Title: Legislative Sessions

Summary: Proposing amendments to the State Constitution, relating to sessions of the Legislature, to change the date of convening and the length of regular sessions of the Legislature and to remove the requirement that the Legislature meet in organization sessions, etc.

Full Text:
A joint resolution proposing an amendment to Section of Article III and the creation of Section of Article XII of the State Constitution, relating to sessions of the Legislature, to change the date of convening and the length of regular sessions of the Legislature and to remove the requirement that the Legislature meet in organization sessions. Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida: That the following amendment to Section of Article III and the creation of Section of Article XII of the State Constitution are agreed to and shall be submitted to the electors of this state for approval or rejection at the next general election or at an earlier special election specifically authorized by law for that purpose: ARTICLE III LEGISLATURE SECTION 3. Sessions of the legislature.  (a) ORGANIZATION SESSIONS. On the fourteenth day following each general election the legislature shall convene for the exclusive purpose of organization and selection of officers. (a) (b)  REGULAR SESSIONS.  A regular session of The legislature shall convene in regular session on the fourteenth day following each general election, and each house shall immediately organize and select officers. Each session of the legislature shall adjourn sine die by midnight on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of the following even-numbered year. on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March of each odd-numbered year, and on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March, or such other date as may be fixed by law, of each even-numbered year. (b) (c)  SPECIAL SESSIONS. (1) The governor, by proclamation stating the purpose, may convene the legislature in special session during which only such legislative business may be transacted as is within the purview of the proclamation, or of a communication from the governor, or is introduced by consent of two-thirds of the membership of each house. (2) A special session of the legislature may be convened as provided by law. (c) (d)  LENGTH OF SPECIAL SESSIONS.  A regular session of the legislature shall not exceed sixty consecutive days, and A special session shall not exceed twenty consecutive days, unless extended beyond such limit by a three-fifths vote of each house. During such an extension no new business may be taken up in either house without the consent of two-thirds of its membership. (d) (e)  ADJOURNMENT. Neither house shall adjourn for more than seventy-two consecutive hours except pursuant to concurrent resolution. (e) (f)  ADJOURNMENT BY GOVERNOR. If, during any regular or special session, the two houses cannot agree upon a time for adjournment, the governor may adjourn the session sine die or to any date within the period authorized for such session; provided that, at least twenty-four hours before adjourning the session, and while neither house is in recess, each house shall be given formal written notice of the governor s intention to do so, and agreement reached within that period by both houses on a time for adjournment shall prevail. ARTICLE XII SCHEDULE SECTION 34. Legislative sessions. The amendment to Section of Article III changing the date for convening regular sessions of the legislature shall apply beginning with the regular session convening in November 2016. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following statement be placed on the ballot: CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ARTICLE III, SECTION ARTICLE XII, Section CONVENING OF REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS. Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to change the date on which regular sessions of the Legislature convene, from the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March to the 14th day following each general election. The amendment will eliminate the requirement that the length of regular sessions be limited to consecutive days. This amendment also removes the requirement that the Legislature convene for organization sessions, which currently take place on the 14th day following each general election.