AS PROPOSED BY THE

FLORIDA CONSTITUTION REVISION

COMMISSION OF 1977-78

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BASIC DOCUMENT

Ballot Language.

Proposing a revision of the Florida Constitution, generally described as the Basic Document, embracing the subject matter of Articles I (Declaration of Rights), II (General Provisions), III (Legislature), IV (Executive), V (Judiciary), VI (Suffrage and Elections), VIII (Local Government), X (Miscellaneous), XI (Amendments) and XII (Schedule), except for other revisions separately submitted for a vote on this ballot.

REVISION OF ARTICLE I, SECTION 2

DECLARATION OF RIGHTS (SEX)

Ballot Language.

Proposing a revision of the Florida Constitution to provide that no person will be deprived of any right because of sex.

REVISION OF ARTICLE III, SECTION 16

LEGISLATIVE (SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICTS AND REAPPORTIONMENT COMMISSION)

Ballot Language.

Proposing a revision of the Florida Constitution to require single-member legislative districts, and to establish reapportionment standards and a commission to prepare a reapportionment plan for legislative and congressional districts.< /P>

REVISION OF ARTICLE IV, SECTIONS 1(g), 3, 4, 5, 6, 8(a); ARTICLE XI, SECTION 2

EXECUTIVE (CABINET)

Ballot Language.

Proposing a revision of the Florida Constitution to eliminate the cabinet composed of the secretary of state, the attorney general, the comptroller, the treasurer, the commissioner of agriculture and the commissioner of education in Jan uary 1983; and to provide, in such event, that the governor, acting jointly with at least one officer, as provided by law, shall be responsible for the investment of state funds, the management of bond debt and the acquisition and disposition of state lan ds; and to provide that other cabinet duties shall be transferred by law.

REVISION OF ARTICLE IV, SECTION 10; ARTICLE III, SECTION 16; ARTICLE V, SECTION 3(b)(3)

EXECUTIVE (PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION AND PUBLIC COUNSEL)

Ballot Language.

Proposing a revision of the Florida Constitution to provide for a five-member public service commission, each member to be appointed by the governor from a list not fewer than three persons submitted by a nominating commission, and that such members shall be confirmed by the senate; and to establish a public counsel to represent the people of the state before the public service commission.

REVISION OF ARTICLE V, SECTIONS 10 AND 11(a) AND (b)

JUDICIARY (SELECTION AND RETENTION OF CIRCUIT AND COUNTY JUDGES)

Ballot Language.

Proposing a revision of the Florida Constitution to provide that circuit and county judges submit themselves for retention or rejection by the electors in a general election every six years; to provide that the governor shall fill vacan cies occurring by rejection or otherwise from a list of at least three names submitted by the appropriate nominating commission; and to increase the terms of county court judges from four to six years.

REVISION OF ARTICLE VII; ARTICLE X, SECTION 12(h)

FINANCE AND TAXATION

Ballot Language.

Proposing a revision of the Florida Constitution to provide that property owned by a municipality and held for municipal purposes shall be exempt from taxation; to extend the personal property tax exemption to all natural persons, and t o extend to widowers the property tax exemption of not less than five hundred dollars; to provide for ad valorem tax exemptions for leasehold interests created prior to January 1, 1978, in government owned property; to provide that leasehold interests in government property leased for public purposes in connection with air, water or ground transportation may be exempt from taxation as provided by law; to permit adjustments to tax assessments relating to stock in trade and livestock, historic property and solar energy systems; to permit the revaluation of property every two years; to authorize the use of tax abatement and increment for redevelopment of slum and blighted areas; to provide that corporate income tax may not be levied against the appreciation of property value occurring prior to November 2, 1971; to permit an annual adjustment to the homestead exemption to maintain a constant value using 1979 as a base year and providing for replacement of revenues to local governments; to provide that state b onds may be used to finance water facilities and may be combined for sale; to provide that revenue bonds may only be issued for fixed capital outlay projects, to place limitations on revenue bonds and bond anticipation notes issued by local governments; a nd to provide that revenue bonds may be issued for housing and related facilities.

REVISION OF ARTICLE IX

EDUCATION

Ballot Language.

Proposing a revision of the Florida Constitution to provide that the state board of education shall be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate, and shall be responsible for the management and coordination of the state syst em of public education; to provide that the commissioner of education shall be appointed by the board in the event the office of elected commissioner is abolished; and to provide for a board of regents, appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senat e, which shall govern the state university system.

__________

AS PROPOSED BY THE

FLORIDA CONSTITUTION REVISION

COMMISSION

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ARTICLE I

DECLARATION OF RIGHTS

Section 1. Political Power. All political power is inherent in the people. Rights guaranteed by this constitution are not dependent on those guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States. The enunciation herein of certain ri ghts shall not be construed to deny or impair others retained by the people.

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, sex, or physical handicap.

Section 3. Religious Freedom. There shall be no law respecting the establishment of religion or prohibiting or penalizing the free exercise thereof. Religious freedom shall not justify practices inconsistent with public morals, pea ce or safety. No revenue of the state or any political subdivision or agency thereof shall ever be taken from the public treasury directly or indirectly in aid of any church, sect, or religious denomination or in aid of any sectarian institution.

Section 4. Freedom of Speech and Press. Every person may speak, write and publish his sentiments on all subjects but shall be responsible for the abuse of that right. No law shall be passed to restrain or abridge the liberty of spe ech or of the press. In all criminal prosecutions and civil actions for defamation the truth may be given in evidence. If the matter charged as defamatory is true and was published with good motives, the party shall be acquitted or exonerated.

Section 5. Right to Assemble. The people shall have the right peaceably to assemble, to instruct their representatives, and to petition for redress of grievances.

Section 6. Right to Work. The right of persons to work shall not be denied or abridged on account of membership or non-membership in any labor union or labor organization. The right of employees, by and through a labor organization , to bargain collectively shall not be denied or abridged. Binding arbitration is prohibited to resolve impasse in collective bargaining negotiations concerning wages, hours and terms and conditions of employment between public employees and a public emp loyer. Public employees shall not have the right to strike.

Section 7. Military Power. The military power shall be subordinate to the civil.

Section 8. Right to Bear Arms. The right of the people to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves and of the lawful authority of the state shall not be infringed, except that the manner of bearing arms may be regulated by law.

Section 9. Due Process. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law, or be twice put in jeopardy for the same offense, or be compelled in any criminal matter to be a witness against himself. Any natural person having knowledge or possession of facts that tend to establish the guilt of any other person under the laws of the state shall not be excused from giving testimony or producing evidence, when legally called upon to do so, on the ground that it may tend to incriminate him under the laws of the state; but no natural person shall be prosecuted or subjected to any penalty or forfeiture for or on account of any transaction, matter, or thing concerning which he may so testify.

Section 10. Prohibited Laws. No bill of attainder, ex post facto law or law impairing the obligation of contracts shall be passed.

Section 11. Imprisonment for Debt. No person shall be imprisoned for debt, except in cases of fraud.

Section 12. Searches and Seizures. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures, and against the unreasonable interception of private communications by any means, shall not be violated. No warrant shall be issued except upon probable cause, supported by affidavit, particularly describing the place or places to be searched, the person or persons, thing or things to be seized, the communication to be inte rcepted, and the nature of evidence to be obtained. Articles or information obtained in violation of this right shall not be admissible in evidence.

Section 13. Habeas Corpus. The writ of habeas corpus shall be grantable of right, freely and without cost. It shall be returnable without delay, and shall never be suspended unless, in case of rebellion or invasion, suspension is e ssential to the public safety.

Section 14. Release Prior to Trial. Until adjudged guilty, every person charged with a crime or violation of municipal or county ordinance shall be released upon conditions reasonable under the circumstances to secure his appearance at future court proceedings including monetary bail when no other method is adequate. No person charged with a capital offense or an offense punishable by life imprisonment shall be released prior to trial when the proof of guilt is evident or the presu mption is great.

Section 15. Prosecution for Crime: Testimony before Grand Jury; Right to Counsel before Grand Jury; Offenses Committed by Children.

(a) No person shall be tried for capital crime without presentment or indictment returned by a two-thirds vote of the members of a grand jury, or for other felony without such presentment or indictment returned by a two-thirds vote of t he members of a grand jury or an information under oath filed by the prosecuting officer of the court, except persons on active duty in the militia when tried by courts martial.

(b) Any person called to testify before a grand jury shall be advised of his right to counsel and shall not be compelled to testify against himself unless granted immunity. A witness shall have the right to be accompanied by, and recei ve the advice of, counsel during his testimony. Prior to giving testimony, a person under investigation by a grand jury shall be advised that he is under investigation.

(c) When authorized by law, a child as therein defined may be charged with a violation of law as an act of delinquency instead of crime and tried without a jury or other requirements applicable to criminal cases. Any child so charged s hall, upon demand made as provided by law before a trial in a juvenile proceeding, be tried in an appropriate court as an adult. A child found delinquent shall be disciplined as provided by law.

Section 16. Rights of Accused. In all criminal prosecutions the accused shall, upon demand, be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation against him, and shall be furnished a copy of the charges, and shall have the right to have compulsory process for witnesses, to confront at trial adverse witnesses, to be heard in person, by counsel or both, and to have a speedy and public trial by impartial jury in the county where the crime was committed. If the county is not known, th e indictment or information may charge venue in two or more counties conjunctively and proof that the crime was committed in that area shall be sufficient; but before pleading the accused may elect in which of those counties he will be tried. Venue for p rosecution of crimes committed beyond the boundaries of the state shall be fixed by law.

Section 17. Excessive Punishment. Excessive fines, cruel or unusual punishment, attainder, forfeiture of estate, indefinite imprisonment, and unreasonable detention of witnesses are forbidden.

