Florida Senate - 2022                        COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
       Bill No. CS for SB 524
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                Ì824268CÎ824268                         
       
                              LEGISLATIVE ACTION                        
                    Senate             .             House              
                  Comm: RCS            .                                
                  02/25/2022           .                                
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       The Committee on Appropriations (Hutson) recommended the
       following:
       
    1         Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
    2  
    3         Delete everything after the enacting clause
    4  and insert:
    5         Section 1. Section 15.21, Florida Statutes, is amended to
    6  read:
    7         15.21 Initiative petitions; s. 3, Art. XI, State
    8  Constitution.—
    9         (1) The Secretary of State shall immediately submit an
   10  initiative petition to the Attorney General if the sponsor has:
   11         (a)(1) Registered as a political committee pursuant to s.
   12  106.03;
   13         (b)(2) Submitted the ballot title, substance, and text of
   14  the proposed revision or amendment to the Secretary of State
   15  pursuant to ss. 100.371 and 101.161; and
   16         (c)(3) Obtained a letter from the Division of Elections
   17  confirming that the sponsor has submitted to the appropriate
   18  supervisors for verification, and the supervisors have verified,
   19  forms signed and dated equal to 25 percent of the number of
   20  electors statewide required by s. 3, Art. XI of the State
   21  Constitution in one-half of the congressional districts of the
   22  state.
   23         (2) If the Secretary of State has submitted an initiative
   24  petition to the Attorney General pursuant to subsection (1) but
   25  the validity of the signatures for such initiative petition have
   26  expired pursuant to s. 100.371(11)(a) before securing ballot
   27  placement, the Secretary of State must promptly notify the
   28  Attorney General. The Secretary of State may resubmit the
   29  initiative petition to the Attorney General if the initiative
   30  petition is later circulated for placement on the ballot of a
   31  subsequent general election and the criteria under subsection
   32  (1) are satisfied.
   33         Section 2. Subsection (4) is added to section 16.061,
   34  Florida Statutes, to read:
   35         16.061 Initiative petitions.—
   36         (4) If the Attorney General is notified by the Secretary of
   37  State pursuant to s. 15.21(2) that an initiative petition no
   38  longer qualifies for ballot placement for the ensuing general
   39  election, the Attorney General must withdraw his or her request
   40  for an advisory opinion if the Supreme Court has not yet
   41  fulfilled that request. If the Secretary of State subsequently
   42  resubmits the initiative petition if the criteria in s. 15.21(1)
   43  are again satisfied and the court has not issued its advisory
   44  opinion, the Attorney General must file a new petition seeking
   45  such advisory opinion.
   46         Section 3. Section 97.022, Florida Statutes, is created to
   47  read:
   48         97.022 Office of Election Crimes and Security; creation;
   49  purpose and duties.—
   50         (1) The Office of Election Crimes and Security is created
   51  within the Department of State. The purpose of the office is to
   52  aid the Secretary of State in completion of his or her duties
   53  under s. 97.012(12) and (15) by:
   54         (a) Receiving and reviewing notices and reports generated
   55  by government officials or any other person regarding alleged
   56  occurrences of election law violations or election
   57  irregularities in this state.
   58         (b) Initiating independent inquiries and conducting
   59  preliminary investigations into allegations of election law
   60  violations or election irregularities in this state.
   61         (2) The office may review complaints and conduct
   62  preliminary investigations into alleged violations of the
   63  Florida Election Code or any rule adopted pursuant thereto and
   64  any election irregularities.
   65         (3) The secretary shall appoint a director of the office.
   66         (4) The office shall be based in Tallahassee and shall
   67  employ nonsworn investigators to conduct any investigations. The
   68  positions and resources necessary for the office to accomplish
   69  its duties shall be established through and subject to the
   70  legislative appropriations process.
   71         (5) The office shall oversee the department’s voter fraud
   72  hotline.
   73         (6) This section does not limit the jurisdiction of any
   74  other office or agency of the state empowered by law to
   75  investigate, act upon, or dispose of alleged election law
   76  violations.
   77         (7) By January 15 of each year, the department shall submit
   78  a report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the
   79  Speaker of the House of Representatives detailing information on
   80  investigations of alleged election law violations or election
   81  irregularities conducted during the prior calendar year. The
   82  report must include the total number of complaints received and
   83  independent investigations initiated and the number of
   84  complaints referred to another agency for further investigation
   85  or prosecution, including the total number of those matters sent
   86  to a special officer pursuant to s. 102.091. For each alleged
   87  violation or irregularity investigated, the report must include:
   88         (a) The source of the alleged violation or irregularity;
   89         (b) The law allegedly violated or the nature of the
   90  irregularity reported;
   91         (c) The county in which the alleged violation or
   92  irregularity occurred;
   93         (d) Whether the alleged violation or irregularity was
   94  referred to another agency for further investigation or
   95  prosecution, and if so, to which agency; and
   96         (e) The current status of the investigation or resulting
   97  criminal case.
   98         Section 4. Section 97.0291, Florida Statutes, is amended to
   99  read:
  100         97.0291 Prohibition on use of private funds for election
  101  related expenses.—No agency or state or local official
  102  responsible for conducting elections, including, but not limited
  103  to, a supervisor of elections, may solicit, accept, use, or
  104  dispose of any donation in the form of money, grants, property,
  105  or personal services from an individual or a nongovernmental
  106  entity for the purpose of funding any type of election-related
  107  expenses related to election administration, including, but not
  108  limited to, or voter education, voter outreach, voter or
  109  registration programs, or the cost of any litigation related to
  110  election administration. This section does not prohibit the
  111  donation and acceptance of space to be used for a polling room
  112  or an early voting site.
  113         Section 5. Subsection (13) of section 97.057, Florida
  114  Statutes, is amended to read:
  115         97.057 Voter registration by the Department of Highway
  116  Safety and Motor Vehicles.—
  117         (13) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
  118  must assist the Department of State in regularly identifying
  119  changes in residence address on the driver license or
  120  identification card of a voter. The Department of State must
  121  report each such change to the appropriate supervisor of
  122  elections who must change the voter’s registration records in
  123  accordance with s. 98.065(5) s. 98.065(4).
