Alabama State Constitution of 1901/Amendments 301-400

Amendment 301 ratified

Change in Purposes of Levy and Distribution of Special Tax Authorized by Amendment Nos. 18, 100, 122, 151, 193 and 195.

A. As used in this amendment the following terms shall be given the following respective meanings:

"County" means Mobile county.

"Special tax" means the annual ad valorem tax at the rate of 1/2 of 1 per centum (equivalent to 5 mills on each dollar) of the assessed valuation of the taxable property in the county authorized to be levied by the county by the amendment known as amendment XVIII [18] to the Constitution of Alabama, as amended by the amendment to the Constitution known as amendment CLII [152], and also provided for in the amendments to the Constitution known as amendments C [100], CXII [112], CLI [151], CXCIII [193], and CXCV [195].

B. Commencing with the levy for the tax year beginning October 1, 1969 (for which tax year the special tax will become payable on October 1, 1970) the special tax shall be levied annually by the governing body of the county on the assessed valuation of all property subject to taxation by the county, as assessed for state taxation for the next preceding year, at the following rates for the following respective purposes:

(a) 1/2 mill on each dollar (equivalent to 1/20 of 1%) of the said assessed valuation shall be levied for the general purposes of the county to be paid into and disbursed by the governing body of the county out of the general fund of the county; and

(b) 4 1/2 mills on each dollar (equivalent to 9/20 of 1%) of the said assessed valuation shall be levied for payment of the principal of and interest on all bonds of the county heretofore and hereafter issued that are payable out of or secured by a pledge of the special tax; provided, that the said rate of 4 1/2 mills on each $1.00 of the said assessed valuation shall be reduced for each tax year for which the special hospital tax authorized in paragraph G of the amendment to the Constitution known as amendment No. CXCV [195] shall have been levied at a rate exceeding 1 mill on each dollar of the taxable property in the county, any such reduction to be by 1/2 mill on each dollar of the assessed valuation of the taxable property in the county or by rate of millage equal to the rate by which the said special hospital tax levied for that tax year exceeds one mill on each dollar of the assessed valuation of such taxable property, whichever shall be the lesser reduction.

Amendment 301 ratified

Change in Purposes of Levy and Distribution of Special Tax Authorized by Amendment Nos. 18, 100, 122, 151, 193 and 195.

A. As used in this amendment the following terms shall be given the following respective meanings:

"County" means Mobile county.

"Special tax" means the annual ad valorem tax at the rate of 1/2 of 1 per centum (equivalent to 5 mills on each dollar) of the assessed valuation of the taxable property in the county authorized to be levied by the county by the amendment known as amendment XVIII [18] to the Constitution of Alabama, as amended by the amendment to the Constitution known as amendment CLII [152], and also provided for in the amendments to the Constitution known as amendments C [100], CXII [112], CLI [151], CXCIII [193], and CXCV [195].

B. Commencing with the levy for the tax year beginning October 1, 1969 (for which tax year the special tax will become payable on October 1, 1970) the special tax shall be levied annually by the governing body of the county on the assessed valuation of all property subject to taxation by the county, as assessed for state taxation for the next preceding year, at the following rates for the following respective purposes:

(a) 1/2 mill on each dollar (equivalent to 1/20 of 1%) of the said assessed valuation shall be levied for the general purposes of the county to be paid into and disbursed by the governing body of the county out of the general fund of the county; and

(b) 4 1/2 mills on each dollar (equivalent to 9/20 of 1%) of the said assessed valuation shall be levied for payment of the principal of and interest on all bonds of the county heretofore and hereafter issued that are payable out of or secured by a pledge of the special tax; provided, that the said rate of 4 1/2 mills on each $1.00 of the said assessed valuation shall be reduced for each tax year for which the special hospital tax authorized in paragraph G of the amendment to the Constitution known as amendment No. CXCV [195] shall have been levied at a rate exceeding 1 mill on each dollar of the taxable property in the county, any such reduction to be by 1/2 mill on each dollar of the assessed valuation of the taxable property in the county or by rate of millage equal to the rate by which the said special hospital tax levied for that tax year exceeds one mill on each dollar of the assessed valuation of such taxable property, whichever shall be the lesser reduction.

Amendment 303 ratified

Promotion of Industrial, Commercial and Agricultural Development in Morgan County and Cities of Hartselle and Decatur.

For the promotion of local industrial, commercial or agricultural development, Morgan county and the city of Hartselle and the city of Decatur shall each separately or any two or more of them jointly have full and continuing power (a) to purchase, construct, lease and otherwise acquire industrial, commercial and agricultural projects or sites, including real and personal property, plants, buildings, factories, works, facilities, machinery and equipment of any kind whatsoever; (b) to lease, sell, exchange or otherwise convey all or any part of any such project or site to any person, firm or corporation; (c) after an approving election as hereinafter provided, if required, to sell and issue for such purposes interest-bearing general obligation bonds. Neither the county nor the cities shall issue any bonds under the authority of this amendment, other than bonds issued to finance the acquisition or development of industrial sites, such development to include the extension and installation of streets and roadways and utility services, unless the question of the issuance of such bonds has first been submitted to the qualified electors of the county or the cities, as the case may be, and approved at such election by a majority of the qualified electors voting thereat. Each such election shall be called, held and conducted, and may be contested, in the manner provided by law for county or municipal bond elections, as the case may be. Bonds issued under the authority of this amendment shall not be considered indebtedness of the county or the cities, as the case may be, within the meaning of sections 224 and 225 of the Constitution of Alabama, but neither the county nor the cities shall at any time issue any bonds under the authority of this amendment if as a result thereof it will have outstanding an aggregate principal amount of bonds issued hereunder in excess of twenty percent of an assessed value of the property in the county or the cities, as the case may be. Neither shall the county or the cities issue any bonds under the authority of this amendment, except bonds issued to finance the acquisition or development of industrial sites, such development to include the extension and installation of streets and roadways and utility services, unless prior thereto or contemporaneously therewith the county or the cities, as the case may be, has entered into a lease or other similar agreement, with respect to the project being financed by such bonds, providing for the payment to the county or the cities, as the case may be, of net rentals sufficient to pay the principal of and the interest on such bonds at the respective maturities of such principal and interest, and any bonds issued hereunder shall be secured by a pledge of such rentals and may be secured by a foreclosable mortgage on such project and by a pledge of any other taxes and revenues which the county or the cities, as the case may be, is authorized by law to pledge to the payment of its bonded indebtedness. All bonds issued under the authority of this amendment shall be sold at public sale in the manner required by law for the sale of county or municipal bonds, as the case may be, and shall mature and be payable in annual or semiannual installments in such amounts and at such times as to result in the aggregate amount of principal and interest maturing thereon in each year following the year of their issuance being substantially equal, but shall not be subject to any other provisions of law relating to maturities of county or municipal bonds. In the event that any such action is necessary to prevent or cure a default in payment of the principal of or the interest on any bonds issued under the authority of this amendment, the county or the cities, as the case may be, is authorized to levy and collect ad valorem taxes, without limitation as to rate or amount, on the assessed value of all taxable property in the county or the cities, as the case may be, but only so long as and only to such extent as necessary to prevent or cure any such default.

In carrying out the purposes of this amendment, neither Morgan county nor the city of Hartselle nor the city of Decatur shall be subject to the provisions of section 93 of the Constitution of Alabama, and the taxes which the county and the cities are hereinabove authorized to levy and collect are in addition to all other taxes which the county and the cities are authorized to levy and collect. This amendment shall be self-executing, but notwithstanding any contrary provisions of section 104 of the Constitution of Alabama, the legislature shall have the power, by general, special or local act, to enact laws supplemental hereto or in furtherance of the purposes hereof.

Amendment 304 ratified

Special School Tax in School District No. 1 of Madison County.

Section 1. In addition to any taxes now authorized, or that may be hereafter authorized, by the Constitution and laws of Alabama, there is hereby levied a special school tax of fifty cents on each one hundred dollars' worth of taxable property in school tax district no. 1, Madison county, Alabama, which comprises all of Madison county, Alabama except the city of Huntsville, Alabama to be used solely for public school purposes; provided the levy of said tax shall first have been approved by the qualified electors of the school district as hereinafter provided.

Section 2. In the event this amendment is approved and a majority of the qualified electors of said school tax district no. 1, Madison county, Alabama, who vote thereon vote in favor of the adoption of this amendment when it is submitted, the additional tax provided for in section 1 shall be levied and collected for a period of thirty years without any other election having been held thereon. In the event this amendment is approved and a majority of the qualified electors of school tax district no. 1, Madison county, Alabama, who vote thereon vote against its approval, the tax shall not be levied unless the rate of the tax, the time it is to continue and the purpose thereof shall have been again submitted to a vote of the qualified electors of school tax district one, Madison county, Alabama, and voted for by a majority of those voting at the election. Subsequent elections may be held at intervals of not less than one year and shall be called, held, conducted, paid for and governed otherwise in the manner provided for an election on the school district tax authorized in constitutional amendment III [3].

Amendment 305 ratified

Special School Tax in City of Huntsville.

Section 1. In addition to any taxes now authorized, or that may be hereafter authorized, by the Constitution and laws of Alabama, there is hereby levied a special school tax of fifty cents on each one hundred dollars' worth of taxable property in the school tax district of the city of Huntsville in Madison county to be used solely for public school purposes; provided the levy of said tax shall first have been approved by the qualified electors of the school district as hereinafter provided.

Section 2. In the event this amendment is approved and a majority of the qualified electors of the school tax district of the city of Huntsville who vote thereon vote in favor of the adoption of this amendment when it is submitted, the additional tax provided for in section 1 shall be levied and collected for a period of thirty years without any other election having been held hereon. In the event this amendment is approved and a majority of the qualified electors of the school tax district of the city of Huntsville who vote thereon vote against its approval, the tax shall not be levied unless the rate of the tax, the time it is to continue and the purpose thereof shall have been again submitted to a vote of the qualified electors of the school tax district of the city of Huntsville and voted for by a majority of those voting at the election. Subsequent elections may be held at intervals of not less than one year and shall be called, held, conducted, paid for, and governed otherwise in the manner provided for an election on the school district tax authorized in constitutional amendment III [3].

Amendment 306 ratified

Costs and Charges of Courts, and Compensation of Sheriff, in Bibb County.

The legislature of Alabama may hereafter, from time to time, by general or local laws, fix, regulate, and alter the costs, charges of courts, fees, commissions, allowances, or compensation to be charged or received by the sheriff of Bibb county, and may also fix, regulate, and alter the method or basis of compensating such officer.

Amendment 307 ratified

Use of Proceeds of Special Tax Levied in Chambers County Pursuant to Amendment No. 72.

Whenever the tax authorized to be levied by amendment No. LXXII [72] to the Constitution shall have been approved by vote of the qualified electors of Chambers county and levied by the governing body of the county, the proceeds of such tax may be used for any health purposes of the county, including providing of health facilities of all kinds and of health services; and the governing body of Chambers county may, in its discretion, expend any part of the proceeds thereof in cooperation with any one or more of the municipalities of the county, or in cooperation with any public or private nonprofit hospital corporation; or the county governing body may cooperate in the consolidation of all such hospitals, facilities and services in Chambers county and expend all or any part of the proceeds of the said tax in support thereof.

Amendment 308 ratified

Economic Development of Marengo County.

Any provision of the Constitution or laws of the state of Alabama to the contrary notwithstanding, Marengo county acting through the county governing body shall have full and continuing power and authority, after an election held in accordance herewith, to do any one or more of the following:

1. To purchase, construct, lease, or otherwise acquire real property, plants, buildings, factories, works, facilities, machinery and equipment of any kind.

2. To lease, sell for cash or on credit, exchange, give and convey any such property described in subdivision 1 above, to any person, firm, association or corporation.

3 To promote local industrial, commercial or agricultural development and the location of new industries or businesses therein.

4. To become a stockholder in any corporation, association or company.

5. To lend its credit or to grant public moneys and things of value in aid of, or to, any individual, firm, association, or corporation whatsoever.

6. To become indebted and to issue and sell interest-bearing bonds, warrants (which may be payable from funds to be realized in future years), notes or other obligations or evidence of indebtedness, to a principal amount not exceeding fifty percent of the assessed value of taxable property therein as determined for state taxation, in order to secure funds for the purchase, construction, lease or acquisition of any of the property described in subdivision 1 above or to be used in furtherance of any of the other powers or authorities granted in this amendment. Such obligations or evidences of indebtedness may (in addition to any pledge or pledges authorized by subdivision 8 of this amendment) be issued upon the full faith and credit of Marengo county, or may be limited as to the source of their payment.

The recital in any bonds, warrants, notes or other obligations or evidence of indebtedness that they were issued pursuant to this amendment or that they were issued to provide funds to be used in furtherance of any power or authority herein authorized or that any special tax herein authorized has been pledged to the payment thereof shall be conclusive; no purchaser or holder thereof need inquire further; and the levy and collection of such tax shall continue until the principal of and interest on such obligations or evidence of indebtedness shall have been paid in full. The bonds, warrants, notes or other obligations or evidence of indebtedness issued hereunder shall not be considered an indebtedness of Marengo county for the purpose of determining the borrowing capacity of the county under section 224 of the Constitution; and the taxes herein authorized shall be in addition to those provided for or permitted in section 215 of the Constitution and all amendments thereto.

7. To levy and collect annually, in addition to all other taxes now authorized or permitted, a special tax or taxes of not exceeding two percent on the value of all taxable property therein as determined for state taxation in the same manner as other county taxes are levied and collected. Such tax may be upon all property in the county, or upon all property in any district the boundaries of which the governing body of such county shall describe and which it shall determine to be specially improved and benefited by any proposed use or expenditure of the proceeds of such tax.

8. To pledge to the payment of any bonds, warrants, notes or other obligations or evidence of indebtedness the annual proceeds from any such special tax or taxes and to obligate itself irrevocably to continue to levy and collect such taxes annually until such obligations or evidence of indebtedness are paid in full and to pledge thereto any rental or sales proceeds of property leased or sold by it.

9. To create a public authority or corporation having such powers, managed and governed by such board or governing body subject to such limitations as the governing body of Marengo county may impose, by approving and filing a certificate to that effect in the office of the judge of probate or the secretary of state, or their respective successors in function, and to delegate to such public authority or corporation and its board or governing body all powers and authority conferred in this amendment upon the county.

Marengo county shall not make any engagement or commitment or undertake any project under the provisions hereof unless and until the proposition has been approved by a majority of the qualified electors of the county who vote thereon at a referendum election held for such purpose. The governing body of the county may provide for holding such election, but in no case shall an election be held until notice of the election and of the proposition to be voted on has been published once a week for three successive weeks before the election.

This amendment shall be self-executing; but the legislature may enact general, special or local laws supplemental to this amendment or in furtherance of the purposes and objectives hereinabove set forth.

Amendment 309 ratified

Special School District Tax in Lee County.

In addition to all other taxes now or hereafter authorized, the governing body of Lee county, in the state of Alabama, is authorized to levy, in the school district of the said county that comprises all of the territory of the said county outside of the corporate limits of the cities of Auburn and Opelika, a special district tax at a rate not exceeding 50¢ on each $100 of the valuation of the taxable property in the said district as assessed for state taxation; provided, that no such tax shall be levied hereunder unless the rate of the said tax, the time it is to continue, and the purpose thereof shall have been first submitted to the vote of the qualified electors of the said district and voted for by a majority of those voting in such election; provided, further, that if a majority of the qualified electors of the said district participating in the election on the adoption of this amendment shall vote for the adoption thereof, then the approval of this amendment expressed by the said vote in favor of its adoption shall of itself authorize the levy of the said tax, without an additional election, for a period of thirty consecutive years commencing with the levy for the tax year beginning October 1, 1969. Each election on the levy of the said tax held subsequent to the ratification of this amendment shall be called, held, conducted and canvassed, and notice thereof shall be given, in the manner and within the time provided by the then existing general laws of Alabama pertaining to elections on the levy of district school taxes under the provisions of amendment III [3] to the Constitution, except that the holding of any such election in the said district or the collection of the said tax therein shall not be dependent upon the levy and collection of any other tax, including specifically the three-mill special county school tax provided for in the said amendment III [3]. If the majority of the qualified electors of the said district participating in the election on the adoption of this amendment should not vote in favor of the adoption of this amendment, or if the majority of the qualified electors of the said district voting at any election called by the governing body of Lee county under the provisions of this amendment should not vote in favor of the levy of the said tax proposed at the election so called, the governing body of Lee county may from time to time call other elections hereunder on the levy of the said tax, but not more than one such election shall be held during any period of twelve consecutive months.

Nothing contained in this amendment shall be construed to authorize the levy of an additional tax on any property within the corporate limits of either the city of Auburn or the city of Opelika.

Amendment 310 ratified

Special School District Taxes in Talladega County.

In addition to any taxes now authorized or that may be hereafter authorized by the Constitution and laws of Alabama, the several school districts of Talladega county shall have the power to levy and collect a special district tax of fifty cents on each one hundred dollars' worth of taxable property in such districts for public school purposes; provided, that the time during which such tax is to continue and the purpose thereof shall have been first submitted to a vote of the qualified electors in each such district and voted for by a majority of those voting at such election, the election to be held in the same manner as provided by Code of Alabama 1940, Title 52, chapter 10, article 7 for an election on the school district tax authorized in article XIX [amendment No. 3, article XIX] of the Constitution of Alabama. The funds arising from such special tax levied in any district which votes the same independently of the county shall be expended for the exclusive benefit of the district as the law may direct.

Amendment 311 ratified

Special Property Tax for General Health Purposes in Lawrence, Limestone and Morgan Counties.

In addition to all taxes now, or hereafter authorized by the Constitution and laws of Alabama, the counties of Lawrence, Limestone and Morgan, in this state, each, shall have the power to levy and collect a special tax up to 3 mills on each dollar's worth of taxable property in the county, the proceeds of which shall be used exclusively for general health purposes; provided that such tax and the purpose or purposes thereof, and the times such taxes are proposed to be continued, shall have first been submitted to the vote of the qualified electors of each of such counties, and voted for by the majority of those voting at such elections in all three such counties. The special tax provided herein may be renewed from time to time, in the manner provided herein, for such periods of time as are necessary. If any proposal to levy the taxes is defeated in any election, subsequent elections thereon may be held at any time. The elections provided for herein shall be called, held, conducted, and governed otherwise in the manner provided for an election on the school district tax authorized in amendment III [3], article XIX, of the Constitution of Alabama and by article 7, chapter 10, Title 52 of the Code of Alabama 1940; but the governing bodies of the counties of Lawrence, Limestone and Morgan shall each provide for paying the expense of the election in its county.

The county tax collector of each of such counties shall collect the tax in the same manner and under the same requirements and laws as the taxes of the state are collected, and he shall keep the proceeds of this tax separate and apart from all other funds, and shall keep clear accounts thereof. The tax collector shall distribute the proceeds of this special tax in the manner prescribed by the governing body of the county and the revenue derived from the tax levied hereunder shall be used for general health purposes in the county where levied or in cooperation with the other two counties named above.

Amendment 312 ratified

Economic Development of Bibb County and Municipalities Therein.

Any provision of the Constitution or laws of the state of Alabama to the contrary notwithstanding, the county governing body and/or any municipality in Bibb county, or any one or more of them, shall have full and continuing power and authority, after an election held in accordance herewith, to do any one or more of the following:

1. To purchase, construct, lease, or otherwise acquire real property, plants, buildings, factories, works, facilities, machinery and equipment of any kind.

2. To lease, sell for cash or on credit, exchange, give and convey any such property described in subdivision 1 above, to any person, firm, association or corporation.

3. To promote local industrial, commercial or agricultural development and the location of new industries or businesses therein.

4. To become a stockholder in any corporation, association or company.

5. To lend its credit or to grant public moneys and things of value in aid or [of], or to, any individual, firm, association, or corporation whatsoever.

6. To become indebted and to issue and sell interest-bearing bonds, warrants (which may be payable from funds to be realized in future years), notes or other obligations or evidences of indebtedness, to a principal amount not exceeding fifty percent of the assessed value of taxable property therein as determined for state taxation, in order to secure funds for the purchase, construction, lease or acquisition of any of the property described in subdivision 1 above or to be used in furtherance of any of the other powers of authorities granted in this amendment. Such obligations or evidences of indebtedness may (in addition to any pledge or pledges authorized by subdivision 8 of this amendment) be issued upon the full faith and credit of the county or municipality or may be limited as to the source of their payment.

7. To levy and collect annually, in addition to all other taxes now authorized or permitted, a special tax or taxes of not exceeding two percent on the value of all taxable property therein as determined for state taxation, in the same manner as other county or municipal taxes are levied and collected. Such tax may be upon all property in the county or any municipality in Bibb county or upon all property in any district the boundaries of which the governing body of the county or a municipality shall describe and which it shall determine to be specially improved and benefited by any proposed use or expenditure of the proceeds of such tax.

8. To pledge to the payment of any bonds, warrants, notes or other obligations or evidences of indebtedness the annual proceeds from any such special tax or taxes and to obligate itself irrevocable [irrevocably] to continue to levy and collect such taxes annually until such obligations or evidences of indebtedness are paid in full and to pledge thereto any rental or sales proceeds of property leased or sold by it.

9. To create a public authority or corporation having such powers, managed and governed by such board or governing body and subject to such limitations as the governing body of the county or any municipality in Bibb county may impose, by approving and filing a certificate to that effect in the office of the judge of probate or the secretary of state, or their respective successors in function, and to delegate to such public authority or corporation and its board or governing body all powers and authority conferred in this amendment upon the governing body of the county or any municipality in Bibb county.

The recital in any bonds, warrants, notes or other obligations or evidences of indebtedness that they were issued pursuant to this amendment or that they were issued to provide funds to be used in furtherance of any power or authority herein authorized or that any special tax herein authorized has been pledged to the payment thereof shall be conclusive; no purchaser or holder thereof need inquire further; and the levy and collection of such tax shall continue until the principal of and interest on such obligations or evidences of indebtedness shall have been paid in full. The bonds, warrants, notes or other obligations or evidences of indebtedness issued hereunder shall not be considered an indebtedness of the county or any municipality in Bibb county for the purpose of determining the borrowing capacity of the county or any such municipality under sections 224 and 225 of the Constitution; and the taxes herein authorized shall be in addition to those provided for or permitted in sections 215 and 216 of the Constitution and all amendments thereto.

This amendment shall be self-executing; but the legislature shall have the right and power by general, special or local act to adopt laws supplemental to this amendment or in furtherance of the purposes and objectives hereinabove set forth.

10. Neither the county nor any municipality shall make any engagement or commitment or undertake any project under the provisions hereof unless and until the proposition has been approved by a majority of the qualified electors of the county or the affected municipality. The governing body of the county or any municipality in the county may provide for holding such elections, but in no case shall an election be held until notice of the election and of the proposition to be voted on has been published for at least three successive weeks.

Amendment 313 ratified

Economic Development of Hale County and Municipalities Therein.

Any provision of the Constitution or laws of the state of Alabama to the contrary notwithstanding, the county governing body and/or any municipality in Hale county, or any one or more of them, shall have full and continuing power and authority, after an election held in accordance herewith, to do any one or more of the following:

1. To purchase, construct, lease, or otherwise acquire real property, plants, buildings, factories, works, facilities, machinery and equipment of any kind.

2. To lease, sell for cash or on credit, exchange, give and convey any such property described in subdivision 1 above, to any person, firm, association or corporation.

3. To promote local industrial, commercial or agricultural development and the location of new industries or businesses therein.

4. To become a stockholder in any corporation, association or company.

5. To lend its credit or to grant public moneys and things of value in aid of, or to, any individual, firm, association, or corporation whatsoever.

6. To become indebted and to issue and sell interest-bearing bonds, warrants (which may be payable from funds to be realized in future years), notes or other obligations or evidences of indebtedness, to a principal amount not exceeding fifty percent of the assessed value of taxable property therein as determined for state taxation, in order to secure funds for the purchase, construction, lease or acquisition of any of the property described in subdivision 1 above or to be used in furtherance of any of the other powers or authorities granted in this amendment. Such obligations or evidences of indebtedness may (in addition to any pledge or pledges authorized by subdivision 8 of this amendment) be issued upon the full faith and credit of the county or municipality or may be limited as to the source of their payment.

7. To levy and collect annually, in addition to all other taxes now authorized or permitted, a special tax or taxes of not exceeding two percent on the value of all taxable property therein as determined for state taxation, in the same manner as other county or municipal taxes are levied and collected. Such tax may be upon all property in the county or any municipality in Hale county or upon all property in any district the boundaries of which the governing body of the county or municipality shall describe and which it shall determine to be specially improved and benefited by any proposed use or expenditure of the proceeds of such tax.

8. To pledge to the payment of any bonds, warrants, notes or other obligations or evidences of indebtedness the annual proceeds from any such special tax or taxes and to obligate itself irrevocably to continue to levy and collect such taxes annually until such obligations or evidences of indebtedness are paid in full and to pledge thereto any rental or sales proceeds of property leased or sold by it.

9. To create a public authority or corporation having such powers, managed and governed by such board or governing body and subject to such limitations as the governing body of the county or any municipality in Hale county may impose, by approving and filing a certificate to that effect in the office of the judge of probate or the secretary of state, or their respective successors in function, and to delegate to such public authority or corporation and its board or governing body all powers and authority conferred in this amendment upon the governing body of the county or any municipality in Hale county.

The recital in any bonds, warrants, notes or other obligations or evidences of indebtedness that they were issued pursuant to this amendment or that they were issued to provide funds to be used in furtherance of any power or authority herein authorized or that any special tax herein authorized has been pledged to the payment thereof shall be conclusive; no purchaser or holder thereof need inquire further; and the levy and collection of such tax shall continue until the principal of and interest on such obligations or evidences of indebtedness shall have been paid in full. The bonds, warrants, notes or other obligations or evidences of indebtedness issued hereunder shall not be considered an indebtedness of the county or any municipality in Hale county for the purpose of determining the borrowing capacity of the county or any such municipality under sections 224 and 225 of the Constitution; and the taxes herein authorized shall be in addition to those provided for or permitted in sections 215 and 216 of the Constitution and all amendments thereto.

This amendment shall be self-executing; but the legislature shall have the right and power by general, special or local act to adopt laws supplemental to this amendment or in furtherance of the purposes and objectives hereinabove set forth.

10. Neither the county nor any municipality shall make any engagement or commitment or undertake any project under the provisions hereof unless and until the proposition has been approved by a majority of the qualified electors of the county or the affected municipality. The governing body of the county or any municipality in the county may provide for holding such elections, but in no case shall an election be held until notice of the election and of the proposition to be voted on has been published for at least three successive weeks.

Amendment 314 ratified

Amendment of Amendment No. 239.

Amendment CCXXXIX [239] of the Constitution of Alabama. The legislature may provide for the formation of districts in Jefferson county, Alabama, for establishing and maintaining a system for fighting or preventing fires, also for the collection and disposal of garbage and trash; provided, however, that no territory lying within the limits of a municipal corporation at the time of the establishment of any such district shall be included within such district; and provided further, that no such district shall be established unless the establishment thereof has been first approved by the qualified electors residing within the proposed district at an election held as provided for by a law or laws adopted by the legislature. A district may be established for either or both of the aforesaid purposes. The legislature may provide for submitting to the qualified electors within the proposed district the question of whether the district shall be created for either or both of the aforesaid purposes.

