HJR 909

1	House Joint Resolution
2	A joint resolution proposing amendments to Sections 1 and
3	8 of Article VII, Section 1 of Article VIII, and Section 4
4	of Article IX, the repeal of Sections 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, and
5	12 of Article VII and Sections 2, 15, 19, 22, and 26 of
6	Article XII, and the creation of Section 19 of Article
7	VII, Section 28 of Article X, and Section 27 of Article
8	XII of the State Constitution to delete provisions
9	relating to ad valorem taxation of real estate and
10	tangible and intangible personal property, provide for
11	revising the state sales and use tax rate to generate
12	revenues equal to total sales and use tax and ad valorem
13	tax revenues, provide for temporary emergency local option
14	sales tax increases, and direct revenues to the state,
15	counties, municipalities, and school districts, protect
16	existing indebtedness secured by revenues from ad valorem
17	taxes on real estate and tangible personal property, and
18	provide an effective date.
19
20	Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
21
22	That the following amendments to Sections 1 and 8 of
23	Article VII, Section 1 of Article VIII, and Section 4 of Article
24	IX, the repeal of Sections 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, and 12 of Article VII
25	and Sections 2, 15, 19, 22, and 26 of Article XII, and the
26	creation of Section 19 of Article VII, Section 28 of Article X,
27	and Section 27 of Article XII of the State Constitution are
28	agreed to and shall be submitted to the electors of this state
29	for approval or rejection at the next general election or at an
30	earlier special election specifically authorized by law for that
31	purpose:
32	ARTICLE VII
33	FINANCE AND TAXATION
34	SECTION 1.  Taxation; appropriations; state expenses; state
35	revenue limitation.--
36	(a)  No tax shall be levied except in pursuance of law. No
37	state ad valorem taxes shall be levied upon real estate or
38	tangible personal property. All other forms of taxation shall be
39	preempted to the state except as provided by general law.
40	(b)  Motor vehicles, boats, airplanes, trailers, trailer
41	coaches and mobile homes, as defined by law, shall be subject to
42	a license tax for their operation in the amounts and for the
43	purposes prescribed by law, but shall not be subject to ad
44	valorem taxes.
45	(c)  No money shall be drawn from the treasury except in
46	pursuance of appropriation made by law.
47	(d)  Provision shall be made by law for raising sufficient
48	revenue to defray the expenses of the state for each fiscal
49	period.
50	(e)  Except as provided herein, state revenues collected
51	for any fiscal year shall be limited to state revenues allowed
52	under this subsection for the prior fiscal year plus an
53	adjustment for growth. As used in this subsection, "growth"
54	means an amount equal to the average annual rate of growth in
55	Florida personal income over the most recent twenty quarters
56	times the state revenues allowed under this subsection for the
57	prior fiscal year. For the 1995-1996 fiscal year, the state
58	revenues allowed under this subsection for the prior fiscal year
59	shall equal the state revenues collected for the 1994-1995
60	fiscal year. Florida personal income shall be determined by the
61	legislature, from information available from the United States
62	Department of Commerce or its successor on the first day of
63	February prior to the beginning of the fiscal year. State
64	revenues collected for any fiscal year in excess of this
65	limitation shall be transferred to the budget stabilization fund
66	until the fund reaches the maximum balance specified in Section
67	19(g) of Article III, and thereafter shall be refunded to
68	taxpayers as provided by general law. State revenues allowed
69	under this subsection for any fiscal year may be increased by a
70	two-thirds vote of the membership of each house of the
71	legislature in a separate bill that contains no other subject
72	and that sets forth the dollar amount by which the state
73	revenues allowed will be increased. The vote may not be taken
74	less than seventy-two hours after the third reading of the bill.
75	For purposes of this subsection, "state revenues" means taxes,
76	fees, licenses, and charges for services imposed by the
77	legislature on individuals, businesses, or agencies outside
78	state government. However, "state revenues" does not include:
79	revenues that are necessary to meet the requirements set forth
80	in documents authorizing the issuance of bonds by the state;
81	revenues that are used to provide matching funds for the federal
82	Medicaid program with the exception of the revenues used to
83	support the Public Medical Assistance Trust Fund or its
84	successor program and with the exception of state matching funds
85	used to fund elective expansions made after July 1, 1994;
86	proceeds from the state lottery returned as prizes; receipts of
87	the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund; balances carried forward
88	from prior fiscal years; taxes, licenses, fees, and charges for
89	services imposed by local, regional, or school district
90	governing bodies; or revenue from taxes, licenses, fees, and
91	charges for services required to be imposed by any amendment or
92	revision to this constitution after July 1, 1994. An adjustment
93	to the revenue limitation shall be made by general law to
94	reflect the fiscal impact of transfers of responsibility for the
95	funding of governmental functions between the state and other
96	levels of government. The legislature shall, by general law,
97	prescribe procedures necessary to administer this subsection.
