Amendments, Election of 11-2-54:

1953 SJR 179 (Article III, Section 28) {Adopted}

1953 SJR 676 (Article IX, Section ?*) {Defeated}

1953 SJR 1051 (Article V, Section 39A*) {Adopted}

1953 HJR 579 (Article III, Sections 2, 4) {Adopted}

1953 HJR 757 (Article V, Section 16B) {Adopted}

1953 HJR 851 (Article VIII, Section 22*) {Adopted}

1953 HJR 858 (Article VIII, Section 10A*) {Adopted}

*For a number of years, some of the section numbers assigned by the Legislature were erroneous; then for several more years, the Legislature omitted the section number from some proposed amendments with the instruction: "to be assigned by the Secretary of State upon ratification."

Related Material:

"Florida's Proposed Constitutional Amendments--1954," by William F. Larsen.

Civic Information Series No. 19, Public Administration Clearing Service,

University of Florida. 1954.

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SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 179

A Joint Resolution proposing an Amendment to Article III, Section 28 of the Constitution of the State of Florida relating to Executive approval of bills by providing that after final adjournment of the Legislature the Governor shall have Twenty (20) days in which to approve or veto bills.

Be it Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

That Article III, Section 28 of the Constitution of the State of Florida be amended, and the same is hereby agreed to and shall be submitted to the electors of the State of Florida for ratification or rejection at the next general election to be held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November, 1954, as follows:

Section 28. Executive Approval of Acts; Veto; Overriding Veto. Every bill that may have passed the Legislature shall, before becoming a law, be presented to the Governor; if he approves it he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it with his objections to the House in which it originated, which House shall cause such objections to be entered upon its Journal, and proceed to reconsider it; if, after such reconsideration, it shall pass both Houses by a two-thirds vote of members present, which vote shall be entered on the Journal of each House, it shall become a law. If any bill shall not be returned within five days after it shall have been presented to the Governor, (Sunday excepted) the same shall be a law, in like manner as if he had signed it. If the Legislature, by its final adjournment prevent such action, such bill shall be a law, unless the Governor within twenty (20) days after the adjournment, shall file such bill, with his objections thereto, in the office of the Secretary of State, who shall lay the same before the Legislature at its next session, and if the same shall receive two-thirds of the votes present it shall become a law.

Filed in Office Secretary of State June 15, 1953.

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SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 676

A Joint Resolution proposing an Amendment to Article IX of the Florida Constitution by adding a new section thereto to be numbered by the Secretary of State, to provide that no State funds shall be expended to pay obligations incurred to construct, purchase or maintain any Toll Road.

Be it Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

That Article IX of the Florida Constitution be amended by adding an additional section thereto to be numbered by the Secretary of State, and the same is hereby agreed to and shall be submitted to the electors of the State of Florida for ratification or rejection at the general election to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, 1954, as follows:

Section __. State funds shall not be used, appropriated or expended to construct, reconstruct, maintain, service, repair, purchase or lease any toll road extending into more than three counties or to pay the principal or interest of any revenue certificates or other evidences of indebtedness to construct, reconstruct, maintain, service, repair, purchase or lease any toll road extending into more than three counties.

Filed in Office Secretary of State June 15, 1953.

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SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 1051

A Joint Resolution proposing an Amendment to Article V of the Constitution of the State of Florida by adding thereto an additional section to provide for two Judges of the Court of Record in and for Escambia County, Florida, and to provide legislative authority to provide additional Judge as needed.

Be it Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

That the following amendment to Article V of the Constitution of the State of Florida to be added as an additional section to be appropriately numbered by the Secretary of State and the same is hereby agreed to and shall be submitted to the electors of the State of Florida for ratification or rejection at the general election to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, 1954, to-wit:

Section __. (a) From and after the adoption of this Amendment, there shall be a Judge of the Court of Record in and for Escambia County, Florida, in addition to the Judge of said Court already provided. Said Judge shall be elected, at the General Election next succeeding the coming into effect of this Amendment, and shall hold office for six years and receive the same salary and allowances for expenses as is now provided for the Judge of the Court of Record in and for Escambia County, Florida. He shall have all powers and perform all duties and possess all qualifications that are or may be provided or prescribed by the Constitution or by statute for the Judge of the Court of Record in and for Escambia County, Florida, and all statutes concerning said Judge shall apply to him. Provided, however, that if there be a Commissioner of the Court of Record in and for Escambia County, Florida, he shall upon the coming into effect of this Amendment become such additional Judge, and shall be commissioned by the Governor as such, to hold office until his successor is duly elected and qualified.

(b) The Legislature may from time to time and as the business of the Court of Record in and for Escambia County, Florida, requires, provide for the appointment for one or more additional Judges of said Court. Each such additional Judge shall be elected and hold office for six years and shall receive the same salary and allowances for expense as other Judges of the Court of Record in and for Escambia County, Florida. They shall have all powers and perform all duties and possess all qualifications that are or may be provided or prescribed by the Constitution or by statute for the Judge of the Court of Record in and for Escambia County, Florida, and all statutes concerning said Judge shall apply to them.

Filed in Office Secretary of State June 15, 1953.

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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 579

A Joint Resolution proposing an Amendment of Article III of the Constitution of the State of Florida relating to the Legislative Department by striking therefrom Sections 2 and 4 thereof pertaining to Sessions of the Legislature and Eligibility and remuneration of Legislators and inserting in lieu thereof Sections Numbered 2 and 4 respectively, pertaining to the same general subject matter.

