For the record, I would like to report what I have filed, so far, as a member of the Constitution Revision Commission 2017/18.
I have filed two “proposals.”
The first is a “public proposal” (a public submission/language exactly as proposed) entitled: “Floridians’ right to a clean and healthful environment.” This proposal elevates a clean and healthful environment to a right, such as now stated in the Florida constitution: “to enjoy and defend life and liberty, to pursue happiness, to be rewarded for industry, and to acquire, possess, and protect property…” It adds a “clean and healthful environment” symbolically to our highest legal level, our constitution. Right now, the proposal also proposes to give Floridians more standing in a court of law if they have experienced special injury (economic loss) due to environmental destruction of their property. I think the wording can be ameliorated, made more preventative, and less litigious, other states have achieved this and kept their goals in place. Nonetheless, the present language remains a good place to start the conversation.
My second proposal is a “commissioner proposal,” (a proposal with my wording/with help of staff) entitled “to Establish a cabinet position for a Commissioner of Environmental Protection.” Yes, I believe the environment should have a seat at Florida’s most important table. Presently, the Florida cabinet consist of the Attorney General, the Chief Financial Officer, and the Commissioner of Agriculture. These elected public servants make decisions at the top-level with the Governor and are elected, not appointed. They lead the state. I strongly feel that a statewide elected Commissioner of Environmental Protection should exist alongside these others and not be buried under the executive branch with no clear accountability as is presently the case. “Elected and answering to the people,” not to the politics of the state; this is my goal.
The process?
Well, the first proposal, “a right to a clean and healthy environment” has been voted on by the full CRC to move forward to committee. The second will move forward as commissioner proposals do automatically.
But that’s just the beginning!
Soon, Chair Beruff, will determine what committees these proposals will have to be “heard in.” There could be one, or many. If the proposal makes it through committee, it could come out exactly the same, be amended, or die. There is a way to resurrect such later on if it does get killed, but this requires a majority vote and is no easy feat. Nonetheless, it is a possibility. The best thing is to try to get it through committee so the full commission can vote on.
The political process will take its course, and the people will be heard.
It is an exciting time for me, and I plan on submitting other proposals too, but these two, my first, are my priorities.
Below are my two proposals and other information you may find helpful. If you have questions or concerns please write me at jacqui.lippisch@flcrc.gov. I am here to discuss.
Sincerely,
Jacqui
Constitution Revision Commission website: https://www.flcrc.gov
Learn about the 5 ways Florida’s constitution can be revised. The CRC is one of those ways! http://lwvokaloosa.org/AmendingFLConst.html
CRC - 2017 P 23 By Commissioner Thurlow-Lippisch thurlowlj-00038-17 201723__ 1 A proposal to amend 2 Section 7 of Article II of the State Constitution to 3 establish that every person has a right to a clean and 4 healthful environment. 5 6 Be It Proposed by the Constitution Revision Commission of 7 Florida: 8 9 Section 7 of Article II of the State Constitution is 10 amended to read: 11 ARTICLE II 12 GENERAL PROVISIONS 13 SECTION 7. Natural resources and scenic beauty.— 14 (a) It shall be the policy of the state to conserve and 15 protect its natural resources and scenic beauty. Adequate 16 provision shall be made by law for the abatement of air and 17 water pollution and of excessive and unnecessary noise and for 18 the conservation and protection of natural resources. 19 (b) Those in the Everglades Agricultural Area who cause 20 water pollution within the Everglades Protection Area or the 21 Everglades Agricultural Area shall be primarily responsible for 22 paying the costs of the abatement of that pollution. For the 23 purposes of this subsection, the terms “Everglades Protection 24 Area” and “Everglades Agricultural Area” shall have the meanings 25 as defined in statutes in effect on January 1, 1996. 26 (c) The natural resources of the state are the legacy of 27 present and future generations. Every person has a right to a 28 clean and healthful environment, including clean air and water; 29 control of pollution; and the conservation and restoration of 30 the natural, scenic, historic, and aesthetic values of the 31 environment as provided by law. Any person may enforce this 32 right against any party, public or private, subject to 33 reasonable limitations, as provided by law.
