Florida - Article V Constitutional Convention Act

—Sections 11.93-11.9352 may be cited as the “Article V Constitutional Convention Act.”

History.—s. 1, ch. 2014-52.

—Sections 11.93-11.9352 shall apply when an Article V convention is called for the purpose of proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States.

History.—s. 2, ch. 2014-52.

—As used in ss. 11.93-11.9352, the term:

(1) “Alternate delegate” means an individual who is appointed as an alternate delegate as provided by law.

(2) “Article V convention” means a convention called for by the states under Article V of the Constitution of the United States for the purpose of proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States.

(3) “Chamber” means either the Senate or the House of Representatives.

(4) “Delegate” means an individual appointed to represent Florida at an Article V convention.

(5) “Paired delegate” means the delegate with whom an alternate delegate is paired.

History.—s. 3, ch. 2014-52.

(1) To be appointed as a delegate or alternate delegate to an Article V convention, a person must:

( a ) Reside in this state.

( b ) Be a registered voter in this state.

( c ) Not be registered or required to be registered as a lobbyist under the laws of this state.

(2) A person may not be appointed as a delegate if he or she holds a federal office.

History.—s. 4, ch. 2014-52.

(1) Whenever an Article V convention is called, the Senate and House of Representatives shall appoint, under rules adopted jointly by the Senate and House of Representatives:

( a ) The number of delegates allocated to represent Florida.

( b ) An equal number of alternate delegates.

(2) Unless otherwise established by the rules of procedure of an Article V convention, it is presumed that Florida has two delegates and two alternate delegates designated to represent the state.

(3) If the Legislature is not in session when delegates must be appointed, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall call the Legislature into special session pursuant to s. 11.011 for the purpose of appointing delegates and alternate delegates.

History.—s. 5, ch. 2014-52.

(1) To be appointed as a delegate or an alternate delegate, a person must receive, in each chamber, the vote of a majority of all the members elected to that chamber.

(2) At the time of appointment, each alternate delegate must be paired with a delegate as provided by a concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature.

History.—s. 6, ch. 2014-52.

(1) The Legislature may, at any time, recall a delegate or alternate delegate and replace that delegate or alternate delegate with an individual appointed under ss. 11.93-11.9352.

(2) The Legislature may, at any time, fill a vacancy in the office of delegate or alternate delegate with a person appointed under ss. 11.93-11.9352. If the Legislature is not in session when a vacancy occurs with respect to both a delegate and the paired alternate delegate, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall call the Legislature into special session pursuant to s. 11.011 for the purpose of appointing a delegate and an alternate delegate to fill the vacancies.

History.—s. 7, ch. 2014-52.

—The Legislature shall appoint or recall delegates or alternate delegates by concurrent resolution.

History.—s. 8, ch. 2014-52.

—A delegate or alternate delegate shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for per diem and travel expenses pursuant to s. 112.061.

History.—s. 9, ch. 2014-52.

—Each delegate and alternate delegate shall, before exercising any function of the position, execute an oath in the state and in writing that the delegate or 1alternate delegate will:

(1) Support the Constitution of the United States and the State Constitution.

(2) Faithfully abide by and execute any instructions to delegates and alternate delegates adopted by the Legislature.

(3) Otherwise faithfully discharge the duties of a delegate or alternate delegate.

History.—s. 10, ch. 2014-52.

1Note.—The word “alternate” was substituted by the editors for the word “alternative.”

—The executed oath of a delegate or alternate delegate shall be filed with the Secretary of State. After the oath is filed, the Governor shall issue a commission to the delegate or alternate delegate.

History.—s. 11, ch. 2014-52.

(1) When delegates and alternate delegates are appointed, the Legislature shall adopt a concurrent resolution to provide instructions to the delegates and alternate delegates regarding the rules of procedure and any other matter relating to the Article V convention that the Legislature considers necessary.

(2) The Legislature may amend the instructions at any time by concurrent resolution.

History.—s. 12, ch. 2014-52.

(1) Shall act in the place of the paired delegate when the paired delegate is absent from the Article V convention.

(2) Replaces the paired delegate if the alternate delegate’s paired delegate vacates the office.

History.—s. 13, ch. 2014-52.

—A vote cast by a delegate or an alternate delegate at an Article V convention is void if the vote is outside the scope of:

(1) The instructions established by a concurrent resolution adopted pursuant to ss. 11.93-11.9352; or

(2) The limits placed by the Legislature in a concurrent resolution or memorial that calls for an Article V convention for the purpose of proposing one or more amendments to the Constitution of the United States on the subjects and amendments that may be considered by the Article V Convention.

History.—s. 14, ch. 2014-52.