The expenses of establishing and maintaining any such fire-fighting and fire prevention system or any such garbage collection and disposal system in a district, as the case may be, shall be paid for exclusively by the proceeds of a service charge, which shall be levied and collected in an amount sufficient to pay the said expenses.

Said service charges shall be levied upon and collected from the persons and property to whom and to which such services are available; and the service charge shall be a lien upon any such property.

The legislature may provide for the enlargement of a district by the addition of territory thereto, subject to the following conditions: (1) No territory lying within a municipal corporation at the time of such enlargement shall be added to a district; (2) subject to (3), next below, no territory shall be added unless the qualified electors thereof have approved the addition of such territory to the district; (3) the legislature may provide a procedure whereby territory will be included in a district upon the written petition for its inclusion signed by at least seventy percent (70%) of the qualified electors residing within said territory.

The legislature shall adopt laws providing for the administration of the affairs of the district by the governing body of the district, the governing body of the county or by any agency of the county, and empowering the body administering the affairs of the district to levy and collect the service charge, subject to such restrictions and conditions as the legislature imposes. The legislature may provide that any such service charge shall not become effective unless approved by the electors of the territory, and may provide the conditions on which an election on such service charge shall be held.

The legislature shall be authorized to enact laws providing for the collection and enforcement of the service charges and of the lien for such charges.

The legislature may provide for the issuance of bonds for such districts with or without an election; provided, however, that all bonds issued hereunder shall be payable only out of the proceeds of the service charge authorized hereby, and no such bond shall be a general obligation of the county.

Amendment 315 ratified

Promotion of Soybean Industry.

The legislature may hereafter, by general law, provide for the promotion of the production, distribution, improvement, marketing, use and sale of soybeans. The legislature may provide for the promotion of soybeans and soybean products by research, education, advertising and other methods, and the legislature is further authorized to provide means and methods for the financing of any such promotional activity by prescribing a procedure whereby producers of soybeans may by referendum among such producers levy upon themselves and collect assessments, fees, or charges upon the sale of soybeans for the financing of any such promotional program or activity in cooperation with buyers, processors, dealers, and handlers of soybeans. Provided, no assessment levied hereunder shall exceed one-half cent ( 1/2 ¢) per bushel on any soybeans sold by producers thereof. The legislature may make provisions for the nonpayment of assessments by soybean producers, and shall make provisions for the refund of assessments to any soybean producer who does not desire to participate in an assessment program. The legislature shall provide for the collection, disbursement, distribution or expenditure of assessments or charges authorized hereunder and to provide penalties for failure to make collection and distribution of assessments. The legislature shall provide for the designation of a nonprofit association or organization for the promotion and betterment of soybeans and soybean products to administer and carry out such promotional program which shall include the conducting of elections or referendums among producers of soybeans. The legislature may provide the manner by which such referendum is held, including the procedure for application for approval to conduct the referendum, the appropriate action to be taken by the state board of agriculture and industries on such application, the requirements and eligibility of the association or organization which will conduct such referendum, the procedures for voting and eligibility to vote in such referendum, the details of the conduct of such referendum. The legislature shall further provide for the deposit, withdrawal, disbursement and expenditure by the designated association of any funds received subject to the supervision and control of the activities as authorized herein by the department of agriculture and industries and the state board of agriculture and industries. The legislature shall further provide a procedure whereby said association or organization is bonded, for the examination and auditing of said association or organization, and for reasonably necessary rules and regulations to be adopted by the state board of agriculture and industries to effectively carry out the intent and purposes herein enumerated. Assessments, fees or other charges collected as authorized by any legislative act adopted under authority hereof shall not be considered as a tax within the meaning of this constitution or any provision thereof. Any uniformity requirements of this constitution shall be satisfied by the application of the program upon soybeans.

Amendment 316 ratified

Special Tax in Mountain Brook School District in Jefferson County.

In addition to all taxes now authorized or that may hereafter be authorized by the Constitution of Alabama to be levied by the special school district in Jefferson county known as the Mountain Brook school district (which immediately prior to the adoption of this amendment comprised the territory embraced within the corporate limits of the city of Mountain Brook), including any additional territory that may hereafter be added to the said district, shall have power to levy and collect, for public school purposes in the said district, a special district ad valorem tax at a rate or rates not exceeding in the aggregate sixty cents on each one hundred dollars (equivalent to six mills on each dollar) of the assessed valuation of the property in the said district subject to taxation by it.

No tax shall be levied under the authority of this amendment until after the question of the levy of such tax, the rate thereof, the time it is to continue, and the purpose thereof shall have been first submitted to the vote of the qualified electors of the said district at an election duly called for that purpose by the governing body of the said county and a majority of the qualified electors of the said district voting at such election shall have voted in favor of the levy of the said tax; provided, that if a majority of the qualified electors of the said district participating in the election on the adoption of this amendment shall vote for such adoption, then the approval of this amendment expressed by the said vote in favor of its adoption shall of itself constitute approval of the levy of the said tax at the rate of sixty cents on each one hundred dollars of the said assessed valuation for a period of thirty years commencing with the levy for the tax year for which county ad valorem taxes will become due and payable on the October 1 next succeeding the date of such election and no additional election by the electors of the said district shall be required to authorize the levy of the said tax at the said rate and for the said period of time. If the majority of the qualified electors of the said district participating in the election on the adoption of this amendment should not vote for such adoption, or if the majority of the qualified electors of the said district voting at any election subsequently called by the governing body of the said county under the provisions of this amendment should not vote in favor of the levy of the said tax at an election so called, the governing body of the county may from time to time call other elections hereunder on the question of the levy of the said tax, but not more than one such election shall be held during any period of twelve consecutive months.

Each election that may be called by the governing body of the said county on the question of the levy of the district tax herein authorized shall be called and held and the results thereof declared in the same manner and at the same time as may be provided by law for the calling and holding of school district taxes generally, and the said tax shall be levied and collected in the same manner and at the same times as may be provided by law for the levy and collection of school district taxes generally; provided, that no countywide tax shall be required as a condition precedent to the calling or holding of any such election or to the levy or collection of the district tax herein authorized. The proceeds from any district tax levied under this amendment shall be expended solely for public school purposes in the said district.

Amendment 317 ratified

Retirement, Censure, Suspension and Removal of Judges; Judicial Commission.

1. As used in this amendment: "Judge" means a justice of the supreme court, a judge of the court of appeals, or a judge of any circuit court, probate court, municipal court, or other court of record. "Commission" means judicial commission. "Retire" means to place on supervisory status if available. "Chairman" includes the acting chairman. "Masters" means special master appointed by the supreme court upon request of the commission. "Presiding master" means a master so designated by the supreme court or in the absence of such designation, the judge first named in the order appointing masters. "Shall" is mandatory and "may" is permissive.

2. A judicial commission is hereby created which shall be authorized to investigate, conduct hearings on the qualifications of judges and make recommendations to the supreme court in regard to the retirement, censure, suspension or removal of such judges. The commission shall consist of: one judge of the court of appeals to be appointed by the supreme court; two judges of circuit courts to be appointed by the circuit judges association; one probate judge to be appointed by the probate judges association; one judge of a municipal court to be appointed by the supreme court; two practicing attorneys who shall be members in good standing of the state bar who shall have practiced law in this state for at least ten years and who shall be appointed by the board of commissioners of the state bar, and two citizens neither of whom shall be a judge, active or retired, nor a member of the state bar, and who shall be appointed by the governor subject to the approval of the Alabama senate. The terms of these members shall be for six years. Of the initial appointees, three (a circuit judge, the judge of the court of appeals and a citizen) shall be appointed for six years; three members (the municipal court judge, the probate judge and a practicing attorney) shall be appointed for four years; and three members (a circuit judge, a practicing attorney and a citizen) shall be appointed for three years. Commission membership shall terminate if a member ceases to hold the position that qualified him for appointment. A vacancy shall be filled by the appointing power for the remainder of the term; provided, that if the appointing power shall not fill the vacancy within sixty days, replacement shall be made by majority vote of the commission.

No member shall receive any compensation for his services as such but shall be allowed his necessary expenses for travel, board and lodging incurred in the performance of his duties as such, which shall be paid from the state treasury on claims filed with the state comptroller.

No act of the commission shall be valid unless concurred in by a majority of its members. The commission shall select one of its members to serve as chairman.

3. A judge, in accordance with the procedure prescribed in this section, may be censured, suspended, or removed for action occurring not more than six years prior to the commencement to his current term that constitutes willful misconduct in office, willful and persistent failure to perform his duties, habitual intemperance, or conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice that brings the judicial office into disrepute, or he may be retired for disability that seriously interferes with the performance of his duties and is or is likely to become permanent. The judicial commission may, after such investigation as the commission deems necessary, order a hearing to be held before it concerning the censure, suspension, removal or retirement of a judge, or the commission may in its discretion request the supreme court to appoint three special masters, who shall be justices or judges of courts of record, to hear and take evidence in any such matter, and to report thereon to the commission. If, after hearing, or after considering the record and report of the masters, the commission finds good cause therefor, it shall recommend to the supreme court the censure, suspension, removal or retirement, as the case may be, of the judge.

The supreme court shall review the record of the proceedings on the law and facts and in its discretion may permit the introduction of additional evidence and shall order censure, suspension, removal or retirement, as it finds just and proper, or wholly reject the recommendation. Upon an order for retirement, the judge shall be considered to have retired voluntarily and shall thereby be retired with the same rights and privileges as if he retired pursuant to statute. Upon an order for removal, the justice or judge shall thereby be removed from office, and his salary shall cease from the date of such order. A judge removed by the supreme court shall be ineligible for judicial office and pending further order of the supreme court he shall be suspended from practicing law in this state.

All papers filed with and proceedings before the judicial commission or masters appointed by the supreme court, pursuant to this section, shall be confidential, and the filing of papers with and the giving of testimony before the commission or the masters shall be privileged; but no other publication of such papers or proceedings shall be privileged in any action for defamation except that (a) the record filed by the commission in the supreme court continues privileged and upon such filing loses its confidential character and (b) a writing which was privileged prior to its filing with the commission or the masters does not lose such privilege by such filing. The judicial conference shall by rule provide for procedure under this section before the judicial commission, the masters, and the supreme court. A judge who is a member of the commission or supreme court shall not participate in any proceedings involving his own censure, suspension, removal or retirement.

A judge shall be disqualified from acting as a judge, without loss of salary, while there is pending (1) an indictment on an information charging him in the United States with a crime punishable as a felony under Alabama or federal law or (2) a recommendation to the supreme court by the judicial commission for his censure, suspension, removal or retirement.

On recommendation of the commission or on its own motion, the supreme court may suspend a judge from office without salary when in the United States he pleads guilty or no contest or is found guilty of a crime punishable as a felony under Alabama or federal law or of any other crime that involves moral turpitude under that law. If his conviction is reversed, suspension terminates, and he shall be paid his salary for the period of suspension. If he is suspended and his conviction becomes final, the supreme court shall remove him from office.

4. This amendment is self-executing. The commission is authorized and directed to make rules not inconsistent with the provisions of this amendment implementing this amendment and providing for the confidentiality of proceedings.

5. The provisions of article VII, sections 173 and 174 are hereby repealed insofar as they relate to a judge as defined herein.

6. The legislature is authorized to provide a retirement program for judges of the circuit courts and various appellate courts now or hereafter created in this state.

Amendment 318 ratified

Special Property Tax for Library Service in Morgan County.

The court of county commissioners, board of revenue or like governing body of Morgan county shall have the power to levy and collect a special property tax, in addition to all other taxes, now or hereafter authorized by the Constitution and laws of Alabama, of not exceeding 5 mills on each dollar's worth of taxable property in the county as assessed for state taxation during the preceding year, the proceeds of which shall be used exclusively for purposes of library service; provided that such tax and the purpose or purposes thereof, and the time such tax is proposed to be continued, shall have been first submitted to the vote of the qualified electors of the county and voted for by a majority of those voting at such election. Elections under this amendment shall be called, held and conducted in the same way as elections on special school district tax levies.

Amendment 319 ratified

Special Property Tax for Public Library Purposes in Baldwin County and Municipalities Therein.

A. In addition to all taxes now or hereafter authorized by the Constitution of Alabama, including amendment CCLXIX [269], Baldwin county or any incorporated municipality within such county which supports, jointly supports, or proposes to support a public library is hereby authorized to levy and collect a special tax of not more than forty-five cents on each one hundred dollars worth of taxable property within such county or municipality as assessed for state taxation. The proceeds of all such taxes shall be used exclusively for public library purposes; provided, that the levy of such tax, the rate of such tax and the purpose thereof shall have been first submitted to the vote of the qualified electors of the county or municipality and voted for by a majority of those voting at such election.

B. Upon petition signed by four hundred or more qualified electors of Baldwin county to the Baldwin county commission or like governing body, or upon a petition signed by two hundred or more qualified electors of any municipality in such county to the governing body of such municipality, the county commission or the governing body of the municipality shall order an election to be held to determine whether a special tax shall be levied at the rate specified by the governing body of such county or municipality for public library purposes.

C. Elections under this amendment relative to additional county taxes for county public library purposes shall be held at the same time any other general or special election is held in which the voters of the entire county are qualified to vote, and elections under this amendment relative to municipal taxes for municipal library purposes shall be held at the same time any other municipal election is held.

D. If authorized by the vote of the majority of the qualified electors voting in any such election called for the purpose, the county or city governing body, as the case may be, shall levy and collect, in addition to all other taxes authorized by law, a special annual ad valorem tax at the rate prescribed and approved by the electors voting in the election. If the majority vote at any election held hereunder is not in favor of the levy of the tax, or if at any such election the special tax shall be voted at a rate of less than forty-five cents on each one hundred dollars worth of taxable property, then the governing body of the county or city, as the case may be, may from time to time thereafter call other elections hereunder on the levy of the special tax or on the increase of the rate thereof, up to but not exceeding a total amount of forty-five cents on each one hundred dollars of taxable property, and must call any such election at the next general or special countywide election or next municipal election, as the case may be, next following the receipt of a petition in the manner and form herein prescribed. Provided, however, that not more than one election upon the levy or upon the increase of the rate of the special tax shall be held during any period of twelve consecutive months. After the special tax shall have been levied for a period of three years, the governing body of the county or city, as the case may be, upon its own original action may from time to time thereafter call other elections hereunder on the question of the discontinuance of the tax or a reduction on the rate thereof, upon the payment in full of all obligations then outstanding, if any, and when a reduced rate will provide sufficient revenue for the purposes for which the tax was levied. If the majority of electors participating in the election vote in favor of the discontinuance or reduction in the rate of the tax, as the case may be, such discontinuance or reduction shall become effective for the tax year next succeeding the tax year in which such election is held. Provided, that not more than one election for the discontinuance or reduction in the rate of the special tax shall be held during any period of twelve consecutive months. All such elections shall be called, held and conducted in the same manner as are elections proposing the special tax.

Amendment 320 ratified

Bonds for School Buildings in Madison County.

Madison county is hereby authorized to incur indebtedness to the extent of not exceeding $2,000,000 in aggregate principal amount, and to issue its bonds in evidence of the indebtedness so incurred, for the purpose of acquiring, providing, constructing and equipping public school buildings in said county and of acquiring sites therefor. Such bonds may be issued only after the question of the issuance thereof shall have been submitted to the qualified electors of said county and an election called for that purpose by the governing body of said county and a majority of said qualified electors voting at said election shall have voted in favor of the issuance of said bonds, which election shall be called, held, conducted, and canvassed, and may be contested, in the manner and within the time provided by the then existing laws of Alabama pertaining to elections on the issuance of bonds by counties; provided however, that if a majority of the qualified electors of said county participating in the election on the adoption of this amendment shall vote for the adoption thereof, then the approval of this amendment expressed by the voters of said county in favor of its adoption shall of itself authorize the issuance of the bonds, and in that event no additional election by the electors of said county shall be required to authorize the issuance of said bonds. In the event the majority of the qualified electors of said county participating in the election on the adoption of this amendment should not vote in favor of the adoption thereof, or in the event the majority vote at any election held in said county pursuant to the provisions of this amendment after its adoption is not in favor of the issuance of the bonds proposed at said election, the governing body of said county may from time to time call other elections hereunder on the issuance of said bonds, but not more than one such election shall be held during any period of twelve consecutive months. The power to become indebted and to issue bonds in evidence of such indebtedness shall be in addition to all other powers which the said county may have under the constitution and laws of Alabama, and any bonds issued pursuant to this amendment shall not be chargeable against the amount of indebtedness which said county may incur under the constitution and laws of Alabama in effect prior to the adoption of this amendment. All bonds issued under this amendment shall be general obligations of the county secured by an irrevocable pledge of its full faith and credit, may (any provisions of the constitution and laws of this state to the contrary notwithstanding) be additionally secured by a special and irrevocable pledge of a sufficient amount of the proceeds from the special 1/4 of 1% ad valorem tax authorized by section 215 of the Constitution of Alabama, as amended, to be levied and collected by the county, shall be issued in accordance with, and shall be subject to, the provisions of the general laws of Alabama existing at the time of the sale of said bonds respecting the maturities, sale, execution and redemption of bonds by counties.

The provisions of this amendment shall be self-executing.

Amendment 321 ratified

Court Costs, Fees, Compensation, etc., of Certain Officers in Lawrence County.

The legislature may, from time to time, by general or local laws applicable to or operative in Lawrence county, fix, regulate, and alter the costs and charges of court and the fees, commissions, allowances, and salaries, including the method and basis of their compensation, to be charged or received by the judge of probate, tax assessor, tax collector, and the clerk and register of the circuit court of Lawrence county; and may place any or all of such officers on a salary and provide for the fees, commissions, allowances, and percentages collectible by such officers to be paid into the treasury from which their salaries are paid.

Amendment 322 ratified

Registration of Electors by Mail.

The legislature may enact appropriate legislation providing further for the registration of qualified electors by authorizing and providing for registration by mail of persons, who, for such reasons as the legislature determines to be reasonable, are absent from the place of their residences at the time prescribed by law for registering to vote therein.

Amendment 323 ratified

Abolition of Offices of Justice of the Peace and Notary Public With the Powers and Jurisdiction of a Justice of the Peace.

Section 168 of article VI of the Constitution of Alabama is repealed insofar as it provides for the election or appointment of justices of the peace and notaries public with the powers and jurisdiction of a justice of the peace. The officers of all justices of the peace and notaries public with the powers and jurisdiction of a justice of the peace are hereby abolished. The legislature shall not authorize or provide for the election or appointment of justices of the peace or notaries public with the powers and jurisdiction of a justice of the peace, nor shall the governor be authorized or have the power to appoint notaries public with the powers of a justice of the peace. Inferior courts existing in lieu of justices of the peace shall continue in existence until abolished by the legislature and shall in no way be affected by the provisions of this amendment.

Amendment 324 ratified

Special Tax for Improving Enforcement of Laws Relative to, and Providing Facilities for, Juveniles in Lee County.

Lee county shall have power to levy and collect a special county tax not exceeding ten cents on each one hundred dollars worth of taxable property in the county as assessed for state taxation in addition to all other taxes now or hereafter authorized, the proceeds of which shall be used for the purpose of improving the enforcement in Lee county of laws relative to neglected, delinquent and dependent children and enlarging, improving and providing new services to and facilities for handling neglected, delinquent and dependent children, including capital improvements for such purposes, provided the rate of the tax and the time it is to continue and the purpose thereof, shall have been first submitted to a vote of the qualified electors of the county and voted for by a majority of those voting at such election.

If a majority of the qualified electors of Lee county who participate in the election held on the adoption of this amendment vote in favor thereof, the governing body of Lee county must levy and collect the special tax as herein authorized at the maximum rate specified for each of the ... tax years next ensuing.

If a majority of the qualified electors of Lee county voting on this amendment vote against its adoption, the governing body of Lee county may thereafter from time to time call other elections on the question of levying the special tax as herein authorized and must call such an election within three months after receipt by the said county governing body of a petition signed by not less than five percent of the qualified electors of Lee county. After the special tax herein authorized shall have been levied for a period of ... years, the governing body of Lee county shall, on petition signed by not less than five percent of the qualified electors of the county, call an election on the question of discontinuance of the tax. If a majority of the electors voting upon the question shall vote in favor of discontinuance of the tax then the special tax shall be discontinued at the end of the tax year following the election. Such elections shall be called, held, conducted and canvassed in such manner as the governing board of Lee County shall provide.

The county governing body and any city or town of Lee county may from time to time appropriate county or municipal funds, as the case may be, for the same purposes for which the additional taxes hereby authorized may be levied.

Amendment 325 ratified

Amendment of Section 217.

Classification of taxable property for purposes of ad valorem taxation; taxable property to be taxed by state, counties, municipalities, etc., at same rate; assessment ratios for purposes of ad valorem taxation; increase or decrease of ad valorem tax rate by counties, municipalities, etc.; exemption of state, county and municipal property and property used for religious, educational or charitable purposes from taxation; legislature may provide exemptions from taxation; interpretation of authority for counties, municipalities, etc., to levy taxes, incur indebtedness, etc., in relation to assessment of property; maximum rate of ad valorem tax in any one taxable year.

(a) All taxable property within this state, not exempt by law, shall be divided into the following classes for the purposes of ad valorem taxation:

Class I. All property of utilities used in the business of such utilities,

Class II. All property not otherwise classifed,

Class III. All agricultural, forest and residential property.

(b) With respect to ad valorem taxes levied by the state, all taxable property shall be forever taxed at the same rate, and such property shall be assessed for ad valorem tax purposes according to the classes thereof as herein defined at the following ratios of assessed value to the fair and reasonable market value of such property:

Class I. 30 per centum

Class II. 25 per centum

Class III. 15 per centum

(c) With respect to ad valorem taxes levied by counties, municipalities or other taxing authority, all taxable property shall be forever taxed at the same rate, and such property shall be assessed for ad valorem tax purposes according to the classes of property defined in paragraph (a) herein and at the same ratios of assessed value to the fair and reasonable market value thereof as fixed in paragraph (b) herein, provided, however, that the legislature may vary the ratio of assessed value to the fair and reasonable market value as to any class of property as defined in paragraph (b) herein, and provided, further, that the legislature may fix a uniform ratio of assessment of all property within a county defined in paragraph (a) herein as Class II and III and may fix a different ratio of assessment for property defined in paragraph (a) as Class I. Such ratios as herein authorized may vary among counties so long as each such ratio is uniform within a county.

No class of property shall have a ratio of assessed value to fair and reasonable market value of less than 15 per centum nor more than 35 per centum.

(d) A county, municipality, or other taxing authority may decrease any ad valorem tax rate at any time, provided such decrease shall not jeopardize the payment of any bonded indebtedness secured by such tax. When the tax assessor of each county shall complete the assembly of the assessment book for his county for the ad valorem tax year immediately following the adoption of this amendment and the computation of ad valorem taxes that will be paid upon such assessment, he shall certify to each authority within his county that levies an ad valorem tax the amount of ad valorem tax that will be produced by every levy in that year but excluding for this purpose any assessment of property added to the tax rolls of such county for the tax year in which such certification is made that was not included on the tax rolls for the next preceding tax year. If it shall appear that the estimated ad valorem tax receipts from any levy so estimated shall be less than the receipts from the same levy during the next preceding ad valorem tax year, then the levying authority shall increase each tax rate by such millage as is necessary to produce revenue that is not less than and that is substantially equal to that received during such immediately preceding tax year. It is further provided that any and all millage adjustments shall be made in increments of not less than 1/2 mill. The adjustment herein required shall be made only one time and shall be made in the ad valorem tax year immediately following the adoption of this amendment.

(e) Any county, municipality, or other taxing authority may increase the rate at which ad valorem taxes are levied above the limit now provided in the Constitution provided that the proposed increase shall have been (1) proposed by the authority having power to levy the tax after a public hearing on such proposal, (2) thereafter approved by an act of the legislature, and (3) subsequently approved by a majority vote of the qualified electors of the area in which the tax is to be levied or increased who vote on the proposal.

(f) The legislature is authorized to enact legislation to implement the provisions of this amendment, and may provide for exemptions from taxation; provided, however, that any statutory exemption existing prior to the adoption of this amendment shall not be repealed, except by subsequent legislative act, and shall remain in full force and effect.

(g) Wherever any constitutional provision or statute provides for, limits or measures the power or authority of any county, municipality or other taxing authority to levy taxes, borrow money, or incur indebtedness in relation to the assessment of property therein for state taxes or for state and county taxes such provision shall mean as assessed for county or municipal taxes as the case may be.

(h) Any provision of the Constitution of Alabama to the contrary notwithstanding, ad valorem taxes shall never exceed 1 1/2% of the fair and reasonable market value of the property in any one taxable year.

(i) The following property shall be exempt from all ad valorem taxation: the real and personal property of the state, counties and municipalities and property devoted exclusively to religious, educational or charitable purposes.

Amendment 326 ratified

Consolidation of Officers and Regulation of Fees, Compensation, etc, of Officers in Dale County; Regulation of Court Costs and Charges in Dale County.

Provided that the approval of the act by the qualified electors of Dale county at a referendum election is a prerequisite to the taking effect thereof:

1. The legislature may from time to time, by general or local law, fix, alter and regulate the fees, commissions, percentages, allowances and compensation to be charged and received by any official of Dale county, including the right to place any of such officers on a salary, provide for the operation of their respective offices on such basis, and provide that any and all fees, commissions, percentages or allowances charged or collected by them shall be paid into the county treasury.

2. The legislature may from time to time, by general or local law, provide for the transfer of the duties, or part of the duties, of one county officer of Dale county to another officer of such county; or consolidate any two or more offices of such county into one county office and provide for the abolition of the office or offices left without duties, or create a completely new office in such county and transfer to such office a part of the duties of each of several other offices without abolishing any office in such county; provided that the officer or officers to fill the offices involved will be compensated for the performance of the duties of their offices by a salary fixed according to law.

Provided, however, no law enacted prior to the ratification of this amendment putting any officer of Dale county on a salary basis, nor any law providing for the consolidation of any offices of such county shall have any force or effect, even though such act provided that it should become effective upon adoption of an amendment to the Constitution authorizing such act.

The legislature may also, from time to time, by general, special or local laws, fix, regulate and alter the cost and charges of courts in Dale county, and the method of disbursement thereof.

