HB 1537

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to Walton County; creating the Glendale
3Fire District, an independent special district; providing
4definitions; providing for creation, status, charter
5amendments, boundaries, and purposes; providing for a
6board of commissioners; providing for election and terms
7of commissioners; providing for employment of board
8personnel; providing for election of board officers;
9providing for compensation and bonds of commissioners;
10providing powers, duties, and responsibilities of the
11board; preserving the authority to levy non-ad valorem
12special assessments; providing for impact fees;
13authorizing the board to levy special assessments;
14providing legislative intent; providing duties of the
15property appraiser; providing for special assessment as a
16lien; providing for deposit of such special assessments;
17providing for authority to disburse funds; authorizing the
18board to borrow money; providing for use of district
19funds; requiring a record of all board meetings;
20authorizing the board to adopt policies and regulations;
21providing for the board to make an annual budget;
22requiring an annual report; authorizing the board to enact
23fire prevention ordinances, appoint a district fire chief,
24acquire land, enter contracts, establish salaries, and
25establish and operate a fire rescue service; providing for
26district authority upon annexation of district lands;
27providing for dissolution; providing immunity from tort
28liability for officers, agents, and employees; providing
29for construction and effect; requiring a referendum;
30providing an effective date.
31
32Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
33
34     Section 1.  Definitions.--As used in this act, unless
35otherwise specified:
36     (1)  "District" means the Glendale Fire District.
37     (2)  "Board" means the board of commissioners created
38pursuant to this act and chapter 191, Florida Statutes.
39     (3)  "Board of directors" means the existing policymaking
40and governing body of the Glendale Fire District of Walton
41County.
42     (4)  "Commissioner" means a member of the board of
43commissioners of and for the district.
44     (5)  "Director" means a member of the board of directors.
45     (6)  "Residence" means one single-family dwelling,
46including one single-apartment dwelling unit; one single-
47condominium dwelling unit; one single duplex, triplex, or other
48attached dwelling unit; one single-family detached dwelling
49unit; or one single mobile or modular home dwelling unit.
50     (7)  "Business" means a motel, apartment, or rental
51dwelling, along with any other standard commercial or industrial
52business such as a gasoline station, store, marina, or similar
53establishment, as authorized pursuant to the applicable local
54government comprehensive plan, whether or not such businesses
55are required to pay or collect sales taxes.
56     Section 2.  Creation; status; charter amendments;
57boundaries; district purposes.--There is created an independent
58special fire control district and rescue service district
59incorporating lands in Walton County described in subsection
60(1), which shall be a public corporation having the powers,
61duties, obligations, and immunities set forth in this act, under
62the name of the Glendale Fire District. The district is
63organized and exists for all purposes and shall hold all powers
64set forth in this act and chapters 189 and 191, Florida
65Statutes.
66     (1)  The lands to be included within the district are the
67following described lands in Walton County:
68All Sections 24, 25, 26, 35, 36, Township 5 North,
69Range 20 West; Walton County, Florida. Also all
70Sections 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32,
7133, 34, 35, 36, Township 5 North, Range 19 West;
72Walton County, Florida. Also all Sections 28, 29, 30,
7331, 32, 33, Township 5 North, Range 18 West; Walton
74County, Florida. Also all Sections 1, 12, Township 4
75North, Range 20 West; Walton County, Florida. Also all
76sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13,
7714, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 34, 35,
78Township 4 North, Range 19 West, Walton County,
79Florida. Also all Sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 16, 17,
8018, 19, 20, 21, 28, 29, 30, Township 4 North, Range 18
81West, Walton County, Florida. Also all of Section 33,
82Township 4 North, Range 19 West, Walton County,
83Florida: less and except the south 1/4 of section 33.
84Those portions in Township 3 North, Range 19 West,
85which include, those parts of Section 1 and 2 lying
86North of the centerline of County Road 1883 and
87Sunrise Road. The portion in Township 3 North, Range
8819 West, which includes, the part of Section 3 lying
89North of the centerline of Sunrise Road. The portion
90in Township 4 North, Range 19 West which includes, the
91part Section 36 lying North and East of the centerline
92of County Road 1883 and Coy Ellis Road. Those portions
93within Township 4 North, Range 18 West, which include,
94those portions of Section 31, lying North of the
95centerline of Coy Ellis Road. Those portions in
96Township 4 North, Range 18 West which includes,
97Sections 32, 33, lying North of the centerline of
98County Road 183 North. The portion in Township 4
99North, Range 18 West which includes, Section 33 lying
100Northeast of County Road 183B.
