Florida Senate - 2013                                   SJR 1584
       
       
       
       By Senator Sobel
       
       
       
       
       33-01308-13                                           20131584__
    1                       Senate Joint Resolution                     
    2         A joint resolution proposing an amendment to Section 2
    3         of Article I of the State Constitution, relating to
    4         basic rights.
    5  
    6  Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
    7  
    8         That the following amendment to Section 2 of Article I of
    9  the State Constitution is agreed to and shall be submitted to
   10  the electors of this state for approval or rejection at the next
   11  general election or at an earlier special election specifically
   12  authorized by law for that purpose:
   13                              ARTICLE I                            
   14                        DECLARATION OF RIGHTS                      
   15         SECTION 2. Basic rights.—All natural persons, female and
   16  male alike, are equal before the law and have inalienable
   17  rights, among which are the right to enjoy and defend life and
   18  liberty, to pursue happiness, to be rewarded for industry, and
   19  to acquire, possess and protect property; except that the
   20  ownership, inheritance, disposition and possession of real
   21  property by aliens ineligible for citizenship may be regulated
   22  or prohibited by law. No person shall be deprived of any right
   23  because of race, religion, national origin, or physical
   24  disability.
   25         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following statement be
   26  placed on the ballot:
   27                      CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT                     
   28                        ARTICLE I, SECTION 2                       
   29         DECLARATION OF RIGHTS.—This amendment to the State
   30  Constitution eliminates authority granted to the Legislature by
   31  a constitutional amendment adopted in 1926 which allowed the
   32  Legislature to regulate or eliminate the real property rights of
   33  aliens ineligible for citizenship. The Florida Constitution will
   34  now provide that all natural persons are equal before the law
   35  and have an inalienable right to acquire, possess, and protect
   36  property, without exception.