Sheriffs, Election Supervisors Removed from Term Limits Effort

Term limits could be applied to county commissions, but not others elected countywide, under a bill proposed for the state Constitution that was backed by the Senate Community Affairs Committee on Monday.

This bill does not impose term limits. All this bill does is it says if a local county were to impose term limits then the Constitution would allow that, said Sen. Jeremy Ring, D-Margate.

The bill, SB 1070, would allow state voters to make the change to the state Constitution.

The bill has been proposed because the Florida Supreme Court has overturned efforts in Duval and Pinellas counties to impose term limits on all constitutional officers.

The Senate bill initially sought to include similar limits on the terms of constitutional officers, which includes the sheriff, property appraiser, tax collector, clerk of the court and supervisor of elections.

Ring said he wasnt thrilled by removing the constitutional limits, but agreed to do so after meeting with representatives for those groups.

The House version of the bill, HJR 785 was narrowly approved Jan. 18 by the Community and Military Affairs Subcommittee.

The House bill, which applies to 20 counties that operate under voter-approved charters, includes placing limits on constitutional officers.