Florida Senate - 2022                       CS for CS for SB 524
       
       
        
       By the Committees on Appropriations; and Ethics and Elections;
       and Senator Hutson
       
       
       
       
       576-03408-22                                           2022524c2
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to election administration; amending
    3         s. 15.21, F.S.; requiring the Secretary of State to
    4         notify the Attorney General if signatures required for
    5         an initiative petition are no longer valid;
    6         authorizing the Secretary of State to resubmit the
    7         initiative petition to the Attorney General if certain
    8         conditions are met; amending s. 16.061, F.S.;
    9         requiring the Attorney General to withdraw his or her
   10         petition for an advisory opinion by the Supreme Court
   11         if notified by the Secretary of State that the
   12         initiative petition no longer meets the criteria for
   13         review; requiring the Attorney General to file a new
   14         petition for an advisory opinion if the initiative
   15         petition subsequently qualifies for review; creating
   16         s. 97.022, F.S.; creating the Office of Election
   17         Crimes and Security within the Department of State;
   18         specifying the duties and structure of the office;
   19         providing for construction; requiring the department
   20         to annually report to the Governor and Legislature
   21         regarding the office’s activities; specifying
   22         requirements for such report; amending s. 97.0291,
   23         F.S.; clarifying provisions governing the prohibition
   24         on the solicitation, acceptance, use, and disposal of
   25         private funds for certain election-related expenses;
   26         amending s. 97.057, F.S.; conforming a cross
   27         reference; amending s. 97.0575, F.S.; revising a
   28         limitation on the amount of aggregate fines which may
   29         be assessed against a third-party voter registration
   30         organization in a calendar year; specifying that a
   31         third-party voter registration organization is liable
   32         for a certain fine if a person collecting voter
   33         registration applications on its behalf is convicted
   34         of unlawfully altering any application; amending s.
   35         98.065, F.S.; revising the frequency with which
   36         supervisors of elections must conduct a registration
   37         list maintenance program; modifying required
   38         components of registration list maintenance programs;
   39         conforming provisions to changes made by the act;
   40         amending s. 98.0655, F.S.; revising requirements for
   41         certain registration list maintenance forms to be
   42         prescribed by the Department of State; amending s.
   43         98.075, F.S.; authorizing the Department of State to
   44         identify deceased registered voters using information
   45         received by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor
   46         Vehicles; amending s. 98.093, F.S.; requiring clerks
   47         of the circuit court and the Department of Highway
   48         Safety and Motor Vehicles to furnish additional
   49         information to the Department of State on a monthly
   50         basis; amending s. 100.041, F.S.; providing an
   51         exception to certain county commissioner election
   52         requirements for certain districts; amending s.
   53         100.371, F.S.; revising duties of the supervisor with
   54         respect to the processing and retention of initiative
   55         petition forms; requiring the supervisor to post
   56         additional information regarding petition forms on his
   57         or her website; requiring the Secretary of State to
   58         notify the Financial Impact Estimating Conference if
   59         the signatures for an initiative petition are no
   60         longer valid; specifying conditions under which the
   61         Financial Impact Estimating Conference does not need
   62         to complete an analysis and financial impact statement
   63         for an initiative petition; creating s. 101.019, F.S.;
   64         prohibiting the use of ranked-choice voting to
   65         determine election or nomination to elective office;
   66         voiding existing or future local ordinances
   67         authorizing the use of ranked-choice voting; amending
   68         s. 101.043, F.S.; deleting a provision that prohibits
   69         using an address appearing on identification presented
   70         by an elector as a basis to confirm an elector’s legal
   71         residence; amending s. 101.5614, F.S.; requiring
   72         specified individuals observing the ballot duplication
   73         process to sign a specified affidavit acknowledging
   74         certain criminal penalties; prohibiting persons
   75         authorized to observe, review, or inspect ballot
   76         materials or observe canvassing from releasing certain
   77         information about an election before the closing of
   78         the polls; providing criminal penalties; amending s.
   79         101.6103, F.S.; conforming certain provisions
   80         governing the Mail Ballot Election Act to provisions
   81         applicable to the mailing and canvassing of vote-by
   82         mail ballots; amending s. 101.655, F.S.; revising the
   83         date on which supervised voting may begin; amending s.
   84         102.091, F.S.; requiring the Governor, in consultation
   85         with the executive director of the Department of Law
   86         Enforcement, to appoint special officers to
   87         investigate election law violations; specifying
   88         requirements for such special officers; providing
   89         construction; amending s. 102.101, F.S.; prohibiting a
   90         special officer from entering a polling place;
   91         providing exceptions; amending s. 104.0616, F.S.;
   92         increasing criminal penalties for certain unlawful
   93         acts involving vote-by-mail ballots; amending s.
   94         104.185, F.S.; increasing criminal penalties for a
   95         person who signs another person’s name or a fictitious
   96         name on specified petitions; amending s. 104.186,
   97         F.S.; increasing criminal penalties for a person who
   98         unlawfully compensates a petition circulator based on
   99         the number of petition forms gathered; amending s.
  100         124.011, F.S.; providing that certain county
  101         commissioners must be elected at the general election
  102         immediately following redistricting; requiring such
  103         commissioners’ terms to commence on a certain date;
  104         providing applicability; amending s. 921.0022, F.S.;
  105         ranking a specified offense involving vote-by-mail
  106         ballots on the severity ranking chart of the Criminal
  107         Punishment Code; providing legislative findings and
  108         intent; requiring the Department of State to submit a
  109         report to the Legislature by a specified date;
  110         providing report requirements; providing effective
  111         dates.
  112          
  113  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
  114  
  115         Section 1. Section 15.21, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  116  read:
  117         15.21 Initiative petitions; s. 3, Art. XI, State
  118  Constitution.—
  119         (1) The Secretary of State shall immediately submit an
  120  initiative petition to the Attorney General if the sponsor has:
  121         (a)(1) Registered as a political committee pursuant to s.
