The bill CS/HB 1205 proposes comprehensive amendments to the Florida State Constitution and related statutes to strengthen the integrity and transparency of the initiative petition process. Key provisions include requiring the Secretary of State to receive both the ballot summary and full text of proposed amendments, along with a financial impact statement, before an initiative petition is submitted to the Attorney General. The bill mandates that petition circulators register and undergo training, prohibits compensating circulators based on the number of signatures collected, and establishes penalties for violations such as submitting fraudulent petition forms. Additionally, it introduces stricter regulations on signature collection and verification, invalidating signatures gathered by unregistered circulators and requiring detailed record-keeping by election supervisors.

Furthermore, the bill enhances the financial transparency of proposed amendments by mandating that financial impact statements be included on both the petition form and the ballot. It outlines the responsibilities of sponsors and circulators, including the timely delivery of petition forms and the need for voters to receive confirmation of their signature verification. The legislation also expands the definition of "racketeering activity" to include election-related fraud and establishes a processing hold on the verification of signed petition forms for a specified period. Overall, CS/HB 1205 aims to create a more structured and accountable framework for the initiative petition process in Florida, ensuring that it remains transparent and free from fraudulent activities.

Statutes affected:
H 1205 Filed: 100.371, 99.097, 101.161, 104.187, 212.055
H 1205 c1: 15.21, 100.371, 102.121, 104.185, 104.186, 104.187, 212.055
H 1205 e1: 15.21, 97.021, 100.371, 102.121, 104.185, 104.186, 104.187, 212.055
H 1205 e2: 97.021, 100.371, 101.161, 102.111, 102.121, 104.185, 104.186, 104.187, 106.19, 212.055
H 1205 er: 97.021, 100.371, 101.161, 102.111, 102.121, 104.185, 104.186, 104.187, 106.19, 212.055