State Seal Issue Survey


Amendments, Election of 11-7-72:

 

1972 HJR 2835 (Article XI, Section 3) {Adopted}

1972 HJR 4324 (Article X, Section 4) {Adopted}

1972 CS/HJR 3576 (Article XII, Section 9) {Adopted}

1972 CS/SJR 292 (Article XII, Section 9(a)) {Adopted}

 

Related Material:

 

"Proposed Amendments to the Florida Constitution and Bond Issue Referendum

November 7, 1972, Florida Election," by Clement H. Donovan and Manning J. Dauer.

Civic Information Series, No. 53, Public Administration Clearing Service,

University of Florida. 1972.

 

 

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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 2835

 

A JOINT RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to Section 3 of Article XI of the State Constitution; providing that the revision or amendment of any portion of the Constitution on one subject may be proposed by initiative of the people and p roviding procedure with respect thereto.

 

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

 

That the amendment to Section 3 of Article XI of the State Constitution set forth below is agreed to and shall be submitted to the electors of Florida for approval or rejection at the general election to be held in November 1972.

 

Section 3. Initiative. The power to propose the revision or amendment of any portion or portions of this constitution by initiative is reserved to the people, provided that, any such revision or amendment shall embrace but one subje ct and matter directly connected therewith. It may be invoked by filing with the secretary of state a petition containing a copy of the proposed revision or amendment, signed by a number of electors in each of one-half of the congressional districts of t he state, and of the state as a whole, equal to eight percent of the votes cast in each of such districts respectively and in the state as a whole in the last preceding election in which presidential electors were chosen.

 

Filed in Office Secretary of State March 21, 1972.

 

 

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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 4324

 

A JOINT RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to Section 4 of Article X of the State Constitution; providing for devise of the homestead if there is no minor child.

 

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

 

That the following amendment to Section 4 of Article X of the State Constitution is agreed to and shall be submitted to the electors of Florida for ratification or rejection at the general election to be held in November, 1972.

 

Section 4. Homestead; Exemptions.

(a) There shall be exempt from forced sale under process of any court, and no judgment, decree or execution shall be a lien thereon, except for the payment of taxes and assessments thereon, obligations contracted for the purchase, impro vement or repair thereof, or obligations contracted for house, field or other labor performed on the realty, the following property owned by the head of a family:

(1) a homestead, if located outside a municipality, to the extent of one hundred sixty acres of contiguous land and improvements thereon, which shall not be reduced without the owner’s consent by reason of subsequent inclusion in a muni cipality; to the extent of one-half acre of contiguous land, upon which the exemption shall be limited to the residence of the owner or his family;

(2) personal property to the value of one thousand dollars.

(b) These exemptions shall inure to the surviving spouse or heirs of the owner.

(c) The homestead shall not be subject to devise if the owner is survived by spouse or minor child, except the homestead may be devised to the owner’s spouse if there be no minor child. The owner of homestead real estate, joined by the spouse if married, may alienate the homestead by mortgage, sale or gift and, if married, may by deed transfer the title to an estate by the entirety with the spouse. If the owner or spouse is incompetent, the method of alienation or encumbrance shall be as provided by law.

 

Filed in Office Secretary of State April 5, 1972.

 

 

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COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 3576

 

A JOINT RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to Section 9 of Article XII of the Constitution, providing that part of the revenue derived from the licensing of motor vehicles shall be used for capital outlay and debt service school purposes and prescribing the methods of distribution and use thereof.

 

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

 

That the following amendment to Section 9 of Article XII is agreed to and shall be submitted to the electors of the state for ratification or rejection at the next general election to be held in November 1972:

 

 

ARTICLE XII

 

SCHEDULE

 

Section 9. Bonds.

(a) Additional Securities. No additional revenue bonds shall be issued pursuant to Article IX, Section 17, of the Constitution of 1885, as amended. Article XII, Section 19, of the Constitution of 1885, as amended, as it existed immedi ately before this revision becomes effective, is adopted by this reference as a part of this revision as completely as though incorporated herein verbatim, except bonds or tax anticipation certificates hereafter issued thereunder may bear interest not in excess of five per cent per annum or such higher interest as may be authorized by statute passed by a three-fifths vote of each house of the legislature. No revenue bonds or tax anticipation certificates shall be issued pursuant thereto after June 30, 19 75.