  124         Section 6. Present subsections (4) through (7) of section
  125  97.0575, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (5)
  126  through (8), respectively, a new subsection (4) is added to that
  127  section, and paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of that section is
  128  amended, to read:
  129         97.0575 Third-party voter registrations.—
  130         (3)(a) A third-party voter registration organization that
  131  collects voter registration applications serves as a fiduciary
  132  to the applicant, ensuring that any voter registration
  133  application entrusted to the organization, irrespective of party
  134  affiliation, race, ethnicity, or gender, must be promptly
  135  delivered to the division or the supervisor of elections in the
  136  county in which the applicant resides within 14 days after the
  137  application was completed by the applicant, but not after
  138  registration closes for the next ensuing election. A third-party
  139  voter registration organization must notify the applicant at the
  140  time the application is collected that the organization might
  141  not deliver the application to the division or the supervisor of
  142  elections in the county in which the applicant resides in less
  143  than 14 days or before registration closes for the next ensuing
  144  election and must advise the applicant that he or she may
  145  deliver the application in person or by mail. The third-party
  146  voter registration organization must also inform the applicant
  147  how to register online with the division and how to determine
  148  whether the application has been delivered. If a voter
  149  registration application collected by any third-party voter
  150  registration organization is not promptly delivered to the
  151  division or supervisor of elections in the county in which the
  152  applicant resides, the third-party voter registration
  153  organization is liable for the following fines:
  154         1. A fine in the amount of $50 for each application
  155  received by the division or the supervisor of elections in the
  156  county in which the applicant resides more than 14 days after
  157  the applicant delivered the completed voter registration
  158  application to the third-party voter registration organization
  159  or any person, entity, or agent acting on its behalf. A fine in
  160  the amount of $250 for each application received if the third
  161  party voter registration organization or person, entity, or
  162  agency acting on its behalf acted willfully.
  163         2. A fine in the amount of $100 for each application
  164  collected by a third-party voter registration organization or
  165  any person, entity, or agent acting on its behalf, before book
  166  closing for any given election for federal or state office and
  167  received by the division or the supervisor of elections in the
  168  county in which the applicant resides after the book-closing
  169  deadline for such election. A fine in the amount of $500 for
  170  each application received if the third-party registration
  171  organization or person, entity, or agency acting on its behalf
  172  acted willfully.
  173         3. A fine in the amount of $500 for each application
  174  collected by a third-party voter registration organization or
  175  any person, entity, or agent acting on its behalf, which is not
  176  submitted to the division or supervisor of elections in the
  177  county in which the applicant resides. A fine in the amount of
  178  $1,000 for any application not submitted if the third-party
  179  voter registration organization or person, entity, or agency
  180  acting on its behalf acted willfully.
  181  
  182  The aggregate fine pursuant to this paragraph which may be
  183  assessed against a third-party voter registration organization,
  184  including affiliate organizations, for violations committed in a
  185  calendar year is $50,000 $1,000.
  186         (4) If a person collecting voter registration applications
  187  on behalf of a third-party voter registration organization
  188  alters the voter registration application of any other person,
  189  without the other person’s knowledge and consent, in violation
  190  of s. 104.012(4) and is subsequently convicted of such offense,
  191  the applicable third-party voter registration organization is
  192  liable for a fine in the amount of $1,000 for each application
  193  altered.
  194         Section 7. Present subsections (3) through (6) of section
  195  98.065, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (4)
  196  through (7), respectively, a new subsection (3) is added to that
  197  section, and subsection (2) and present subsections (3), (4),
  198  and (5) of that section are amended, to read:
  199         98.065 Registration list maintenance programs.—
  200         (2) A supervisor must incorporate one or more of the
  201  following procedures in the supervisor’s annual biennial
  202  registration list maintenance program under which the supervisor
  203  shall:
  204         (a) Use change-of-address information supplied by the
  205  United States Postal Service through its licensees is used to
  206  identify registered voters whose addresses might have changed.
  207  Additionally, in odd-numbered years, unless the supervisor is
  208  conducting the procedure specified in paragraph (b), the
  209  supervisor must identify change-of-address information from
  210  returned nonforwardable return-if-undeliverable address
  211  confirmation requests mailed to all registered voters who have
  212  not voted in the preceding 3 years and who have not made a
  213  written request that their registration records be updated
  214  during that time; or
  215         (b) Identify change-of-address information is identified
  216  from returned nonforwardable return-if-undeliverable mail sent
  217  to all registered voters in the county; or
  218         (c) Change-of-address information is identified from
  219  returned nonforwardable return-if-undeliverable address
  220  confirmation requests mailed to all registered voters who have
  221  not voted in the last 2 years and who did not make a written
  222  request that their registration records be updated during that
  223  time.
  224         (3) Address confirmation requests sent pursuant to
  225  paragraph (2)(a) and mail sent pursuant to paragraph (2)(b) must
  226  be addressed to the voter’s address of legal residence, not
  227  including voters temporarily residing outside the county and
  228  registered in the precinct designated by the supervisor pursuant
  229  to s. 101.045(1). If a request is returned as undeliverable, any
  230  other notification sent to the voter pursuant to subsection (5)
  231  or s. 98.0655 must be addressed to the voter’s mailing address
  232  on file, if any, in addition to any residence address on file.
  233         (4) A registration list maintenance program must be
  234  conducted by each supervisor, at a minimum, once in each odd
  235  numbered year and must be completed not later than 90 days
  236  before prior to the date of any federal election. All list
  237  maintenance actions associated with each voter must be entered,
  238  tracked, and maintained in the statewide voter registration
  239  system.
  240         (5)(a)(4)(a) If the supervisor receives change-of-address
  241  information pursuant to the activities conducted in subsection
  242  (2), from jury notices signed by the voter and returned to the
  243  courts, from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor
  244  Vehicles, or from other sources which indicates that a
  245  registered voter’s legal residence might have changed to another
  246  location within the state, the supervisor must change the
  247  registration records to reflect the new address and must send
  248  the voter an address change notice as provided in s. 98.0655(2).
  249         (b) If the supervisor of elections receives change-of
  250  address information pursuant to the activities conducted in
  251  subsection (2), from jury notices signed by the voter and
  252  returned to the courts, or from other sources which indicates
  253  that a registered voter’s legal residence might have changed to
  254  a location outside the state, the supervisor of elections shall
  255  send an address confirmation final notice to the voter as
  256  provided in s. 98.0655(3).