101     (2)  The purpose of this act is to promote the general
102health, welfare, and safety of the citizens and residents of
103Walton County who reside within the geographical limits of the
104Glendale Fire District by providing for the financial support of
105the Glendale Fire District of Walton County, a Florida not-for-
106profit corporation, which currently provides the district with
107fire protection services, facilities, and firefighting
108equipment; the establishment and maintenance of fire stations
109and fire substations; the acquisition and maintenance of all
110firefighting and protection equipment necessary for the
111prevention of fires or fighting of fires; the employment and
112training of such personnel as may be necessary to accomplish
113fire prevention and firefighting; the establishment and
114maintenance of emergency services; the acquisition and
115maintenance of rescue and other emergency equipment; and the
116employment and training of necessary emergency personnel. The
117district may provide emergency medical services. The district
118shall have all other powers necessary to carry out these
119purposes. The district shall be a fire control district and
120shall have no responsibility for providing ambulance or similar
121emergency services within the district's boundaries.
122     (3)  Nothing in this act shall prevent the district from
123cooperating with the state or other local governments to render
124such services to communities adjacent to the lands described in
125this section as evidenced by a signed aid agreement.
126     (4)  The district charter may be amended only by special
127act of the Legislature.
128     Section 3.  Board of commissioners.--
129     (1)  Pursuant to chapter 191, Florida Statutes, the
130business and affairs of the district shall be governed and
131administered by a board of five commissioners, who shall be
132qualified electors residing within the district and shall be
133elected by the qualified electors residing within the district
134at a special election, subject to the provisions of chapters 189
135and 191, Florida Statutes, and this act. Each commissioner shall
136hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualified
137under the provisions of this act. The procedures for conducting
138district elections and for qualification of candidates and
139electors shall be pursuant to chapters 189 and 191, Florida
140Statutes.
141     (2)  The five members of the initial board shall be elected
142by the qualified electors residing within the district. The
143three elected members for seats 1, 3, and 5 in the initial
144election under this act shall serve terms of 3 years each. The
145remaining two elected members for seats 2 and 4 in the initial
146election under this act shall serve terms of 2 years each.
147Subsequent elections under this act shall coincide with the
148general elections of this state, and members of the board shall
149serve on a nonpartisan basis for terms of 4 years each.
150     (3)  Vacancies in office shall be filled by special
151election, said election to be held coincident with the next
152countywide general or special election. The board may appoint a
153qualified elector of the district to act as commissioner until
154the vacancy is filled by election. A commissioner must be a
155qualified elector residing within the district. A commissioner
156may be removed from office for any reason that a state or county
157officer may be removed.
158     (4)  All elections shall be noticed, called, and held
159pursuant to the provisions of the general laws of the state,
160except as otherwise provided in this act. The board shall, to
161the extent possible, coordinate all elections with countywide
162general or special elections in order to minimize cost.
163Elections shall be called through the adoption of an appropriate
164resolution of the district directed to the Board of County
165Commissioners of Walton County, the Supervisor of Elections of
166Walton County, and other appropriate officers of the county. The
167district shall reimburse county government for the actual cost
168of district elections. No commissioner shall be paid a employee
169of the district while holding said position. This shall not
170prevent volunteers receiving reimbursement for expenses from
171serving as commissioners.
172     (5)  The board may employ such personnel as deemed
173necessary for the proper function and operation of a fire
174district. The salaries of fire department and emergency service
175personnel, and any other wages, shall be determined by the
176board.
177     Section 4.  Officers; board compensation; bond.--
178     (1)  In accordance with chapter 191, Florida Statutes, each
179elected member of the board shall assume office 10 days
180following the member's election. Annually, within 60 days after
181election of new members of said board, the members immediately
182upon their election as herein provided, or within 10 days
183thereafter and annually in November, shall organize by electing
184from their number a chair, vice chair, secretary, and treasurer.
