[NFBF-L] 2020 Florida amendmens

[Ryan Mann]

Thank you for posting these.

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________________________________
From: NFBF-L <nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org> on behalf of PLipovsky via NFBF-L <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 24, 2020 10:10:38 AM
To: nfbf-l at nfbnet.org <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Cc: PLipovsky <plipovsky at cfl.rr.com>
Subject: [NFBF-L] 2020 Florida amendmens

Hi all..



AS per the League of Women Voters, Please find below the state 2020
amendments which will b on the ballot IN November.





AMENDMENT 1: Citizenship Requirement to Vote in Florida Elections

Sponsor name: Florida Citizen Voters.



Ballot summary: This amendment provides that only United States Citizens who
are at least 18 years of age, a permanent resident of Florida, and
registered to vote, as provided by law, shall be qualified to vote in a
Florida election.



Financial impact statement: Because the proposed amendment is not expected
to result in any changes to the voter registration process in Florida, it
will have no impact on state or local government costs or revenues. Further,
it will have no effect on the state's economy.



AMENDMENT 2: Raising Florida's Minimum Wage Ballot

Sponsor name: Florida For A Fair Wage Sponsor.



Ballot summary: Raises minimum wage to $10 per hour effective Sept. 30,
2021. Each Sept. 30 thereafter, minimum wage shall increase by $1 per hour
until the minimum wage reaches $15 per hour on Sept. 30, 2026. From that
point forward, future minimum wage increases shall revert to being adjusted
annually for inflation starting Sept. 30, 2027.



Financial impact statement: State and local government costs will increase
to comply with the new minimum wage levels. Additional annual wage costs
will be approximately $16 million in 2022, increasing to about $540 million
in 2027 and thereafter. Government actions to mitigate these costs are
unlikely to produce material savings. Other government costs and revenue
impacts, both positive and negative, are not quantifiable.



AMENDMENT 3: All Voters Vote in Primary Elections for State Legislature,
Governor, and Cabinet

Sponsor name: All Voters Vote, Inc.



Ballot summary: Allows all registered voters to vote in primaries for state
legislature, governor, and cabinet regardless of political party
affiliation. All candidates for an office, including party nominated
candidates, appear on the same primary ballot. Two highest vote getters
advance to the general election. If only two candidates qualify, no primary
is held and the winner is determined in the general election. Candidate's
party affiliation may appear on the ballot as provided by law. Effective
Jan. 1, 2024.



Financial impact statement: It is probable that the proposed amendment will
result in additional local government costs to conduct elections in Florida.
The Financial Impact Estimating Conference projects that the combined costs
across counties will range from $5.2 million to $5.8 million for each of the
first three election cycles occurring in even-numbered years after the
amendment's effective date, with the costs for each of the intervening years
dropping to less than $450,000. With respect to state costs for oversight,
the additional costs for administering elections are expected to be minimal.
Further, there are no revenues linked to voting in Florida. Since there is
no impact on state costs or revenues, there will be no impact on the state's
budget. While the proposed amendment will result in an increase in local
expenditures, this change is expected to be below the threshold that would
produce a statewide economic impact.



AMENDMENT 4: Voter Approval of Constitutional Amendments

Sponsor name: Keep Our Constitution Clean PC.



Ballot summary: Requires all proposed amendments or revisions to the state
constitution to be approved by the voters in two elections, instead of one,
in order to take effect. The proposal applies the current thresholds for
passage to each of the two elections.



Financial impact statement: It is probable that the proposed amendment will
result in additional state and local government costs to conduct elections
in Florida. Overall, these costs will vary from election cycle to election
cycle depending on the unique circumstances of each ballot and cannot be
estimated at this time. The key factors determining cost include the number
of amendments appearing for the second time on each ballot and the length of
those amendments. Since the maximum state cost is likely less than $1
million per cycle but the impact cannot be discreetly quantified, the change
to the state's budget is unknown. Similarly, the economic impact cannot be
modeled, although the spending increase is expected to be below the
threshold that would produce a statewide economic impact. Because there are
no revenues linked to voting in Florida, there will be no impact on
government taxes or fees.



AMENDMENT 5: Limitation on Homestead Assessments

Sponsor: The Florida Legislature.



Ballot summary: Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution, effective
date Jan. 1, 2021, to increase, from two years to three years, the period of
time during which accrued Save-Our-Homes benefits may be transferred from a
prior homestead to a new homestead.



AMENDMENT 6: Ad Valorem Tax Discount for Spouses of Certain Deceased
Veterans Who Had Permanent, Combat-Related Disabilities

Sponsor: The Florida Legislature.



Ballot summary: Provides that the homestead property tax discount for
certain veterans with permanent combat-related disabilities carries over to
such veteran's surviving spouse who holds legal or beneficial title to, and
who permanently resides on, the homestead property, until he or she
remarries or sells or otherwise disposes of the property. The discount may
be transferred to a new homestead property of the surviving spouse under
certain conditions. The amendment takes effect Jan. 1, 2021.