CRC - 2017 P 24 By Commissioner Thurlow-Lippisch thurlowlj-00025A-17 201724__ 1 A proposal to amend 2 Sections 3 and 4 of Article IV and create a new 3 section in Article XII of the State Constitution to 4 establish the office of Commissioner of Environmental 5 Protection as a statewide elected officer, to provide 6 duties of the commissioner, and to include the 7 commissioner as a member of the Cabinet. 8 9 Be It Proposed by the Constitution Revision Commission of 10 Florida: 11 12 Sections 3 and 4 of Article IV of the State Constitution 13 are amended to read: 14 ARTICLE IV 15 EXECUTIVE 16 SECTION 3. Succession to office of governor; acting 17 governor.— 18 (a) Upon vacancy in the office of governor, the lieutenant 19 governor shall become governor. Further succession to the office 20 of governor shall be prescribed by law. A successor shall serve 21 for the remainder of the term. 22 (b) Upon impeachment of the governor and until completion 23 of trial thereof, or during the governor’s physical or mental 24 incapacity, the lieutenant governor shall act as governor. 25 Further succession as acting governor shall be prescribed by 26 law. Incapacity to serve as governor may be determined by the 27 supreme court upon due notice after docketing of a written 28 suggestion thereof by fourthreecabinet members, and in such 29 case restoration of capacity shall be similarly determined after 30 docketing of written suggestion thereof by the governor, the 31 legislature or fourthreecabinet members. Incapacity to serve 32 as governor may also be established by certificate filed with 33 the custodian of state records by the governor declaring 34 incapacity for physical reasons to serve as governor, and in 35 such case restoration of capacity shall be similarly 36 established. 37 SECTION 4. Cabinet.— 38 (a) There shall be a cabinet composed of an attorney 39 general, a chief financial officer, a commissioner of 40 environmental protection, and a commissioner of agriculture. In 41 addition to the powers and duties specified herein, they shall 42 exercise such powers and perform such duties as may be 43 prescribed by law. In the event of a tie vote of the governor 44 and cabinet, the side on which the governor voted shall be 45 deemed to prevail. 46 (b) The attorney general shall be the chief state legal 47 officer. There is created in the office of the attorney general 48 the position of statewide prosecutor. The statewide prosecutor 49 shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the state attorneys to 50 prosecute violations of criminal laws occurring or having 51 occurred, in two or more judicial circuits as part of a related 52 transaction, or when any such offense is affecting or has 53 affected two or more judicial circuits as provided by general 54 law. The statewide prosecutor shall be appointed by the attorney 55 general from not less than three persons nominated by the 56 judicial nominating commission for the supreme court, or as 57 otherwise provided by general law. 58 (c) The chief financial officer shall serve as the chief 59 fiscal officer of the state, and shall settle and approve 60 accounts against the state, and shall keep all state funds and 61 securities. 62 (d) The commissioner of environmental protection shall have 63 supervision of matters pertaining to environmental protection 64 that the Department of Environmental Protection or its successor 65 agency and water management districts are required or authorized 66 by law to implement and administer. 67 (e) The commissioner of agriculture shall have supervision 68 of matters pertaining to agriculture except as otherwise 69 provided by law. 70 (f)(e)The governor as chair, the chief financial officer, 71 and the attorney general shall constitute the state board of 72 administration, which shall succeed to all the power, control, 73 and authority of the state board of administration established 74 pursuant to Article IX, Section 16 of the Constitution of 1885, 75 and which shall continue as a body at least for the life of 76 Article XII, Section 9(c). 77 (g)(f)The governor as chair, the chief financial officer, 78 the attorney general, the commissioner of environmental 79 protection, and the commissioner of agriculture shall constitute 80 the trustees of the internal improvement trust fund and the land 81 acquisition trust fund as provided by law. 82 (h)(g)The governor as chair, the chief financial officer, 83 the attorney general, the commissioner of environmental 84 protection, and the commissioner of agriculture shall constitute 85 the agency head of the Department of Law Enforcement. 86 87 A new section is added to Article XII of the State 88 Constitution to read: 89 ARTICLE XII 90 SCHEDULE 91 Recomposition of the cabinet; commissioner of environmental 92 protection.—The amendment to Section 4 of Article IV relating to 93 the election of the commissioner of environmental protection and 94 the inclusion of the commissioner as a member of the cabinet 95 shall take effect January 3, 2023, but shall govern with respect 96 to the qualifying for and the holding of the primary and general 97 elections for the office of commissioner of environmental 98 protection in 2022.