185However, the same member may be both secretary and treasurer, in
186accordance with chapter 191, Florida Statutes, as amended from
187time to time.
188     (2)  The commissioners may receive reimbursement for actual
189expenses incurred while performing the duties of their offices
190in accordance with general law governing per diem for public
191officials. Commissioners may receive compensation for their
192services in accordance with chapter 191, Florida Statutes, as
193amended from time to time.
194     (3)  Each commissioner, upon taking office and in
195accordance with chapters 189 and 191, Florida Statutes, shall
196execute to the Governor, for the benefit of the district, a bond
197of $5,000 with a qualified personal or corporate surety,
198conditioned upon the faithful performance of the duties of the
199commissioner's office and upon an accounting for all funds that
200come into his or her hands as commissioner; however, the
201treasurer shall furnish a bond of $10,000, which may be in lieu
202of the $5,000 bond. The premium for such bonds shall be paid
203from district funds.
204     Section 5.  Powers; duties; responsibilities.--
205     (1)  The district shall have and the board may exercise by
206majority vote all the powers and duties set forth in this act
207and chapters 189, 191, and 197, Florida Statutes, as they may be
208amended from time to time, including, but not limited to,
209special assessments, other revenue-raising capabilities, budget
210preparation and approval, liens and foreclosure of liens, use of
211tax deeds and tax certificates as appropriate from non-ad
212valorem assessments, contractual agreements, and adoptions of
213ordinances and resolutions that are necessary to conduct
214district business if such ordinances do not conflict with an
215ordinance of a local general purpose government within whose
216jurisdiction the district is located.
217     (2)  The board shall continue to have the right, power, and
218authority to levy annually special assessments against the
219taxable real estate within the district to provide funds for the
220purposes of the district, in an amount not to exceed the limit
221provided in chapter 191, Florida Statutes.
222     (3)  The methods for assessing and collecting special
223assessments, fees, or service charges shall be as set forth in
224this act and chapters 170, 189, 191, and 197, Florida Statutes.
225     (4)  The district shall levy and collect special
226assessments in accordance with chapter 200, Florida Statutes, as
227amended from time to time.
228     (5)  The district is authorized to levy and enforce special
229assessments in accordance with chapters 170, 189, 191, and 197,
230Florida Statutes.
231     (6)  The district's planning requirements shall be as set
232forth in this act and chapters 189 and 191, Florida Statutes.
233     (7)  Requirements for financial disclosure, meeting
234notices, reporting, public records maintenance, and per diem
235expenses for officers and employees shall be as set forth in
236this act and chapters 112, 119, 189, 191, and 286, Florida
237Statutes.
238     Section 6.  Impact fees.--
239     (1)  Pursuant to section 191.009(4), Florida Statutes, it
240is hereby declared that the cost of new facilities upon fire
241protection and emergency services should be borne by new users
242of the district's services to the extent new construction
243requires new facilities, but only to that extent. It is the
244legislative intent of this section to transfer to the new users
245of the district's fire protection and emergency services a fair
246share of the costs that new users impose on the district for new
247facilities. This shall only apply in the event that the general
248purpose local government in which the district is located has
249not adopted an impact fee for fire services that is distributed
250to the district for construction within its jurisdictional
251boundaries.
252     (2)  The impact fees collected by the district pursuant to
253this section shall be kept as a separate fund from other
254revenues of the district and shall be used exclusively for the
255acquisition, purchase, or construction of new facilities or
256portions thereof required to provide fire protection and
257emergency services to new construction. "New facilities" means
258land, buildings, and capital equipment, including, but not
259limited to, fire and emergency vehicles and radio telemetry
260equipment. The fees shall not be used for the acquisition,
261purchase, or construction of facilities that must be obtained in
262any event, regardless of growth within the district. The board
263of fire commissioners shall maintain adequate records to ensure
264that impact fees are expended only for permissible new
265facilities.
266     Section 7.  Special assessments.--
267     (1)  The board shall have the right, power, and authority
268to levy special assessments against the taxable real estate
269within the district to provide funds for the purposes of the
270district.
271     (2)(a)  The annual rate of the special assessment for a
272residence will be $25.
273     (b)  The annual rates of the special assessments for
274nonresidential property shall be as follows:
275     1.  Commercial property:  $0.04 per square foot.