(b) Refunding Bonds. Revenue bonds to finance the cost of state capital projects issued prior to the date this revision becomes effective, including projects of the Florida state turnpike authority or its successor but excluding all po rtions of the state highway system, may be refunded as provided by law without vote of the electors at a lower net average interest cost rate by the issuance of bonds maturing not later than the obligations refunded, secured by the same revenues only.

(c) Motor Vehicle Fuel Taxes.

(1) A state tax, designated "second gas tax," of two cents per gallon upon gasoline and other like products of petroleum and an equivalent tax upon other sources of energy used to propel motor vehicles as levied by Article IX, Section 16, of the Constitution of 1885, as amended, is hereby continued for a period of forty consecutive years. The proceeds of said tax shall be placed monthly in the state roads distribution fund in the state treasury.

(2) Article IX, Section 16, of the Constitution of 1885, as amended, is adopted by this reference as part of this revision as completely as though incorporated herein verbatim for the purpose of providing that after the effective date o f this revision the proceeds of the "second gas tax" as referred to therein shall be allocated among the several counties in accordance with the formula stated therein to the extent necessary to comply with all obligations to or for the benefit of holders of bonds, revenue certificates and tax anticipation certificates or any refundings thereof secured by any portion of the "second gas tax."

(3) No funds anticipated to be allocated under the formula stated in Article IX, Section 16, of the Constitution of 1885, as amended, shall be pledged as security for any obligation hereafter issued or entered into, except that any outs tanding obligations previously issued pledging revenues allocated under said Article IX, Section 16, may be refunded at a lower net average interest cost rate by the issuance of refunding bonds, maturing not later than the obligations refunded, secured by the same revenues and any other security authorized in paragraph (5) of this subsection.

(4) Subject to the requirements of paragraph (2) of this subsection and after payment of administrative expenses, the "second gas tax" shall be allocated to the account of each of the several counties in the amounts to be dete rmined as follows: There shall be an initial allocation of one-fourth in the ratio of county area to state area, one-fourth in the ratio of the total county population to the total population of the state in accordance with the latest available federal ce nsus, and one-half in the ratio of the total "second gas tax" collected on retail sales or use in each county to the total collected in all counties of the state during the previous fiscal year. If the annual debt service requirements of any ob ligations issued for any county, including any deficiencies for prior years, secured under paragraph (2) of this subsection, exceeds the amount which would be allocated to that county under the formula set out in this paragraph, the amounts allocated to o ther counties shall be reduced proportionately.

(5) Funds allocated under paragraphs (2) and (4) of this subsection shall be administered by the state board of administration created under said Article IX, Section 16, of the Constitution of 1885, as amended, and which is continued as a body corporate for the life of this subsection 9(c). The board shall remit the proceeds of the "second gas tax" in each county account for use in said county as follows: eighty per cent to the state agency supervising the state road system a nd twenty per cent to the governing body of the county. The percentage allocated to the county may be increased by general law. The proceeds of the "second gas tax" subject to allocation to the several counties under this paragraph (5) shall b e used first, for the payment of obligations pledging revenues allocated pursuant to Article IX, Section 16, of the Constitution of 1885, as amended, and any refundings thereof; second, for the payment of debt service on bonds issued as provided by this p aragraph (5) to finance the acquisition and construction of roads as defined by law; and third, for the acquisition and construction of roads. When authorized by law, state bonds pledging the full faith and credit of the state may be issued without any e lection: (i) to refund obligations secured by any portion of the "second gas tax" allocated to a county under Article IX, Section 16, of the Constitution of 1885, as amended; (ii) to finance the acquisition and construction of roads in a county when approved by the governing body of the county and the state agency supervising the state road system; and (iii) to refund obligations secured by any portion of the "second gas tax" allocated under paragraph 9(c)(4). No such bonds shall be i ssued unless a state fiscal agency created by law has made a determination that in no state fiscal year will the debt service requirements of the bonds and all other bonds secured by the pledged portion of the "second gas tax" allocated to the c ounty exceed seventy-five per cent of the pledged portion of the "second gas tax" allocated to that county for the preceding state fiscal year, of the pledged net tolls from existing facilities collected in the preceding state fiscal year, and o f the annual average net tolls anticipated during the first five years of operation of new projects to be financed. Bonds issued pursuant to this subsection shall be payable primarily from the pledged tolls and portions of the "second gas tax" allocated to that county.

(d) School Bonds.

