Florida Senate - 2020 CS for CS for SB 1794
By the Committees on Judiciary; and Ethics and Elections; and
Senator Hutson
590-03497-20 20201794c2
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to constitutional amendments; amending
3 s. 15.21, F.S.; requiring the Secretary of State to
4 submit an initiative petition to the Legislature when
5 a certain amount of signatures are obtained and
6 verified; amending s. 16.061, F.S.; requiring the
7 Attorney General to request the Supreme Court to
8 address in an advisory opinion the facial validity of
9 the proposed amendment under the United States
10 Constitution; amending s. 100.371, F.S.; providing
11 that a citizen may challenge in circuit court a
12 petition circulator’s registration with the Secretary
13 of State; authorizing the Division of Elections or a
14 supervisor of elections to provide petition forms in a
15 certain electronic format; revising the length of time
16 that a signature on a petition form is valid; revising
17 the timeframe within which the supervisor must verify
18 petition forms; requiring the supervisor to charge the
19 actual cost of verifying petition forms; requiring the
20 Department of State to adopt certain rules; providing
21 a limitation on the cost of signature verification;
22 revising the circumstances under which a petition form
23 is deemed valid; requiring the Secretary of State to
24 submit a copy of an initiative petition to the
25 Financial Impact Estimating Conference; revising
26 requirements for the Financial Impact Estimating
27 Conference’s analysis of a proposed initiative’s
28 economic impact; requiring certain ballot language
29 based on the findings of the Financial Impact
30 Estimating Conference; authorizing the use of
31 legislative staff to analyze the effects of a citizen
32 initiative under certain circumstances; amending s.
33 101.161, F.S.; requiring that ballots containing
34 constitutional amendments include certain disclosures
35 and statements, in a specified order; conforming
36 provisions to changes made by the act; creating s.
37 101.162, F.S.; requiring the Secretary of State to
38 submit constitutional amendments or revisions proposed
39 by specified means to the Financial Impact Estimating
40 Conference; requiring the Financial Impact Estimating
41 Conference to complete an analysis of the amendment or
42 revision within a specified timeframe; requiring the
43 Financial Impact Estimating Conference to submit the
44 completed financial impact statement to the Secretary
45 of State and the Attorney General; requiring the
46 coordinator of the Office of Economic and Demographic
47 Research to provide certain notification to interested
48 parties; prescribing requirements and responsibilities
49 of the Financial Impact Estimating Conference;
50 specifying timeframes and procedures for challenges
51 and redrafting of financial impact statements;
52 prescribing the form of the financial impact
53 statement; requiring the Financial Impact Estimating
54 Conference to draft a financial information statement;
55 specifying requirements for such statements; requiring
56 that financial information statements be made
57 available at specified locations and posted on the
58 Internet; providing applicability; amending s.
59 101.171, F.S.; revising requirements regarding the
60 availability of copies of constitutional amendments at
61 polling locations; providing applicability; providing
62 for severability; providing an effective date.
63
64 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
65
66 Section 1. Section 15.21, Florida Statutes, is amended to
67 read:
68 15.21 Initiative petitions; s. 3, Art. XI, State
69 Constitution.—The Secretary of State shall immediately submit an
70 initiative petition to the Attorney General, the President of
71 the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and
72 to the Financial Impact Estimating Conference if the sponsor
73 has:
74 (1) Registered as a political committee pursuant to s.
75 106.03;
76 (2) Submitted the ballot title, substance, and text of the
77 proposed revision or amendment to the Secretary of State
78 pursuant to ss. 100.371 and 101.161; and
79 (3) Obtained a letter from the Division of Elections
80 confirming that the sponsor has submitted to the appropriate
81 supervisors for verification, and the supervisors have verified,
82 forms signed and dated equal to 33 10 percent of the number of
83 electors statewide and in at least two-thirds one-fourth of the
84 congressional districts required by s. 3, Art. XI of the State
85 Constitution.
86 Section 2. Subsection (1) of section 16.061, Florida
87 Statutes, is amended to read:
88 16.061 Initiative petitions.—
89 (1) The Attorney General shall, within 30 days after
90 receipt of a proposed revision or amendment to the State
91 Constitution by initiative petition from the Secretary of State,
92 petition the Supreme Court, requesting an advisory opinion
93 regarding the compliance of the text of the proposed amendment
94 or revision with s. 3, Art. XI of the State Constitution,
95 whether the proposed amendment is facially invalid under the
96 United States Constitution, and the compliance of the proposed
97 ballot title and substance with s. 101.161. The petition may
98 enumerate any specific factual issues that the Attorney General
99 believes would require a judicial determination.