Section 18. Administrative Penalties. No administrative agency shall impose a sentence of imprisonment, nor shall it impose any other penalty except as provided by law.

Section 19. Costs. No person charged with crime shall be compelled to pay costs before a judgment of conviction has become final.

Section 20. Natural Resources; Scenic Beauty; Use of Public Beaches. It shall be the policy of the state to conserve and protect its natural resources and scenic beauty. Adequate provision shall be made by law for the abatement of air and water pollution and of excessive and unnecessary noise. All publicly owned, leased, or managed beaches and seashore recreational areas shall be open to the public without differentiation as to terms and conditions of use.

Section 21. Access to Courts. The courts shall be open to every person for redress of any injury, and justice shall be administered without sale, denial or delay.

Section 22. Trial by Jury. The right of trial by jury shall be secure to all and remain inviolate. The qualifications and the number of jurors, not fewer than six, shall be fixed by law.

Section. 23. Right of Privacy. Every natural person has the right to be let alone and free from governmental intrusion into his private life except as otherwise provided herein.

Section 24. Public Records. No person shall be denied the right to examine any public record made or received in connection with the public business by any nonjudicial public officer or employee in the state or by persons acting on the officer’s or employee’s behalf. The legislature may exempt records by general law when it is essential to accomplish overriding governmental purposes or to protect privacy interests.

Schedule to Article I, Section 24. This section shall become effective June 1, 1979.

Section 25. Open Meetings. No person shall be denied access to any meeting at which official acts are to be taken by any nonjudicial collegial public body in the state or by persons acting together on behalf of such a public body. The legislature may exempt meetings by general law when it is essential to accomplish overriding governmental purposes or to protect privacy interests.

ARTICLE II

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 1. State Boundaries.

(a) The state boundaries are: Begin at the mouth of the Perdido River, which for the purposes of this description is defined as the point where latitude 30 degrees 16 minutes 53 seconds north and longitude 87 degrees 31 minutes 06 secon ds west intersect; thence to the point where latitude 30 degrees 17 minutes 02 seconds north and longitude 87 degrees 31 minutes 06 seconds west intersect; thence to the point where latitude 30 degrees 18 minutes 00 seconds north and longitude 87 degrees 27 minutes 08 seconds west intersect; thence to the point where the center line of the Intracoastal Canal (as the same existed on June 12, 1953) and longitude 87 degrees 27 minutes 00 seconds west intersect; the same being in the middle of the Perdido Ri ver; thence up the middle of the Perdido River to the point where it intersects the south boundary of the State of Alabama, being also the point of intersection of the middle of the Perdido River with latitude 31 degrees 00 minutes 00 seconds north; thenc e east, along the south boundary line of the State of Alabama, the same being latitude 31 degrees 00 minutes 00 seconds north to the middle of the Chattahoochee River; thence down the middle of said river to its confluence with the Flint River; thence in a straight line to the head of the St. Marys River; thence down the middle of said river to the Atlantic Ocean; thence due east to the edge of the Gulf Stream or a distance of three geographic miles whichever is the greater distance; thence in a southerly direction along the edge of the Gulf Stream or along a line three geographic miles from the Atlantic coastline and three leagues distant from the Gulf of Mexico coastline, whichever is greater, to and through the Straits of Florida and westerly, includin g the Florida reefs, to a point due south of and three leagues from the southernmost point of the Marquesas Keys; thence westerly along a straight line to a point due south of and three leagues from Loggerhead Key, the westernmost of the Dry Tortugas Isla nds; thence westerly, northerly and easterly along the arc of a curve three leagues distant from Loggerhead Key to a point due north of Loggerhead Key; thence northeast along a straight line to a point three leagues from the coastline of Florida; thence n ortherly and westerly three leagues distant from the coastline to a point west of the mouth of the Perdido River three leagues from the coastline as measured on a line bearing south 00 degrees 01 minutes 00 seconds west from the point of beginning; thence northerly along said line to the point of beginning. The State of Florida shall also include any additional territory within the United States adjacent to the Peninsula of Florida lying south of the St. Marys river, east of the Perdido River, and south of the States of Alabama and Georgia.

(b) The coastal boundaries may be extended by statute to the limits permitted by the laws of the United States or international law.

Section 2. Seat of Government. The seat of government shall be the City of Tallahassee, in Leon County, where the offices of the governor, lieutenant governor, cabinet members and the supreme court shall be maintained and the sessio ns of the legislature shall be held; provided that, in time of invasion or grave emergency, the governor by proclamation may for the period of the emergency transfer the seat of government to another place.

Section 3. Branches of Government. The powers of the state government shall be divided into legislative, executive and judicial branches. No person belonging to one branch shall exercise any powers appertaining to either of the othe r branches unless expressly provided herein.

Section 4. State Seal and Flag. The design of the great seal and flag of the state shall be prescribed by law.

Section 5. Public Officers.

(a) No person holding any office of emolument under any foreign government, or civil office of emolument under the United States or any other state, shall hold any office of honor or of emolument under the government of this state. No person shall hold at the same time more than one office under the government of the state and the counties and municipalities therein, except that a notary public or military officer may hold another office, and any officer may be a member of a constituti on revision commission, constitutional convention, or statutory body having only advisory powers or hold such other non-elective offices as provided by general law. No person who has, or but for resignation would have, served in an executive statewide el ective office for more than six years in two consecutive terms shall be elected to that office for the succeeding term.

(b) Each state and county officer, before entering upon the duties of the office, shall give bond as required by law, and shall swear or affirm:

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support, protect, and defend the Constitution and Government of the United States and of the State of Florida; that I am duly qualified to hold office under the Constitution of the state ; and that I will well and faithfully perform the duties of . . . (title of office) . . . on which I am now about to enter. So help me God."

and thereafter shall devote personal attention to the duties of the office, and continue in office until his successor qualifies.

(c) The powers, duties, compensation and method of payment of state and county officers shall be fixed by law.

Schedule to Article II, Section 5. In the event the revision to Article II, Section 5(a), prohibiting statewide elected officers from serving more than two consecutive terms, is adopted, executive statewide elected officers in office o n the date this constitution becomes effective shall thereafter be eligible to serve one additional consecutive term.

Section 6. Enemy Attack. In periods of emergency resulting from enemy attack the legislature shall have power to provide for prompt and temporary succession to the powers and duties of all public offices the incumbents of which may become unavailable to execute the functions of their offices, and to adopt such other measures as may be necessary and appropriate to insure the continuity of governmental operation during the emergency. In exercising these powers, the legislature may de part from other requirements of this constitution, but only to the extent necessary to meet the emergency.

Section 7. Ethics in Government. A public office is a public trust. The people shall have the right to secure and sustain that trust against abuse. To assure this right:

(a) All elected constitutional officers and candidates for such offices and, as may be determined by law, other public officers, candidates, and employees shall file full and public disclosure of their financial interests.

(b) All elected public officers and candidates for such offices shall file full and public disclosure of their campaign finances.

(c) Any public officer or employee who breaches the public trust for private gain and any person or entity inducing such breach shall be liable to the state for all financial benefits obtained by such actions. The manner of recovery an d additional damages may be provided by law.

(d) Any public officer or employee who is convicted of a felony involving a breach of public trust shall be subject to forfeiture of rights and privileges under a public retirement system or pension plan in such manner as may be provide d by law.

(e) No member of the legislature or statewide elected officer shall personally represent another person or entity for compensation before the government body or agency of which the individual was an officer or member for a period of two years following vacation of office. No member of the legislature shall personally represent another person or entity for compensation during term of office before any state agency other than judicial tribunals. Similar restrictions on other public offi cers and employees may be established by law.

(f) There shall be an independent commission to conduct investigations and make public reports on all complaints concerning breach of public trust by public officers or employees not within the jurisdiction of the judicial qualification s commission.

(g) This section shall not be construed to limit disclosures and prohibitions which may be established by law to preserve the public trust and avoid conflicts between public duties and private interests.

Schedule to Article II, Section 7. On the effective date of this amendment and until changed by law:

(a) Full and public disclosure of financial interests shall mean filing with the secretary of state by July 1 of each year a sworn statement showing net worth and identifying each asset and liability in excess of $1,000 and its value to gether with one of the following:

(1) A copy of the person’s most recent federal income tax return; or

(2) A sworn statement which identifies each separate source and amount of income which exceeds $1,000. The forms for such source disclosure and the rules under which they are to be filed shall be prescribed by the independent commissio n established in subsection (f), and such rules shall include disclosure of secondary sources of income.

(b) Persons holding statewide elective offices shall also file disclosure of their financial interests pursuant to subsection (a) of this schedule.

(c) The independent commission provided for in subsection (f) shall mean the Florida Commission on Ethics.

ARTICLE III

LEGISLATURE

Section 1. Composition. The legislative power of the state shall be vested in a legislature of the State of Florida, consisting of a senate composed of one senator elected from each senatorial district and a house of representative s composed of one member elected from each representative district.

Section 2. Members; Officers. Each house shall be the sole judge of the qualifications, elections, and returns of its members, and shall biennially choose its officers, including a presiding officer selected from its membership, who shall serve at its pleasure. The presiding officer shall be designated in the senate as president of the senate, and in the house as speaker of the house of representatives. Upon a vacancy in the office of a presiding officer, the president pro tempore or the speaker pro tempore, as the case may be, shall automatically succeed to the office. The senate shall designate a secretary to serve at its pleasure, and the house of representative shall designate a clerk to serve at its pleasure.

Section 3. Sessions of the Legislature.

(a) Organization Sessions. On the fourteenth day following each general election the legislature shall convene for the exclusive purpose of organization and selection of officers.

(b) Regular Sessions. A regular session of the legislature shall convene on the second Tuesday in February of each year, unless otherwise provided by law.

