HB 1537

1	House Joint Resolution
2	A joint resolution proposing the creation of Section 20 of
3	Article III of the State Constitution to provide
4	additional standards in the apportionment of legislative
5	and congressional districts.
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7	Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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9	That the creation of Section 20 of Article III of the State
10	Constitution set forth below is agreed to and shall be submitted
11	to the electors of Florida for approval or rejection at the
12	general election to be held in November 2004:
13	ARTICLE III
14	LEGISLATURE
15	SECTION 20.  Apportionment standards.--In apportioning
16	legislative and congressional districts, in addition to any
17	requirements provided by this constitution and by the
18	constitution of the United States, the following standards
19	apply:
20	(a)  Districts shall be compact and shall, where
21	practicable, utilize existing political and geographical
22	boundaries.
23	(b)  Districts shall, where practicable, preserve
24	communities of interest.
25	(c)  Districts shall not be drawn to favor an incumbent, a
26	political party, or any other person.
27	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the title and substance of the
28	amendment proposed herein shall appear on the ballot as follows:
29	APPORTIONMENT STANDARDS
30	Proposes the creation of Section 20 of Article III of the
31	State Constitution to require, as additional standards in the
32	apportionment of legislative and congressional districts, that
33	districts be compact and, where practicable, utilize existing
34	political and geographical boundaries; preserve communities of
35	interest, where practicable; and not be drawn to favor an
36	incumbent, a political party, or any other person.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.