Be it Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

That the following amendment of Article III of the constitution of the State of Florida relating to the legislative department, be and the same is hereby agreed to and shall be submitted to the electors of the State of Florida for approval or rejection at the next general election to be held in 1954, that is to say that Article III of the constitution of the State of Florida be amended by striking therefrom present Sections 2 and 4 and inserting in lieu thereof the following sections to be numbered 2 and 4 respectively:

Section 2. Regular and Extra Sessions. The regular sessions of the Legislature shall be held biennially, commencing on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in April, A. D. 1887, and on the corresponding day of every second year thereafter, but the Governor may convene the same in extra session by his proclamation. Regular sessions of the Legislature may extend to sixty days, but no special session convened by the Governor shall exceed twenty days. The regular sixty-day biennial session of the legislature may, by a three-fifths vote of the membership of both houses, be extended not exceeding a total of thirty days which need not be consecutive. Recesses in such extended session shall be taken only by joint action of both houses. No extended session may last beyond September 1st following the regular biennial session. During such extended session, no additional proposed legislation shall be introduced unless consent is first obtained by a two-thirds vote of the members of the House into which it is sought to be introduced.

Section 4. Legislators, Salaries, Etc. Senators and members of the House of Representatives shall be duly qualified electors in the respective counties and districts for which they were chosen. The compensation of legislators shall be twelve hundred ($1200.00) dollars each year and shall be paid in monthly installments of one hundred ($100.00) dollars each. During the time the legislature is in session each legislator shall receive per diem and travel expenses as provided by law, but such may not exceed the allowances for such expenses provided for other state officials under general law.

Filed in Office Secretary of State June 15, 1953.

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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 757

A Joint Resolution Proposing to Amend Article V of the Constitution of the State of Florida Relating to the Judicial Department of the Government of the State of Florida.

Be it Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

That the following Amendment to Article V of the Constitution, State of Florida, is hereby agreed to and shall be submitted to the electors of this State for ratification or rejection at the next general election to be held in the year 1954 A. D., that is to say: A new section shall be added to said Article V to be designated Section 16B, reading and providing as follows:

Section 16B. When and as the business of the office of the County Judge requires, in any county having a population of more than 125,000 according to the last official census of Florida, the Legislature may provide for one or more additional County Judges who shall be elected by the qualified electors of such county at the time and places of voting for other county officers and such additional County Judge or Judges, shall hold said office for four years and said Judge's or Judges' compensation shall be provided for by law, and he or they shall have and exercise all the powers and perform all the duties that are or may be provided or prescribed by the Constitution or Statutes for County Judges, and all laws relating to the County Judge shall apply to said additional County Judge or Judges. Provided, however, that any law enacted by the Legislature providing for additional county judges shall require a referendum thereon, and such law shall not become effective until it is ratified by a majority of the voters of the County affected who participate in said election.

Filed in Office Secretary of State June 15, 1953.

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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 851.

A Joint Resolution Proposing an Amendment of Article VIII of the State Constitution by Adding Thereto an Additional Section to be Numbered by the Secretary of State Relating to the Assessment and Collection of Municipal Taxes.

Be it Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

That the following amendment of Article VIII of the constitution of the State of Florida relating to the assessment and collection of municipal taxes, be and the same is hereby agreed to and shall be submitted to the electors of the State of Florida for approval or rejection at the next general election to be held in 1954; that is to say that Article VIII of the Constitution of the State of Florida be amended by adding thereto an additional section to be numbered by the Secretary of State and reading as follows to wit:

Section __. Authority of the Legislature as to Assessment and Collection of Municipal Taxes. The Legislature may, by general, special or local act provide for the assessment of the taxes of any municipality by the County Tax Assessor of the county wherein such municipality is located and the collection thereof by the County Tax Collector of such county; provided that no such act, except the provisions thereof for a referendum election, may become effective in any municipality until approved by a majority vote of the electors qualified to vote in such municipality, voting at an election called for such purpose, which election may be held separately or with any other election. Any such act shall provide for reasonable compensation for the County Tax Assessor and County Tax Collector for such additional duties to be paid by the municipality for which such duties are performed.

Filed in Office Secretary of State June 15, 1953.

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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 858

A Joint Resolution Proposing an Amendment to Article VIII of the Constitution of the State of Florida Relative to Assessment of Property for Taxes by Adding Thereto an Additional Section to Provide That in the County of Monroe, State of Florida, the County Tax Assessor Shall Assess the Property of the County for the Purpose of Levying State, County, School and Municipal Taxes Levied by the State, County, County School Board, School Districts, Special Tax School Districts, Port Districts, Drainage Districts, and Any Other Taxing Districts and Municipalities of the County.

Be it Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

That the following amendment to Article VIII of the Constitution of the State of Florida relative to the assessment of all taxes in the county of Monroe, State of Florida, by adding thereto an additional section to be numbered by the secretary of state, be and the same is hereby agreed to and shall be submitted to the electors of the State of Florida for ratification or rejection at the general election to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, 1954, as follows:

Section __. From and after January 1, 1956, the county tax assessor in the county of Monroe, State of Florida, shall assess all property for all state, county, school and municipal taxes to be levied in the county by the state, county, county school board, school district, special tax school districts, port districts, drainage districts, and any other taxing districts and municipalities of the county.

The legislature shall at the legislative session in 1955 and from time to time thereafter, enact laws specifying the powers, functions, duties and compensation of the county tax assessor, designated in the first paragraph of this section, and shall likewise provide by law for the extension on the assessment roll of the county tax assessor of all taxes levied by the state, county, county school board, school districts, special tax school districts, port districts, drainage districts, and any other taxing districts and municipalities whose taxes may be assessed by the county tax assessor pursuant to the first paragraph of this section.

Filed in Office Secretary of State June 15, 1953.