(c) Special Sessions.

(1) The governor, by proclamation stating the purpose, may convene the legislature in special session during which only such legislative business may be transacted as is within the purview of the proclamation, or of a communication from the governor, or is introduced by consent of two-thirds of the membership of each house.

(2) A Special session of the legislature may be convened as provided by law.

(d) Length of Sessions. A regular session of the legislature shall not exceed sixty consecutive days, and a special session shall not exceed twenty consecutive days, unless extended beyond such limit by a three-fifths vote of each hous e. During such an extension no new business may be taken up in either house without the consent of two-thirds of its membership.

(e) Adjournment. Neither house shall adjourn for more than seventy-two consecutive hours except pursuant to concurrent resolution.

(f) Adjournment by Governor. If, during any regular or special session, the two houses cannot agree upon a time for adjournment, the governor may adjourn the session sine die or to any date within the period authorized for such session ; provided that, at least twenty-four hours before adjourning the session, he shall, while neither house is in recess, give each house formal written notice of his intention to do so, and agreement reached within that period by both houses on a time for a djournment shall prevail.

Section 4. Quorum and Procedure.

(a) A majority of the membership of each house shall constitute a quorum, but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day and compel the presence of absent members in such manner and under such penalties as it may prescribe. Each hous e shall determine its rules of procedure.

(b) Sessions of each house shall be public; except sessions of the senate when considering appointment to or removal from public office may be closed.

(c) Each house shall keep and publish a journal of its proceedings; and upon the request of five members present, the vote of each member voting on any question shall be entered on the journal.

(d) By a majority vote of its membership each house may discipline a member and, by a two-thirds vote of its membership, may expel a member. Upon the call of the presiding officer, either house shall convene for such purposes whether o r not the other house is in session.

Section 5. Investigations; Witnesses. Each house, when in session, may compel attendance of witnesses and production of documents and other evidence upon any matter under investigation before it or any of its committees, and may pun ish by fine not exceeding one thousand dollars or imprisonment not exceeding ninety days, or both, any person not a member who has been guilty of disorderly or contemptuous conduct in its presence or has refused to obey its lawful summons or to answer law ful questions. Such powers, except the power to punish, may be conferred by law upon committees when the legislature is not in session. Punishment of contempt of an interim legislative committee shall be by judicial proceedings as prescribed by law.

Section 6. Laws. Every law shall embrace but one subject and matter properly connected therewith, and the subject shall be briefly expressed in the title. No law shall be revised or amended by reference to its title only. Laws to revise or amend shall set out in full the revised or amended act, section, subsection or paragraph of a subsection. The enacting clause of every law shall read: "Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida."

Section 7. Passage of Bills. Any bill may originate in either house and after passage in one may be amended in the other. It shall be read in each house on three separate days, unless this rule is waived by two-thirds vote; provide d that publication in the journal shall satisfy the requirement of the first reading. On each reading, it shall be read by title only, unless one-third of the members present desire it read in full. On final passage, the vote of each member voting shall be entered on the journal. Passage of a bill shall require a majority vote in each house. Each bill and joint resolution passed in both houses shall be signed by the presiding officers of the respective houses and by the secretary of the senate and the clerk of the house of representatives during the session or as soon as practicable after its adjournment sine die.

Section 8. Executive Approval and Veto.

(a) Every bill passed by the legislature shall be presented to the governor for approval and shall become a law if he approves and signs it, or fails to veto it within seven consecutive days after presentation. If during that period or on the seventh day the legislature adjourns sine die or takes a recess of more than thirty days, he shall have thirty consecutive days from the date of presentation to act on the bill. In all cases except general appropriation bills, the veto shall exte nd to the entire bill. The governor may veto any specific appropriation in a general appropriation bill, but may not veto any qualification or restriction without also vetoing the appropriation to which it relates.

(b) When a bill or any specific appropriation of a general appropriation bill has been vetoed by the governor, he shall transmit his signed objections thereto to the house in which the bill originated if in session. If that house is no t in session, he shall file them with the secretary of state, who shall lay them before that house at its next regular or special session, and they shall be entered on its journal.

(c) If each house shall, by a two-thirds vote, reenact the bill or reinstate the vetoed specific appropriation of a general appropriation bill, the vote of each member voting shall be entered on the respective journals, and the bill sha ll become law or the specific appropriation reinstated, the veto notwithstanding. A vetoed bill or vetoed specific appropriation shall not be considered later than the adjournment of the next regular session following the session in which such bill or ap propriation was passed.

Section 9. Effective Date of Laws. Each law shall take effect on the sixtieth day after adjournment sine die of the session of the legislature in which enacted or as otherwise provided therein. If the law is passed over the veto of the governor it shall take effect on the sixtieth day after adjournment sine die of the session in which the veto is overridden, on a later date fixed in the law, or on a date fixed by resolution passed by both houses of the legislature.

Section 10. Special Laws. No special law shall be passed unless notice of intention to seek enactment thereof has been published in the manner provided by general law. Such notice shall not be necessary when the law, except the pro vision for referendum, is conditioned to become effective only upon approval by vote of the electors of the area affected.

Section 11. Prohibited Special Laws.

(a) There shall be no special law or general law of local application pertaining to:

(1) election, jurisdiction or duties of officers, except officers of municipalities, chartered counties, special districts or local governmental agencies:

(2) assessment or collection of taxes for state or county purposes, including extension of time therefor, relief of tax officers from due performance of their duties, and relief of their sureties from liability;

(3) rules of evidence in any court;

(4) punishment for crime;

(5) petit juries, including compensation of jurors, except establishment of jury commissions;

(6) change of civil or criminal venue;

(7) conditions precedent to bringing any civil or criminal proceedings, or limitations of time therefor;

(8) refund of money legally paid or remission of fines, penalties or forfeitures;

(9) creation, enforcement, extension or impairment or liens based on private contracts, or fixing of interest rates on private contracts;

(10) disposal of public property, including any interest therein, for private purposes;

(11) vacation of roads;

(12) private incorporation or grant of privilege to a private corporation;

(13) effectuation of invalid deeds, wills or other instruments, or change in the law of descent;

(14) change of name of any person;

(15) dissolution of marriage;

(16) legitimation or adoption of persons;

(17) relief of minors from legal disabilities;

(18) transfer of any property interest of persons under legal disabilities or of estates of decedents;

(19) hunting or fresh water fishing;

(20) regulation of occupations which are regulated by a state agency; or

(21) any subject when prohibited by general law passed by a three-fifths vote of the membership of each house. Such law may be amended or repealed by like vote.

(b) In the enactment of general laws on other subjects, political subdivisions or other governmental entities may be classified only on a basis reasonably related to the subject of the law.

Section 12. Appropriation Bills. Laws making appropriations for salaries of public officers and other current expenses of the state shall contain provisions on no other subject.

Section 13. Term of Office.

(a) No office shall be created the term of which shall exceed four years except as provided herein.

(b) The terms of office of public service commission members shall be exempt from the limitations of this section, provided that their terms shall not exceed six years.

Section 14. Civil Service System. By law there shall be created a civil service system for state employees, except those expressly exempted, and there may be created civil service systems and boards for county, district or municipal employees and for such offices thereof as are not elected or appointed by the governor, and there may be authorized such boards as are necessary to prescribe the qualifications, method of selection and tenure of such employees and officers.

Section 15. Terms and Qualifications of Legislators.

(a) Senators. Senators shall be elected for terms of four years, those from odd-numbered districts in the years the numbers of which are multiples of four and those from even-numbered districts in even-numbered years the numbers of whi ch are not multiples of four; except, at the election next following a reapportionment, one half of the senators shall be elected for terms of two years when necessary to maintain staggered terms.

(b) Representatives. Members of the house of representatives shall be elected for terms of two years in each even-numbered year.

(c) Qualifications. Each legislator shall be an elector and resident of the district from which elected and shall have resided in the state for a period of two years prior to election.

(d) Assuming Office; Vacancies. Members of the legislature shall take office upon election. Vacancies in legislative office shall be filled only by election as provided by law.

Section 16. Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment.

(a) Reapportionment Mandate. In each year ending in one, the state shall be divided into: as many congressional districts as there are United States Representatives apportioned to the state; not less than thirty or more than forty sena te districts; and not less than eighty or more than one hundred and twenty representative districts. All legislative districts shall be single-member districts.

(b) Reapportionment Commission. In each year ending in zero and at any other time of court-ordered reapportionment, a commission shall be established to prepare a reapportionment plan for congressional and state legislative districts. The commission shall consist of seven electors, none of whom may be elected public or party officers or employees of the state legislature. The president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the minority leader of the senate, the minority leader of the house of representatives and the chairperson of the political party which received the second highest vote in the last gubernatorial election shall each submit to the governor and make public a list of not less than three persons. By July 1 of the same year, the governor shall appoint one person from the each list and one additional person. Within thirty days after the appointments have been made, the six commissioners shall select by a vote of at least four commissioners a sevent h commissioner, who shall serve as chairperson. Failure to select the seventh commissioner within the time prescribed shall constitute an impasse which shall automatically discharge the commission. A new commission shall then be appointed in the same ma nner as the original commission. The legislature shall establish by law the qualifications of commissioners, the procedures for their selection and for the filling of vacancies, and the duties and powers of the commission. The legislature shall appropri ate funds to enable the commission to carry out its duties.

(c) Reapportionment Standards.

(1) Congressional districts and state legislative districts for each respective house shall be as nearly equal in population as is practicable, based on the population reported in the federal census taken each year ending in zero. In n o case shall a congressional district have a population which varies by more than one percent from the average population of all congressional districts in the state. In no case shall a single state legislative district have a population which varies by more than five percent from the average population of all districts of a house. In no case shall the average of the absolute values of the population deviations of all districts of the respective house vary by more than two percent from the average popul ation of all districts. Any population variance must be justifiable as necessary for compliance with one or more of the other standards set forth in this section. The commission shall have the burden of justifying any variance between the population of a district and the average population of all districts.

