Constitutional Amendment
PetitionProhibiting Oil Drilling in Florida
Waters Surfrider Foundation 2010 Florida Chapter Conference
Presented by Sarah Owen Gledhill
Florida Wildlife FederationAugust 14, 2010
Overview of Presentation
• Background
• Process
• Summary
• Questions
Florida Wildlife Federation
Background
•Spring 2009 Legislature
•HB 1219
•2010 Constitutional Amendment
•Special Session July 20-23
•2012 Initiative Petition
Florida Wildlife Federation
Process• Step 1 - Register as a Political Committee
• Step 2 - Get Format Approval
• Step 3 - Serial Number Assignment
• Step 4 - Circulation
• Step 5 - Submit Petitions for Verification
• Step 6 - Pay for Cost of Verification
• Step 7 - Certifications of Petitions
• Step 8 - Supreme Court Review
• Step 9 - Fiscal Impact Statement
• Step 10 - Certification of Ballot PositionFlorida Wildlife Federation
Step 1Register as a Political
Committee
Save our Seas, Beaches and Shores, Inc. PO BOX 6686
Tallahassee Florida (850)656-7113
Florida Wildlife Federation
Step 2Get Formal ApprovalGet Format Approval
• Division of Elections Department of State
•7 days upon receipt
•August 10, 2010 August 17, 2010
Florida Wildlife Federation
BALLOT TITLE: Prohibiting oil drilling in Florida waters seaward of Florida’s mean high tide line.
BALLOT SUMMARY: Prohibiting oil drilling for exploration or extraction in and beneath Florida waters from the mean high tide line to the outermost boundaries of Florida’s territorial seas.
ARTICLE AND SECTION BEING CREATED OR AMENDED: Article II, Section 7FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT:BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA THAT:Article II, Section 7, is hereby amended to add the following subsection: To protect the people of Florida and their environment, oil drilling for exploration or extraction is prohibited in and beneath all Florida waters between the mean high tide line and the outermost boundaries of the Florida territorial seas. This prohibition shall not apply to transportation of oil and gas products produced outside of these waters. This provision is self-executing.
Step 3
Serial Number Assignment
•Division of Elections assigned
Florida Wildlife Federation
Step 4Circulation
• 676,811 signatures required
•Congressional District Signatures
• 67, 683 signatures obtained in at least 7 CDs for Supreme Court Review (Step 8)
Florida Wildlife Federation
Step 5 & 6Submit Petitions for Verification
and Pay for Verification
•DE check signatures within 30 days of receipt
• 10 cents per signature paid by SOSBS
Florida Wildlife Federation
Step 7Certification of Petitions
• ALL petitions submitted by February 1, 2012 5 p.m.
Florida Wildlife FederationFlorida Wildlife Federation
Step 8 & 9Supreme Court Review & Fiscal
Impact Statement
• 10% of the signatures from 7 CD
• Attorney General petitions the Supreme Court
• Supreme Court renders an advisory opinion for constitutionality
• Financial Impact Estimating Conference reviews and completes analysis
• Impact Statement is placed on the ballot under the summary
Florida Wildlife Federation
Step 10Certification of Ballot Position
•Once all signatures are verified and submitted by February 1, 2012 a certificate of ballot position is issued
Florida Wildlife Federation
Am I in State Constitution 101?
Florida Wildlife Federation
What does this mean for us at the local level
What we need from you?
• Talk to the Media
• Talk to your Neighbors
•Collect signatures
Florida Wildlife Federation
WE NEED 707,000 SIGNATURES