Related Material:

"Proposed Amendments to the Florida Constitution November 5, 1974, Florida Election,"

by Clement H. Donovan and Manning J. Dauer.

Civic Information Series, No. 54, Public Administration Clearing Service,

University of Florida. 1974.

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COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 637

A JOINT RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to Section 9, Article IV of the State Constitution, relating to the appointment of game and fresh water fish commission members and to approval of the commission’s budget by the legislature.

That the following amendment to Section 9 of Article IV of the State Constitution 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 1974:

Section 9. Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission.

There shall be a game and fresh water fish commission, composed of five members appointed by the governor subject to confirmation by the senate for staggered terms of five years. The commission shall exercise the regulatory and executi ve powers of the state with respect to wild animal life and fresh water aquatic life, except that all license fees for taking wild animal life and fresh water aquatic life and penalties for violating regulations of the commission shall be prescribed by sp ecific statute. The legislature may enact laws in aid of the commission, not inconsistent with this section. The commission’s exercise of executive powers in the area of planning, budgeting, personnel management, and purchasing shall be as provided by l aw. Revenue derived from such license fees shall be appropriated to the commission by the legislature for the purpose of management, protection and conservation of wild animal life and fresh water aquatic life.

The wording of the proposed amendment shall be stated. The Resolution makes the appointment of game commission members subject to senate approval; provides that the commission’s planning, personnel, purchasing and budgeting shall be pr ovided by law; and that the legislature may appropriate funds to the commission.

Filed in Office Secretary of State May 29, 1973.

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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 1907

A JOINT RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to Section 1 of Article VIII of the state constitution relating to nomenclature of county officers.

That the amendment to Section 1 of Article VIII 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 1974:< /P>

Section 1. Counties.

(a) Political Subdivisions. The state shall be divided by law into political subdivisions called counties. Counties may be created, abolished or changed by law, with provision for payment or apportionment of the public debt.

(b) County Funds. The care, custody and method of disbursing county funds shall be provided by general law.

(c) Government. Pursuant to general or special law, a county government may be established by charter which shall be adopted, amended or repealed only upon vote of the electors of the county in a special election called for that purpos e.

(d) County Officers. There shall be elected by the electors of each county, for terms of four years, a sheriff, a tax collector, a property appraiser, a supervisor of elections, and a clerk of the circuit court; except when provided by county charter or special law approved by vote of the electors of the county, any county officer may be chosen in another manner therein specified, or any county office may be abolished when all the duties of the office prescribed by general law are tran sferred to another office. When not otherwise provided by county charter or special law approved by vote of the electors, the clerk of the circuit court shall be ex officio clerk of the board of county commissioners, auditor, recorder and custodian of al l county funds.

(e) Commissioners. Except when otherwise provided by county charter, the governing body of each county shall be a board of county commissioners composed of five members serving staggered terms of four years. After each decennial censu s the board of county commissioners shall divide the county into districts of contiguous territory as nearly equal in population as practicable. One commissioner residing in each district shall be elected by the electors of the county.

(f) Non-Charter Government. Counties not operating under county charters shall have such power of self-government as is provided by general or special law. The board of county commissioners of a county not operating under a charter ma y enact, in a manner prescribed by general law, county ordinances not inconsistent with general or special law, but an ordinance in conflict with a municipal ordinance shall not be effective within the municipality to the extent of such conflict.

(g) Charter Government. Counties operating under county charters shall have all powers of local self-government not inconsistent with general law, or with special law approved by vote of the electors. The governing body of a county op erating under a charter may enact county ordinances not inconsistent with general law. The charter shall provide which shall prevail in the event of conflict between county and municipal ordinances.

(h) Taxes; Limitation. Property situate within municipalities shall not be subject to taxation for services rendered by the county exclusively for the benefit of the property or residents in unincorporated areas.

(i) County Ordinances. Each county ordinance shall be filed with the secretary of state and shall become effective at such time thereafter as is provided by general law.

(j) Violation of Ordinances. Persons violating county ordinances shall be prosecuted and punished as provided by law.

(k) County Seat. In every county there shall be a county seat at which shall be located the principal offices and permanent records of all county officers. The county seat may not be moved except as provided by general law. Branch of fices for the conduct of county business may be established elsewhere in the county by resolution of the governing body of the county in the manner prescribed by law. No instrument shall be deemed recorded in the county until filed at the county seat acc ording to law.