(1) Article XII, Section 9, Subsection (d) of this constitution, as amended, (which, by reference, adopted Article XII, Section 18, of the Constitution of 1885, as amended) as the same existed immediately before the effective date of th is amendment is adopted by this reference as part of this amendment as completely as though incorporated herein verbatim for the purpose of providing that after the effective date of this amendment the first proceeds of the revenues derived from the licen sing of motor vehicles as referred to therein shall be distributed annually among the several counties in the ratio of the number of instruction units in each county, the same being coterminous with the school district of each county as provided in Articl e IX, Section 4, Subsection (a) of this constitution, in each year computed as provided therein to the extent necessary to comply with all obligations to or for the benefit of holders of bonds or motor vehicle tax anticipation certificates issued before t he effective date of this amendment or any refundings thereof which are secured by any portion of such revenues derived from the licensing of motor vehicles.

(2) No funds anticipated to be distributed annually among the several counties under the formula stated in Article XII, Section 9, Subsection (d) of this constitution, as amended, as the same existed immediately before the effective dat e of this amendment shall be pledged as security for any obligations hereafter issued or entered into, except that any outstanding obligations previously issued pledging such funds may be refunded at a lower net average interest cost rate by the issuance of refunding bonds maturing not later than the obligations refunded, secured by the same revenues and any other security authorized in paragraph (13) of this subsection (d).

(3) Subject to the requirements of paragraph (1) of this subsection (d) beginning July 1, 1973, and for thirty-five years thereafter, the first proceeds of the revenues derived from the licensing of motor vehicles to the extent necessar y to comply with the provisions of this amendment, shall, as collected, be placed monthly in the school district and junior college district capital outlay and debt service fund in the state treasury, and used only as provided in this amendment. Such rev enue shall be distributed annually among the several school districts and junior college districts in the ratio of the number of instruction units in each school district or junior college district in each year computed as provided herein. The amount of the first revenues derived from the state motor vehicle license taxes to be so set aside in each year and distributed as provided herein shall be an amount equal in the aggregate to the product of six hundred dollars ($600) multiplied by the total number of instruction units in all the school districts of Florida for the school fiscal year 1967-68, plus an amount equal in the aggregate to the product of eight hundred dollars ($800) multiplied by the total number of instruction units in all the school dist ricts of Florida for the school fiscal year 1972-73 and for each school fiscal year thereafter which is in excess of the total number of such instruction units in all the school districts of Florida for the school fiscal year 1967-68, such excess units be ing designated "growth units." The amount of the first revenues derived from the state motor vehicle license taxes to be so set aside in each year and distributed as provided herein shall additionally be an amount equal in the aggregate to the product of four hundred dollars ($400) multiplied by the total number of instruction units in all junior college districts of Florida. The number of instruction units in each school district or junior college district in each year for the purposes of thi s amendment shall be greater of (1) the number of instruction units in each school district for the school fiscal year 1967-68 or junior college district for the school fiscal year 1968-69 computed in the manner heretofore provided by general law, or (2) the number of instruction units in such school district, including growth units, or junior college district for the school fiscal year computed in the manner heretofore or hereafter provided by general law and approved by the state board of education (her einafter called the state board), or (3) the number of instruction units in each school district, including growth units, or junior college district on behalf of which the state board has issued bonds or motor vehicle tax anticipation certificates under t his amendment which will produce sufficient revenues under this amendment to equal one and twelve-hundredths (1.12) times the aggregate amount of principal of and interest on all bonds or motor vehicle tax anticipation certificates issued under this amend ment which will mature and become due in such year, computed in the manner heretofore or hereafter provided by general law and approved by the state board.

(4) Such funds so distributed shall be administered by the state board as now created and constituted by Section 2 of Article IX of the State Constitution as revised in 1968, or by such other instrumentality of the state which shall her eafter succeed by law to the powers, duties and functions of the state board, including the powers, duties and functions of the state board provided in this amendment. For the purposes of this amendment, said state board shall be a body corporate and sha ll have all the powers provided in this amendment in addition to all other constitutional and statutory powers related to the purposes of this amendment heretofore or hereafter conferred upon said state board.