(1) A delegate or alternate delegate forfeits his or her appointment by virtue of a vote or attempt to vote that is outside the scope of:

( a ) The instructions established by a concurrent resolution adopted pursuant to ss. 11.93-11.9352; or

( b ) The limits placed by the Legislature in a concurrent resolution or memorial that calls for an Article V convention for the purpose of proposing one or more amendments to the Constitution of the United States on the subjects and amendments that may be considered by the Article V convention.

(2) If a delegate forfeits an appointment under subsection (1), the paired alternate delegate of the delegate becomes the delegate at the time the forfeiture of the appointment occurs.

History.—s. 15, ch. 2014-52.

—The application of the Legislature to call an Article V convention for proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States ceases to be a continuing application and shall be treated as having no effect if all of the delegates and alternate delegates vote or attempt to vote outside the scope of:

(1) The instructions established by a concurrent resolution adopted pursuant to ss. 11.93-11.9352; or

(2) The limits placed by the Legislature in a concurrent resolution or memorial that calls for an Article V convention for the purpose of proposing one or more amendments to the Constitution of the United States on the subjects and amendments that may be considered by the Article V convention.

History.—s. 16, ch. 2014-52.

—A delegate or alternate delegate commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, who signs an oath of office as required by s. 11.9336 in the state and who thereafter violates the oath by knowingly or intentionally voting or attempting to vote outside the scope of:

(1) The instructions established by a concurrent resolution adopted pursuant to ss. 11.93-11.9352; or

(2) The limits placed by the Legislature in a concurrent resolution or memorial that calls for an Article V convention for the purpose of proposing one or more amendments to the Constitution of the United States on the subjects and amendments that may be considered by the Article V convention.

History.—s. 17, ch. 2014-52.

(1) As used in this section, the term “advisory group” means the Article V convention delegate advisory group.

(2) The advisory group consists of the following members:

( a ) An attorney appointed by the President of the Senate.

( b ) An attorney appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

( c ) An attorney selected by agreement of the attorneys appointed under paragraphs (a) and (b), who shall serve as chair of the advisory group.

(3) The advisory group shall meet at the call of the chair and shall establish the policies and procedures that the advisory group determines necessary to carry out ss. 11.93-11.9352.

(4) Upon the request of a delegate or alternate delegate, the advisory group shall advise the delegate or alternate delegate whether there is reason to believe that an action or an attempt to take an action by a delegate or alternate delegate would:

( a ) Violate the instructions established by a concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature under ss. 11.93-11.9352; or

( b ) Exceed the limits placed by the Legislature in a concurrent resolution or memorial that calls for an Article V convention for the purpose of proposing one or more amendments to the Constitution of the United States on the subjects and amendments that may be considered by the Article V convention.

(5) The advisory group:

( a ) May render an advisory determination under this section in any summary manner considered appropriate by the advisory group.

( b ) Shall render an advisory determination under this section within 24 hours after receiving a request for a determination.

( c ) Shall transmit a copy of an advisory determination under this section in the most expeditious manner possible to the delegate or alternate delegate who requested the advisory determination.

(6) If the advisory group renders an advisory determination under this section, the advisory group may also take an action permitted under s. 11.9351.

History.—s. 18, ch. 2014-52.

(1) The advisory group, on its own motion, or upon the request of the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, or the Attorney General, shall advise the Attorney General whether there is reason to believe that a vote or an attempt to vote by a delegate or alternate delegate has:

( a ) Violated the instructions established by a concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature under ss. 11.93-11.9352; or

( b ) Exceeded the limits placed by the Legislature in a concurrent resolution or memorial that calls for an Article V convention for the purpose of proposing one or more amendments to the Constitution of the United States on the subjects and amendments that may be considered by the Article V convention.

(2) The advisory group shall issue the advisory determination under this section by one of the following summary procedures:

( a ) Without notice or an evidentiary proceeding; or

( b ) After a hearing conducted by the advisory group.

(3) The advisory group shall render an advisory determination under this section within 24 hours after receiving a request for an advisory determination.

(4) The advisory group shall transmit a copy of an advisory determination in the most expeditious manner possible to the Attorney General.

History.—s. 19, ch. 2014-52.

—Immediately, upon receipt of an advisory determination that finds that a vote or attempt to vote by a delegate or alternate delegate is a violation as described in s. 11.9351 or in excess of the authority of the delegate or alternate delegate, the Attorney General shall inform the delegates, alternate delegates, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Article V convention that:

(1) The vote or attempt to vote did not comply with Florida law, is void, and has no effect.

(2) The credentials of the delegate or alternate delegate who is the subject of the determination are revoked.

History.—s. 20, ch. 2014-52.