(2) Districts shall be composed of convenient contiguous territory and, consistent with subsection (1), shall be drawn to coincide with the boundaries of local political subdivisions.

(3) Districts shall be compact in form. The aggregate length of all district boundaries shall be as short as practicable consistent with the standards contained in subsections (1) and (2). In no case shall the aggregate length of the boundaries of all districts of a house, as well as of all districts within a local political subdivision that has a population sufficient to establish two or more districts, exceed by more than five percent the shortest possible aggregate length of all th e districts under any other plan that is consistent with the other standards contained in this constitution.

(4) The commission shall prepare a plan that is equitable to all electors. In preparing a plan, the commission shall not use demographic information or information about incumbent legislators, the political affiliations of registered v oters, or previous election results for the purpose of favoring any political party, incumbent legislator, or any other person or group.

(5) No district shall be drawn for the purpose of diluting the voting strength of any language or racial minority group.

(d) Judicial Review of Apportionment. Within 15 days after the submission of an apportionment plan by the commission, the Attorney General shall petition the supreme court of the state for a declaratory judgment determining the validit y of the apportionment plan. The supreme court, in accordance with its rules, shall permit adversary interests to present their views, and, within 60 days from the filing of the petition, shall enter its judgment. Should the supreme court determine the apportionment plan to be invalid in whole or in part, the governor shall reconvene the commission which shall, within 30 days, adopt an apportionment plan conforming to the judgment of the supreme court. A revised plan shall be subject to judicial review by the supreme court in the same manner as the original plan.

Schedule to Article III, Section 16. The first election pursuant to this apportionment shall be held at the general election in 1982.

Section 17. Impeachment.

(a) The governor, lieutenant governor, statewide elected constitutional officers, justices of the supreme court, judges of district courts of appeal, judges of circuit courts and judges of county courts shall be liable to impeachment fo r misdemeanor in office. The house of representative by two-thirds vote of the membership shall have the power to impeach an officer and upon the call of the speaker shall convene for this purpose whether or not the senate is in session. The speaker of the house of representative shall have power at any time to appoint a committee to investigate charges against any officer subject to impeachment.

(b) An officer impeached by the house of representatives shall be disqualified from performing any official duties until acquitted by the senate, and unless the governor is impeached he may by appointment fill the office until completio n of the trial.

(c) All impeachments by the house of representatives shall be tried by the senate. The chief justice of the supreme court, or another justice designated by him, shall preside at the trial, except in a trial of the chief justice or anot her justice, in which case the presiding officer shall be a judicial officer other than a justice selected in a manner provided by law. The senate shall determine the time for the trial of any impeachment and may sit for the trial whether the house of re presentatives be in session or not. The time fixed for trial shall not be more than six months after the impeachment. During an impeachment trial senators shall be upon their oath or affirmation. No officer shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of the membership of the senate. Judgment of conviction in cases of impeachment shall remove the offender from office and, in the discretion of the senate, may include disqualification to hold any office of honor, trust or profit. Conviction or acquittal shall not affect the civil or criminal responsibility of the officer.

Section 18. Conflict of Interest. A code of ethics for all state employees and nonjudicial officers prohibiting conflict between public duty and private interests shall be prescribed by law.

Section 19. Review of Rules.

(a) The legislature shall maintain continuing oversight of rules promulgated by agencies of the executive branch of government.

(b) The legislature may establish a joint legislative committee to review continuously the rules adopted by agencies of the executive branch. After reasonable notice to the agency, the joint committee may seek judicial review of the va lidity of an administrative rule exceeding delegated authority. The review shall be in an expedited proceeding before the supreme court or such court as the supreme court by rule may designate. The court shall suspend the rule pending judicial determina tion of its validity.

Section 20. Auditor General. The legislature, by a majority vote of the membership of each house, shall appoint an independent auditor general who shall be a certified public accountant licensed to practice in this state and have su ch other qualifications as are prescribed by law. The auditor general shall serve at the pleasure of the legislature.

ARTICLE IV

EXECUTIVE

Section 1. Governor.

(a) The supreme executive power shall be vested in a governor. He shall be commander-in-chief of all military forces of the state not in active service of the United States. He shall be the chief law enforcement officer of the state. He shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed, commission all officers of the state and counties, and transact all necessary business with the officers of government. He may require information in writing from all executive or administrative s tate, county or municipal officers upon any subject relating to duties of their respective offices.

(b) The governor may initiate judicial proceedings in the name of the state against any executive or administrative state, county or municipal officer to enforce compliance with any duty or restrain any unauthorized act.

(c) The governor may request in writing the opinion of the justices of the supreme court as to the interpretation of any portion of this constitution upon any question affecting his executive powers and duties. The justices shall, subj ect to their rules of procedure, permit interest persons to be heard on the questions presented and shall render their written opinion not earlier than ten days from the filing and docketing of the request, unless in their judgment the delay would cause p ublic injury.

(d) The governor shall have power to call out the militia to preserve the public peace, execute the laws of the state, suppress insurrection, or repel invasion.

(e) The governor shall by message at least once in each regular session inform the legislature concerning the condition of the state, propose such reorganization of the executive department as will promote efficiency and economy, and re commend measures in the public interest.

(f) When not otherwise provided for in this constitution, the governor shall fill by appointment any vacancy in state or county office for the remainder of the term of an appointive office, and for the remainder of the term of an electi ve office if less than twenty-eight months, otherwise until the first Tuesday after the first Monday following the next general election.

(g) The governor, acting jointly with at least one officer as may be provided by law, shall be responsible for:

(1) the investment and reinvestment of all trust and agency funds and for making purchases, sales or exchanges for and on behalf of such funds, subject to any limitations of a trust agreement relating to a trust fund or as provided by l aw;

(2) bond debt service management, approving the issuance or refunding of bonds and any other functions relating thereto as provided by law;

(3) the purchasing, selling, leasing, transferring or otherwise disposing of all state lands as provided by law.

Section 2. Lieutenant Governor. There shall be a lieutenant governor. He shall perform such duties pertaining to the office of governor as shall be assigned to him by the governor, except when otherwise provided by law, and such ot her duties as may be prescribed by law.

Section 3. Succession to Office of Governor; Acting Governor.

(a) Upon vacancy in the office of governor, the lieutenant governor shall become governor. Further succession to the office of governor shall be prescribed by law. A successor shall serve for the remainder of the term.

(b) Upon impeachment of the governor and until completion of trial thereof, or during his physical or mental incapacity, the lieutenant governor shall act as governor. Further succession as acting governor shall be prescribed by law. Incapacity to serve as governor shall be determined by the supreme court in a manner prescribed by law. Incapacity to serve as governor may also be established by certificate filed with such officer provided by law by the governor declaring his incapacit y for physical reasons to serve as governor, and in such case restoration of capacity shall be similarly established.

Section 5. Election of Governor and Lieutenant Governor; Qualifications; Terms.

(a) At a state-wide general election in each calendar year the number of which is even but not a multiple of four, the electors shall choose a governor and a lieutenant governor for a term of four years beginning on the first Tuesday af ter the first Monday in January of the succeeding year. In the general election and in party primaries, if held, all candidates for the offices of governor and lieutenant governor shall form joint candidacies in a manner prescribed by law so that each vo ter shall cast a single vote for a candidate for governor and a candidate for lieutenant governor running together.

(b) When elected, the governor and lieutenant governor shall each be an elector not less than thirty years of age who has resided in the state for the preceding seven years. The chief state legal officer must have been a member of the bar of Florida for the preceding five years. No person who has, or but for resignation would have, served as governor or acting governor for more than six years in two consecutive terms shall be elected governor for the succeeding term.

Section 6. Executive Departments. All functions of the executive branch of state government shall be allotted among not more than twenty-five departments, exclusive of those specifically provided for or authorized in this constituti on. The administration of each department, unless otherwise provided in this constitution, shall be placed by law under the direct supervision of the governor, the lieutenant governor, or an officer or board appointed by and serving at the pleasure of th e governor, except:

(a) When provided by law, confirmation by the senate shall be required for appointment to or removal from any designated statutory office.

(b) Boards authorized to grant and revoke licenses to engage in regulated occupations shall be assigned to appropriate departments and their members appointed for fixed terms, subject to removal only for cause.

Section 7. Suspensions; Filling Office During Suspensions.

(a) By executive order stating the grounds and filed with the secretary of state, the governor may suspend from office any state officer not subject to impeachment, any officer of the militia not in the active service of the United Stat es, or any officer of a school district or a special district authorized by law to levy ad valorem taxes, or any municipal or county officer holding an elective office, for malfeasance, misfeasance, neglect of duty, drunkenness, incompetence, permanent in ability to perform his official duties, or commission of a felony, and may fill the office by appointment for the period of suspension. The suspended officer may at any time before removal be reinstated by the governor.

(b) The senate may, in proceedings prescribed by law, remove from office or reinstate the suspended official and for such purpose the senate may be convened in special session by its president or by a majority of its membership.

(c) Any state officer subject to impeachment, if indicted or informed against for a felony, may disqualify himself from performing any official duties until acquitted or until the indictment or information is dismissed, by filing an irr evocable notice of disqualification with the secretary of state. The lieutenant governor and any statewide elected constitutional officer, if indicted for a felony, may be disqualified by the governor by the filing of an executive order from performing a ny official duties until acquitted or until the indictment is dismissed. The governor may, by appointment, fill the office during the period of any disqualification. If the governor disqualifies himself, the lieutenant governor shall act as governor dur ing the period of disqualification.

