TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- A state senator from Fort Lauderdale is in trouble with her colleagues and possibly the law for asking lobbyists to pay for a trip she took to South Africa, according to a report given to the Senate president.

SLIDESHOW ARCHIVE PICTURES: Dawson Arrested In 2002

The investigative report indicates state Sen. Mandy Dawson may have broken state ethics statutes.

Senate President Tom Lee asked Senate Legal Counsel Steve Kahn to investigate after there were news reports that lobbyists had paid for Dawson's trip.

Dawson solicited support from nine lobbyists to pay for a trip to South Africa, even after she was warned by an aide not to ask for money, according to the 13-page report turned in to Lee on Monday. Dawson and several other Florida lawmakers left Atlanta on Jan. 27 and spent 10 days in South Africa, returning Feb. 6.

Now, investigators are determining if using lobbyists' money for the trip is also a violation of state law.

Investigators determined that Dawson asked lobbyists to donate to the Florida Caucus of Black State Legislators, which in turn paid for the trip.

In a letter to lobbyists, Dawson said, "I need to raise funds to help defray the cost. As a longtime supporter of mine, I am asking if you would consider helping to sponsor my trip. I would like to request $2,500, if at all possible. Due to ethics regulations, the check should be made out to the Florida Caucus of Black State Legislators."

Several of the lobbyists did not respond to the request, but three of those who received the letter did send a contribution.

"I am asking if you would consider helping to sponsor my trip." - Sen. Mandy Dawson, Letter to Lobbyists

The report also said that a male traveling companion accompanied Dawson on the trip that took place this past winter. The $5,000 given to the Caucus covered the cost of both Dawson's and her companion's trip. That amount coincides with the donations made to the Caucus.

Florida law prohibits legislators from soliciting "gifts" from lobbyists "for the personal benefit of the Senator or any member of the Senator's immediate family." The law also bars legislators from taking gifts worth more than $100 from lobbyists, committees of continuous existence, or principals.

The report indicated that seven other legislators went on the South Africa trip, that was designed to promote business opportunties between Florida and Africa. All but one paid for the trip themselves or with funds from office accounts that were created with unused campaign contributions.

Tuesday, Dawson responded to the report, and said, "Whatever the punishment is, I feel comfortable that I will be left standing, breathing, and having the ability to go forth and work on behalf of the people of the state of Florida."

Dawson could be censured, reprimanded, or even kicked out of the Senate for her actions. The Senate president has already indicated she'll lose her seat on the ethics committee.

Dawson was elected to the House in 1992 and to the Senate in 1998. Her district includes parts of Palm Beach and Broward counties. This is not the first time there has been negative news about Dawson. In 2002, she was arrested for prescription fraud. She was convicted of trying to fill a prescription for painkillers that was altered.

A judge dropped fraud charges against Dawson after she completed one-year drug rehabilitation program.