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May 31, 2017 DELIVERED VIA EMAIL RE: Your change of course on CRC Rules Dear Chairman Beruff: Late last Friday afternoon, just before the holiday weekend, you announced that you are disbanding the eight Commissioner Rules Working Group and instead have scheduled a meeting of the full commission to consider and vote on the complex and lengthy set of rules you have proposed. We are pleased that you see the urgency of moving forward with adopting rules. However we write to question your method of moving forward and urge you to rethink your plan. In 1997-1998, the CRC operated under a set of rules that served the commission and the public well. For reasons we can only surmise, you have published a set of amendments that departs from the earlier rules in two significant ways: 1. Your amendments would cause this year’s CRC to deviate significantly from the tried and true1997-1998 process for considering proposals by giving the Chair extraordinary powers to advance or kill measures. And, 2. Your amendments place clouds over the Sunshine requirements of our state constitution and statutes, apparently to make it easier for the work of the Commission to be done outside of the public eye. To observers of the May 17 meeting of the Rules Working Group, it was clear that a supermajority of members recognized that Florida’s open government laws guide the way we do government in Florida, are respected throughout the country and should not be watered down in the CRC rules. Those members also expressed respect for the democratic way the 1997-1998 CRC was run and rejected any approach to the rules that would give extra powers to the chair to control what substantive issues the full commission will take up. It is a travesty to discard the valuable recommendations the Working Group came to at their five-hour meeting on May 17 and it is, frankly, absurd to think that a careful and thoughtful review of these complex rules can be completed at a one day meeting of the full 37 member CRC. Your new plan for adopting rules undermines the work and recommendations of the Rules Working Group and it causes us to question whether your real motivation is to facilitate an end run around conclusions reached by a supermajority of the Group because those conclusions were not to your liking.

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Page 1: LTR.Beruff.RulesFINAL · 2017. 5. 31. · negative recommendation from a committee. The proposed rules give committees power to end consideration of proposals. This means that a small

May31,2017

DELIVEREDVIAEMAIL

RE:YourchangeofcourseonCRCRulesDearChairmanBeruff:

LatelastFridayafternoon,justbeforetheholidayweekend,youannouncedthatyouaredisbanding

theeightCommissionerRulesWorkingGroupandinsteadhavescheduledameetingofthefull

commissiontoconsiderandvoteonthecomplexandlengthysetofrulesyouhaveproposed.

Wearepleasedthatyouseetheurgencyofmovingforwardwithadoptingrules.Howeverwewritetoquestionyourmethodofmovingforwardandurgeyoutorethinkyourplan.

In1997-1998,theCRCoperatedunderasetofrulesthatservedthecommissionandthepublicwell.Forreasonswecanonlysurmise,youhavepublishedasetofamendmentsthatdepartsfromtheearlierrulesintwosignificantways:1. Youramendmentswouldcausethisyear’sCRCtodeviatesignificantlyfromthetriedand

true1997-1998processforconsideringproposalsbygivingtheChairextraordinarypowerstoadvanceorkillmeasures.And,

2. YouramendmentsplacecloudsovertheSunshinerequirementsofourstateconstitutionandstatutes,apparentlytomakeiteasierfortheworkoftheCommissiontobedoneoutsideofthepubliceye.

ToobserversoftheMay17meetingoftheRulesWorkingGroup,itwasclearthatasupermajorityof

membersrecognizedthatFlorida’sopengovernmentlawsguidethewaywedogovernmentinFlorida,

arerespectedthroughoutthecountryandshouldnotbewatereddownintheCRCrules.Those

membersalsoexpressedrespectforthedemocraticwaythe1997-1998CRCwasrunandrejectedany

approachtotherulesthatwouldgiveextrapowerstothechairtocontrolwhatsubstantiveissuesthe

fullcommissionwilltakeup.ItisatravestytodiscardthevaluablerecommendationstheWorking

Groupcametoattheirfive-hourmeetingonMay17anditis,frankly,absurdtothinkthatacareful

andthoughtfulreviewofthesecomplexrulescanbecompletedataonedaymeetingofthefull37

memberCRC.

YournewplanforadoptingrulesunderminestheworkandrecommendationsoftheRulesWorkingGroupanditcausesustoquestionwhetheryourrealmotivationistofacilitateanendrunaroundconclusionsreachedbyasupermajorityoftheGroupbecausethoseconclusionswerenottoyourliking.

