ProposedConstitutional

Amendmentstobevotedon

November8,2016

FloridaDepartmentofState

DivisionofElections


ProposedConstitutionalAmendmentstobevoted

onNovember8,2016

Wordsunderlinedareadditions;wordsstrickenare

deletions.

NO.1

CONSTITUTIONALAMENDMENT

ARTICLEX,SECTION29

(INITIATIVE)

BallotTitle:
RightsofElectricityConsumersRegardingSolarEnergyChoice

BallotSummary:
ThisamendmentestablishesarightunderFlorida'sconstitutionfor
consumerstoownorleasesolarequipmentinstalledontheirproperty
togenerateelectricityfortheirownuse.Stateandlocalgovernments
shallretaintheirabilitiestoprotectconsumerrightsandpublichealth,
safetyandwelfare,andtoensurethatconsumerswhodonotchoose
toinstallsolararenotrequiredtosubsidizethecostsofbackuppower
andelectricgridaccesstothosewhodo.

FinancialImpactStatement:
Theamendmentisnotexpectedtoresultinanincreaseordecreasein
anyrevenuesorcoststostateandlocalgovernment.

FullText:
ARTICLEX

Miscellaneous

Section29Rightsofelectricityconsumersregardingsolarenergy
choice.
(a)ESTABLISHMENTOFCONSTITUTIONALRIGHT.Electricityconsumers
havetherighttoownorleasesolarequipmentinstalledontheir
propertytogenerateelectricityfortheirownuse.
(b)RETENTIONOFSTATEANDLOCALGOVERNMENTALABILITIES.State
andlocalgovernmentsshallretaintheirabilitiestoprotectconsumer
rightsandpublichealth,safetyandwelfare,andtoensurethat

consumerswhodonotchoosetoinstallsolararenotrequiredto
subsidizethecostsofbackuppowerandelectricgridaccesstothose
whodo.
(c)DEFINITIONS.Forpurposesofthissection,thefollowingwordsand
termsshallhavethefollowingmeanings:
(1)"consumer"meansanyenduserofelectricityregardlessofthe
sourceofthatelectricity.
(2)"solarequipment,""solarelectricalgeneratingequipment"and
"solar"areusedinterchangeablyandmeanphotovoltaicpanelsandany
otherdeviceorsystemthatconvertssunlightintoelectricity.
(3)"backuppower"meanselectricityfromanelectricutility,made
availabletosolarelectricityconsumersfortheirusewhentheirsolar
electricitygenerationisinsufficientorunavailable,suchasatnight,
duringperiodsoflowsolarelectricitygenerationorwhentheirsolar
equipmentotherwiseisnotfunctioning.
(4)"lease,"whenusedinthecontextofaconsumerpayingtheowner
ofsolarelectricalgeneratingequipmentfortherighttousesuch
equipment,meansanagreementunderwhichtheconsumerpaysthe
equipmentowner/lessorastreamofperiodicpaymentsfortheuseof
suchequipment,whichpaymentsdonotvaryinamountbasedonthe
amountofelectricityproducedbytheequipmentandusedbythe
consumer/lessee.
(5)"electricgrid"meanstheinterconnectedelectricalnetwork,
consistingofpowerplantsandothergeneratingfacilities,transformers,
transmissionlines,distributionlinesandrelatedfacilities,thatmakes
electricityavailabletoconsumersthroughoutFlorida.
(6)"electricutility"meansanymunicipalelectricutility,investorowned
electricutility,orruralelectriccooperativewhichowns,maintains,
oroperatesanelectricgeneration,transmission,ordistributionsystem
withinthestate.
(d)EFFECTIVEDATE.Thissectionshallbeeffectiveimmediatelyupon
voterapprovalofthisamendment.

NO.2

CONSTITUTIONALAMENDMENT

ARTICLEX,SECTION29

(INITIATIVE)

BallotTitle:
UseofMarijuanaforDebilitatingMedicalConditions

BallotSummary:
Allowsmedicaluseofmarijuanaforindividualswithdebilitating
medicalconditionsasdeterminedbyalicensedFloridaphysician.
Allowscaregiverstoassistpatientsmedicaluseofmarijuana.The
DepartmentofHealthshallregisterandregulatecentersthatproduce
anddistributemarijuanaformedicalpurposesandshallissue
identificationcardstopatientsandcaregivers.AppliesonlytoFlorida
law.Doesnotimmunizeviolationsoffederallaworanynonmedical
use,possessionorproductionofmarijuana.