Amendment 327 ratified

Promotion of Production, Research, etc., of Swine and Swine Products.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitution, the legislature may hereafter, by general law, provide for the promotion of, the production, research, distribution, marketing, use, improvement and sale of swine and swine products. The legislature may provide for the promotion of swine and the swine industry by research, education, advertising and other methods, and the legislature is further authorized to provide means and methods for the financing of any such promotional activity by prescribing a procedure whereby producers of swine may by referendum held among the swine producers in this state levy upon themselves and collect assessments, fees, or charges upon the sale of swine for the financing of any promotional program or activity in cooperation with processors, dealers and handlers, of swine and swine products. Provided, no assessment levied hereunder shall exceed five cents (5¢) on market hogs and three cents (3¢) on feeder pigs sold by swine producers. The legislature may make provisions for the nonpayment of assessments by swine producers and shall make provisions for the refund of assessments to any swine producer dissatisfied with the assessment program. The legislature shall provide for the collection and distribution of any such assessments or charges by dealers, handlers, processors and purchasers of swine and swine products and provide penalties for failure to make collection and distribution of such assessments. The legislature shall provide for the designation of a nonprofit association or organization organized for the promotion and betterment of swine and swine products to administer and carry out such promotional program which shall include the conducting of elections or referendums among swine producers. The legislature may provide the manner by which such referendum is held, including the procedure for application for approval to conduct the referendum, the appropriate action to be taken by the state board of agriculture and industries on such application, the requirements and eligibility of the association or organization which will conduct such referendum, the procedures for voting and eligibility to vote in such referendum and the details of the conduct of such referendum. The legislature shall further provide for the deposit, withdrawal, disbursement and expenditure by the designated association of any funds received subject to the supervision and control of the activities as authorized herein by the department of agriculture and industries and the state board of agriculture and industries. The legislature shall further provide a procedure whereby said association or organization, and for reasonably necessary rules and regulations to be adopted by the state board of agriculture and industries to effectively carry out the intent and purposes herein enumerated. Assessments, fees or other charges collected as authorized by any legislative act adopted in pursuance hereof shall not be considered as a tax within the meaning of this Constitution or any provision thereof. Any uniformity requirements of this Constitution shall be satisfied by the application of the program upon swine and swine products.

Amendment 328 ratified

Amendment of Article VI.

Amendment of Article VI.

Article VI of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, and amendments 317 and 323 thereof, are hereby repealed and in lieu thereof the following article shall be adopted:

ARTICLE VI.

THE JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT.

6.01 Judicial power.

(a) Except as otherwise provided by this Constitution, the judicial power of the state shall be vested exclusively in a unified judicial system which shall consist of a supreme court, a court of criminal appeals, a court of civil appeals, a trail court of general jurisdiction known as the circuit court, a trail court of limited jurisdiction known as the district court, a probate court and such municipal courts as may be provided by law.

(b) The legislature may create judicial officers with authority to issue warrants and may vest in administrative agencies established by law such judicial powers as may be reasonably necessary as an incident to the accomplishment of the purposes for which the agencies are created.

6.02. The supreme court.

(a) The supreme court shall be the highest court of the state and shall consist of one chief justice and such number of associate justices as may be prescribed by law.

(b) The supreme court shall have original jurisdiction (1) of cases and controversies as provided by this Constitution, (2) to issue such remedial writs or orders as may be necessary to give it general supervision and control of courts of inferior jurisdiction, and (3) to answer questions of state law certified by a court of the United States.

(c) The supreme court shall have such appellate jurisdiction as may be provided by law.

6.03. Courts of appeals.

(a) The court of criminal appeals shall consist of such number of judges as may be provided by law and shall exercise appellate jurisdiction under such terms and conditions as shall be provided by law and by rules of the supreme court.

(b) The court of civil appeals shall consist of such number of judges as may be provided by law and shall exercise appellate jurisdiction under such terms and conditions as shall be provided by law and by rules of the supreme court.

(c) The court of criminal appeals and the court of civil appeals shall have no original jurisdiction except the power to issue all writs necessary or appropriate in aid of appellate jurisdiction of the courts of appeals.

(d) The court of criminal appeals shall have and exercise original jurisdiction in the issuance and determination of writs of quo warranto and mandamus in relation to matters in which said court has appellate jurisdiction. Said court shall have authority to issue writs of injunction, habeas corpus and such other remedial and original writs as are necessary to give it a general superintendence and control of jurisdiction inferior to it and in matters over which it has exclusive appellate jurisdiction; to punish for contempts by the infliction of a fine as high as one hundred dollars, and imprisonment not exceeding ten days, one or both, and to exercise such other powers as may be given to said court by law.

6.04. Circuit court.

a) The state shall be divided into judicial circuits. For each circuit, there shall be one circuit court having such divisions and consisting of such number of judges as shall be provided by law.

(b) The circuit court shall exercise general jurisdiction in all cases except as may otherwise be provided by law. The circuit court may be authorized by law to review decisions of state administrative agencies and decisions of inferior courts. It shall have authority to issue such writs as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate its powers, and shall have such other powers as may be provided by law.

6.05. District court.

The district court shall be a court of limited jurisdiction and shall exercise uniform original jurisdiction in such cases, and within such geographical boundaries, as shall be prescribed by law, provided that the district court shall hold court in each county seat and at such other places as prescribed by law. The district court shall have jurisdiction of all cases arising under ordinances of municipalities in which there is no municipal court and shall hold court in each incorporated municipality of a population of 1000 or more where there is no municipal court at places prescribed by law.

6.06. Probate court.

There shall be a probate court in each county which shall have jurisdiction as may be provided by law.

6.065 Municipal courts.

All municipal courts shall have uniform original jurisdiction limited to cases arising under municipal ordinances as prescribed by law. Judges of municipal courts shall be licensed to practice law in the state and have such other qualifications as the legislature may prescribe. A municipal judge may serve as a judge of more than one municipal court. Expenses of municipal courts and compensation of municipal judges shall be paid in a manner prescribed by law notwithstanding the provisions of section 6.09 of this article. Municipal judges shall be appointed and vacancies filled by the governing body of the municipality, in accordance with uniform terms, conditions and procedures as may be provided by law, notwithstanding the provisions of sections 6.13, 6.14 and 6.15 of this article. The prohibited activities of section 6.08(a) and (b) shall not be applicable to a judge of a municipal court.

The governing body of a municipality shall have the right to elect at any time to abolish the municipal court within its limits. If such election is exercised, the jurisdiction of the court abolished shall be transferred to the district court of the district in which the municipality is located. The governing body of a municipality, may, at its election, re-establish a municipal court after appropriate notice.

6.07 Qualifications of judges.

Judges of the supreme court, courts of appeals, circuit court and district court shall be licensed to practice law in this state and have such other qualifications as the legislature may prescribe. Judges of the probate court shall have such qualifications as may be provided by law.

6.08. Prohibited activities.

(a) No judge of any court of this state shall, during his continuance in office, engage in the practice of law or receive any remuneration for his judicial service except the salary and allowances authorized by law.

(b) No judge, except a judge of a probate court, shall seek or accept any nonjudicial elective office, or hold any other office of public trust, excepting service in the military forces of the state or federal governments.

(c) The supreme court shall adopt rules of conduct and canons of ethics, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Constitution, for the judges of all courts of this State.

6.09 Judicial compensation.

(a) A state judicial compensation commission is hereby created which shall recommend the salary and expense allowances to be paid from the state treasury for all the judges of this state except for judges of the probate court. The commission shall consist of five members; one shall be appointed by the governor, one by the president of the senate, one by the speaker of the house, and two by the governing body of the Alabama state bar.

(b) Members of the judicial compensation commission shall serve for terms of four years. Any vacancy on the commission shall be filled in the same manner in which such position was originally filled. The legislature shall appropriate sufficient funds for the expenses of the commission.

(c) No member of the commission shall hold any other public office, or office in any political party, and no member of the commission shall be eligible for appointment to a state judicial office so long as he is a member of the commission and for two years thereafter.

(d) The commission may submit a report to the legislature at any time within the first five calendar days of any session. The recommendations of the commission shall become law unless rejected by a joint resolution or altered by an act of the legislature at the session to which the report is submitted. The compensation of a judge shall not be diminished during his official term.

6.10 Administration.

The chief justice of the supreme court shall be the administrative head of the judicial system. He shall appoint an administrative director of courts and other needed personnel to assist him with his administrative tasks. The chief justice may assign appellate justices and judges to any appellate court for temporary service and trail judges, supernumerary justices and judges, and retired trail judges and retired appellate judges for temporary service in any court. Adequate and reasonable financing for the entire unified judicial system shall be provided. Adequate and reasonable appropriations shall be made by the legislature for the entire unified judicial system, exclusive of probate courts and municipal courts. The legislature shall receive recommendations for appropriations for the trial courts from the administrative director of courts and for the appellate courts from each such court.

6.11 Power to make rules.

The supreme court shall make and promulgate rules governing the administration of all courts and rules governing practice and procedure in all courts; provided, however, that such rules shall not abridge, enlarge or modify the substantive right of any party nor affect the jurisdiction of circuit and district courts or venue of actions therein; and provided, further, that the right of trail by jury as at common law and declared by section 11 of the Constitution of Alabama 1901 shall be preserved to the parties inviolate. These rules may be changed by a general act of statewide application.

6.12. Number of circuit and district judges.

(a) The supreme court shall establish criteria for determining the number and boundaries of judicial circuits and districts, and the number of judges needed in each circuit and district. If the supreme court finds that a need exists for increasing or decreasing the number of circuit or district judges, or for changing the boundaries of judicial circuits or districts, it shall, at the beginning of any session of the legislature, certify its findings and recommendations to the legislature.

(b) If a bill is introduced at any session of the legislature to increase or decrease the number of circuit or district judges, or to change the boundaries of any judicial circuit or district, the supreme court must, within three weeks, report to the legislature its recommendations on the proposed change. No change shall be made in the number of circuit or district judges, or the boundaries of any judicial circuit or district unless authorized by an act adopted after the recommendation of the supreme court on such proposal has been filed with the legislature.

(c) An act decreasing the number of circuit or district judges shall not affect the right of any judge to hold his office for his full term.

6.13. Election of judges.

All judges shall be elected by vote if the electors within the territorial jurisdiction of their respective courts.

6.14. Vacancies in judicial office.

The office of a judge shall be vacant if he dies, resigns, retires, or is removed. Vacancies in any judicial office shall be filled by appointment by the governor; however, vacancies occurring in any judicial office in Jefferson county shall be filled as now provided by amendments 83 and 110 to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901 and vacancies occurring in Shelby, Madison, Wilcox, Monroe, Conecuh, Clarke, Washington, Henry, Etowah, Walker, Tallapoosa, Pickens, Greene, Tuscaloosa, St. Clair county shall be filled as provided in the Constitution of 1901 with amendments now or hereafter adopted, or as may be otherwise established by a properly advertised and enacted local law. A judge, other than a probate judge, appointed to fill a vacancy, shall serve an initial term lasting until the first Monday after the second Tuesday in January following the next general election held after he has completed one year in office. At such election such judicial office shall be filled for a full term of office beginning at the end of the appointed term.

6.15. Tenure of office.

(a) The term of office of each judge of a court of the judicial system of this state shall be six years.

(b) A law reducing the number of judges of the supreme court or of a court of appeals shall be without prejudice to the right of the judges affected to seek retention in office. The reduction shall become effective when a vacancy in the affected court occurs.

6.16. Retirement.

The legislature shall provide by law for the retirement of judges, including supernumerary judges, with such conditions, retirement benefits, and pensions for them and their dependents as it may prescribe. No person shall be elected or appointed to a judicial office after reaching the age of seventy years, provided that a judge over the age of seventy may be appointed to the office of supernumerary judge if he is not eligible to receive state judicial retirement benefits.

6.17. Judicial inquiry commission.

(a) A judicial inquiry commission is created consisting of seven members. The supreme court shall appoint one appellate justice or judge and the circuit judges' association shall appoint two judges of the circuit as members of the commission. The governor shall appoint two persons who are not lawyers and the governing body of the Alabama state bar shall appoint two members of the state bar to serve as members of the commission. The commission shall select its own chairman. The terms of the members of the commission shall be four years. A vacancy on the commission shall be filled for a full term in the manner the original appointment was made.

(b) The commission shall be convened permanently with authority to conduct investigations, receive or initiate complaints concerning any judge of a court of the judicial system of this state. The commission shall file a complaint with the court of the judiciary in the event that a majority of the members of the commission decide that a reasonable basis exists, (1) to charge a judge with violation of any canon of judicial ethics, misconduct in office, failure to perform his duties, (2) to charge that the judge is physically or mentally unable to perform his duties. All proceedings of the commission shall be confidential except the filing of a complaint with the court of the judiciary. The commission shall prosecute the complaints.

(c) The supreme court shall adopt rules governing the procedures of the commission.

(d) The commission shall have subpoena power and authority to appoint and direct its staff. Members of the commission who are not judges shall receive per diem compensation and necessary expenses; members who are judges shall receive necessary expenses only. The legislature shall appropriate funds for the operation of the commission.

6.18. Court of the judiciary.

(a) The court of the judiciary is created consisting of one judge of an appellate court, who shall be selected by the supreme court and shall serve as chief judge of the court of the judiciary, two judges of the circuit court, who shall be selected by the circuit judges' association, and two members of the state bar, who shall be selected by the governing body of the Alabama state bar. The court shall be convened to hear complaints filed by the judicial inquiry commission. The court shall have authority, after notice and public hearing (1) to remove from office, suspend without pay, or censure a judge, or apply such other sanction as may be prescribed by law, for violation of a canon of judicial ethics, misconduct in office, failure to perform his duties, or (2) to suspend with or without pay, or to retire a judge who is physically or mentally unable to perform his duties.

(b) A judge aggrieved by a decision of the court of the judiciary may appeal to the supreme court. The supreme court shall review the record of the proceedings on the law and the facts.

(c) The supreme court shall adopt rules governing the procedures of the court of the judiciary.

(d) The court of the judiciary shall have power to issue subpoenas. The legislature shall provide by law for the expenses of the court.

6.19. Disqualification.

A judge shall be disqualified from acting as a judge, without loss of salary, while there is pending (1) an indictment or an information charging him in the United States with a crime punishable as a felony under a state or federal law, or (2) a complaint against him filed by the judicial inquiry commission with the court of the judiciary.

6.20. District attorneys, clerks, court revenue.

(a) A district attorney for each judicial circuit shall be elected by the qualified electors of those counties in such circuit. Such district attorney shall be licensed to practice law in this state and shall, at the time of his election and during his continuance in office, reside in his circuit. His term of office shall be for six years and he shall receive such compensation as provided by law. Vacancies in the office of district attorney and in his staff shall be filled as provided by law.

(b) Clerks of the circuit courts shall be elected by the qualified electors in each county for a term of six years. If the office of register in chancery continues to be provided by law then the clerk of the circuit court may also fill such office in a manner prescribed by law. Vacancies in the office of clerk of the circuit court shall be filled by the judge or judges of the circuit court who have jurisdiction over the county in which the office of clerk of the circuit court is located.

(c) Persons elected to the position of constable to assist the courts of the state as provided by law shall be subject to the same restrictions, rights and limitations as are specified in section 280 of the Constitution of 1901, and no law shall prohibit the receipt of fees for the performance of official duties of said position while holding any other elected or appointed office.

(d) The revenue from fines, forfeitures and court costs produced in district courts from the exercise of jurisdiction under municipal ordinances shall be apportioned between the municipality and the state as shall be provided by law.

6.21. Continuation of courts, district attorneys, clerks.

(a) All courts not herein authorized which are in existence at the time this article becomes effective shall retain their powers for four years, unless sooner terminated by act of the legislature.

(b) All judges of the supreme court, court of criminal appeals, court of civil appeals and circuit courts shall retain their offices for the remainder of their respective terms.

(c) All justices of the supreme court in office when this article becomes effective shall be justices of the supreme court. All judges of the court of criminal appeals shall be judges of the court of criminal appeals. All judges of the court of civil appeals shall be judges of the court of civil appeals. All circuit judges in office when this article becomes effective shall be judges of the circuit courts. All city judges who are in office when this article becomes effective shall continue to be judges of their respective courts. All present city courts shall continue to function as provided by law for four years.

(d) All judges of any court in this state, excepting the supreme court, court of criminal appeals, court of civil appeals, circuit courts, probate courts, and city courts, whose salaries or compensation are paid by their respective counties, who are qualified under the provisions of this article, and who are holding office at the time of the approval of this constitutional amendment by the legislature and on the date of the establishment of the district court, shall be commissioned judges of the district court. Each such judge, accepting commission as a district judge, shall serve an initial term lasting until the first Monday after the second Tuesday in January following the next general election after he has completed three years in office as a district judge. At such election said judicial office shall be filled for a full term of office beginning at the end of the term for which such judge was commissioned.

(e) In the event a city ceases to have a city or municipal court, all judges of any city court in this state in cities which have more than one such judge at the time of approval of this constitutional amendment by the legislature and on the date of the establishment of the district court, if otherwise qualified under the provisions of this article, shall be commissioned judges of the district court. Each such judge accepting commission as a district judge shall serve an initial term lasting until the first Monday after the second Tuesday in January following the next general election after he has completed three years in office as a district judge. At such election said judicial office shall be filled for a full term of office beginning at the end of the term for which such judge was commissioned.

(f) All district attorneys of any circuit of this state, who are qualified under the provisions of this article, and who are holding office at the time of the approval of this constitutional amendment by the electors of the state, shall retain their offices for the remainder of their respective terms.

(g) All clerks of the circuit court of this state, who are holding office at the time of the approval of this constitutional amendment by the electors of the state, shall retain their offices for the remainder of their respective terms.

(h) Except to the extent inconsistent with the provisions of this article, all provisions of law and rules of court in force on the effective date of this article shall continue in effect until superseded in the manner authorized by the Constitution.

Amendment 329 ratified

Special District Tax for Hamilton Special School District in Marion County.

In addition to any taxes now authorized or that may hereafter be authorized by the Constitution and laws of Alabama, the county commission or other governing body of Marion county shall, subject to an election in the Hamilton special school district in such county, as hereby created, have power to levy and collect a special district tax of not exceeding one dollar on each one hundred dollars of taxable property in such district for capital outlay purposes for the Marion county school system within said special district. Hamilton special school district shall be composed of the following area (all in Marion county and in the several beats (election precincts) of such county hereinafter named, as such beats are established pursuant to law, when this amendment is ratified): All of beats 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 17; in beat 6, Range 14 West, Township 9 S, Sections 4, 9, 16, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 33, 34, 35, 36, and in Range 13 W, Township 9 S, Sections 19, 20, 29, 30, 31, 32, and 33; in beat 10, Range 13 W, Township 10 S, Sections 26, 35, and 36, and in Range 12 W, Township 10 S, Section 31, and in Range 13 W, Township 11 S, all of Sections 1 and 2 north of the Buttahatchee river, and in Range 12 W, Township 11 S, all of Sections 4, 5 and 6 north of the Buttahatchee river; in beat 11, Range 12 W, Township 11 S, Sections 8, 16, 17, and 18, and all of Sections 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9 south of the Buttahatchee river, and in Range 13 W, Township 11 S, Sections 11, 13, 14, and 23 and all of Sections 1, 2, and 12 south of the Buttahatchee river; and in beat 16, Range 13 W, Township 11 S, Sections 19, 20, 21, 22, 28, 29, 30, and 31, and in Range 14 W, Township 11 S, Sections 24, 25, 26, 35, and 36, and in Range 14 W, Township 12 S, Section 2. No tax shall be levied hereunder unless the rate of such tax, the time such tax is to continue and the purpose thereof shall have been first submitted to a vote of the qualified electors in Hamilton special school district and voted for by a majority of those voting at such election. Any election on such district tax shall be called and held, the result declared, and the tax levied and collected in the same manner as now or hereafter provided by law in the case of school district taxes authorized by amendment 3 to the Constitution of Alabama, except that no county-wide tax shall be required as a conditioned precedent for a district tax under this amendment. The holding of one election shall not preclude a later election in Hamilton district, but no election in such district shall be held within two years from the date of the last election held in such district under the authority of this amendment. The proceeds of the special district tax shall be used only for public school capital outlay purposes in the district; but may be pledged to secure the payment of principal and interest on warrants or other evidences of indebtedness issued and sold for public school capital outlay purposes in such district by the county school board or other public body charged with the duties, powers and authority of conducting and operating the public schools in Hamilton district; which pledge shall take priority as provided in such warrants or other evidence of indebtedness and is in consonance with the provisions of existing law, at the time of the issuance and sale of the said warrants, touching the issue and sale of warrants of school bodies for capital outlay purposes. The power to levy, granted by this amendment, will not be exhausted by one election but shall remain a continuing grant unless and until it be repealed by subsequent constitutional action.

This amendment shall be self executing and shall require no enabling legislation.

Amendment 330 ratified

Consolidation of Morgan County Offices.

The legislature may from time to time, by general or local law, provide for the transfer of the duties, or part of the duties, of one county officer of Morgan county to another officer of such county; or consolidate any two or more offices of such county into one county office and provide for the abolition of the office or offices left without duties, or create a completely new office in such county and transfer to such office a part of the duties of each of several other offices without abolishing any office in such county; provided that the officer or officers to fill the offices involved will be compensated for the performance of the duties of their offices by a salary fixed according to law.

Amendment 331 ratified

Costs and Charges of Courts, and Compensation of Officers, of Cleburne County.

The legislature may from time to time, by general or local laws applicable to or operative in Cleburne county, fix, regulate, and alter the costs and charges of courts and the fees, commissions, allowances, and salaries, including the method and basis of their compensation, to be charged or received by the judge of probate or by any other officer of Cleburne county; and may place any or all of such officers on a salary and provide for the fees, commissions, allowances, and percentages collectible by such officers to be paid into the treasury from which their salaries are paid. Provided, that no law changing the method or basis for compensating such officers shall become effective unless it is approved by a majority of the qualified electors of the county who vote thereon at a referendum election held for such purpose.

Amendment 332 ratified

Costs and Charges of Courts, and Compensation of Certain Officers, of Bibb County.

The legislature may, from time to time, by general or local laws applicable to or operative in Bibb county and approved by a majority of the qualified electors of Bibb county at a referendum election, fix, regulate, and alter the costs and charges of court and the fees, commissions, allowances, and salaries, including the method and basis of their compensation, to be charged or received by the probate judge, the circuit clerk and the register, the tax assessor, and the tax collector of Bibb county; and may place any or all of such officers on a salary and provide for the fees, commissions, allowances, and percentages collectible by such officers to be paid into the treasury from which their salaries are paid.

In the event this amendment is approved and a majority of the qualified electors of said county who vote thereon vote in favor of the adoption of this amendment when it is submitted, then any law theretofore passed which places any officers in Bibb county on a salary basis, or any law fixing, regulating, and altering the costs and charges of court and the fees, commissions, allowances, and salaries of any officer in Bibb county, may become effective without any other election having been held thereon. In the event this amendment is approved and a majority of the qualified electors of said county who vote thereon vote against its approval, then such act or acts shall have no further force or effect.

Amendment 333 ratified

Special Property Tax for Recreational Purposes in Tuscaloosa County.

The county commission or like governing body of Tuscaloosa county shall have the power to levy and collect a special property tax, in addition to all other taxes, now or hereafter authorized by the Constitution and laws of Alabama, of not exceeding 10 mills on each dollar's worth of taxable property in the county as assessed for state taxation during the preceding year, the proceeds of which shall be used exclusively for developing parks and multi-recreation areas and facilities, and for other recreational purposes; provided that such tax and the purpose or purposes thereof, and the time such tax is proposed to be continued shall have been first submitted to the vote of the qualified electors of the county and voted for by a majority of those voting at such election. Such governing body may also become indebted, and in evidence of such indebtedness issue and sell interest bearing bonds in an amount not to exceed $20,000,000.00 in principal amount, provided that before the issuance of such bonds the question of whether such bonds shall be issued shall have first been submitted to and approved by the qualified electors of Tuscaloosa county at an election. Both the question of levying the tax and the issuing and selling of bonds may be submitted at the same election; or either question may be submitted at a separate election. Either the tax may be levied but no bonds issued, or bonds may be issued and no tax levied hereunder, if other funds are available for the payment of the bonds. The proceeds from taxes levied under authority of this amendment and of all bonds issued hereunder shall be used for developing parks and multi-recreation areas and facilities and for other recreational purposes and all or any part thereof may be appropriated to any county park and recreation authority duly organized and existing pursuant to law in such county and by such authority used for the above-named purposes. The elections provided for herein shall be called, held, conducted and canvassed, and may be contested, in the manner provided by law for the calling, holding, conducting, canvassing and contesting of county bond elections, and if the levy of the tax or the issuance of said bonds shall be authorized at any such elections, the tax may be levied and bonds may be sold and issued from time to time in the manner provided by law for the authorization and sale of county bonds. In the event the voters of Tuscaloosa county do not authorize the levy of the tax or the issuance and sale of said bonds at any election called hereunder then other elections may be called by the governing body of Tuscaloosa county from time to time until the voters of Tuscaloosa county do authorize the levy of the tax or the issuance and sale of said bonds; provided that no two elections shall be held within one year of each other. The indebtedness herein authorized shall be in addition to all other indebtedness authorized prior to the adoption of this amendment.

Amendment 334 ratified

Procedure for Filling Vacancies in Office of Judge of Circuit Court in Madison County; Madison County Judicial Commission.

All vacancies in the office of judge of the circuit court holding in Madison county which shall occur subsequent to January 15, 1974, shall be filled in the manner and for the time as herein provided.

The Madison county judicial commission is hereby created for the purpose of nominating to the governor persons for appointment to such a vacancy. The members of such commission shall be (a) two persons who are members of the Alabama state bar, and (b) two persons who are not members of the Alabama state bar, and (c) one judge of the circuit court holding in Madison county.

All members of such commission must reside in the territorial jurisdiction of the circuit court holding in Madison county.

The two members of such commission who are required to be members of the Alabama state bar shall be elected by the members of such bar who are regularly licensed and qualified to practice law in this state and who reside in the territorial jurisdiction of the circuit court holding in Madison county. The executive committee of the Madison county bar association or its successor body in such capacity, is authorized and directed to make rules, not inconsistent with this amendment, for the election of such members of such commission as are required to be members of the Alabama state bar. Such executive committee shall certify in writing to the probate judge of Madison county the names of the persons elected as members of such commission by such members of such bar.

The senator and representatives in the Alabama legislature residing in Madison county shall elect the two members of such commission who are required not to be members of the Alabama state bar. Such senator and representatives shall certify in writing to such probate judge the names of the persons elected by them as such members.

The judges of the circuit court holding in Madison county shall elect the member of such commission who is required to be a judge of such circuit court. The judges of such circuit court shall certify in writing to such probate judge the name of the circuit judge elected by such circuit judges as such member.

The terms of office of all members of such commission shall be six years, except that the terms of office of the two members of the state bar first elected shall be for one and two years respectively, and of the two members first elected by the senator and representatives in the Alabama legislature residing in Madison county shall be for three and four years respectively, and the term of the circuit judge elected by the circuit judges shall be for five years; the length of such terms of office of the members of such commission being indicated by the respective electing bodies. The terms of the initial members of such commission shall begin on January 16, 1974. A vacancy in the office of a member of such commission shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as such member was originally chosen.

The probate judge of Madison county shall record all such certificates of election and shall safely and permanently keep the original certificates. Forthwith upon his receipt and recordation of every such certificate, he shall send to the governor a certified copy of every such certificate.

No member of such commission shall be eligible to succeed himself as such member or for nomination to the governor for appointment as judge of such circuit court during the term of office for which such member shall have been selected.

The members of such commission shall not receive any salary or other compensation for their services as such members. No member of such commission other than the member required to be a judge of the circuit court shall hold any public office, and no member of such commission shall hold any official position in any political party.

If, subsequent to January 15, 1974, a vacancy occurs in the office of judge of the circuit court holding in Madison county, such commission shall nominate to the governor three persons having the qualifications for such office. Such nomination shall be made only by the concurrence of a majority of the members of such commission. The governor shall appoint to the office in which the vacancy exists one of the three persons so nominated for such office. If the governor shall fail to make an appointment from the list within 30 days from the date it is presented to him, the appointment shall be made by the chief justice or the acting chief justice of the supreme court from the same list. The appointee shall hold such office until the next general election for any state officer held at least six months after the vacancy occurs and until his successor is elected and qualified; the successor shall hold office for the unexpired term and until his successor is elected and qualified.