(5) The state board shall, in addition to its other constitutional and statutory powers, have the management, control and supervision of the proceeds of the first part of the revenues derived from the licensing of motor vehicles provide d for in this subsection (d). The state board shall also have power, for the purpose of obtaining funds for the use of any school board of any school district or board of trustees of any junior college district in acquiring, building, constructing, alter ing, remodeling, improving, enlarging, furnishing, equipping, maintaining, renovating, or repairing of capital outlay projects for school purposes to issue bonds or motor vehicle tax anticipation certificates, and also to issue such bonds or motor vehicle tax anticipation certificates to pay, fund or refund any bonds or motor vehicle tax anticipation certificates theretofore issued by said state board. All such bonds or motor vehicle tax anticipation certificates shall bear interest at not exceeding five per centum per annum, or such higher interest rate as may be authorized by statute heretofore or hereafter passed by a three-fifths (3/5) vote of each house of the legislature. All such bonds shall mature serially in annual installments commencing not m ore than three (3) years from the date of issuance thereof and ending not later than thirty (30) years from the date of issuance, or July 1, 2007, A. D., whichever is earlier. All such motor vehicle tax anticipation certificates shall mature prior to Jul y 1, 2007, A. D. The state board shall have power to determine all other details of said bonds or motor vehicle tax anticipation certificates and to sell at public sale after public advertisement, or exchange said bonds or motor vehicle tax anticipation certificates, upon such terms and conditions as the state board shall provide.

(6) The state board shall also have power to pledge for the payment of the principal of and interest on such bonds or motor vehicle tax anticipation certificates, including refunding bonds or refunding motor vehicle tax anticipation cer tificates, all or any part from the anticipated revenues to be derived from the licensing of motor vehicles provided for in this amendment and to enter into any covenants and other agreements with the holders of such bonds or motor vehicle tax anticipatio n certificates at the time of the issuance thereof concerning the security thereof and the rights of the holders thereof, all of which covenants and agreements shall constitute legally binding and irrevocable contracts with such holders and shall be fully enforceable by such holders in any court of competent jurisdiction.

(7) No such bonds or motor vehicle tax anticipation certificates shall ever be issued by the state board until after the adoption of a resolution requesting the issuance thereof by the school board of the school district or board of tru stees of the junior college district on behalf of which the obligations are to be issued. The state board of education shall limit the amount of such bonds or motor vehicle tax anticipation certificates which can be issued on behalf of any school distric t or junior college district to ninety percent (90%) of the amount which it determines can be serviced by the revenue accruing to the school district or junior college district under the provisions of this amendment, and such determination shall be conclu sive. All such bonds or motor vehicle tax anticipation certificates shall be issued in the name of the state board of education but shall be issued for and on behalf of the school board of the school district or board of trustees of the junior college di strict requesting the issuance thereof, and no election or approval of qualified electors shall be required for the issuance thereof.

(8) The state board shall in each year use the funds distributable pursuant to this amendment to the credit of each school district or junior college district only in the following manner and in order of priority:

a. To comply with the requirements of paragraph (1) of this subsection (d).

b. To pay all amounts of principal and interest maturing in such year on any bonds or motor vehicle tax anticipation certificates issued under the authority hereof, including refunding bonds or motor vehicle tax anticipation certificate s, issued on behalf of the school board of such school district or board of trustees of such junior college district; subject, however, to any covenants or agreements made by the state board concerning the rights between holders of different issues of suc h bonds or motor vehicle tax anticipation certificates, as herein authorized.

c. To establish and maintain a sinking fund or funds to meet future requirements for debt service or reserves therefor, on bonds or motor vehicle tax anticipation certificates issued on behalf of the school board of such school district or board of trustees of such junior college district under the authority hereof, whenever the state board shall deem it necessary or advisable, and in such amounts and under such terms and conditions as the state board shall in its discretion determine.< /P>

d. To distribute annually to the several school boards of the school districts or the boards of trustees of the junior college districts for use in payment of debt service on bonds heretofore or hereafter issued by any such school board s of the school districts or boards of trustees of the junior college districts where the proceeds of the bonds were used, or are to be used, in acquiring, building, construction, altering, remodeling, improving, enlarging, furnishing, equipping, maintain ing, renovating, or repairing of capital outlay projects in such school districts or junior college districts and which capital outlay projects have been approved by the school board of the school district or board of trustees of the junior college distri ct, pursuant to the most recent survey or surveys conducted under regulations prescribed by the state board to determine the capital outlay needs of the school district or junior college district. The state board shall have power at the time of issuance of any bonds by any school board of any school district or board of trustees of any junior college district to covenant and agree with such school board or board of trustees as to the rank and priority of payments to be made for different issues of bonds under this subparagraph d., and may further agree that any amounts to be distributed under this subparagraph d. may be pledged for the debt service on bonds issued by any school board of any school district or board of trustees of any junior college distr ict and for the rank and priority of such pledge. Any such covenants or agreements of the state board may be enforced by any holders of such bonds in any court of competent jurisdiction.

