Amendments 1 & 2: Citizenship & Minimum Wage
(Editor’s note: This is the first of a three-part series on the six proposed state constitutional amendments that will appear on the November 3 ballot for Florida voters to consider.)
Amendment 1 is titled “Citizenship Requirement to Vote in Florida Elections” and proposes to change two words in Article VI, Section 2 of the constitution regarding Electors, as follows:
Every citizen Only a citizen of the United States who is at least eighteen years of age and who is a permanent resident of the state, if registered as provided by law, shall be an elector of the county where registered.
While current law already requires someone to be a citizen in order to vote, this proposal adds emphasis on citizenship, reflecting the current debate on whether undocumented residents should one day be allowed to vote. This proposed amendment, as all others, was reviewed for its financial impact on state government and the economy by the state’s Financial Impact Estimating Conference. Because it is not expected to result in any changes to the voter registration process in Florida, it will have no impact on state or local government costs or revenues, nor Florida’s economy.
Amendment 1 is a citizen initiative, proposed by a political action committee called Florida Citizen Voters out of Jacksonville.
Amendment 2 is titled “Raising Florida’s Minimum Wage”. It would raise the minimum wage (currently $8.56 per hour) to $10.00 per hour effective September 30th, 2021. Each September 30th thereafter, the minimum wage would increase by $1.00 per hour until the minimum wage reaches $15.00 per hour on September 30th, 2026. From that point forward, future minimum wage increases would be adjusted annually for inflation starting September 30th, 2027.
The amendment would change Article X, Section 24 of the constitution regarding Florida’s minimum wage. It currently calls for the wage every September 30 to be increased by the rate of inflation the previous 12 months, using the Consumer Price Index for urban wage earners and clerical workers.
The state’s Financial Impact Estimating Conference review of this amendment notes that state and local government costs will increase to comply with the new minimum wage levels. Additional annual wage costs will be approximately $16 million in 2022, increasing to about $540 million in 2027 and thereafter. Government actions to mitigate these costs are unlikely to produce material savings. Other government costs and revenue impacts, both positive and negative, are not quantifiable.
Amendment 2 is a citizen initiative, proposed by a political action committee called Florida For A Fair Wage out of Miami.
All proposed amendments to Florida’s constitution require a 60% majority vote to be approved. As many of our readers are Floridians, it’s important to know how each of these measures can affect us and our families, businesses, and employees. Knowledge is power! Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. Please be sure to exercise your civic duty to vote!
LMA Newsletter of 9-14-20