FinancialImpactStatement:
Increasedcostsfromthisamendmenttostateandlocalgovernments
cannotbedetermined.Therewillbeadditionalregulatorycostsand
enforcementactivitiesassociatedwiththeproduction,sale,useand
possessionofmedicalmarijuana.Feesmayoffsetsomeofthe
regulatorycosts.Salestaxwilllikelyapplytomostpurchases,resulting
inasubstantialincreaseinstateandlocalgovernmentrevenuesthat
cannotbedeterminedprecisely.Theimpactonpropertytaxrevenues
cannotbedetermined.

FullText:
ARTICLEX

Miscellaneous

SECTION29.Medicalmarijuanaproduction,possessionanduse.

(a)PUBLICPOLICY.
(1)Themedicaluseofmarijuanabyaqualifyingpatientorcaregiverin
compliancewiththissectionisnotsubjecttocriminalorcivilliabilityor
sanctionsunderFloridalaw.
(2)Aphysicianshallnotbesubjecttocriminalorcivilliabilityor
sanctionsunderFloridalawsolelyforissuingaphysiciancertification
withreasonablecaretoapersondiagnosedwithadebilitatingmedical
conditionincompliancewiththissection.
(3)ActionsandconductbyaMedicalMarijuanaTreatmentCenter
registeredwiththeDepartment,oritsagentsoremployees,andin
compliancewiththissectionandDepartmentregulations,shallnotbe
subjecttocriminalorcivilliabilityorsanctionsunderFloridalaw.
(b)DEFINITIONS.Forpurposesofthissection,thefollowingwordsand
termsshallhavethefollowingmeanings:
(1)DebilitatingMedicalConditionmeanscancer,epilepsy,glaucoma,
positivestatusforhumanimmunodeficiencyvirus(HIV),acquired
immunedeficiencysyndrome(AIDS),posttraumaticstressdisorder
(PTSD),amyotrophiclateralsclerosis(ALS),Crohn'sdisease,Parkinson's
disease,multiplesclerosis,orotherdebilitatingmedicalconditionsof
thesamekindorclassasorcomparabletothoseenumerated,andfor
whichaphysicianbelievesthatthemedicaluseofmarijuanawould
likelyoutweighthepotentialhealthrisksforapatient.
(2)DepartmentmeanstheDepartmentofHealthoritssuccessor
agency.
(3)IdentificationcardmeansadocumentissuedbytheDepartment
thatidentifiesaqualifyingpatientoracaregiver.
(4)MarijuanahasthemeaninggivencannabisinSection893.02(3),
FloridaStatutes(2014),and,inaddition,LowTHCcannabisasdefined
inSection381.986(1)(b),FloridaStatutes(2014),shallalsobeincluded
inthemeaningofthetermmarijuana.
(5)MedicalMarijuanaTreatmentCenter(MMTC)meansanentity
thatacquires,cultivates,possesses,processes(includingdevelopment
ofrelatedproductssuchasfood,tinctures,aerosols,oils,orointments),