  122  106.03;
  123         (b)(2) Submitted the ballot title, substance, and text of
  124  the proposed revision or amendment to the Secretary of State
  125  pursuant to ss. 100.371 and 101.161; and
  126         (c)(3) Obtained a letter from the Division of Elections
  127  confirming that the sponsor has submitted to the appropriate
  128  supervisors for verification, and the supervisors have verified,
  129  forms signed and dated equal to 25 percent of the number of
  130  electors statewide required by s. 3, Art. XI of the State
  131  Constitution in one-half of the congressional districts of the
  132  state.
  133         (2) If the Secretary of State has submitted an initiative
  134  petition to the Attorney General pursuant to subsection (1) but
  135  the validity of the signatures for such initiative petition have
  136  expired pursuant to s. 100.371(11)(a) before securing ballot
  137  placement, the Secretary of State must promptly notify the
  138  Attorney General. The Secretary of State may resubmit the
  139  initiative petition to the Attorney General if the initiative
  140  petition is later circulated for placement on the ballot of a
  141  subsequent general election and the criteria under subsection
  142  (1) are satisfied.
  143         Section 2. Subsection (4) is added to section 16.061,
  144  Florida Statutes, to read:
  145         16.061 Initiative petitions.—
  146         (4) If the Attorney General is notified by the Secretary of
  147  State pursuant to s. 15.21(2) that an initiative petition no
  148  longer qualifies for ballot placement for the ensuing general
  149  election, the Attorney General must withdraw his or her request
  150  for an advisory opinion if the Supreme Court has not yet
  151  fulfilled that request. If the Secretary of State subsequently
  152  resubmits the initiative petition if the criteria in s. 15.21(1)
  153  are again satisfied and the court has not issued its advisory
  154  opinion, the Attorney General must file a new petition seeking
  155  such advisory opinion.
  156         Section 3. Section 97.022, Florida Statutes, is created to
  157  read:
  158         97.022 Office of Election Crimes and Security; creation;
  159  purpose and duties.—
  160         (1) The Office of Election Crimes and Security is created
  161  within the Department of State. The purpose of the office is to
  162  aid the Secretary of State in completion of his or her duties
  163  under s. 97.012(12) and (15) by:
  164         (a) Receiving and reviewing notices and reports generated
  165  by government officials or any other person regarding alleged
  166  occurrences of election law violations or election
  167  irregularities in this state.
  168         (b) Initiating independent inquiries and conducting
  169  preliminary investigations into allegations of election law
  170  violations or election irregularities in this state.
  171         (2) The office may review complaints and conduct
  172  preliminary investigations into alleged violations of the
  173  Florida Election Code or any rule adopted pursuant thereto and
  174  any election irregularities.
  175         (3) The secretary shall appoint a director of the office.
  176         (4) The office shall be based in Tallahassee and shall
  177  employ nonsworn investigators to conduct any investigations. The
  178  positions and resources necessary for the office to accomplish
  179  its duties shall be established through and subject to the
  180  legislative appropriations process.
  181         (5) The office shall oversee the department’s voter fraud
  182  hotline.
  183         (6) This section does not limit the jurisdiction of any
  184  other office or agency of the state empowered by law to
  185  investigate, act upon, or dispose of alleged election law
  186  violations.
  187         (7) By January 15 of each year, the department shall submit
  188  a report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the
  189  Speaker of the House of Representatives detailing information on
  190  investigations of alleged election law violations or election
  191  irregularities conducted during the prior calendar year. The
  192  report must include the total number of complaints received and
  193  independent investigations initiated and the number of
  194  complaints referred to another agency for further investigation
  195  or prosecution, including the total number of those matters sent
  196  to a special officer pursuant to s. 102.091. For each alleged
  197  violation or irregularity investigated, the report must include:
  198         (a) The source of the alleged violation or irregularity;
  199         (b) The law allegedly violated or the nature of the
  200  irregularity reported;
  201         (c) The county in which the alleged violation or
  202  irregularity occurred;
  203         (d) Whether the alleged violation or irregularity was
  204  referred to another agency for further investigation or
  205  prosecution, and if so, to which agency; and
  206         (e) The current status of the investigation or resulting
  207  criminal case.
  208         Section 4. Section 97.0291, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  209  read:
  210         97.0291 Prohibition on use of private funds for election
  211  related expenses.—No agency or state or local official
  212  responsible for conducting elections, including, but not limited
  213  to, a supervisor of elections, may solicit, accept, use, or
  214  dispose of any donation in the form of money, grants, property,
  215  or personal services from an individual or a nongovernmental
  216  entity for the purpose of funding any type of election-related
  217  expenses related to election administration, including, but not
  218  limited to, or voter education, voter outreach, voter or
  219  registration programs, or the cost of any litigation related to
  220  election administration. This section does not prohibit the
  221  donation and acceptance of space to be used for a polling room
  222  or an early voting site.
  223         Section 5. Subsection (13) of section 97.057, Florida
  224  Statutes, is amended to read:
  225         97.057 Voter registration by the Department of Highway
  226  Safety and Motor Vehicles.—
  227         (13) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
  228  must assist the Department of State in regularly identifying
  229  changes in residence address on the driver license or
  230  identification card of a voter. The Department of State must
  231  report each such change to the appropriate supervisor of
  232  elections who must change the voter’s registration records in
  233  accordance with s. 98.065(5) s. 98.065(4).
  234         Section 6. Present subsections (4) through (7) of section
  235  97.0575, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (5)
  236  through (8), respectively, a new subsection (4) is added to that
  237  section, and paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of that section is
  238  amended, to read:
  239         97.0575 Third-party voter registrations.—
  240         (3)(a) A third-party voter registration organization that
  241  collects voter registration applications serves as a fiduciary
  242  to the applicant, ensuring that any voter registration
  243  application entrusted to the organization, irrespective of party
  244  affiliation, race, ethnicity, or gender, must be promptly
  245  delivered to the division or the supervisor of elections in the
  246  county in which the applicant resides within 14 days after the
  247  application was completed by the applicant, but not after
  248  registration closes for the next ensuing election. A third-party
  249  voter registration organization must notify the applicant at the
  250  time the application is collected that the organization might
  251  not deliver the application to the division or the supervisor of
  252  elections in the county in which the applicant resides in less
  253  than 14 days or before registration closes for the next ensuing
  254  election and must advise the applicant that he or she may
  255  deliver the application in person or by mail. The third-party
  256  voter registration organization must also inform the applicant
  257  how to register online with the division and how to determine
  258  whether the application has been delivered. If a voter
  259  registration application collected by any third-party voter
  260  registration organization is not promptly delivered to the
  261  division or supervisor of elections in the county in which the
  262  applicant resides, the third-party voter registration
  263  organization is liable for the following fines:
  264         1. A fine in the amount of $50 for each application
  265  received by the division or the supervisor of elections in the
  266  county in which the applicant resides more than 14 days after
  267  the applicant delivered the completed voter registration
  268  application to the third-party voter registration organization
  269  or any person, entity, or agent acting on its behalf. A fine in
  270  the amount of $250 for each application received if the third
  271  party voter registration organization or person, entity, or
  272  agency acting on its behalf acted willfully.
