| 1 | House Joint Resolution |
| 2 | A joint resolution proposing an amendment to Section 8 of |
| 3 | Article IV of the State Constitution, relating to |
| 4 | restoration of civil rights, to authorize the Legislature |
| 5 | to prescribe additional circumstances under which certain |
| 6 | reprieves may be granted and civil rights restored. |
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| 8 | Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
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| 10 | That the following amendment to Section 8 of Article IV of |
| 11 | the State Constitution is agreed to and shall be submitted to |
| 12 | the electors of this state for approval or rejection at the next |
| 13 | general election or at an earlier special election specifically |
| 14 | authorized by law for that purpose: |
| 15 | ARTICLE IV |
| 16 | EXECUTIVE |
| 17 | SECTION 8. Clemency.-- |
| 18 | (a) Except in cases of treason and in cases where |
| 19 | impeachment results in conviction, and except as otherwise |
| 20 | prescribed by law, the governor may, by executive order filed |
| 21 | with the custodian of state records, suspend collection of fines |
| 22 | and forfeitures, grant reprieves not exceeding sixty days and, |
| 23 | with the approval of two members of the cabinet, grant full or |
| 24 | conditional pardons, restore civil rights, commute punishment, |
| 25 | and remit fines and forfeitures for offenses. |
| 26 | (b) In cases of treason the governor may grant reprieves |
| 27 | until adjournment of the regular session of the legislature |
| 28 | convening next after the conviction, at which session the |
| 29 | legislature may grant a pardon or further reprieve; otherwise |
| 30 | the sentence shall be executed. |
| 31 | (c) There may be created by law a parole and probation |
| 32 | commission with power to supervise persons on probation and to |
| 33 | grant paroles or conditional releases to persons under sentences |
| 34 | for crime. The qualifications, method of selection and terms, |
| 35 | not to exceed six years, of members of the commission shall be |
| 36 | prescribed by law. |
| 37 | BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following statement be |
| 38 | placed on the ballot: |
| 39 | CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT |
| 40 | ARTICLE IV, SECTION 8 |
| 41 | RESTORATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS.--Proposing an amendment to the |
| 42 | State Constitution authorizing the Legislature to provide the |
| 43 | conditions under which fines and forfeitures may be suspended or |
| 44 | remitted, reprieves may be granted, civil rights may be |
| 45 | restored, and punishments may be commuted. |