Section 8. Clemency.

(a) Except in cases where impeachment results in conviction, the governor may, by executive order, suspend collection of fines and forfeitures, grant reprieves not exceeding sixty days, grant full or conditional pardons, restore civil r ights, commute punishment, and remit fines and forfeitures for offenses.

(b) There may be created by law a parole commission to grant paroles or conditional releases to persons under sentences for crime. The qualifications, method of selection and terms, not to exceed six years, of members of the commission and commission procedures shall be prescribed by law.

Schedule with Regard to Abolition of Cabinet.

(a) Unless otherwise provided herein, all powers, duties, and functions of cabinet officers provided for in the 1968 constitution or by law shall be transferred to agencies prescribed by law and the heads of such agencies shall be appoi nted by the governor and confirmed by the senate. They shall serve at the pleasure of the governor. All powers, duties, and functions of the cabinet officers relating to power plant siting, dredge and fill permits, rules and orders of water management d istricts, and developments of regional impact shall be transferred to a board appointed by the governor, and confirmed by the senate.

(b) Officers who were appointed by the governor and approved by three members of the cabinet, or who were appointed by the governor and cabinet, shall be appointed by the governor and shall be subject to confirmation by the senate.

(c) In the event the revision to Article IV, Section 4 abolishing the cabinet, is adopted, and the revision of Article IX, Section 2, creating an appointed state board of education, is not adopted, Article IX, Section 2 of the 1968 cons titution, providing that the governor and cabinet shall constitute the State Board of Education, shall become a statute subject to modification or repeal as are other statutes.

(d) In the event the revision to Article IV, Section 4, abolishing the cabinet, is adopted, and the revision to Article III, Section 16 of the constitution of 1968, creating a reapportionment commission, is not adopted, the words " the attorney general" shall be deleted from that section and the phrase "officer designated by law and" shall be substituted on the effective date of the revision to Article IV, Section 4.

(e) The responsibility for settling and approving accounts of the state shall be assigned by law to an officer who is not the chief fiscal officer responsible for disbursing state funds and keeping securities.

(f) Except as otherwise provided in this constitution, revision to Sections 1(g), 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8(a) of Article IV and this schedule shall be effective on January 4, 1983.

(g) The state board of administration provided for in Article XII, Section 9 of the constitution of 1968 and in Article IX, Section 16 of the constitution of 1885, as amended, and incorporated herein by reference, shall consist of such successor agency designated by law.

(h) Any reference to comptroller in the constitution of 1885, as amended, and incorporated herein by reference, shall mean the chief fiscal officer responsible for disbursing state funds and keeping securities or such other officer desi gnated by law.

(i) Any references to attorney general in the constitution of 1885, as amended, and incorporated herein by reference, shall mean the chief state legal officer, or such other officer designated by law.

(j) In the event the revision to Article IV, Section 4, abolishing the cabinet, is adopted, then, on the effective date of that section, the following changes shall be made in the following sections of the constitution prior to its prom ulgation and publication:

(1) Article II, Section 2: The words "cabinet members" in the first sentence shall be deleted.

(2) Schedule to Article II, Section 7: Article III, Section 8(b); Article IV, Section 7(a); Article VIII, Section 1; and Article XI, Sections 2, 3, 4 and 5: The phrase "the secretary of state" shall be deleted and the phrase & quot;such officer designated by law" shall be substituted.

(3) In the event the revision of Article III, Section 16, relating to legislative and congressional reapportionment, is not adopted, then the phrase "the secretary of state" in Article III, Section 16(f) shall be deleted and t he phrase "such officer designated by law" shall be substituted.

(4) Article XII, Section 9(c)(5): The phrase "and which is continued as a body corporate for the life of this subsection 9(c)" shall be deleted and the phrase "or its successor" shall be substituted.

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 executive 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 re gulations of the commission shall be prescribed by special 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 law. 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 aquat ic life.

Section 10. Public Service Commission and Public Counsel.

(a) There shall be a public service commission, composed of five members, appointed by the governor subject to confirmation by the senate for staggered terms of six years. The governor shall fill each vacancy on the commission by appoi nting one of not fewer than three persons nominated by a nominating commission established by law. A commissioner shall assume office only after confirmation by the senate. The qualifications, compensation, and residency requirements of members of the co mmission and powers, duties and administrative procedures of the commission shall be as provided by general law. A chairperson shall be selected by the members of the commission from its membership. The commission shall regulate such public utilities as may be provided by general law. It shall also regulate such other entities as may be provided by general law. Judicial review of commission actions shall be taken directly to the supreme court by certiorari.

(b) There shall be an appointed public counsel, as prescribed by law, who shall provide legal representation for the people of the state regulating to matters contained in this section in proceedings before the commission as prescribed by law.

Schedule to Article IV, Section 10.

(a) This section shall be deemed to be deleted from this Constitution ten (10) years from its becoming effective and will become a general law which may thereafter be amended by law.

(b) The public service commission elected in November, 1976, shall become a member of the public service commission created herein, and shall serve a term to expire January 1, 1981.

(c) The public service commissioners elected in November, 1978, shall become members of the public service commission created herein, and shall serve terms to expire January 1, 1982.

(d) The terms of the original appointees to the public service commission shall expire as follows:

(1) One member’s term shall expire on January 1, 1983.

(2) One member’s term shall expire on January 1, 1984.

(e) This section shall become effective January 4, 1979, and the appointments required under this section shall be made prior to March 1,1979, and shall not be subject to a nominating commission unless one has been established by law.

Section 11. Department of Health. There shall be a department of health, the head of which shall be a physician with training in public health who is appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate. The department shall have supervision of matters pertaining to the protection and promotion of the health of the people of Florida as prescribed by law.

Schedule to Article IV, Section 11. This section shall take effect on July 1, 1979.

ARTICLE V

JUDICIARY

Section 1. Courts. The judicial power shall be vested in a supreme court, district courts of appeal, circuit courts and county courts. No other courts may be established by the state, any political subdivision or any municipality. The legislature shall, by general law, divide the state into appellate court districts and judicial circuits following county lines. Commissions established by law, or administrative officers or bodies may be granted quasi-judicial power in matters conn ected with the functions of their offices. All judicial hearings and records and all proceedings and records of judicial agencies except grand and petit juries shall be open and accessible to the people. When it is essential to accomplish overriding gov ernmental purposes or to protect privacy interests, the supreme court by rule or the legislature by general law may exempt hearings, proceedings and records from this section.

Section 2. Administration; Practice and Procedure.

(a) The supreme court shall adopt rules for the practice and procedure in all courts including the time for seeking appellate review, the administrative supervision of all courts, the transfer to the court having jurisdiction of any pro ceeding when the jurisdiction of another court has been improvidently invoked, and a requirement that no cause shall be dismissed because an improper remedy has been sought. These rules may be repealed by general law enacted by two-thirds vote of the mem bership of each house of the legislature.

(b) The chief justice of the supreme court shall be chosen by a majority of the members of the court. He shall be the chief administrative officer of the judicial system. He shall have the power to assign justices or judges, including consenting retired justices or judges, to temporary duty in any court for which the judge is qualified and to delegate to a chief judge of a judicial circuit the power to assign judges for duty in his respective circuit. The budget for the judicial bran ch shall be submitted directly to the legislature as provided by law.

(c) A chief judge for each district court of appeal shall be chosen by a majority of the judges thereof or, if there is no majority, by the chief justice. The chief judge shall be responsible for the administrative supervision of the c ourt.

(d) A chief judge in each circuit shall be chosen from among the circuit judges as provided by supreme court rule. The chief judge shall be responsible for the administrative supervision of the circuit courts and county courts in his c ircuit.

Section 3. Supreme Court.

(a) Organization. The supreme court shall consist of seven justices. Five justices shall constitute a quorum. The concurrence of four justices shall be necessary to a decision.

(b) Jurisdiction. The supreme court:

(1) Shall hear appeals from final judgments of trial courts imposing the death penalty and, upon application of the defendant, shall hear appeals from final judgments of convictions in which the death penalty could have been imposed. I f an appeal from a conviction in which a life sentence was imposed results in retrial, the life sentence shall be the maximum penalty imposed on retrial. The supreme court shall also hear appeals from orders of trial courts and decisions of district cour ts of appeal initially and directly passing on the validity of a state statute or a federal statute or treaty, or construing a provision of the state or federal constitution.

(2) When provided by general law, shall hear appeals from final judgments and orders of trial courts imposing life imprisonment or final judgments entered in proceedings for the validation of bonds or certificates of indebtedness.

(3) May review by certiorari any decision of a district court of appeal that affects a class of constitutional or state officers, that passes upon a question certified by a district court of appeal to be of great public interest, or tha t is in direct conflict with a decision of any district court of appeal or of the supreme court on the same question of law, and any interlocutory order passing upon a matter which upon final judgment would be directly appealable to the supreme court; and may issue writs of certiorari to the public service commission or commissions having statewide jurisdiction established by general law.

(4) May issue writs of prohibition to courts and commissions in causes within the jurisdiction of the supreme court to review, and all writs necessary to the complete exercise of its jurisdiction.

(5) May issue writs of mandamus and quo warranto to state officers and state agencies.

(6) May, or any justice may, issue writs of habeas corpus returnable before the supreme court or any justice, a district court of appeal or any judge thereof, or any circuit judge.

(7) Shall have the power of direct review of administrative action prescribed by general law.

(c) Clerk and Marshal. The supreme court shall appoint a clerk and a marshal who shall hold office during the pleasure of the court and perform such duties as the court directs. Their compensation shall be fixed by general law. The m arshal shall have the power to execute the process of the court throughout the state, and in any county may deputize the sheriff or a deputy sheriff for such purpose.