  273         2. A fine in the amount of $100 for each application
  274  collected by a third-party voter registration organization or
  275  any person, entity, or agent acting on its behalf, before book
  276  closing for any given election for federal or state office and
  277  received by the division or the supervisor of elections in the
  278  county in which the applicant resides after the book-closing
  279  deadline for such election. A fine in the amount of $500 for
  280  each application received if the third-party registration
  281  organization or person, entity, or agency acting on its behalf
  282  acted willfully.
  283         3. A fine in the amount of $500 for each application
  284  collected by a third-party voter registration organization or
  285  any person, entity, or agent acting on its behalf, which is not
  286  submitted to the division or supervisor of elections in the
  287  county in which the applicant resides. A fine in the amount of
  288  $1,000 for any application not submitted if the third-party
  289  voter registration organization or person, entity, or agency
  290  acting on its behalf acted willfully.
  291  
  292  The aggregate fine pursuant to this paragraph which may be
  293  assessed against a third-party voter registration organization,
  294  including affiliate organizations, for violations committed in a
  295  calendar year is $50,000 $1,000.
  296         (4) If a person collecting voter registration applications
  297  on behalf of a third-party voter registration organization
  298  alters the voter registration application of any other person,
  299  without the other person’s knowledge and consent, in violation
  300  of s. 104.012(4) and is subsequently convicted of such offense,
  301  the applicable third-party voter registration organization is
  302  liable for a fine in the amount of $1,000 for each application
  303  altered.
  304         Section 7. Present subsections (3) through (6) of section
  305  98.065, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (4)
  306  through (7), respectively, a new subsection (3) is added to that
  307  section, and subsection (2) and present subsections (3), (4),
  308  and (5) of that section are amended, to read:
  309         98.065 Registration list maintenance programs.—
  310         (2) A supervisor must incorporate one or more of the
  311  following procedures in the supervisor’s annual biennial
  312  registration list maintenance program under which the supervisor
  313  shall:
  314         (a) Use change-of-address information supplied by the
  315  United States Postal Service through its licensees is used to
  316  identify registered voters whose addresses might have changed.
  317  Additionally, in odd-numbered years, unless the supervisor is
  318  conducting the procedure specified in paragraph (b), the
  319  supervisor must identify change-of-address information from
  320  returned nonforwardable return-if-undeliverable address
  321  confirmation requests mailed to all registered voters who have
  322  not voted in the preceding 3 years and who have not made a
  323  written request that their registration records be updated
  324  during that time; or
  325         (b) Identify change-of-address information is identified
  326  from returned nonforwardable return-if-undeliverable mail sent
  327  to all registered voters in the county; or
  328         (c) Change-of-address information is identified from
  329  returned nonforwardable return-if-undeliverable address
  330  confirmation requests mailed to all registered voters who have
  331  not voted in the last 2 years and who did not make a written
  332  request that their registration records be updated during that
  333  time.
  334         (3) Address confirmation requests sent pursuant to
  335  paragraph (2)(a) and mail sent pursuant to paragraph (2)(b) must
  336  be addressed to the voter’s address of legal residence, not
  337  including voters temporarily residing outside the county and
  338  registered in the precinct designated by the supervisor pursuant
  339  to s. 101.045(1). If a request is returned as undeliverable, any
  340  other notification sent to the voter pursuant to subsection (5)
  341  or s. 98.0655 must be addressed to the voter’s mailing address
  342  on file, if any, in addition to any residence address on file.
  343         (4) A registration list maintenance program must be
  344  conducted by each supervisor, at a minimum, once in each odd
  345  numbered year and must be completed not later than 90 days
  346  before prior to the date of any federal election. All list
  347  maintenance actions associated with each voter must be entered,
  348  tracked, and maintained in the statewide voter registration
  349  system.
  350         (5)(a)(4)(a) If the supervisor receives change-of-address
  351  information pursuant to the activities conducted in subsection
  352  (2), from jury notices signed by the voter and returned to the
  353  courts, from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor
  354  Vehicles, or from other sources which indicates that a
  355  registered voter’s legal residence might have changed to another
  356  location within the state, the supervisor must change the
  357  registration records to reflect the new address and must send
  358  the voter an address change notice as provided in s. 98.0655(2).
  359         (b) If the supervisor of elections receives change-of
  360  address information pursuant to the activities conducted in
  361  subsection (2), from jury notices signed by the voter and
  362  returned to the courts, or from other sources which indicates
  363  that a registered voter’s legal residence might have changed to
  364  a location outside the state, the supervisor of elections shall
  365  send an address confirmation final notice to the voter as
  366  provided in s. 98.0655(3).
  367         (c) If an address confirmation request required by
  368  paragraph (2)(a) is returned as undeliverable without indication
  369  of an address change, or there is no response from the voter
  370  within 30 days, or if any other nonforwardable return-if
  371  undeliverable mail is returned as undeliverable with no
  372  indication of an address change, the supervisor shall send an
  373  address confirmation final notice to all addresses on file for
  374  the voter.
  375         (d) The supervisor must designate as inactive all voters
  376  who have been sent an address confirmation final notice and who
  377  have not returned the postage prepaid, preaddressed return form
  378  within 30 days or for which the final notice has been returned
  379  as undeliverable. Names on the inactive list may not be used to
  380  calculate the number of signatures needed on any petition. A
  381  voter on the inactive list may be restored to the active list of
  382  voters upon the voter updating his or her registration and
  383  confirming his or her current legal residence address,
  384  requesting a vote-by-mail ballot and confirming his or her
  385  current legal residence address, or appearing to vote and
  386  confirming his or her current legal residence address. However,
  387  if the voter does not update his or her voter registration
  388  information, request a vote-by-mail ballot, or vote by the
  389  second general election after being placed on the inactive list,
  390  the voter’s name shall be removed from the statewide voter
  391  registration system and the voter shall be required to
  392  reregister to have his or her name restored to the statewide
  393  voter registration system.
