The bill CS/HB 1205 proposes comprehensive amendments to the constitutional amendment petition process in Florida, focusing on enhancing integrity and transparency. Key provisions require the Secretary of State to receive the ballot summary, full text of proposed amendments, and a financial impact statement before an initiative petition can be submitted to the Attorney General. The bill also revises the criteria for the Attorney General's advisory opinions, mandates that sponsors obtain a letter from the Division of Elections every third election cycle, and introduces stricter regulations for petition circulators, including registration, training, and prohibitions against compensating circulators based on the number of signatures collected. Additionally, it imposes civil and criminal penalties for violations such as signing on behalf of others and submitting fraudulent signatures.

Furthermore, the bill establishes new procedures for verifying signatures and mandates that voters receive confirmation of their signature verification, including the opportunity to contest any discrepancies. It requires the Financial Impact Estimating Conference to draft financial impact statements for proposed amendments, ensuring that voters are informed of the financial implications. The legislation also introduces penalties for violations related to petition circulators and prohibits the use of public funds for political advertisements concerning proposed amendments. Overall, CS/HB 1205 aims to create a more secure and transparent process for citizen-initiated constitutional amendments while addressing concerns about fraudulent activities in recent elections.

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