e. To distribute annually to the several school boards of the school districts or boards of trustees of the junior college districts for the payment of the cost of acquiring, building, constructing, altering, remodeling, improving, enla rging, furnishing, equipping, maintaining, renovating, or repairing of capital outlay projects for school purposes in such school district or junior college district as shall be requested by resolution of the school board of the school district or board o f trustees of the junior college district.

f. When all major capital outlay needs of a school district or junior college district have been met as determined by the state board, on the basis of a survey made pursuant to regulations of the state board and approved by the state bo ard, all such funds remaining shall be distributed annually and used for such school purposes in such school district or junior college district as the school board of the school district or board of trustees of the junior college district shall determine , or as may be provided by general law.

(9) Capital outlay projects of a school district or junior college district shall be eligible to participate in the funds accruing under this amendment and derived from the proceeds of bonds and motor vehicle tax anticipation certificat es and from the motor vehicle license taxes, only in the order of priority of needs, as shown by a survey or surveys conducted in the school district or junior college district under regulations prescribed by the state board, to determine the capital outl ay needs of the school district or junior college district and approved by the state board; provided that the priority of such projects may be changed from time to time upon the request of the school board of the school district or board of trustees of th e junior college district and with the approval of the state board; and provided further, that this paragraph (9) shall not in any manner affect any covenant, agreement or pledge made by the state board in the issuance by said state board of any bonds or motor vehicle tax anticipation certificates, or in connection with the issuance of any bonds of any school board of any school district, or board of trustees of any junior college district.

(10) The state board may invest any sinking fund or funds created pursuant to this amendment in direct obligations of the United States of America or in the bonds or motor vehicle tax anticipation certificates, issued by the state board on behalf of the school board of any school district or board of trustees of any junior college district.

(11) The state board shall have power to make and enforce all rules and regulations necessary to the full exercise of the powers herein granted and no legislation shall be required to render this amendment of full force and operating ef fect. The legislature shall not reduce the levies of said motor vehicle license taxes during the life of this amendment to any degree which will fail to provide the full amount necessary to comply with the provisions of this amendment and pay the necessa ry expenses of administering the laws relating to the licensing of motor vehicles, and shall not enact any law having the effect of withdrawing the proceeds of such motor vehicle license taxes from the operation of this amendment and shall not enact any l aw impairing or materially altering the rights of the holders of any bonds or motor vehicle tax anticipation certificates issued pursuant to this amendment or impairing or altering any covenant or agreement of the state board, as provided in such bonds or motor vehicle tax anticipation certificates.

(12) The state board shall have power to appoint such persons and fix their compensation for the administration of the provisions of this amendment as it shall deem necessary, and the expenses of the state board in administering the pr ovisions of this amendment shall be prorated among the various school districts and junior college districts and paid out of the proceeds from the bonds or motor vehicle tax anticipation certificates or from the funds distributable to each school district or junior college district on the same basis as such motor vehicle license taxes are distributable to the various school districts or junior college districts under the provisions of this amendment. Interest or profit on sinking fund investments shall a ccrue to the school districts or junior college districts in proportion to their respective equities in the sinking fund or funds.

(13) Bonds issued by the school board pursuant to this subsection (d) shall be payable primarily from said motor vehicle license taxes as provided herein, and if heretofore or hereafter authorized by law, may be additionally secured by pledging the full faith and credit of the state without an election. When heretofore or hereafter authorized by law, bonds issued pursuant to Article XII, Section 18 of the Constitution of 1885, as amended prior to 1968, and bonds issued pursuant to Arti cle XII, Section 9, subsection (d) of the Constitution as revised in 1968, and bonds issued pursuant to this subsection (d), may be refunded by the issuance of bonds additionally secured by the full faith and credit of the state only at a lower net averag e interest cost rate.

(e) Debt Limitation. Bonds issued pursuant to this Section 9 of Article XII which are payable primarily from revenues pledged pursuant to this section shall not be included in applying the limits upon the amount of state bonds containe d in Section 11, Article VII, of this revision.

