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Florida Statute 20.04 - Full Text and Legal Analysis
Florida Statute 20.04 | Lawyer Caselaw & Research
Link to State of Florida Official Statute
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The 2025 Florida Statutes

Title IV
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
Chapter 20
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
View Entire Chapter
120.04 Structure of executive branch.—The executive branch of state government is structured as follows:
(1) The department is the principal administrative unit of the executive branch. Each department must bear a title beginning with the words “State of Florida” and continuing with “Department of  .”
(2) For field operations, departments may establish district or area offices that combine division, bureau, section, and subsection functions.
(3) For their internal structure, all departments, except for the Department of Financial Services, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Management Services, the Department of Revenue, and the Department of Transportation, must adhere to the following standard terms:
(a) The principal unit of the department is the “division.” Each division is headed by a “director.”
(b) The principal unit of the division is the “bureau.” Each bureau is headed by a “chief.”
(c) The principal unit of the bureau is the “section.” Each section is headed by an “administrator.”
(d) If further subdivision is necessary, sections may be divided into “subsections,” which are headed by “supervisors.”
(4) Within the Department of Children and Families there are organizational units called “circuits” and “regions.” Each circuit is aligned geographically with each judicial circuit, and each region comprises multiple circuits which are in geographical proximity to each other.
(5) Within the Department of Corrections the principal policy and program development unit of the department is the “office.” Each “office” is headed by a director.
(6) Within the Department of Transportation the principal policy and program development unit of the department is the “office.” Each “office” is headed by a director.
(7)(a) Unless specifically authorized by law, the head of a department may not reallocate duties and functions specifically assigned by law to a specific unit of the department. Those functions or agencies assigned generally to the department without specific designation to a unit of the department may be allocated and reallocated to a unit of the department at the discretion of the head of the department.
(b) Within the limitations of this subsection, the head of the department may recommend the establishment of additional divisions, bureaus, sections, and subsections of the department to promote efficient and effective operation of the department. However, additional divisions, or offices in the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Commerce, and the Department of Transportation, may be established only by specific statutory enactment. New bureaus, sections, and subsections of departments may be initiated by a department and established as recommended by the Department of Management Services and approved by the Executive Office of the Governor, or may be established by specific statutory enactment.
(c) For the purposes of such recommendations and approvals, the Department of Management Services and the Executive Office of the Governor, respectively, must adopt and apply specific criteria for assessing the appropriateness of all reorganization requests from agencies. The criteria must be applied to future agency requests for reorganization and must be used to review the appropriateness of bureaus currently in existence. Any current bureau that does not meet the criteria for a bureau must be reorganized into a section or other appropriate unit.
(8) The Executive Office of the Governor must maintain a current organizational chart of each agency of the executive branch, which must identify all divisions, bureaus, units, and subunits of the agency. Agencies must submit such organizational charts in accordance with guidelines established by the Executive Office of the Governor.
History.—s. 4, ch. 69-106; s. 1, ch. 70-384; s. 1, ch. 75-48; s. 5, ch. 75-49; s. 1, ch. 75-275; s. 2, ch. 77-147; s. 2, ch. 78-95; s. 1, ch. 79-3; ss. 28, 61, ch. 79-190; s. 1, ch. 83-230; s. 11, ch. 85-318; s. 1, ch. 88-215; s. 1, ch. 88-235; s. 1, ch. 88-290; s. 2, ch. 91-158; s. 7, ch. 92-279; s. 55, ch. 92-326; s. 3, ch. 94-235; ss. 1, 15, ch. 95-272; ss. 2, 3, ch. 96-403; s. 1, ch. 97-287; s. 2, ch. 97-296; s. 3, ch. 99-155; s. 1, ch. 2000-139; s. 1, ch. 2002-404; s. 67, ch. 2003-261; s. 1, ch. 2012-84; ss. 7, 8, 56, ch. 2012-119; s. 18, ch. 2021-25; s. 7, ch. 2024-6.
1Note.—Section 1(1), ch. 2025-7, provides that “[e]ach state agency shall update its geographic materials to reflect the new federal designation of the ‘Gulf of Mexico’ as the ‘Gulf of America.’ ”

F.S. 20.04 on Google Scholar

F.S. 20.04 on CourtListener

Amendments to 20.04


Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases Citing Statute 20.04

Total Results: 27  |  Sort by: Relevance  |  Newest First

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Ashley v. State, 614 So. 2d 486 (Fla. 1993).

Cited 83 times | Published | Supreme Court of Florida

LaFave & Jerold H. Israel, Criminal Procedure § 20.4, p. 646-47 (1984) (footnotes and quotation marks
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Louis v. Nelson, 544 F. Supp. 973 (S.D. Fla. 1982).

