Bill Text: FL S0074 | 2017 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Restoration of Certain Felons' Rights to Vote and Hold Office

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2017-05-05 - Died in Ethics and Elections [S0074 Detail]

Download: Florida-2017-S0074-Introduced.html

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       Florida Senate - 2017                                     SJR 74
       
       
        
       By Senator Clemens
       
       31-00135-17                                             201774__
    1                       Senate Joint Resolution                     
    2         A joint resolution proposing an amendment to Section 4
    3         of Article VI of the State Constitution to restore the
    4         rights to vote and hold office of certain convicted
    5         felons upon completion of sentence.
    6  
    7  Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
    8  
    9         That the following amendment to Section 4 of Article VI of
   10  the State Constitution is agreed to and shall be submitted to
   11  the electors of this state for approval or rejection at the next
   12  general election or at an earlier special election specifically
   13  authorized by law for that purpose:
   14  
   15                             ARTICLE VI                            
   16                       SUFFRAGE AND ELECTIONS                      
   17         SECTION 4. Disqualifications.—
   18         (a) No person convicted of a felony, or adjudicated in this
   19  or any other state to be mentally incompetent, shall be
   20  qualified to vote or hold office, except:
   21         (1) If convicted of a felony involving a sexual offense or
   22  a felony involving a homicide, upon restoration of the person’s
   23  civil rights;
   24         (2) If convicted of any felony not specified in paragraph
   25  (1), upon the person’s completion of sentence; or
   26         (3) If adjudicated mentally incompetent, upon until
   27  restoration of civil rights or removal of disability.
   28         (b) No person may appear on the ballot for re-election to
   29  any of the following offices:
   30         (1) Florida representative,
   31         (2) Florida senator,
   32         (3) Florida lieutenant governor,
   33         (4) any office of the Florida cabinet,
   34         (5) U.S. Representative from Florida, or
   35         (6) U.S. Senator from Florida
   36  
   37  if, by the end of the current term of office, the person will
   38  have served (or, but for resignation, would have served) in that
   39  office for eight consecutive years.
   40         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following statement be
   41  placed on the ballot:
   42                      CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT                     
   43                        ARTICLE VI, SECTION 4                      
   44         RESTORATION OF CERTAIN FELONS’ RIGHTS TO VOTE AND HOLD
   45  OFFICE.—Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to
   46  restore the rights to vote and hold office of a person convicted
   47  of a felony, other than one involving a sexual offense or a
   48  homicide, upon completion of sentence.