Page 2: LTR.Beruff.RulesFINAL · 2017. 5. 31. · negative recommendation from a committee. The proposed rules give committees power to end consideration of proposals. This means that a small

ChairmanBeruff,theConstitutionRevisionCommissionisintendedtobeareflectionofthewillof

Floridiansfromallpartsofthestateandfromallpoliticalpointsofview.Itisintendedtobean

entirelydemocraticprocess–notonecontrolledbyapowerfulfew.Anditsworkmustbeconducted

accordingtoFlorida’sopengovernmentprotections.

The1997-1998rulesrecognizedthisbuttheamendmentsyouproposeseemcalculatedtoputthepoweroftheCRCinyourhandsandinthehandsofaverysmallgroupofinsiderswhoyouchooseforimportantcommittees.Inaddition,theamendmentsyouhaveproposedarecalculatedtoallowsomeCRCworktobedoneoutoftheSunshine.Westronglyobject.

Weareattachingthepoint-by-pointreviewofyourproposedrulesthatwascirculatedtoyouandall

CRCmemberspriortothemeetingoftheRulesWorkingGroup.Althoughyouhavenotrespondedto

anyofthosesuggestions–manyofwhichtheRulesWorkingGroupapproved–weagainaskyouto

takethesesuggestionsintoconsideration.

AtthispointtheonlyviablesolutionseemstobefortheCommissionerstorejectanychangetothe1997-1998rulesthatworkedsowellforthelastCRCandadoptthem“asis”fortheimportantworkyouareundertaking.

Sincerely,

HowardSimon,ExecutiveDirector

KirkBailey,PoliticalDirector

AmericanCivilLibertiesUnionofFlorida

AndyMadtes,ExecutiveDirector

AFSCMEFlorida

LizaMcClenaghan,StateChair

CommonCauseFlorida

RichTemplin,Ph.D,Legislative&PoliticalDirector

FloridaAFL-CIO

LauraGoodhue,ExecutiveDirectorFloridaAllianceofPlannedParenthoodAffiliates

JoanneMcCall,President

FloridaEducationAssociation

SusanMcGrath,ExecutiveDirector

FloridaConsumerActionNetwork

TerrySanders,President

FloridaNOW

JosephPennisi,ExecutiveDirector

FloridaPolicyInstitute

CharlyNorton,ExecutiveDirector

FloridaStrong

AshleyWalker,Director

ForOurFuture

ChristineHanna,FounderIndivisibleActionTampaBayPamelaGoodman,PresidentLeagueofWomenVotersFlorida

EstebanGarces,StateDirector

MiFamiliaVota

MarkFerrulo,ExecutiveDirector

ProgressFloridaMarinaWelch,Captain

Women’sMarchTampa

Encl:SuggestionsforCRCRules

CC:AllCommissioners

Contact:LisaHall,[email protected]

Page 3: LTR.Beruff.RulesFINAL · 2017. 5. 31. · negative recommendation from a committee. The proposed rules give committees power to end consideration of proposals. This means that a small

SUGGESTIONSFORCONSTITUTIONREVIEWCOMMISSIONRULESWORKINGGROUP

MAY17,2017

The proposed draft rules deviate from the rules of the previous CRC in somesignificantways.Primaryconcernsrelateto

• AlackoftransparencyandrespectfortheSunshineRules;• Alackofarticulatedprovisionsformeaningfulpublicengagement;• Thepotentialforleverageandinfluenceovercommissionmembers;and• Anuncleartrackforapprovalofproposals.

ItisessentialtoestablishingpublicconfidenceintheCRCprocessthatyouaddresseach of the specific concerns listed below. Rather than list concerns in order ofimportance,fortheconvenienceoftheRulesCommittee,concernswillbeaddressedbelowbyRulenumber.

• Rule1.6:ThedraftrulesappeartogivetheChairmantherighttostopcitizensfromdistributingliteratureinthepublicareasoftheCapitoloroutsideofotherdesignatedmeetingspacelikehallwaysandgalleries.TheChairmanshouldnotbeallowedtoinfringeupontherightsofcitizenstoexpressthemselvesfreelyandpetitiontheirgovernment.

