This bill seeks to amend various sections of the Florida Statutes to strengthen the integrity of the initiative petition process for constitutional amendments. Key provisions include requiring the Secretary of State to receive the ballot summary, full text of the proposed amendment, and a financial impact statement before submitting an initiative petition to the Attorney General. It also revises the criteria for the Attorney General's advisory opinions, mandates that sponsors obtain a specific letter periodically to maintain the validity of their initiative signatures, and prohibits sponsors from collecting signatures unless they are registered as petition circulators. The bill introduces civil and criminal penalties for violations related to signature collection, such as compensating circulators based on the number of signatures gathered or submitting fraudulent information.

Additionally, the bill establishes stricter regulations for petition circulators, including mandatory training and registration, and allows citizens to challenge a circulator's registration in court. It requires the Division of Elections to publish forms for petition signatures and mandates that all information be available in alternative formats upon request. The legislation emphasizes transparency and accountability, aiming to deter fraudulent activities reported in recent elections. Significant amendments include the redefinition of petition circulators, stricter verification processes for signatures, and penalties for fraudulent activities. Overall, the bill aims to modernize the initiative process while safeguarding against potential abuses and ensuring voters are informed about the financial impacts of proposed constitutional amendments.

Statutes affected:
S 7016 Filed: 97.021, 100.371, 101.161, 102.111, 102.121, 104.185, 104.186, 104.187, 106.19, 212.055, 895.02
S 7016 c1: 97.021, 100.371, 101.161, 102.111, 102.121, 104.185, 104.186, 104.187, 106.19, 212.055