  257         (c) If an address confirmation request required by
  258  paragraph (2)(a) is returned as undeliverable without indication
  259  of an address change, or there is no response from the voter
  260  within 30 days, or if any other nonforwardable return-if
  261  undeliverable mail is returned as undeliverable with no
  262  indication of an address change, the supervisor shall send an
  263  address confirmation final notice to all addresses on file for
  264  the voter.
  265         (d) The supervisor must designate as inactive all voters
  266  who have been sent an address confirmation final notice and who
  267  have not returned the postage prepaid, preaddressed return form
  268  within 30 days or for which the final notice has been returned
  269  as undeliverable. Names on the inactive list may not be used to
  270  calculate the number of signatures needed on any petition. A
  271  voter on the inactive list may be restored to the active list of
  272  voters upon the voter updating his or her registration and
  273  confirming his or her current legal residence address,
  274  requesting a vote-by-mail ballot and confirming his or her
  275  current legal residence address, or appearing to vote and
  276  confirming his or her current legal residence address. However,
  277  if the voter does not update his or her voter registration
  278  information, request a vote-by-mail ballot, or vote by the
  279  second general election after being placed on the inactive list,
  280  the voter’s name shall be removed from the statewide voter
  281  registration system and the voter shall be required to
  282  reregister to have his or her name restored to the statewide
  283  voter registration system.
  284         (6)(5) A notice may not be issued pursuant to this section
  285  and a voter’s name may not be removed from the statewide voter
  286  registration system later than 90 days prior to the date of a
  287  federal election. However, this section does not preclude the
  288  correction of registration records based on information
  289  submitted by the voter or removal of the name of a voter from
  290  the statewide voter registration system at any time upon the
  291  voter’s written request, by reason of the voter’s death, or upon
  292  a determination of the voter’s ineligibility as provided in s.
  293  98.075(7).
  294         Section 8. Subsections (1) and (3) of section 98.0655,
  295  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  296         98.0655 Registration list maintenance forms.—The department
  297  shall prescribe registration list maintenance forms to be used
  298  by the supervisors which must include:
  299         (1) An address confirmation request that must contain:
  300         (a) The voter’s name and address of legal residence as
  301  shown on the voter registration record; and
  302         (b) A request that the voter notify the supervisor if
  303  either the voter’s name or address of legal residence is
  304  incorrect;
  305         (c) If the address confirmation request is required by s.
  306  98.065(2)(a), a statement that if the voter has not changed his
  307  or her legal residence or has changed his or her legal residence
  308  within the state, the voter should return the form within 30
  309  days after the date on which the notice was sent to the voter;
  310  and
  311         (d) Information about updating voter information through
  312  the online voter registration system.
  313         (3) An address confirmation final notice that must be sent
  314  to the newly recorded address of legal residence, or to all
  315  addresses on file for the voter if no indication of new address
  316  has been received, by forwardable mail and must contain a
  317  postage prepaid, preaddressed return form and a statement that:
  318         (a) If the voter has not changed his or her legal residence
  319  or has changed his or her legal residence within the state, the
  320  voter should return the form within 30 days after the date on
  321  which the notice was sent to the voter.
  322         (b) If the voter has changed his or her legal residence to
  323  a location outside the state:
  324         1. The voter shall return the form, which serves as a
  325  request to be removed from the registration books; and
  326         2. The voter shall be provided with information on how to
  327  register in the new jurisdiction in order to be eligible to
  328  vote.
  329         (c) If the return form is not returned, the voter’s name
  330  shall be designated as inactive in the statewide voter
  331  registration system, and confirmation of the voter’s address of
  332  legal residence may be required before the voter is authorized
  333  to vote in an election.
  334         Section 9. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section
  335  98.075, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  336         98.075 Registration records maintenance activities;
  337  ineligibility determinations.—
  338         (3) DECEASED PERSONS.—
  339         (a)1. The department shall identify those registered voters
  340  who are deceased by comparing information received from either:
  341         a. The Department of Health as provided in s. 98.093; or
  342         b. The United States Social Security Administration,
  343  including, but not limited to, any master death file or index
  344  compiled by the United States Social Security Administration; or
  345         c. The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
  346         2. Within 7 days after receipt of such information through
  347  the statewide voter registration system, the supervisor shall
  348  remove the name of the registered voter.
  349         Section 10. Section 98.093, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  350  read:
  351         98.093 Duty of officials to furnish information relating to
  352  deceased persons, persons adjudicated mentally incapacitated,
  353  and persons convicted of a felony, and persons who are not
  354  United States citizens.—
  355         (1) In order to identify ineligible registered voters and
  356  maintain accurate and current voter registration records in the
  357  statewide voter registration system pursuant to procedures in s.
  358  98.065 or s. 98.075, it is necessary for the department and
  359  supervisors of elections to receive or access certain
  360  information from state and federal officials and entities in the
  361  format prescribed.
  362         (2) To the maximum extent feasible, state and local
  363  government agencies shall facilitate provision of information
  364  and access to data to the department, including, but not limited
  365  to, databases that contain reliable criminal records and records
  366  of deceased persons. State and local government agencies that
  367  provide such data shall do so without charge if the direct cost
  368  incurred by those agencies is not significant.
  369         (a) The Department of Health shall furnish monthly to the
  370  department a list containing the name, address, date of birth,
  371  date of death, social security number, race, and sex of each
  372  deceased person 17 years of age or older.
  373         (b) Each clerk of the circuit court shall furnish monthly
  374  to the department:
  375         1. A list of those persons who have been adjudicated
  376  mentally incapacitated with respect to voting during the
  377  preceding calendar month, a list of those persons whose mental
  378  capacity with respect to voting has been restored during the
  379  preceding calendar month, and a list of those persons who have
  380  returned signed jury notices during the preceding months to the
  381  clerk of the circuit court indicating a change of address. Each
  382  list shall include the name, address, date of birth, race, sex,
  383  and, whichever is available, the Florida driver license number,
  384  Florida identification card number, or social security number of
  385  each such person.
  386         2. Information on the terms of sentence for felony
  387  convictions, including any financial obligations for court
  388  costs, fees, and fines, of all persons listed in the clerk’s
  389  records whose last known address in the clerk’s records is
  390  within this state and who have been convicted of a felony during
  391  the preceding month. The information may be provided directly by
  392  individual clerks of the circuit court or may be provided on
  393  their behalf through the Comprehensive Case Information System.