transfers,transports,sells,distributes,dispenses,oradministers
marijuana,productscontainingmarijuana,relatedsupplies,or
educationalmaterialstoqualifyingpatientsortheircaregiversandis
registeredbytheDepartment.
(6)Medicalusemeanstheacquisition,possession,use,delivery,
transfer,oradministrationofanamountofmarijuananotinconflict
withDepartmentrules,orofrelatedsuppliesbyaqualifyingpatientor
caregiverforusebythecaregiversdesignatedqualifyingpatientforthe
treatmentofadebilitatingmedicalcondition.
(7)Caregivermeansapersonwhoisatleasttwentyone(21)years
oldwhohasagreedtoassistwithaqualifyingpatient'smedicaluseof
marijuanaandhasqualifiedforandobtainedacaregiveridentification
cardissuedbytheDepartment.TheDepartmentmaylimitthenumber
ofqualifyingpatientsacaregivermayassistatonetimeandthe
numberofcaregiversthataqualifyingpatientmayhaveatonetime.
Caregiversareprohibitedfromconsumingmarijuanaobtainedfor
medicalusebythequalifyingpatient.
(8)Physicianmeansapersonwhoislicensedtopracticemedicinein
Florida.
(9)Physiciancertificationmeansawrittendocumentsignedbya
physician,statingthatinthephysician'sprofessionalopinion,the
patientsuffersfromadebilitatingmedicalcondition,thatthemedical
useofmarijuanawouldlikelyoutweighthepotentialhealthrisksfor
thepatient,andforhowlongthephysicianrecommendsthemedical
useofmarijuanaforthepatient.Aphysiciancertificationmayonlybe
providedafterthephysicianhasconductedaphysicalexaminationand
afullassessmentofthemedicalhistoryofthepatient.Inorderfora
physiciancertificationtobeissuedtoaminor,aparentorlegal
guardianoftheminormustconsentinwriting.
(10)Qualifyingpatientmeansapersonwhohasbeendiagnosedto
haveadebilitatingmedicalcondition,whohasaphysiciancertification
andavalidqualifyingpatientidentificationcard.IftheDepartment
doesnotbeginissuingidentificationcardswithinnine(9)monthsafter

theeffectivedateofthissection,thenavalidphysiciancertificationwill
serveasapatientidentificationcardinordertoallowapersonto
becomea"qualifyingpatient"untiltheDepartmentbeginsissuing
identificationcards.
(c)LIMITATIONS.
(1)Nothinginthissectionallowsforaviolationofanylawotherthan
forconductincompliancewiththeprovisionsofthissection.
(2)Nothinginthissectionshallaffectorrepeallawsrelatingtonon
medicaluse,possession,production,orsaleofmarijuana.
(3)Nothinginthissectionauthorizestheuseofmedicalmarijuanaby
anyoneotherthanaqualifyingpatient.
(4)Nothinginthissectionshallpermittheoperationofanyvehicle,
aircraft,trainorboatwhileundertheinfluenceofmarijuana.
(5)Nothinginthissectionrequirestheviolationoffederallawor
purportstogiveimmunityunderfederallaw.
(6)Nothinginthissectionshallrequireanyaccommodationofanyon
sitemedicaluseofmarijuanainanycorrectionalinstitutionor
detentionfacilityorplaceofeducationoremployment,orofsmoking
medicalmarijuanainanypublicplace.
(7)Nothinginthissectionshallrequireanyhealthinsuranceprovideror
anygovernmentagencyorauthoritytoreimburseanypersonfor
expensesrelatedtothemedicaluseofmarijuana.
(8)Nothinginthissectionshallaffectorrepeallawsrelatingto
negligenceorprofessionalmalpracticeonthepartofaqualified
patient,caregiver,physician,MMTC,oritsagentsoremployees.
(d)DUTIESOFTHEDEPARTMENT.TheDepartmentshallissue
reasonableregulationsnecessaryfortheimplementationand
enforcementofthissection.Thepurposeoftheregulationsistoensure
theavailabilityandsafeuseofmedicalmarijuanabyqualifyingpatients.
ItisthedutyoftheDepartmenttopromulgateregulationsinatimely
fashion.
(1)ImplementingRegulations.InordertoallowtheDepartment
sufficienttimeafterpassageofthissection,thefollowingregulations

