jonathan Republican Yea
Mayfield, Debbie Republican Yea
Vacant Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Favorable with Committee Substitute

Passed 7 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 2000
Republican 4000
No Party Affiliation 1000
Unaffiliated 0001
Total 7001
% of votes cast 88%0%0%13%
How each member voted (8)
Member Party Vote
Baxley — Not Voting
Berman, Lori Democrat Yea
Osgood, Rosalind Democrat Yea
Pizzo, Jason W. B. No Party Affiliation Yea
Bradley, Jennifer Republican Yea
Brodeur, Jason Republican Yea
Calatayud, Alexis Republican Yea
Martin, Jonathan Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

civil-rights elections
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 734 do?
Government Accountability; Prohibiting specified individuals from soliciting or accepting anything of value from a foreign country of concern; prohibiting a person from lobbying a county, municipality, or special district unless he or she is registered as a lobbyist with the Commission on Ethics; requiring the commission to investigate a lobbyist or principal upon receipt of a sworn complaint containing certain allegations; requiring the commission to provide the chief executive officer of the county or municipality or the governing body of the special district with a report on the findings and recommendations arising out of the investigation, etc.
Who sponsors SB 734?
SB 734 is sponsored by Ethics and Elections, Community Affairs, and Ingoglia.
What is the current status of SB 734?
This bill died with 2024 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 734?
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