This year will see the Constitutional Revision Commission (the “CRC”) convene for the first time since 1997, and for only the third time ever. The CRC convenes every twenty years. For those who are unfamiliar, the CRC contains thirty-seven commissioners who will propose changes to Florida’s Constitution. These proposed changes will then be voted on during the 2018 general election.
Of the thirty-seven commissioners on the CRC, one member is the Florida Attorney General, and fifteen are appointed by the Governor, nine by the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, nine by President of the Florida Senate, and three by the Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court. Earlier this week, Chief Justice Labarga made his three appointments, including Jacksonville’s Hank Coxe. The other commission members will be named this month. It is important for citizens of this state to monitor the appointments and become involved in this process.
During the year after the CRC commissioners are appointed, the CRC will schedule public meetings around the state to discuss issues that could be the subject of the proposed revisions to Florida Constitution. Citizens will then have another chance to be heard when the proposals reach the ballot, as each proposed revision requires 60% of the vote in order to pass.
The CRC is a unique and exciting process and we will continue to update this blog as the process progresses.