shallbepromulgatednolaterthansix(6)monthsaftertheeffective
dateofthissection:
a.Proceduresfortheissuanceandannualrenewalofqualifyingpatient
identificationcardstopeoplewithphysiciancertificationsand
standardsforrenewalofsuchidentificationcards.Beforeissuingan
identificationcardtoaminor,theDepartmentmustreceivewritten
consentfromtheminorsparentorlegalguardian,inadditiontothe
physiciancertification.
b.Proceduresestablishingqualificationsandstandardsforcaregivers,
includingconductingappropriatebackgroundchecks,andprocedures
fortheissuanceandannualrenewalofcaregiveridentificationcards.
c.ProceduresfortheregistrationofMMTCsthatincludeproceduresfor
theissuance,renewal,suspensionandrevocationofregistration,and
standardstoensurepropersecurity,recordkeeping,testing,labeling,
inspection,andsafety.
d.Aregulationthatdefinestheamountofmarijuanathatcould
reasonablybepresumedtobeanadequatesupplyforqualifying
patientsmedicaluse,basedonthebestavailableevidence.This
presumptionastoquantitymaybeovercomewithevidenceofa
particularqualifyingpatientsappropriatemedicaluse.
(2)Identificationcardsandregistrations.TheDepartmentshallbegin
issuingqualifyingpatientandcaregiveridentificationcards,and
registeringMMTCsnolaterthannine(9)monthsaftertheeffective
dateofthissection.
(3)IftheDepartmentdoesnotissueregulations,oriftheDepartment
doesnotbeginissuingidentificationcardsandregisteringMMTCs
withinthetimelimitssetinthissection,anyFloridacitizenshallhave
standingtoseekjudicialrelieftocompelcompliancewiththe
Departmentsconstitutionalduties.
(4)TheDepartmentshallprotecttheconfidentialityofallqualifying
patients.Allrecordscontainingtheidentityofqualifyingpatientsshall
beconfidentialandkeptfrompublicdisclosureotherthanforvalid
medicalorlawenforcementpurposes.

(e)LEGISLATION.Nothinginthissectionshalllimitthelegislaturefrom
enactinglawsconsistentwiththissection.
(f)SEVERABILITY.Theprovisionsofthissectionareseverableandifany
clause,sentence,paragraphorsectionofthismeasure,oran
applicationthereof,isadjudgedinvalidbyacourtofcompetent
jurisdictionotherprovisionsshallcontinuetobeineffecttothefullest
extentpossible.

NO.3

CONSTITUTIONALAMENDMENT

ARTICLEVII,SECTION6

ARTICLEXII

(LEGISLATIVE)

BallotTitle:

TaxExemptionforTotallyandPermanentlyDisabledFirstResponders

BallotSummary:
ProposinganamendmenttotheStateConstitutiontoauthorizeafirst
responder,whoistotallyandpermanentlydisabledasaresultof
injuriessustainedinthelineofduty,toreceiverelieffromadvalorem
taxesassessedonhomesteadproperty,ifauthorizedbygenerallaw.If
approvedbyvoters,theamendmenttakeseffectJanuary1,2017.

FullText:
ARTICLEVII

FINANCEANDTAXATION

SECTION6.Homesteadexemptions.
(a)Everypersonwhohasthelegalorequitabletitletorealestateand
maintainsthereonthepermanentresidenceoftheowner,oranother
legallyornaturallydependentupontheowner,shallbeexemptfrom
taxationthereon,exceptassessmentsforspecialbenefits,uptothe
assessedvaluationoftwentyfivethousanddollarsand,foralllevies
otherthanschooldistrictlevies,ontheassessedvaluationgreaterthan
fiftythousanddollarsanduptoseventyfivethousanddollars,upon
establishmentofrighttheretointhemannerprescribedbylaw.The
realestatemaybeheldbylegalorequitabletitle,bytheentireties,
jointly,incommon,asacondominium,orindirectlybystockownership
ormembershiprepresentingtheowner'sormember'sproprietary
interestinacorporationowningafeeoraleaseholdinitiallyinexcess
ofninetyeightyears.Theexemptionshallnotapplywithrespecttoany