Amendment 335 ratified

Special District School Tax in Calhoun County.

In addition to any taxes now authorized or that may be hereafter authorized by the Constitution and laws of Alabama, each school district in Calhoun county, except the school district comprising the city of Anniston, shall have the power to levy and collect for public school purposes in such district an annual special ad valorem tax on the taxable properties in such district at a rate not exceeding in any one year five mills on each dollar of the value of the said properties as the same shall be assessed for state taxation; provided, that the said special ad valorem district tax shall not be levied in any such district for any year prior to the year for which the said tax if levied will become due and payable on October 1, 1978; provided further, that prior to the levy of any special tax authorized in this paragraph, there shall be submitted to the electors of the district in which the tax is proposed to be levied, at a special election called for that purpose in the said district, the question of whether the said tax or any part thereof shall be levied, the rate thereof, the time it is to continue (which shall not exceed thirty years), and the purpose thereof, and the said tax shall be authorized at such election by a majority of the qualified electors of the said district who vote at such election; provided further, that if a majority of the qualified electors of any of the said districts participating in the election on the ratification of this amendment shall vote for the ratification of this amendment, then the approval of this amendment as expressed by the vote in said district in favor of its ratification shall, of itself, authorize the levy and collection of the said special tax for public school purposes in that district for a period of thirty years commencing with the levy for the tax year for which taxes will become due and payable to the said district on October 1, 1978.

Elections on the question of the levy of a district tax under the provisions of this amendment may be held at any time and from time to time, provided, that if at any such election held after the ratification of this amendment the proposal to levy the tax so submitted should be defeated then the proposal may not be submitted at another election held in the same district within six months from the last election held under this amendment. Each such election held after the ratification of this amendment shall be called and held, the results declared, and the tax levied and collected in the same manner as now or hereafter provided by law in the case of school district taxes authorized by amendment III [3] to the Constitution of Alabama, except that no county-wide tax shall be required as a condition precedent for a district tax under this amendment.

The funds arising from the district tax herein authorized to be levied shall be expended for the exclusive benefit of the school district in which such district tax is levied. Nothing in this amendment shall be deemed to prevent the consolidation of any two or more school districts in Calhoun county in accordance with the applicable provisions of general law.

Pursuant to the amendment to the Constitution of Alabama sometimes known as amendment LXVIII [68] (proposed by Act No. 587 adopted at the 1947 Regular Session of the Legislature of Alabama), there is currently being levied in each school district in Calhoun county a special district school tax at the same rate as is specified in the first paragraph of this amendment, but the last tax year for which the special tax provided for in the said amendment LXVIII [68] is authorized to be levied is the tax year for which taxes will become due and payable on October 1, 1977. It is intended by this amendment to make provision for the authorization of the continued levy in each school district in Calhoun county, except the school district comprising the city of Anniston, of a special district ad valorem school tax at the same rate as, but in lieu of, the tax authorized in the said amendment LXVIII [68], to commence with the tax year next following the final tax year for which the tax provided for in the said amendment No. LXVIII [68] is authorized to be levied. It is not intended by this amendment to provide for or authorize an increase in the total rate of taxation for public school purposes in excess of that currently authorized to be levied in the several school districts in Calhoun county.

Amendment 336 ratified

Additional Tax in City of Mountain Brook.

(a) Any provision of the Constitution and laws of the State of Alabama to the contrary notwithstanding, the city of Mountain Brook, in Jefferson county, shall have, in addition to the power to levy and collect ad valorem tax each year at the rate authorized immediately prior to the adoption of this amendment, the further power to levy and collect each year an additional tax of three-fourths of one per centum based upon the value of the property therein as fixed for state taxation. No such additional tax of three-fourths of one per centum shall be levied under the authority of this amendment unless a majority of the qualified electors of said municipal corporation voting in the election on the adoption of this amendment shall vote for such adoption, provided that if the majority of the qualified electors of the said municipal corporation voting in the said election should not vote in favor of such adoption, or if the majority of the qualified electors of the said municipal corporation at any election subsequently called under the authority of this amendment should not vote in favor of the levy of the said additional tax at an election so called, the governing body of the said municipal corporation may call other elections hereunder on the question of the levy of said tax without further act of the legislature, but not more than one such election shall be held during any period of twenty-four consecutive months.

(b) Any provision of the Constitution of Alabama to the contrary notwithstanding, the city of Mountain Brook, in Jefferson county, shall have, in addition to the power to levy and collect ad valorem tax each year at the rate authorized immediately prior to the adoption of this amendment, the further power to increase the rate at which ad valorem taxes are levied by said municipal corporation above the limit now provided in the Constitution provided that the proposed increase shall have been (1) proposed by the governing body of the said municipal corporation after a public hearing on such proposal, (2) thereafter approved by an act of the legislature, and (3) subsequently approved by a majority vote of the qualified electors of the said municipal corporation who vote on the proposal. Section 217 (h) of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901 as amended providing that ad valorem taxes in the aggregate levied by all taxing authorities shall never exceed 1 1/2 % of the fair and reasonable market value of the property in any one taxable year shall not apply to property in the city limits of said municipal corporation provided that ad valorem taxes levied by the governing body of said municipal corporation shall never exceed 1 1/2% of the fair and reasonable market value of the property in any one taxable year.

(c) Each election held under the provisions hereof shall be ordered, held, canvassed and may be contested in the same manner as may be provided by law applicable to municipal corporations for elections to authorize the issuance of municipal bonds.

Amendment 337 ratified

Fees, Compensation etc., of Certain Officers in DeKalb County.

The legislature may from time to time, by general or local laws applicable to or operative in DeKalb county, fix, regulate, and alter the fees, commissions, allowances, and salaries, including the method and basis of their compensation, to be charged or received by the judge of probate, sheriff, tax assessor, tax collector, and clerk and register of the circuit court of DeKalb county; and may place any or all of such officers on a salary and provide for the fees, commissions, allowances, and percentages collectible by such officers, to be paid into the treasury from which their salaries are paid.

Amendment 338 ratified

Development, Improvement, etc., of State Docks Facilities at Port of Mobile.

Any provision of the Constitution of Alabama or amendments thereto to the contrary notwithstanding, the state shall have the power to engage in works of internal improvement in connection with the development, construction, improvement, expansion, and modernization of the state docks facilities at the Port of Mobile.

The legislature may by appropriate laws authorize the state to become indebted and, in evidence of such indebtedness, to sell and issue its interest bearing general obligation bonds, in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding forty-five million dollars ($45,000,000), for the purpose of paying costs of the development, construction, improvement, expansion and modernization of the state docks facilities at the Port of Mobile, as the said facilities may at any time exist. The full faith, credit, and taxing powers of the state are hereby pledged to the prompt and faithful payment at their respective maturities of the principal of and interest on the bonds. The said bonds may be additionally secured by any special pledges that may be provided for by the legislature.

The legislature may, by appropriate laws, provide for the organization of a public corporation with power to act for the state in the authorization, sale, issuance and approval of disbursement of proceeds of the said bonds and any bonds that may hereafter be issued for the purpose of refunding them. The said public corporation shall consist of the governor, the director of finance, one member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate, one member of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker and the director of the state docks department, each of whom shall be members of its board of directors.

The legislature shall implement the provisions of this amendment by appropriate legislation.

Amendment 339 ratified

Annual Sessions of Legislature; Length of Regular and Special Sessions.

Beginning in the year 1976 regular sessions of the legislature shall be held annually on the first Tuesday in May, or on such other day as may be prescribed by law, and shall be limited to 30 legislative days and 105 calendar days. Special sessions of the legislature convened in the manner provided by this Constitution shall be limited to 12 legislative days and 30 calendar days.

Amendment 340 ratified

Bonds for Acquisition, Construction, etc., of Mental Health Facilities.

The state of Alabama is authorized to become indebted and to sell and issue interest bearing bonds, in addition to all other bonds of the state, in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $15,000,000. Of the proceeds derived from the sale of said bonds, $7,000,000 shall be used solely for the purpose of paying the expenses incurred in the sale and issuance thereof and for the acquisition, construction, equipment and improvement of mental health facilities, including security medical facilities for persons requiring security during treatment. The improvement of a facility shall be deemed to include the renovation, modernization, remodeling, and equipment of existing facilities and the construction of additions thereto; and the construction of a facility shall be deemed to include the acquisition of sites and equipment therefor. Proceeds in the amount of $2,000,000 derived from the sale of bonds provided for herein shall be used solely for the purpose of paying the expenses incurred in the sale and issuance thereof and for the acquisition, construction, equipment and improvement of a seed technology center at Auburn University and a foundation seed processing facility at Headland, Alabama. Of the proceeds derived from the sale of said bonds $6,000,000 shall be used for the purpose of paying the interest incurred in the sale and issuance of said bonds and for acquisition, construction and equipment of capital improvements, including, without limitation a facility or facilities for the housing, training, education and rehabilitation of prisoners. Said bonds shall be sold only at a duly advertised public sale or sales, upon sealed bids or at auction, to the bidder whose bid reflects the lowest total net interest cost to the state for the bonds offered for sale and shall be sold at not less than their face value plus accrued interest thereon. Said bonds shall be direct general obligations of the state, and for the prompt and faithful payment of the principal thereof and the interest thereon the full faith and credit of the state are hereby irrevocably pledged. The bonds issued under this amendment and the income therefrom shall be exempt from all taxation in the state. The legislature shall adopt appropriate enabling legislation to carry out the intent and purpose of this amendment.

Amendment 341 ratified

Amendment of Section 106.

Article 4, section 106 of the Constitution of Alabama is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 106. No special, private, or local law shall be passed on any subject not enumerated in section 104 of this Constitution, except in reference to fixing the time of holding courts, unless notice of the intention to apply therefor shall have been published, without cost to the state, in the county or counties where the matter or thing to be affected may be situated, which notice shall state the substance of the proposed law and be published at least once a week for four consecutive weeks in some newspaper published in such county or counties or if there is no newspaper published therein, then by posting the said notice for two consecutive weeks at five different places in the county or counties prior to the introduction of the bill; and proof that said notice has been given shall be exhibited to each house of the legislature through a certification by the clerk of the house or secretary of the senate that notice and proof was attached to the subject local legislation and the notice and proof shall be attached to the original copy of the subject bill and shall be filed in the department of archives and history where it shall constitute a public record. The courts shall pronounce void every special, private, or local law which the journals do not affirmatively show was passed in accordance with the provisions of this section.

This amendment shall be self-executing, and no enabling legislation shall be necessary.

Amendment 342 ratified

Debt Limit for Counties.

No county shall become indebted in an amount including present indebtedness, greater than five percentum of the assessed value of the property therein. Nothing herein contained shall prevent any county from issuing bonds, or other obligations, to fund or refund any indebtedness now existing or authorized by existing laws to be created.

Amendment 343 ratified

Local Public Service Districts in Shelby County.

The legislature may, by general or local law, provide for the creation, incorporation, organization, operation, administration, and financing of local districts within Shelby county as public corporations to provide any one or more of the following local public services: (a) fighting and prevention of fires; (b) furnishing water; (c) the collection, treatment and disposal of sewage and/or garbage, trash and solid wastes; (d) the operation of emergency medical services, including rescue and ambulance service; (e) the guarding and protection of lives and property; (f) any other local service permitted by such general or local law; authorize such district to fix and collect rates, fees and charges for such services, and to provide penalties for non-payment and liens upon the property within such district; authorize the borrowing of money and the issuance of bonds and other obligations by or on behalf of such district; provided that Shelby county shall not be responsible for any such bond or obligation and no such bond or obligation shall be chargeable against the limit on the debt of Shelby county. This amendment shall not have been adopted unless a majority of the qualified electors of Shelby county who participate in the election held on the adoption of this amendment vote in favor thereof. Any law enacted at the current session of the legislature to authorize the creation of such districts in Shelby county and to implement this amendment to the Constitution (whether with or without published notice of intention) shall become effective upon the ratification of this amendment.

Amendment 344 ratified

Costs and Charges of Courts, and Compensation of Certain Officers, of Blount County.

The legislature may, from time to time, by general or local laws applicable to or operative in Blount county and approved by a majority of the qualified electors of Blount county at a referendum election, fix, regulate, and alter the costs and charges of court and the fees, commissions, allowances and salaries, including the method and basis of their compensation, to be charged or received by the probate judge, the tax assessor, and the tax collector of Blount county; and may place any or all of such officers on a salary and provide for the fees, commissions, allowances, and percentages collectible by such officers to be paid into the treasury from which their salaries are paid.

In the event this amendment is approved and a majority of the qualified electors of said county who vote thereon vote in favor of the adoption of this amendment when it is submitted, then any law theretofore passed which places any officers in Blount county on a salary basis, or any law fixing, regulating, and altering the costs and charges of court and the fees, commissions, allowances, and salaries of any officer in Blount county, may become effective without any other election having been held thereon. In the event this amendment is approved and a majority of the qualified electors of said county who vote thereon vote against its approval, then such act or acts shall have no further force or effect.

Amendment 345 ratified

Costs and Charges of Courts, and Compensation of Certain Officers, of Coosa County.

The legislature may, from time to time, by general or local laws applicable to or operative in Coosa county, fix, regulate, and alter the costs and charges of court and the fees, commissions, allowances, and salaries, including the method and basis of their compensation, to be charged or received by the judge of probate, tax assessor, tax collector, and the clerk and register of the circuit court of Coosa county; and may place any or all of such officers on a salary and provide for the fees, commissions, allowances, and percentages collectible by such officers to be paid into the treasury from which their salaries are paid.

Amendment 346 ratified

Costs and Charges of Courts, and Compensation of Certain Officers, of Chilton County.

The legislature may, from time to time, by general or local laws applicable to or operative in Chilton county, fix, regulate, and alter the costs and charges of court and the fees, commissions, allowances, and salaries, including the method and basis of their compensation, to be charged or received by the judge of probate, tax assessor, tax collector, the clerk of circuit court, and the register of circuit court of Chilton county; may place any or all of such officers on a salary and provide for the fees, commissions, allowances, and percentages collectible by such officers to be paid into the treasury from which their salaries are paid. No law shall, however, be effective to increase or diminish the compensation of any such officer of Chilton county during the term for which he shall have been elected or appointed.

The legislature may also, from time to time, by general, special or local laws, fix, regulate and alter the costs and charges of courts in Chilton county and the method of disbursement thereof.

Amendment 347 ratified

Amendment No. 331 Amended.

Amendment No. 331 of the Constitution of Alabama is amended so as to read as follows:

The legislature may from time to time, by general or local laws applicable to or operative in Cleburne county, fix, regulate, and alter the costs and charges of courts and the fees, commissions, allowances, and salaries, including the method and basis of their compensation, to be charged or received by the judge of probate or by any other officer of Cleburne county; and may place any or all of such officers on a salary and provide for the fees, commissions, allowances, and percentages collectible by such officers to be paid into the treasury from which their salaries are paid.

Amendment 348 ratified

Local Legislation Regarding Delinquent Tax Notices in Madison County.

Notwithstanding any provisions of section 104 to the contrary, the legislature of the state of Alabama is authorized to enact local legislation applicable to Madison county to change the method prescribed by law for giving notice to delinquent Madison county taxpayers of their failure to pay taxes assessed against any property which is assessed to them and to further change the notice required to be given them prior to the sale for taxes of said property and to further change the method for issuing decrees for the sale of land and the trials held to determine whether such sales should be ordered and to change the method of giving notice to delinquent property owners to show cause why a decree of sale should not be rendered against them and to further change the method regarding the sale of said property and the report of the amount of taxes collected from said sale, provided that if the vote of the majority of electors in Madison county voting in the constitutional amendment election is unfavorable to the adoption of such amendment, said amendment shall not be adopted.

Amendment 349 ratified

Costs and Charges of Courts, and Compensation of Certain Officers, of Washington County.

The legislature may from time to time, by general or local laws applicable to or operative in Washington county, fix, regulate, and alter costs and charges of courts and the fees, commissions, allowances, and salaries, including the method and basis of their compensation, to be charged or received by the judge of probate, the tax assessor, the tax collector, and the circuit clerk; and may place any or all of such officers on a salary and provide for the fees, commissions, allowances, and percentages collectible by such officers to be paid into the treasury from which their salaries are paid. Provided that no law changing the method or basis for compensating such officers shall become effective unless it is approved by a majority of the qualified electors of the county who vote thereon at a referendum election held for such purpose or is approved by a majority of the qualified electors of the county who vote on the adoption of this constitutional amendment as provided for in section 2 hereof [section 2 of Acts 1975, No. 611].

Amendment 350 ratified

Special Property Tax for Educational Purposes in City of Anniston.

The city of Anniston shall have power to levy and collect a special property tax in addition to all other taxes now or hereafter authorized by the Constitution and laws of Alabama, of three mills on each dollar of taxable property situated therein, for educational purposes; provided that before such tax may be levied and collected the question of levying the tax, the purpose thereof, and the time such tax is proposed to be continued shall have been first submitted to a vote of the qualified electors of the city and voted for by a majority of those voting at the election. The election shall be ordered, held, and conducted as provided by law for calling, holding and conducting district school tax elections.

Amendment 351 ratified

Special Property Tax for Control of Mosquitoes, Rodents and Other Vectors of Public Health and Welfare; Significance in Mobile County.

The legislature may authorize the levy and collection of a one mill ad valorem tax in Mobile county on real and tangible personal property that is subject to such tax under the laws of this state for the purpose of controlling mosquitoes, rodents and other vectors of public health and welfare significance, and any acts of the legislature on this subject applicable to Mobile county that were enacted prior to the adoption of this amendment are hereby validated and reconfirmed. Provided however, such enabling legislation shall not become effective until this amendment is, or its provisions are, approved by a majority of the electors of Mobile county voting at the election held for the purpose of approving this amendment, or at any election at which such a proposal is submitted. In the event this amendment passes, but does not receive a majority vote of the Mobile county electorate, voting at the election, the county governing body of Mobile county may by resolution submit a similar proposal to the electors of Mobile county for their approval; however, no such proposal shall be submitted to the people more often than every two years.

Amendment 352 ratified

Additional Property Tax in City of Vestavia Hills.

Section 1. In addition to any taxes now authorized, or that may be hereafter authorized, by the Constitution and laws of Alabama, there is hereby levied an additional tax of nine and three-fourths (9 3/4 ) mills based upon the value of the property therein as fixed for state taxation; provided the levy of said tax shall first have been approved by the qualified electors of Vestavia Hills as hereinafter provided.

Section 2. In the event this amendment is approved and a majority of the qualified electors of Vestavia Hills who vote thereon in favor of the adoption of this amendment when it is submitted, the additional tax provided for in section 1 shall be levied and collected without any other election having been held thereon. In the event this amendment is approved and a majority of the qualified electors of Vestavia Hills who vote thereon vote against its approval, the tax shall not be levied unless the issue shall have been again submitted to a vote of the qualified electors of Vestavia Hills and voted for by a majority of those voting at the election. Subsequent elections may be held at intervals of not less than one year.

Amendment 353 ratified

Costs and Charges of Courts, and Compensation of County Officials, of Butler County.

The legislature may, from time to time, by general or local laws applicable to or operative in Butler county and approved by a majority of the qualified electors of Butler county at a referendum election, fix, regulate, and alter the costs and charges of court and the fees, commissions, allowances, and salaries, including the method and basis of their compensation, to be charged or received by the county officials of Butler county; and may place any or all of such officials on a salary and provide for the fees, commissions, allowances, and percentages collectible by such officials to be paid into the treasury from which their salaries are paid.

In the event this amendment is approved and a majority of the qualified electors of said county who vote thereon vote in favor of the adoption of this amendment when it is submitted, then any law theretofore passed which places any officials in Butler county on a salary basis, or any law fixing, regulating, and altering the costs and charges of court and the fees, commissions, allowances, and salaries of any official in Butler county, may become effective without any other election having been held thereon. In the event this amendment is approved and a majority of the qualified electors of said county who vote thereon vote against its approval, then such act or acts shall have no further force or effect.

Amendment 354 ratified

Amendment of Amendment No. 93.

Amendment XCIII [93] to the Constitution of Alabama, as submitted November 4, 1952, and proclaimed ratified November 19, 1952, shall be amended so that said Amendment XCIII [93], shall read as follows:

No moneys derived from any fees, excises, or license taxes, levied by the state, relating to registration, operation, or use of vehicles upon the public highways except a vehicle-use tax imposed in lieu of a sales tax, and no moneys derived from any fee, excises, or license taxes, levied by the state, relating to fuels used for propelling such vehicles except pump taxes, shall be expended for other than cost of administering such laws, statutory refunds and adjustments allowed therein, cost of construction, reconstruction, maintenance and repair of public highways and bridges, costs of highway rights-of-way, payment of highway obligations, the cost of traffic regulation, and the expense of enforcing state traffic and motor vehicle laws. The provisions of this amendment shall not apply to any such fees, excises, or license taxes now levied by the state for school purposes for this whole state or for any county or city board of education therein; and the legislature may provide for the manufacture, distribution and use on private passenger or pleasure motor vehicles of personalized license plates or tags, bearing some special letters, figures, mark or badge of distinction or personal prestige in lieu of the regular license plates or tags, and if it does so, the legislature must also require that such tags may be procured only by payment of a fee or charge, in addition to the regular fee, excise or license tax for the registration, operation or use of such motor vehicles upon the highways. The moneys derived from the additional charge made for such special or distinctive license plates or tags, in excess of the cost of the manufacture and distribution of such plates or tags, may be used in such manner as the legislature prescribes.

Amendment 355 ratified

Bonds, etc., for Navigable Waterway Between Demopolis and Tennessee River and Tombigbee Valley Projects.

Any provision of the Constitution of Alabama or amendments thereto to the contrary notwithstanding, the legislature may by appropriate laws authorize the state to engage in works of internal improvement within the state by fulfilling the requirements of local contribution, participation and cooperation now or hereafter established by the United States in connection with the construction and maintenance of a navigable waterway (herein called "the waterway") between Demopolis, Alabama, and the Tennessee river, including the relocation and construction of roads and bridges to and across the waterway, access roads and approaches thereto and the related engineering and rights-of-way acquisition expenses (herein called "the projects").

The legislature may by appropriate laws authorize the state to become indebted and, in evidence of such indebtedness, to sell and issue its interest-bearing bonds, in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $25,000,000, for the purpose of enabling the state to discharge obligations at any time authorized by the legislature to be undertaken in connection with the waterway and the projects; provided, that the expenses incurred in connection with the sale and issuance of the bonds may also be paid from the proceeds thereof. Bonds evidencing the herein provided for indebtedness may be issued as direct general obligations of the state, and the state may pledge its full faith and credit to the prompt payment of the principal of the bonds and the interest thereon. The herein provided for indebtedness shall not be construed to prohibit or limit appropriations from the general fund of the state which from time to time may be made for the purpose of enabling the state to discharge obligations at any time authorized by the legislature to be undertaken in connection with the waterway and the projects.

The legislature may from time to time appropriate money from the general fund of the state to be expended by the Tombigbee valley development authority, a public corporation and agency of the state, and may also authorize the herein provided for general obligation bonds of the state to be sold from time to time under the supervision of said authority; provided, that all moneys received by said authority from the state, whether as appropriations from the state's general fund or as proceeds of the sale of the state's bonds, shall be expended, except for reasonable administrative expenses to be paid from said appropriations and expenses of the sale of said bonds to be paid from said bond proceeds, in discharging obligations that the state is permitted under the foregoing provisions of this amendment to undertake in connection with the waterway and the projects and shall have directed said authority to undertake in its stead. The bonds authorized by this amendment shall be in addition to those authorized by that amendment to said constitution proposed by Act No. 248 adopted at the 1967 regular session of the legislature and ratified by the electors of the state on December 5, 1967.

Amendment 356 ratified

Consolidation, etc., of Offices in Elmore County.

The legislature may from time to time, by general or local law, provide for the transfer of the duties, or part of the duties, of one county officer of Elmore county to another officer of such county; or consolidate any two or more offices of such county into one county office and provide for the abolition of the office or offices left without duties, or create a completely new office in such county and transfer to such office a part of the duties of each of several other offices without abolishing any office in such county; provided that the officer or officers to fill the offices involved will be compensated for the performance of the duties of their offices by a salary fixed according to law.

In the event this amendment is approved and a majority of the qualified electors of Elmore county who vote thereon vote in favor of the adoption of this amendment when it is submitted, then any law theretofore passed which consolidates county offices in Elmore county may become effective without any other election having been held thereon. In the event this amendment is approved and a majority of the qualified electors of said county who vote thereon vote against its approval, then such act or acts shall have no further force or effect.

Amendment 357 ratified

Amendment No. 357

The legislature may hereafter, from time to time, by general, special or local laws, fix, regulate and alter the fees, commissions, allowances or salaries to be charged or received by the judge of probate of Geneva county, and may put such officer on a salary basis and provide for operation of his office on such basis.

Amendment 358 ratified

Fire Protection or Garbage and Trash Disposal Districts in Tuscaloosa County.

The legislature may provide for the formation of districts in Tuscaloosa county, Alabama, for establishing and maintaining a system for fighting or preventing fires or for the collection and disposal of garbage and trash or for either or both of said purposes; provided, however, that no territory lying within the limits of a municipal corporation at the time of the establishment of any such district shall be included within such district; and, provided further, that no such district shall be established unless the establishment thereof has been first approved by the qualified electors residing within the proposed district at an election held as provided for by a law or laws adopted by the legislature. The legislature may provide for submitting to the qualified electors residing within the proposed district the question of whether the district shall be created for either or both of the aforesaid purposes.

The expenses of establishing and maintaining any such fire fighting and fire prevention system or any such garbage collection and disposal system in a district, as the case may be, shall be paid for exclusively by the proceeds of a service charge, which shall be levied and collected in an amount sufficient to pay the said expenses.

Said service charges shall be levied upon and collected from the persons and property to whom and to which such services are available; and the service charge shall be a lien upon any such property.

The legislature may provide for the enlargement of a district by the addition of territory thereto, subject to the following conditions: (1) No territory lying within a municipal corporation at the time of such enlargement shall be added to a district; (2) subject to (3), next below, no territory shall be added unless the qualified electors thereof have approved the addition of such territory to the district at an election held for that purpose within the territory proposed to be added; (3) the legislature may provide a procedure whereby territory will be included in a district upon the written petition for its inclusion signed by at least seventy percent (70%) of the qualified electors residing within said territory.

The legislature shall adopt laws providing for the administration of the affairs of the district by the governing body of the county or by an agency of the county, and empowering the body administering the affairs of the district to levy and collect the service charge, subject to such restrictions and conditions as the legislature imposes. The legislature may provide that any such service charge shall not become effective unless approved by the electors of the territory, and may provide the conditions on which an election on such service charge shall be held.

The legislature shall be authorized to enact laws providing for the collection and enforcement of the service charges and of the lien for such charges.

The legislature may provide for the issuance of bonds for such districts with or without an election; provided, however, that all bonds issued hereunder shall be payable only out of the proceeds of the service charge authorized hereby, and no such bond shall be a general obligation of the county.

Amendment 359 ratified

Costs and Charges of Courts, and Compensation of County Officers, of Clay County.

