THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Court OKs FAIR Districts impact statements
Dec 17, 2009
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
COURT OKS FAIR DISTRICTS IMPACT STATEMENTS
Financial impact statements that would accompany proposed ballot questions dealing with redistricting are legal and can go on the ballot, the Florida Supreme Court ruled Thursday. The proposed “Fair Districts” amendments have already had their ballot language approved by the court, though the backers are still trying to get signatures to get them before voters next year. The proposed amendments would spell out what lawmakers must consider when redrawing legislative and congressional districts. Financial impact statements that tell voters how much proposed amendments should cost must be approved by the Supreme Court – and the court on Thursday in a 5-1 ruling said the financial impact statements comply with the law and can go on the ballot. The statements originally had been rejected, and sent back to Financial Impact Estimating Conference for redrafting. Essentially, the statements say that the impact of the amendments can’t be precisely determined, which the court said is permitted by the law, though it also notes a possible increase in litigation costs to the state. Chief Justice Peggy Quince dissented, and Justice Barbara Pariente was recused.
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