Bill Text: FL H0787 | 2011 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Recall

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-05-07 - Indefinitely postponed and withdrawn from consideration [H0787 Detail]

Download: Florida-2011-H0787-Introduced.html
HB 787

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to recall; creating s. 100.365, F.S.
3providing procedures for recall from office of the
4Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, members of the Cabinet,
5and legislators; requiring that proponents of the recall
6register as a political committee; prescribing the methods
7and timeframes for initiating and conducting the recall;
8providing ballot language; providing that the removal of
9the Governor from office includes the removal of the
10Lieutenant Governor; authorizing the adoption of rules;
11providing a contingent effective date.
12
13Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
14
15     Section 1.  Section 100.365, Florida Statutes, is created
16to read:
17     100.365  Recall election of Governor, Lieutenant Governor,
18members of the Cabinet, and legislators.-
19     (1)  In accordance with s. 8, Art. VI of the State
20Constitution, the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, a member of
21the Cabinet, or a legislator may be removed from office by the
22electors before the official's term expires. A person may be
23removed from elective office pursuant to the procedures provided
24in this section. The method of removing persons from elective
25office provided in this section is in addition to any other
26method provided by state law.
27     (2)  The proponent of a recall petition shall, prior to
28obtaining any signatures, register as a political committee
29pursuant to s. 106.03 and submit the text of the proposed recall
30petition to the Secretary of State, with the form on which the
31signatures will be affixed, and obtain the approval of the
32Secretary of State of such form. The Secretary of State shall  
33prescribe by rule the style and requirements of the form in
34accordance with this section and s. 8, Art. VI of the State
35Constitution.
36     (3)  The recall of a public official is initiated by
37delivering to the Secretary of State a petition containing the
38name of the person sought to be recalled and the alleged reason
39for the recall. The alleged reason for the recall is not
40reviewable. However, a petition to recall the Governor shall
41also contain the name of the Lieutenant Governor. Proponents
42have 120 days to circulate and file the signed petitions.
43     (4)  A recall petition form circulated for signatures may
44not be bundled with or attached to any other petition. Each
45signature shall be dated when signed and shall be valid for the
46duration of the recall, provided all other requirements of law
47are met. The proponent shall submit signed and dated forms to
48the appropriate supervisor of elections for verification as to
49the number of registered electors whose valid signatures appear
50on the forms. The supervisor shall promptly verify the
51signatures within 30 days after receipt of the petition forms
52and payment of the fee required by s. 99.097. The supervisor
53shall promptly record, in the manner prescribed by the Secretary
54of State, the date each form is received by the supervisor and
55the date the signature on the form is verified as valid. The
56supervisor may verify that the signature on a form is valid only
57if:
58     (a)  The form contains the original signature of the
59purported elector.
60     (b)  The purported elector has accurately recorded on the
61form the date on which he or she signed the form.
62     (c)  The form accurately sets forth the purported elector's
63name, street address, county, and voter registration number or
64date of birth.
65     (d)  The purported elector is, at the time he or she signs
66the petition, a duly qualified and registered elector authorized
67to vote in the county in which his or her signature is
68submitted.
69
70The supervisor shall retain the signature petitions for at least
711 year after the conclusion of the recall process.
72     (5)  The Secretary of State shall determine from the
73signatures verified by the supervisors of elections the total
74number of verified valid signatures and the distribution of such
75signatures by county, when appropriate. Upon a determination
76that the requisite number and distribution of valid signatures
77have been obtained, the Secretary of State shall at once serve
78upon the person sought to be recalled a certified copy of the
79petition and shall notify the Governor that a recall election
80shall be held in accordance with s. 8, Art VI of the State
81Constitution.
82     (6)  The ballots for the recall election of any person
83other than the Governor shall state: "Shall .... be removed from
84the office of .... by recall?" followed by the word "yes" and
85also by the word "no." Immediately thereafter, the names of the
86candidates who are seeking to fill the remainder of that term of
87office, if vacated, shall be listed.
88     (7)  The ballots for the recall election of the Governor
89shall state: "Shall .... be removed from the office of Governor
90and shall .... be removed from the office of Lieutenant Governor
91by recall?" followed by the word "yes" and also by the word
92"no." Immediately thereafter, the names of the joint candidates
93for Governor and Lieutenant Governor who are seeking to fill the
94remainder of that term of office, if vacated, shall be listed.
95Neither the Governor nor the Lieutenant Governor may appear on
96the ballot as a candidate for either office. The removal of the
97Governor from office includes the removal of the Lieutenant
98Governor.
99     (8)  The Secretary of State, as chief election officer of
100the state, may adopt rules to administer this section.
101     Section 2.  This act shall take effect on the effective
102date of an amendment to the State Constitution approved by the
103electors at the general election to be held in November 2012
104which authorizes, or removes impediment to, enactment by the
105Legislature of the provisions of this act.


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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