The legislature may, from time to time, by general or local laws applicable to or operative in Clay county, fix, regulate, and alter the costs and charges of courts and fees, commissions, allowances, and salaries, including the method and basis of their compensation, to be charged or received by the county officers of Clay county; and may place any or all of such officers on a salary and provide for the fees, commissions, allowances, and percentages collectible by such officers to be paid into the treasury from which their salaries are paid. This amendment shall not have been adopted unless a majority of the qualified electors of Clay county who participate in the election held on the adoption of this amendment vote in favor thereof.

Amendment 360 ratified

Costs and Charges of Courts, and Compensation of County Officials, of Coffee County.

The legislature may from time to time, by general or local law, fix, alter and regulate the fees, commissions, percentages, allowances and compensation to be charged and received by any official of Coffee county, including the right to place any of such officers on a salary, provide for the operation of their respective offices on such basis and provide that such officers shall continue to collect any and all fees, commissions, percentages or allowances prescribed by law to be charged or collected by them and shall pay all monies so collected into the county treasury.

The legislature may also, from time to time, by general, special or local law, fix, regulate and alter the cost and charges of courts in Coffee county, and the method of disbursement thereof.

This article of amendment shall not become operative unless the same is approved by a majority of the qualified electors of Coffee county who vote thereon upon its submission.

Amendment 361 ratified

Amendment of Amendment No. 351.

It is hereby proposed that Amendment CCCLI [351] to the Constitution of Alabama which was proposed as Act No. 545, regular session, 1975, and proclaimed ratified by the governor of Alabama on January 22nd, 1976, be amended by striking out the word "tangible" in the first sentence of said Amendment CCCLI [351] so that the first sentence of said Amendment CCCLI [351] shall read as follows:

The legislature may authorize the levy and collection of a one mill ad valorem tax in Mobile county on real and personal property that is subject to such tax under the laws of this state for the purpose of controlling mosquitos, rodents and other vectors of public health and welfare significance, and any acts of the legislature on this subject applicable to Mobile county that were enacted prior to the adoption of this amendment are hereby validated and reconfirmed.

Amendment 362 ratified

Fees, Compensation, etc., of Elected Officials of Lee County.

The legislature may from time to time, by general or local laws applicable to or operative in Lee county, fix, regulate, and alter the fees, commissions, allowances, and salaries, including the method and basis of their compensation, to be charged or received by the elected county officials of Lee county; and may place any or all of such officers on a salary and provide for the fees, commissions, allowances, and percentages collectible by such officers to be paid into the treasury from which their salaries are paid. Provided, that no law changing the method or basis for compensating such officers shall become effective unless it is approved by a majority of the qualified electors of the county who vote thereon at a referendum election held for such purpose.

Amendment 363 ratified

Amendment of Amendment No. 18.

Amendment XVIII [18] to the Constitution of Alabama, as last amended, is hereby further amended by adding the following paragraph to the end of said Amendment XVIII [18] as it currently reads:

Mobile county shall in addition have authority under this amendment to make cash payments for the construction and improvement of hard surfaced roads, hard surfaced bridges and surface water drainage facilities, or any thereof, in said county, from any proceeds accumulated under the provisions of this amendment over and above such proceeds as are now or hereafter pledged to the payment of the principal and interest on bonds, warrants, notes or other evidence of indebtedness authorized under this amendment; provided however that no such construction or improvement work shall be started and no such cash payments shall be made unless and until such construction or improvement project, specifically named and described, has been approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the question at an election in which all of the qualified electors of said county may vote; and the probate judge and all other appropriate election officials shall, upon application by the county commission of said county no less than forty days prior to any such election, include on the ballot for such election the question of whether the voters do approve such specifically named and described construction or improvement project.

Amendment 364 ratified

Amendment of Amendment No. 328.

There shall be a probate court in each county which shall have general jurisdiction of orphans' business, and of adoptions, and with power to grant letters testamentary, and of administration, and of guardianships, and shall have such further jurisdiction as may be provided by law, provided, that whenever the circuit court has taken jurisdiction of the settlement of any estate, it shall have power to do all things necessary for the settlement of such estate, including the appointment and removal of administrators, executors, guardians, and trustees and including action upon the resignation of either of them.

Amendment 365 ratified

Fire Protection Districts in Baldwin County.

The legislature may, by general or local law, provide for the creation, incorporation, organization, operation, administration, and financing of local districts within Baldwin county as public corporations to provide fire fighting and prevention services; and may authorize such fire districts to fix and collect rates, fees and charges for such services, and to provide penalties for non-payment and liens upon the property within any such district; authorize the borrowing of money and the issuance of bonds and other obligations by or on behalf of any such fire district; provided that Baldwin county shall not be responsible for any such bond or obligation and no such bond or obligation shall be chargeable against the limit on the debt of Baldwin county; providing further that a majority of the qualified electors of any prospective fire fighting or prevention district created by any law authorized by this proposed amendment shall give their prior approval to the creation of any such fire district and the fees, rates, charges, bond issue or other financing agreements thereto in an election thereon. This amendment shall not have been adopted unless a majority of the qualified electors of this state who participate in the election held on the adoption of this amendment vote in favor thereof. Any law enacted at the current session of the legislature to authorize the creation of such fire districts in Baldwin county and to implement this amendment to the Constitution (whether with or without published notice of intention) shall become effective upon the ratification of this amendment.

Amendment 366 ratified

Consolidation, etc., of Offices of Tax Assessor and Tax Collector in Pickens County.

The legislature may from time to time, by general or local law, provide for the transfer of the duties of the tax assessor and tax collector of Pickens county to another officer of such county; or provide for the abolition of the said offices left without duties, or create a completely new office in such county and transfer to such office the duties of each of the said offices of tax assessor and tax collector in such county; provided that the officer to fill the newly created office will be compensated for the performance of the duties of said office by a salary fixed according to law.

In the event this amendment is approved and a majority of the qualified electors of Pickens county who vote thereon vote in favor of the adoption of this amendment when it is submitted, then any law theretofore passed which abolished said county offices and consolidates their duties in a newly created office in Pickens county may become effective without any other election having been held thereon. In the event this amendment is approved and a majority of the qualified electors of said county who vote thereon vote against its approval, then such act or acts shall have no further force or effect.

Amendment 367 ratified

Costs and Charges of Courts, and Compensation of Certain Officers, of Jackson County.

The legislature may from time to time, by general or local laws applicable to or operative in Jackson county, fix, regulate, and alter the costs and charges of courts and the fees, commissions, allowances, and salaries, including the method and basis of their compensation, to be charged or received by the judge of probate, the tax assessor, and the tax collector, and may place any or all of such officers on a salary and provide for the fees, commissions, allowances, and percentages collectible by such officers to be paid into the treasury from which their salaries are paid. Provided that no law changing the method or basis for compensating such officers shall become effective unless it is approved by a majority of the qualified electors of the county who vote thereon at a referendum election held for such purpose or is approved by a majority of the qualified electors of the county who vote on the adoption of this constitutional amendment as provided for in section 2 hereof [Section 2 of Acts 1977, No. 238].

Amendment 368 ratified

Abolition of Office of Constable in Morgan County.

The office of constable in Morgan county is hereby abolished. This amendment shall not be adopted unless a majority of the qualified electors of Morgan county who participate in the election held on the adoption of this amendment vote in favor thereof.

Amendment 369 ratified

Amendment of Amendment No. 239.

1. As used in this amendment, these terms have the meanings here given them: "Service district" means a district for which this amendment provides; "expenses" means the expenses of establishing a district and providing the services and facilities the district is authorized to provide; and "county governing body" means the governing body of Jefferson county.

2. The county governing body may provide for the formation of service districts in Jefferson county for any of the following purposes: to establish and maintain a system to fight or prevent fires and to furnish medical rescue services; to establish and maintain a system to collect and dispose of garbage and trash; and to provide park and recreational facilities; provided, however, that no territory lying within the limits of a municipal corporation at the time of the establishment of any such district shall be included within such district; and provided, further, that no such district shall be established unless the establishment thereof has been first approved by the qualified electors residing within the proposed district at an election held as provided for by laws heretofore or hereafter adopted by the legislature, or as provided for by ordinances hereafter adopted by the county governing body.

A district may be established for any one or more of the foregoing purposes. The county governing body shall provide by ordinance for submitting to the qualified electors within the proposed district the question of whether the district shall be created for one or more of such purposes.

3. The district expenses shall be paid for by the proceeds of service charges or property taxes for which paragraphs 4 and 5, below, provide or by a combination of such proceeds; provided, however, that any funds received from the federal or state government may be used to pay such expenses.

4. Subject to the conditions stated in paragraph 6, below, the governing body of a district may by resolution levy service charges to pay the expenses of the district.

Said service charges shall be levied upon and collected from the persons for whom and the property for which the services and facilities are provided or made available; and such charges shall be a personal obligation of the occupant of such property and shall also be a lien upon such property, enforceable by the sale thereof.

5. Subject to the conditions stated in paragraph 6, below, the county governing body may by ordinance levy a tax on all taxable property in any district in addition to any other tax authorized by law, to pay the expenses of the district.

The taxes levied under this paragraph 5 shall be subject to the laws of the state providing for the following: the time for the levy and the payment of such taxes; the place of the payment of such taxes; the interest and penalties payable on such taxes not paid when due; the lien for the taxes; and the remedies for collection of such taxes unpaid.

6. No service charge or tax provided for by this amendment shall become effective unless before the creation of the district involved such service charge or tax shall have been approved at an election in the territory proposed to be established as a district held at the time of the election on establishing the proposed district or unless after the establishment of the district the following shall have occurred:

(1) The governing body adopting the resolution or ordinance shall have published the same in a newspaper of general circulation in the district involved;

(2) Thirty (30) days shall have elapsed since the publication of such resolution or ordinance; and

(3) One of these two events, called Event A and Event B, shall have occurred: Event A: Thirty days following the said publication shall have passed without any petition for an election being filed under the ordinance paragraph 7, below, requires; Event B: At an election called under said ordinance the proposed service charge or tax shall have been approved.

7. The provisions of this paragraph 7 shall be subject to the conditions and limitations of paragraph 11, below. The county governing body shall adopt ordinances providing for elections to be held on the question of the establishment of districts in the unincorporated areas of the county and on the question of levying service charges or taxes to pay the expenses. The county governing body shall adopt an ordinance, or ordinances, governing elections on the question of the creation of proposed districts in the unincorporated areas of the county and on the question of whether a proposed service charge or tax shall be levied. Such ordinances shall provide for the following: the form of petition for such election; the number of qualified electors residing in the district or in the proposed district required to sign the petition to secure such election; the conduct of the election and the time allowed for filing such petition in the office of the probate judge of the county, which time shall not be less than 30 days following the publication of the resolution or ordinance as required by paragraph 6, above.

8. The provisions of this paragraph 8 shall be subject to the conditions and limitations of paragraph 11, below. The county governing body by ordinance may provide for the enlargement of a district by the addition of territory thereto, subject to the following conditions: (1) No territory lying within a municipal corporation at the time of such enlargement shall be added to a district; (2) subject to (3), next below, no territory shall be added unless the qualified electors thereof have approved the addition of such territory to the district; (3) the county governing body may provide a procedure whereby territory will be included in a district upon the written petition for its inclusion signed by at least seventy percent (70%) of the qualified electors residing within said territory.

9. The provisions of this paragraph 9 shall be subject to the conditions and limitations of paragraph 11, below. The county governing body shall enact ordinances providing for the administration of the affairs of the district by the county governing body, the governing body of the district, or by any agency of the county and empowering the body administering the affairs of the district to levy and collect service charges provided for in paragraph 4, above, and the county governing body to levy the taxes provided for in paragraph 5, above, subject to the restrictions and conditions imposed by this amendment and such additional restrictions and conditions as the county governing body, by ordinance, may impose.

10. The county governing body, by ordinance, may provide for the issuance of bonds for such districts with or without an election; provided, however, that all bonds issued hereunder shall be payable only out of the proceeds of the service charges and taxes authorized hereby, and no such bond shall be a general obligation of the county.

11. The legislature may, from time to time, adopt laws governing service districts, including laws repealing any ordinance of the county governing body inconsistent with any law enacted by the legislature prior to the adoption of this amendment. If there is any inconsistency between any law enacted by the legislature after adoption of this amendment and any ordinance adopted by the county governing body, the law shall prevail over such ordinance. In order for a law enacted subsequent to the adoption of this amendment to prevail over any ordinance in conflict with such law, repeal of such ordinance shall not be necessary, but such repeal of the conflicting ordinance shall be permissible.

Amendment 370 ratified

Local Public Service Districts in Shelby County.

The legislature may, by general or local law, provide for the creation, incorporation, organization, operation, administration, and financing of local districts within Shelby county as public corporations to provide any one or more of the following local public services: (a) fighting and prevention of fires; (b) the operation of emergency medical services, including rescue and ambulance service; authorize such district to fix and collect rates, fees and charges for such services, and to provide penalties for nonpayment and liens upon the property within such district; authorize the borrowing of money and the issuance of bonds and other obligations by or on behalf of such district; provided that Shelby county shall not be responsible for any such bond or obligation and no such bond or obligation shall be chargeable against the limit on the debt of Shelby county. This amendment shall not have been adopted unless a majority of the qualified electors of Shelby county who participate in the election held on the adoption of this amendment vote in favor thereof. Any law enacted at the current session of the legislature to authorize the creation of such districts in Shelby county and to implement this amendment to the Constitution (with published notice of intention) shall become effective upon the ratification of this amendment.

Amendment 371 ratified

Fire Protection in Limestone County.

The Limestone county governing body is authorized in its discretion to establish fire districts within the geographical boundaries of Limestone county, said districts to exclude any corporate municipality which does not request through resolution of its governing body to be made a part of and subject to the provisions of this amendment. The county governing body, in its discretion, may establish, in lieu of or in addition to said fire districts, a county fire department to furnish county-wide fire protection.

The governing body may name a fire marshal for Limestone county, whose principal duty shall be the coordination of fire protection within the county including all fire departments and fire stations, either in the district or county, and their full-time and part-time employees. Upon the request of the county governing body the fire marshal shall submit a budget for the county fire department and shall perform such other tasks related to fire protection as may, from time to time, be assigned to him by the county governing body.

The governing body is hereby authorized to fix a county fire protection tax, which tax shall become effective upon the approval of a majority of electors within any particular fire district or other area of the county where the tax is to be levied. The tax fixed by the governing body shall be based upon the value of real and personal property assessed by affected property owners, as shown on the records of the tax assessor of Limestone county, Alabama, and shall be assessed and collected as are all ad valorem taxes in the county. The amount collected each year from assessment of this fire protection tax shall be paid into the county general fund and used in furtherance of fire protection within the affected area.

The county governing body is hereby authorized upon approval by resolution adopted by said governing body to adopt, amend and repeal regulations for the safeguarding of life and property from the hazards of fire and explosion in the county, which shall be known as the Limestone County Fire Protection Code. Such regulations shall have the force and effect of law and any violation thereof may, within the discretion of the county governing body, constitute a Class A misdemeanor, as defined in Act No. 607, S. 33 of the 1977 Regular Session (Acts 1977, p. 812), and upon conviction thereof may be punishable by a fine not exceeding $1,000 or imprisonment in the county jail, not to exceed one year, or both fine and imprisonment. Said code shall be effective in all unincorporated areas of the county and in those incorporated areas which choose to come under the provisions of this act.

The county governing body is hereby authorized to employ or to authorize the employment of a fire marshal, fire inspectors, firemen, secretarial and clerical employees and any other employees which it deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this act and it is further authorized to make such expenditures for salaries, equipment, property (whether real, personal or mixed), or other expenses related to fire protection which it deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this amendment.

The legislature may provide for or amend, from time to time, any laws pertaining to fire districts in Limestone county.

Amendment 372 ratified

Compensation of County Officers and Restructuring or Abolition of Certain Offices in Geneva County.

The legislature may, from time to time, by general or local laws applicable to or operative in Geneva county, fix, regulate and alter fees, commissions, allowances and salaries, including the method and basis of the compensation to be charged or received by all of the county officers of Geneva county; and may place any or all of such officers on a salary and provide for the fees, commissions, allowances and percentages collectible by such officers to be paid into the treasury from which their salaries are paid.

The legislature may from time to time, by general or local law, provide for the transfer of the duties of the tax assessor and tax collector of Geneva county to another officer of such county; or provide for the abolition of the said offices left without duties, or create a completely new office in such county and transfer to such office the duties of each of the said tax offices of tax assessor and tax collector in such county; provided, that the officer to fill the newly created office will be compensated for the performance of the duties of said office by a salary fixed according to law.

In the event this amendment is approved and a majority of the qualified electors of Geneva county who vote thereon vote in favor of the adoption of this amendment when it is submitted, then any law theretofore passed which places any such officers in Geneva county on a salary basis, or any law fixing, regulating and altering the costs and charges of court and the fees, commissions, allowances and salaries of any such officer in Geneva county, may become effective without any other election having been held thereon. In the event this amendment is approved and a majority of the qualified electors of said county who vote thereon vote against its approval, then such act or acts shall have no further force or effect.

Amendment 373 ratified

Amendment of Section 217.

Classification of taxable property for purposes of ad valorem taxation; taxable property to be taxed by state, counties, municipalities, etc., at same rate; assessment ratios for purposes of ad valorem taxation; increase or decrease of assessment ratios by counties, municipalities, etc.; increase or decrease of ad valorem tax rates by counties, municipalities, etc.; maximum amount of ad valorem tax; certain property to be assessed at current use value and not market value; exemption of certain property from ad valorem taxation; interpretation of authority for counties, municipalities, etc., to levy taxes, borrow money, etc., in relation to assessment of property; counties, municipalities, etc., authorized to levy additional ad valorem tax for costs of certain state-wide reappraisal of property.

(a) On and after October 1, 1978, all taxable property within this state, not exempt by law, shall be divided into the following classes for the purposes of ad valorem taxation:

Class I. All property of utilities used in the business of such utilities.

Class II. All property not otherwise classified.

Class III. All agricultural, forest and single-family owner-occupied residential property, and historic buildings and sites.

Class IV. All private passenger automobiles and motor trucks of the type commonly known as "pickups" or "pickup trucks" owned and operated by an individual for personal or private use and not for hire, rent or compensation.

(b) With respect to ad valorem taxes levied by the state, all taxable property shall be forever taxed at the same rate. On and after October 1, 1978, such property shall be assessed for ad valorem tax purposes according to the classes thereof as herein defined at the following ratios of assessed value to the fair and reasonable market value (except as otherwise provided in subsection (j) hereof) of such property:

Class I. 30 per centum.

Class II. 20 per centum.

Class III. 10 per centum.

Class IV. 15 per centum.

(c) With respect to ad valorem taxes levied by counties, municipalities or other taxing authorities, all taxable property shall be forever taxed at the same rate. On and after October 1, 1978, such property shall be assessed for ad valorem tax purposes according to the classes of property defined in subsection (a) hereof and at the same ratios of assessed value to the fair and reasonable market value thereof as fixed in subsection (b) hereof, except as otherwise provided in subsection (j) hereof and this subsection (such ratios being herein called "assessment ratios"). In connection with the ad valorem taxes that a county, municipality or other taxing authority is authorized or required to levy and collect pursuant to any provision of this Constitution, for the ad valorem tax year beginning October 1, 1978, any such taxing authority may, subject to criteria established by act of the legislature, by resolution of the governing body of that taxing authority, at any time not later than September 30, 1979, increase or decrease the assessment ratio applicable to any class of taxable property, such increase or decrease to be effective for ad valorem tax years beginning on and after October 1, 1978. If (1) a county, municipality or other taxing authority adjusts an assessment ratio pursuant to the preceding sentence and (2) the receipts from all ad valorem taxes levied by or with respect to such taxing authority during the ad valorem tax year beginning October 1, 1978, exceed by more than five percent, or are less than 95 percent of, the receipts from such ad valorem taxes for the ad valorem tax year beginning October 1, 1977, then at any time not later than September 30, 1980, for ad valorem tax years beginning on and after October 1, 1979, the taxing authority may, subject to criteria established by act of the legislature, by resolution of the governing body of that taxing authority, adjust any assessment ratio applicable to any class of taxable property. On and after October 1, 1979, the governing body of any county, municipality or other taxing authority may, subject to criteria established by act of the legislature, at any time increase or decrease the assessment ratio applicable to any class of taxable property; provided, that any proposed adjustment to an assessment ratio to be made pursuant to this sentence, whether an increase or a decrease, shall have been (1) proposed by the governing body of the taxing authority after a public hearing on such proposal, (2) thereafter approved by an act of the legislature, and (3) subsequently approved by a majority vote of the qualified electors residing in the taxing authority who vote on the proposal at a special election called and held in accordance with the law governing special elections. No decrease in an assessment ratio pursuant to this subsection (c) shall be permitted with respect to either of the ad valorem tax years beginning October 1, 1978, and October 1, 1979, if such county, municipality or other taxing authority has increased any millage rate under subsection (e) of this section with respect to such ad valorem tax year. The legislature shall enact general laws applicable to all counties, municipalities and other taxing authorities regulating and establishing criteria for the exercise of the powers granted such taxing authorities to adjust assessment ratios as hereinabove provided. Such assessment ratios as herein authorized may vary among taxing authorities so long as each such assessment ratio is uniform within a taxing authority. Any decrease in any assessment ratio pursuant to this subsection shall not jeopardize the payment of any bonded indebtedness secured by any tax levied by the taxing authority decreasing the assessment ratio. Any action authorized by this subsection to be taken by a taxing authority, or the governing body thereof, shall, other than in the case of a municipality, be taken by resolution of the governing body of the county in which such taxing authority is located acting on behalf of such taxing authority.

(d) With respect to ad valorem taxes levied by the state or by any county, municipality or other taxing authority, no class of taxable property shall have an assessment ratio of less than five per centum nor more than 35 per centum.

(e) A county, municipality or other taxing authority may decrease any ad valorem tax rate at any time, provided such decrease shall not jeopardize the payment of any bonded indebtedness secured by such tax. For the ad valorem tax year beginning October 1, 1978, when the tax assessor of each county shall complete the assembly of the assessment book for his county for that ad valorem tax year and the computation of ad valorem taxes that will be paid upon such assessment, he shall certify to each authority within his county that levies an ad valorem tax the amount of ad valorem tax that will be produced by every levy in that ad valorem tax year but excluding for this purpose any assessment of new taxable property not previously subject to taxation (except "escaped" property as defined by law) added to the tax rolls of such county for the ad valorem tax year in which such certification is made that was not included on the tax rolls for the next preceding ad valorem tax year. Any county, municipality or other taxing authority, at any time not later than September 30, 1979, may increase the rate at which any ad valorem tax is levied by or with respect to that taxing authority above the limit otherwise provided in this Constitution, provided that the amount of the above-described certification of anticipated tax receipts with respect to such tax is less than 120 percent of the actual receipts from such tax for the ad valorem tax year beginning October 1, 1977, such increase to be effective for ad valorem tax years beginning on and after October 1, 1978; provided, that any such millage increase shall not exceed in mills the total of (i) the number of additional mills that is necessary, when added to the millage rate imposed with respect to such tax on each dollar of taxable property situated in the taxing authority for the ad valorem tax year beginning October 1, 1977, to produce revenue that is not less than and that is substantially equal to that received by the taxing authority with respect to such tax during such immediately preceding ad valorem tax year, plus (ii) a number of additional mills equal to 20 percent of the total mills imposed by that taxing authority with respect to such tax on each dollar of taxable property situated in the taxing authority for the ad valorem tax year beginning October 1, 1977. If, for the ad valorem tax year beginning October 1, 1978, the receipts from any ad valorem tax with respect to which any millage rate has been increased pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence are less than 95 percent of the receipts from such ad valorem tax for the ad valorem tax year beginning October 1, 1977, then at any time not later than September 30, 1980, the taxing authority may increase any millage rate with respect to such ad valorem tax in the manner provided in the immediately preceding sentence, such increase to be effective for ad valorem tax years beginning on and after October 1, 1979. It is further provided that all millage adjustments shall be made in increments of not less than one tenth (1/10) mill.

(f) On and after October 1, 1979, any county, municipality or other taxing authority may at any time increase the rate at which any ad valorem tax is levied above the limit otherwise provided in this Constitution; provided, that the proposed increase to be made pursuant to this subsection shall have been (1) proposed by the governing body of the taxing authority after a public hearing on such proposal, (2) thereafter approved by an act of the legislature, and (3) subsequently approved by a majority vote of the qualified electors residing in the taxing authority who vote on the proposal at a special election called and held in accordance with the law governing special elections. Any adjustments or other actions authorized to be made or taken pursuant to this subsection and subsection (e) hereof shall be made or taken by resolution of the governing body of such taxing authority, or if there is no such governing body and in the case of a taxing authority other than a municipality, by resolution of the governing body of the county in which such taxing authority is located acting on behalf of such taxing authority. The provisions of subsections (c), (e) and (f) of this section shall not apply to ad valorem taxes levied by the state.

(g) The legislature is authorized to enact legislation to implement the provisions of this section and may provide for exemptions from taxation; provided, that unless otherwise expressly provided, no amendment to this section shall be construed to repeal any statutory exemption existing on the effective date of any such amendment hereto.

(h) Wherever any constitutional provision or statute provides for, limits or measures the power or authority of any county, municipality or other taxing authority to levy taxes, borrow money or incur indebtedness in relation to the assessment of property therein for state taxes or for state and county taxes, such provision shall mean as assessed for county or municipal taxes, as the case may be.

(i) Except as otherwise provided in this Constitution, including any amendment thereto whenever adopted with respect to taxable property located in the city of Mountain Brook, the city of Vestavia Hills, or the city of Huntsville, the amount of ad valorem taxes payable to the state and to all counties, municipalities and other taxing authorities with respect to any item of taxable property described as Class I property shall never exceed 2 percent of the fair and reasonable market value of such taxable property in any one ad valorem tax year, such amount with respect to any item of Class II property shall never exceed 1 1/2 percent of the fair and reasonable market value of such taxable property in any one ad valorem tax year, such amount with respect to any item of Class IV property shall never exceed 1 1/4 percent of the fair and reasonable market value of such taxable property in any one ad valorem tax year, and such amount with respect to any item of Class III property shall never exceed 1 percent of the fair and reasonable market value of such taxable property in any one ad valorem tax year. Whenever the total amount of ad valorem property taxes otherwise payable by any taxpayer with respect to any item of taxable property shall exceed in any one ad valorem tax year the maximum amount of such taxes permitted by this section, such amount of taxes shall be reduced by subtracting that amount of tax due that is in excess of the amount of tax otherwise permissible under the Constitution. In connection with the taxation of any item of taxable property, the amount of tax to be subtracted with respect to each authority levying and collecting any ad valorem property tax shall be in the same proportion to the total amount of tax to be subtracted that the total number of mills on each dollar of taxable property situated in the taxing authority levied by such taxing authority bears to the total number of mills on each dollar of taxable property situated in the taxing authority levied by all taxing authorities with respect to such item of taxable property. Before sending to any taxpayer any notice relating to the collection of ad valorem taxes, the tax collector in each county shall determine whether any portion of the amount of ad valorem property tax otherwise due with respect to any item of taxable property shall be subtracted pursuant to the provisions of this subsection and shall apportion the amount to be subtracted in accordance with the provisions of this subsection.

