Rule 9.510. Advisory Opinions to Attorney General

(a) Filing. A request by the attorney general for an advisory opinion from the justices of the supreme court concerning the validity of an initiative petition for the amendment of the Florida Constitution must be in writing. The request must be filed with the clerk of the supreme court.

(b) Contents of Request. In addition to the language of the proposed amendment, the request referenced in subdivision (a) must contain the following information:

(1) the name and address of the sponsor of the initiative petition;

(2) the name and address of the sponsor’s attorney, if the sponsor is represented;

(3) a statement as to whether the sponsor has obtained the requisite number of signatures on the initiative petition to have the proposed amendment put on the ballot;

(4) if the sponsor has not obtained the requisite number of signatures on the initiative petition to have the proposed amendment put on the ballot, the current status of the signaturecollection process;

(5) the date of the election during which the sponsor is planning to submit the proposed amendment to the voters;

(6) the last possible date that the ballot for the target election can be printed in order to be ready for the election; and

(7) the names and complete mailing addresses of all of the parties who are to be served.

(c) Procedure.

(1) The court must permit, subject to its rules of procedure, interested persons to be heard on the questions presented through briefs, oral argument, or both.

(2) The justices must render their opinions no later than April 1 of the year in which the initiative is to be submitted to the voters under article XI, section 5 of the Florida Constitution.

Committee Notes

1980 Amendment. This rule has been replaced in its entirety by new Rule 9.150. [The original rule 9.510 was moved to 9.150 in 1980.]