  394  For each felony conviction reported, the information must
  395  include:
  396         a.The full name, last known address, date of birth, race,
  397  sex, and, if available, the Florida driver license number,
  398  Florida identification card number, and social security number
  399  of the person convicted.
  400         b.The amounts of all financial obligations, including
  401  restitution and court costs, fees, and fines, and, if known, the
  402  amount of financial obligations not yet satisfied.
  403         c.The county in which the conviction occurred.
  404         d.The statute number violated, statute table text, date of
  405  conviction, and case number.
  406         (c) Upon receipt of information from the United States
  407  Attorney, listing persons convicted of a felony in federal
  408  court, the department shall use such information to identify
  409  registered voters or applicants for voter registration who may
  410  be potentially ineligible based on information provided in
  411  accordance with s. 98.075.
  412         (d) The Department of Law Enforcement shall identify those
  413  persons who have been convicted of a felony who appear in the
  414  voter registration records supplied by the statewide voter
  415  registration system, in a time and manner that enables the
  416  department to meet its obligations under state and federal law.
  417         (e) The Florida Commission on Offender Review shall furnish
  418  at least bimonthly to the department data, including the
  419  identity of those persons granted clemency in the preceding
  420  month or any updates to prior records which have occurred in the
  421  preceding month. The data shall contain the commission’s case
  422  number and the person’s name, address, date of birth, race,
  423  gender, Florida driver license number, Florida identification
  424  card number, or the last four digits of the social security
  425  number, if available, and references to record identifiers
  426  assigned by the Department of Corrections and the Department of
  427  Law Enforcement, a unique identifier of each clemency case, and
  428  the effective date of clemency of each person.
  429         (f) The Department of Corrections shall identify those
  430  persons who have been convicted of a felony and committed to its
  431  custody or placed on community supervision. The information must
  432  be provided to the department at a time and in a manner that
  433  enables the department to identify registered voters who are
  434  convicted felons and to meet its obligations under state and
  435  federal law.
  436         (g) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
  437  shall furnish monthly to the department:
  438         1. A list of those persons whose names have been removed
  439  from the driver license database because they have been licensed
  440  in another state. The list must shall contain the name, address,
  441  date of birth, sex, social security number, and driver license
  442  number of each such person.
  443         2. A list of those persons who presented evidence of non
  444  United States citizenship upon being issued a new or renewed
  445  Florida driver license or Florida identification card. The list
  446  must contain the name; address; date of birth; social security
  447  number, if applicable; and Florida driver license number or
  448  Florida identification card number, as applicable, of each such
  449  person.
  450         (3) This section does not limit or restrict the supervisor
  451  in his or her duty to remove the names of persons from the
  452  statewide voter registration system pursuant to s. 98.075(7)
  453  based upon information received from other sources.
  454         Section 11. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
  455  100.041, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  456         100.041 Officers chosen at general election.—
  457         (2)(a) Except as provided in s. 124.011 relating to single
  458  member districts after decennial redistricting, each county
  459  commissioner from an odd-numbered district shall be elected at
  460  the general election in each year the number of which is a
  461  multiple of 4, for a 4-year term commencing on the second
  462  Tuesday following such election, and each county commissioner
  463  from an even-numbered district shall be elected at the general
  464  election in each even-numbered year the number of which is not a
  465  multiple of 4, for a 4-year term commencing on the second
  466  Tuesday following such election. A county commissioner is
  467  “elected” for purposes of this paragraph on the date that the
  468  county canvassing board certifies the results of the election
  469  pursuant to s. 102.151.
  470         Section 12. Paragraphs (a) and (c) of subsection (11) and
  471  paragraph (a) of subsection (13) of section 100.371, Florida
  472  Statutes, are amended to read:
  473         100.371 Initiatives; procedure for placement on ballot.—
  474         (11)(a) An initiative petition form circulated for
  475  signature may not be bundled with or attached to any other
  476  petition. Each signature shall be dated when made and shall be
  477  valid until the next February 1 occurring in an even-numbered
  478  year for the purpose of the amendment appearing on the ballot
  479  for the general election occurring in that same year, provided
  480  all other requirements of law are met. The sponsor shall submit
  481  signed and dated forms to the supervisor of elections for the
  482  county of residence listed by the person signing the form for
  483  verification of the number of valid signatures obtained. If a
  484  signature on a petition is from a registered voter in another
  485  county, the supervisor shall notify the petition sponsor of the
  486  misfiled petition. The supervisor shall promptly verify the
  487  signatures within 60 days after receipt of the petition forms
  488  and payment of a fee for the actual cost of signature
  489  verification incurred by the supervisor. However, for petition
  490  forms submitted less than 60 days before February 1 of an even
  491  numbered year, the supervisor shall promptly verify the
  492  signatures within 30 days after receipt of the form and payment
  493  of the fee for signature verification. The supervisor shall
  494  promptly record, in the manner prescribed by the Secretary of
  495  State, the date each form is received by the supervisor, and the
  496  date the signature on the form is verified as valid. The
  497  supervisor may verify that the signature on a form is valid only
  498  if:
  499         1. The form contains the original signature of the
  500  purported elector.
  501         2. The purported elector has accurately recorded on the
  502  form the date on which he or she signed the form.
  503         3. The form sets forth the purported elector’s name,
  504  address, city, county, and voter registration number or date of
  505  birth.
  506         4. The purported elector is, at the time he or she signs
  507  the form and at the time the form is verified, a duly qualified
  508  and registered elector in the state.
  509         5. The signature was obtained legally, including that if a
  510  paid petition circulator was used, the circulator was validly
  511  registered under subsection (3) when the signature was obtained.
  512  
  513  The supervisor shall retain all the signature forms, separating
  514  forms verified as valid from those deemed invalid, for at least
  515  1 year following the election for in which the petition was
  516  circulated issue appeared on the ballot or until the division
  517  notifies the supervisors of elections that the committee that
  518  circulated the petition is no longer seeking to obtain ballot
  519  position.
