Revision Process
- This Commission is extremely important in that it can place revisions directly on the ballot. It is crucial that this be done in clear view of the public.
- The Commission should schedule additional public hearings around the state so citizens can comment after the commission has decided what proposals are under serious consideration.
- The Commission’s rules should require that records be ‘open’ as defined and required by Florida open records law.
- The Commission should provide at least one week’s notice to the public regarding when specific proposals will be heard in their respective committees.
- The Commission should require that all meetings involving two or more members be noticed as public meetings, to discourage the conduct of serial private meetings and facilitate commission business in view of the public in compliance with the spirit of Florida’s government in the sunshine laws.
- The Commission should change its ethical rules so that legislators or other elected officials cannot take campaign contributions from any person or organization lobbying an issue before the CRC.
Constitutional Issues
- Preserve the right to privacy in Florida, which encompasses the right to reproductive freedom: Article 1, Section 23 of the Florida Constitution provides for a specific right of privacy and should be preserved without change: “Every natural person has the right to be let alone and free from governmental intrusion into the person’s private life except as otherwise provided herein. This section shall not be construed to limit the public’s right of access to public records and meetings as provided by law.”
- Preserve the requirement that the State not fund churches or religious sects (‘no aid’ provision). Article 1, Section 3, commonly referred to as the “no aid” provision should be preserved without change. (“No revenue of the state or any political subdivision or agency thereof shall ever be taken from the public treasury directly or indirectly in aid of any church, sect, or religious denomination or in aid of any sectarian institution.”)
- Maintain fair voting districts for Floridians.
- Protect the independence of Florida’s judiciary and maintain the system of checks and balances that protects Florida’s citizens and ensures a strong democracy. Our constitutional republic rests on fundamental principles of judicial independence and separation of powers guaranteed to the judiciary in Article 2, Section 3 of the Florida Constitution. Both the federal and the Florida constitutions contain separation of powers clauses to emphasize the importance of judicial independence. The commission should deny efforts to impose judicial term limits, split the jurisdiction of the Florida Supreme Court, provide a legislative override of judicial decisions, limit the jurisdiction of appellate courts, or otherwise weaken the independence of the Florida judiciary. Florida is made stronger by equal and independent branches of government.Preserve a strong public school system for all Florida students. Art. IX, § 1(a) of the Constitution should be preserved without change (requiring the state to both provide for "the education of all children residing within its borders" and provide "by law for a uniform, efficient, safe, secure, and high quality system of free public schools that allows students to obtain a high quality education.")