276     2.  Industrial/warehouse property:  $0.01 per square foot.
277     3.  Institutional property:  $0.05 per square foot.
278     (c)  Any increase in the special assessments must be
279approved by a majority of the electors within the Glendale Fire
280District.
281     (3)  It is the legislative intent that this act shall
282authorize the Walton County Property Appraiser and the Walton
283County Tax Collector to take all appropriate action to comply
284with the intent and the purpose of this act.
285     (4)  It is also the legislative intent that the board of
286commissioners shall be a vehicle to provide funding to
287accomplish the purposes set out in this act.
288     Section 8.  Property appraiser.--
289     (1)  The Walton County Property Appraiser shall furnish the
290commissioners a tax roll covering all taxable properties within
291the district on or before July 1 of each year.
292     (2)  The Walton County Property Appraiser shall include in
293the Walton County tax roll the assessments made by the board,
294and the same shall be collected in the manner as provided for by
295this act and paid over by the Walton County Tax Collector to the
296board.
297     (3)  The Walton County Property Appraiser shall be
298reimbursed for assessing such special assessments in the manner
299and amount authorized by general law, and the Walton County Tax
300Collector shall receive a commission or fee of 3 percent for
301collection of such special assessments.
302     Section 9.  Special assessment as a lien.--The special
303assessment levied and assessed by the district shall be a lien
304upon the property so assessed along with the county taxes
305assessed against such property until said assessments and taxes
306have been paid, and if the special assessment levied by the
307district becomes delinquent, such special assessment shall be
308considered a part of the county tax subject to the same
309penalties, charges, fees, and remedies for enforcement and
310collection of such taxes.
311     Section 10.  Deposit of special assessments; fees;
312authority to disburse funds.--
313     (1)  The proceeds of the assessments and funds of the
314district shall be deposited in qualified public depositories, in
315accordance with chapters 191 and 280, Florida Statutes, as they
316may be amended from time to time, in the name of the district in
317a bank authorized to receive deposits of district funds. The
318bank shall be designated by a resolution of the board.
319     (2)  All warrants for the payment of labor, equipment, and
320other expenses of the board, and in carrying into effect this
321act and the purposes thereof, shall be payable by the treasurer
322of the board on accounts and vouchers approved and authorized by
323the board. No funds of the district shall be paid out or
324disbursed except by check signed by the treasurer of the board
325and either the chair or vice chair of the board.
326     Section 11.  Authority to borrow money.--
327     (1)  The board of commissioners shall have the power and
328authority to borrow money or issue other evidences of
329indebtedness for the purpose of the district in accordance with
330chapters 189 and 191, Florida Statutes, provided that the total
331payments in any one year, including principal and interest, on
332any indebtedness incurred by the district shall not exceed 50
333percent of the total estimated annual budgeted revenues of the
334district.
335     (2)  The board of commissioners, board of directors as a
336body, or any of the members of either board as individuals shall
337not be personally or individually liable for the repayment of
338such loan. Such repayment shall be made out of the special
339assessment receipts of the district, except as provided in this
340subsection. The commissioners shall not create any indebtedness
341or incur obligations for any sum or amount that they are unable
342to repay out of district funds available to them at that time,
343except as otherwise provided in this act; however, the
344commissioners may make purchases of equipment on an installment
345basis as necessary if funds are available for the payment of the
346current year's installment on such equipment and the amount due
347in that year of any of the installments and the repayment of any
348bank loan or other existing indebtedness that may be due that
349year.
350     Section 12.  Use of district funds.--No funds of the
351district shall be used for any purposes other than the
352administration of the affairs and business of the district; the
353construction, care, maintenance, upkeep, operation, and purchase
354of firefighting and rescue equipment or a fire station; the
355payment of public utilities; and the payment of salaries of
356district personnel as the board may from time to time determine
357to be necessary for the operations and effectiveness of the
358district.
359     Section 13.  Record of board meetings; authority to adopt
360rules and regulations; annual reports; budget.--
361     (1)  A record shall be kept of all meetings of the board,
362and in such meetings concurrence of a majority of the
363commissioners present shall be necessary to any affirmative
364action by the board.