assessmentrolluntilsuchrollisfirstdeterminedtobeincompliance
withtheprovisionsofsection4byastateagencydesignatedbygeneral
law.Thisexemptionisrepealedontheeffectivedateofany
amendmenttothisArticlewhichprovidesfortheassessmentof
homesteadpropertyatlessthanjustvalue.
(b)Notmorethanoneexemptionshallbeallowedanyindividualor
familyunitorwithrespecttoanyresidentialunit.Noexemptionshall
exceedthevalueoftherealestateassessabletotheowneror,incase
ofownershipthroughstockormembershipinacorporation,thevalue
oftheproportionwhichtheinterestinthecorporationbearstothe
assessedvalueoftheproperty.
(c)Bygenerallawandsubjecttoconditionsspecifiedtherein,the
Legislaturemayprovidetorenters,whoarepermanentresidents,ad
valoremtaxreliefonalladvaloremtaxlevies.Suchadvaloremtax
reliefshallbeintheformandamountestablishedbygenerallaw.
(d)Thelegislaturemay,bygenerallaw,allowcountiesor
municipalities,forthepurposeoftheirrespectivetaxleviesandsubject
totheprovisionsofgenerallaw,togranteitherorbothofthefollowing
additionalhomesteadtaxexemptions:
(1)Anexemptionnotexceedingfiftythousanddollarstoanyperson
whohasthelegalorequitabletitletorealestateandmaintainsthereon
thepermanentresidenceoftheownerandwhohasattainedagesixty
fiveandwhosehouseholdincome,asdefinedbygenerallaw,doesnot
exceedtwentythousanddollars;or
(2)Anexemptionequaltotheassessedvalueofthepropertytoany
personwhohasthelegalorequitabletitletorealestatewithajust
valuelessthantwohundredandfiftythousanddollarsandwhohas
maintainedthereonthepermanentresidenceoftheownerfornotless
thantwentyfiveyearsandwhohasattainedagesixtyfiveandwhose
householdincomedoesnotexceedtheincomelimitationprescribedin
paragraph(1).
Thegenerallawmustallowcountiesandmunicipalitiestograntthese
additionalexemptions,withinthelimitsprescribedinthissubsection,

byordinanceadoptedinthemannerprescribedbygenerallaw,and
mustprovidefortheperiodicadjustmentoftheincomelimitation
prescribedinthissubsectionforchangesinthecostofliving.
(e)Eachveteranwhoisage65orolderwhoispartiallyortotally
permanentlydisabledshallreceiveadiscountfromtheamountofthe
advaloremtaxotherwiseowedonhomesteadpropertytheveteran
ownsandresidesinifthedisabilitywascombatrelatedandtheveteran
washonorablydischargeduponseparationfrommilitaryservice.The
discountshallbeinapercentageequaltothepercentageofthe
veteran'spermanent,serviceconnecteddisabilityasdeterminedbythe
UnitedStatesDepartmentofVeteransAffairs.Toqualifyforthe
discountgrantedbythissubsection,anapplicantmustsubmittothe
countypropertyappraiser,byMarch1,anofficialletterfromthe
UnitedStatesDepartmentofVeteransAffairsstatingthepercentageof
theveteran'sserviceconnecteddisabilityandsuchevidencethat
reasonablyidentifiesthedisabilityascombatrelatedandacopyofthe
veteran'shonorabledischarge.Ifthepropertyappraiserdeniesthe
requestforadiscount,theappraisermustnotifytheapplicantin
writingofthereasonsforthedenial,andtheveteranmayreapply.The
Legislaturemay,bygenerallaw,waivetheannualapplication
requirementinsubsequentyears.Thissubsectionisselfexecutingand
doesnotrequireimplementinglegislation.
(f)Bygenerallawandsubjecttoconditionsandlimitationsspecified
therein,theLegislaturemayprovideadvaloremtaxreliefequaltothe
totalamountoraportionoftheadvaloremtaxotherwiseowedon
homesteadpropertytothe:
(1)Thesurvivingspouseofaveteranwhodiedfromserviceconnected
causeswhileonactivedutyasamemberoftheUnitedStatesArmed
Forces.
(2)Thesurvivingspouseofafirstresponderwhodiedinthelineof
duty.
(3)Afirstresponderwhoistotallyandpermanentlydisabledasaresult
ofaninjuryorinjuriessustainedinthelineofduty.Causalconnection

betweenadisabilityandserviceinthelineofdutyshallnotbe
presumedbutmustbedeterminedasprovidedbygenerallaw.For
purposesofthisparagraph,theterm"disability"doesnotincludea
chronicconditionorchronicdisease,unlesstheinjurysustainedinthe
lineofdutywasthesolecauseofthechronicconditionorchronic
disease.
Asusedinthissubsectionandasfurtherdefinedbygenerallaw,the
term:
a."firstresponder"meansalawenforcementofficer,acorrectional
officer,afirefighter,anemergencymedicaltechnician,oraparamedic,
andtheterm.
b."inthelineofduty"meansarisingoutofandintheactual
performanceofdutyrequiredbyemploymentasafirstresponder.

