Florida Attorney General - Volume 7, Issue 48

Publication of the Office of the Attorney General • Volume 7, Issue 48 • December 4, 2009

Protecting our state's pension fund

As a Trustee of Florida's State Board of Administration, I have a fiduciary responsibility to protect Florida's pension fund on behalf of its beneficiaries – the dedicated public servants who have worked so hard for our state. This is why I will be supporting legislation to expand the council of experts who advise the SBA and its staff on the myriads of important financial decisions that are made on a regular basis.

Our state's pension fund and its beneficiaries deserve a strong oversight process that will ultimately keep the fund at its high levels of performance – among the top funds in the nation. I look forward to working with our Legislature to ensure that happens.

Attorney General Bill McCollum issued the following statement in response the Florida Supreme Court's order convening a statewide grand jury on public corruption:
“Public officials should be held accountable for any illegal and dishonorable actions that violate the public's trust. They should adhere to a higher standard, not make a mockery of the offices with which they were entrusted."

Statement from Attorney General McCollum on the Passing of Former Senator Paula Hawkins

Statement from Attorney General on Supreme Court's Order to Convene a Statewide Grand Jury

Attorney General McCollum sends letter to Chief Financial Officer

Attorney General Bill McCollum issued the following statement on the passing of former Senator Paula Hawkins:
"I have enormous respect for Senator Paula Hawkins, who will forever be remembered as an outstanding public servant, and a determined consumer advocate. My wife Ingrid and I were proud to call her a lifelong friend, and she will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with her friends and family in their time of loss."

Attorney General McCollum sent a letter to the Chief Financial Officer regarding the oversight and governance of the State Board of Administration (SBA). Specifically, the Attorney General noted that to change the composition of the SBA, a Constitutional amendment would indeed be required, as the private legal opinion she sought verified. The Attorney General also reiterated his suggestions for strengthening the oversight of the Florida Pension Fund.