• Rule1.17:Thisruleallowselectronicattendanceatmeetingsviateleconferenceortelephone.AllmemberswhohavebeenawardedthespecialprivilegetoserveonthisCRCshouldmakeeveryefforttoattendallmeetingsinpersonexceptincaseswhereattendanceisnotpossible.Theruleprovidesthatthechairhasthesoleandunlimitedpowertoapproveelectronicattendance.Howwillthechairdeterminewhatgoodcausewillberequiredforelectronicappearance?Electronicattendanceshouldnotbepermittedexceptforextraordinaryreasonssuchasillhealthordisability.

• Rule1.18:Absencesshouldbeonlyforgoodcausesuchasillness,familyemergencyorimpossibilityoftravelandthisgoodcauseshouldbestatedinthewrittennotice.Theruleshouldrequiremembers,whohaveacceptedthehonorandresponsibilityofbeingontheCRC,toattendinpersonunlesstheystateinwritingthereasonsfortheirinabilitytoattend.

• Rule1.23:Thedraftruleslimittransparencybychangingtherequirementthatrecordsbe“open”torequiringthattheCommission’srecordsbe“accessible”?Whatdoes“accessible”mean?Theword“open”isthewordthatisusedintheopenrecordslaws.AtaminimumtheRulesCommitteeshouldmaintaintheword“open”inthisrule.

• Rule1.24:Thedraftruleslimittransparencybyallowingprivatemeetingsbetweenmemberstodiscusscommissionbusiness.Why?Everyothercollegialbodyexceptthelegislatureisrequiredtonoticeallmeetingstodiscussofficialbusiness.Thisrulewouldencouragetheconductofserialprivatemeetingsandfacilitatesdoingcommissionbusinessoutofthepublic

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eyeinviolationofthespiritofFlorida’sgovernmentinthesunshinelaws.AndtheincorporationoftheconstitutionalprovisionforlegislativeopenmeetingsisnotnecessaryorappropriateforthisCommission.1Furthermore,theprovisionthatappliestotheLegislatureisself-executingwhichmeansthattheverypeoplewhomaybeviolatingtheopenmeetingslawsdetermineiftherehasbeenaviolation.ThereshouldbeastrictruleagainstanynumberofCommissionersdiscussingCommissionbusinessamongthemselvesexceptatnoticedmeetings.

• Rule2.2:In1997-1998,reportsofCRCcommitteeswerereportedtothefullcommissionbutwereadvisoryonly.ThefullCRChadthepowertooverruleanegativerecommendationfromacommittee.Theproposedrulesgivecommitteespowertoendconsiderationofproposals.ThismeansthatasmallnumberofcommissionershavethepowertostopproposalsthatasupermajorityoftheCRCmembersmightwanttoentertain.Thischangefromthe1998rulesshouldberejected.SeealsoRules2.12,2.13,2.14.CommitteepowersshouldbecontinuedastheywereinthelastCRCandtheseoriginalrulesshouldberetained.

• Rule2.4:Theproposedrulesremovetherequirementthatcommitteemeetingsbescheduledsothatmembersdonothaveconflictswithothercommitteemeetings.Thereisnoreasonforthisasitisimportantforallmemberstoattendallmeetingsofcommitteestowhichtheyhavebeenassigned.ExcusesforfailuretoattendshouldonlybegivenforgoodcauseasdiscussedabovewithregardtoRule1.18.

• Rule2.8:Inthe1998Rulescommittee,chairsweregiventheresponsibilityofpreservingorderanddecoruminthecommitteeroom.Instead,thisproposedrulegivescommitteechairstheauthoritytodecidewhethermembersofthepublicwillberecognizedtospeakatall.Thisdiscretionshouldberemovedandcommitteechairsshouldberequiredtopermitthepublictobeheardonallissuestakenupateachcommitteemeeting.Reasonabletimelimitsshouldbeestablished.Theonlyreasontoexcludemembersofthepublicshouldbeforpublicdisturbanceordisorderlyconductasprovidedinthe1997-1998rule.

