SB 798 — Voting Rights Restoration

Summary

Voting Rights Restoration; Revising conditions under which the voting disqualification for a person’s conviction of a felony, other than murder or a felony sexual offense, terminates; requiring certain entities to provide certain notification to the Department of State following a convicted felon’s release or discharge from state prison, county jail, parole supervision, release supervision, probation, or community control; requiring the department to send such felons a notice regarding the amount of outstanding fines or fines owed in order to be eligible to register to vote; authorizing a person to request an advisory opinion from the Division of Elections to determine his or her eligibility to vote following a felony conviction, etc.

Bill Text

• Introduced S 798 Filed Current html

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill revises the process for restoring voting rights to felons in Florida, particularly regarding notification and the waiver of fines or fees owed.

• 98.0751

  the disqualification terminates if the person’s outstanding fines or fees described in sub-subparagraph (2)(a)5.b. are waived due to the department’s failure to provide a timely notification or advisory opinion under either paragraph (3)(a) or s. 106.23(2)(b), as applicable, so long as the person has otherwise completed all other terms of sentence. → the disqualification terminates if the person’s outstanding fines or fees described in sub-subparagraph (2)(a)5.b. are waived due to the department’s failure to provide a timely notification or advisory opinion under either paragraph (3)(a) or s. 106.23(2)(b), as applicable, so long as the person has otherwise completed all other terms of sentence.

  This change clarifies that the termination of disqualification is contingent upon the timely notification regarding outstanding fines or fees.

• 98.0751

  the full amount of any outstanding fines or fees described under sub-subparagraph (2)(a)5.b. is deemed to be waived and the person is eligible to have his or her voting rights restored so long as he or she has completed all other terms of sentence and he or she meets any other requirements established under s. 4, Art. VI of the State Constitution and this code. → the full amount of any outstanding fines or fees described under sub-subparagraph (2)(a)5.b. is deemed to be waived and the person is eligible to have his or her voting rights restored so long as he or she has completed all other terms of sentence and he or she meets any other requirements established under s. 4, Art. VI of the State Constitution and this code.

  This provision waives fines or fees if the department fails to provide timely notice, allowing eligibility for voting rights restoration.

• 106.23

  Any such person or organization, acting in good faith upon such an advisory opinion, is shall not be subject to any criminal penalty provided for in this chapter. → Any such person or organization, acting in good faith upon such an advisory opinion, shall not be subject to any criminal penalty provided for in this chapter.

  This amendment maintains the protection against criminal penalties for those acting on advisory opinions.

• 106.23

  The opinion, until amended or revoked, is shall be binding on any person or organization who sought the opinion or with reference to whom the opinion was sought, unless material facts were omitted or misstated in the request for the advisory opinion. → The opinion, until amended or revoked, shall be binding on any person or organization who sought the opinion or with reference to whom the opinion was sought, unless material facts were omitted or misstated in the request for the advisory opinion.

  This clarifies that advisory opinions are binding unless there are omissions or misstatements.

• 106.23

  A person who has previously been convicted of a felony, other than murder or a felony sexual offense, and who is not subject to the procedure in s. 98.0751(3)(a) may request an advisory opinion pursuant to paragraph (a) to determine whether he or she is eligible for voting rights restoration under the requirements of s. 4, Art. VI of the State Constitution and s. 98.0751. → A person who has previously been convicted of a felony, other than murder or a felony sexual offense, and who is not subject to the procedure in s. 98.0751(3)(a) may request an advisory opinion pursuant to paragraph (a) to determine whether he or she is eligible for voting rights restoration under the requirements of s. 4, Art. VI of the State Constitution and s. 98.0751.

  This ensures that individuals can seek advisory opinions regarding their voting rights restoration.

• 106.23

  and who is not subject to the procedure in s. 98.0751(3)(a)

  This amendment removes the exclusion clause, potentially allowing more individuals to seek advisory opinions.

• 106.23

  The division shall prescribe by rule a form for use by persons requesting an advisory opinion on voting rights restoration pursuant to subparagraph 1.

  This addition requires the division to create a standardized form for advisory opinion requests.

Action History

1. April 30, 2021

   Died in Ethics and Elections

2. March 02, 2021

   Introduced

3. February 04, 2021

   Referred to Ethics and Elections; Criminal Justice; Appropriations

4. January 26, 2021

   Filed

Sponsors

• Taddeo · Primary

Subjects