  520         (c) On the last day of each month, or on the last day of
  521  each week from December 1 of an odd-numbered year through
  522  February 1 of the following year, each supervisor shall post on
  523  his or her website the total number of signatures submitted, the
  524  total number of invalid signatures, the total number of
  525  signatures processed, and the aggregate number of verified valid
  526  signatures and the distribution of such signatures by
  527  congressional district for each proposed amendment proposed by
  528  initiative, along with the following information specific to the
  529  reporting period: the total number of signed petition forms
  530  received, the total number of signatures verified, the
  531  distribution of verified valid signatures by congressional
  532  district, and the total number of verified petition forms
  533  forwarded to the Secretary of State.
  534         (13)(a) At the same time the Secretary of State submits an
  535  initiative petition to the Attorney General pursuant to s.
  536  15.21, the secretary shall submit a copy of the initiative
  537  petition to the Financial Impact Estimating Conference. Within
  538  75 days after receipt of a proposed revision or amendment to the
  539  State Constitution by initiative petition from the Secretary of
  540  State, the Financial Impact Estimating Conference shall complete
  541  an analysis and financial impact statement to be placed on the
  542  ballot of the estimated increase or decrease in any revenues or
  543  costs to state or local governments and the overall impact to
  544  the state budget resulting from the proposed initiative. The 75
  545  day time limit is tolled when the Legislature is in session. The
  546  Financial Impact Estimating Conference shall submit the
  547  financial impact statement to the Attorney General and Secretary
  548  of State. If the initiative petition has been submitted to the
  549  Financial Impact Estimating Conference but the validity of
  550  signatures has expired and the initiative petition no longer
  551  qualifies for ballot placement at the ensuing general election,
  552  the Secretary of State must notify the Financial Impact
  553  Estimating Conference. The Financial Impact Estimating
  554  Conference is not required to complete an analysis and financial
  555  impact statement for an initiative petition that fails to meet
  556  the requirements of subsection (1) for placement on the ballot
  557  before the 75-day time limit, including any tolling period,
  558  expires. The initiative petition may be resubmitted to the
  559  Financial Impact Estimating Conference if the initiative
  560  petition meets the requisite criteria for a subsequent general
  561  election cycle. A new Financial Impact Estimating Conference
  562  shall be established at such time as the initiative petition
  563  again satisfies the criteria in s. 15.21(1).
  564         Section 13. Section 101.019, Florida Statutes, is created
  565  to read:
  566         101.019Ranked-choice voting prohibited.—
  567         (1) A ranked-choice voting method that allows voters to
  568  rank candidates for an office in order of preference and have
  569  ballots cast be tabulated in multiple rounds following the
  570  elimination of a candidate until a single candidate attains a
  571  majority may not be used in determining the election or
  572  nomination of any candidate to any local, state, or federal
  573  elective office in this state.
  574         (2) Any existing or future ordinance enacted or adopted by
  575  a county, a municipality, or any other local governmental entity
  576  which is in conflict with this section is void.
  577         Section 14. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section
  578  101.043, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  579         101.043 Identification required at polls.—
  580         (1)
  581         (b) If the picture identification does not contain the
  582  signature of the elector, an additional identification that
  583  provides the elector’s signature shall be required. The address
  584  appearing on the identification presented by the elector may not
  585  be used as the basis to confirm an elector’s legal residence or
  586  otherwise challenge an elector’s legal residence. The elector
  587  shall sign his or her name in the space provided on the precinct
  588  register or on an electronic device provided for recording the
  589  elector’s signature. The clerk or inspector shall compare the
  590  signature with that on the identification provided by the
  591  elector and enter his or her initials in the space provided on
  592  the precinct register or on an electronic device provided for
  593  that purpose and allow the elector to vote if the clerk or
  594  inspector is satisfied as to the identity of the elector.
  595         Section 15. Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) and subsection
  596  (8) of section 101.5614, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  597         101.5614 Canvass of returns.—
  598         (4)(a) If any vote-by-mail ballot is physically damaged so
  599  that it cannot properly be counted by the voting system’s
  600  automatic tabulating equipment, a true duplicate copy shall be
  601  made of the damaged ballot in an open and accessible room in the
  602  presence of witnesses and substituted for the damaged ballot.
  603  Likewise, a duplicate ballot shall be made of a vote-by-mail
  604  ballot containing an overvoted race if there is a clear
  605  indication on the ballot that the voter has made a definite
  606  choice in the overvoted race or ballot measure. A duplicate
  607  shall include all valid votes as determined by the canvassing
  608  board based on rules adopted by the division pursuant to s.
  609  102.166(4). A duplicate may be made of a ballot containing an
  610  undervoted race or ballot measure if there is a clear indication
  611  on the ballot that the voter has made a definite choice in the
  612  undervoted race or ballot measure. A duplicate may not include a
  613  vote if the voter’s intent in such race or on such measure is
  614  not clear. Upon request, a physically present candidate, a
  615  political party official, a political committee official, or an
  616  authorized designee thereof, must be allowed to observe the
  617  duplication of ballots upon signing an affidavit affirming his
  618  or her acknowledgment that disclosure of election results
  619  discerned from observing the ballot duplication process while
  620  the election is ongoing is a felony, as provided under
  621  subsection (8). The observer must be allowed to observe the
  622  duplication of ballots in such a way that the observer is able
  623  to see the markings on each ballot and the duplication taking
  624  place. All duplicate ballots must be clearly labeled
  625  “duplicate,” bear a serial number which shall be recorded on the
  626  defective ballot, and be counted in lieu of the defective
  627  ballot. The duplication of ballots must happen in the presence
  628  of at least one canvassing board member. After a ballot has been
  629  duplicated, the defective ballot shall be placed in an envelope
  630  provided for that purpose, and the duplicate ballot shall be
  631  tallied with the other ballots for that precinct. If any
  632  observer makes a reasonable objection to a duplicate of a
  633  ballot, the ballot must be presented to the canvassing board for
  634  a determination of the validity of the duplicate. The canvassing
  635  board must document the serial number of the ballot in the
  636  canvassing board’s minutes. The canvassing board must decide
  637  whether the duplication is valid. If the duplicate ballot is
  638  determined to be valid, the duplicate ballot must be counted. If
  639  the duplicate ballot is determined to be invalid, the duplicate
  640  ballot must be rejected and a proper duplicate ballot must be
  641  made and counted in lieu of the original.
