Floridas Initiative Amendment Process

1
Floridas Initiative Amendment Process

• Florida Council of 100
• November 7, 2003
• Miami, FL

2
Todays Presentation

• What is the Big Picture from other states?
• What are the key issues?
• What are the trends in Florida?
• What changes can we expect for Florida?

3
Other StatesThe Big Picture

• What is the Big Picture from other States?

4
Other StatesThe Big Picture

• 26 states do not have an initiative process
• Source NCSL 2002 Task Force Report

5
Other StatesThe Big Picture

• 3 States Permit only Constitutional Initiatives
  (Florida)
• 6 States Permit only Statutory Initiatives
• 15 States have both
• Highly Populated States that have initiative
  process
• California
• Florida
• Illinois
• Michigan
• Source NCSL 2002 Task Force Report

6
Other StatesThe Big Picture

• Initiatives are increasing
• 819 initiatives proposed between 1970-2000
• California leads the pack130 since 1970
• Total Statewide Initiatives Between 1970-2000
• Source NCSL 2002 Task Force Report

7
Key Issues

• What are the key issues?

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Key IssuesThe Role of Money

• PACs spent 400 million in 1998
• Large contributions from single sources
• Laws to limit contributions violate First
  Amendment
• Source NCSL 2002 Task Force Report

9
Key IssuesSignature Thresholds

• How many signatures?
• Lowest 2 in ND
• Highest 15 in AZ, OK
• Where should signatures come from?
• 13 states have geographic distribution
  requirements (Florida)
• Supervisors of Election verify (Florida)
• Who collects signatures?
• Paid collectors _at_ 1-3 per signature
• Residency requirements of collectors
• Source NCSL 2002 Task Force Report

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Key IssuesElection Thresholds

• Simple majority
• 50 (Florida)
• Super majority
• 3/5 (Illinois)
• 2/3 (FloridaTax Amendments Only)
• Two election cycles (Nevada)

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Key IssuesSubject Restrictions

• Single subject rule (Florida 11 states)
• Repeat measures
• Fiscal Impact Statements
• Constitution or Statutory Purpose
• Source NCSL 2002 Task Force Report

12
Florida Trends

• What are the trends in Florida?

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Florida TrendsInitiatives Are Increasing

• Florida Ranked 21 out of 24 states
• 16/20 Initiative Amendments passed since 1976
• 13/16 Initiative Amendments passed since 1990
• Source NCSL 2002 Task Force Report and
  Division of Elections

Floridas Initiative Approval Rate is Rising
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Florida TrendsMost Popular Initiatives

• Term Limits 77 1992
• Net Ban 72 1994
• Lottery 71 1986
• Smoke Free 71 2002
• Source Division of Elections

15
Florida TrendsTightest Victories

• Class Size 52 2002
• High Speed Rail 53 2000
• Limit tax rate on homes 54 1992
• Pregnant Pig Protection 55 2002
• Source Division of Elections

16
Florida Trends2002 Most Expensive Initiatives

• Smoke Free 5,876,998.00
• Pregnant Pigs 1,592,686.55
• Board of Regents 1,452,236.60
• Class Size 1,393,000.08
• Note Listed by Contributions
• Source Division of Elections

17
Florida TrendsCurrent Initiative Activity

• 48 Active Petitions
• 24 Political Action Committees
• Hot Initiatives for 2004
• Sales Tax Exemptions
• Referenda To Adopt Local Government Comprehensive
  Land Use Plans
• Source Division of Elections and Interviews

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Changes for Florida

• What changes can we expect for Florida?

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Where can we change?

• Statutory Initiatives
• Indirect Initiatives
• Fiscal Impact Statements
• Shorten Petition Period
• Financial Disclosure Statements
• Voter Education
• Raise Thresholds for Amendment Passage
• Two elections system

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Expected Changes2004

• 2004 Legislative Action
• Expect a Variety of Proposals
• Leadership Support in Both Houses
• Protect the Constitution
• House Select Committee on Constitutional
  Amendments
• Representative Joe Pickens (Palatka)

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2004 Legislative Action?

• Changes in Subject Area
• Appropriateness for Constitution
• Statutory Initiative
• Changes in Procedures
• Increase in Signature Threshold
• Signature Geographic Distribution Requirements
• Decrease in Petition Circulation Period

22
2004 Legislative Action?

• Changes in Election Thresholds
• 2/3 Majority Threshold for Amendments
• S 304 HJR 13
• 3/5 Majority Threshold for Amendments
• HJR 49
• Two Election Cycle (Nevada model)

23
Floridas Initiative Process

• Mark S. Pritchett
• Collins Center for Public Policy, Inc.
• 1415 East Piedmont Drive
• Tallahassee, FL 32308
• 850/219-0082 x 105
• mpritchett_at_collinscenter.org