With a May 10 deadline approaching, the Florida Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) began its own "session" last week, forwarding 25 of 37 proposals to amend the Florida Constitution to the Style and Drafting Committee to craft proposed ballot language. According to an Associated Press report, a dozen proposals were rejected because "top" commissioners said proposals that were not considered during the first week of session would not be considered going forward.
Although all meetings were cancelled for the week of March 26, the Style and Drafting Committee is scheduled to meet every day during the week of April 2 to begin crafting ballot language. The Committee will also recommend grouping the proposals by subject into larger ballot questions. This means that instead of possibly seeing 25 individual ballot questions, voters would see four to eight questions, each encompassing several proposals grouped by subject.
The way in which the CRC decides to group proposals will be important because some proposals passed by a very slim majority. Once the Styles and Drafting Committee creates the draft ballot measure, 22 of 37 Commissioners must approve the proposal in order for it to be placed on the November ballot.
Commissioner Proposals | Context | Status |
P3 | Ownership of real property by aliens ineligible for citizenship | In Style and Drafting for Ballot Language |
P4 | Removes prohibition against using state funds for religious institutions | Yet to be considered |
P6 | Prohibits judiciary from applying agency deference to interpretation of statutes or rules and requires a de novo interpretation. | In Style and Drafting for Ballot Language |
P9 | Department of Veteran Affairs Established | In Style and Drafting for Ballot Language |
P10 | Promotion of Civil Literacy in Education | In Style and Drafting for Ballot Language |
P11 | If candidate for office only has party opposition, or write-in opposition, election will go to all electors | In Style and Drafting for Ballot Language |
P12 | Repeals high speed rail language from Const. | In Style and Drafting for Ballot Language |
P13 | Prohibits counties from choosing county constitutional officers other than by election, changing terms, or changing duties. | In Style and Drafting for Ballot Language |
P20 | Repeal of criminal statute doesn't affect prosecution of crime committed before appeal | In Style and Drafting for Ballot Language |
P26 | Established Office of Domestic Security and Counter-Terrorism in Dept. of Law | In Style and Drafting for Ballot Language |
P29 | Creates Employee Verification Standards for employment (E-Verify, etc.) | In Style and Drafting for Ballot Language |
P33 | School Superintendents to be appointed by School boards and not elected. | WITHDRAWN during CRC Session |
P34 | Waives 3 day waiting period for handguns if buyer has conceal/carry or is trading in a gun; amends child being charged with delinquency. | WITHDRAWN during CRC Session |
P37 | Prohibits naming of public buildings, etc. for any elected officials unless certain req'ts met | In Style and Drafting for Ballot Language |
P39 | Creates broad 6 year lobbying prohibition across state and local government for agency heads, department heads, etc. | In Style and Drafting for Ballot Language |
P41 | Increases age to 75 for judges on temporary assignment | In Style and Drafting for Ballot Language |
P43 | Creates term limits for school board members | In Style and Drafting for Ballot Language |
P44 | Creates voting threshold by Bd of Trustees in order to raise tuition or fees | In Style and Drafting for Ballot Language |
P45 | Removes any limitation on legislature to make provisions for educational services beyond the public education system (i.e. charter /religious schools) | WITHDRAWN during CRC Session |
P47 | Requires 10 years of practice before being eligible for judiciary | FAILED During CRC Session |
P49 | Creates rights to certain death benefits for the survivors of certain first responders and military | In Style and Drafting for Ballot Language |
P50 | Clarifies that candidate for legislature must reside in district except at an election next following a reapportionment. | WITHDRAWN during CRC Session |
P54 | Abolishes certificates of need for healthcare facilities and prohibits state from limiting number of health care facilities | In Style and Drafting for Ballot Language |
P55 | Multiple provisions concerning Clerk of Court's budget, including appeal right by clerk's to Cabinet if legislature fails to address budget deficits | WITHDRAWN during CRC Session |
P65 | Adds vaping to smoke-free workplace rights | In Style and Drafting for Ballot Language |
P66 | Makes Lt. Governor the Secretary of State and gives right to cast vote breaking a Senate tie | FAILED during CRC Session |
P67 | Greyhound racing prohibition | In Style and Drafting for Ballot Language |
P71 | Allows Legislature to create alternative mechanisms to allow establishment of charter schools | In Style and Drafting for Ballot Language |
P72 | Requires supermajority of 2/3 of both houses of the Legislature to vote for any tax or fee increase | WITHDRAWN during CRC Session |
P83 | Specifies purpose of State College System and provides governance structure. | In Style and Drafting for Ballot Language |
P88 | Establishes rights for assisted living and nursing home residents | WITHDRAWN during CRC Session |
P91 | Prohibits drilling for exploration or extraction of oil or natural gas off-shore | In Style and Drafting for Ballot Language |
P93 | Creation of "charter districts" for school districts and the ability to opt-out of K-20 Education code | In Style and Drafting for Ballot Language |
P94 | Requires certain % of tobacco settlement proceeds to be dedicated to research and treatment of cancer | Yet to be considered |
P96 | Creates rights for crime victims | In Style and Drafting for Ballot Language |
P97 | Clarifies that Constitutional revision must be approved by a vote of "not fewer than" 60 % of voters in that election | Yet to be considered |
P103 | Changes dates for January Session start to 2nd Tuesday after the 1st Monday | In Style and Drafting for Ballot Language |
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.