  642         (8) Any supervisor of elections, deputy supervisor of
  643  elections, canvassing board member, election board member, or
  644  election employee, or other person authorized to observe,
  645  review, or inspect ballot materials or observe canvassing who
  646  releases any information about votes cast for or against any
  647  candidate or ballot measure or any the results of any election
  648  before prior to the closing of the polls in that county on
  649  election day commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as
  650  provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
  651         Section 16. Effective January 1, 2024, subsections (1) and
  652  (6) of section 101.6103, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  653         101.6103 Mail ballot election procedure.—
  654         (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (7), the
  655  supervisor of elections shall mail all official ballots with a
  656  secrecy envelope, a return mailing envelope, and instructions
  657  sufficient to describe the voting process to each elector
  658  entitled to vote in the election within the timeframes specified
  659  in s. 101.62(4) not sooner than the 20th day before the election
  660  and not later than the 10th day before the date of the election.
  661  All such ballots shall be mailed by first-class mail. Ballots
  662  shall be addressed to each elector at the address appearing in
  663  the registration records and placed in an envelope which is
  664  prominently marked “Do Not Forward.”
  665         (6) The canvassing board may begin the canvassing of mail
  666  ballots as provided by s. 101.68(2)(a). The criminal penalty
  667  specified in that paragraph for the release of results before 7
  668  p.m. on election day is also applicable to canvassing conducted
  669  under this act at 7 a.m. on the sixth day before the election,
  670  including processing the ballots through the tabulating
  671  equipment. However, results may not be released until after 7
  672  p.m. on election day. Any canvassing board member or election
  673  employee who releases any result before 7 p.m. on election day
  674  commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in
  675  s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
  676         Section 17. Subsection (1) of section 101.655, Florida
  677  Statutes, is amended to read:
  678         101.655 Supervised voting by absent electors in certain
  679  facilities.—
  680         (1) The supervisor of elections of a county shall provide
  681  supervised voting for absent electors residing in any assisted
  682  living facility, as defined in s. 429.02, or nursing home
  683  facility, as defined in s. 400.021, within that county at the
  684  request of any administrator of such a facility. Such request
  685  for supervised voting in the facility shall be made by
  686  submitting a written request to the supervisor of elections no
  687  later than 28 21 days prior to the election for which that
  688  request is submitted. The request shall specify the name and
  689  address of the facility and the name of the electors who wish to
  690  vote by mail in that election. If the request contains the names
  691  of fewer than five voters, the supervisor of elections is not
  692  required to provide supervised voting.
  693         Section 18. Section 102.091, Florida Statutes, is amended
  694  to read:
  695         102.091 Duty of sheriff to watch for violations;
  696  appointment of special officers.—
  697         (1) The sheriff shall exercise strict vigilance in the
  698  detection of any violations of the election laws and in
  699  apprehending the violators.
  700         (2) The Governor, in consultation with the executive
  701  director of the Department of Law Enforcement, shall may appoint
  702  special officers to investigate alleged violations of the
  703  election laws, when it is deemed necessary to see that violators
  704  of the election laws are apprehended and punished. A special
  705  officer must be a sworn special agent employed by the Department
  706  of Law Enforcement. At least one special officer must be
  707  designated in each operational region of the Department of Law
  708  Enforcement to serve as a dedicated investigator of alleged
  709  violations of the election laws. Appointment as a special
  710  officer does not preclude a sworn special agent from conducting
  711  other investigations of alleged violations of law, provided that
  712  such other investigations do not hinder or interfere with the
  713  individual’s ability to investigate alleged violations of the
  714  election laws.
  715         Section 19. Section 102.101, Florida Statutes, is amended
  716  to read:
  717         102.101 Sheriff and other officers not allowed in polling
  718  place.—A No sheriff, a deputy sheriff, a police officer, a
  719  special officer appointed pursuant to s. 102.091, or any other
  720  officer of the law is not shall be allowed within a the polling
  721  place without permission from the clerk or a majority of the
  722  inspectors, except to cast his or her ballot. Upon the failure
  723  of any such officer of said officers to comply with this section
  724  provision, the clerk or the inspectors must or any one of them
  725  shall make an affidavit against the such officer for his or her
  726  arrest.
  727         Section 20. Subsection (2) of section 104.0616, Florida
  728  Statutes, is amended to read:
  729         104.0616 Vote-by-mail ballots and voting; violations.—
  730         (2) Any person who distributes, orders, requests, collects,
  731  delivers, or otherwise physically possesses more than two vote
  732  by-mail ballots per election in addition to his or her own
  733  ballot or a ballot belonging to an immediate family member,
  734  except as provided in ss. 101.6105-101.694, including supervised
  735  voting at assisted living facilities and nursing home facilities
  736  as authorized under s. 101.655, commits a felony misdemeanor of
  737  the third first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, or
  738  s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
  739         Section 21. Subsection (2) of section 104.185, Florida
  740  Statutes, is amended to read:
  741         104.185 Petitions; knowingly signing more than once;
  742  signing another person’s name or a fictitious name.—
  743         (2) A person who signs another person’s name or a
  744  fictitious name to any petition to secure ballot position for a
  745  candidate, a minor political party, or an issue commits a felony
  746  misdemeanor of the third first degree, punishable as provided in
  747  s. 775.082, or s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
  748         Section 22. Section 104.186, Florida Statutes, is amended
  749  to read:
  750         104.186 Initiative petitions; violations.—A person who
  751  compensates a petition circulator as defined in s. 97.021 based
  752  on the number of petition forms gathered commits a felony
  753  misdemeanor of the third first degree, punishable as provided in
  754  s. 775.082, or s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. This section does not
  755  prohibit employment relationships that do not base payment on
  756  the number of signatures collected.
  757         Section 23. Subsection (2) of section 124.011, Florida
  758  Statutes, is amended to read:
  759         124.011 Alternate procedure for the election of county
  760  commissioners to provide for single-member representation;
  761  applicability.—
  762         (2)(a) All commissioners shall be elected for 4-year terms
  763  which shall be staggered so that, alternately, one more or one
  764  less than half of the commissioners elected from residence areas
  765  and, if applicable, one of the commissioners elected at large
  766  from the entire county are elected every 2 years, except that
  767  any commissioner may be elected to an initial term of less than
  768  4 years if necessary to achieve or maintain such system of
  769  staggered terms. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, at the
  770  general election immediately following redistricting directed by
  771  s. 1(e), Art. VIII of the State Constitution, each commissioner
  772  elected only by electors who reside in the district must be
  773  elected and terms thereafter shall be staggered as provided in
  774  s. 100.041.