  394         (6)(5) A notice may not be issued pursuant to this section
  395  and a voter’s name may not be removed from the statewide voter
  396  registration system later than 90 days prior to the date of a
  397  federal election. However, this section does not preclude the
  398  correction of registration records based on information
  399  submitted by the voter or removal of the name of a voter from
  400  the statewide voter registration system at any time upon the
  401  voter’s written request, by reason of the voter’s death, or upon
  402  a determination of the voter’s ineligibility as provided in s.
  403  98.075(7).
  404         Section 8. Subsections (1) and (3) of section 98.0655,
  405  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  406         98.0655 Registration list maintenance forms.—The department
  407  shall prescribe registration list maintenance forms to be used
  408  by the supervisors which must include:
  409         (1) An address confirmation request that must contain:
  410         (a) The voter’s name and address of legal residence as
  411  shown on the voter registration record; and
  412         (b) A request that the voter notify the supervisor if
  413  either the voter’s name or address of legal residence is
  414  incorrect;
  415         (c) If the address confirmation request is required by s.
  416  98.065(2)(a), a statement that if the voter has not changed his
  417  or her legal residence or has changed his or her legal residence
  418  within the state, the voter should return the form within 30
  419  days after the date on which the notice was sent to the voter;
  420  and
  421         (d) Information about updating voter information through
  422  the online voter registration system.
  423         (3) An address confirmation final notice that must be sent
  424  to the newly recorded address of legal residence, or to all
  425  addresses on file for the voter if no indication of new address
  426  has been received, by forwardable mail and must contain a
  427  postage prepaid, preaddressed return form and a statement that:
  428         (a) If the voter has not changed his or her legal residence
  429  or has changed his or her legal residence within the state, the
  430  voter should return the form within 30 days after the date on
  431  which the notice was sent to the voter.
  432         (b) If the voter has changed his or her legal residence to
  433  a location outside the state:
  434         1. The voter shall return the form, which serves as a
  435  request to be removed from the registration books; and
  436         2. The voter shall be provided with information on how to
  437  register in the new jurisdiction in order to be eligible to
  438  vote.
  439         (c) If the return form is not returned, the voter’s name
  440  shall be designated as inactive in the statewide voter
  441  registration system, and confirmation of the voter’s address of
  442  legal residence may be required before the voter is authorized
  443  to vote in an election.
  444         Section 9. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section
  445  98.075, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  446         98.075 Registration records maintenance activities;
  447  ineligibility determinations.—
  448         (3) DECEASED PERSONS.—
  449         (a)1. The department shall identify those registered voters
  450  who are deceased by comparing information received from either:
  451         a. The Department of Health as provided in s. 98.093; or
  452         b. The United States Social Security Administration,
  453  including, but not limited to, any master death file or index
  454  compiled by the United States Social Security Administration; or
  455         c. The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
  456         2. Within 7 days after receipt of such information through
  457  the statewide voter registration system, the supervisor shall
  458  remove the name of the registered voter.
  459         Section 10. Section 98.093, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  460  read:
  461         98.093 Duty of officials to furnish information relating to
  462  deceased persons, persons adjudicated mentally incapacitated,
  463  and persons convicted of a felony, and persons who are not
  464  United States citizens.—
  465         (1) In order to identify ineligible registered voters and
  466  maintain accurate and current voter registration records in the
  467  statewide voter registration system pursuant to procedures in s.
  468  98.065 or s. 98.075, it is necessary for the department and
  469  supervisors of elections to receive or access certain
  470  information from state and federal officials and entities in the
  471  format prescribed.
  472         (2) To the maximum extent feasible, state and local
  473  government agencies shall facilitate provision of information
  474  and access to data to the department, including, but not limited
  475  to, databases that contain reliable criminal records and records
  476  of deceased persons. State and local government agencies that
  477  provide such data shall do so without charge if the direct cost
  478  incurred by those agencies is not significant.
  479         (a) The Department of Health shall furnish monthly to the
  480  department a list containing the name, address, date of birth,
  481  date of death, social security number, race, and sex of each
  482  deceased person 17 years of age or older.
  483         (b) Each clerk of the circuit court shall furnish monthly
  484  to the department:
  485         1. A list of those persons who have been adjudicated
  486  mentally incapacitated with respect to voting during the
  487  preceding calendar month, a list of those persons whose mental
  488  capacity with respect to voting has been restored during the
  489  preceding calendar month, and a list of those persons who have
  490  returned signed jury notices during the preceding months to the
  491  clerk of the circuit court indicating a change of address. Each
  492  list shall include the name, address, date of birth, race, sex,
  493  and, whichever is available, the Florida driver license number,
  494  Florida identification card number, or social security number of
  495  each such person.
  496         2. Information on the terms of sentence for felony
  497  convictions, including any financial obligations for court
  498  costs, fees, and fines, of all persons listed in the clerk’s
  499  records whose last known address in the clerk’s records is
  500  within this state and who have been convicted of a felony during
  501  the preceding month. The information may be provided directly by
  502  individual clerks of the circuit court or may be provided on
  503  their behalf through the Comprehensive Case Information System.
  504  For each felony conviction reported, the information must
  505  include:
  506         a.The full name, last known address, date of birth, race,
  507  sex, and, if available, the Florida driver license number,
  508  Florida identification card number, and social security number
  509  of the person convicted.
  510         b.The amounts of all financial obligations, including
  511  restitution and court costs, fees, and fines, and, if known, the
  512  amount of financial obligations not yet satisfied.
  513         c.The county in which the conviction occurred.
  514         d.The statute number violated, statute table text, date of
  515  conviction, and case number.