98	SECTION 2.  Taxes; rate.--All Ad valorem taxation shall be
99	at a uniform rate within each taxing unit, except the taxes on
100	intangible personal property may be at different rates but shall
101	never exceed two mills on the dollar of assessed value;
102	provided, as to any obligations secured by mortgage, deed of
103	trust, or other lien on real estate wherever located, an
104	intangible tax of not more than two mills on the dollar may be
105	levied by law to be in lieu of all other intangible assessments
106	on such obligations.
107	SECTION 3.  Taxes; exemptions.--
108	(a)  All property owned by a municipality and used
109	exclusively by it for municipal or public purposes shall be
110	exempt from taxation. A municipality, owning property outside
111	the municipality, may be required by general law to make payment
112	to the taxing unit in which the property is located. Such
113	portions of property as are used predominantly for educational,
114	literary, scientific, religious or charitable purposes may be
115	exempted by general law from taxation.
116	(b)  There shall be exempt from taxation, cumulatively, to
117	every head of a family residing in this state, household goods
118	and personal effects to the value fixed by general law, not less
119	than one thousand dollars, and to every widow or widower or
120	person who is blind or totally and permanently disabled,
121	property to the value fixed by general law not less than five
122	hundred dollars.
123	(c)  Any county or municipality may, for the purpose of its
124	respective tax levy and subject to the provisions of this
125	subsection and general law, grant community and economic
126	development ad valorem tax exemptions to new businesses and
127	expansions of existing businesses, as defined by general law.
128	Such an exemption may be granted only by ordinance of the county
129	or municipality, and only after the electors of the county or
130	municipality voting on such question in a referendum authorize
131	the county or municipality to adopt such ordinances. An
132	exemption so granted shall apply to improvements to real
133	property made by or for the use of a new business and
134	improvements to real property related to the expansion of an
135	existing business and shall also apply to tangible personal
136	property of such new business and tangible personal property
137	related to the expansion of an existing business. The amount or
138	limits of the amount of such exemption shall be specified by
139	general law. The period of time for which such exemption may be
140	granted to a new business or expansion of an existing business
141	shall be determined by general law. The authority to grant such
142	exemption shall expire ten years from the date of approval by
143	the electors of the county or municipality, and may be renewable
144	by referendum as provided by general law.
145	(d)  By general law and subject to conditions specified
146	therein, there may be granted an ad valorem tax exemption to a
147	renewable energy source device and to real property on which
148	such device is installed and operated, to the value fixed by
149	general law not to exceed the original cost of the device, and
150	for the period of time fixed by general law not to exceed ten
151	years.
152	(e)  Any county or municipality may, for the purpose of its
153	respective tax levy and subject to the provisions of this
154	subsection and general law, grant historic preservation ad
155	valorem tax exemptions to owners of historic properties. This
156	exemption may be granted only by ordinance of the county or
157	municipality. The amount or limits of the amount of this
158	exemption and the requirements for eligible properties must be
159	specified by general law. The period of time for which this
160	exemption may be granted to a property owner shall be determined
161	by general law.
162	SECTION 4.  Taxation; assessments.--By general law
163	regulations shall be prescribed which shall secure a just
164	valuation of all property for ad valorem taxation, provided:
165	(a)  Agricultural land, land producing high water recharge
166	to Florida's aquifers, or land used exclusively for
167	noncommercial recreational purposes may be classified by general
168	law and assessed solely on the basis of character or use.
169	(b)  Pursuant to general law tangible personal property
170	held for sale as stock in trade and livestock may be valued for
171	taxation at a specified percentage of its value, may be
172	classified for tax purposes, or may be exempted from taxation.
173	(c)  All persons entitled to a homestead exemption under
174	Section 6 of this Article shall have their homestead assessed at
175	just value as of January 1 of the year following the effective
176	date of this amendment. This assessment shall change only as
177	provided herein.
178	(1)  Assessments subject to this provision shall be changed
179	annually on January 1st of each year; but those changes in
180	assessments shall not exceed the lower of the following:
181	a.  Three percent (3%) of the assessment for the prior
182	year.
