In advance of the holidays, Florida’s top charity regulator, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, says he wants to reform the way the state polices charitable organizations.
Although the promised reforms have yet to be drafted, Putnam says his commitment to sweeping changes hasn’t waned. He first announced his reform intentions after the Center for Investigative Reporting released a report showing eleven of what it calls the fifty worst charities in the U.S. do business in the Sunshine State. Putnam said the fallout from that investigation and the veteran’s charity scandal that cost Former Lt. Governor Jennifer Carroll her job has tarnished Florida’s reputation.
“We’ve had far too many high profile examples in Florida of charities collecting money for one purpose but really pocketing the money their own enrichment.” Putnam told reporters Monday. “Issues ranging from allegedly helping veterans to allegedly helping children who are being treated for cancer – it’s really a frustrating status that our state has earned.”
Among the proposed reforms, Putnam wants to require Florida charities to spend at least a quarter of their donations on those in need. He’s also pushing for background checks on third party telemarketers who collect donations and the right to suspend charities who’ve gotten in trouble in other states. A spokesman for the Internal Revenue Service, which is in charge of giving non-profits charity status, refused comment Monday.