TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Leaders with the Florida Legislature are moving ahead with plans to hold a 19-day special session this fall.
House Speaker Steve Crisafulli and Senate President Andy Gardiner on Monday officially announced a special session to redraw the state's 40 Senate districts. The move comes after the Senate acknowledged this summer that it violated the state constitution by creating maps that benefit Republicans and incumbents.
The session will begin at noon on Oct. 19 and last until Nov. 6.
Legislators held a rare August special session to draw up new congressional districts, but the House and Senate deadlocked over the issue. The fate of the districts is going to be eventually decided by the Florida Supreme Court.
Voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2010 requiring compact political districts that don't benefit parties or incumbents. Republicans have a 26-14 majority in the state Senate.
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