Commissioner Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch’s CRC webpage:
Appointed by President
Committee Assignments
General Provisions, Chair
Executive
Proposals Introduced
P 0023 GENERAL PROVISIONS, Natural resources and scenic beauty
Last Action: 10/19/2017 Filed
P 0024 EXECUTIVE, Commissioner of Environmental Protection
Last Action: 10/19/2017 Filed
Biographical Information
Occupation: Former Middle and High School German and English Teacher; Presently, Licensed Realtor, Lifestyle Realty Group
City: Town of Sewall’s Point (Martin County)
Commissioner Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch was born in 1964 at Travis Air Force Base, Fairfield, California. She is a Daughter of the American Revolution, Florida Blue Key member, a lifetime resident of Martin County and member of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church.
Commissioner Thurlow-Lippisch’s mother is a third-generation Floridian and statewide recognized historian. In 1952, Commissioner Thurlow-Lippisch’s New York grandfather founded Thurlow & Thurlow, P.A. in Stuart, which specializes in real estate, and continues today as a family run business. She is married to William E. Lippisch, D.M.D./Oral Surgeon and general aviation pilot. They are well-known on the Treasure Coast for taking thousands of aerial photographs documenting the effect of destructive discharges from Lake Okeechobee on the health of the St. Lucie River/Indian River Lagoon. She shares these photos on her blog entitled “Indian River Lagoon,” which educates thousands of people. Jacqui is a former teacher with years of classroom experience instructing middle and high school students. She continues to work with youth through “River Kidz,” a division of the Rivers Coalition that has also helped promote and inspire efforts to find solutions to the damaging discharges from Lake Okeechobee.
Commissioner Thurlow-Lippisch is a former Mayor (2011-2012) and Commissioner (2008-2016) of the Town of Sewall’s Point and has served in other various public service and leadership capacities, including: Vice-Chair, Treasure Coast Region Planning Council (2016); Chair, Treasure Coast Council of Local Governments; Treasure Coast Florida League of Cities (2008-2016); Chair, Florida League of Cities’ Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Legislative Committee (2013); Board member, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Foundation, Florida Atlantic University (2013-2016); and Rivers Coalition Defense Fund (2011-present).
Commissioner Thurlow-Lippisch holds a Bachelor of Arts, Journalism & Communications, University of Florida, 1986; Bachelor of Arts, German, University of Florida, 1994; and Master of Arts, Curriculum and Development, College of Education, University of West Florida, 1999. She also graduated from the UF/IFAS Natural Resources Leadership Institute, Class XV, 2016.
Helpful links for learning about the CRC:
Florida Constitution: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?submenu=3
https://www.facebook.com/ProtectFLDemocracy/
https://protectfldemocracy.org
Click to access ada-florida-constitution-revision-commission-brochure.pdf
Thank you!
I wish someone would do this at the national level!
Great work, thank you!
Like Ezra said a few blogs ago—-our lagoon is more polluted than the Hudson. But our beachs are prestine. That is because the calcium preoxide still cleans our beachs like it used to on the shores of our lagoon
Thanks Jacqui Regards, Drew Martin
This is fabulous! Thank you for your hard work and I will be watching to see what committees are reviewing these.
I think I can prove everything I am doing here I have a leagel right to do under the endangered species act of 1973(federal law). It says we have a moral obligation to stop a species from going exstinct—whatever the cost. But I am sure our —-say anything you waunt to hear to get elected—State Government will try their best to finish their environmental genocide.