183	b.  The percent change in the Consumer Price Index for all
184	urban consumers, U.S. City Average, all items 1967=100, or
185	successor reports for the preceding calendar year as initially
186	reported by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of
187	Labor Statistics.
188	(2)  No assessment shall exceed just value.
189	(3)  After any change of ownership, as provided by general
190	law, homestead property shall be assessed at just value as of
191	January 1 of the following year. Thereafter, the homestead shall
192	be assessed as provided herein.
193	(4)  New homestead property shall be assessed at just value
194	as of January 1st of the year following the establishment of the
195	homestead. That assessment shall only change as provided herein.
196	(5)  Changes, additions, reductions, or improvements to
197	homestead property shall be assessed as provided for by general
198	law; provided, however, after the adjustment for any change,
199	addition, reduction, or improvement, the property shall be
200	assessed as provided herein.
201	(6)  In the event of a termination of homestead status, the
202	property shall be assessed as provided by general law.
203	(7)  The provisions of this amendment are severable. If any
204	of the provisions of this amendment shall be held
205	unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, the
206	decision of such court shall not affect or impair any remaining
207	provisions of this amendment.
208	(d)  The legislature may, by general law, for assessment
209	purposes and subject to the provisions of this subsection, allow
210	counties and municipalities to authorize by ordinance that
211	historic property may be assessed solely on the basis of
212	character or use. Such character or use assessment shall apply
213	only to the jurisdiction adopting the ordinance. The
214	requirements for eligible properties must be specified by
215	general law.
216	(e)  A county may, in the manner prescribed by general law,
217	provide for a reduction in the assessed value of homestead
218	property to the extent of any increase in the assessed value of
219	that property which results from the construction or
220	reconstruction of the property for the purpose of providing
221	living quarters for one or more natural or adoptive grandparents
222	or parents of the owner of the property or of the owner's spouse
223	if at least one of the grandparents or parents for whom the
224	living quarters are provided is 62 years of age or older. Such a
225	reduction may not exceed the lesser of the following:
226	(1)  The increase in assessed value resulting from
227	construction or reconstruction of the property.
228	(2)  Twenty percent of the total assessed value of the
229	property as improved.
230	SECTION 6.  Homestead exemptions.--
231	(a)  Every person who has the legal or equitable title to
232	real estate and maintains thereon the permanent residence of the
233	owner, or another legally or naturally dependent upon the owner,
234	shall be exempt from taxation thereon, except assessments for
235	special benefits, up to the assessed valuation of five thousand
236	dollars, upon establishment of right thereto in the manner
237	prescribed by law. The real estate may be held by legal or
238	equitable title, by the entireties, jointly, in common, as a
239	condominium, or indirectly by stock ownership or membership
240	representing the owner's or member's proprietary interest in a
241	corporation owning a fee or a leasehold initially in excess of
242	ninety-eight years.
243	(b)  Not more than one exemption shall be allowed any
244	individual or family unit or with respect to any residential
245	unit. No exemption shall exceed the value of the real estate
246	assessable to the owner or, in case of ownership through stock
247	or membership in a corporation, the value of the proportion
248	which the interest in the corporation bears to the assessed
249	value of the property.
250	(c)  By general law and subject to conditions specified
251	therein, the exemption shall be increased to a total of twenty-
252	five thousand dollars of the assessed value of the real estate
253	for each school district levy. By general law and subject to
254	conditions specified therein, the exemption for all other levies
255	may be increased up to an amount not exceeding ten thousand
256	dollars of the assessed value of the real estate if the owner
257	has attained age sixty-five or is totally and permanently
258	disabled and if the owner is not entitled to the exemption
259	provided in subsection (d).
260	(d)  By general law and subject to conditions specified
261	therein, the exemption shall be increased to a total of the
262	following amounts of assessed value of real estate for each levy
263	other than those of school districts: fifteen thousand dollars
264	with respect to 1980 assessments; twenty thousand dollars with
265	respect to 1981 assessments; twenty-five thousand dollars with
266	respect to assessments for 1982 and each year thereafter.
267	However, such increase shall not apply with respect to any
268	assessment roll until such roll is first determined to be in
269	compliance with the provisions of section 4 by a state agency
270	designated by general law. This subsection shall stand repealed
271	on the effective date of any amendment to section 4 which
272	provides for the assessment of homestead property at a specified
273	percentage of its just value.
274	(e)  By general law and subject to conditions specified
275	therein, the Legislature may provide to renters, who are
276	permanent residents, ad valorem tax relief on all ad valorem tax
277	levies. Such ad valorem tax relief shall be in the form and
278	amount established by general law.