(j) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, on and after October 1, 1978, taxable property defined in subsection (a) hereof as Class III property shall, upon application by the owner of such property, be assessed at the ratio of assessed value to the current use value of such taxable property and not the fair and reasonable market value of such property. The legislature may enact laws uniformly applicable to the state and all counties, municipalities and other taxing authorities establishing criteria and procedures for the determination of the current use value of any eligible taxable property and procedures for qualifying such property for assessment at its current use value. The legislature may also enact laws uniformly applicable to the state and all counties, municipalities and other taxing authorities providing for the ad valorem taxation of any taxable property ceasing to qualify for current use valuation; provided, however, that any additional tax on taxable property ceasing to qualify for current use valuation shall not apply to more than the three ad valorem tax years immediately preceding such cessation of qualification (including as one such year the year in which cessation of qualification occurs).

(k) The following property shall be exempt from all ad valorem taxation: the real and personal property of the state, counties and municipalities and property devoted exclusively to religious, educational or charitable purposes, household and kitchen furniture, all farm tractors, all farming implements when used exclusively in connection with agricultural property and all stocks of goods, wares and merchandise.

(l) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, with respect to the costs of reappraisal incident to the state-wide reappraisal of property heretofore authorized by the legislature, each county, municipality or other taxing authority for ad valorem tax years beginning on and after October 1, 1978, may impose and levy an additional ad valorem tax of not more than two mills on all taxable property located in the taxing authority in order to reimburse itself for its payment of such costs of reappraisal or to pay any unpaid costs or its pro rata share of such unpaid costs of reappraisal. The taxes provided for in this subsection, or any pro rata part thereof, shall terminate at the end of the ad valorem tax year in which sufficient funds are received from the taxes to pay in full the said reappraisal costs and any receipts from such taxes that are received during the ad valorem tax year of their termination that are not needed for the purposes specified herein may be used by the taxing authority levying the tax for general purposes of the taxing authority. The taxes authorized in this subsection shall not exceed in the aggregate, with respect to any item of taxable property located in the taxing authority, a total of two mills for all such taxes levied by all taxing authorities in a county and not two mills for each taxing authority in a county. If more than one such taxing authority in a county has paid or owes all or a portion of its reappraisal costs, such two mills shall be prorated among such taxing authorities in the county as they may agree, or if they cannot agree, in the percentage which each such taxing authority's costs of reappraisal bear to the total costs of reappraisal of all taxing authorities in the county. The provisions of this subsection shall apply only to the costs incurred by a taxing authority incident to the state-wide reappraisal of property heretofore authorized by the legislature, the amount of which costs shall be certified by the department of revenue, and shall not be applicable to any future reappraisals that may be required by law.

(m) If any portion of this section should be declared invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity shall not affect the validity of any of the remaining portions of this section, which shall continue effective.

Amendment 373 ratified

Amendment of Section 217.

Classification of taxable property for purposes of ad valorem taxation; taxable property to be taxed by state, counties, municipalities, etc., at same rate; assessment ratios for purposes of ad valorem taxation; increase or decrease of assessment ratios by counties, municipalities, etc.; increase or decrease of ad valorem tax rates by counties, municipalities, etc.; maximum amount of ad valorem tax; certain property to be assessed at current use value and not market value; exemption of certain property from ad valorem taxation; interpretation of authority for counties, municipalities, etc., to levy taxes, borrow money, etc., in relation to assessment of property; counties, municipalities, etc., authorized to levy additional ad valorem tax for costs of certain state-wide reappraisal of property.

(a) On and after October 1, 1978, all taxable property within this state, not exempt by law, shall be divided into the following classes for the purposes of ad valorem taxation:

Class I. All property of utilities used in the business of such utilities.

Class II. All property not otherwise classified.

Class III. All agricultural, forest and single-family owner-occupied residential property, and historic buildings and sites.

Class IV. All private passenger automobiles and motor trucks of the type commonly known as "pickups" or "pickup trucks" owned and operated by an individual for personal or private use and not for hire, rent or compensation.

(b) With respect to ad valorem taxes levied by the state, all taxable property shall be forever taxed at the same rate. On and after October 1, 1978, such property shall be assessed for ad valorem tax purposes according to the classes thereof as herein defined at the following ratios of assessed value to the fair and reasonable market value (except as otherwise provided in subsection (j) hereof) of such property:

Class I. 30 per centum.

Class II. 20 per centum.

Class III. 10 per centum.

Class IV. 15 per centum.

(c) With respect to ad valorem taxes levied by counties, municipalities or other taxing authorities, all taxable property shall be forever taxed at the same rate. On and after October 1, 1978, such property shall be assessed for ad valorem tax purposes according to the classes of property defined in subsection (a) hereof and at the same ratios of assessed value to the fair and reasonable market value thereof as fixed in subsection (b) hereof, except as otherwise provided in subsection (j) hereof and this subsection (such ratios being herein called "assessment ratios"). In connection with the ad valorem taxes that a county, municipality or other taxing authority is authorized or required to levy and collect pursuant to any provision of this Constitution, for the ad valorem tax year beginning October 1, 1978, any such taxing authority may, subject to criteria established by act of the legislature, by resolution of the governing body of that taxing authority, at any time not later than September 30, 1979, increase or decrease the assessment ratio applicable to any class of taxable property, such increase or decrease to be effective for ad valorem tax years beginning on and after October 1, 1978. If (1) a county, municipality or other taxing authority adjusts an assessment ratio pursuant to the preceding sentence and (2) the receipts from all ad valorem taxes levied by or with respect to such taxing authority during the ad valorem tax year beginning October 1, 1978, exceed by more than five percent, or are less than 95 percent of, the receipts from such ad valorem taxes for the ad valorem tax year beginning October 1, 1977, then at any time not later than September 30, 1980, for ad valorem tax years beginning on and after October 1, 1979, the taxing authority may, subject to criteria established by act of the legislature, by resolution of the governing body of that taxing authority, adjust any assessment ratio applicable to any class of taxable property. On and after October 1, 1979, the governing body of any county, municipality or other taxing authority may, subject to criteria established by act of the legislature, at any time increase or decrease the assessment ratio applicable to any class of taxable property; provided, that any proposed adjustment to an assessment ratio to be made pursuant to this sentence, whether an increase or a decrease, shall have been (1) proposed by the governing body of the taxing authority after a public hearing on such proposal, (2) thereafter approved by an act of the legislature, and (3) subsequently approved by a majority vote of the qualified electors residing in the taxing authority who vote on the proposal at a special election called and held in accordance with the law governing special elections. No decrease in an assessment ratio pursuant to this subsection (c) shall be permitted with respect to either of the ad valorem tax years beginning October 1, 1978, and October 1, 1979, if such county, municipality or other taxing authority has increased any millage rate under subsection (e) of this section with respect to such ad valorem tax year. The legislature shall enact general laws applicable to all counties, municipalities and other taxing authorities regulating and establishing criteria for the exercise of the powers granted such taxing authorities to adjust assessment ratios as hereinabove provided. Such assessment ratios as herein authorized may vary among taxing authorities so long as each such assessment ratio is uniform within a taxing authority. Any decrease in any assessment ratio pursuant to this subsection shall not jeopardize the payment of any bonded indebtedness secured by any tax levied by the taxing authority decreasing the assessment ratio. Any action authorized by this subsection to be taken by a taxing authority, or the governing body thereof, shall, other than in the case of a municipality, be taken by resolution of the governing body of the county in which such taxing authority is located acting on behalf of such taxing authority.

(d) With respect to ad valorem taxes levied by the state or by any county, municipality or other taxing authority, no class of taxable property shall have an assessment ratio of less than five per centum nor more than 35 per centum.

(e) A county, municipality or other taxing authority may decrease any ad valorem tax rate at any time, provided such decrease shall not jeopardize the payment of any bonded indebtedness secured by such tax. For the ad valorem tax year beginning October 1, 1978, when the tax assessor of each county shall complete the assembly of the assessment book for his county for that ad valorem tax year and the computation of ad valorem taxes that will be paid upon such assessment, he shall certify to each authority within his county that levies an ad valorem tax the amount of ad valorem tax that will be produced by every levy in that ad valorem tax year but excluding for this purpose any assessment of new taxable property not previously subject to taxation (except "escaped" property as defined by law) added to the tax rolls of such county for the ad valorem tax year in which such certification is made that was not included on the tax rolls for the next preceding ad valorem tax year. Any county, municipality or other taxing authority, at any time not later than September 30, 1979, may increase the rate at which any ad valorem tax is levied by or with respect to that taxing authority above the limit otherwise provided in this Constitution, provided that the amount of the above-described certification of anticipated tax receipts with respect to such tax is less than 120 percent of the actual receipts from such tax for the ad valorem tax year beginning October 1, 1977, such increase to be effective for ad valorem tax years beginning on and after October 1, 1978; provided, that any such millage increase shall not exceed in mills the total of (i) the number of additional mills that is necessary, when added to the millage rate imposed with respect to such tax on each dollar of taxable property situated in the taxing authority for the ad valorem tax year beginning October 1, 1977, to produce revenue that is not less than and that is substantially equal to that received by the taxing authority with respect to such tax during such immediately preceding ad valorem tax year, plus (ii) a number of additional mills equal to 20 percent of the total mills imposed by that taxing authority with respect to such tax on each dollar of taxable property situated in the taxing authority for the ad valorem tax year beginning October 1, 1977. If, for the ad valorem tax year beginning October 1, 1978, the receipts from any ad valorem tax with respect to which any millage rate has been increased pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence are less than 95 percent of the receipts from such ad valorem tax for the ad valorem tax year beginning October 1, 1977, then at any time not later than September 30, 1980, the taxing authority may increase any millage rate with respect to such ad valorem tax in the manner provided in the immediately preceding sentence, such increase to be effective for ad valorem tax years beginning on and after October 1, 1979. It is further provided that all millage adjustments shall be made in increments of not less than one tenth (1/10) mill.

(f) On and after October 1, 1979, any county, municipality or other taxing authority may at any time increase the rate at which any ad valorem tax is levied above the limit otherwise provided in this Constitution; provided, that the proposed increase to be made pursuant to this subsection shall have been (1) proposed by the governing body of the taxing authority after a public hearing on such proposal, (2) thereafter approved by an act of the legislature, and (3) subsequently approved by a majority vote of the qualified electors residing in the taxing authority who vote on the proposal at a special election called and held in accordance with the law governing special elections. Any adjustments or other actions authorized to be made or taken pursuant to this subsection and subsection (e) hereof shall be made or taken by resolution of the governing body of such taxing authority, or if there is no such governing body and in the case of a taxing authority other than a municipality, by resolution of the governing body of the county in which such taxing authority is located acting on behalf of such taxing authority. The provisions of subsections (c), (e) and (f) of this section shall not apply to ad valorem taxes levied by the state.

(g) The legislature is authorized to enact legislation to implement the provisions of this section and may provide for exemptions from taxation; provided, that unless otherwise expressly provided, no amendment to this section shall be construed to repeal any statutory exemption existing on the effective date of any such amendment hereto.

(h) Wherever any constitutional provision or statute provides for, limits or measures the power or authority of any county, municipality or other taxing authority to levy taxes, borrow money or incur indebtedness in relation to the assessment of property therein for state taxes or for state and county taxes, such provision shall mean as assessed for county or municipal taxes, as the case may be.

(i) Except as otherwise provided in this Constitution, including any amendment thereto whenever adopted with respect to taxable property located in the city of Mountain Brook, the city of Vestavia Hills, or the city of Huntsville, the amount of ad valorem taxes payable to the state and to all counties, municipalities and other taxing authorities with respect to any item of taxable property described as Class I property shall never exceed 2 percent of the fair and reasonable market value of such taxable property in any one ad valorem tax year, such amount with respect to any item of Class II property shall never exceed 1 1/2 percent of the fair and reasonable market value of such taxable property in any one ad valorem tax year, such amount with respect to any item of Class IV property shall never exceed 1 1/4 percent of the fair and reasonable market value of such taxable property in any one ad valorem tax year, and such amount with respect to any item of Class III property shall never exceed 1 percent of the fair and reasonable market value of such taxable property in any one ad valorem tax year. Whenever the total amount of ad valorem property taxes otherwise payable by any taxpayer with respect to any item of taxable property shall exceed in any one ad valorem tax year the maximum amount of such taxes permitted by this section, such amount of taxes shall be reduced by subtracting that amount of tax due that is in excess of the amount of tax otherwise permissible under the Constitution. In connection with the taxation of any item of taxable property, the amount of tax to be subtracted with respect to each authority levying and collecting any ad valorem property tax shall be in the same proportion to the total amount of tax to be subtracted that the total number of mills on each dollar of taxable property situated in the taxing authority levied by such taxing authority bears to the total number of mills on each dollar of taxable property situated in the taxing authority levied by all taxing authorities with respect to such item of taxable property. Before sending to any taxpayer any notice relating to the collection of ad valorem taxes, the tax collector in each county shall determine whether any portion of the amount of ad valorem property tax otherwise due with respect to any item of taxable property shall be subtracted pursuant to the provisions of this subsection and shall apportion the amount to be subtracted in accordance with the provisions of this subsection.

(j) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, on and after October 1, 1978, taxable property defined in subsection (a) hereof as Class III property shall, upon application by the owner of such property, be assessed at the ratio of assessed value to the current use value of such taxable property and not the fair and reasonable market value of such property. The legislature may enact laws uniformly applicable to the state and all counties, municipalities and other taxing authorities establishing criteria and procedures for the determination of the current use value of any eligible taxable property and procedures for qualifying such property for assessment at its current use value. The legislature may also enact laws uniformly applicable to the state and all counties, municipalities and other taxing authorities providing for the ad valorem taxation of any taxable property ceasing to qualify for current use valuation; provided, however, that any additional tax on taxable property ceasing to qualify for current use valuation shall not apply to more than the three ad valorem tax years immediately preceding such cessation of qualification (including as one such year the year in which cessation of qualification occurs).

(k) The following property shall be exempt from all ad valorem taxation: the real and personal property of the state, counties and municipalities and property devoted exclusively to religious, educational or charitable purposes, household and kitchen furniture, all farm tractors, all farming implements when used exclusively in connection with agricultural property and all stocks of goods, wares and merchandise.

(l) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, with respect to the costs of reappraisal incident to the state-wide reappraisal of property heretofore authorized by the legislature, each county, municipality or other taxing authority for ad valorem tax years beginning on and after October 1, 1978, may impose and levy an additional ad valorem tax of not more than two mills on all taxable property located in the taxing authority in order to reimburse itself for its payment of such costs of reappraisal or to pay any unpaid costs or its pro rata share of such unpaid costs of reappraisal. The taxes provided for in this subsection, or any pro rata part thereof, shall terminate at the end of the ad valorem tax year in which sufficient funds are received from the taxes to pay in full the said reappraisal costs and any receipts from such taxes that are received during the ad valorem tax year of their termination that are not needed for the purposes specified herein may be used by the taxing authority levying the tax for general purposes of the taxing authority. The taxes authorized in this subsection shall not exceed in the aggregate, with respect to any item of taxable property located in the taxing authority, a total of two mills for all such taxes levied by all taxing authorities in a county and not two mills for each taxing authority in a county. If more than one such taxing authority in a county has paid or owes all or a portion of its reappraisal costs, such two mills shall be prorated among such taxing authorities in the county as they may agree, or if they cannot agree, in the percentage which each such taxing authority's costs of reappraisal bear to the total costs of reappraisal of all taxing authorities in the county. The provisions of this subsection shall apply only to the costs incurred by a taxing authority incident to the state-wide reappraisal of property heretofore authorized by the legislature, the amount of which costs shall be certified by the department of revenue, and shall not be applicable to any future reappraisals that may be required by law.

(m) If any portion of this section should be declared invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity shall not affect the validity of any of the remaining portions of this section, which shall continue effective.

Amendment 375 ratified

Amendment of Section 110. SECTION 110

"General laws," "special or private laws" and "local law" defined; general laws applicable to class of municipalities to define class on basis related to the law; legislature may classify municipalities; enactment of general laws applicable to only one municipality.

A general law is a law which in its terms and effect applies either to the whole state, or to one or more municipalities of the state less than the whole in a class. A general law applicable to such a class of municipalities shall define the class on the basis of criteria reasonably related to the purpose of the law, provided that the legislature may also enact and change from time to time a general schedule of not more than eight classes of municipalities based on population according to any designated federal decennial census, and general laws for any purpose may thereafter be enacted for any such class. Any law heretofore enacted which complies with the provisions of this section shall be considered a general law.

No general law which at the time of its enactment applies to only one municipality of the state shall be enacted after January 1, 1979, unless notice of the intention to apply therefor shall have been given and shown as provided in section 106 of this Constitution for special, private or local laws; provided, that such notice shall not be deemed to constitute such law a local law.

A special or private law is one which applies to an individual, association or corporation. A local law is a law which is not a general law or a special or private law.

Amendment 376 ratified

Acquisition, Development, etc., of Industrial Parks by City of Anniston.

Any provision of the Constitution or laws of the state of Alabama to the contrary notwithstanding, the governing body of the city of Anniston shall have full and continuing power and authority, to do any one or more of the following:

1. To acquire and develop one or more parcels of land as the site or sites for an industrial park or industrial parks; and to expend or grant public money and things of value for such acquisition and development. The development of land as the site for an industrial park shall be deemed to include the provision of water, sewage, drainage, transportation, power and communication facilities, and other similar facilities, which are incidental to the use of the land as an industrial park, and also shall be deemed to include the provision of structures or buildings of any kind or type whatsoever relating to the use of the land, structures and/or buildings as an industrial park.

2. To sell to any person, firm, partnership, corporation or other entity all or any part of any land, together with the improvements thereon, held by it as an industrial park; provided, however, that no such sale may be made for less than the reasonable market value of the property so sold, as such value may be established by the appraisals of at least two independent appraisers. Prior to making any sale of any property comprising all or part of an industrial park, said city shall cause appraisals of the market value of the property to be so sold to be made by at least two independent appraisers, and shall cause a copy of each such appraisal to be filed in the permanent records of said city. Each such appraisal shall be made not earlier than 180 days prior to the consummation of such sale. In any case where each appraisal obtained pursuant to the provisions hereof sets forth a different value, the average of the market values stated in the separate appraisals shall be deemed to constitute the reasonable market value of the property.

3. This amendment shall be self-executing; but the legislature shall have the right and power by general, special or local act to adopt laws supplemental to this amendment or in furtherance of the purposes and objectives hereinabove set forth.

4. Said city shall not make any engagement or commitment or undertake any project under the provisions hereof unless and until the proposition has been approved and recommended to the governing body of said city by a majority vote of all the members of the industrial development board of the city of Anniston, or its successor, at a duly convened meeting of said board, said approval and recommendation to be evidenced by a certified copy of a resolution duly passed and adopted by said board and delivered to the city clerk of said city and unless and until the governing body of said city passes and adopts an ordinance approving and authorizing such proposition. Provided, however, no ordinance shall be passed and adopted by the governing body of said city under the provisions hereof unless and until the proposed ordinance has been published at least once a week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation published within said city, together with a notice stating the time and place that the ordinance is to be considered by said governing body and stating further at such time and place all persons who desire shall have an opportunity of being heard in favor of or in opposition to such ordinance. The first publication of the proposed ordinance, together with said notice, shall be made not less than 18 days in advance of the passage and adoption of such proposed ordinance.

Amendment 377 ratified

Consolidation and Abolition of Certain Offices and Establishment of Consolidated and Unified Tax System in Coffee County.

The legislature may from time to time, by general or local law, provide for the establishment of a consolidated and unified system for the assessment and collection of taxes in Coffee county and for the consolidation of the offices of tax assessor and tax collector of such county into one office and for the abolition of the offices of tax assessor and tax collector of such county.

Notwithstanding any provision of this Constitution to the contrary, the legislature may, by local law, provide for the election in 1978 to fill the office of tax assessor or tax collector, of Coffee county, or such other office created pursuant to this amendment. This authorization specifically includes, but it is not limited to, the power to suspend the general law relating to deadlines for filing qualifying documents and payment of fees, to set the terms of the offices named herein, and to prescribe the method of placing the names of the candidates on the ballot at the election.

Unless otherwise provided herein, or by local law, the offices of tax assessor and tax collector of Coffee county shall be filled at the general election in 1978 for terms of two years, beginning October 1, 1979, and until a revenue commissioner of Coffee county is elected and qualified; and such revenue commissioner shall be elected at the general election of 1980 for an initial term of four years, beginning October 1, 1981, and until a successor is elected and qualified. Thereafter, unless otherwise provided by general or local law, the term of office of revenue commissioner of Coffee county shall be six years and until a successor is elected and qualified.

Unless otherwise provided by the legislature, the revenue commissioner of Coffee county shall be charged with the performance of any duty provided by law for the tax assessor and tax collector of Coffee county, and his compensation shall be fixed by the governing body of the county. Immediately upon the beginning of the first term of the office of revenue commissioner of Coffee county, the offices of tax assessor and tax collector shall be abolished. If either of the offices of tax assessor or tax collector of Coffee county should become vacant at any time from the effective date of this amendment until October 1, 1981, the remaining officer shall thereupon become the revenue commissioner of Coffee county and shall serve as such for the balance of the term for which he was elected, and the offices of tax assessor and tax collector of Coffee county shall be abolished. Should this event occur 30 days or more before the general election of 1978, then the office of revenue commissioner of Coffee county shall be filled at such election for a term of six years, and until a successor is elected and qualified and any person who has qualified to have his name placed upon the ballot as a candidate for either tax assessor or tax collector of Coffee county shall be entitled to have his name placed upon the ballot as a candidate for revenue commissioner of Coffee county.

This article of amendment shall not become operative unless the same is approved by a majority of the qualified electors of Coffee county who vote thereon upon its submission.

Amendment 378 ratified

Fire Districts in Madison County.

The legislature may, by general or local law, provide for the establishment of fire districts within Madison county to provide fire fighting and prevention services; and may authorize the levy and collection of certain rates, fees, charges or taxes for such services.

Amendment 379 ratified

Fire Fighting Districts in Montgomery County.

The governing body of Montgomery county is hereby authorized to establish and maintain fire fighting districts within Montgomery county. Said governing body is further authorized to enter into agreements with volunteer fire departments within such county for fire protection and services. Provided further, said governing body is hereby empowered to set fees for fire protection and to prescribe the manner of collection and distribution of such fees. The fire fighting districts herein authorized shall not include any corporate municipality of Montgomery county unless such municipality requests through resolution of its governing body to be included in such fire fighting program. Any act heretofore enacted regarding said Montgomery county fire fighting districts is hereby ratified and confirmed.

Amendment 380 ratified

Cost and Charges of Probate Court, and Compensation of Certain Officers, of Russell County.

The legislature may from time to time, by general or local laws, fix, alter and regulate the costs and charges of the probate courts in Russell county, and the fees, commissions, percentages, allowances and compensation of any officer of Russell county, and shall be authorized to place any such officer on a salary and to provide for the fees, commissions, percentages or allowances collectible by such officer to be paid into the treasury from which his salary is paid.

The legislature is further authorized and empowered to delegate to the Russell county governing body its authority to regulate the salaries of county officers other than members of the county governing body.

Amendment 381 ratified

Fire Fighting Districts and Fire Protection in Russell County.

The county commission of Russell county is hereby authorized to establish fire fighting districts within such county and enter into agreements with volunteer fire departments within such county for fire protection and services. Said districts shall exclude any corporate municipality which does not request through its governing body by resolution to be made a part of and subject to the provisions of this amendment.

The county commission of Russell county shall, at its next meeting after passage and approval of this amendment, appoint a committee consisting of the chief of each volunteer fire department within the county. The purpose of this committee will be to keep the commission informed and advised as to the status and needs of the departments and to assist the commission in the setting of priorities regarding fire protection and services.

The county commission may, in its discretion, authorize the expenditure of public funds in support of any fire district.

The Russell county commission may, upon recommendation of this committee, appoint a county fire marshal whose principal duty shall be the coordination of all fire protection within the county. This fire marshal shall perform such other tasks related to fire protection as may from time to time be assigned to him by the county commission.

This amendment is not intended nor shall it be construed to limit the authority or scope of the volunteer fire departments within Russell county or their operation within said county.

Amendment 382 ratified

Additional Special District School Tax.

In addition to any and all taxes now authorized, or that may be hereafter authorized by the Constitution and laws of Alabama, the several school districts of any in the state shall have power to levy and collect an additional special district school tax not exceeding thirty cents on each one hundred dollars worth of taxable property in such district for public school purposes in addition to that now authorized or that may hereafter be authorized for public school purposes; provided, that a school district under this section shall include incorporated cities or towns, or any school district of which an incorporated city or town is a part, or such other school districts now existing or hereafter formed as may be approved by the county board of education; provided, further, that the rate of such tax, the time it is to continue and the purpose thereof shall have been first submitted to the vote of the qualified electors of the district, and voted for a majority of those voting at such election.

Amendment 383 ratified

Indemnification Program for Peanut Farmers.

The legislature may hereafter, by general law, provide for an indemnification program to peanut farmers for losses incurred as a result of Aspergillus flavus and freeze damage in peanuts. The legislature is further authorized to provide means and methods for the financing of any such indemnification program by prescribing a procedure whereby peanut growers may by referendum among such growers levy upon themselves and collect assessments, fees or charges upon the sale of peanuts for the financing of any such indemnification program in cooperation with buyers, processors, dealers and handlers of peanuts; provided, no assessment levied hereunder shall exceed five dollars per ton on any peanuts sold by peanut growers. The legislature shall provide for the collection and distribution of any such assessments and provide penalties for fraud in the collection or distribution of such assessments. The legislature shall provide for the designation of a nonprofit association or organization organized for the promotion and betterment of peanut production to administer and carry out such indemnification program which shall include the conducting of elections or referendums among peanut growers and to cooperate with underwriters in executing a contract or contracts to cover claims for crop damage due to Aspergillus flavus or freeze damage. Assessments, fees or other charges collected or disbursed as authorized by any legislative act adopted in pursuance hereof shall not be considered as a tax within the meaning of this Constitution or any provision thereof.

Amendment 384 ratified

Additional Probate Judgeship for Jefferson County.

In Jefferson county there shall be an additional probate judgeship, designated probate judgeship No. 2. Such judge shall be learned in the law, over the age of twenty-five years and a resident of the county for one year next preceding the date of taking office. The additional judgeship shall be filled by appointment by the governor within ten days after the approval of this amendment by the electors and proclamation of the governor. The appointee shall hold office until his successor is elected and qualified as provided by Article VI. The judge for the additional judgeship shall be elected thereafter as are other probate judges in this state.

The existing probate judgeship in Jefferson county shall be designated judgeship No. 1. The present judge shall fill judgeship No. 1 and shall be the presiding judge. Candidates for the offices of probate judge in Jefferson county shall designate whether they are candidates for the office of the presiding judgeship which shall be designated probate judgeship No. 1 or for the office of probate judgeship No. 2.

The probate judge appointed or elected for probate judgeship No. 2 shall have and exercise all the jurisdiction, power, right and authority; he shall possess all of the qualifications, perform all of the duties required; and he shall be subject to all the pains and penalties of such office as any other such judge is subject to in Jefferson county.