100 Section 3. Subsections (3), (6), (11), and (13) of section
101 100.371, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
102 100.371 Initiatives; procedure for placement on ballot.—
103 (3)(a) A person may not collect signatures or initiative
104 petitions for compensation unless the person is registered as a
105 petition circulator with the Secretary of State.
106 (b) A citizen may challenge a petition circulator’s
107 registration under this section by filing a petition in circuit
108 court. If the court finds that the respondent is not a
109 registered petition circulator, the court may enjoin the
110 respondent from collecting signatures or initiative petitions
111 for compensation until she or he is lawfully registered.
112 (6) The division or the supervisor of elections shall make
113 hard copy petition forms or electronic portable document format
114 petition forms available to registered petition circulators. All
115 such forms must contain information identifying the petition
116 circulator to which the forms are provided. The division shall
117 maintain a database of all registered petition circulators and
118 the petition forms assigned to each. Each supervisor of
119 elections shall provide to the division information on petition
120 forms assigned to and received from petition circulators. The
121 information must be provided in a format and at times as
122 required by the division by rule. The division must update
123 information on petition forms daily and make the information
124 publicly available.
125 (11) An initiative petition form circulated for signature
126 may not be bundled with or attached to any other petition. Each
127 signature shall be dated when made and shall be valid until the
128 next February 1 occurring in an even-numbered year for the
129 purpose of the amendment appearing on the ballot for the general
130 election occurring in that same year for a period of 2 years
131 following such date, provided all other requirements of law are
132 met. The sponsor shall submit signed and dated forms to the
133 supervisor of elections for the county of residence listed by
134 the person signing the form for verification of the number of
135 valid signatures obtained. If a signature on a petition is from
136 a registered voter in another county, the supervisor shall
137 notify the petition sponsor of the misfiled petition. The
138 supervisor shall promptly verify the signatures within 60 30
139 days after receipt of the petition forms and payment of a the
140 fee for the actual cost of signature verification incurred by
141 the supervisor required by s. 99.097. The Department of State
142 shall adopt rules to set the cost to verify a petition under
143 this subsection and shall update the cost annually; however, the
144 actual cost to verify a petition may not exceed $1 per petition.
145 The supervisor shall promptly record, in the manner prescribed
146 by the Secretary of State, the date each form is received by the
147 supervisor, and the date the signature on the form is verified
148 as valid. The supervisor may verify that the signature on a form
149 is valid only if:
150 (a) The form contains the original signature of the
151 purported elector.
152 (b) The purported elector has accurately recorded on the
153 form the date on which he or she signed the form.
154 (c) The form sets forth the purported elector’s name,
155 address, city, county, and voter registration number or date of
156 birth.
157 (d) The purported elector is, at the time he or she signs
158 the form and at the time the form is verified, a duly qualified
159 and registered elector in the state.
160 (e) The signature was obtained legally, including that if a
161 paid petition circulator was used, the circulator was validly
162 registered under subsection (3) when the signature was obtained.
163
164 The supervisor shall retain the signature forms for at least 1
165 year following the election in which the issue appeared on the
166 ballot or until the Division of Elections notifies the
167 supervisors of elections that the committee that circulated the
168 petition is no longer seeking to obtain ballot position.
169 (13)(a) At the same time the Secretary of State submits an
170 initiative petition to the Attorney General, the President of
171 the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives
172 pursuant to s. 15.21, the secretary shall submit a copy of the
173 initiative petition to the Financial Impact Estimating
174 Conference. Within 75 days after receipt of a proposed revision
175 or amendment to the State Constitution by initiative petition
176 from the Secretary of State, the Financial Impact Estimating
177 Conference shall complete an analysis and financial impact
178 statement to be placed on the ballot of the estimated increase
179 or decrease in any revenues or costs to state or local
180 governments, estimated economic impact on the state and local
181 economy, and the overall impact to the state budget resulting
182 from the proposed initiative. The 75-day time limit is tolled
183 when the Legislature is in session. The Financial Impact
184 Estimating Conference shall submit the financial impact
185 statement to the Attorney General and Secretary of State.