ARTICLEXII

SCHEDULE

Taxexemptionfortotallyandpermanentlydisabledfirstresponders.
TheamendmenttoSection6ofArticleVIIrelatingtorelieffromad
valoremtaxesassessedonhomesteadpropertyforfirstresponders,
whoaretotallyandpermanentlydisabledasaresultofinjuries
sustainedinthelineofduty,takeseffectJanuary1,2017.

ProposedconstitutionalamendmentNo.4appearedontheAugust

30,2016PrimaryElectionBallot

NO.5

CONSTITUTIONALAMENDMENT

ARTICLEVII,SECTION6

ARTICLEXII

(LEGISLATIVE)

BallotTitle:

HomesteadTaxExemptionforCertainSenior,LowIncome,LongTerm
Residents;DeterminationofJustValue

BallotSummary:
ProposinganamendmenttotheStateConstitutiontorevisethe
homesteadtaxexemptionthatmaybegrantedbycountiesor
municipalitiesforpropertywithjustvaluelessthan$250,000ownedby
certainsenior,lowincome,longtermresidentstospecifythatjust
valueisdeterminedinthefirsttaxyeartheownerappliesandiseligible
fortheexemption.TheamendmenttakeseffectJanuary1,2017,and
appliesretroactivelytoexemptionsgrantedbeforeJanuary1,2017.

FullText:
ARTICLEVII

FINANCEANDTAXATION

SECTION6.Homesteadexemptions.
(a)Everypersonwhohasthelegalorequitabletitletorealestateand
maintainsthereonthepermanentresidenceoftheowner,oranother
legallyornaturallydependentupontheowner,shallbeexemptfrom
taxationthereon,exceptassessmentsforspecialbenefits,uptothe
assessedvaluationoftwentyfivethousanddollarsand,foralllevies
otherthanschooldistrictlevies,ontheassessedvaluationgreaterthan
fiftythousanddollarsanduptoseventyfivethousanddollars,upon
establishmentofrighttheretointhemannerprescribedbylaw.The
realestatemaybeheldbylegalorequitabletitle,bytheentireties,
jointly,incommon,asacondominium,orindirectlybystockownership

ormembershiprepresentingtheowner'sormember'sproprietary
interestinacorporationowningafeeoraleaseholdinitiallyinexcess
ofninetyeightyears.Theexemptionshallnotapplywithrespecttoany
assessmentrolluntilsuchrollisfirstdeterminedtobeincompliance
withtheprovisionsofsection4byastateagencydesignatedbygeneral
law.Thisexemptionisrepealedontheeffectivedateofany
amendmenttothisArticlewhichprovidesfortheassessmentof
homesteadpropertyatlessthanjustvalue.
(b)Notmorethanoneexemptionshallbeallowedanyindividualor
familyunitorwithrespecttoanyresidentialunit.Noexemptionshall
exceedthevalueoftherealestateassessabletotheowneror,incase
ofownershipthroughstockormembershipinacorporation,thevalue
oftheproportionwhichtheinterestinthecorporationbearstothe
assessedvalueoftheproperty.
(c)Bygenerallawandsubjecttoconditionsspecifiedtherein,the
Legislaturemayprovidetorenters,whoarepermanentresidents,ad
valoremtaxreliefonalladvaloremtaxlevies.Suchadvaloremtax
reliefshallbeintheformandamountestablishedbygenerallaw.
(d)Thelegislaturemay,bygenerallaw,allowcountiesor
municipalities,forthepurposeoftheirrespectivetaxleviesandsubject
totheprovisionsofgenerallaw,togranteitherorbothofthefollowing
additionalhomesteadtaxexemptions:
(1)Anexemptionnotexceedingfiftythousanddollarstoaanyperson
whohasthelegalorequitabletitletorealestateandmaintainsthereon
thepermanentresidenceoftheowner,andwhohasattainedagesixty
five,andwhosehouseholdincome,asdefinedbygenerallaw,doesnot
exceedtwentythousanddollars;or
(2)Anexemptionequaltotheassessedvalueofthepropertytoaany
personwhohasthelegalorequitabletitletorealestatewithajust
valuelessthantwohundredandfiftythousanddollars,asdetermined
inthefirsttaxyearthattheownerappliesandiseligibleforthe
exemption,andwhohasmaintainedthereonthepermanentresidence
oftheownerfornotlessthantwentyfiveyears,andwhohasattained