  775         (b)The term of a commissioner elected under paragraph (a)
  776  commences on the second Tuesday after such election.
  777         (c)This subsection does not apply to:
  778         1.Miami-Dade County.
  779         2.Any county the charter of which limits the number of
  780  terms a commissioner may serve.
  781         3.Any county in which voters have never approved a charter
  782  amendment limiting the number of terms a commissioner may serve
  783  regardless of subsequent judicial nullification.
  784         Section 24. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section
  785  921.0022, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  786         921.0022 Criminal Punishment Code; offense severity ranking
  787  chart.—
  788         (3) OFFENSE SEVERITY RANKING CHART
  789         (a) LEVEL 1
  790  
  791  FloridaStatute          FelonyDegree          Description          
  792  24.118(3)(a)                3rd     Counterfeit or altered state lottery ticket.
  793  104.0616(2)                 3rd     Unlawfully distributing, ordering, requesting, collecting, delivering, or possessing vote-by-mail ballots.
  794  212.054(2)(b)               3rd     Discretionary sales surtax; limitations, administration, and collection.
  795  212.15(2)(b)                3rd     Failure to remit sales taxes, amount $1,000 or more but less than $20,000.
  796  316.1935(1)                 3rd     Fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement officer.
  797  319.30(5)                   3rd     Sell, exchange, give away certificate of title or identification number plate.
  798  319.35(1)(a)                3rd     Tamper, adjust, change, etc., an odometer.
  799  320.26(1)(a)                3rd     Counterfeit, manufacture, or sell registration license plates or validation stickers.
  800  322.212 (1)(a)-(c)          3rd     Possession of forged, stolen, counterfeit, or unlawfully issued driver license; possession of simulated identification.
  801  322.212(4)                  3rd     Supply or aid in supplying unauthorized driver license or identification card.
  802  322.212(5)(a)               3rd     False application for driver license or identification card.
  803  414.39(3)(a)                3rd     Fraudulent misappropriation of public assistance funds by employee/official, value more than $200.
  804  443.071(1)                  3rd     False statement or representation to obtain or increase reemployment assistance benefits.
  805  509.151(1)                  3rd     Defraud an innkeeper, food or lodging value $1,000 or more.
  806  517.302(1)                  3rd     Violation of the Florida Securities and Investor Protection Act.
  807  713.69                      3rd     Tenant removes property upon which lien has accrued, value $1,000 or more.
  808  812.014(3)(c)               3rd     Petit theft (3rd conviction); theft of any property not specified in subsection (2).
  809  815.04(5)(a)                3rd     Offense against intellectual property (i.e., computer programs, data).
  810  817.52(2)                   3rd     Hiring with intent to defraud, motor vehicle services.
  811  817.569(2)                  3rd     Use of public record or public records information or providing false information to facilitate commission of a felony.
  812  826.01                      3rd     Bigamy.                        
  813  828.122(3)                  3rd     Fighting or baiting animals.   
  814  831.04(1)                   3rd     Any erasure, alteration, etc., of any replacement deed, map, plat, or other document listed in s. 92.28.
  815  831.31(1)(a)                3rd     Sell, deliver, or possess counterfeit controlled substances, all but s. 893.03(5) drugs.
  816  832.041(1)                  3rd     Stopping payment with intent to defraud $150 or more.
  817  832.05(2)(b) & (4)(c)       3rd     Knowing, making, issuing worthless checks $150 or more or obtaining property in return for worthless check $150 or more.
  818  838.15(2)                   3rd     Commercial bribe receiving.    
  819  838.16                      3rd     Commercial bribery.            
  820  843.18                      3rd     Fleeing by boat to elude a law enforcement officer.
  821  847.011(1)(a)               3rd     Sell, distribute, etc., obscene, lewd, etc., material (2nd conviction).
  822  849.09(1)(a)-(d)            3rd     Lottery; set up, promote, etc., or assist therein, conduct or advertise drawing for prizes, or dispose of property or money by means of lottery.
  823  849.23                      3rd     Gambling-related machines; “common offender” as to property rights.
  824  849.25(2)                   3rd     Engaging in bookmaking.        
  825  860.08                      3rd     Interfere with a railroad signal.
  826  860.13(1)(a)                3rd     Operate aircraft while under the influence.
  827  893.13(2)(a)2.              3rd     Purchase of cannabis.          
  828  893.13(6)(a)                3rd     Possession of cannabis (more than 20 grams).
  829  934.03(1)(a)                3rd     Intercepts, or procures any other person to intercept, any wire or oral communication.
  830  
  831  
  832         Section 25. (1)It is the intent of the Legislature to
  833  balance the security of vote-by-mail balloting with voter
  834  privacy and election transparency. The Legislature finds that
  835  further modifications to procedures governing vote-by-mail
  836  balloting would help to further ensure election integrity while
  837  also protecting voters from identity theft and preserving the
  838  public’s right to participate in election processes. To achieve
  839  this purpose, the Legislature directs the Department of State to
  840  provide a plan to prescribe the use of a Florida driver license
  841  number, Florida identification card number, social security
  842  number, or any part thereof to confirm the identity of each
  843  elector returning a vote-by-mail ballot.
  844         (2)The Department of State shall review issues involving
  845  the feasibility, development, and implementation of such a plan,
  846  including issues related to:
  847         (a)In coordination with other agencies such as the
  848  Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, obtaining a
  849  Florida driver license number or Florida identification card
  850  number and the last four digits of a social security number for
  851  each registered voter who does not have such numbers on file in
  852  the Florida Voter Registration System.
  853         (b)Populating such numbers in the Florida Voter
  854  Registration System.
  855         (c)Protecting identifying numbers submitted with a vote
  856  by-mail ballot, including, but not limited to, prescribing the
  857  form of the return mailing envelope.
  858         (d)Any necessary modifications to canvassing procedures
  859  for vote-by-mail ballots.
  860         (e)Costs associated with development and implementation of
  861  the plan.