Section 2. The proposal shall appear on the ballot as follows:

Change the name of the office of "Tax Assessor" to "Property Appraiser".

For ___________________________ Against ___________________________

Filed in Office Secretary of State June 14, 1973.

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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 1424

A JOINT RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the state of Florida; amending Section 10 of Article VII; relating to joint ownership, construction and operation of electrical energy generating or transmission facilitie s.

That the following amendment to Section 10 of Article VII of the State Constitution, is agreed to and shall be submitted to the electors of Florida for ratification or rejection at the next general election to be held in November, 1 974:

Section 10. Pledging Credit. Neither the state nor any county, school district, municipality, special district, or agency of any of them, shall become a joint owner with, or stockholder of, or give, lend or use its taxing power or c redit to aid any corporation, association, partnership or person; but this shall not prohibit laws authorizing:

(a) the investment of public trust funds;

(b) the investment of other public funds in obligations of, or insured by, the United States or any of its instrumentalities;

(c) the issuance and sale by any county, municipality, special district or other local governmental body of (1) revenue bonds to finance or refinance the cost of capital projects for airports or port facilities, or (2) revenue bonds to finance or refinance the cost of capital projects for industrial or manufacturing plants to the extent that the interest thereon is exempt from income taxes under the then existing laws of the United States, when, in either case, the revenue bonds are pay able solely from revenue derived from the sale, operation or leasing of the projects. If any project so financed, or any part thereof, is occupied or operated by any private corporation, association, partnership or person pursuant to contract or lease wi th the issuing body, the property interest created by such contract or lease shall be subject to taxation to the same extent as other privately owned property.

(d) a municipality, county, special district, or agency of any of them, being a joint owner of, giving, or lending or using its taxing power or credit for the joint ownership, construction and operation of electrical energy generating o r transmission facilities with any corporation, association, partnership or person.

Filed in Office Secretary of State May 31, 1973.

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SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 917

A JOINT RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to Section 2, Article I of the State Constitution, relating to basic rights; prohibiting discrimination based upon physical handicaps.

That the following amendment to Section 2, Article I of the State Constitution is agreed to and shall be submitted to the electors of the state for approval or rejection at the general election to be held in November, 1974:

ARTICLE I

DECLARATION OF RIGHTS

Section 2. Basic Rights. All natural persons are equal before the law and have inalienable rights, among which are the right to enjoy and defend life and liberty, to pursue happiness, to be rewarded for industry, and to acquire, pos sess and protect property; except that the ownership, inheritance, disposition and possession of real property by aliens ineligible for citizenship may be regulated or prohibited by law. No person shall be deprived of any right because of race, religion or physical handicap.

STATEMENT OF PROPOSAL

The proposal shall appear on the ballot as follows:

The resolution provides that no person shall be discriminated against because of a physical handicap.

Filed in Office Secretary of State, June 18, 1974.

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COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTIONS NO. 2289 AND 2984

A JOINT RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to Section 9 of Article XII of the State Constitution, providing that the revenue derived from the gross receipts taxes levied in Chapter 203, Florida Statutes, shall be used for capital outlay projects for the state system of public education; and to correct inadvertent errors in subsection (d) thereof.

That the following amendment to Section 9 of Article XII of the State Constitution is agreed to and shall be submitted to the electors of the state for approval or rejection at the next general election to be held in November 1974:< /P>

ARTICLE XII

SCHEDULE

Section 9. Bonds.

(a) Additional Securities.

(1) 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 revision as completely as thou gh 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.

(2) That portion of Article XII, Section 9, Subsection (a) of this Constitution, as amended, which by reference adopted Article XII, Section 19 of the Constitution of 1885, as amended, as the same existed immediately before the effectiv e date of this amendment 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 of this amendment all of the proceeds of the revenues derived f rom the gross receipts taxes, as therein defined, collected in each year shall be applied as provided therein to the extent necessary to comply with all obligations to or for the benefit of holders of bonds or certificates issued before the effective date of this amendment or any refundings thereof which are secured by such gross receipts taxes. No bonds or other obligations may be issued pursuant to the provisions of Article XII, Section 19, of the Constitution of 1885, as amended, but this provision sh all not be construed to prevent the refunding of any such outstanding bonds or obligations pursuant to the provisions of this subsection (a)(2).