186 (b) Immediately upon receipt of a proposed revision or
187 amendment from the Secretary of State, the coordinator of the
188 Office of Economic and Demographic Research shall contact the
189 person identified as the sponsor to request an official list of
190 all persons authorized to speak on behalf of the named sponsor
191 and, if there is one, the sponsoring organization at meetings
192 held by the Financial Impact Estimating Conference. All other
193 persons shall be deemed interested parties or proponents or
194 opponents of the initiative. The Financial Impact Estimating
195 Conference shall provide an opportunity for any representatives
196 of the sponsor, interested parties, proponents, or opponents of
197 the initiative to submit information and may solicit information
198 or analysis from any other entities or agencies, including the
199 Office of Economic and Demographic Research.
200 (c) All meetings of the Financial Impact Estimating
201 Conference shall be open to the public. The President of the
202 Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, jointly,
203 shall be the sole judge for the interpretation, implementation,
204 and enforcement of this subsection.
205 1. The Financial Impact Estimating Conference is
206 established to review, analyze, and estimate the financial
207 impact of amendments to or revisions of the State Constitution
208 proposed by initiative. The Financial Impact Estimating
209 Conference shall consist of four principals: one person from the
210 Executive Office of the Governor; the coordinator of the Office
211 of Economic and Demographic Research, or his or her designee;
212 one person from the professional staff of the Senate; and one
213 person from the professional staff of the House of
214 Representatives. Each principal shall have appropriate fiscal
215 expertise in the subject matter of the initiative. A Financial
216 Impact Estimating Conference may be appointed for each
217 initiative.
218 2. Principals of the Financial Impact Estimating Conference
219 shall reach a consensus or majority concurrence on a clear and
220 unambiguous financial impact statement, no more than 150 words
221 in length, and immediately submit the statement to the Attorney
222 General. Nothing in this subsection prohibits the Financial
223 Impact Estimating Conference from setting forth a range of
224 potential impacts in the financial impact statement. Any
225 financial impact statement that a court finds not to be in
226 accordance with this section shall be remanded solely to the
227 Financial Impact Estimating Conference for redrafting. The
228 Financial Impact Estimating Conference shall redraft the
229 financial impact statement within 15 days.
230 3. If the members of the Financial Impact Estimating
231 Conference are unable to agree on the statement required by this
232 subsection, or if the Supreme Court has rejected the initial
233 submission by the Financial Impact Estimating Conference and no
234 redraft has been approved by the Supreme Court by 5 p.m. on the
235 75th day before the election, the following statement shall
236 appear on the ballot pursuant to s. 101.161(1): “The financial
237 impact of this measure, if any, has not been cannot be
238 reasonably determined at this time.”
239 (d) The financial impact statement must be separately
240 contained and be set forth after the ballot summary as required
241 in s. 101.161(1).
242 1. If the financial impact statement projects a net
243 estimates increased costs, decreased revenues, a negative impact
244 on the state budget or local economy, or an indeterminate impact
245 for any of these areas, the ballot must include the a statement
246 required by s. 101.161(1)(b) indicating such estimated effect in
247 bold font.
248 2. If the financial impact statement projects a net
249 positive impact on the state budget, the ballot must include the
250 statement required by s. 101.161(1)(c).
251 3. If the financial impact statement estimates an
252 indeterminate financial impact, the ballot must include the
253 statement required by s. 101.161(1)(d).
254 4. If the members of the Financial Impact Estimating
255 Conference are unable to agree on the statement required by this
256 subsection, the ballot must include the statement required by s.
257 101.161(1)(e).
258 (e)1. Any financial impact statement that the Supreme Court
259 finds not to be in accordance with this subsection shall be
260 remanded solely to the Financial Impact Estimating Conference
261 for redrafting, provided the court’s advisory opinion is
262 rendered at least 75 days before the election at which the
263 question of ratifying the amendment will be presented. The
264 Financial Impact Estimating Conference shall prepare and adopt a
265 revised financial impact statement no later than 5 p.m. on the
266 15th day after the date of the court’s opinion.
267 2. If, by 5 p.m. on the 75th day before the election, the
268 Supreme Court has not issued an advisory opinion on the initial
269 financial impact statement prepared by the Financial Impact
270 Estimating Conference for an initiative amendment that otherwise
271 meets the legal requirements for ballot placement, the financial
272 impact statement shall be deemed approved for placement on the
273 ballot.