• Rule2.12:Thisproposedruleseemstolimittransparencybyprovidingthatonlyvotesofcommitteememberson“finalconsideration”ofaproposal

1Art.III,Sec.4(e)provides:Therulesofprocedureofeachhouseshallprovidethatalllegislativecommitteeandsubcommitteemeetingsofeachhouse,andjointconferencecommitteemeetings,shallbeopenandnoticedtothepublic.Therulesofprocedureofeachhouseshallfurtherprovidethatallprearrangedgatherings,betweenmorethantwomembersofthelegislature,orbetweenthegovernor,thepresidentofthesenate,orthespeakerofthehouseofrepresentatives,thepurposeofwhichistoagreeuponformallegislativeactionthatwillbetakenatasubsequenttime,oratwhichformallegislativeactionistaken,regardingpendinglegislationoramendments,shallbereasonablyopentothepublic.Allopenmeetingsshallbesubjecttoorderanddecorum.Thissectionshallbeimplementedanddefinedbytherulesofeachhouse,andsuchrulesshallcontroladmissiontothefloorofeachlegislativechamberandmay,wherereasonablynecessaryforsecuritypurposesortoprotectawitnessappearingbeforeacommittee,providefortheclosureofcommitteemeetings.Eachhouseshallbethesolejudgefortheinterpretation,implementation,andenforcementofthissection.

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shouldberecorded.Allvotesrelatingtospecificproposalsmadebyindividualcommissionersshouldberecordedsothatthepublicisabletoknowhoweachcommissionervoteseachtimeavotetoadvance,killoramendaproposalistaken.

• Rule2.14:Theproposedrulesprovideforeachcommitteetoaddressoneormorearticlesoftheconstitution.YetthisrulegivestheCommissionChairthepowertoremoveanyproposalreportedfavorablybyonecommitteeandreferittoanother.ThisappearstogivetheCommissionChairpowertokillaproposalbysendingittoalesshospitablecommitteethatdoesnotevenhandletherelevantconstitutionalArticle.OntheotherhanditpermitstheChairtoadvanceaproposalthattheoriginalcommitteedecidestokillbysendingtoamorefavorablecommittee.Thispowerisnotconsistentwiththecommitteestructureandcreatesapossibleappearanceofabuseofpower.SeealsoRule4.5.Ifcommitteesarearrangedbyconstitutionalarticle,thenonlythecommitteedealingwiththecorrespondingarticleshouldconsidertheproposal.

• Rule2.16:Thisruleremovestherequirementthatproposalsreportedfromcommitteesbeplacedonthecalendarforconsiderationbythefullcommissionandonlyprovidesthatreportedproposalsbe“available”tobeplacedonthecalendar.ThisgivestheRulesandAdministrationCommitteethepowertoeliminateproposalsfromconsideration.Thechangesshouldberejectedandthe1997-1998ruleshouldbeused.

• Rule3.3:Thisrulesubstantiallychangesthe1997-1998procedure.ItrequirestheCommissiontoconsideranypublicproposalifonecommissionerchoosestosponsorit.Theearlierrulerequiredonecommissionertomoveitsconsiderationandthenrequiredthattencommissionersvotetoconsiderbeforeitwasputintothecommissionprocessforfullconsideration.ThisnewrulehasthepotentialtoburdentheCommissionwithmanymoreproposalsthanmightbeotherwisenecessary,takingtimeawayfromothermorewidelyapprovedproposals.CombinedwiththefactthatRulesandAdministrationhasnoobligationtocalendaranyitem,thisruleconcentratesthefateofpubicproposalsinasmallhandfulofcommissioners.

• Rule5.3:ThisruleshouldalsoprohibitanyCommissionerfromcastingavoteunlesstheyarepresent.

Additionalconsiderations:

1. ProvideforpublichearingsaroundthestateafterproposalshavebeenreportedbyStyleandDraftingandbeforethefinalvoteistaken.

2. Provideforconsiderationofpubliccomment(writtenorinperson)priortoadoptionofproposals

3. Whilethepublishedethicalrulesprovidethatcommissionmemberscannottakeanythingofvaluefromsomeonelobbyinganissue,thereisanexceptionforcampaigncontributions.Thatmeanslegislatorsandotherelectedofficialsmightbeinfluencedtovoteonissuesbasedonwhethertheirvoteswillyieldcampaigncontributions.Pleaseconsiderchangingtheethicalrulessothat

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legislatorsorotherelectedofficialsareprohibitedfromtakingcampaigncontributionsfromanypersonororganizationlobbyinganissuebeforetheCRCandforoneyearthereafter.

4. Provisionforelectronicparticipationbymembersofthepublicatcommitteemeetingswouldgreatlyenhancepublicconfidenceinthisprocess.Ifanyelectronicparticipationisallowed,weurgeyoutocreateopportunitiesthatwouldallowcitizensfromallaroundthestatetoprovideinputelectronicallytocommitteesonimportantissues.


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