Subject to the requirements of the first paragraph of this subsection (a)(2), beginning July 1, 1975, and for fifty years thereafter, all of the proceeds of the revenues derived from the gross receipts taxes collected from every person, including municipalities, as provided and levied as of the time of adoption of this subsection (a)(2) in Chapter 203, Florida Statutes, (hereinafter called "gross receipts taxes"), shall, as collected, be placed in a trust fund to be known as t he "public education capital outlay and debt service trust fund" in the state treasury (hereinafter referred to as "capital outlay fund"), and used only as provided herein.

The capital outlay fund shall be administered by the state board of education as created and constituted by Section 2 of Article IX of the Constitution of Florida as revised in 1968 (hereinafter referred to as "state board"), or by such other instrumentality of the state which shall hereafter 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 subsection (a)(2). The state board s hall be a body corporate and shall have all the powers provided herein in addition to all other constitutional and statutory powers related to the purposes of this subsection (a)(2) heretofore or hereafter conferred by law upon the state board, or its pre decessor created by the Constitution of 1885, as amended.

State bonds pledging the full faith and credit of the state may be issued, without a vote of the electors, by the state board pursuant to law to finance or refinance capital projects theretofore authorized by the legislature, and any pu rposes appurtenant or incidental thereto, for the state system of public education provided for in Section 1 of Article IX of this Constitution (hereinafter referred to as "state system"), including but not limited to institutions of higher lear ning, junior colleges, vocational technical schools, or public schools, as now defined or as may hereafter be defined by law. All such bonds shall mature not later than July 1, 2025. All other details of such bonds shall be as provided by law or by the proceedings authorizing such bonds; provided, however, that no bonds, except refunding bonds, shall be issued, and no proceeds shall be expended for the cost of any capital project, unless such project has been authorized by the legislature.

Bonds issued pursuant to this subsection (a)(2) shall be primarily payable from such revenues derived from gross receipts taxes, and shall be additionally secured by the full faith and credit of the state. No such bonds shall ever be i ssued in an amount exceeding ninety percent of the amount which the state board determines can be serviced by the revenues derived from the gross receipts taxes accruing thereafter under the provisions of this subsection (a)(2), and such determination sha ll be conclusive.

The monies in the capital outlay fund in each fiscal year shall be used only for the following purposes and in the following order of priority:

(1) For the payment of the principal of and interest on any bonds maturing in such fiscal year;

(2) For the deposit into any reserve funds provided for in the proceedings authorizing the issuance of bonds of any amounts required to be deposited in such reserve funds in such fiscal year;

(3) For direct payment of the cost or any part of the cost of any capital project for the state system theretofore authorized by the legislature, or for the purchase or redemption of outstanding bonds in accordance with the provisions o f the proceedings which authorized the issuance of such bonds.

(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 p ortions 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 is 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 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 lice nsing 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 Artic le 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 the 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 reve nue 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 t he 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 o f 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 distr icts 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 bei ng 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 p roduct 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 this amendment shall be the 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 ( hereinafter 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 unde r this 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 am endment 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 July 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 ce rtificates, 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 the acquiring, building, constructing, altering, remodeling, improving, enlarging, furnishing, equipping, main taining, 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 di strict, 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 issua nce 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 bo nds 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 d istrict 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 pro visions of this amendment shall be prorated among the various school districts and junior college districts and paid out of the proceeds of 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 acc rue 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 state 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 p ledging 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 Artic le 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 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 (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.

(g) 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.

(h) 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 (c) differs from that contained herein, then such other language as to su bsection (c) shall prevail over the language of subsection (c) as contained herein. This amendment shall take effect as of July 1, 1975.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in accordance with the requirements of section 101.161, Florida Statutes, the substance of the amendment proposed herein shall appear on the ballot as follows:

Proposes an amendment to Section 9 of Article XII of the State Constitution to:

Continue today’s school construction program at area vocational-technical centers, community colleges, and universities, and extend the program to include the K-12 public schools, supported by bonds payable from the gross receipts taxes , pledging the full faith and credit of the state.

Filed in Office Secretary of State, June 11, 1974.

__________

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 3522

A JOINT RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to Section 9 of Article XII of the State Constitution relating to bonds for transportation facilities.

