Legislative Matter

Miami-Dade Legislative Item
File Number: 122469

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Clerk's Official Copy

File Number: 122469

File Type: Resolution

Status: Adopted

Version: 0

Reference: R-1090-12

Control: Board of County Commissioners

File Name: ELECTIONS ADVISORY GROUP PROPOSED TASK FORCE LEGISLATIVE

Introduced: 12/17/2012

Requester: NONE

Cost:

Final Action: 12/18/2012

Agenda Date: 12/18/2012

Agenda Item Number: 11A20

Notes:

SEE ADDITIONAL ITEMS R#1075-12 & R#124-13)

Title:

RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE STATE LEGISLATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE MAYOR’S ELECTIONS ADVISORY GROUP; URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE DURING THE 2013 SESSION TO ENACT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS OR SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR LEGISLATION; AND IDENTIFYING THESE RECOMMENDATIONS AS CRITICAL COUNTY PRIORITIES FOR THE 2013 SESSION (SEE ADDITIONAL ITEMS R#1075-12 & 124-13)

Indexes:

ELECTIONS

Sponsors:	Rebeca Sosa, Co-Prime Sponsor
	Lynda Bell, Co-Prime Sponsor
	Sally A. Heyman, Co-Prime Sponsor

Sunset Provision: No

Effective Date:

Expiration Date:

Registered Lobbyist:

None Listed

Legislative History
Acting Body	Date	Agenda Item	Action	Sent To	Due Date	Returned	Pass/Fail

Board of County Commissioners	2/5/2013		Application signed by required number of commissioners for renewal
REPORT:	Application for renewal and necessary signatures were received to enable the Commissioners to take action at the February 5, 2013 meeting to urge the Florida Legislature to amend State Election Law to restore early voting to 14 days. On February 5, 2013, Commissioners adopted add-on Legistar File No. 130236, Resolution R-124-13, to accomplish such action, thereby modifying R-1075-12 (Legistar 122472) and R-1090-12 (Legistar 122469) to support 14 rather than 9 days of early voting. On February 5, 2013, Commissioners also adopted 11A24 (Legistar 130164) as amended, Resolution R-118-13, to support 14 days early voting .

Board of County Commissioners	12/18/2012	11A20	Adopted				P
REPORT:	The Board members proceeded to vote on the foregoing proposed resolution, as presented. Commissioner Jordan asked the Commission members to consider urging the state, as well as the Commission, to limit the number of items to be included in the legislative package.

Office of the Chairperson	12/17/2012		Additions

County Attorney	12/17/2012		Assigned	Jess M. McCarty	12/17/2012

Legislative Text

TITLE
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE STATE LEGISLATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE MAYOR�S ELECTIONS ADVISORY GROUP; URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE DURING THE 2013 SESSION TO ENACT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS OR SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR LEGISLATION; AND IDENTIFYING THESE RECOMMENDATIONS AS CRITICAL COUNTY PRIORITIES FOR THE 2013 SESSION

BODY
WHEREAS, the Mayor created the Elections Advisory Group following the November 2012 general election; and
WHEREAS, the Elections Advisory Group has met, considered and decided to support five (5) state legislative recommendations related to elections for the 2013 session of the Florida Legislature; and
WHEREAS, the five (5) state legislative recommendations consist of the following:
1. Expanding allowable facilities eligible for use as early voting sites;
2. Extending the availability of early voting from eight (8) to nine (9) days, so as to include the last Sunday before Election Day;
3. Limiting ballot language for constitutional amendments proposed by the Legislature to the same maximum of 15 words for the title and 75 words for the ballot summary that applies to constitutional amendments proposed by other individuals or entities;
4. Extending the number of days that Supervisors of Elections are permitted to canvass absentee ballots before the election from 15 to 20 days;
5. Discontinuing the use of the term �Absentee Ballot� and replacing it with �Vote by Mail�; and

WHEREAS, this Board strongly supports these recommendations and urges the Florida Legislature to enact them during the 2013 session; and
WHEREAS, given the importance of addressing these issues for voters in future elections, the Board wishes to identify these issues as critical County priorities in the County�s state legislative package for the 2013 session of the Florida Legislature,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Supports the following five (5) state legislative recommendations of the Mayor�s Elections Advisory Group, statutory amendment language for which is attached and incorporated by reference:
1. Expanding allowable facilities eligible for use as early voting sites;
2. Extending the availability of early voting from eight (8) to nine (9) days, so as to include the last Sunday before Election Day;
3. Limiting ballot language for constitutional amendments proposed by the Legislature to the same maximum of 15 words for the title and 75 words for the ballot summary that applies to constitutional amendments proposed by other individuals or entities;
4. Extending the number of days that Supervisors of Elections are permitted to canvass absentee ballots before the election from 15 to 20 days;
5. Discontinuing the use of the term �Absentee Ballot� and replacing it with �Vote by Mail�.

Section 2. Urges the Florida Legislature during the 2013 session to enact these five (5) recommendations or substantially similar legislation.
Section 3. Identifies these issues as critical priorities of Miami-Dade County for the 2013 session of the Florida Legislature.
Section 4. Directs the County�s state lobbyists to advocate for the passage of the legislation set forth in Section 1 above, and authorizes and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to amend the 2013 State Legislative Package to include these items as critical priorities.