  516         (c) Upon receipt of information from the United States
  517  Attorney, listing persons convicted of a felony in federal
  518  court, the department shall use such information to identify
  519  registered voters or applicants for voter registration who may
  520  be potentially ineligible based on information provided in
  521  accordance with s. 98.075.
  522         (d) The Department of Law Enforcement shall identify those
  523  persons who have been convicted of a felony who appear in the
  524  voter registration records supplied by the statewide voter
  525  registration system, in a time and manner that enables the
  526  department to meet its obligations under state and federal law.
  527         (e) The Florida Commission on Offender Review shall furnish
  528  at least bimonthly to the department data, including the
  529  identity of those persons granted clemency in the preceding
  530  month or any updates to prior records which have occurred in the
  531  preceding month. The data shall contain the commission’s case
  532  number and the person’s name, address, date of birth, race,
  533  gender, Florida driver license number, Florida identification
  534  card number, or the last four digits of the social security
  535  number, if available, and references to record identifiers
  536  assigned by the Department of Corrections and the Department of
  537  Law Enforcement, a unique identifier of each clemency case, and
  538  the effective date of clemency of each person.
  539         (f) The Department of Corrections shall identify those
  540  persons who have been convicted of a felony and committed to its
  541  custody or placed on community supervision. The information must
  542  be provided to the department at a time and in a manner that
  543  enables the department to identify registered voters who are
  544  convicted felons and to meet its obligations under state and
  545  federal law.
  546         (g) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
  547  shall furnish monthly to the department:
  548         1. A list of those persons whose names have been removed
  549  from the driver license database because they have been licensed
  550  in another state. The list must shall contain the name, address,
  551  date of birth, sex, social security number, and driver license
  552  number of each such person.
  553         2. A list of those persons who presented evidence of non
  554  United States citizenship upon being issued a new or renewed
  555  Florida driver license or Florida identification card. The list
  556  must contain the name; address; date of birth; social security
  557  number, if applicable; and Florida driver license number or
  558  Florida identification card number, as applicable, of each such
  559  person.
  560         (3) This section does not limit or restrict the supervisor
  561  in his or her duty to remove the names of persons from the
  562  statewide voter registration system pursuant to s. 98.075(7)
  563  based upon information received from other sources.
  564         Section 11. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
  565  100.041, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  566         100.041 Officers chosen at general election.—
  567         (2)(a) Except as provided in s. 124.011 relating to single
  568  member districts after decennial redistricting, each county
  569  commissioner from an odd-numbered district shall be elected at
  570  the general election in each year the number of which is a
  571  multiple of 4, for a 4-year term commencing on the second
  572  Tuesday following such election, and each county commissioner
  573  from an even-numbered district shall be elected at the general
  574  election in each even-numbered year the number of which is not a
  575  multiple of 4, for a 4-year term commencing on the second
  576  Tuesday following such election. A county commissioner is
  577  “elected” for purposes of this paragraph on the date that the
  578  county canvassing board certifies the results of the election
  579  pursuant to s. 102.151.
  580         Section 12. Paragraphs (a) and (c) of subsection (11) and
  581  paragraph (a) of subsection (13) of section 100.371, Florida
  582  Statutes, are amended to read:
  583         100.371 Initiatives; procedure for placement on ballot.—
  584         (11)(a) An initiative petition form circulated for
  585  signature may not be bundled with or attached to any other
  586  petition. Each signature shall be dated when made and shall be
  587  valid until the next February 1 occurring in an even-numbered
  588  year for the purpose of the amendment appearing on the ballot
  589  for the general election occurring in that same year, provided
  590  all other requirements of law are met. The sponsor shall submit
  591  signed and dated forms to the supervisor of elections for the
  592  county of residence listed by the person signing the form for
  593  verification of the number of valid signatures obtained. If a
  594  signature on a petition is from a registered voter in another
  595  county, the supervisor shall notify the petition sponsor of the
  596  misfiled petition. The supervisor shall promptly verify the
  597  signatures within 60 days after receipt of the petition forms
  598  and payment of a fee for the actual cost of signature
  599  verification incurred by the supervisor. However, for petition
  600  forms submitted less than 60 days before February 1 of an even
  601  numbered year, the supervisor shall promptly verify the
  602  signatures within 30 days after receipt of the form and payment
  603  of the fee for signature verification. The supervisor shall
  604  promptly record, in the manner prescribed by the Secretary of
  605  State, the date each form is received by the supervisor, and the
  606  date the signature on the form is verified as valid. The
  607  supervisor may verify that the signature on a form is valid only
  608  if:
  609         1. The form contains the original signature of the
  610  purported elector.
  611         2. The purported elector has accurately recorded on the
  612  form the date on which he or she signed the form.
  613         3. The form sets forth the purported elector’s name,
  614  address, city, county, and voter registration number or date of
  615  birth.
  616         4. The purported elector is, at the time he or she signs
  617  the form and at the time the form is verified, a duly qualified
  618  and registered elector in the state.
  619         5. The signature was obtained legally, including that if a
  620  paid petition circulator was used, the circulator was validly
  621  registered under subsection (3) when the signature was obtained.
  622  
  623  The supervisor shall retain all the signature forms, separating
  624  forms verified as valid from those deemed invalid, for at least
  625  1 year following the election for in which the petition was
  626  circulated issue appeared on the ballot or until the division
  627  notifies the supervisors of elections that the committee that
  628  circulated the petition is no longer seeking to obtain ballot
  629  position.
  630         (c) On the last day of each month, or on the last day of
  631  each week from December 1 of an odd-numbered year through
  632  February 1 of the following year, each supervisor shall post on
  633  his or her website the total number of signatures submitted, the
  634  total number of invalid signatures, the total number of
  635  signatures processed, and the aggregate number of verified valid
  636  signatures and the distribution of such signatures by
  637  congressional district for each proposed amendment proposed by
  638  initiative, along with the following information specific to the
  639  reporting period: the total number of signed petition forms
  640  received, the total number of signatures verified, the
  641  distribution of verified valid signatures by congressional
  642  district, and the total number of verified petition forms
  643  forwarded to the Secretary of State.
  644         (13)(a) At the same time the Secretary of State submits an
  645  initiative petition to the Attorney General pursuant to s.
