350.061  Public Counsel; appointment; oath; restrictions on Public Counsel and his or her employees.--

(1)  The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee shall appoint a Public Counsel by majority vote of the members of the committee to represent the general public of Florida before the Florida Public Service Commission. The Public Counsel shall be an attorney admitted to practice before the Florida Supreme Court and shall serve at the pleasure of the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee, subject to annual reconfirmation by the committee. Vacancies in the office shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

(2)  The Public Counsel shall take and subscribe to the oath of office required of state officers by the State Constitution.

(3)  No officer or full-time employee of the Public Counsel shall actively engage in any other business or profession; serve as the representative of any political party or on any executive committee or other governing body thereof; serve as an executive, officer, or employee of any political party, committee, organization, or association; receive remuneration for activities on behalf of any candidate for public office; or engage on behalf of any candidate for public office in the solicitation of votes or other activities in behalf of such candidacy. Neither the Public Counsel nor any employee of the Public Counsel shall become a candidate for election to public office unless he or she shall first resign from his or her office or employment.