That the amendment to Section 9 of Article XII 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 1974:

ARTICLE XII

SCHEDULE

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 verb atim, 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 the 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 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 until January 1, 2025. 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 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 and other transportation facilities, including terminals, as defined by law; and third, for the acquisition and construction of roads and, to the extent permitted by federal law, other tran sportation facilities. When authorized by law, state bonds pledging the full faith and credit of the state may be issued without any election: (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 and other transportation facilities in a county when approved by the governing body of the county and the state agency supervising t he 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 issued unless a state fiscal agency created by law has made a determination that in n o 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 county and the other pledged revenues, if any, exceed seventy-five per cent of the pl edged 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, of the annual average net tolls anticipated durin g the first five years of operation of new projects to be financed, and the amount of any other legally available pledged revenues that accrued in the preceding state fiscal year. Bonds issued pursuant to this subsection shall be payable primarily from t he pledged tolls and portions of the "second gas tax" allocated to that county, together with any other pledged revenues that may be legally available for such purpose.

(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 lice nsing 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 Artic le 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 the 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 reve nue 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 t he 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 o f 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 distr icts 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 bei ng 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 p roduct 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 this amendment shall be the 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 ( hereinafter 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 unde r this 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 am endment 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 July 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 ce rtificates, 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 the acquiring, building, constructing, altering, remodeling, improving, enlarging, furnishing, equipping, main taining, 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 di strict, 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 issua nce 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 bo nds 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 d istrict 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 pro visions of this amendment shall be prorated among the various school districts and junior college districts and paid out of the proceeds of 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 acc rue 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 state 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 p ledging 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 Artic le 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 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 (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.

(g) 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.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

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 subsec tion (a) shall prevail over the language of subsection (a) as contained herein.

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 (c) differs from that contained herein, then the language of subsection (c) a s contained herein shall prevail over such other language.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in accordance with the requirements of section 101.161, Florida Statutes, the substance of the amendment proposed herein shall appear on the ballot as follows:

An amendment to Section 9 of Article XII of the State Constitution to:

1. Extend the life of the "second gas tax" to January 1, 2025.

2. Extend the purposes for which bonds may be issued and revenues may be used to all transpor-tation facilities.

3. Permit the bonds to be secured by tolls, portions of the "second gas tax", and any other legally available revenues.

Filed in Office Secretary of State, June 11, 1974.

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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 3911

A JOINT RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to Section 12 of Article V of the State Constitution relating to the judicial qualifications commission; providing that the commission shall have the power to investigate and recommend removal o r a reprimand of any justice or judge whose conduct, during term of office or otherwise occurring on or after November 1, 1966, demonstrates a present unfitness to hold office; providing for the removal of members of the commission; providing that the com mission shall adopt rules which may be repealed by a majority vote of the membership of each house of the legislature, or by the supreme court, five justices concurring; providing that the commission may with seven members concurring recommend the tempora ry suspension of any justice or judge against whom formal charges are pending; providing that if the supreme court suspends, all proceedings shall be public, otherwise all proceedings shall be confidential until a recommendation is filed by the commission ; providing that the commission shall have access to all information from all executive, legislative and judicial agencies; providing that the commission shall make available information for use in consideration of impeachment or suspension; providing for removal of members of the commission; providing for a new commission.

That the amendment to Section 12 of Article V 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, 1974:

ARTICLE V

Section 12. Discipline: Removal and Retirement.

(a) There shall be a judicial qualifications commission vested with jurisdiction to investigate and recommend to the Supreme Court of Florida the removal from office of any justice or judge whose conduct, during term of office or otherw ise occurring on or after November 1, 1966, (without regard to the effective date of this section) demonstrates a present unfitness to hold office, and to investigate and recommend the reprimand of a justice or judge whose conduct, during term of office o r otherwise occurring on or after November 1, 1966 (without regard to the effective date of this section), warrants such a reprimand. The commission shall be composed of:

(1) Two judges of district courts of appeal selected by the judges of those courts, two circuit judges selected by the judges of the circuit courts and two judges of county courts selected by the judges of those courts;

(2) Two electors who reside in the state, who are members of the bar of Florida, and who shall be chosen by the governing body of the bar of Florida; and

(3) Five electors who reside in the state, who have never held judicial office or been members of the bar of Florida, and who shall be appointed by the governor.