  646  15.21, the secretary shall submit a copy of the initiative
  647  petition to the Financial Impact Estimating Conference. Within
  648  75 days after receipt of a proposed revision or amendment to the
  649  State Constitution by initiative petition from the Secretary of
  650  State, the Financial Impact Estimating Conference shall complete
  651  an analysis and financial impact statement to be placed on the
  652  ballot of the estimated increase or decrease in any revenues or
  653  costs to state or local governments and the overall impact to
  654  the state budget resulting from the proposed initiative. The 75
  655  day time limit is tolled when the Legislature is in session. The
  656  Financial Impact Estimating Conference shall submit the
  657  financial impact statement to the Attorney General and Secretary
  658  of State. If the initiative petition has been submitted to the
  659  Financial Impact Estimating Conference but the validity of
  660  signatures has expired and the initiative petition no longer
  661  qualifies for ballot placement at the ensuing general election,
  662  the Secretary of State must notify the Financial Impact
  663  Estimating Conference. The Financial Impact Estimating
  664  Conference is not required to complete an analysis and financial
  665  impact statement for an initiative petition that fails to meet
  666  the requirements of subsection (1) for placement on the ballot
  667  before the 75-day time limit, including any tolling period,
  668  expires. The initiative petition may be resubmitted to the
  669  Financial Impact Estimating Conference if the initiative
  670  petition meets the requisite criteria for a subsequent general
  671  election cycle. A new Financial Impact Estimating Conference
  672  shall be established at such time as the initiative petition
  673  again satisfies the criteria in s. 15.21(1).
  674         Section 13. Section 101.019, Florida Statutes, is created
  675  to read:
  676         101.019Ranked-choice voting prohibited.—
  677         (1) A ranked-choice voting method that allows voters to
  678  rank candidates for an office in order of preference and have
  679  ballots cast be tabulated in multiple rounds following the
  680  elimination of a candidate until a single candidate attains a
  681  majority may not be used in determining the election or
  682  nomination of any candidate to any local, state, or federal
  683  elective office in this state.
  684         (2) Any existing or future ordinance enacted or adopted by
  685  a county, a municipality, or any other local governmental entity
  686  which is in conflict with this section is void.
  687         Section 14. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section
  688  101.043, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  689         101.043 Identification required at polls.—
  690         (1)
  691         (b) If the picture identification does not contain the
  692  signature of the elector, an additional identification that
  693  provides the elector’s signature shall be required. The address
  694  appearing on the identification presented by the elector may not
  695  be used as the basis to confirm an elector’s legal residence or
  696  otherwise challenge an elector’s legal residence. The elector
  697  shall sign his or her name in the space provided on the precinct
  698  register or on an electronic device provided for recording the
  699  elector’s signature. The clerk or inspector shall compare the
  700  signature with that on the identification provided by the
  701  elector and enter his or her initials in the space provided on
  702  the precinct register or on an electronic device provided for
  703  that purpose and allow the elector to vote if the clerk or
  704  inspector is satisfied as to the identity of the elector.
  705         Section 15. Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) and subsection
  706  (8) of section 101.5614, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  707         101.5614 Canvass of returns.—
  708         (4)(a) If any vote-by-mail ballot is physically damaged so
  709  that it cannot properly be counted by the voting system’s
  710  automatic tabulating equipment, a true duplicate copy shall be
  711  made of the damaged ballot in an open and accessible room in the
  712  presence of witnesses and substituted for the damaged ballot.
  713  Likewise, a duplicate ballot shall be made of a vote-by-mail
  714  ballot containing an overvoted race if there is a clear
  715  indication on the ballot that the voter has made a definite
  716  choice in the overvoted race or ballot measure. A duplicate
  717  shall include all valid votes as determined by the canvassing
  718  board based on rules adopted by the division pursuant to s.
  719  102.166(4). A duplicate may be made of a ballot containing an
  720  undervoted race or ballot measure if there is a clear indication
  721  on the ballot that the voter has made a definite choice in the
  722  undervoted race or ballot measure. A duplicate may not include a
  723  vote if the voter’s intent in such race or on such measure is
  724  not clear. Upon request, a physically present candidate, a
  725  political party official, a political committee official, or an
  726  authorized designee thereof, must be allowed to observe the
  727  duplication of ballots upon signing an affidavit affirming his
  728  or her acknowledgment that disclosure of election results
  729  discerned from observing the ballot duplication process while
  730  the election is ongoing is a felony, as provided under
  731  subsection (8). The observer must be allowed to observe the
  732  duplication of ballots in such a way that the observer is able
  733  to see the markings on each ballot and the duplication taking
  734  place. All duplicate ballots must be clearly labeled
  735  “duplicate,” bear a serial number which shall be recorded on the
  736  defective ballot, and be counted in lieu of the defective
  737  ballot. The duplication of ballots must happen in the presence
  738  of at least one canvassing board member. After a ballot has been
  739  duplicated, the defective ballot shall be placed in an envelope
  740  provided for that purpose, and the duplicate ballot shall be
  741  tallied with the other ballots for that precinct. If any
  742  observer makes a reasonable objection to a duplicate of a
  743  ballot, the ballot must be presented to the canvassing board for
  744  a determination of the validity of the duplicate. The canvassing
  745  board must document the serial number of the ballot in the
  746  canvassing board’s minutes. The canvassing board must decide
  747  whether the duplication is valid. If the duplicate ballot is
  748  determined to be valid, the duplicate ballot must be counted. If
  749  the duplicate ballot is determined to be invalid, the duplicate
  750  ballot must be rejected and a proper duplicate ballot must be
  751  made and counted in lieu of the original.
  752         (8) Any supervisor of elections, deputy supervisor of
  753  elections, canvassing board member, election board member, or
  754  election employee, or other person authorized to observe,
  755  review, or inspect ballot materials or observe canvassing who
  756  releases any information about votes cast for or against any
  757  candidate or ballot measure or any the results of any election
  758  before prior to the closing of the polls in that county on
  759  election day commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as
  760  provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
  761         Section 16. Effective January 1, 2024, subsections (1) and
  762  (6) of section 101.6103, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  763         101.6103 Mail ballot election procedure.—
  764         (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (7), the
  765  supervisor of elections shall mail all official ballots with a
  766  secrecy envelope, a return mailing envelope, and instructions
  767  sufficient to describe the voting process to each elector
  768  entitled to vote in the election within the timeframes specified
  769  in s. 101.62(4) not sooner than the 20th day before the election
  770  and not later than the 10th day before the date of the election.