agesixtyfive,andwhosehouseholdincomedoesnotexceedthe
incomelimitationprescribedinparagraph(1).
Thegenerallawmustallowcountiesandmunicipalitiestograntthese
additionalexemptions,withinthelimitsprescribedinthissubsection,
byordinanceadoptedinthemannerprescribedbygenerallaw,and
mustprovidefortheperiodicadjustmentoftheincomelimitation
prescribedinthissubsectionforchangesinthecostofliving.
(e)Eachveteranwhoisage65orolderwhoispartiallyortotally
permanentlydisabledshallreceiveadiscountfromtheamountofthe
advaloremtaxotherwiseowedonhomesteadpropertytheveteran
ownsandresidesinifthedisabilitywascombatrelatedandtheveteran
washonorablydischargeduponseparationfrommilitaryservice.The
discountshallbeinapercentageequaltothepercentageofthe
veteran'spermanent,serviceconnecteddisabilityasdeterminedbythe
UnitedStatesDepartmentofVeteransAffairs.Toqualifyforthe
discountgrantedbythissubsection,anapplicantmustsubmittothe
countypropertyappraiser,byMarch1,anofficialletterfromthe
UnitedStatesDepartmentofVeteransAffairsstatingthepercentageof
theveteran'sserviceconnecteddisabilityandsuchevidencethat
reasonablyidentifiesthedisabilityascombatrelatedandacopyofthe
veteran'shonorabledischarge.Ifthepropertyappraiserdeniesthe
requestforadiscount,theappraisermustnotifytheapplicantin
writingofthereasonsforthedenial,andtheveteranmayreapply.The
Legislaturemay,bygenerallaw,waivetheannualapplication
requirementinsubsequentyears.Thissubsectionisselfexecutingand
doesnotrequireimplementinglegislation.
(f)Bygenerallawandsubjecttoconditionsandlimitationsspecified
therein,theLegislaturemayprovideadvaloremtaxreliefequaltothe
totalamountoraportionoftheadvaloremtaxotherwiseowedon
homesteadpropertytothe:
(1)Survivingspouseofaveteranwhodiedfromserviceconnected
causeswhileonactivedutyasamemberoftheUnitedStatesArmed
Forces.

(2)Survivingspouseofafirstresponderwhodiedinthelineofduty.
(3)Asusedinthissubsectionandasfurtherdefinedbygenerallaw,the
term:
a."Firstresponder"meansalawenforcementofficer,acorrectional
officer,afirefighter,anemergencymedicaltechnician,oraparamedic.
b."Inthelineofduty"meansarisingoutofandintheactual
performanceofdutyrequiredbyemploymentasafirstresponder.

ARTICLEXII

SCHEDULE

Additionaladvaloremexemptionforpersonsagesixtyfiveorolder.
ThissectionandtheamendmenttoSection6ofArticleVIIrevisingthe
justvaluedeterminationfortheadditionaladvaloremtaxexemption
forpersonsagesixtyfiveoroldershalltakeeffectJanuary1,2017,
followingapprovalbytheelectors,andshalloperateretroactivelyto
January1,2013,foranypersonwhoreceivedtheexemptionunder
paragraph(2)ofSection6(d)ofArticleVIIbeforeJanuary1,2017.

FloridaDepartmentofState

DivisionofElections

TheR.A.GrayBuilding,Room316

500SouthBronoughStreet

Tallahassee,Florida323990250

Phone:850.245.6200

Website:dos.myflorida.com/elections