Schedule to Article V, Section 3. The provision in subsection 3(b)(1) which allows a defendant upon application to appeal to the supreme court in cases where the death penalty could have been imposed, shall only apply to those cases wh ere the final judgments are entered on or after January 1, 1979.

Section 4. District Courts of Appeal.

(a) Organization. There shall a district court of appeal serving each appellate district. Each district court of appeal shall consist of at least three judges. Three judges shall consider each case and the concurrence of two shall be necessary to a decision.

(b) Jurisdiction.

(1) District courts of appeal shall have jurisdiction to hear appeals, that may be taken as a matter of right, from final judgments or orders of trial courts, including those entered on review of administrative action, not directly appe alable to the supreme court or a circuit court. They may review interlocutory orders in such cases to the extent provided by rules adopted by the supreme court.

(2) District courts of appeal shall have the power of direct review of administrative action, as prescribed by general law.

(3) A district court of appeal or any judge thereof may issue writs of habeas corpus returnable before the court or any judge thereof or before any circuit judge within the territorial jurisdiction of the court. A district court of app eal may issue writs of mandamus, certiorari, prohibition, quo warranto, and other writs necessary to the complete exercise of its jurisdiction. To the extent necessary to dispose of all issues in a cause properly before it, a district court of appeal may exercise any of the appellate jurisdiction of the circuit courts.

(c) Clerks and Marshals. Each district court of appeal shall appoint a clerk and a marshal who shall hold office during the pleasure of the court and perform such duties as the court directs. Their compensation shall be fixed by gener al law. The marshal shall have the power to execute the process of the court throughout the territorial jurisdiction of the court, and in any county may deputize the sheriff or a deputy sheriff for such purpose.

Section 5. Circuit Courts.

(a) Organization. There shall be a circuit court serving each judicial circuit.

(b) Jurisdiction. The circuit courts shall have original jurisdiction not vested in the county courts, and jurisdiction of appeals when provided by general law. They shall have the power to issue writs of mandamus, quo warranto, certio rari, prohibition, and habeas corpus, and all writs necessary or proper to the complete exercise of their jurisdiction. Jurisdiction of the circuit court shall be uniform throughout the state. They shall have the power of direct review of administrative action prescribed by general law.

Section 6. County Courts.

(a) Organization. There shall be a county court in each county. There shall be one or more judges for each county court as prescribed by general law.

(b) Jurisdiction. The county courts shall exercise the jurisdiction prescribed by general law. Such jurisdiction shall be uniform throughout the state.

Section 7. Specialized Divisions. All courts except the supreme court may sit in divisions as may be established by supreme court rule. A circuit or county court may hold civil and criminal trials and hearings in any place within t he territorial jurisdiction of the court as designated by the chief judge of the circuit.

Section 8. Eligibility. No person shall be eligible for the office of justice or judge of any court unless he is an elector of the state and resides in the territorial jurisdiction of the respective court. The legislature may presc ribe a retirement age of not less than seventy years of age for justices and judges. No person is eligible for the office of justice of the supreme court or judge of a district court of appeal unless he is, and has been for the preceding ten years, a mem ber of the bar of Florida. No person is eligible for the office of circuit judge unless he is, and has been for the preceding five years, a member of the bar of Florida. No person is eligible for the office of county court judge unless he is a member of the bar of Florida.

Schedule to Article V, Section 8.

(a) Until changed by law, no justice or judge shall serve after attaining the age of seventy years except upon temporary assignment or to complete a term, one-half of which he has served.

(b) Any county court judge in office on the date this article is adopted shall not be ineligible to serve as a county court judge merely because of non-membership in the bar of Florida as long as such judge’s service is continuous.

Section 9. Determination of Number of Judges. The supreme court shall establish by rule uniform criteria for the determination of the need for additional judges except supreme court justices, the necessity for decreasing the number of judges and for increasing, decreasing or redefining appellate districts and judicial circuits. If the supreme court finds that a need exists for increasing or decreasing the number of judges or increasing, decreasing or redefining appellate districts and judicial circuits, it shall, prior to the next regular session of the legislature, certify to the legislature its findings and recommendations concerning such need. Upon receipt of such certificate, the legislature, at the next regular session, shal l consider the findings and recommendations and may reject the recommendations or by law implement the recommendations in whole or in part; provided the legislature may create more judicial offices than are recommended by the supreme court or may decrease the number of judicial offices by a greater number than recommended by the court only upon a finding of two-thirds of the membership of both houses of the legislature, that such a need exists. A decrease in the number of judges shall be effective only a fter the expiration of a term. If the supreme court fails to make findings as provided above when need exists, the legislature may by concurrent resolution request the court to certify its findings and recommendations and upon the failure of the court to certify its findings for nine consecutive months, the legislature may, upon a finding of two-thirds of the membership of both houses of the legislature that a need exists, increase or decrease the number of judges or increase, decrease or redefine appell ate districts and judicial circuits.

Section 10. Retention; Election and Terms. Any justice of the supreme court or any judge of a district court of appeal, circuit court, or county court may qualify for retention by a vote of the electors in the general election next preceding the expiration of his term in the manner prescribed by law. If a justice or judge is ineligible or fails to qualify for retention, a vacancy shall exist in that office upon the expiration of the term being served by the justice or judge. When a justice of the supreme court or a judge of a district court of appeal, circuit court, or county court so qualifies, the ballot shall read substantially as follows: "Shall Justice (or Judge) (name of justice or judge) . . . of the (name of the court ) be retained in office?" If a majority of the qualified electors voting on the question of retention within the territorial jurisdiction of the court vote to retain, the justice or judge shall be retained for a term of six years commencing on the f irst Tuesday after the first Monday in January following the general election. If a majority of the qualified electors voting on the question of retention within the territorial jurisdiction of the court vote to not retain, a vacancy shall exist in that office upon the expiration of the term being served by the justice or judge.

Section 11. Vacancies.

(a) The governor shall fill each vacancy on the supreme court, on a district court of appeal, on a circuit court, or on a county court by appointing, for a term ending on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January of the year f ollowing the next general election occurring at least one year after the date of appointment, one of not fewer than three persons nominated by the appropriate judicial nominating commission.

(b) The nominations shall be made within thirty days from the occurrence of a vacancy or from the acceptance of a resignation by the governor, whichever is sooner, unless the period is extended by the governor for a time not to exceed t hirty days. The governor shall make the appointment within sixty days after the nominations have been certified to him.

(c) There shall be a separate judicial nominating commission as provided by general law for the supreme court, each district court of appeal, and each judicial circuit for all trial courts within the circuit. Uniform rules of procedure for the judicial nominating commissions shall be prescribed by the supreme court. All proceedings and records of the judicial nominating commissions shall be open and accessible to the public. The supreme court may by rule exempt portions of the procee dings and records from this provision when it is essential to accomplish overriding governmental purposes or to protect privacy interests.

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 appointed by the governing body of the bar of Florida shall be eligible to serve co nsecutive terms. No member of the commission except a justice or judge shall be eligible for state judicial office 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 p olitical 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 temporary replacement of disqualified or incapacitated members. The commissio n’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. Until formal charges against a justice or judge are filed by the commission with the clerk of the supreme court of Florida all proceedings by or before the commission shall be confidential; provided, however, upon a finding of probable cause and the filing by the commission with said clerk of such formal charges ag ainst a justice or judge such charges and all further proceedings before the commission shall be 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 are pending.

(e) The commission shall have access to all information from all executive, legislative and judicial agencies, including grand juries, subject to the rules of the commission. At any time, on request of the speaker of the house of repre sentatives or the governor, the commission shall make available all information in the possession of the commission 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 demonstrating a present unfitness to hold office, or be involuntary retired for any permanent disability that seriously interfe res with the performance of his duties. Malafides, scienter or moral turpitude on the part of a justice or judge shall not be required for removal from office of a justice or judge whose conduct demonstrates a present unfitness to hold office. 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.

(h) Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions of this section, if the person who is the subject of proceedings by the judicial qualifications commission is a justice of the supreme court of Florida all justices of such court autom atically shall be disqualified to sit as justices of such court with respect to all proceedings therein concerning such person and the supreme court for such purposes shall be composed of a panel consisting of the seven chief judges of the judicial circui ts of the state of Florida most senior in tenure of judicial office as circuit judge. For purposes of determining seniority of such circuit judges in the event there be judges of equal tenure in judicial office as circuit judge the judge or judges from t he lower numbered circuit or circuits shall be deemed senior. In the event any such chief circuit judge is under investigation by the judicial qualifications commission or is otherwise disqualified or unable to serve on the panel, the next most senior ch ief circuit judge or judges shall serve in place of such disqualified or disabled chief circuit judge.

Section 13. Prohibited Activities. All justices and judges shall devote full time to their judicial duties. They shall not engage in the practice of law or hold office in any political party.

Section 14. Judicial Salaries. All justices and judges shall be compensated only by state salaries fixed by general law. The judiciary shall have no power to fix appropriations.

Section 15. Attorneys; Admission and Discipline. The supreme court shall have exclusive jurisdiction to regulate the admission of persons to the practice of law and the discipline of persons admitted.

Section 16. Clerks of the Circuit Courts. There shall be in each county a clerk of the circuit court who shall be selected pursuant to the provisions of Article VIII Section 1. The duties of the clerk of the circuit court may be di vided by special or general law between two officers, one serving as clerk of court and recorder, and one serving as ex officio clerk of the board of county commissioners, auditor, and custodian of all county funds. There may be a clerk of the county cou rt if authorized by general or special law.

Schedule to Article V, Section 16. The revision to this section shall not invalidate any plan for the division of the clerk’s duties which was adopted prior to the effective date of the revised constitution.