(f) If, at the general election at which this amendment is adopted, there is also adopted an amendment to this section wherein the proposed language of subsection (a) differs from that contained herein, then such other language as to su bsection (a) shall prevail over the language of subsection (a) as contained herein.

 

Filed in Office Secretary of State April 14, 1972.

 

 

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COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 292

 

A JOINT RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to Article XII, Section 9(a), of the State Constitution to delete the prohibition against the issuance of revenue bonds under the authority of Article IX, Section 17, of the Constitution of 1885 , as amended; providing that revenue bonds, revenue certificates, or other evidences of indebtedness hereafter issued thereunder may be issued by the agency of the state authorized to do so by law.

 

WHEREAS, Article IX, Section 17, of the Constitution of 1885, as amended, originally authorized the issuance of revenue bonds to acquire lands, water areas and related resources and to construct, improve, enlarge and extend capital impr ovements and facilities thereon in furtherance of outdoor recreation, natural resources conservation and related purposes; and

 

WHEREAS, many worthwhile projects of great natural beauty and public benefit were acquired, preserved and improved with the proceeds of the revenue bonds issued pursuant to such authority; and

 

WHEREAS, the State Constitution, as revised in 1968, prohibited the further issuance of revenue bonds pursuant to said Article IX, Section 17, of the Constitution of 1885; and

 

WHEREAS, the governmental reorganization act of 1969, Chapter 69-106, laws of Florida, acts of 1969, abolished the former outdoor recreational development council and transferred its duties and responsibilities to the department of natu ral resources, division of recreation and parks; and

 

WHEREAS, it is found to be essential and in the public interest to reinstitute such program of capital outlay financing for the above-stated purposes, through the agencies created by law to issue bonds and carry out recreation and conse rvation programs, NOW, THEREFORE,

 

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

 

That the following amendment to Article XII, Section 9, Subsection (a), of the State Constitution is agreed to and shall be submitted to the electors of Florida for ratification or rejection at the general election to be held in Nov ember, 1972:

 

Section 9. Bonds.

(a) Additional Securities. Article IX, Section 17, of the Constitution of 1885, as amended, as it existed immediately before this Constitution, as revised in 1968, became effective, is adopted by this reference as a part of this revisi on as completely as though incorporated herein verbatim, except revenue bonds, revenue certificates or other evidences of indebtedness hereafter issued thereunder may be issued by the agency of the state so authorized by law.

Article XII, Section 19, of the Constitution of 1885, as amended, as it existed immediately before this revision becomes effective, is adopted by this reference as a part of this revision as completely as though incorporated herein ver batim, except bonds or tax anticipation certificates hereafter issued thereunder may bear interest not in excess of five percent (5%) per annum or such higher interest as may be authorized by statute passed by a three-fifths (3/5) vote of each house of th e legislature. No revenue bonds or tax anticipation certificates shall be issued pursuant thereto after June 30, 1975.

(b) Refunding Bonds. Revenue bonds to finance the cost of state capital outlay projects issued prior to the date this revision becomes effective, including projects of the Florida state turnpike authority or its successor but excluding all portions of the state highway system, may be refunded as provided by law without vote of the electors at a lower net average interest cost rate by the issuance of bonds maturing not later than the obligations refunded, secured by the same revenues on ly.

(c) Motor Vehicle Fuel Taxes.

(1) A state tax, designated "second gas tax", of two cents per gallon upon gasoline and other like products of petroleum and an equivalent tax upon other sources of energy used to propel motor vehicles as levied by Article IX, Section 16, of the Constitution of 1885, as amended, is hereby continued for a period of forty consecutive years. The proceeds of said tax shall be placed monthly in the state roads distribution fund in the state treasury.

(2) Article IX, Section 16, of the Constitution of 1885, as amended, is adopted by this reference as a part of this revision as completely as though incorporated herein verbatim for the purpose of providing that after the effective date of this revision the proceeds of the "second gas tax" as referred to therein shall be allocated among the several counties in accordance with the formula stated therein to the extent necessary to comply with all obligations to or for the benefi t of holders of bonds, revenue certificates and tax anticipation certificates or any refundings thereof secured by any portion of the "second gas tax."