(b) The members of the judicial qualifications commission shall serve staggered terms, not to exceed six years, as prescribed by general law. No member of the commission except a justice or judge shall be eligible for state judicial of fice so long as he is a member of the commission and for a period of two years thereafter. No member of the commission shall hold office in a political party or participate in any campaign for judicial office or hold public office; provided that a judge may participate in his own campaign for judicial office and hold that office. The commission shall elect one of its members as its chairman.

(c) Members of the judicial qualifications commission not subject to impeachment shall be subject to removal from the commission pursuant to the provisions of Article IV, Section 7, Florida Constitution.

(d) The commission shall adopt rules regulating its proceedings, the filling of vacancies by the appointing authorities, the disqualification of members, and the temporary replacement of disqualified or incapacitated members. The commi ssion’s rules, or any part thereof, may be repealed by general law enacted by a majority vote of the membership of each house of the legislature, or by the supreme court, five justices concurring. After a recommendation of removal or public reprimand of any justice or judge, the record of the proceedings before the commission shall be made public. The commission may with seven members concurring recommend to the supreme court the temporary suspension of any justice or judge against whom formal charges a re pending and in the event the supreme court suspends such justice or judge all proceedings before the commission and all hearings shall be public. Otherwise, all proceedings before the commission shall be confidential until a recommendation is filed wi th the clerk of the supreme court recommending removal or public reprimand at which time such proceedings shall become public record.

(e) The commission shall have access to all information from all executive, legislative and judicial agencies, subject to the rules of the commission. On request of the speaker of the house of representatives or the governor, the commi ssion shall make available information for use in consideration of impeachment or suspension, respectively.

(f) Upon recommendation of two-thirds of the members of the judicial qualifications commission, the supreme court may order that the justice or judge be disciplined by appropriate reprimand, or be removed from office with termination of compensation for willful or persistent failure to perform his duties or for other conduct unbecoming a member of the judiciary, or be involuntarily retired for any permanent disability that seriously interferes with the performance of his duties. After the filing of a formal proceeding and upon request of the commission, the supreme court may suspend the justice or judge from office, with or without compensation, pending final determination of the inquiry.

(g) The power of removal conferred by this section shall be both alternative and cumulative to the power of impeachment and to the power of suspension by the governor and removal by the senate.

SCHEDULE

(1) The terms of office of the present members of the judicial qualifications commission shall expire on January 1, 1975, and new members shall be appointed to serve the following staggered terms:

(a) Group I. The terms of five members, composed of two electors as set forth in Section 12(a)(3) of Article V, one member of the bar of Florida as set forth in Section 12(a)(2) of Article V, one judge from the district courts of appea l and one circuit judge as set forth in Section 12(a)(1) of Article V, shall expire on December 31, 1976.

(b) Group II. The terms of four members, composed of one elector as set forth in Section 12(a)(3) of Article V, one member of the bar of Florida as set forth in Section 12(a)(2) of Article V, one circuit judge and one county judge as s et forth in Section 12(a)(1) of Article V, shall expire on December 31, 1978.

(c) Group III. The terms of four members, composed of two electors as set forth in Section 12(a)(3) of Article V, one judge from the district courts of appeal and one county judge as set forth in Section 12(a)(1) of Article V, shall ex pire on December 31, 1980.

(2) The amendment to Section 12 of Article V provided herein and the provisions of this schedule shall take effect January 1, 1975.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in accordance with the requirements of section 101.161, Florida Statutes, the substance of the amendment proposed herein shall appear on the ballot as follows:

An amendment to Section 12 of Article V of the State Constitution to permit the judicial qualifications commission to investigate and recommend to the supreme court the removal or reprimand of any justice or judge whose conduct, during term of office or otherwise occurring on or after November 1, 1966, demonstrates a present unfitness to hold office or warrants a reprimand, to provide a procedure for the removal of members, to permit the commission to adopt rules regulating its proceedi ngs which rules may be repealed by general law enacted by majority vote of the membership of each house of the legislature, or by the supreme court, five justices concurring, to require all proceedings before the commission to be confidential until a reco mmendation is filed by the commission or unless the supreme court suspends a justice or judge as recommended by a vote of seven members of the commission concurring, then all proceedings shall be public, further permitting the commission access to all inf ormation from all executive, legislative, and judicial agencies, and requiring the commission to make available information for use in consideration of impeachment or suspension when requested by the speaker of the house of representatives or the governor , respectively. Also provides for appointment of a new commission.

Filed in Office Secretary of State, June 11, 1974.