279	(f)  The legislature may, by general law, allow counties or
280	municipalities, for the purpose of their respective tax levies
281	and subject to the provisions of general law, to grant an
282	additional homestead tax exemption not exceeding fifty thousand
283	dollars to any person who has the legal or equitable title to
284	real estate and maintains thereon the permanent residence of the
285	owner and who has attained age sixty-five and whose household
286	income, as defined by general law, does not exceed twenty
287	thousand dollars. The general law must allow counties and
288	municipalities to grant this additional exemption, within the
289	limits prescribed in this subsection, by ordinance adopted in
290	the manner prescribed by general law, and must provide for the
291	periodic adjustment of the income limitation prescribed in this
292	subsection for changes in the cost of living.
293	(g)  Each veteran who is age 65 or older who is partially
294	or totally permanently disabled shall receive a discount from
295	the amount of the ad valorem tax otherwise owed on homestead
296	property the veteran owns and resides in if the disability was
297	combat related, the veteran was a resident of this state at the
298	time of entering the military service of the United States, and
299	the veteran was honorably discharged upon separation from
300	military service. The discount shall be in a percentage equal to
301	the percentage of the veteran's permanent, service-connected
302	disability as determined by the United States Department of
303	Veterans Affairs. To qualify for the discount granted by this
304	subsection, an applicant must submit to the county property
305	appraiser, by March 1, proof of residency at the time of
306	entering military service, an official letter from the United
307	States Department of Veterans Affairs stating the percentage of
308	the veteran's service-connected disability and such evidence
309	that reasonably identifies the disability as combat related, and
310	a copy of the veteran's honorable discharge. If the property
311	appraiser denies the request for a discount, the appraiser must
312	notify the applicant in writing of the reasons for the denial,
313	and the veteran may reapply. The Legislature may, by general
314	law, waive the annual application requirement in subsequent
315	years. This subsection shall take effect December 7, 2006, is
316	self-executing, and does not require implementing legislation.
317	SECTION 8.  Aid to local governments.--State funds may be
318	appropriated to the several counties, school districts,
319	municipalities or special districts upon such conditions as may
320	be provided by general law. These conditions may include the use
321	of relative ad valorem assessment levels determined by a state
322	agency designated by general law.
323	SECTION 9.  Local taxes.--
324	(a)  Counties, school districts, and municipalities shall,
325	and special districts may, be authorized by law to levy ad
326	valorem taxes and may be authorized by general law to levy other
327	taxes, for their respective purposes, except ad valorem taxes on
328	intangible personal property and taxes prohibited by this
329	constitution.
330	(b)  Ad valorem taxes, exclusive of taxes levied for the
331	payment of bonds and taxes levied for periods not longer than
332	two years when authorized by vote of the electors who are the
333	owners of freeholds therein not wholly exempt from taxation,
334	shall not be levied in excess of the following millages upon the
335	assessed value of real estate and tangible personal property:
336	for all county purposes, ten mills; for all municipal purposes,
337	ten mills; for all school purposes, ten mills; for water
338	management purposes for the northwest portion of the state lying
339	west of the line between ranges two and three east, 0.05 mill;
340	for water management purposes for the remaining portions of the
341	state, 1.0 mill; and for all other special districts a millage
342	authorized by law approved by vote of the electors who are
343	owners of freeholds therein not wholly exempt from taxation. A
344	county furnishing municipal services may, to the extent
345	authorized by law, levy additional taxes within the limits fixed
346	for municipal purposes.
347	SECTION 12.  Local bonds.--Counties, school districts,
348	municipalities, special districts and local governmental bodies
349	with taxing powers may issue bonds, certificates of indebtedness
350	or any form of tax anticipation certificates, payable from ad
351	valorem taxation and maturing more than twelve months after
352	issuance only:
353	(a)  to finance or refinance capital projects authorized by
354	law and only when approved by vote of the electors who are
355	owners of freeholds therein not wholly exempt from taxation; or
356	(b)  to refund outstanding bonds and interest and
357	redemption premium thereon at a lower net average interest cost
358	rate.
359	SECTION 19.  Revised state sales and use tax; first year
360	revenue neutrality; distribution to counties, municipalities,
361	and school districts.--As provided by general law, the rate of
362	the state tax on sales, use, and other transactions shall be
363	revised to generate in the first year after this section takes
364	effect the same amount of revenues as the aggregate total
365	revenues generated from such tax and ad valorem taxes in the
366	year immediately preceding the date this section takes effect.