(3) No funds anticipated to be allocated under the formula stated in Article IX, Section 16, of the Constitution of 1885, as amended, shall be pledged as security for any obligation hereafter issued or entered into, except that any outs tanding obligations previously issued pledging revenues allocated under said Article IX, Section 16, may be refunded at a lower net average interest cost rate by the issuance of refunding bonds, maturing not later than the obligations refunded, secured by the same revenues as any other security authorized in paragraph (5) of this subsection.

(4) Subject to the requirements of paragraph (2) of this subsection and after payment of administrative expenses, the "second gas tax" shall be allocated to the account of each of the several counties in amounts to be determin ed as follows: There shall be an initial allocation of one-fourth in the ratio of county area to state area, one-fourth in the ratio of the total county population to the total population of the state in accordance with the latest available federal census , and one-half in the ratio of the total "second gas tax" collected on retail sales or use in each county to the total collected in all counties of the state during the previous fiscal year. If the annual debt service requirements of any obligat ions issued for any county, including any deficiencies for prior years, secured under paragraph (2) of this subsection, exceeds the amount which would be allocated to that county under the formula set out in this paragraph, the amounts allocated to other counties shall be reduced proportionately.

(5) Funds allocated under paragraphs (2) and (4) of this subsection shall be administered by the state board of administration created under said Article IX, Section 16, of the Constitution of 1885, as amended, and which is continued as a body corporate for the life of this subsection 9(c). The board shall remit the proceeds of the "second gas tax" in each county account for use in said county as follows: eighty percent to the state agency supervising the state road system an d twenty percent to the governing body of the county. The percentage allocated to the county may be increased by general law. The proceeds of the "second gas tax" subject to allocation to the several counties under this paragraph (5) shall be used first, for the payment of obligations pledging revenues allocated pursuant to Article IX, Section 16, of the Constitution of 1885, as amended, and any refundings thereof; second, for the payment of debt service on bonds issued as provided by this par agraph (5) to finance the acquisition and construction of roads as defined by law; and third, for the acquisition and construction of roads. When authorized by law, state bonds pledging the full faith and credit of the state may be issued without any ele ction: (i) to refund obligations secured by any portion of the "second gas tax" allocated to a county under Article IX, Section 16, of the Constitution of 1885, as amended; (ii) to finance the acquisition and construction of roads in a county wh en approved by the governing body of the county and the state agency supervising the state road system; and (iii) to refund obligations secured by any portion of the "second gas tax" allocated under paragraph 9(c)(4). No such bonds shall be iss ued unless a state fiscal agency created by law has made a determination that in no state fiscal year will the debt service requirements of the bonds and all other bonds secured by the pledged portion of the "second gas tax" allocated to the cou nty exceed seventy-five percent of the pledged portion of the "second gas tax" allocated to that county for the preceding state fiscal year, of the pledged net tolls from existing facilities collected in the preceding state fiscal year, and of t he annual average net tolls anticipated during the first five years of operation of new projects to be financed. Bonds issued pursuant to this subsection shall be payable primarily from the pledged tolls and portions of the "second gas tax" all ocated to that county.

(d) School Bonds. Article XII, Section 18, of the Constitution of 1885, as amended, as it existed immediately before this revision becomes effective is adopted by this reference as part of this revision as completely as though incorpor ated herein verbatim, except bonds or tax anticipation certificates hereafter issued thereunder may bear interest not in excess of five percent per annum or such higher interest as may be authorized by statute passed by a three-fifths vote of each house o f the legislature. Bonds issued pursuant to this subsection (d) shall be payable primarily from revenues as provided in Article XII, Section 18, of the Constitution of 1885, as amended, and if authorized by law, may be additionally secured by pledging th e full faith and credit of the state without an election. When authorized by law, bonds issued pursuant to Article XII, Section 18, of the Constitution of 1885, as amended, and bonds issued pursuant to this subsection (d), may be refunded by the issuance of bonds additionally secured by the full faith and credit of the state only at a lower net average interest cost rate.

(e) Debt Limitation. Bonds issued pursuant to this Section 9 of Article XII which are payable primarily from revenues pledged pursuant to this section shall not be included in applying the limits upon the amount of state bonds containe d in Section 11, Article VII, of this revision.

(f) If, at the general election at which this amendment is adopted, there is also adopted an amendment to this section wherein the proposed language of subsection (d) differs from that contained herein, then such other language shall pr evail over the language of subsection (d) as contained herein.

 

Filed in Office Secretary of State April 5, 1972.

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