Section 17. District Attorneys. In each judicial circuit a district attorney shall be elected for a term of four years. He shall be the prosecuting officer of all trial courts in that circuit and shall perform other duties prescrib ed by general law; provided, however, when authorized by general law, the violations of all municipal ordinances may be prosecuted by municipal prosecutors. A district attorney shall be an elector of the state and reside in the territorial jurisdiction o f the circuit. He shall be and have been a member of the bar of Florida for the preceding five years. He shall devote full time to his duties, and he shall not engage in the private practice of law. District attorneys shall appoint such assistant distr ict attorneys as may be authorized by law.

Section 18. Public Defenders. In each judicial circuit a public defender shall be elected for a term of four years. He shall perform duties prescribed by general law. A public defender shall be an elector of the state and reside i n the territorial jurisdiction of the circuit. He shall be and have been a member of the bar of Florida for the preceding five years. Public defenders shall appoint such assistant public defenders as may be authorized by law.

Section 19. Judicial Officers as Conservators of the Peace. All judicial officers in this state shall be conservators of the peace.

Schedule to Article V. Unless otherwise provided for in this constitution, each court of this state shall have the jurisdiction immediately theretofore exercised by it, and it shall determine all proceedings pending before it on the ef fective date of this constitution.

ARTICLE VI

SUFFRAGE AND ELECTIONS

Section 1. Regulation of Elections. All elections by the people shall be by direct and secret vote at places accessible to the public. General elections shall be determined by a plurality of votes cast. Registration and elections shall, and political party functions may, be regulated by law.

Section 2. Electors. Any citizen of the United States eighteen years of age or older who complies with the registration and residence requirements provided by law shall be an elector.

Section 3. Oath. Each eligible citizen upon registering shall subscribe the following: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will protect and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of F lorida, and that I am qualified to register as an elector under the Constitution and laws of the State of Florida."

Section 4. Disqualifications. No person while incarcerated, on parole, or on probation, as a result of having been adjudicated guilty of a felony, shall be qualified to vote or hold office, nor shall a person adjudicated in this or any other state to be mentally incompetent be qualified to vote or hold office until adjudicated competent in a manner provided by law.

Section 5. General and Special Elections. A general election shall be held in each county on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each even-numbered year to choose a successor to each elective state and county off icer whose term will expire before the next general election and, except as provided herein, to fill each vacancy in elective office for the unexpired portion of the term. Special elections and referenda shall be held as provided by law.

Section 6. Municipal and District Elections. Registration and elections in municipalities shall, and in other governmental entities created by statute may, be provided by law.

ARTICLE VII

FINANCE AND TAXATION

Section 1. Taxation; Appropriations; State Expenses.

(a) No tax shall be levied except in pursuance of law. No state ad valorem taxes shall be levied upon real estate or tangible personal property. All other forms of taxation shall be preempted to the state except as provided by general law.

(b) Motor vehicles, boats, airplanes, trailers, trailer coaches and mobile homes, as defined by law, shall be subject to a license tax for their operation in the amounts and for the purposes prescribed by law, but shall not be subject t o ad valorem taxes.

(c) No money shall be drawn from the treasury except in pursuance of appropriation made by law.

(d) Provision shall be made by law for raising sufficient revenue to defray the expenses of the state for each fiscal period.

Section 2. Taxes; Rate. All ad valorem taxation shall be at a uniform rate within each taxing unit, except the taxes on intangible personal property may be at different rates but shall never exceed two mills on the dollar of assesse d value; provided, as to any obligations secured by mortgage, deed of trust, or other lien on real estate wherever located, an intangible tax of not more than two mills on the dollar may be levied by law to be in lieu of all other intangible assessments o n such obligations.

Section 3. Taxes; Exemptions.

(a) All property owned by a municipality and held or used exclusively by it for municipal or public purposes shall be exempt from taxation. A municipality, owning property outside the municipality, may be required by general law to mak e payment to the taxing unit in which the property is located. Such portions of property as are used predominately for educational, literary, scientific, religious or charitable purposes may be exempted by general law from taxation.

(b) There shall be exempt from taxation, cumulatively, to every natural person, household goods and personal effects to the value fixed by general law, not less than one thousand dollars, and to every widow or widower or person who is b lind or totally and permanently disabled, property to the value fixed by general law not less than five hundred dollars.

(c) All leasehold interests created prior to January 1, 1978 in property owned by the United Sates, the state, or any political subdivision, municipality, authority, district, agency or public body corporate shall be exempt from ad valo rem taxes when:

(1) The leasehold interests were created pursuant to legislation or lease agreements which exempted, or which covenanted to exempt, such leasehold interests from ad valorem taxes, or which covenanted to indemnify or hold harmless the le ssee from any ad valorem taxes levied in respect of the leased premises, or

(2) The property is leased for use in connection with providing air, ground or water transportation, or is leased for use in connection with providing services to the public engaged in air, ground or water transportation; provided howev er, no leasehold interest shall be exempted by the provisions of this paragraph (2) if, prior to January 1, 1978, there shall have been a voluntary payment of ad valorem taxes levied in respect of such leasehold interest.

(d) All leasehold interests in property owned by the United States, the state, or any political subdivision, municipality, authority, district, agency, or public body corporate may be exempted from ad valorem taxation as provided by law when the property is leased for a public purpose for use in connection with providing air, ground, or water transportation, whether or not for private profit, or is leased for a public purpose for use in connection with providing services, whether or not for private profit, to the public engaged in air, ground, or water transportation.

(e) The exemption of leasehold interests from ad valorem taxation provided by subsections (c) and (d) shall not be granted to any lessee who discriminates in its membership, services or other activities on account of race, religion, sex or physical handicap.

Section 4. Taxation; Assessments. By general law regulations shall be prescribed which shall secure a just valuation of all property for ad valorem taxation, provided:

(a) Agricultural land or land used exclusively for non-commercial recreational purposes may be classified by general law and assessed solely on the basis of character or use.

(b) Pursuant to general law:

(1) Tangible personal property held for sale as stock in trade and livestock may be valued for taxation at a specified percentage of its value, may be classified for tax purposes, or may be exempted from taxation.

(2) The legislature may prescribe procedures for the valuation of historic property at a specified percentage of its assessed value.

(3) The legislature, until December 31, 1988, may exclude from the assessed value of real property any increases in value attributable to the installation of a solar energy system.

(4) The legislature may prescribe a periodic revaluation of property at least every two years, provided that adjustments for damage, destruction, additions to or deletions from taxable properties shall be made annually.

(5) The legislature, by a two-thirds vote of the membership of each house, may prescribe that real property located in an area designated by a county, municipality or authority created pursuant to general or special law as a slum or bli ghted area for purposes of redevelopment, be valued at a specified percentage of its value for a period of time not to exceed twenty-five years, upon such terms, conditions, and restrictions as may be prescribed by such law; provided that the assessed val ue of such property during such period shall not be less than the assessed value of the land, exclusive of improvements, in the year immediately prior to the year in which the area was designated as a slum or blighted area for purposes of redevelopment.

Section 5. Estate, Inheritance and Income Taxes.

(a) Natural Persons. No tax upon estates or inheritances or upon the income of natural persons who are residents or citizens of the state shall be levied by the state, or under its authority, in excess of the aggregate of amounts which may be allowed to be credited upon or deducted from any similar tax levied by the United States or any state.

(b) Others. No tax upon the income of residents and citizens other than natural persons shall be levied by the state, or under its authority, in excess of 5% of net income, as defined by law, or at such greater rate as is authorized by a three-fifths (3/5) vote of the membership of each house of the legislature or as will provide for the state the maximum amount which may be allowed to be credited against income taxes levied by the United States and other states. There shall be exempt from taxation not less than five thousand dollars ($5,000) of the excess of net income subject to tax over the maximum amount allowed to be credited against income taxes levied by the United States and other states.

(c) No tax upon, or measured by, income shall be levied by this state, or under its authority, in respect of the unrealized appreciation in value of any property which occurred prior to November 2, 1971. Absent convincing evidence to t he contrary, appreciation in the value of property shall be considered to have occurred ratably over its holding period.

Schedule to Article VII, Section 5. Subsection 5(c) shall take effect on November 7, 1978, and shall not reduce any tax liability in respect to taxable years ending prior to such date.

Section 6. Homestead Exemptions.

(a) Every person who has the legal or equitable title to real estate and maintains thereon the permanent residence of the owner, or another legally or naturally dependent upon the owner, shall be exempt from taxation thereon, except ass essments for special benefits, up to the assessed valuation of five thousand dollars, upon establishment of right thereto in the manner prescribed by law. The real estate may be held by legal or equitable title, by the entireties, jointly, in common, as a condominium, or indirectly by stock ownership or membership representing the owner’s or member’s proprietary interest in a corporation owning a fee or a leasehold initially in excess of ninety-eight years.

(b) Not more than one exemption shall be allowed any individual or family unit or with respect to any residential unit. No exemption shall exceed the value of the real estate assessable to the owner or, in case of ownership through sto ck or membership in a corporation, the value of the proportion which his interest in the corporation bears to the assessed value of the property.

(c) By general law and subject to conditions specified therein, the exemption may be increased up to an amount not exceeding ten thousand dollars of the assessed value of the real estate if the owner has attained age sixty-five or is to tally and permanently disabled.

(d) By general law, the amount of any exemption provided for in this section may annually adjusted to maintain the constant value of the exemption in the base year of 1979. Such adjustment shall be made only after provision has been ma de for restitution to the respective taxing authorities for revenue lost by such adjustment.

Section 7. Allocation of Pari-Mutuel Taxes. Taxes upon the operation of pari-mutuel pools may be preempted to the state or allocated in whole or in part to the counties. When allocated to the counties, the distribution shall be in equal amounts to the several counties.