Cited 29 times | Published | District Court, S.D. Florida | 1982 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13077

...Second, when the claimant seeks to have a legislative act declared unconstitutional and administrative action will leave standing the constitutional question, exhaustion is not required. Public Utilities Commission v. United States, 355 U.S. 534, 78 S.Ct. 446, 2 L.Ed.2d 470 (1958); Davis, supra, at § 20.04....
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BellSouth Telecomm., Inc. v. Town of Palm Beach, 252 F.3d 1169 (11th Cir. 2001).

Cited 27 times | Published | Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit | 2001 U.S. App. LEXIS 10837, 2001 WL 567711

as applied, is preempted by state law. Section 20-4. General Conditions Upon Use of Rights-of-Way:
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Zamora v. Columbia Broad. Sys., 480 F. Supp. 199 (S.D. Fla. 1979).

Cited 23 times | Published | District Court, S.D. Florida | 5 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 2109, 1979 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8483

James "Law of Torts" Vol. 2 (1956), p. 1132, Section 20.4 is appropriate. "It should be noted at this
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Fid. & Cas. Co. of NY v. LFE Corp., 382 So. 2d 363 (Fla. 2d DCA 1980).

Cited 12 times | Published | Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal

protection system as allegedly required by Section 20-04 of L.F.E.'s contract with Authority. That section
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BellSouth Telecomm., Inc. v. City of Coral Springs, 42 F. Supp. 2d 1304 (S.D. Fla. 1999).

Cited 10 times | Published | District Court, S.D. Florida | 1999 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1808, 1999 WL 149769

is limited by state law as described above. Section 20-4. General Conditions Upon Use of Rights-of-Way:
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Am. Reliance Ins. Co. v. Perez, 689 So. 2d 290 (Fla. 3d DCA 1997).

Cited 8 times | Published | Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal | 1997 WL 4542

...definition is the consideration of cost minus depreciation. The consideration of cost alone (without actual depreciation) would result in a figure in excess of fair market value (actual cash value). See 5 Nichols on Eminent Domain § 20.01, at 20-2, § 20.04[1], at 20-13 (rev.3d ed.1996)....
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United States v. Paul Dexter Harris, 916 F.3d 948 (11th Cir. 2019).

Cited 8 times | Published | Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

threat." Wayne R. LaFave, Criminal Law § 20.4, at 1336 (6th ed. 2017); see also
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Deel Motors, Inc. v. Dep't of Com., 252 So. 2d 389 (Fla. 1st DCA 1971).

Cited 6 times | Published | Florida 1st District Court of Appeal

...ssments, such payments to be paid to the division and by it disbursed to said trustees to be used for the payment of workmen's compensation claims and related compensation expenses." [4] F.S. § 20.17(4), F.S.A. [5] F.S. § 20.17(8), F.S.A. [6] F.S. § 20.04(5), F.S.A....
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Smith v. Willis, 415 So. 2d 1331 (Fla. 1st DCA 1982).

Cited 6 times | Published | Florida 1st District Court of Appeal

...He explains that an agency must be empowered to pass upon the constitutionality of a statute as applied, otherwise it would be incapable of executing the intent of the legislature, whether expressed, implied or presumed. 3 K. Davis, Administrative Law Treatise, § 20.04, 74 (1958)....
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Embroidme.com, Inc. v. Travelers Prop. Cas. Co. of Am., 845 F.3d 1099 (11th Cir. 2017).

Cited 5 times | Published | Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit | 2017 WL 74694

New Appleman on Insurance Law Library Edition § 20.04(3)(b) (LexisNexis 2016) (recognizing, but criticizing
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Sakon v. Pepsico, Inc., 553 So. 2d 163 (Fla. 1989).

Cited 4 times | Published | Supreme Court of Florida | 1989 WL 145524

F. Harper, F. James & O. Gray, The Law of Torts § 20.4, at 131-32 (2d ed. 1986): It should be noted at
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Coral Imaging Servs. v. Geico Indem. Ins., 955 So. 2d 11 (Fla. 3d DCA 2006).

Cited 3 times | Published | Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal | 2006 Fla. App. LEXIS 16469, 2006 WL 2819614

...harges in its bill. Thousands of analogous examples can be found throughout Florida's constitutional and statutory provisions. See, e.g., Art. III, § 8(a), Fla. Const.; Fla. Stat. § 11.062(2)(a); § 11.066(4); § 11.70(3)(d); § 14.29(3)(b), (12); § 20.04(7)(a); § 20.19(6)(f); § 20.23(2)(a)3; § 27.34(2); § 27.711(3); § 28.241(3),(4); § 29.004(10)(d); § 39.012; § 39.013(2); § 44.06(2); § 63.0423(5) and (6); § 90.604....
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John Gaul Constr. Co. v. Harbin, 247 So. 2d 33 (Fla. 1971).