365     (2)  The board shall have the authority to adopt and amend
366policies and regulations for the administration of the affairs
367of the district under the terms of this act and chapters 189 and
368191, Florida Statutes, which shall include, but not be limited
369to, the authority to adopt the necessary rules and regulations
370for the administration and supervision of the property and
371personnel of the district; for the prevention of fires, fire
372control, fire hydrant placement, and flow testing in accordance
373with current NFPA rules; and for rescue work within the
374district. Said commissioners shall have all the lawful power and
375authority necessary to carry out the purposes of said fire
376district; to purchase all necessary real and personal property;
377to purchase and carry standard insurance policies on all such
378equipment; to employ such personnel as may be necessary to carry
379out the purposes of said fire district; to provide adequate
380insurance for said employees; to purchase and carry appropriate
381insurance for protection of all firefighters and personnel as
382well as all equipment and personal property on loan to the
383district; to sell surplus real and personal property in the same
384manner and subject to the same restrictions as provided for such
385sales by counties; to enter into contracts with qualified
386service providers, the Glendale Fire District of Walton County,
387other fire departments, municipalities, and state and federal
388governmental units for the purpose of obtaining financial aid;
389and for otherwise carrying out the purposes of the district. The
390commissioners shall adopt a fiscal year for said fire district,
391which shall be October 1 to September 30.
392     (3)  Any policies, rules, and regulations adopted and made
393by the board shall have the force and effect of law after copies
394thereof, signed by the secretary and chair or vice chair, are
395posted in three public places within the district in conspicuous
396locations and advertised by title once per week for 2
397consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general paid circulation in
398the district.
399     (4)  The board shall, on or before November 1, make an
400annual report of its actions and accounting of its funds as of
401September of that year and shall file said report in the Office
402of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Walton County, whose duty
403it shall be to receive and file said report and hold and keep
404the same as a public record.
405     (5)  For the purposes of carrying into effect this act, the
406board shall annually prepare, consider, and adopt a district
407budget pursuant to the applicable requirements of chapters 189
408and 191, Florida Statutes. The board shall, at the same time as
409it makes its annual report, file its estimated budget for the
410fiscal year beginning October 1, which budget shall show the
411estimated revenue to be received by the district and the
412estimated expenditures to be incurred by the district in
413carrying out its operations.
414     Section 14.  Authority to enact fire prevention ordinances;
415appoint fire chief, acquire land, enter contracts, establish
416salaries, general and special powers; authority to provide
417emergency medical and rescue services.--
418     (1)  The board of commissioners shall have the right and
419power to enact fire prevention ordinances in the same manner
420provided for the adoption of policies and regulations in
421subsection (2) of section 13, and when the provisions of such
422fire prevention ordinances are determined by the board to be
423violated, the office of the state attorney, upon written notice
424of such violation issued by the board, is authorized to
425prosecute such person or persons held to be in violation
426thereof. Any person found guilty of a violation may be punished
427as provided in chapter 775, Florida Statutes, as a misdemeanor
428of the second degree. The cost of such prosecution shall be paid
429out of district funds, unless otherwise provided by law.
430     (2)  The board shall have the power to appoint a fire
431chief, who shall be a person experienced in all types of
432firefighting and fire prevention and who shall work with the
433State Fire Marshal in which the district is situated in the
434prevention of fires of all types. The district fire chief shall
435be authorized to enter, at all reasonable hours, any building or
436premises for the purpose of making any inspection or
437investigation that the State Fire Marshal is authorized to make
438pursuant to state law and regulation. The owner, lessee,
439manager, or operator of any building or premises shall permit
440the district fire chief to enter and inspect the building or
441premises at all reasonable hours. The district fire chief shall
442report any violations of state firesafety laws or regulations to
443the appropriate officials.
444     (3)  The board shall have the power to acquire, by gift or
445purchase, lands or rights in lands and any other property, real
446and personal, tangible or intangible, necessary, desirable, or
447convenient for carrying out the purposes of the district and to
448pay any and all costs of same out of the funds of the district,
449provided that prior to the acquisition of the location of a fire
450station site, an appropriate investigation shall be conducted
451that shall include, but not be limited to, obtaining the staff
452recommendation of the Walton County Planning Department.