  771  All such ballots shall be mailed by first-class mail. Ballots
  772  shall be addressed to each elector at the address appearing in
  773  the registration records and placed in an envelope which is
  774  prominently marked “Do Not Forward.”
  775         (6) The canvassing board may begin the canvassing of mail
  776  ballots as provided by s. 101.68(2)(a). The criminal penalty
  777  specified in that paragraph for the release of results before 7
  778  p.m. on election day is also applicable to canvassing conducted
  779  under this act at 7 a.m. on the sixth day before the election,
  780  including processing the ballots through the tabulating
  781  equipment. However, results may not be released until after 7
  782  p.m. on election day. Any canvassing board member or election
  783  employee who releases any result before 7 p.m. on election day
  784  commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in
  785  s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
  786         Section 17. Subsection (1) of section 101.655, Florida
  787  Statutes, is amended to read:
  788         101.655 Supervised voting by absent electors in certain
  789  facilities.—
  790         (1) The supervisor of elections of a county shall provide
  791  supervised voting for absent electors residing in any assisted
  792  living facility, as defined in s. 429.02, or nursing home
  793  facility, as defined in s. 400.021, within that county at the
  794  request of any administrator of such a facility. Such request
  795  for supervised voting in the facility shall be made by
  796  submitting a written request to the supervisor of elections no
  797  later than 28 21 days prior to the election for which that
  798  request is submitted. The request shall specify the name and
  799  address of the facility and the name of the electors who wish to
  800  vote by mail in that election. If the request contains the names
  801  of fewer than five voters, the supervisor of elections is not
  802  required to provide supervised voting.
  803         Section 18. Section 102.091, Florida Statutes, is amended
  804  to read:
  805         102.091 Duty of sheriff to watch for violations;
  806  appointment of special officers.—
  807         (1) The sheriff shall exercise strict vigilance in the
  808  detection of any violations of the election laws and in
  809  apprehending the violators.
  810         (2) The Governor, in consultation with the executive
  811  director of the Department of Law Enforcement, shall may appoint
  812  special officers to investigate alleged violations of the
  813  election laws, when it is deemed necessary to see that violators
  814  of the election laws are apprehended and punished. A special
  815  officer must be a sworn special agent employed by the Department
  816  of Law Enforcement. At least one special officer must be
  817  designated in each operational region of the Department of Law
  818  Enforcement to serve as a dedicated investigator of alleged
  819  violations of the election laws. Appointment as a special
  820  officer does not preclude a sworn special agent from conducting
  821  other investigations of alleged violations of law, provided that
  822  such other investigations do not hinder or interfere with the
  823  individual’s ability to investigate alleged violations of the
  824  election laws.
  825         Section 19. Section 102.101, Florida Statutes, is amended
  826  to read:
  827         102.101 Sheriff and other officers not allowed in polling
  828  place.—A No sheriff, a deputy sheriff, a police officer, a
  829  special officer appointed pursuant to s. 102.091, or any other
  830  officer of the law is not shall be allowed within a the polling
  831  place without permission from the clerk or a majority of the
  832  inspectors, except to cast his or her ballot. Upon the failure
  833  of any such officer of said officers to comply with this section
  834  provision, the clerk or the inspectors must or any one of them
  835  shall make an affidavit against the such officer for his or her
  836  arrest.
  837         Section 20. Subsection (2) of section 104.0616, Florida
  838  Statutes, is amended to read:
  839         104.0616 Vote-by-mail ballots and voting; violations.—
  840         (2) Any person who distributes, orders, requests, collects,
  841  delivers, or otherwise physically possesses more than two vote
  842  by-mail ballots per election in addition to his or her own
  843  ballot or a ballot belonging to an immediate family member,
  844  except as provided in ss. 101.6105-101.694, including supervised
  845  voting at assisted living facilities and nursing home facilities
  846  as authorized under s. 101.655, commits a felony misdemeanor of
  847  the third first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, or
  848  s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
  849         Section 21. Subsection (2) of section 104.185, Florida
  850  Statutes, is amended to read:
  851         104.185 Petitions; knowingly signing more than once;
  852  signing another person’s name or a fictitious name.—
  853         (2) A person who signs another person’s name or a
  854  fictitious name to any petition to secure ballot position for a
  855  candidate, a minor political party, or an issue commits a felony
  856  misdemeanor of the third first degree, punishable as provided in
  857  s. 775.082, or s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
  858         Section 22. Section 104.186, Florida Statutes, is amended
  859  to read:
  860         104.186 Initiative petitions; violations.—A person who
  861  compensates a petition circulator as defined in s. 97.021 based
  862  on the number of petition forms gathered commits a felony
  863  misdemeanor of the third first degree, punishable as provided in
  864  s. 775.082, or s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. This section does not
  865  prohibit employment relationships that do not base payment on
  866  the number of signatures collected.
  867         Section 23. Subsection (2) of section 124.011, Florida
  868  Statutes, is amended to read:
  869         124.011 Alternate procedure for the election of county
  870  commissioners to provide for single-member representation;
  871  applicability.—
  872         (2)(a) All commissioners shall be elected for 4-year terms
  873  which shall be staggered so that, alternately, one more or one
  874  less than half of the commissioners elected from residence areas
  875  and, if applicable, one of the commissioners elected at large
  876  from the entire county are elected every 2 years, except that
  877  any commissioner may be elected to an initial term of less than
  878  4 years if necessary to achieve or maintain such system of
  879  staggered terms. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, at the
  880  general election immediately following redistricting directed by
  881  s. 1(e), Art. VIII of the State Constitution, each commissioner
  882  elected only by electors who reside in the district must be
  883  elected and terms thereafter shall be staggered as provided in
  884  s. 100.041.
  885         (b)The term of a commissioner elected under paragraph (a)
  886  commences on the second Tuesday after such election.
  887         (c)This subsection does not apply to:
  888         1.Miami-Dade County.
  889         2.Any county the charter of which limits the number of
  890  terms a commissioner may serve.
