HB 0739 2003
1	CHAMBER ACTION
2
3
4
5
6	The Committee on State Administration recommends the following:
7
8	Committee Substitute
9	Remove the entire bill and insert:
10	A bill to be entitled
11	An act relating to succession to the office of Governor;
12	amending s. 14.055, F.S.; revising provisions relating to
13	succession to the office of Governor; reenacting s.
14	14.056, F.S., relating to succession as Acting Governor,
15	to provide for the same amendments to succession in office
16	as provided for succession to the office of Governor;
17	providing an effective date.
18
19	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
20
21	Section 1. Section 14.055, Florida Statutes, is amended to
22	read:
23	14.055 Succession to office of Governor.--
24	(1)Upon vacancy in the office of Governor, the Lieutenant
25	Governor shall become Governor. Upon vacancy in the office of
26	Governor and in the office of Lieutenant Governor, the order of
27	succession to the office of Governor shall be:
28	(a) Attorney General.
29	(b) Chief Financial Officer.
30	(c) Commissioner of Agriculture.
31	(d) President of the Senate.
32	(e) Speaker of the House of Representatives.
33	(f) President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
34	(g) Speaker Pro Tempore of the House of Representatives.
35	(h) Secretary of State.
36	(2) The taking of oath of office of Governor by an
37	individual specified in subsection (1) shall be held to
38	constitute his or her resignation from the office vacated in
39	order to assume the office of GovernorSecretary of State shall
40	become Governor; or if the office of Secretary of State be
41	vacant, then the Attorney General shall become Governor; or if
42	the office of Attorney General be vacant, then the Comptroller
43	shall become Governor; or if the office of Comptroller be
44	vacant, then the Treasurer shall become Governor; or if the
45	office of Treasurer be vacant, then the Commissioner of
46	Education shall become Governor; or if the office of
47	Commissioner of Education be vacant, then the Commissioner of
48	Agriculture shall become Governor. A successor under this
49	section shall serve for the remainder of the term and shall
50	receive all the rights, privileges,and emoluments of the
51	Governor.
52	(3)In case a vacancy shall occur in the office of
53	Governor and provision is not made herein for filling such
54	vacancy, then the presiding officersSpeaker of the House of
55	Representatives and the President ofthe Senate shall convene
56	the Legislature by joint proclamation within 5 calendar15days
57	for the purpose of choosing a person to serve as Governor for
58	the remainder of the term. A successor shall be elected by a
59	majority vote of those presentin a joint session of both
60	houses.
61	Section 2. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
62	to section 14.055, Florida Statutes, section 14.056, Florida
63	Statutes, is reenacted to read:
64	14.056 Succession as Acting Governor.--Upon impeachment of
65	the Governor and until completion of trial thereof, or during
66	the Governor's physical or mental incapacity, the Lieutenant
67	Governor shall become Acting Governor. Upon impeachment or
68	physical or mental incapacity of an Acting Governor, or upon
69	vacancy in the office of the person serving as Acting Governor,
70	the powers and duties of Acting Governor shall devolve upon the
71	same officer as in the case of vacancy in the office of
72	Governor. A successor shall serve until the disability of either
73	the Lieutenant Governor or Governor ceases. Incapacity and
74	restoration of capacity to serve as Acting Governor shall be
75	determined in the same manner as in making such determinations
76	for Governor. In any case in which succession as Acting Governor
77	is not provided herein, the Speaker of the House and the
78	President of the Senate shall convene the Legislature by joint
79	proclamation within 15 days for the purpose of choosing a person
80	to serve as Acting Governor. Such person shall be elected by a
81	majority vote in a joint session of both houses.
82	Section 3. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.
83