No. SJR 1364
Filed under Environment & Water.
Joint Resolution/Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; Proposing amendments to the State Constitution to declare collective responsibility for certain animal life and to revise the composition of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and appointments thereto, etc.
Plain English Summary
AI-GENERATEDThis joint resolution asks voters to approve a state constitutional amendment; it is not a law that takes effect on its own. If approved, it would declare that Florida's wild animal, freshwater aquatic, and marine life belong to all state residents and future generations.
The amendment would expand the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission from seven to nine governor-appointed, Senate-confirmed members, require one commissioner to live in one of the commission's five regional divisions, and cap each commissioner at two five-year terms.
At least three commissioners would need both a postgraduate degree in conservation, biology, or wildlife management and direct professional experience in fish or wildlife work, qualifications the commission has never had before.
A phased schedule would replace commissioners in three waves between January 2027 and January 2028, sorted by when they were originally appointed, to transition the commission to its new size and qualifications.
AIIf voters approve, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission would grow from seven to nine members, each still appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate for staggered five-year terms.
AIAt least three of the nine commissioners would need both a postgraduate degree in conservation, biology, or wildlife management and direct professional experience in fish or wildlife conservation or management.
AINo commissioner could serve more than two five-year terms, consecutive or otherwise, a cap that does not exist under current staggered-term rules.
AIAt least one commissioner would have to be a full-time resident of one of the commission's five regional administrative divisions as they exist on July 1, 2026.
AIExisting commissioners would be replaced in three waves keyed to their original appointment year, with vacated seats refilled by qualified appointees between January 2027 and January 2028.
AIThe amendment would add a constitutional declaration that wild animal, freshwater aquatic, and marine life belong to all state residents and must be conserved and sustainably managed for current and future generations.