Section 8. Aid to Local Governments. State funds may be appropriated to the several counties, school districts, municipalities or special districts upon such conditions as may be provided by general law.

Section 9. Local Taxes.

(a) Counties, school districts, and municipalities shall, and special districts may, be authorized by law to levy ad valorem taxes and may be authorized by general law to levy other taxes, for their respective purposes, except ad valore m taxes on intangible personal property and taxes prohibited by this constitution.

(b) Ad valorem taxes, exclusive of taxes levied for the payment of bonds and taxes levied for periods not longer than two years when authorized by vote of the electors, shall not be levied in excess of the following millages upon the as sessed value of real estate and tangible personal property: for all county purposes, ten mills; for all municipal purposes, ten mills; for all school purposes, ten mills; for water management purposes for the northwest portion of the state lying west of t he line between ranges two and three east, 0.05 mill; for water management purposes for the remaining portions of the state, 1.0 mill; and for all other special districts a millage authorized by law approved by vote of the electors. A county furnishing m unicipal services may, to the extent authorized by law, levy additional taxes within the limits fixed for municipal purposes.

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 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 financ e 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 payable s olely from revenue derived from the sale, operation or leasing of the projects. If any project, or part thereof, financed under subsection (c)(2) is occupied or operated by any private corporation, association, partnership or person pursuant to contract or lease with the issuing authority, the property interest created by such contract or lease shall be subject to taxation to the same extent as other privately owned property, provided that an interest created under subsection (c)(1) may be exempted from taxation.

(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.

Section 11. State Bonds; Revenue Bonds.

(a) (1) State bonds pledging the full faith and credit of the state may be issued only to finance or refinance the cost of state fixed capital outlay projects authorized by law, and purposes incidental thereto, upon approval by a vo te of the electors; provided state bonds issued pursuant to this subsection (a) may be refunded without a vote of the electors at a lower average net interest cost rate. The total outstanding principal of state bonds issued pursuant to this subsection (a ) shall never exceed fifty per cent of the total tax revenues of the state for the two preceding fiscal years, excluding any tax revenues held in trust under the provisions of this constitution.

(2) Monies sufficient to pay debt service on state bonds as the same becomes due shall be appropriated by law.

(b) Any state bonds pledging the full faith and credit of the state issued under this section or any other section of this Constitution may be combined for purposes of sale.

(c) Revenue bonds may be issued by the state or its agencies without a vote of the electors only to finance or refinance the cost of state fixed capital outlay projects authorized by law, and purposes incidental thereto, and shall be pa yable solely from funds derived from sources other state tax revenues or rents or fees paid from state tax revenues.

Section 12. Local Bonds.

(a) Counties, school districts, municipalities, special districts and local governmental bodies with taxing powers may issue bonds, certificates of indebtedness or any form of tax anticipation certificates, payable from ad valorem taxat ion and maturing more than twelve months after issuance only:

(1) to finance or refinance fixed capital outlay projects authorized by law, and purposes incidental thereto, and only when approved by vote of the electors; or

(2) to refund outstanding bonds and interest and redemption premium thereon at a lower average net interest cost rate.

(b) Revenue bonds payable from sources other than ad valorem taxation may be issued by local governmental bodies, without a vote of the electors, only to finance or refinance fixed capital outlay projects authorized by law, and purposes incidental thereto.

(c) Tax or revenue anticipation certificates maturing twelve months or less after issuance, including all renewals thereof, may be issued by local governmental bodies for any purpose authorized by law, without a vote of the electors; pr ovided that neither such certificates nor the interest thereon shall be paid from the proceeds of subsequent issues of tax or revenue anticipation certificates.

(d) Notes maturing five years or less after issuance, including all renewals thereof, may be issued by local governmental bodies in anticipation of the receipt of the proceeds of revenue bonds or of bonds which have been approved by vot e of the electors, only to finance or refinance fixed capital outlay projects authorized by law, and purposes incidental thereto.

Section 13. Relief from Illegal Taxes. Until payment of all taxes which have been legally assessed upon the property of the same owner, no court shall grant relief from the payment of any tax that may be illegal or illegally assesse d.

Section 14. Bonds for Pollution Control and Abatement Facilities.

(a) When authorized by law, state bonds pledging the full faith and credit of the state may be issued without an election to finance or refinance the construction of air and water pollution control and abatement and solid waste disposal facilities, or other water facilities authorized by law, (herein referred to as "facilities") to be operated by any municipality, county, district or authority, or any agency thereof (herein referred to as "local governmental agencies" ;), or by any agency of the State of Florida. Such bonds shall be secured by a pledge of and shall be payable primarily from all or any part of revenues to be derived from operation of such facilities, special assessments, payments to be received under a greements herein provided for, any other revenues that may be legally available for such purpose, including revenues from other facilities, or any combination thereof (herein collectively referred to as "pledged revenues"), and shall be addition ally secured by the full faith and credit of the State of Florida.

(b) No such bonds shall be issued unless a state fiscal agency, designated by law, has made a determination that in no state fiscal year will the debt service requirements of the bonds proposed to be issued and all other bonds secured b y the same pledged revenues exceed seventy-five per cent of the pledged revenues. The term pledged revenues shall not include amounts required to pay debt service on prior lien obligations, and such prior lien debt service requirements shall not be inclu ded in the determination provided for by this subsection (b).

(c) The state may lend money derived from the sale of such bonds to finance any of such facilities for any local governmental agency, under agreements for such periods and under such other terms and conditions as may be mutually agreed upon. The local governmental agencies may pledge the revenues derived from such leased facilities or any other available funds the payments thereunder; and, in addition, the full faith and credit and taxing power of such local governmental agencies may b e pledged for such payments without any vote of the electors. Such loans shall bear interest at not more than one-half of one per cent per annum greater than the last preceding issue of state bonds pursuant to this section.

(d) The total outstanding principal of state bonds issued pursuant to this Section 14 shall never exceed fifty per cent of the tax revenues of the state for the two preceding fiscal years, excluding any tax revenues held in trust under the provisions of this Constitution.

Section 15. Revenue Bonds for Student Loans.

(a) When authorized by law, revenue bonds may be issued to establish a fund to make loans to students determined to be eligible as prescribed by law and who have been admitted to attend any public or private institutions of higher learn ing, junior colleges, health related training institutions, or vocational training centers, which are recognized or accredited under terms and conditions prescribed by law. Revenue bonds issued pursuant to this section shall be secured by a pledge of and shall be payable primarily from payments of interest, principal, and handling charges to such fund from the recipients of the loans and, if authorized by law, may be additionally secured by student fees and by any other monies in such fund. There shall be established from the proceeds of each issue of revenue bonds a reserve account in an amount equal to and sufficient to pay the greatest amount of principal, interest, and handling charges to become due on such issue in any ensuing state fiscal year.

(b) Monies in the fund established pursuant to this section, not required in any fiscal year for payment of debt service on then outstanding revenue bonds or for maintenance of the reserve account, may be used for educational loans to s tudents determined to be eligible therefor in the manner provided by law, or for such other related purposes as may be provided by law.

Section 16. Revenue Bonds for Housing and Related Facilities.

(a) When authorized by law, revenue bonds may be issued without an election to finance or refinance housing and related facilities in Florida.

(b) The revenue bonds shall be secured by a pledge of and shall be payable from all or any part of revenues to be derived from the financing, operation or sale of such facilities, mortgage or loan payments, or any other revenues or asse ts that may be legally available for such purposes derived from sources other than ad valorem taxation, including revenues from other similar facilities, or any combination thereof. All mortgages or loans derived from the proceeds of such revenue bonds s hall be insured or guaranteed by an agency of the United States or shall be secured by the deposit by a lending institution of approved collateral obligations in amount sufficient to pay the principal and interest of such loans. No state housing agency e stablished by law shall make mortgage loans directly to any mortgagor.

(c) No revenue bonds shall be issued unless a state fiscal agency, designated by law, has made a determination that in no state fiscal year will the debt service requirements of the bonds proposed to be issued and all other bonds secure d by the same pledged revenues exceed the pledged revenues available for payment of such debt service requirement.

Section 17. Redevelopment of Slum or Blighted Areas. Redevelopment of slum or blighted areas is a public purpose. Pursuant to general law passed by two-thirds vote of the membership of each house, a county, municipality, or authori ty created pursuant to general or special law may designate an area as a slum or blighted area and, with respect to such area, may:

(a) Provide for the redevelopment of such area for residential, recreational, commercial, or industrial uses;

(b) Acquire by eminent domain or otherwise, for purposes of redevelopment, property located in such area;

(c) Sell or transfer property acquired in such area to any private person or public entity; and

(d) Allocate tax increments to finance or refinance the redevelopment of such area and issue, without approval by vote of the electors, revenue bonds payable from the increment in taxes or revenues derived from redevelopment projects to finance or refinance such redevelopment. A tax increment shall consist of that portion of the ad valorem tax revenues, for any or all taxing authorities, collected each year from property located in a designated slum or blighted area, which exceeds the tax revenues that would have been collected at the current year’s millage had such property been assessed at its value shown on the assessment roll in the year immediately prior to the year in which the area was designated as a slum or blighted area.

ARTICLE VIII

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

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 b y 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 tra nsferred 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 a ll county funds. The duties of the clerk of the circuit court may be divided as provided in Article V, Section 16.

(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, and prior to such division, the electors shall determine under a procedure prescribed by law whether commissio ners shall be elected county-wide or from districts which are single-member or a combination thereof, except in counties which have charters.

Schedule to Article VIII, Section 1. The election to determine the type of districting under Article VIII, Section 1(e) shall be held during the general election November, 1980, and each 10 years thereafter, unless otherwise provided b y law.

(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 for the benefit of the property or residents in unincorporated areas, when such services are of no real and substantial benefit to property or residents within the municipalities.

(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