CRC Commissioners Continue Sponsorship of Public Proposals and Ideas Regarding the Florida Constitution

 

 

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, the Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) held its second and final full Commission meeting in which Commissioners could directly sponsor public proposals through the CRC process. Direct sponsorship of public proposals is one of several ways public input is considered through the CRC process. CRC Commissioners have also created their own proposals inspired by ideas submitted by Floridians.

 

CRC Chairman Carlos Beruff, said, “The CRC has received historic public input. More than 2,000 proposed revisions and thousands of comments were submitted by Floridians. As we review this public input, it clear that Floridians share many similar ideas and interests. In addition to Commissioners who chose to directly sponsor a public proposal, several Commissioners have created their own proposals inspired by public input. Floridians are encouraged to continue reaching out to Commissioners with ideas before October 31, which is the deadline for Commissioners to file proposals to be taken up during the CRC process.”

 

A summary of public proposals directly sponsored by Commissioners, and proposals created by Commissioners that were inspired by public input, is provided below. Nineteen proposals have been filed by CRC Commissioners to date and are available for review on flcrc.gov/Proposals/Commissioner:

 

Public Proposals Directly Sponsored by CRC Commissioners (6 Total)

• Commissioner Proposal 11 (Public Proposal 700396) "SUFFRAGE AND ELECTIONS, Primary, general, and special elections" – Sponsored by Commissioner Sherry Plymale; (Co-Introducers) Commissioners Carolyn Timmann ; Hank Coxe ; Roberto Martinez
• Similar to nearly 20 other public proposals received by the CRC; in addition to comments received by email and at CRC public hearings.
• Commissioner Proposal 12 (Public Proposal 700202) "MISCELLANEOUS, repeal s. 19" – Sponsored by Commissioner Carolyn Timmann
• Public Proposal 700661 "The Right to Earn an Honest Living"  – Sponsored by Commissioner Erika Donalds
• Will be assigned commissioner proposal number.
• Public Proposal 700540 "Right to a Clean and Healthful Environment " – Sponsored by Commissioner Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch
• Will be assigned commissioner proposal number.
• Public Proposal 700598 "Homestead Exemption Addition"  – Sponsored by Commissioner Don Gaetz
• Will be assigned commissioner proposal number.
• Public Proposal 700698 “ARTICLE I: DECLARATION OF RIGHTS, Section 23. Right of privacy.” – Sponsored by Commissioner John Stemberger
• Will be assigned commissioner proposal number.

Commissioner-Filed Proposals Inspired by Public Input (8 To-date)

• Commissioner Proposal 1 "JUDICIARY, Eligibility" - Proposal by Commissioner Bobby Martinez; (Co-Introducer) Commissioner Don Gaetz
• This proposal is similar to approximately 10 proposals received by the CRC; in addition to comments received by email and at CRC public hearings.
• Commissioner Proposal 2 "SUFFRAGE AND ELECTIONS, Disqualifications" - Proposal by Commissioner Bobby Martinez; (Co-Introducer) Commissioner Anna Marie Hernandez Gamez
• This proposal is similar to more than 10 public proposals received by the CRC; in addition to comments received by email and at CRC public hearings.
• Commissioner Proposal 3 "DECLARATION OF RIGHTS, Basic rights" - Proposal by Commissioner Bobby Martinez; (Co-Introducer) Commissioner Belinda Keiser
• This proposal is similar to more than five public proposals received by the CRC; in addition to comments received by email and at CRC public hearings.
• Commissioner Proposal 4 "DECLARATION OF RIGHTS, Religious freedom" - Proposal by Commissioner Bobby Martinez; (Co-Introducer) Commissioner Anna Marie Hernandez Gamez
• This proposal is similar to approximately 10 public proposals received by the CRC; in addition to comments received by email and at CRC public hearings.
• Commissioner Proposal 7 "SUFFRAGE AND ELECTIONS, Disqualifications" - Proposal by Commissioner Chris Smith; (Co-Introducer) Commissioner Arthenia Joyner
• This proposal is similar to more than 10 public proposals received by the CRC; in addition to comments received by email and at CRC public hearings.
• Commissioner Proposal 8 "JUDICIARY, Eligibility; Vacancies" – Proposal by Commissioner Don Gaetz
• This proposal is similar to more than five public proposals received by the CRC; in addition to comments received by email and at CRC public hearings.
• Commissioner Proposal 13 "LOCAL GOVERNMENT, Counties; Schedule to Article VIII"– Proposal by Commissioner Carolyn Timmann; (Co-Introducer) Commissioner Chris Nocco
• This proposal is similar to four public proposals received by the CRC.
• Commissioner Proposal 14 "EXECUTIVE, Secretary of State" – Proposal by Commissioner Don Gaetz
• This proposal is similar to two public proposals received by the CRC.
• Commissioner Proposal 15 “DECLARATION OF RIGHTS, Basic rights” – Proposal by Commissioner Anna Marie Hernandez Gamez
• This proposal is similar to more than five public proposals received by the CRC; in addition to comments received by email and at CRC public hearings.