Cited 3 times | Published | Supreme Court of Florida

...Section 120.25, F.S.A., and read it in connection with Chapter 69-106, the Governmental Reorganization Act, i.e., F.S. Chapter 20, F.S.A., which places the Industrial Relations Commission under the Department of Commerce. (F.S. Sec. 20.17, F.S.A.) Section 20.04(5) provides "All departments and units thereof shall be subject to the requirements of the administrative procedure act, chapter 120." The reorganization act modifies Kirk v....
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Sarasota Cnty. v. Purser, 476 So. 2d 1359 (Fla. 2d DCA 1985).

Cited 2 times | Published | Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal | 10 Fla. L. Weekly 2373

park would promote the public welfare. Under section 20.4 of the Code, the Planning Commission was required
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Butler v. City of Jacksonville, 980 So. 2d 1250 (Fla. 1st DCA 2008).

Cited 2 times | Published | Florida 1st District Court of Appeal | 2008 Fla. App. LEXIS 6937, 2008 WL 1968312

Act. See 9 Fla. Prac., Workers' Comp. With Forms § 20:4 (2007 ed.). To prove such disability, a five-step
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Turner v. Gallagher, 640 So. 2d 120 (Fla. 5th DCA 1994).

Cited 2 times | Published | Florida 5th District Court of Appeal | 1994 WL 390779

...e. It is not at all clear that the "department or the agency concerned" referenced in section 768.28(7) refers to the Department of Insurance. "Department" may simply mean the principal administrative unit of the executive branch that has been sued. § 20.04, Fla....
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Wall v. Purdy, 321 F. Supp. 367 (S.D. Fla. 1971).

Cited 2 times | Published | District Court, S.D. Florida | 1971 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14969

and also for resisting arrest in violation of Section 20-4 of the Code. The maximum punishment was 60 days
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Bellsouth Telecomm. v. Town of Palm Beach, 252 F.3d 1169 (11th Cir. 2001).

Cited 1 times | Published | Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

14 Section 20-4. General Conditions Upon Use of Rights-of-Way:
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Dep't of Corr. v. Sumner, 447 So. 2d 1388 (Fla. 1st DCA 1984).

Cited 1 times | Published | Florida 1st District Court of Appeal | 1984 Fla. App. LEXIS 12384

...Each of the petitioners is therefore substantially affected by the memorandum and has standing to maintain this proceeding. 2... . Section 120.52(1)(d), Florida Statutes, defines "agency" to include: Each other state office and each state department, departmental unit described in Section 20.04, commission, regional planning agency, board, district, and authority ......
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Dane Constr. & Co. v. Travelers Cas. & Sur. Co. of Am., 207 F. Supp. 3d 1357 (S.D. Fla. 2016).

Published | District Court, S.D. Florida | 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 140882, 2016 WL 5724280

§ 20.23. The Ovmer’s Agreement also states in § 20.4 “Subconsultant/Subcontractor”: [Tutor Perini] shall
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Ago (Fla. Att'y Gen. 1979).

Published | Florida Attorney General Reports

special law or existing judicial decisions. Section 20.04, F. S., sets forth the structure of the executive
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First Quality Home Care, Inc. v. All. for Aging, Inc., 14 So. 3d 1149 (Fla. 3d DCA 2009).

Published | Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal | 2009 Fla. App. LEXIS 7605, 2009 WL 1675839

...ers other than those derived from the constitution is clearly inapplicable to Alliance. Second, Alliance, a private, non-profit corporation, is not one of the entities listed in subsection (b), i.e., a state department/departmental unit described in section 20.04, Florida Statutes; an authority; a board; a commission; a regional planning agency; a multicounty special district; an educational unit; or an entity described in several listed statutes other than chapter 430, which concerns the DOEA....
...[2] Section 120.52(1) states: As used in this act: (1) "Agency" means: (a) The Governor in the exercise of all executive powers other than those derived from the constitution. (b) Each: 1. State officer and state department, and each departmental unit described in s. 20.04....
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Stewart J. Smith v. United States (11th Cir. 2021).

Published | Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

of a decision under 38 U.S.C. § 5104.” 38 C.F.R. § 20.4(a)(1). A comprehensive review of the history
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Huber Distrib. Co. v. Nat'l Distrib. Co., 307 So. 2d 176 (Fla. 1974).

Published | Supreme Court of Florida | 1974 Fla. LEXIS 4002

division to the board of business regulation.” Section 20.04(5) provides that: “All departments and units
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United States v. John Armstrong, Jr. (11th Cir. 2024).

Published | Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

Argued: Mar 5, 2024

(quoting Wayne R. LaFave, Criminal Law § 20.4, at 1336 (6th ed. 2017)). The prosecu-
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Merritt v. Merritt, 369 So. 2d 1005 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1979).

Published | District Court of Appeal of Florida | 1979 Fla. App. LEXIS 14417

Continuing Legal Education, Florida Family Law § 20.4 (1972); 24 Am.Jur.2d Divorce and Separation § 256

This Florida statute resource is curated by Graham W. Syfert, Esq., a Jacksonville, Florida personal injury and workers' compensation attorney. For legal consultation, call 904-383-7448.