367	Thereafter, the revised rate shall be adjusted each year by the
368	lesser of 3 percent or the percentage change that year in the
369	Consumer Price Index as compiled by the United States Department
370	of Labor. Revenues from the revised sales and use tax shall be
371	distributed to the state, counties, municipalities, and school
372	districts as provided by general law. As provided by general
373	law, an elected taxing authority may, by supermajority vote
374	(majority plus 1), adopt an ordinance leving an additional local
375	option sales tax of 0.3 percent solely for emergency purposes.
376	The ordinance shall be effective only upon approval by the
377	voters in a referendum held solely for purposes of approval or
378	rejection of the ordinance. The criteria for determination of an
379	emergency shall be as provided by general law and the ordinance,
380	if approved, shall be effective only for the duration of the
381	emergency.
382	ARTICLE VIII
383	LOCAL GOVERNMENT
384	SECTION 1.  Counties.--
385	(a)  POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS.  The state shall be divided by
386	law into political subdivisions called counties. Counties may be
387	created, abolished or changed by law, with provision for payment
388	or apportionment of the public debt.
389	(b)  COUNTY FUNDS.  The care, custody and method of
390	disbursing county funds shall be provided by general law.
391	(c)  GOVERNMENT.  Pursuant to general or special law, a
392	county government may be established by charter which shall be
393	adopted, amended or repealed only upon vote of the electors of
394	the county in a special election called for that purpose.
395	(d)  COUNTY OFFICERS.  There shall be elected by the
396	electors of each county, for terms of four years, a sheriff, a
397	tax collector, a property appraiser, a supervisor of elections,
398	and a clerk of the circuit court; except, when provided by
399	county charter or special law approved by vote of the electors
400	of the county, any county officer may be chosen in another
401	manner therein specified, or any county office may be abolished
402	when all the duties of the office prescribed by general law are
403	transferred to another office. When not otherwise provided by
404	county charter or special law approved by vote of the electors,
405	the clerk of the circuit court shall be ex officio clerk of the
406	board of county commissioners, auditor, recorder and custodian
407	of all county funds.
408	(e)  COMMISSIONERS.  Except when otherwise provided by
409	county charter, the governing body of each county shall be a
410	board of county commissioners composed of five or seven members
411	serving staggered terms of four years. After each decennial
412	census the board of county commissioners shall divide the county
413	into districts of contiguous territory as nearly equal in
414	population as practicable. One commissioner residing in each
415	district shall be elected as provided by law.
416	(f)  NON-CHARTER GOVERNMENT.  Counties not operating under
417	county charters shall have such power of self-government as is
418	provided by general or special law. The board of county
419	commissioners of a county not operating under a charter may
420	enact, in a manner prescribed by general law, county ordinances
421	not inconsistent with general or special law, but an ordinance
422	in conflict with a municipal ordinance shall not be effective
423	within the municipality to the extent of such conflict.
424	(g)  CHARTER GOVERNMENT.  Counties operating under county
425	charters shall have all powers of local self-government not
426	inconsistent with general law, or with special law approved by
427	vote of the electors. The governing body of a county operating
428	under a charter may enact county ordinances not inconsistent
429	with general law. The charter shall provide which shall prevail
430	in the event of conflict between county and municipal
431	ordinances.
432	(h)  TAXES; LIMITATION.  Property situate within
433	municipalities shall not be subject to taxation for services
434	rendered by the county exclusively for the benefit of the
435	property or residents in unincorporated areas.
436	(h)(i)  COUNTY ORDINANCES.  Each county ordinance shall be
437	filed with the custodian of state records and shall become
438	effective at such time thereafter as is provided by general law.
439	(i)(j)  VIOLATION OF ORDINANCES.  Persons violating county
440	ordinances shall be prosecuted and punished as provided by law.
441	(j)(k)  COUNTY SEAT.  In every county there shall be a
442	county seat at which shall be located the principal offices and
443	permanent records of all county officers. The county seat may
444	not be moved except as provided by general law. Branch offices
445	for the conduct of county business may be established elsewhere
446	in the county by resolution of the governing body of the county
447	in the manner prescribed by law. No instrument shall be deemed
448	recorded until filed at the county seat, or a branch office
449	designated by the governing body of the county for the recording
450	of instruments, according to law.