The expense allowances and supplements of judgeship No. 2 shall be paid in the same manner and shall be in the same amount as that of the presiding probate judge in the county. The salary of judgeship No. 2 shall be in an amount equal to 95 percent of the salary of the presiding judge in the county.

The presiding judge of the probate court in Jefferson county shall have precedence and preside at any session of court which he attends. The presiding judge shall divide the work and business of the probate court among the judges and other employees of the court and shall assign the cases to the judges of said court. The presiding judge shall employ and appoint any and all clerks, clerical help and other assistants and court officers of the probate court allowed by law. The administrative powers and duties of the probate judges and the probate court shall be under the general authority, supervision and direction of the presiding judge. Whenever the probate judges cannot agree upon any administrative matter, the presiding judge shall decide and determine such administrative matter for said judges and the court.

Amendment 385 ratified

Special Property Tax in City of Demopolis.

The city of Demopolis shall have power to levy and collect a special property tax, in addition to all other taxes now or hereafter authorized by the Constitution and laws of Alabama, of five mills on each dollar of taxable property situated therein, for public educational purposes; provided that before such tax may be levied and collected the question of levying the tax, the purpose thereof, and the time such tax is proposed to be continued shall have been first submitted to a vote of the qualified electors of the city and voted for by a majority of those voting at the election. The provisions of this amendment shall become self-executing upon approval by a majority of the qualified electors of the state and the majority of qualified electors of the city of Demopolis voting thereon. The election shall be ordered, held and conducted as provided by law for calling, holding and conducting district school tax elections.

Amendment 386 ratified

Operation of Bingo Games By Nonprofit Organizations in Jefferson County.

The operation of bingo games for prizes or money by nonprofit organizations for charitable or educational purposes shall be legal in Jefferson county, subject to the provisions of any resolution or ordinance by the county governing body or the governing bodies of the respective cities and towns, within their respective jurisdictions. The said governing bodies shall have the authority to promulgate rules and regulations for the licensing and operation of bingo games, within their respective jurisdictions, provided, however, that said governing bodies must insure compliance with the following provisions:

(a) No person under the age of 19 shall be permitted to play any game or games of bingo, nor shall any person under the age of 19 be permitted to conduct or assist in the conduct of any game of bingo;

(b) No bingo license shall be issued to any nonprofit organization, unless such organization shall have been in existence for at least 24 months immediately prior to the issuance of the license;

(c) Bingo games shall be operated only on the premises owned or leased by the nonprofit organization operating the bingo game. If the premises is leased, the rate of rental shall not be based on a percentage of receipts or profits resulting from the operation of bingo games;

(d) No nonprofit organization shall enter into any contract with any individual, firm, association or corporation to have said individual or entity operate bingo games or concessions on behalf of the nonprofit organization, nor shall said nonprofit organization pay consulting fees to any individual or entity for any services performed in relation to the operation or conduct of a bingo game;

(e) A nonprofit organization shall not lend its name or allow its identity to be used by any other person or entity in the operating or advertising of a bingo game in which said nonprofit organization is not directly and solely operating said bingo game;

(f) Prizes given by any nonprofit organization for the playing of bingo games shall not exceed $1,200.00 in cash or gifts of equivalent value during any bingo session or $2,400.00 in cash or gifts of equivalent value during any calendar week;

(g) No person or organization, by whatever name or composition thereof, shall take any salary, expense money, or fees as remuneration for services rendered in the operation of any bingo game.

Amendment 387 ratified

Operation of Bingo Games by Nonprofit Organizations in Madison County.

The operation of bingo games for prizes or money by nonprofit organizations for charitable or educational purposes shall be legal in Madison county, subject to the provisions of any resolution or ordinance by the county governing body or the governing bodies of the respective cities and towns, within their respective jurisdictions. The said governing bodies shall have the authority to promulgate rules and regulations for the licensing and operation of bingo games, within their respective jurisdictions, provided, however, that said governing bodies must insure compliance with the following provisions:

(a) No person under the age of 19 shall be permitted to play any game or games of bingo, nor shall any person under the age of 19 be permitted to conduct or assist in the conduct of any game of bingo;

(b) No bingo license shall be issued to any nonprofit organization, unless such organization shall have been in existence for at least 23 months immediately prior to the issuance of the license;

(c) Bingo games shall be operated only on the premises owned or leased by the nonprofit organization operating the bingo game. If the premises is leased, the rate of rental shall not be based on a percentage of receipts or profits resulting from the operation of bingo games;

(d) No nonprofit organization shall enter into any contract with any individual, firm, association or corporation to have said individual or entity operate bingo games or concessions on behalf of the nonprofit organization, nor shall said nonprofit organization pay consulting fees to any individual or entity for any services performed in relation to the operation or conduct of a bingo game;

(e) A nonprofit organization shall not lend its name or allow its identity to be used by any other person or entity in the operating or advertising of a bingo game in which said nonprofit organization is not directly and solely operating said bingo game;

(f) Prizes given by any nonprofit organization for the playing of bingo games shall not exceed $1,000.00 in cash or gifts of equivalent value during any bingo session or $2,000.00 in cash or gifts of equivalent value during any calendar week;

(g) No person or organization, by whatever name or composition thereof, shall take any salary, expense money, or fees as remuneration for services rendered in the operation of any bingo game.

Amendment 388 ratified

Promotion of Production, Distribution, etc., of Peanuts, Milk and Cotton.

The legislature may hereafter, by general law, provide for the promotion of the production, distribution, improvement, marketing, use and sale of peanuts, milk and cotton. The legislature may provide for the promotion of peanuts, milk and cotton and peanut, milk and cotton products by research, education, advertising and other methods, and the legislature is further authorized to provide means and methods for the financing of any such promotional activity by prescribing a procedure whereby growers of peanuts, and producers of milk and cotton may by referendum among such growers and producers levy upon themselves and collect assessments, fees or charges upon the sale of peanuts, milk and cotton for the financing of any such promotional program or activity in cooperation with buyers, processors, dealers and handlers of peanuts, milk and cotton. The legislature may make provisions for the nonpayment of assessments by peanut growers and milk and cotton producers, and shall make provisions for the refund of assessments to any peanut growers and milk or cotton producers who do not desire to participate in an assessment program. The legislature shall provide for the collection, disbursement, distribution or expenditure of assessments or charges authorized hereunder and to provide penalties for failure to make collection and distribution of assessments. The legislature shall provide for the designation of a nonprofit association or organization for the promotion and betterment of peanuts, milk and cotton and peanut, milk and cotton products to administer and carry out such promotional program which shall include the conducting of elections or referendums among growers of peanuts and producers of milk and cotton. The legislature may provide the manner by which such referendum is held, including the procedure for application for approval to conduct the referendum, the appropriate action to be taken by the state board of agriculture and industries on such application, the requirements and eligibility of the association or organization which will conduct such referendum, the procedures for voting and eligibility to vote in such referendum, the details of the conduct of such referendum. The legislature shall further provide for the deposit, withdrawal, disbursement and expenditure by the designated association of any funds received subject to the supervision and control of the activities as authorized herein by the department of agriculture and industries and the state board of agriculture and industries. The legislature shall further provide a procedure whereby said association or organization is bonded, for the examination and auditing of said association or organization, and for reasonably necessary rules and regulations to be adopted by the state board of agriculture and industries to effectively carry out the intent and purposes herein enumerated.

The legislature shall provide, by enabling legislation, the definition of peanut growers and producers.

Assessments, fees or other charges collected as authorized by any legislative act adopted under authority hereof shall not be considered as a tax within the meaning of this Constitution or any provision thereof.

Any uniformity requirements of this Constitution shall be satisfied by the application of the program upon peanuts, milk and cotton.

Amendment 389 ratified

Validation of Certain Population Based Acts and Method for Amendment Thereof.

Any statute that was otherwise valid and constitutional that was enacted before January 13, 1978, by the legislature of this state and was a general act of local application on a population basis, that applied only to a certain county or counties or a municipality or municipalities of this state, shall not be declared invalid or unconstitutional by any court of this state because it was not properly advertised in compliance with section 106 of this Constitution.

All such population based acts shall forever apply only to the county or counties or municipality or municipalities to which they applied on January 13, 1978, and no other, despite changes in population.

The population based acts referred to above shall only be amended by acts which are properly advertised and passed by the legislature in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.

Amendment 390 ratified

Termination of Alimony Upon Remarriage or Cohabitation of Spouse.

The legislature may pass laws to provide for the termination of alimony upon the remarriage of the spouse receiving the alimony or upon such spouse living openly or cohabiting with a member of the opposite sex. Such laws may be made to apply retrospectively.

Amendment 391 ratified

Costs and Charges of Court and Compensation of Certain Officers of Escambia County.

The legislature may, from time to time, by general or local laws applicable to or operative in Escambia county and approved by a majority of the qualified electors of Escambia county at a referendum election, fix, regulate, and alter the costs and charges of court and the fees, commissions, allowances, and salaries, including the method and basis of their compensation, to be charged or received by the county officials of Escambia county; and may place any or all of such officials on a salary and provide for the fees, commissions, allowances, and percentages collectible by such officials to be paid into the treasury from which their salaries are paid.

In the event this amendment is approved and a majority of the qualified electors of said county who vote thereon vote in favor of the adoption of this amendment when it is submitted, then any law theretofore passed which places any officials in Escambia county on a salary basis, or any law fixing, regulating, and altering the costs and charges of court and the fees, commissions, allowances, and salaries of any official in Escambia county, may become effective without any other election having been held thereon. In the event this amendment is approved and a majority of the qualified electors of said county who vote thereon vote against its approval, then such act or acts shall have no further force or effect.

Amendment 392 ratified

Fire Fighting Districts and Fire Protection in Lee County.

The county commission of Lee county is hereby authorized to establish fire fighting districts within such county and enter into agreements with volunteer fire departments within such county for fire protection and services. Said districts shall exclude any corporate municipality which does not request through its governing body by resolution to be made a part of and subject to the provisions of this amendment.

The county commission of Lee county shall, at its next meeting after passage and approval of this amendment, appoint a committee consisting of the chief of each volunteer fire department within the county. The purpose of this committee will be to keep the commission informed and advised as to the status and needs of the departments and to assist the commission in the setting of priorities regarding fire protection and services.

The county commission may, in its discretion, authorize the expenditure of public funds in support of any fire district.

The Lee county commission may, upon recommendation of this committee, appoint a county fire marshal whose principle [principal] duty shall be the coordination of all fire protection within the county. This fire marshal shall perform such other tasks related to fire protection as may from time to time be assigned to him by the county commission.

This amendment is not intended nor shall it be construed to limit the authority or scope of the volunteer fire departments within Lee county or their operation within said county.

Amendment 393 ratified

Amendment of Amendment No. 351.

It is hereby proposed that Amendment CCCLI [351] to the Constitution of Alabama which was proposed as Act No. 545, Regular Session, 1975, and proclaimed ratified by the Governor of Alabama on January 22nd, 1976, as amended, be further amended by inserting the words "and other general health purposes; provided however, the portion of such tax, levied and collected, allocated to general health purposes shall in no event exceed fifty percent (50%) of such tax, levied and collected;" in the first sentence of Amendment CCCLI [351] so that the first sentence of said Amendment CCCLI [351] shall read as follows:

The legislature may authorize the levy and collection of a one mill ad valorem tax in Mobile county on real and personal property that is subject to such tax under the laws of this state for the purpose of controlling mosquitos, rodents and other vectors of public health and welfare significance and other general health purposes; provided however, the portion of such tax, levied and collected, allocated to general health purposes shall in no event exceed fifty percent (50%) of such tax, levied and collected; and any acts of the legislature on this subject applicable to Mobile county that were enacted prior to the adoption of this amendment are hereby validated and reconfirmed.

Amendment 394 ratified

Alabama Heritage Trust Fund.

Section 1. Creation of Trust Fund. For the continuing benefit of the state of Alabama and the citizens thereof, there is hereby created an irrevocable, permanent trust fund named "The Alabama Heritage Trust Fund" which shall be funded and administered in accordance with the provisions of this amendment.

Section 2. Definitions. As used in this amendment, the following words and phrases shall have the following respective meanings:

"ALABAMA HOUSING FINANCE AUTHORITY" means (i) the public corporation and instrumentality of the state organized pursuant to the provisions of Act No. 80-585 enacted at the 1980 Regular Session of the legislature or (ii) any other public corporation and instrumentality of the state which performs substantially the same functions as said corporation organized pursuant to said Act No. 80-585 and which is declared by the legislature to be a successor thereto or replacement thereof.

"AMORTIZED PREMIUM", when used with reference to any eligible investment acquired for a purchase price (exclusive of accrued interest) reflecting a premium above the face or par amount thereof, means an amount determined by first dividing the total dollar amount of the premium at which such investment was purchased by the number of days between the date of purchase and the maturity of such investment (or other date when the principal thereof is contractually required to be paid to the holder thereof) and by then multiplying the quotient so obtained by the number of days between the date of purchase and the date as of which such amount is to be determined.

"BOARD" means the board of trustees of the trust fund.

"COMMISSION" means the "Alabama Heritage Trust Fund Legislative Oversight Commission" created in this amendment.

"ELIGIBLE INVESTMENTS" means any of the following:

(1) Demand deposits (whether or not interest bearing) in federally insured banks, interest bearing time deposits (whether or not evidenced by certificates of deposit) in federally insured banks, and banker's acceptances endorsed and guaranteed by federally insured banks; provided that non-interest bearing deposits shall constitute an eligible investment for moneys in the trust fund for only so long as sound business practice shall require such moneys to be held in such deposits pending the investment thereof in other eligible investments or the disbursement thereof in accordance with the provisions of this amendment; provided further that the aggregate amount of deposits (including both demand and time deposits) of the trust fund in any one bank at any time plus the aggregate amount of banker's acceptances of such bank then held by the trust fund (i) shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the total trust capital and (ii) shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the combined capital, surplus and undivided profits of such bank unless any excess of the combined amount of deposits and banker's acceptances over ten percent of such combined capital, surplus and undivided profits shall be secured by obligations described in subdivisions (2) and (3) of this definition having at all times a market value (exclusive of accrued interest) at least equal to such excess amount of deposits and banker's acceptances, including accrued interest thereon;

(2) Bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness that are direct obligations of the United States of America or that are unconditionally guaranteed as to both principal and interest by the United States of America;

(3) Bonds, debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued or guaranteed by any of the following agencies or corporations: Federal Farm Credit Bank, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, Federal Land Banks, the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Governmental National Mortgage Association, the Federal Financing Bank, the Farmers Home Administration, or any agency or instrumentality of the United States of America which shall be established for the purpose of acquiring the obligations of any of the foregoing or otherwise providing financing therefor;

(4) Repurchase agreements with federally insured banks or with government bond dealers reporting to and trading with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, provided that such repurchase agreements are secured by obligations described in subdivisions (2) and (3) of this definition; and

(5) Interest bearing time deposits (whether or not evidenced by certificates of deposit) in savings and loan associations (a) the deposits of which are insured to the maximum extent possible by the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation or any agency of the United States of America that may succeed to its functions and (b) the principal office of which is located in the state; provided further that the aggregate amount of deposits of the trust fund in any one savings and loan association at any time (i) shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the total trust capital and (ii) shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the net worth of such savings and loan association unless any excess of the amount of deposits over ten percent (10%) of such net worth shall be secured by obligations described in subdivisions (2) and (3) of this definition having at all times a market value (exclusive of accrued interest) at least equal to such excess amount of deposits, including accrued interest thereon.

"FEDERALLY INSURED BANK" means any bank, whether organized under the laws of the United States of America or the laws of any state thereof, which is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or which obtains deposit insurance to the maximum extent possible from any agency of the United States of America that may succeed to the functions of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

"FISCAL YEAR" means the fiscal year of the state as may from time to time be provided by law.

"OIL AND GAS CAPITAL PAYMENT" means any payment (except any royalty or other payment described in the last sentence of this definition) received by the state or any agency or instrumentality thereof as all or part of the consideration for the sale, leasing or other disposition by the state or any agency or instrumentality thereof of any right to explore and drill for or to produce oil, gas or other hydrocarbon minerals in any area on the water side of the high water mark of Mobile Bay or in any other offshore area. Any royalty or other payment that is based upon, or determined with respect to, the production of oil, gas or other hydrocarbon minerals and that is paid to the state or any agency or instrumentality thereof in advance of the actual realization of the production upon which it is based or with respect to which it is determined shall be considered an oil and gas capital payment irrespective of whether it is to be credited, in whole or in part, against future payments based upon, or determined with respect to, the actual production of oil, gas or other hydrocarbon minerals. No royalty or other payment shall be considered an oil and gas capital payment if it is based upon, or determined with respect to, the production of oil, gas or other hydrocarbon minerals actually realized at or prior to the time such royalty or other payment is remitted to the state or any agency or instrumentality thereof.

"STATE" means the state of Alabama.

"TRUST CAPITAL" means all assets of the trust fund other than trust income that is at the time subject to appropriation by the legislature and has not become part of the trust capital.

"TRUST FUND" means "The Alabama Heritage Trust Fund" created by this amendment.

"TRUST INCOME", when used with reference to any period, means the net income received during such period from the investment and reinvestment of all assets of the trust fund, determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 5(c) of this amendment.

"TRUSTEE" means a member of the board of trustees of the trust fund.

Section 3. Management of Trust Fund Vested in Board of Trustees. (a) The trust fund shall be under the management and control of the board, and all powers necessary or appropriate for the management and control of the trust fund shall be vested solely in the board. The board shall have a membership of nine trustees consisting of the governor, the state treasurer, the director of finance (or such other official as may by law succeed to the responsibilities of the director of finance), two trustees appointed by the governor, two trustees appointed by the lieutenant governor, and two trustees appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives. The governor, the state treasurer and the director of finance shall each serve as a trustee ex officio, and the service of each such official as a trustee shall begin and end concurrently with the beginning and end of his or her tenure in such office. As promptly as practicable after the effective date of this amendment, the other trustees shall be appointed for the following initial terms: The trustees to be appointed by the governor shall be appointed for terms beginning immediately upon their respective appointments and ending at noon on October 1 in the first and second calendar years, respectively, next following the calendar year in which this amendment shall become effective; the trustees to be appointed by the lieutenant governor shall be appointed for a term beginning immediately upon his or her appointment and ending at noon on October 1 in the third calendar year next following the calendar year in which this amendment shall become effective; and the trustees to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives shall be appointed for a term beginning immediately upon his or her appointment and ending at noon on October 1 in the fourth calendar year next following the calendar year in which this amendment shall become effective. Thereafter, the term of office of each appointed trustee shall be six years, commencing at noon on the October 1 on which the term of the immediate predecessor trustee shall end.

(b) If at any time there shall be a vacancy among the appointed trustees, a successor trustee shall be appointed to serve for the unexpired term applicable to such vacancy. The appointment of each appointed trustee (other than those initially appointed), whether for a full six-year term or to complete an unexpired term, shall be made by the same officer of the state who appointed the trustee whose term shall have expired or is to expire or in whose position on the board a vacancy otherwise exists and shall be made not earlier than thirty (30) days prior to the date on which such trustee is to take office as such. Each appointed trustee shall hold office from the effective date of his or her appointment until his or her confirmation or rejection by the senate as provided in subsection (c) of this section, and, if confirmed by the senate, until the expiration of the term (or portion thereof) for which he or she was appointed; provided that if the term of any trustee shall expire prior to the reappointment of such trustee or prior to the appointment of his or her successor, such trustee shall continue to serve until his or her successor is appointed, and if such trustee is reappointed for a new term after the expiration of the immediately preceding term which he or she has been serving, his or her new term of office shall be deemed to have commenced at noon on the October 1 on which the immediately preceding term shall have expired. Trustees shall be eligible for reappointment without limit as to the number of terms previously served.

(c) At the beginning of every regular session of the legislature the governor shall certify to the senate the names of all who shall have been appointed as trustees since the commencement of the last regular session of the legislature, and the senate shall confirm or reject each of them as it shall determine to be in the best interests of the state. If the senate takes no action during such regular session with respect to any trustee whose appointment was so certified, such trustee shall be deemed to have been confirmed by the senate. If the senate rejects the appointment of any trustee, such rejection shall immediately terminate the service of such trustee and the resulting vacancy in the membership of the board shall be filled by a subsequent appointment made in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this section. Trustees appointed during a regular session of the legislature shall not be subject to confirmation or rejection by the senate until the regular session of the legislature next succeeding their appointment.

(d) Each appointed trustee shall, at the time of his or her appointment and at all times during his or her term of office, be a qualified elector of the state, and a failure by any trustee to remain so qualified during such term shall cause a vacancy of the office of such trustee. Each appointed trustee shall have recognized competence and experience in the evaluation and management of investments. No person holding a full-time office or position of employment with the United States of America, the state, any county or municipality in the state, or any instrumentality, agency or subdivision of any of the foregoing, shall be eligible for appointment as a trustee. Any person who is an appointed trustee shall be deemed to vacate his or her office as such trustee by the acceptance of any office or employment which, had such person held such office or been so employed at the time of his or her appointment as a trustee, would have rendered such person ineligible for appointment as a trustee. Service by any person as a member, director, trustee or other participant in the management or administration of any governmental agency, board or commission, or public educational institution, or other public body of the United States of America, the state, or any county or municipality or other political subdivision shall not render such person ineligible for appointment as a trustee unless such service constitutes full-time employment. Any appointed trustee may be impeached and removed from office as a trustee in the same manner and on the same grounds provided in Section 174 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, or successor provision thereof, and the general laws of the state for impeachment and removal of the officers of the state subject to said Section 174 or successor provision thereof. The governor, the state treasurer and the director of finance may not be impeached and removed from office as a trustee apart from their impeachment and removal from the respective offices by virtue of which, ex officio, they serve as trustees.

(e) The governor, the state treasurer and the director of finance shall perform the duties of trustees, ex officio, without any compensation other than that to which they are respectively entitled as governor, state treasurer and director of finance. Appointed trustees shall be entitled to such compensation for their services as may from time to time be provided by law duly enacted by the legislature, but the power to provide compensation of appointed trustees shall be discretionary with the legislature and nothing in this amendment shall be construed to confer upon such trustees an absolute right to any compensation for their services. Each appointed trustee shall be reimbursed for expenses actually incurred in the performance of his or her duties as a trustee.

(f) A majority of the trustees shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by the board, and decisions shall be made on the basis of a majority of the quorum then present and voting, with each trustee to have a single vote. No vacancy in the membership of the board or the voluntary disqualification or abstention of any trustee shall impair the right of a quorum to exercise all of the powers and duties of the board. The governor shall be the chairman and presiding officer of the board, and the board may appoint such other officers to perform such duties, not inconsistent with the provisions of this amendment or applicable law, as the board shall deem necessary or appropriate. In addition to such regular meetings of the board as may be provided by law or by bylaws or rules duly adopted by the board, special meetings of the board may be called by the governor acting alone or by any three other trustees acting in concert, in each case upon two days' notice to each trustee given in person or by registered letter or telegram; provided, however, that such notice to each trustee may be waived by such trustee, either before or after the meeting with respect to which such notice would otherwise be required. Any meeting held by the board for any purpose shall be open to the public, except that executive or secret sessions may be held by the board when the character or good name of a person is involved. All proceedings of the board shall be reduced to writing on behalf of the board and maintained in the permanent records of the board, a copy of which shall be filed in the principal office of the board and shall be open for public inspection there during regular business hours. The principal office of the board shall be the principal office of the director of finance.

(g) No trustee shall vote on or participate in the discussion or consideration of any matter coming before the board in which such trustee, personally or through family connections or business associations, has any direct or indirect pecuniary interest, including, but without limitation thereto, decisions of the board concerning the investment of moneys constituting part of the trust fund in any deposit or obligation of any bank or corporation in which such trustee may have such an interest. If there shall be brought before the board any matter in which a trustee shall have any interest which may conflict with his duties as a trustee, he or she shall immediately make a complete disclosure to the board of such interest and shall thereafter withdraw from participation in any deliberation and decision of the board with respect to such matter.

(h) The board shall have all of the powers necessary to carry out and effectuate the purposes and provisions of this amendment, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the following powers:

(1) To adopt, alter and repeal bylaws, regulations and rules for the regulation and conduct of its affairs and business;

(2) To make, enter into and execute contracts, agreements and other instruments and to take such other actions as may be necessary or convenient to accomplish any purpose for which the trust fund was created or to exercise any power expressly, or by reasonable implication, granted by this amendment;

(3) To enter into contracts with, to accept aid and grants from, to cooperate with and to do any and all things that may be necessary in order to avail itself of the aid and cooperation of the United States of America, the state or any agency, instrumentality or political subdivision of either thereof in furtherance of the purposes of this amendment; and

(4) To appoint, employ and contract with such employees, agents, advisors and consultants, including, but not limited to, attorneys, accountants, financial experts and such other advisors, consultants and agents as may in its judgment be necessary or desirable, and to fix their compensation;

provided, however, that any obligation created or assumed by the board shall not create any pecuniary obligation or liability of the state or the trust fund other than such as shall be payable out of moneys appropriated by the legislature to defray the expenses of the board in carrying out the purposes of this amendment. No lien or charge against any assets of the trust fund for any purpose whatsoever shall be created by or result from any law enacted by the legislature or any action taken by the board or any other department, agency or instrumentality of the state.

(i) The expenses of making and disposing of investments such as brokerage commissions, legal expenses referable to a particular transaction, transfer taxes and other customary transactional expenses shall, as provided in Section 5(c) of this amendment, be payable from the investment income of the trust fund, but no administrative or other expenses not specifically required to make or dispose of a particular investment shall be payable out of any assets of the trust fund. The legislature shall provide for the administrative and other necessary expenses of the board in the same manner as it provides for the expenses of operating other departments and agencies of the state.

Section 4. Sources of Trust Capital. (a) There shall be transferred from the general fund of the state into the trust fund, as the initial trust capital, moneys in an amount equal to the sum of (i) all proceeds of any oil and gas capital payments received by the state at any time after January 1, 1981, and on or before November 1, 1981, and (ii) all income or profit derived from the investment and reinvestment of the proceeds of such oil and gas capital payments (including income or profit derived from the investment and reinvestment of previously derived income or profit) prior to the transfer of such proceeds into the trust fund, less and except the following:

(1) Any amount of such proceeds, income or profit which has been disbursed by the state, prior to the effective date of this amendment, for the use of the board of corrections pursuant to the provisions of Act No. 81-764 enacted at the 1981 Regular Session of the legislature;

(2) Any amount of such proceeds, income or profit which has been disbursed by the state, prior to the effective date of this amendment, for the use of the department of mental health pursuant to the provisions of Act No. 81-770 enacted at the 1981 Regular Session of the legislature;

(3) Any amount of such proceeds, income or profit which has been appropriated by the legislature, prior to the effective date of this amendment, for the use or benefit of the Alabama Housing Finance Authority and which, as of the effective date of this amendment, is required by any then applicable law to be held apart from the trust fund and not included with the moneys to be transferred into such fund as part of the initial trust capital;

(4) Any amount of such proceeds, income or profit not exceeding $6,000,000 which has been appropriated by the legislature, prior to the effective date of this amendment, for the reimbursement of the counties of the state for expenses incurred by such counties in the incarceration or confinement of convicts or other prisoners who are the responsibility of the state; and

(5) Any amount of such proceeds, income or profit not exceeding $10,000,000 which has been appropriated by the legislature, prior to the effective date of this amendment, for the support and encouragement of educational, agricultural and industrial activities involving basic and applied scientific research and development.

