Georgia Official and Statistical Register 1983-84 - the Digital Library ...

separately but the proceeds thereof must be allocated, disbursed and used solely in accordance with the original purposeand without exceeding the principal amount authorized foreach purpose set forth in the authorization of the GeneralAssembly and to the extent not so used shall be used to purchase and retire public debt. The commission shall be responsible for the investment of all proceeds to be administered by itand, as provided by law, the income earned on any suchinvestments may be used to pay operating expenses of thecommission or placed in a common debt retirement fund andused to purchase and retire any public debt, or any bonds orobligations issued by any public agency, public corporation orauthority which are secured by a contract to which the provisions of the second paragraph of Paragraph I(a) of Section VI,Article IX of the Constitution of 1976 are applicable. Thecommission shall have such additional responsibilities, powers,and duties as are provided by law.Paragraph VIII. State aid forbidden. Except as provided inthis Constitution, the credit of the state shall not be pledged orloaned to any individual, company, corporation, or association. The state shall not become a joint owner or stockholder inor with any individual, company, association, or corporation.Paragraph IX. Construction. Paragraphs I through VIII ofthis section are for the purpose of providing an effective methodof financing the state©s needs and their provisions and any lawnow or hereafter enacted by the General Assembly in furtherance of their provisions shall be liberally construed to effectsuch purpose. Insofar as any such provisions or any such lawmay be inconsistent with any other provisions of this Constitution or of any other law, the provisions of such Paragraphs andlaws enacted in furtherance of such Paragraphs shall be controlling; provided, however, the provisions of such Paragraphsshall not be so broadly construed as to cause the same to beunconstitutional and in connection with any such constructionsuch Paragraphs shall be deemed to contain such impliedlimitations as shall be required to accomplish the foregoing.Paragraph X. Assumption of debts forbidden; exceptions.The state shall not assume the debt, or any part thereof, of anycounty, municipality, or other political subdivision of the state,unless such debt be contracted to enable the state to repelinvasion, suppress civil disorders or insurrection, or defenditself in time of war.Paragraph XI. Section not to unlawfully impair contractsor revive obligations previously voided. The provisions of thissection shall not be construed so as to:(a) Unlawfully impair the obligation of any contract in effecton June 30,1983.(b) Revive or permit the revival of the obligation of anybond or security declared to be void by the Constitution of 1976or any previous Constitution of this state.ARTICLE VIII.EDUCATIONSECTION I.PUBLIC EDUCATIONParagraph I. Public education; free public education priorto college or postsecondary level; support by taxation. Theprovision of an adequate public education for the citizens shallbe a primary obligation of the State of Georgia. Public education for the citizens prior to the college or postsecondary levelshall be free and shall be provided for by taxation. The expenseof other public education shall be provided for in such mannerand in such amount as may be provided by law.SECTION II.STATE BOARD OF EDUCATIONParagraph I. State Board of Education, (a) There shall bea State Board of Education which shall consist of one memberfrom each congressional district in the state appointed by theGovernor and confirmed by the Senate. The Governor shallnot be a member of said board. The ten members in office onJune 30,1983, shall serve out the remainder of their respectiveterms. As each term of office expires, the Governor shallappoint a successor as herein provided. The terms of office ofall members appointed after the effective date of this Constitution shall be for seven years. Members shall serve until theirsuccessors are appointed and qualified. In the event of avacancy on the board by death, resignation, removal, or anyreason other than expiration of a member©s term, the Governorshall fill such vacancy; and the person so appointed shall serveuntil confirmed by the Senate and, upon confirmation, shallserve for the unexpired term of office.(b) The State Board of Education shall have such powersand duties as provided by law.(c) The State Board of Education may accept bequests,donations, grants, and transfers of land, buildings, and otherproperty for the use of the state educational system.(d) The qualifications, compensation, and removal fromoffice of the members of the board of education shall be asprovided by law.SECTION III.STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTParagraph I. State School Superintendent. There shall be aState School Superintendent, who shall be the executive officerof the State Board of Education, elected at the same time and inthe same manner and for the same term as that of the Governor.The State School Superintendent shall have such qualificationsand shall be paid such compensation as may be fixed by law.No member of the State Board of Education shall be eligible forelection as State School Superintendent during the time forwhich such member shall have been appointed.SECTION IV.BOARD OF REGENTSParagraph I. University System of Georgia; board of regents.(a) There shall be a Board of Regents of the U niversity Systemof Georgia which shall consist of one member from each congressional district in the state and five additional members fromthe state at large, appointed by the Governor and confirmed bythe Senate. The Governor shall not be a member of said board.The members in office on June 30, 1983, shall serve out theremainder of their respective terms. As each term of officeexpires, the Governor shall appoint a successor as herein provided. All such terms of members shall be for seven years.Members shall serve until their successors are appointed andqualified. In the event of a vacancy on the board by death,resignation, removal, or any reason other than the expiration ofa member©s term, the Governor shall fill such vacancy; and theperson so appointed shall serve until confirmed by the Senateand, upon confirmation, shall serve for the unexpired term ofoffice.(b) The board of regents shall have the exclusive authorityto create new public colleges, junior colleges, and universities inthe State of Georgia, subject to approval by majority vote in theHouse of Representatives and the Senate. Such vote shall notbe required to change the status of a college, institution oruniversity existing on the effective date of this Constitution.The government, control, and management of the University18