The bill amends various sections of Florida Statutes to revise the petition process for candidates and initiatives, including the deletion of the definition of "petition circulator" and the introduction of a uniform petition form that candidates must use. This new form will require voters to provide their full name, residential address, voter registration number or date of birth, and an attestation of their registered status. Additionally, the bill stipulates that supervisors of elections can only verify signatures if the correct petition form is utilized, and it establishes new requirements for the submission and verification of these forms. The bill also modifies the criteria for the Attorney General when petitioning the Supreme Court for advisory opinions on proposed constitutional amendments and introduces penalties for violations related to petition processes.

Moreover, the bill outlines a structured process for verifying signatures on petitions, including the retention of signed forms for at least one year and the posting of verification costs on supervisors' websites. It mandates that initiative petitions must be filed with the Secretary of State by February 1 of the election year and requires sponsors to register as political committees before circulating any petition forms. The bill also emphasizes the importance of transparency and accountability in the electoral system by establishing a new panel appointed by the Governor to analyze the financial impact of proposed amendments, replacing the previous Financial Impact Estimating Conference. Overall, these changes aim to enhance the integrity and efficiency of the initiative petition process in Florida while ensuring compliance with legal requirements.

Statutes affected:
S 18A Filed: 15.21, 16.061, 97.021, 99.092, 99.095, 99.097, 100.371, 101.161, 104.045, 104.186, 106.08, 106.19, 212.055