  862         (f)A proposal for a program to educate electors on changes
  863  to the vote-by-mail process.
  864         (g) A proposal for including a declaration of an elector’s
  865  current address of legal residence with each written request for
  866  a vote-by-mail ballot.
  867         (3)In the course of reviewing the required issues, the
  868  Department of State must, at a minimum:
  869         (a)Review relevant processes of other states.
  870         (b)Review relevant federal law.
  871         (c)Seek input from supervisors of elections, which must
  872  include representation from supervisors of counties with large,
  873  medium, and small populations.
  874         (4)By January 1, 2023, the Department of State shall
  875  submit to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the
  876  House of Representatives a report on the plan and draft
  877  legislation for any statutory changes needed to implement the
  878  plan, including any necessary public records exemptions.
  879         Section 26. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
  880  act, this act shall take effect upon becoming a law.
  881  
  882  ================= T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================
  883  And the title is amended as follows:
  884         Delete everything before the enacting clause
  885  and insert:
  886                        A bill to be entitled                      
  887         An act relating to election administration; amending
  888         s. 15.21, F.S.; requiring the Secretary of State to
  889         notify the Attorney General if signatures required for
  890         an initiative petition are no longer valid;
  891         authorizing the Secretary of State to resubmit the
  892         initiative petition to the Attorney General if certain
  893         conditions are met; amending s. 16.061, F.S.;
  894         requiring the Attorney General to withdraw his or her
  895         petition for an advisory opinion by the Supreme Court
  896         if notified by the Secretary of State that the
  897         initiative petition no longer meets the criteria for
  898         review; requiring the Attorney General to file a new
  899         petition for an advisory opinion if the initiative
  900         petition subsequently qualifies for review; creating
  901         s. 97.022, F.S.; creating the Office of Election
  902         Crimes and Security within the Department of State;
  903         specifying the duties and structure of the office;
  904         providing for construction; requiring the department
  905         to annually report to the Governor and Legislature
  906         regarding the office’s activities; specifying
  907         requirements for such report; amending s. 97.0291,
  908         F.S.; clarifying provisions governing the prohibition
  909         on the solicitation, acceptance, use, and disposal of
  910         private funds for certain election-related expenses;
  911         amending s. 97.057, F.S.; conforming a cross
  912         reference; amending s. 97.0575, F.S.; revising a
  913         limitation on the amount of aggregate fines which may
  914         be assessed against a third-party voter registration
  915         organization in a calendar year; specifying that a
  916         third-party voter registration organization is liable
  917         for a certain fine if a person collecting voter
  918         registration applications on its behalf is convicted
  919         of lawfully altering any application; amending s.
  920         98.065, F.S.; revising the frequency with which
  921         supervisors of elections must conduct a registration
  922         list maintenance program; modifying required
  923         components of registration list maintenance programs;
  924         amending s. 98.0655, F.S.; revising requirements for
  925         certain registration list maintenance forms to be
  926         prescribed by the Department of State; amending s.
  927         98.075, F.S.; authorizing the Department of State to
  928         identify deceased registered voters using information
  929         received by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor
  930         Vehicles; amending s. 98.093, F.S.; requiring clerks
  931         of the circuit court and the Department of Highway
  932         Safety and Motor Vehicles to furnish additional
  933         information to the Department of State on a monthly
  934         basis; amending s. 100.041, F.S.; providing an
  935         exception to certain county commissioner election
  936         requirements for certain districts; amending s.
  937         100.371, F.S.; revising duties of the supervisor with
  938         respect to the processing and retention of initiative
  939         petition forms; requiring the supervisor to post
  940         additional information regarding petition forms on his
  941         or her website; requiring the Secretary of State to
  942         notify the Financial Impact Estimating Conference if
  943         the signatures for an initiative petition are no
  944         longer valid; specifying conditions under which the
  945         Financial Impact Estimating Conference does not need
  946         to complete an analysis and financial impact statement
  947         for an initiative petition; creating s. 101.019, F.S.;
  948         prohibiting the use of ranked-choice voting to
  949         determine election or nomination to elective office;
  950         voiding existing or future local ordinances
  951         authorizing the use of ranked-choice voting; amending
  952         s. 101.043, F.S.; deleting a provision that prohibits
  953         using an address appearing on identification presented
  954         by an elector as a basis to confirm an elector’s legal
  955         residence; amending s. 101.5614, F.S.; requiring
  956         specified individuals observing the ballot duplication
  957         process to sign a specified affidavit acknowledging
  958         certain criminal penalties; prohibiting persons
  959         authorized to observe, review, or inspect ballot
  960         materials or observe canvassing from releasing certain
  961         information about an election before the closing of
  962         the polls; providing criminal penalties; amending s.
  963         101.6103, F.S.; conforming certain provisions
  964         governing the Mail Ballot Election Act to provisions
  965         applicable to the mailing and canvassing of vote-by
  966         mail ballots; amending s. 101.655, F.S.; revising the
  967         date on which supervised voting may begin; amending s.
  968         102.091, F.S.; requiring the Governor, in consultation
  969         with the executive director of the Department of Law
  970         Enforcement, to appoint special officers to
  971         investigate election law violations; specifying
  972         requirements for such special officers; providing
  973         construction; amending s. 102.101, F.S.; prohibiting a
  974         special officer from entering a polling place;
  975         providing exceptions; amending s. 104.0616, F.S.;
  976         increasing criminal penalties for certain unlawful
  977         acts involving vote-by-mail ballots; amending s.
  978         104.185, F.S.; increasing criminal penalties for a
  979         person who signs another person’s name or a fictitious
  980         name on specified petitions; amending s. 104.186,
  981         F.S.; increasing criminal penalties for a person who
  982         unlawfully compensates a petition circulator based on
  983         the number of petition forms gathered; amending s.
  984         124.011, F.S.; providing that certain county
  985         commissioners must be elected at the general election
  986         immediately following redistricting; requiring such
  987         commissioners’ terms to commence on a certain date;
  988         providing applicability; amending s. 921.0022, F.S.;
  989         ranking a specified offense involving vote-by-mail
  990         ballots on the severity ranking chart of the Criminal
  991         Punishment Code; providing legislative findings and
  992         intent; requiring the Department of State to submit a
  993         report to the Legislature by a specified date;
  994         providing report requirements; providing effective
  995         dates.