274 3. In addition to the financial impact statement required
275 by this subsection, the Financial Impact Estimating Conference
276 shall draft an initiative financial information statement. The
277 initiative financial information statement should describe in
278 greater detail than the financial impact statement any projected
279 increase or decrease in revenues or costs that the state or
280 local governments would likely experience and the estimated
281 economic impact on the state and local economy if the ballot
282 measure were approved. If appropriate, the initiative financial
283 information statement may include both estimated dollar amounts
284 and a description placing the estimated dollar amounts into
285 context. The initiative financial information statement must
286 include both a summary of not more than 500 words and additional
287 detailed information that includes the assumptions that were
288 made to develop the financial impacts, workpapers, and any other
289 information deemed relevant by the Financial Impact Estimating
290 Conference.
291 4. The Department of State shall have printed, and shall
292 furnish to each supervisor of elections, a copy of the summary
293 from the initiative financial information statements. The
294 supervisors shall have the summary from the initiative financial
295 information statements available at each polling place and at
296 the main office of the supervisor of elections upon request.
297 5. The Secretary of State and the Office of Economic and
298 Demographic Research shall make available on the Internet each
299 initiative financial information statement in its entirety. In
300 addition, each supervisor of elections whose office has a
301 website shall post the summary from each initiative financial
302 information statement on the website. Each supervisor shall
303 include a copy of each summary from the initiative financial
304 information statements and the Internet addresses for the
305 information statements on the Secretary of State’s and the
306 Office of Economic and Demographic Research’s websites in the
307 publication or mailing required by s. 101.20.
308 (f) When the Secretary of State submits a proposed
309 initiative petition to the President of the Senate and the
310 Speaker of the House of Representatives pursuant to s. 15.21,
311 the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
312 Representatives may direct legislative staff to prepare an
313 analysis of the petition. Such analysis may include, but is not
314 limited to, whether the amendment has undefined terms, conflicts
315 with an existing provision of the State Constitution, or will
316 cause unintended consequences or economic impacts.
317 Section 4. Subsection (1) and paragraph (a) of subsection
318 (3) of section 101.161, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
319 101.161 Referenda; ballots.—
320 (1) Whenever a constitutional amendment or other public
321 measure is submitted to the vote of the people, a ballot summary
322 of such amendment or other public measure shall be printed in
323 clear and unambiguous language on the ballot after the list of
324 candidates, followed by the word “yes” and also by the word
325 “no,” and shall be styled in such a manner that a “yes” vote
326 will indicate approval of the proposal and a “no” vote will
327 indicate rejection. The ballot summary of the amendment or other
328 public measure and the ballot title to appear on the ballot
329 shall be embodied in the constitutional revision commission
330 proposal, constitutional convention proposal, taxation and
331 budget reform commission proposal, or enabling resolution or
332 ordinance. The ballot summary of the amendment or other public
333 measure shall be an explanatory statement, not exceeding 75
334 words in length, of the chief purpose of the measure. In
335 addition, for every constitutional amendment proposed by
336 initiative, the ballot shall include, following the ballot
337 summary, in the following order:
338 (a) A separate financial impact statement concerning the
339 measure prepared by the Financial Impact Estimating Conference
340 in accordance with s. 100.371(13) or s. 101.162, as applicable
341 s. 100.371(5).
342 (b) If the financial impact statement projects a net
343 negative impact on the state budget, the following statement in
344 bold print:
345
346 THIS PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT IS ESTIMATED TO
347 HAVE A NET NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE STATE BUDGET. THIS
348 IMPACT MAY RESULT IN HIGHER TAXES OR A LOSS OF
349 GOVERNMENT SERVICES IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN A BALANCED
350 STATE BUDGET AS REQUIRED BY THE CONSTITUTION.
351
352 (c) If the financial impact statement projects a net
353 positive impact on the state budget, the following statement in
354 bold print:
355
356 THIS PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT IS ESTIMATED TO
357 HAVE A NET POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE STATE BUDGET. THIS
358 IMPACT MAY RESULT IN GENERATING ADDITIONAL REVENUE.
359
360 (d) If the financial impact statement is indeterminate, the
361 following statement in bold print:
362
363 THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THIS AMENDMENT CANNOT BE
364 DETERMINED DUE TO AMBIGUITIES AND UNCERTAINTIES
365 SURROUNDING THE AMENDMENT’S IMPACT.
366
367 (e) If the members of the Financial Impact Estimating
368 Conference are unable to agree on the financial impact
369 statement, the following statement in bold print:
370
371 THE FINANCIAL IMPACT ESTIMATING CONFERENCE WAS UNABLE
372 TO AGREE ON THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THIS PROPOSED
373 CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. THIS AMENDMENT MAY RESULT IN
374 HIGHER TAXES OR A LOSS OF GOVERNMENT SERVICES IN ORDER
375 TO MAINTAIN A BALANCED STATE BUDGET AS REQUIRED BY THE
376 CONSTITUTION.
377
378 The ballot title shall consist of a caption, not exceeding 15
379 words in length, by which the measure is commonly referred to or
380 spoken of. Except as otherwise specifically provided in
381 paragraph (3)(a), this subsection does not apply to
382 constitutional amendments or revisions proposed by joint
383 resolution.
384 (3)(a) Each joint resolution that proposes a constitutional
385 amendment or revision shall include one or more ballot
386 statements set forth in order of priority. Each ballot statement
387 shall consist of a ballot title, by which the measure is
388 commonly referred to or spoken of, not exceeding 15 words in
389 length, and a ballot summary that describes the chief purpose of
390 the amendment or revision in clear and unambiguous language. If
391 a joint resolution that proposes a constitutional amendment or
392 revision contains only one ballot statement, the ballot summary
393 may not exceed 75 words in length. If a joint resolution that
394 proposes a constitutional amendment or revision contains more
395 than one ballot statement, the first ballot summary, in order of
396 priority, may not exceed 75 words in length. In addition, a
397 constitutional amendment or revision proposed by joint
398 resolution must include a financial impact statement following
399 the ballot summary when appearing on the ballot in accordance
400 with paragraphs (1)(a)-(e).
401 Section 5. Section 101.162, Florida Statutes, is created to
402 read:
403 101.162 Financial impact statements.—
404 (1) Upon filing or certification of a constitutional
405 amendment or revision with the Department of State, the
406 Secretary of State shall transmit the amendment or revision
407 proposed by joint resolution, the Constitution Revision
408 Commission, the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, or
409 constitutional convention to the Financial Impact Estimating
410 Conference. Within 75 days after receipt of a proposed revision
411 or amendment to the State Constitution from the Secretary of
412 State, the Financial Impact Estimating Conference shall complete
413 an analysis and financial impact statement to be placed on the
414 ballot of the estimated increase or decrease in any revenues or
415 costs to state or local governments and the overall impact to
416 the state budget resulting from the amendment or revision. The
417 75-day time limit is tolled when the Legislature is in session.
418 The Financial Impact Estimating Conference shall submit the
419 financial impact statement to the Attorney General and Secretary
420 of State.
421 (2) Immediately upon receipt of a proposed amendment or
422 revision from the Secretary of State, the coordinator of the
423 Office of Economic and Demographic Research may notify any
424 interested parties or proponents or opponents of the amendment
425 or revision. The Financial Impact Estimating Conference shall
426 provide an opportunity for any interested parties or proponents
427 or opponents of the amendment or revision to submit information
428 and may solicit information or analysis from any other entities
429 or agencies, including the Office of Economic and Demographic
430 Research.
431 (3) All meetings of the Financial Impact Estimating
432 Conference shall be open to the public. The President of the
433 Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, jointly,
434 shall be the sole judge for the interpretation, implementation,
435 and enforcement of this section.
436 (a) The Financial Impact Estimating Conference, established
437 under s. 100.371(13), shall review, analyze, and estimate the
438 financial impact of amendments to or revisions of the State
439 Constitution proposed by joint resolution, the Constitution
440 Revision Commission, the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission,
441 or constitutional convention.
442 (b) Principals of the Financial Impact Estimating
443 Conference shall reach a consensus or majority concurrence on a
444 clear and unambiguous financial impact statement, no more than
445 150 words in length, and immediately submit the statement to the
446 Attorney General. Nothing in this section prohibits the
447 Financial Impact Estimating Conference from setting forth a
448 range of potential impacts in the financial impact statement.
449 Any financial impact statement that a court finds not to be in
450 accordance with this section shall be remanded solely to the
451 Financial Impact Estimating Conference for redrafting. The
452 Financial Impact Estimating Conference shall redraft the
453 financial impact statement within 15 days.
454 (c) If the Supreme Court has rejected the initial
455 submission by the Financial Impact Estimating Conference and no
456 redraft has been approved by the Supreme Court by 5 p.m. on the
457 75th day before the election, the following statement shall
458 appear on the ballot: “The impact of this measure, if any,
459 cannot be reasonably determined at this time.”