  891         3.Any county in which voters have never approved a charter
  892  amendment limiting the number of terms a commissioner may serve
  893  regardless of subsequent judicial nullification.
  894         Section 24. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section
  895  921.0022, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  896         921.0022 Criminal Punishment Code; offense severity ranking
  897  chart.—
  898         (3) OFFENSE SEVERITY RANKING CHART
  899         (a) LEVEL 1
  900  
  901  FloridaStatute          FelonyDegree          Description          
  902  24.118(3)(a)                3rd     Counterfeit or altered state lottery ticket.
  903  104.0616(2)                 3rd     Unlawfully distributing, ordering, requesting, collecting, delivering, or possessing vote-by-mail ballots.
  904  212.054(2)(b)               3rd     Discretionary sales surtax; limitations, administration, and collection.
  905  212.15(2)(b)                3rd     Failure to remit sales taxes, amount $1,000 or more but less than $20,000.
  906  316.1935(1)                 3rd     Fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement officer.
  907  319.30(5)                   3rd     Sell, exchange, give away certificate of title or identification number plate.
  908  319.35(1)(a)                3rd     Tamper, adjust, change, etc., an odometer.
  909  320.26(1)(a)                3rd     Counterfeit, manufacture, or sell registration license plates or validation stickers.
  910  322.212 (1)(a)-(c)          3rd     Possession of forged, stolen, counterfeit, or unlawfully issued driver license; possession of simulated identification.
  911  322.212(4)                  3rd     Supply or aid in supplying unauthorized driver license or identification card.
  912  322.212(5)(a)               3rd     False application for driver license or identification card.
  913  414.39(3)(a)                3rd     Fraudulent misappropriation of public assistance funds by employee/official, value more than $200.
  914  443.071(1)                  3rd     False statement or representation to obtain or increase reemployment assistance benefits.
  915  509.151(1)                  3rd     Defraud an innkeeper, food or lodging value $1,000 or more.
  916  517.302(1)                  3rd     Violation of the Florida Securities and Investor Protection Act.
  917  713.69                      3rd     Tenant removes property upon which lien has accrued, value $1,000 or more.
  918  812.014(3)(c)               3rd     Petit theft (3rd conviction); theft of any property not specified in subsection (2).
  919  815.04(5)(a)                3rd     Offense against intellectual property (i.e., computer programs, data).
  920  817.52(2)                   3rd     Hiring with intent to defraud, motor vehicle services.
  921  817.569(2)                  3rd     Use of public record or public records information or providing false information to facilitate commission of a felony.
  922  826.01                      3rd     Bigamy.                        
  923  828.122(3)                  3rd     Fighting or baiting animals.   
  924  831.04(1)                   3rd     Any erasure, alteration, etc., of any replacement deed, map, plat, or other document listed in s. 92.28.
  925  831.31(1)(a)                3rd     Sell, deliver, or possess counterfeit controlled substances, all but s. 893.03(5) drugs.
  926  832.041(1)                  3rd     Stopping payment with intent to defraud $150 or more.
  927  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.
  928  838.15(2)                   3rd     Commercial bribe receiving.    
  929  838.16                      3rd     Commercial bribery.            
  930  843.18                      3rd     Fleeing by boat to elude a law enforcement officer.
  931  847.011(1)(a)               3rd     Sell, distribute, etc., obscene, lewd, etc., material (2nd conviction).
  932  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.
  933  849.23                      3rd     Gambling-related machines; “common offender” as to property rights.
  934  849.25(2)                   3rd     Engaging in bookmaking.        
  935  860.08                      3rd     Interfere with a railroad signal.
  936  860.13(1)(a)                3rd     Operate aircraft while under the influence.
  937  893.13(2)(a)2.              3rd     Purchase of cannabis.          
  938  893.13(6)(a)                3rd     Possession of cannabis (more than 20 grams).
  939  934.03(1)(a)                3rd     Intercepts, or procures any other person to intercept, any wire or oral communication.
  940  
  941  
  942         Section 25. (1)It is the intent of the Legislature to
  943  balance the security of vote-by-mail balloting with voter
  944  privacy and election transparency. The Legislature finds that
  945  further modifications to procedures governing vote-by-mail
  946  balloting would help to further ensure election integrity while
  947  also protecting voters from identity theft and preserving the
  948  public’s right to participate in election processes. To achieve
  949  this purpose, the Legislature directs the Department of State to
  950  provide a plan to prescribe the use of a Florida driver license
  951  number, Florida identification card number, social security
  952  number, or any part thereof to confirm the identity of each
  953  elector returning a vote-by-mail ballot.
  954         (2)The Department of State shall review issues involving
  955  the feasibility, development, and implementation of such a plan,
  956  including issues related to:
  957         (a)In coordination with other agencies such as the
  958  Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, obtaining a
  959  Florida driver license number or Florida identification card
  960  number and the last four digits of a social security number for
  961  each registered voter who does not have such numbers on file in
  962  the Florida Voter Registration System.
  963         (b)Populating such numbers in the Florida Voter
  964  Registration System.
  965         (c)Protecting identifying numbers submitted with a vote
  966  by-mail ballot, including, but not limited to, prescribing the
  967  form of the return mailing envelope.
  968         (d)Any necessary modifications to canvassing procedures
  969  for vote-by-mail ballots.
  970         (e)Costs associated with development and implementation of
  971  the plan.
  972         (f)A proposal for a program to educate electors on changes
  973  to the vote-by-mail process.
  974         (g) A proposal for including a declaration of an elector’s
  975  current address of legal residence with each written request for
  976  a vote-by-mail ballot.
  977         (3)In the course of reviewing the required issues, the
  978  Department of State must, at a minimum:
  979         (a)Review relevant processes of other states.
  980         (b)Review relevant federal law.
  981         (c)Seek input from supervisors of elections, which must
  982  include representation from supervisors of counties with large,
  983  medium, and small populations.
  984         (4)By January 1, 2023, the Department of State shall
  985  submit to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the
  986  House of Representatives a report on the plan and draft
  987  legislation for any statutory changes needed to implement the
  988  plan, including any necessary public records exemptions.
  989         Section 26. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
  990  act, this act shall take effect upon becoming a law.