Promptly following the effective date of this amendment, the state treasurer shall take all actions necessary to transfer to the board the possession, control and management of the initial trust capital. If at the time of such transfer into the trust fund all or part of the initial trust capital is invested in certificates of deposit or other investments which cannot be converted into cash prior to the maturity thereof without loss of interest or other penalty, the state treasurer shall directly transfer such certificates of deposit or other investments to the board as part of the initial trust capital without first converting the same into cash. In the event that any certificates of deposit or other investments shall be transferred into the trust fund, the initial trust capital shall include only the income or profit from such certificates of deposit or other investments that has been received by the state on or before such transfer or that constitutes accrued interest, amortized discount or other amounts which, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, should be considered as having been earned by the state as of the date of such transfer. To the extent that any income or profit derived from such certificates of deposit or other investments is referable to any period after the transfer thereof into the trust fund, such income or profit shall constitute trust income and shall not constitute part of the trust capital (except to the extent otherwise provided by Section 5(a) of this amendment). Any provision of this amendment to the contrary notwithstanding, no oil and gas capital payment received by the state after November 1, 1981, or any income from the investment thereof, shall, unless subsequently authorized by law, be transferred into the trust fund.

(b) The trust capital shall be augmented by any trust income which, as provided in Section 5(a) of this amendment, shall have remained in the trust fund beyond the end of the fiscal year next succeeding the fiscal year during which it was received without having been appropriated for any purpose by act of the legislature. The trust capital shall also consist of (i) such other moneys or assets as the legislature may by law appropriate and transfer to the trust fund as a permanent part thereof and (ii) such other moneys or assets as may be contributed to the trust fund from any source.

Section 5. Investment of Moneys in Trust Fund; Appropriation of Trust Income. (a) Except to the extent otherwise provided in Section 6 of this amendment, the trust capital shall be held in perpetual trust and shall not be appropriated by the legislature or expended or disbursed for any purpose other than to acquire eligible investments in accordance with the provisions of this amendment. All eligible investments acquired, in whole or in part, with moneys constituting part of the trust capital shall to the extent of such moneys constitute part of the trust capital, but any trust income derived therefrom shall be subject to appropriation and withdrawal by the legislature to the extent provided in this amendment. Until and including the last day of the fiscal year next succeeding the fiscal year during which any trust income shall be received into the trust fund, the legislature may at any time and from time to time, whether before or after the actual receipt of such trust income, enact laws appropriating all or any part of such trust income for any lawful purpose, and any trust income so appropriated may be withdrawn from the trust fund at any time after the receipt thereof; provided, however, that the right of the legislature to appropriate any trust income prior to the actual receipt thereof shall not be construed to authorize the recognition and withdrawal of any moneys equivalent to such trust income prior to the actual receipt thereof into the trust fund. If any trust income shall not be appropriated by a law which becomes effective on or before the last day of the fiscal year next succeeding that during which it was received, such trust income shall thereafter cease to be subject to appropriation and shall become part of the trust capital to be held in the trust fund on the same terms and conditions as are applicable to all other assets constituting the trust capital. Any trust income appropriated by a law becoming effective on or before the last day of the fiscal year next succeeding that during which it was received shall remain trust income even though it is permitted to remain in the trust fund after the end of such fiscal year, and any such trust income shall be subject to withdrawal from the trust fund at any time thereafter in the manner provided by law for the purposes for which it shall theretofore have been appropriated.

(b) To the extent practicable, the board shall keep all moneys at any time held in the trust fund (including both trust capital and trust income) invested in such eligible investments as shall, in its sole and uncontrolled judgment, produce the greatest trust income over the term of such investments while preserving the trust capital. In making any investment of moneys held in the trust fund, the board shall exercise the judgment and care, under the circumstances prevailing at the time of such investment, which an institutional investor of the highest standard of prudence, intelligence and financial expertise would exercise in the management and investment of large assets entrusted to it not for the purpose of speculative profit but for the permanent generation and disposition of funds, considering the probable safety of capital as well as the expected amount and frequency of income. The board shall have full power and authority to select the eligible investments in which moneys held in the trust fund shall at any time be invested, and, to the extent not inconsistent with any express provision of this amendment, the eligible investments so selected shall be acquired from such issuers, underwriters, brokers or other sellers on such terms and conditions, shall be acquired for purchase prices reflecting such discount below or premium above the par or face amount thereof, shall bear such dates and be in such form, denominations and series, shall mature or be subject to mandatory redemption on such dates, shall bear interest at such rate or rates payable at such intervals or, alternatively, shall provide income to the holder thereof in such other manner (including, without limitation thereto, the purchase of such investments at a discount which represents all or part of the income or profit to be derived therefrom), shall be unsecured or secured in such manner, shall contain such provisions for prepayment or redemption at the option of the issuer or obligor, and shall contain or be subject to such other provisions as shall, in all of the foregoing respects, be determined by the board in the exercise of its sole and uncontrolled judgment. The board shall have full power and authority to invest the trust capital in long-term investments producing trust income in accordance with such schedule as the board shall, in the exercise of its sole and uncontrolled judgment, determine to be in the best interests of the state, and in determining such schedule the board may emphasize future benefits in preference to near-term needs. The board shall have complete and uncontrolled discretion in making decisions as to when moneys in the trust fund shall be invested, as to the purchase price or other acquisition cost to be paid or incurred in acquiring investments for the trust fund, as to when investments constituting part of the trust fund shall be sold, liquidated or otherwise disposed of, and, notwithstanding the provisions of Section 100 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as to the amount and nature of the price or other consideration to be received by the trust fund upon the sale, liquidation or other disposition of investments constituting part of the trust fund; provided, however, that to the extent the provisions of this amendment authorize the withdrawal of moneys from the trust fund (including both trust capital and trust income) pursuant to appropriation by the legislature, the board shall invest the moneys so subject to withdrawal in investments which shall mature or otherwise be subject to liquidation on such terms as will provide cash when required for withdrawal from the trust fund. No law shall be enacted nor any action taken by the executive department of the state which impairs or interferes with the power, authority and discretion conferred upon the board by this amendment with respect to the acquisition, management, control and disposition of investments at any time constituting part of the trust fund.

(c) The trust income for any period shall be the net income (determined as hereinafter provided) actually received in cash or cash equivalents during such period from the investment and reinvestment of all moneys held in the trust fund (including both moneys representing trust capital and moneys representing previously received trust income that has not become part of the trust capital). No accrual or other accounting calculation or classification shall constitute the basis for recognizing trust income unless the moneys in question shall have been actually received and paid into the trust fund. The trust income for any period shall consist of the aggregate interest received from investments during such period plus any profit realized during such period from any payment, sale, liquidation or other disposition of investments resulting in the receipt of an amount greater than the purchase price thereof, less (i) any negative audit adjustments to income and any losses with respect to investments which are required to be charged against the income of the trust fund for such period pursuant to the provisions of subsection (d) of this section, (ii) any accrued interest paid as part of the purchase price of investments acquired during such period, and (iii) all expenses of selling and disposing of investments during such period such as brokerage commissions, legal expenses referable to a particular transaction, transfer taxes and other customary transactional expenses. For purposes of determining the amount of the trust capital at any time held in the trust fund, any investment acquired for a purchase price reflecting a discount below its face or par amount shall, at all times prior to its payment, sale, liquidation or other disposition, be valued at its original purchase price. If any investment is acquired for a purchase price reflecting a premium above its face or par amount, then, for purposes of calculating trust income, the cumulative interest or other income theretofore received from such investment as of any time shall be reduced by the then applicable amortized premium of such investment. For purposes of determining the amount of trust capital at any time held in the trust fund, any investment acquired for a purchase price reflecting a premium above its face or par amount shall, at all times prior to its payment, sale, liquidation or other disposition, be valued at its original purchase price less its then applicable amortized premium.

(d) The trust income shall be adjusted in accordance with the succeeding provisions of this subsection if the application of generally accepted accounting principles in connection with the annual audit of the trust fund requires any negative adjustment of income, including the recognition of any reduction in value or write off of investments for reasons relating to the probability of their payment or collectibility, or if any loss is realized upon any payment, sale, liquidation or other disposition of any investment resulting in the receipt of any amount less than the value thereof determined in accordance with the provisions of this amendment; provided, however, that no reduction in value of any investment shall be made because the rate of interest or other yield thereon has fallen below the market rates then applicable to comparable investments. Any audit adjustment resulting in a charge against income or any loss realized from the payment, sale, liquidation or other disposition of investments, as the case may be, shall be charged first against any trust income which, as of the time such adjustment is made or such loss is realized, has accumulated in the trust fund and is then available for withdrawal, whether or not theretofore appropriated, and if the amount to be so charged is greater than the amount of accumulated trust income subject to withdrawal, such amount shall be charged against trust income thereafter received in the current and succeeding fiscal years until the full amount of such audit adjustment or loss, as the case may be, has been recovered or made good out of the investment income of the trust fund, and from and after the time that such audit adjustment is made or such loss is realized, as the case may be, no income of the trust fund shall be considered trust income for purposes of this amendment until the full amount of such adjustment or loss shall have been so recovered or made good. In the event that, as a result of any audit adjustment or any realized loss, the aggregate amount of income appropriated and withdrawn from the trust fund as of any time during or at the end of any fiscal year exceeds the aggregate trust income which, taking into account such adjustment or loss, should have been available for withdrawal at or before such time, then, and in such event, the excess amount so withdrawn need not be returned to the trust fund from the general fund of the state or from any other source of funds available to the state, but the amount of such excess withdrawal shall be recovered through charges against future income of the trust fund as above provided.

(e) To the extent appropriate and not at the time prohibited by law, the board shall use the facilities of the state treasurer in the administration of the trust fund, including, but without limitation thereto, the keeping of records, the management of bank accounts, the transfer of funds and the safekeeping of securities evidencing investments.

(f) The board shall cause an annual audit of the trust fund to be performed for each fiscal year by the state auditor or, in the discretion of the board, by an independent accounting firm and shall cause a report of such audit to be prepared in accordance with applicable accounting principles and made public within ninety (90) days following the end of the fiscal year covered thereby. The board shall cause to be prepared and publicized such financial and other information concerning the trust fund as may from time to time be provided by law duly enacted by the legislature, but in the absence of any law directing the preparation and publication of different reports, the board shall cause to be prepared and made public, within thirty (30) days after the end of each quarterly period in each fiscal year, a report containing (i) a statement of the trust capital then held in the trust fund showing any changes thereto since the last quarterly report, (ii) a statement of the trust income then held in the trust fund showing receipts and withdrawals therefrom during the quarterly period in question and further showing the portion thereof previously appropriated and the portion thereof subject to appropriation but not then appropriated, (iii) a statement of the investments then held in the trust fund including descriptions thereof and the respective values thereof, (iv) a statement of the trust income received to date during the current fiscal year, (v) if such report covers the first, second or third quarterly period, an estimate of the trust income anticipated for the entire current fiscal year and for each of the remaining quarterly periods thereof, and (vi) an estimate of the trust income anticipated for the next succeeding fiscal year and in each of the quarterly periods thereof.

Section 6. Alternative Disposition of Certain Trust Fund Moneys. (a) By any duly enacted law or laws, whether becoming effective before or after the effective date of this amendment, the legislature may appropriate moneys constituting trust capital or trust income or a combination of both for the use or benefit of the Alabama Housing Finance Authority in such aggregate amount as, when added to any amount excluded from the initial trust capital pursuant to clause (3) of the first sentence of Section 4 of this amendment, shall not exceed the sum of $19,500,000. All or any part of the moneys so appropriated may be held in the trust fund until disbursed for the purpose for which appropriated, or all or any part of such moneys may be immediately withdrawn from the trust fund and transferred to the Alabama Housing Finance Authority for the use thereof or, alternatively, transferred to the state and held by it until used to pay expenses for and on behalf of such authority, all in accordance with such law or laws as may from time to time be enacted by the legislature.

(b) In order to provide an alternative source for the moneys appropriated for the use of the board of corrections pursuant to the provisions of Act No. 81-764 enacted at the 1981 Regular Session of the legislature, the legislature may, by any duly enacted law or laws, whether becoming effective before or after the effective date of this amendment, appropriate moneys constituting trust capital or trust income or a combination of both for the use of the board of corrections in making capital expenditures; provided, however, that the aggregate amount so appropriated for the use of the board of corrections and withdrawn from the trust fund shall not exceed an amount computed as the difference between $45,000,000 and the sum of (i) the amount excluded from the initial trust capital pursuant to clause (1) of the first sentence of Section 4 of this amendment and (ii) all other amounts at any time appropriated by the legislature from the proceeds of bonds of the state or other sources for the use of the board of corrections in substitution for or replacement of all or any part of the moneys appropriated pursuant to said Act No. 81-764.

(c) In order to provide an alternative source for the moneys appropriated for the use of the department of mental health pursuant to the provisions of Act No. 81-770 enacted at the 1981 Regular Session of the legislature, the legislature may, by any duly enacted law or laws, whether or not becoming effective before or after the effective date of this amendment, appropriate moneys constituting trust capital or trust income or a combination of both for the use of the department of mental health in making capital expenditures; provided, however, that the aggregate amount so appropriated for the use of the department of mental health and withdrawn from the trust fund shall not exceed an amount computed as the difference between $65,000,000 and the sum of (i) the amount excluded from the initial trust capital pursuant to clause (2) of the first sentence of Section 4 of this amendment and (ii) all other amounts at any time appropriated by the legislature from the proceeds of bonds of the state or other sources for the use of the department of mental health in substitution for or replacement of all or any part of the moneys appropriated pursuant to said Act No. 81-770.

Section 7. Limitation of Personal Liability of Trustees. An individual trustee shall not in any way be personally liable for any liability, loss or expense suffered by the trust fund unless such liability, loss or expense arises out of or results from the willful misconduct or wrongdoing of such trustee.

Section 8. Legislative Oversight Commission. (a) There is hereby created the Alabama Heritage Trust Fund Legislative Oversight Commission to consist of the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house, and five members each from the house of representatives and the senate to be appointed by the speaker of the house and the lieutenant governor, respectively. If the legislature is in regular session at the time this amendment shall become effective, the original members of the commission shall be appointed at such regular session, and if the legislature is not in regular session at the time this amendment shall become effective, the members of the commission shall be appointed at the next regular session of the legislature. The original members of the commission shall serve for the remainder of their elected terms of office as members of the legislature, and the terms of office of members of the commission shall thereafter correspond to the full four-year terms for which members of the legislature are elected. If at any time there shall be a vacancy among the appointed members of the commission, a successor shall be appointed from the same body of the legislature as that to which the previous incumbent belonged, and such successor shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term of such previous incumbent.

(b) The commission shall hold an organizational meeting at the state capitol within ten (10) days after the appointment of the original members thereof, and shall elect a chairman and vice chairman from among its members. Thereafter, the commission shall meet, from time to time, at the call of the chairman or vice chairman or upon the request of seven or more members, with such notice and in accordance with such procedure as shall be prescribed by the rules of the commission.

(c) The commission shall adopt its own rules of procedure for the transaction of business, except as otherwise provided in this amendment. A majority of the members of the commission shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of transacting any business or performing any authorized duties. All members of the commission, including both those who serve ex officio and those who are appointed, shall have an equal vote. The commission shall keep full and complete minutes in writing of its proceedings, and every action taken shall be authorized by duly adopted resolution recorded in such minutes.

(d) Each member of the commission shall be entitled to his or her regular legislative compensation and per diem and travel expenses for each day he or she attends a meeting or conducts business of the commission, and such compensation and expenses shall be paid as provided by law out of the funds from time to time appropriated by the legislature to pay the expenses of administering the trust fund.

(e) The commission shall monitor and evaluate the management of the trust fund by the board, shall report to the legislature on both the present and future availability of trust income for appropriation by the legislature, and shall recommend to the legislature the enactment of such laws respecting the trust fund as the commission shall deem desirable; provided, however, that nothing contained in this amendment respecting the commission shall be construed to authorize the legislature to enact laws inconsistent with the express provisions of this amendment.

Section 9. Amendment Self-Executing. This amendment shall be self-executing, but the legislature shall have the right and power to enact laws supplemental to this amendment and in furtherance of the purposes and objectives thereof, provided that such laws are not inconsistent with the express provisions of this amendment.

Amendment 395 ratified

Issuance of Interest Bearing Bonds for Specified Purposes.

The state of Alabama is authorized to become indebted and to sell and issue its interest bearing bonds, in addition to all other bonds of the state, in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $520,000,000. The expenses incurred in the sale and issuance of said bonds shall be paid out of the proceeds derived from the sale thereof. The proceeds of said bonds shall be paid into the state treasury, shall be kept continually invested pending the expenditure thereof, and shall, together with the income derived from the investment and reinvestment thereof (including income derived from the investment and reinvestment of previously derived income), be retained in one or more separate accounts of the state treasury until expended for the purposes authorized in this amendment and in the manner provided by law. The proceeds of said bonds remaining after payment of the expenses of selling and issuing the same, together with the investment income derived from said proceeds, shall be used solely for the purpose of paying the capital costs of public facilities and works of internal improvement consisting of (i) public roads, streets, highways and bridges, (ii) buildings, equipment and other facilities for public schools, public technical and vocational schools and public institutions of higher education, (iii) state prisons, facilities for the housing, training, education or rehabilitation of prisoners, and other facilities necessary or useful in connection with prisons and other penal or correctional facilities, (iv) mental hospitals and other mental health facilities, (v) the improvement of navigation in Mobile Harbor by the deepening and widening of channels therein and the construction and installation of dock and wharf facilities in Mobile Harbor and on navigable inland waterways, (vi) the renovation and restoration of buildings in the main governmental complex of the state, including the State Capitol Building and the present headquarters office building of the state highway department, (vii) the construction and equipment of a new headquarters office building for the state highway department, (viii) facilities for the Alabama department of youth services, (ix) the renovation and restoration of the State Coliseum in Montgomery county, (x) public parks and park facilities, the acquisition of land for conservation and preservation by the Alabama department of conservation and natural resources, the planting of shells to be used as mulch for the improvement of oyster cultivation and other maricultural activities in Alabama coastal waters, bays and sounds, and (xi) equipment for the Alabama Educational Television Commission.

The legislature shall enact appropriate implementing laws to provide for the sale and issuance of the bonds authorized by this amendment, to appropriate and allocate the proceeds thereof, together with the investment income derived from said proceeds, among the hereinbefore described purposes, and otherwise to carry out the intent and purpose of this amendment.

The state of Alabama is also authorized to become indebted and to sell and issue one or more series of bonds to refund all or any of the bonds authorized by this amendment in such principal amount or amounts (which may exceed the principal amount of the bonds being refunded) and in such manner as may be provided by law duly enacted by the legislature.

All bonds issued pursuant to this amendment (including refunding bonds) may be sold at public or private sale, with or without competitive bidding, to such person or persons, at such price or prices and upon such terms as the governor, the director of finance and the state treasurer shall determine to be in the best interests of the state. All such bonds (including refunding bonds) shall be direct, general obligations of the state, and the full faith and credit of the state are hereby irrevocably pledged for the prompt and faithful payment of the principal of said bonds and the interest and premium (if any) thereon.

Amendment 396 ratified

Payment by State of Expenses Incurred by Alabama Housing Finance Authority.

Any provision of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901 or amendments thereto to the contrary notwithstanding, the legislature may from time to time by law provide for the payment by the state of Alabama of expenses incurred by the Alabama Housing Finance Authority (organized pursuant to the provisions of Act No. 80-585 enacted at the 1980 Regular Session of the legislature) in the exercise of the powers granted to it by law, including, but without limitation, expenses incurred by the Alabama Housing Finance Authority in the issuance of its bonds and the utilization of the proceeds therefrom to make or acquire mortgage loans to private persons, firms or corporations that are secured by mortgages on single or multi-family residential property located in the state. The legislature may appropriate moneys from any available source for the direct payment of such expenses or it may authorize the transfer of moneys to the Alabama Housing Finance Authority to be used for that purpose. Notwithstanding the payment by the state, either directly or indirectly, in any manner authorized herein, of the expenses incurred by the Alabama Housing Finance Authority, no bonds or others evidences of indebtedness issued by the Alabama Housing Finance Authority shall be deemed to constitute an indebtedness of the state within the meaning of any constitutional or statutory provision whatsoever, nor shall any action taken by the Alabama Housing Finance Authority be deemed to constitute a lending of money or credit by the state to any individual, association, or corporation, or a participation by the state in works of internal improvement, within the meaning of Section 93 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended.

This amendment shall have no force and effect after December 31, 1983, and shall not constitute a part of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901 after such date, but the expiration thereof on such date shall not be considered by any court as a reason for holding unconstitutional any law which would have been constitutional without the adoption of this amendment.

Amendment 397 ratified

Amendment of Section 110. SECTION 110

"General law," "local law" and "special law" defined.

A general law is a law which in its terms and effect applies either to the whole state, or to one or more municipalities of the state less than the whole in a class. A general law applicable to such a class of municipalities shall define the class on the basis of criteria reasonably related to the purpose of the law, provided that the legislature may also enact and change from time to time a general schedule of not more than eight classes of municipalities based on population according to any designated federal decennial census, and general laws for any purpose may thereafter be enacted for any such class. Any law heretofore enacted which complies with the provisions of this section shall be considered a general law.

No general law which at the time of its enactment applies to only one municipality of the state shall be enacted, unless notice of the intention to apply therefor shall have been given and shown as provided in Section 106 of this Constitution for special, private or local laws; provided, that such notice shall not be deemed to constitute such law a local law.

A special or private law is one which applies to an individual, association or corporation. A local law is a law which is not a general law or a special or private law.

Act No. 79-263 (House Bill No. 68) entitled "An Act to establish eight classes of municipalities, by population, based on the 1970 Federal decennial census" approved June 28, 1979, and each and every Act of the legislature thereafter enacted referred or relating to a class of municipalities as established in said Act No. 79-263 are hereby in all things ratified, approved, validated and confirmed as of the date of their enactment, any provision or provisions of the Constitution of Alabama, as amended, to the contrary notwithstanding.

Amendment 397 ratified

Amendment of Section 110. SECTION 110

"General law," "local law" and "special law" defined.

A general law is a law which in its terms and effect applies either to the whole state, or to one or more municipalities of the state less than the whole in a class. A general law applicable to such a class of municipalities shall define the class on the basis of criteria reasonably related to the purpose of the law, provided that the legislature may also enact and change from time to time a general schedule of not more than eight classes of municipalities based on population according to any designated federal decennial census, and general laws for any purpose may thereafter be enacted for any such class. Any law heretofore enacted which complies with the provisions of this section shall be considered a general law.

No general law which at the time of its enactment applies to only one municipality of the state shall be enacted, unless notice of the intention to apply therefor shall have been given and shown as provided in Section 106 of this Constitution for special, private or local laws; provided, that such notice shall not be deemed to constitute such law a local law.

A special or private law is one which applies to an individual, association or corporation. A local law is a law which is not a general law or a special or private law.

Act No. 79-263 (House Bill No. 68) entitled "An Act to establish eight classes of municipalities, by population, based on the 1970 Federal decennial census" approved June 28, 1979, and each and every Act of the legislature thereafter enacted referred or relating to a class of municipalities as established in said Act No. 79-263 are hereby in all things ratified, approved, validated and confirmed as of the date of their enactment, any provision or provisions of the Constitution of Alabama, as amended, to the contrary notwithstanding.

Amendment 399 ratified

Amendment of Section 264. SECTION 264

Board of trustees of state university.

The state university shall be under the management and control of a board of trustees, which shall consist of two members from each congressional district in the state, an additional member from the congressional district which includes the site of the first campus of the university, the superintendent of education, and the governor, who shall be ex officio president of the board. The members of the board of trustees as now constituted shall hold office until their respective terms expire under existing law, and until their successors shall be elected and confirmed as hereinafter required. The additional trustees provided for by this amendment shall be elected by the existing members of the board, and confirmed by the senate in the manner provided below, for initial terms of not more than six years established by the board so that one term shall expire each three years in each congressional district. Successors to the terms of the existing and additional trustees shall hold office for a term of six years, and shall not serve more than three consecutive full six-year terms on the board; provided however that a trustee shall retire from the board and vacate office at the annual meeting of the board following that trustee's seventieth birthday. Election of additional and successor trustees or of trustees to fill any vacancy created by the expiration of a term or by the death or resignation of any member or from any other cause shall be by the remaining members of the board by secret ballot; provided, that any trustee so elected shall hold office from the date of election until confirmation or rejection by the senate, and, if confirmed, until the expiration of the term for which elected, and until a successor is elected. At every meeting of the legislature the superintendent of education shall certify to the senate the names of all who shall have been so elected since the last session of the legislature, and the senate shall confirm or reject them, as it shall determine is for the best interest of the university. If it rejects the names of any members, it shall thereupon elect trustees in the stead of those rejected. No trustee shall receive any pay or emolument other than his actual expenses incurred in the discharge of his duties as such. Upon the vacation of office by a trustee, the board, if it desires, may bestow upon a trustee the honorary title of trustee emeritus, but such status shall confer no responsibilities, duties, rights, or privileges as such.

Amendment 400 ratified

Promotion of Production, Distribution, etc., of Swine and Swine Products.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitution, the legislature may hereafter, by general law, provide for the promotion of, the production, research, distribution, marketing, use, improvement and sale of swine and swine products. The legislature may provide for the promotion of swine and the swine industry by research, education, advertising and other methods, and the legislature is further authorized to provide means and methods for the financing of any such promotional activity by prescribing a procedure whereby producers of swine may by referendum held among the swine producers in this state levy upon themselves and collect assessments, fees, or charges upon the sale of swine for the financing of any promotional program or activity in cooperation with processors, dealers and handlers, of swine and swine products. The legislature may make provisions for the nonpayment of assessments by swine producers and shall make provisions for the refund of assessments to any swine producer dissatisfied with the assessment program. The legislature shall provide for the collection and distribution of any such assessments or charges by dealers, handlers, processors and purchasers of swine and swine products and provide penalties for failure to make collection and distribution of such assessments. The legislature shall provide for the designation of a nonprofit association or organization organized for the promotion and betterment of swine and swine products to administer and carry out such promotional program which shall include the conducting of elections or referendums among swine producers. The legislature may provide the manner by which such referendum is held, including the procedure for application for approval to conduct the referendum, the appropriate action to be taken by the state board of agriculture and industries on such application, the requirements and eligibility of the association or organization which will conduct such referendum, the procedures for voting and eligibility to vote in such referendum and the details of the conduct of such referendum. The legislature shall further provide for the deposit, withdrawal, disbursement and expenditure by the designated association of any funds received subject to the supervision and control of the activities as authorized herein by the department of agriculture and industries and the state board of agriculture and industries. The legislature shall further provide a procedure whereby said association or organization is bonded, for the examination and auditing of said association or organization, and for reasonably necessary rules and regulations to be adopted by the state board of agriculture and industries to effectively carry out the intent and purposes herein enumerated. Assessments, fees or other charges collected as authorized by any legislative act adopted in pursuance hereof shall not be considered as a tax within the meaning of this Constitution or any provision thereof. Any uniformity requirements of this Constitution shall be satisfied by the application of the program upon swine and swine products.