HB 1051 2003
1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to succession to the office of Governor;
3	amending s. 14.055, F.S.; providing for the filling of a
4	vacancy in the office of Lieutenant Governor; providing an
5	effective date.
6
7	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
8
9	Section 1. Section 14.055, Florida Statutes, is amended to
10	read:
11	14.055 Succession to office of Governor.--Upon vacancy in
12	the office of Governor, the Lieutenant Governor shall become
13	Governor. Upon vacancy in the office of Lieutenant Governor, the
14	Governor shall appoint a successor who shall serve for the
15	remainder of the term, provided that if after such appointment a
16	vacancy shall occur in the office of Governor with more than 28
17	months remaining in the term, then at the next statewide general
18	election the electors shall choose a Governor and Lieutenant
19	Governor to fill the remainder of the term in the manner
20	provided in s. 5, Art. IV of the State Constitution.Upon
21	vacancy in the office of Governor and in the office of
22	Lieutenant Governor, the Secretary of State shall become
23	Governor; or if the office of Secretary of State be vacant, then
24	the Attorney General shall become Governor; or if the office of
25	Attorney General be vacant, then the Comptroller shall become
26	Governor; or if the office of Comptroller be vacant, then the
27	Treasurer shall become Governor; or if the office of Treasurer
28	be vacant, then the Commissioner of Education shall become
29	Governor; or if the office of Commissioner of Education be
30	vacant, then the Commissioner of Agriculture shall become
31	Governor. Except as otherwise provided in this section with
32	respect to an appointed successor to the office of Lieutenant
33	Governor,a successor under this section shall serve for the
34	remainder of the term and shall receive all the rights,
35	privileges,and emoluments of the Governor. In case a vacancy
36	shall occur in the office of Governor and provision is not made
37	herein for filling such vacancy, then the Speaker of the House
38	and the President of the Senate shall convene the Legislature by
39	joint proclamation within 15 days for the purpose of choosing a
40	person to serve as Governor for the remainder of the term. A
41	successor shall be elected by a majority vote in a joint session
42	of both houses.
43	Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.