 

Additional Commissioner-Filed Proposals

• Commissioner Proposal 5 “DECLARATION OF RIGHTS, Rights of accused and of victims” – Proposal by Commissioner Chris Nocco; (Co-Introducers) Commissioners Carolyn Timmann ; Patricia Levesque ; Sherry Plymale ; Darlene Jordan ; Timothy Cerio ; Brecht Heuchan ; John Stemberger
• Commissioner Proposal 6 “JUDICIARY, creates s. 21” – Proposal by Commissioner Roberto Martinez
• Commissioner Proposal 9 “EXECUTIVE, Department of Veterans’ Affairs” – Proposal by Commissioner Carolyn Timmann
• Commissioner Proposal 10 “EDUCATION, Civic literacy in public education” – Proposal by Commissioner Don Gaetz

 

How to Review Proposals and Public Input

• All public proposals received by the CRC are available on the CRC website at flcrc.gov/Proposals/Public.
• All proposals filed by CRC Commissioners are available at flcrc.gov/Proposals/Commissioner.
• Public hearing transcripts are available at flcrc.gov/Meetings/Transcripts.

 

 

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ABOUT THE FLORIDA CONSTITUTION REVISION COMMISSION (CRC)

Once every 20 years, Florida's Constitution provides for the creation of a 37-member revision commission for the purpose of reviewing Florida's Constitution and proposing changes for voter consideration. The Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) meets for approximately one year, traveling the State of Florida, identifying issues, performing research and possibly recommending changes to the Constitution. Any amendments proposed by the CRC would be placed on the 2018 General Election ballot. For additional information, visit flcrc.gov. Follow the CRC on social media @FloridaCRC (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube).

 

Legislative Update

Good morning,

 

Florida Update:

In the Senate Education committee meeting yesterday  SB 4 ( Galvano) and SB 88 (Hukill)were passed unanimously. They will move to the next committee. I sent you the analysis for SB 4 yesterday. The points which are of interest are: an increase of funding to the Academic scholars program and the Merit scholars program for individual students.

SB 88 would add a ½ credit of financial literacy to the high school graduation requirement, reducing the number of electives to 7 ½.

TODAY:

The House Appropriations committee will meet  to receive a report on Florida’s economic outlook.

The House Education committee will hear a report on the progress in the Jefferson County school district since it has been taken over by a private entity.

No Senate Education committee is meeting today.

FEDERAL Education Issues

Please see below, ACTE’s request to push Perkins in the Senate with instructions on how to do so.

 

 

Dear Advance CTE Members,

As you may know, the House passed a Perkins reauthorization bill in June (find our summary and analysis online here). We have been urging the Senate to take up reauthorization swiftly, but they have yet to do so! See below for how you can help push for reauthorization (deadline is Friday, 10/12):

• Representatives Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) and Thompson (R-PA), the two main co-sponsors of the House Perkins reauthorization bill, are planning to send a bipartisan “Dear Colleague” letter to the Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee leadership encouraging them to take up Perkins reauthorization.
• Right now, they are asking for their colleagues in the House to join them in signing this letter. 
• Here's where you come in - by reaching out to your Representatives to encourage them to contact the offices of Representatives Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) and Thompson (R-PA) to sign on to the letter encouraging Perkins reauthorization.
• Here's how you can do that (deadline is October 12th): 

1. Use ACTE’s online Action Center to encourage your Representative to sign on to the letter. If you’d like to call your Representative's office, follow the steps below.
2. Find out who your representative is: http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/
3. Call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected to his/her office.
4. Ask if the Representative can sign on to a letter Representatives Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) and Thompson (R-PA) are sending to the Senate HELP Committee leadership encouraging that they take up Perkins CTE reauthorization.
5. If he/she says yes, let them know that the next step is for them to contact either Brian Kaissi in Rep. Krishnamoorthi’s office at Brian.Kaissi@mail.house.gov or 202-225-3711, or Katie Brown in Rep. Thompson's office at Katie.Brown@mail.house.gov or 202-225-5121 to sign on to the letter and that the deadline to do so is Friday,October 12th.
6. If he/she has questions you don't know the answer to, don't be afraid to let them know that you will follow up with the information.
7. If he/she says no, respectfully say thank you for their time.

Please loop back with us with any information or insights you may gain and we'll be sure send around the final letter with signatures when we have it!

Also, please don't hesitate to let me know if you have any questions or if you need assistance as you plan your outreach!

Thank you so much - we truly appreciate your efforts to help push for Perkins reauthorization!

Kathryn