453     (4)  The board shall have the power to enter into contracts
454or to otherwise join with the Glendale Fire District of Walton
455County, or to otherwise join with any other district, city, or
456town, the United States of America, or any agency or authority
457thereof, for the purpose of expanding services, providing
458effective aid, and accomplishing and carrying out the purposes
459for which the district was created and for the further purpose
460of specifically obtaining financial aid, assistance, or subsidy.
461     (5)  The salaries of fire department personnel and any
462other wages shall be determined by the board.
463     (6)  The district is authorized to establish and maintain
464emergency medical and rescue response services and acquire and
465maintain rescue, medical, and other emergency equipment, subject
466to the provisions of chapter 401, Florida Statutes.
467     Section 15.  Annexations.--If any municipality or other
468fire control district annexes any land included in the district,
469such annexation shall follow the procedures set forth in section
470171.093, Florida Statutes, as amended from time to time.
471     Section 16.  Dissolution.--The district shall exist until
472dissolved in the same manner as it was created. If the Glendale
473Fire District of Walton County is dissolved or ceases to exist
474for any reason, or if the board determines that the Glendale
475Fire District of Walton County is unable to carry out its
476objectives as stated in subsection (2) of section 2 or the
477district's published policies, the board shall in its discretion
478make arrangements for other means of providing fire protection
479and rescue services.
480     Section 17.  Immunity from tort liability.--
481     (1)  The district and its officers, agents, and employees
482shall have the same immunity from tort liability as other
483agencies and subdivisions of the state. The provisions of
484chapter 768, Florida Statutes, as from time to time amended,
485shall apply to all claims asserted against the district.
486     (2)  The district commissioners and all officers, agents,
487and employees of the district shall have the same immunity and
488exemption from personal liability as is provided by general law
489for state, county, and municipal officers.
490     (3)  The district shall defend all claims against the
491commissioners, officers, agents, and employees that arise within
492the scope of employment or purposes of the district and shall
493pay all judgments against said persons, except where said
494persons acted in bad faith or with malicious purpose or in a
495manner exhibiting wanton and willful disregard of human rights,
496safety, or property.
497     Section 18.  District expansion.--
498     (1)  The district boundaries may be extended from time to
499time as follows:
500     (a)  Land contiguous to the boundaries of the district in
501unincorporated Walton County may be included in the district
502when petition for inclusion signed and sworn to by a majority of
503the owners of the real property within the tract or tracts to be
504included in the district has been presented to the board of
505commissioners and the proposal has been approved by the
506affirmative vote of no fewer than three members of the board of
507commissioners at a regular meeting.
508     (b)  The petition must contain the legal description of the
509property sought to be added to the district and the names and
510addresses of the owners of the property.
511     (2)  If a proposal to add an area to the district as
512described in subsection (1) is approved by the affirmative vote
513of no fewer than three members of the board of commissioners at
514a regular meeting, the board of commissioners shall thereafter
515adopt a resolution describing the lands to be included within
516the district and shall cause such resolution to be duly enrolled
517in the record of the meeting and a certified copy of the
518resolution to be recorded in the Office of the Clerk of the
519Circuit Court of Walton County.
520     (3)  Upon adoption of the resolution by the board, the
521district shall, pursuant to chapter 191, Florida Statutes,
522request that its legislative delegation approve said addition
523and sponsor legislation amending the district boundary. Upon
524approval by the Legislature, the boundary shall be amended.
525     Section 19.  Construction.--This act shall be construed as
526remedial and shall be liberally construed to promote the purpose
527for which it is intended.
528     Section 20.  Effect.--In the event that any part of this
529act should be held void for any reason, such holding shall not
530affect any other part thereof.
531     Section 21.  On or before December 30, 2006, the Board of
532County Commissioners of Walton County shall call and the
533Supervisor of Elections of Walton County shall conduct a
534referendum of the qualified voters of the Glendale Fire District
535on the question of whether the Glendale Fire District shall be
536created by special act of the Legislature with authority to
537impose impact fees pursuant to section 6 of this act and special
538assessments pursuant to section 7 of this act.
539     Section 22.  This act shall take effect only if a majority
540of those qualified electors of the Glendale Fire District voting
541in a referendum held pursuant to this act approve the referendum
542question in accordance with section 21, except that this section
543and section 21 shall take effect upon becoming a law.


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.