Florida Senate - 2013                                    SJR 486
       
       
       
       By Senator Braynon
       
       
       
       
       36-00049-13                                            2013486__
    1                       Senate Joint Resolution                     
    2         A joint resolution proposing an amendment to Section 2
    3         of Article I of the State Constitution, to protect the
    4         rights of all persons to acquire and possess real
    5         property.
    6  
    7  Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
    8  
    9         That the following amendment to Section 2 of Article I of
   10  the State Constitution is agreed to and shall be submitted to
   11  the electors of this state for approval or rejection at the next
   12  general election or at an earlier special election specifically
   13  authorized by law for that purpose:
   14                              ARTICLE I                            
   15                        DECLARATION OF RIGHTS                      
   16         SECTION 2. Basic rights.—All natural persons, female and
   17  male alike, are equal before the law and have inalienable
   18  rights, among which are the right to enjoy and defend life and
   19  liberty, to pursue happiness, to be rewarded for industry, and
   20  to acquire, possess, and protect property; except that the
   21  ownership, inheritance, disposition and possession of real
   22  property by aliens ineligible for citizenship may be regulated
   23  or prohibited by law. No person shall be deprived of any right
   24  because of race, religion, national origin, or physical
   25  disability.
   26         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following statement be
   27  placed on the ballot:
   28                      CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT                     
   29                        ARTICLE I, SECTION 2                       
   30         DECLARATION OF RIGHTS.—This amendment to the State
   31  Constitution eliminates authority granted to the Legislature by
   32  a constitutional amendment adopted in 1926 which allowed the
   33  Legislature to regulate or eliminate the real property rights of
   34  individuals based on race or national origin. The Florida
   35  Constitution will now state that all natural persons, female and
   36  male alike, are equal before the law and have an inalienable
   37  right to acquire, possess, and protect property, without
   38  exception.