460 (4) The financial impact statement must be separately
461 contained and be set forth after the ballot summary as required
462 in s. 101.161(1).
463 (a) If the financial impact statement projects a net
464 negative impact on the state budget, the ballot must include the
465 statement required by s. 101.161(1)(b).
466 (b) If the financial impact statement projects a net
467 positive impact on the state budget, the ballot must include the
468 statement required by s. 101.161(1)(c).
469 (c) If the financial impact statement estimates an
470 indeterminate financial impact, the ballot must include the
471 statement required by s. 101.161(1)(d).
472 (d) If the members of the Financial Impact Estimating
473 Conference are unable to agree on the statement required by this
474 subsection, the ballot must include the statement required by s.
475 101.161(1)(e).
476 (5)(a) Any financial impact statement that the Supreme
477 Court finds not to be in accordance with this section shall be
478 remanded solely to the Financial Impact Estimating Conference
479 for redrafting, provided the court’s advisory opinion is
480 rendered at least 75 days before the election at which the
481 question of ratifying the amendment will be presented. The
482 Financial Impact Estimating Conference shall prepare and adopt a
483 revised financial impact statement no later than 5 p.m. on the
484 15th day after the date of the court’s opinion.
485 (b) If, by 5 p.m. on the 75th day before the election, the
486 Supreme Court has not issued an advisory opinion on the initial
487 financial impact statement prepared by the Financial Impact
488 Estimating Conference for an amendment that otherwise meets the
489 legal requirements for ballot placement, the financial impact
490 statement shall be deemed approved for placement on the ballot.
491 (6)(a) In addition to the financial impact statement
492 required by this section, the Financial Impact Estimating
493 Conference shall draft a financial information statement. The
494 financial information statement should describe in greater
495 detail than the financial impact statement any projected
496 increase or decrease in revenues or costs that the state or
497 local governments would likely experience if the ballot measure
498 were approved. If appropriate, the financial information
499 statement may include both estimated dollar amounts and a
500 description placing the estimated dollar amounts into context.
501 The financial information statement must include both a summary
502 of not more than 500 words and additional detailed information
503 that includes the assumptions that were made to develop the
504 financial impacts, workpapers, and any other information deemed
505 relevant by the Financial Impact Estimating Conference.
506 (b) The Department of State shall have printed, and shall
507 furnish to each supervisor of elections, a copy of the summary
508 from the financial information statements. The supervisors shall
509 have the summary from the financial information statements
510 available at each polling place and at the main office of the
511 supervisor of elections upon request.
512 (c) The Secretary of State and the Office of Economic and
513 Demographic Research shall make available on the Internet each
514 financial information statement in its entirety. In addition,
515 each supervisor of elections whose office has a website shall
516 post the summary from each financial information statement on
517 the website. Each supervisor shall include a copy of each
518 summary from the financial information statements and the
519 Internet addresses for the information statements on the
520 Secretary of State’s and the Office of Economic and Demographic
521 Research’s websites in the publication or mailing required by s.
522 101.20.
523 (7) This section does not apply to constitutional
524 amendments proposed by initiative.
525 Section 6. Section 101.171, Florida Statutes, is amended to
526 read:
527 101.171 Copy of constitutional amendment to be available at
528 voting locations.—Whenever any amendment to the State
529 Constitution is to be voted upon at any election, the Department
530 of State shall have printed and shall furnish to each supervisor
531 of elections a sufficient number of copies of the amendment
532 either in poster or booklet form, and the supervisor shall
533 provide have a copy in a designated area of each polling
534 location as determined by the supervisor thereof conspicuously
535 posted or available at each polling room or early voting area
536 upon the day of election.
537 Section 7. The provisions of this act apply to revisions or
538 amendments to the State Constitution which are proposed for the
539 2020 general election and each election thereafter; provided,
540 however, that nothing in this act affects the validity of any
541 petition form gathered before the effective date of this act or
542 any contract entered into before the effective date of this act.
543 Petition forms gathered before the effective date of this act
544 shall be governed by the laws existing at the time that the form
545 was initially gathered.
546 Section 8. If any provision of this act or its application
547 to any person or circumstance is held invalid for any reason,
548 the remaining portion of this act, to the fullest extent
549 possible, shall be severed from the void portion and given the
550 fullest possible force and application.
551 Section 9. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.