451	ARTICLE IX
452	EDUCATION
453	SECTION 4.  School districts; school boards.--
454	(a)  Each county shall constitute a school district;
455	provided, two or more contiguous counties, upon vote of the
456	electors of each county pursuant to law, may be combined into
457	one school district. In each school district there shall be a
458	school board composed of five or more members chosen by vote of
459	the electors in a nonpartisan election for appropriately
460	staggered terms of four years, as provided by law.
461	(b)  The school board shall operate, control and supervise
462	all free public schools within the school district and determine
463	the rate of school district taxes within the limits prescribed
464	herein. Two or more school districts may operate and finance
465	joint educational programs.
466	ARTICLE X
467	MISCELLANEOUS
468	SECTION 28.  Protection of bondholder's rights to
469	indebtedness secured by ad valorem tax revenues.--The state
470	assumes the responsibility for and guarantees the repayment of
471	any indebtedness, existing on March 1, 2007, of any taxing
472	authority secured by a pledge of revenues from ad valorem taxes
473	imposed on real estate and tangible personal property.
474	ARTICLE XII
475	SCHEDULE
476	SECTION 2.  Property taxes; millages.--Tax millages
477	authorized in counties, municipalities and special districts, on
478	the date this revision becomes effective, may be continued until
479	reduced by law.
480	SECTION 15.  Special district taxes.--Ad valorem taxing
481	power vested by law in special districts existing when this
482	revision becomes effective shall not be abrogated by Section
483	9(b) of Article VII herein, but such powers, except to the
484	extent necessary to pay outstanding debts, may be restricted or
485	withdrawn by law.
486	SECTION 19.  Renewable energy source property.--The
487	amendment to Section 3 of Article VII, relating to an exemption
488	for a renewable energy source device and real property on which
489	such device is installed, if adopted at the special election in
490	October 1980, shall take effect January 1, 1981.
491	SECTION 22.  Historic property exemption and
492	assessment.--The amendments to Sections 3 and 4 of Article VII
493	relating to ad valorem tax exemption for, and assessment of,
494	historic property shall take effect January 1, 1999.
495	SECTION 26.  Increased homestead exemption.--The amendment
496	to Section 6 of Article VII increasing the maximum additional
497	amount of the homestead exemption for low-income seniors shall
498	take effect January 1, 2007.
499	SECTION 27.  Real estate and tangible personal property ad
500	valorem tax repeal.--This section shall take effect upon
501	approval by the electors. The amendments to Sections 1 and 8 of
502	Article VII, Section 1 of Article VIII, and Section 4 of Article
503	IX, the repeal of Sections 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, and 12 of Article VII
504	and Sections 2, 15, 19, 22, and 26 of Article XII, and the
505	creation of Section 19 of Article VII and Section 28 of Article
506	X of the State Constitution shall take effect January 1 of the
507	year following approval by the electors, except that any ad
508	valorem tax assessments existing on such date necessary to repay
509	any indebtedness secured by a pledge of revenues from ad valorem
510	taxes on real estate and tangible personal property are hereby
511	preserved.
512	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following statement be
513	placed on the ballot:
514	CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
515	ARTICLE VII, SECTIONS 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, AND 19;
516	ARTICLE VIII, SECTION 1;
517	ARTICLE IX, SECTION 4;
518	ARTICLE X, SECTION 28;
519	ARTICLE XII, SECTIONS 2, 15, 19, 22, 26, AND 27
520	AD VALOREM PROPERTY TAX REPEAL; REVISED STATE SALES TAX,
521	ANNUAL ADJUSTMENT, DISTRIBUTION; BONDED INDEBTEDNESS
522	PROTECTION.--Proposing amendments to the State Constitution to
523	repeal all provisions relating to ad valorem taxes on real
524	estate and tangible and intangible personal property; to provide
525	for revising by general law the state sales and use tax rate to
526	generate in the first year after enactment revenues equal to the
527	total revenues from the sales and use tax and ad valorem taxes
528	in the year preceding enactment, adjust the rate each year by
529	the lesser of 3 percent or the percentage change in the Consumer
530	Price Index, provide for temporary emergency local option sales
531	tax increases, and provide for distributing revenues to the
532	state, counties, municipalities, and school districts; to
533	provide for state assumption of responsibility for, and to
534	guarantee repayment of, existing indebtedness secured by a
535	pledge of revenues secured by ad valorem taxes on real and
536	tangible personal property. Such provisions shall take effect
537	January 1 of the year following approval by the electors, except
538	that any ad valorem tax assessments existing on such date
539	necessary to repay any indebtedness secured by a pledge of
540	revenues from ad valorem taxes on real estate and tangible
541	personal property are preserved.

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