Skip to main content

Fla. Stat. § 617.0834

Officers and directors of certain corporations and associations not for profit; immunity from civil liability

Chapter 617, Not For Profit Corporations · leg.state.fl.us

Statute text

, (1) An officer or director of a nonprofit organization recognized under s. 501(c)(3) or s. 501(c)(4) or s. 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or of an agricultural or a horticultural organization recognized under s. 501(c)(5), of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, is not personally liable for monetary damages to any person for any statement, vote, decision, or failure to take an action, regarding organizational management or policy by an officer or director, unless: (a) The officer or director breached or failed to perform his or her duties as an officer or director; and (b) The officer’s or director’s breach of, or failure to perform, his or her duties constitutes: 1. A violation of the criminal law, unless the officer or director had reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was lawful or had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. A judgment or other final adjudication against an officer or director in any criminal proceeding for violation of the criminal law estops that officer or director from contesting the fact that his or her breach, or failure to perform, constitutes a violation of the criminal law, but does not estop the officer or director from establishing that he or she had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was lawful or had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful; 2. A transaction from which the officer or director derived an improper personal benefit, directly or indirectly; or 3. Recklessness or an act or omission that was committed in bad faith or with malicious purpose or in a manner exhibiting wanton and willful disregard of human rights, safety, or property. (2) For the purposes of this section, the term: (a) “Recklessness” means the acting, or omission to act, in conscious disregard of a risk: 1. Known, or so obvious that it should have been known, to the officer or director; and 2. Known to the officer or director, or so obvious that it should have been known, to be so great as to make it highly probable that harm would follow from such action or omission. (b) “Director” means a person who serves as a director, trustee, or member of the governing board of an organization. (c) “Officer” means a person who serves as an officer without compensation except reimbursement for actual expenses incurred or to be incurred. History., s. 54, ch. 90-179; s. 92, ch. 97-102; s. 33, ch. 2009-205.

---

Have a question about § 617.0834?

HawkHOA is a Florida-trained AI assistant built for HOA boards and community association managers. Not legal advice, but a fast way to get oriented before you call counsel.

Text reproduced from the Florida Legislature. Snapshot: 2026-04-12. Verify against the official source before relying on it. This page is informational and is not legal advice.

Fla. Stat. § 617.0834, Officers and directors of certain corporations and associations not... | HawkHOA