Redistricting Committee Updates

The Redistricting Committee met today to drill down further into Florida’s redistricting process.  The Committee first heard remarks regarding:

• The jurisdiction of the Committee and the subcommittees, and the responsibilities of Committee members;
• Opportunities for public input and participation in the redistricting process; and
• House rules and procedures for redistricting.

Additionally, the Committee heard testimony from the House’s special counsel for reapportionment, regarding Florida’s state constitutional provisions on redistricting.  Specifically, counsel helped the Committee members examine the recently approved Amendments 5 and 6 (Article III, Sections 21 and 20 of the Florida Constitution).

The Committee also got a tour of the beta version of the MyDistrictBuilder application.  Throughout the week, each of the redistricting subcommittees will also hear the same presentations in their respective meetings.

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Video Update: Chairman Weatherford’s Opening Remarks

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What’s on the Agenda for April 20-21?

Wednesday, April 20, 2011 – The agenda for the joint meeting of the Florida House’s Redistricting Committee and Congressional Redistricting Subcommittee will serve two introductory purposes for the newly appointed members of the committees.

The presentations should help provide the committee members with a foundation for the many redistricting decisions to come.  Moreover, the presentations will help set the stage for committee meetings in weeks 8 and 9 of the 2011 Legislative Session, in which the committees drill down further into Florida law, the ways in which the public can participate, and how to use MyDistrictBuilder.

First, former Florida House member (1989-1994) Miguel De Grandy, now serving as counsel to the House on reapportionment and redistricting matters, will provide the Members with a redistricting legal 101.

Second, Amy Baker, staff director for the Legislature’s Office of Economic & Demographic Research (EDR), will give the committee members a view of Florida’s new demographic portrait, based on the results of the 2010 Census and the American Community Survey.

Thursday’s joint meeting of the House Redistricting Subcommittee and Senate Redistricting Subcommittee will consider the same agenda and presentations.

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