Revision Commission Amendment Adopted
Two weeks ago, the electorate of Florida adopted Amendment #2 relating to the Constitution Revision Commission. The amendment addresses two issues.
First, the amendment codifies an earlier opinion of the Florida Supreme Court and establishes 1997 as the starting date for the revision commission.
Second, and more importantly, the amendment restores the commission's full jurisdiction by removing the restrictions on the commission's authority to examine matters relating to taxation or state budgetary considerations.
AMENDMENT 2 ADOPTED
FOR: 2,730,230 AGAINST: 1,716,894In 1988, the Constitution was amended to provide that the Constitution Revision Commission examine the entire constitution with the exception of matters relating to taxation or the state budgetary process. Those matters were left to a newly created Taxation and Budget Reform Commission established in Article XI, section 6.
Amendment #2 reversed the 1988 action by providing the commission with the authority to conduct a full study and review of the entire constitution. The amendment allows both the Constitution Revision Commission and the Tax and Budget Reform Commission the authority to address constitutional matters relating to taxation and the state budgetary process.