AMENDMENT 470 RATIFIED
Washington County Port Authority.
Section 1. The governing body of Washington county, Alabama, is hereby authorized to declare by the adoption of appropriate resolution, the need for the formation of a public corporation to carry out the provisions of this act. Upon the adoption of such resolution the governing body of Washington county shall appoint five persons, each of whom must be a duly qualified elector and property owner in the said county, who shall form the board of directors of such corporation and shall proceed to organize such corporation.
Section 2. (a) The certificate of incorporation shall set forth:
(1) The names and resident addresses of the persons forming the corporation, together with a recital that each of them is a duly qualified elector of and property owner in Washington county;
(2) The name of the corporation;
(3) A recital that the governing body of Washington county has declared by the adoption of an appropriate resolution the need for the formation of the corporation;
(4) The location of the principal office of the corporation;
(5) A statement that the corporation is organized for the purposes set forth in this amendment with all the powers and authorities specified in this amendment;
(6) The period of the duration of the corporation; and
(7) Any other matters which the persons forming the corporation may choose to insert therein which shall not be inconsistent with this amendment or with the laws of the state of Alabama.
(b) The name designated for the corporation in the certificate of incorporation shall be one indicating the purpose thereof, such as the "Washington County Port Authority" or some other name of similar import.
(c) The certificate of incorporation shall be subscribed and acknowledged by each of the persons forming the corporation before an officer or officers authorized by the laws of the state of Alabama to take acknowledgements to deeds, and the certificate of incorporation shall have attached thereto a certified copy of the resolution provided for in section 1, and a certificate by the secretary of state that the name proposed for the corporation is not identical with that of any other corporation in the state or so nearly similar thereto as to lead to confusion and uncertainty.
Section 3. The certificate of incorporation, when executed and acknowledged in conformity with section 2, shall be filed with the judge of probate of Washington county and with the secretary of state. The judge of probate shall thereupon examine the certificate of incorporation and, if he finds that the recitals contained therein are correct, that the requirements of section 2 have been complied with, and that the name is not identical with or so nearly similar to that of another corporation already in existence in this state so as to lead to confusion and uncertainty, he shall approve the certificate of incorporation and record it in an appropriate book or record in his office and shall also file the certificate of incorporation with the secretary of state. When such certificate is so filed, the corporation referred to therein shall come into existence and shall constitute a public body corporate and politic, vested with the rights and powers herein granted.
Section 4. The certificate of incorporation of the corporation incorporated under the provisions of this amendment may at any time and from time to time be amended in the manner provided in this section. The board shall first adopt a resolution adopting an amendment to the certificate of incorporation which shall be set forth in full in the said resolution and which amendment may include any matters which might have been included in the original certificate of incorporation.
After the adoption of the resolution proposing an amendment to the certificate of incorporation of the corporation by the board, the president and secretary of the board shall sign and file for record in the office of the judge of probate in Washington county and in the office of the secretary of state a certificate in the name of and in behalf of the corporation under its seal, reciting the adoption of said resolution by the board. The judge of probate for Washington county shall thereupon record such certificate in an appropriate book in his office. When such certificate has been so filed and recorded, such amendment shall become effective, and the certificate of incorporation shall thereupon be amended to the extent provided in the amendment.
Section 5. (a) The corporation shall have a board of directors in which all of the powers of the corporation shall be vested pursuant to its authority, and which shall consist of five members. The directors shall be elected by the governing body of Washington county for staggered terms of office as follows: Two (2) years for the first appointee; three (3) years for the second appointee; four (4) years for the third appointee; five (5) years for the fourth appointee; six (6) years for the fifth appointee; and thereafter the term of office of each director shall be six (6) years. If any director resigns or dies or becomes incapable of acting as a director or ceases to reside in Washington county or is otherwise disqualified to act, the governing body of Washington county shall elect a successor to serve for the unexpired term. Directors shall be eligible for re-election to succeed themselves in office. If at the expiration of any term of office of any director, a successor thereto shall not have been elected, then the director whose term of office shall have expired shall continue to hold office until a successor shall be so elected. No director shall be an officer or member of the governing body of Washington county.
(b) A majority of the members of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but any meeting of such board may be adjourned from time to time by a majority of the directors present or may be so adjourned by a single director if such director is the only director present at such meeting. No vacancy in the membership of the board shall impair the right of a quorum to exercise all the powers and duties of the authority. Any matter in which the board is authorized to act may be acted upon at a regular, special or called meeting. At the request of any director, the vote on any question before the board shall be taken by ayes and nays entered upon the record. All proceedings of the board shall be reduced to writing by the secretary of the board and recorded in a well-bound book which shall be open for inspection by each director and the public at all reasonable times. Copies of such proceedings when certified by the secretary of the corporation under its seal shall be received in all courts as evidence of the matters and things therein certified. The directors and officers of the corporation shall serve without compensation, except that they may be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Any director may be impeached and removed from office in the manner and on the same grounds provided for in Section 175 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, and the general laws of the state for impeachment and removal of officers mentioned in said Section 175.
(c) The corporation shall have a president, a vice president, a secretary and a treasurer and such other officers as the board shall deem necessary, but the office of secretary and treasurer may be held by the same person. The president and vice president of the corporation shall be elected by the board from the membership thereof; the secretary, the treasurer, and any other officer of the corporation may, but need not, be a member of the board and shall also be elected by the board. The officers of the board shall be elected at a regular meeting of the board to be held in the month of January of each year, and once elected shall serve until their successor is chosen and elected. The president, vice president, secretary and treasurer of the corporation shall also be the president, vice president, secretary and treasurer of the board, respectively.
(d) The corporation shall make to the governing body of Washington county an annual written report of its activities and of its plans for the future which report shall include a financial operating statement and balance sheet prepared by the examiner of public accounts for the state of Alabama or by a certified public accountant appointed by the corporation.
Section 6. A corporation organized and existing under the provisions of this amendment shall have the following powers, together with all powers incident thereto or necessary for the performance of those stated herein:
(a) To adopt and from time to time amend bylaws for the regulation of its affairs and the conduct of its business;
(b) To adopt an official seal and alter the same at its pleasure;
(c) To maintain a principal office in Washington county and sub-offices at such other places as its board may designate in Washington county;
(d) To sue and be sued in its own name, excepting actions in tort against the corporation;
(e) To construct, own, operate, lease, build, install, acquire, maintain, equip, use and control marinas, ports, waterfront facilities, docks, wharves, piers, berths, quays, warehouses, loading and unloading facilities, boat and barge docking facilities, fishing facilities, pavilions, auditoriums, shops, stores, boat launching facilities, dry docks, canals, recreational facilities, campgrounds, parking facilities, office and other commercial buildings, water systems, electrical systems, gas and fuel oil pipelines and pumping stations, railroad lines and railway systems, helicopter and airline landing and loading facilities, industrial and manufacturing sites, buildings and facilities, coal and other solid fuel handling facilities, wood products manufacturing and handling facilities, agriculture and farm commodity handling, storage and processing facilities, drainage and sewage facilities, liquid and solid waste handling and disposal facilities, conveyor systems, jetties, mooring facilities, and all necessary or convenient approaches, easements, roads, streets and ways leading thereto or used in conjunction therewith; and specifically including herein bridge and road relocation, and the construction, maintenance and operation of bridges, tunnels, overpasses, underpasses, roads and sidewalks; and the construction, leasing, operation, equipping, owning, using, controlling and maintaining of public terminal and transfer facilities, flood control facilities, water and soil erosion facilities, railroad and highway bridge relocation and construction and maintenance of the same and all other types of waterway facilities pursuant to all state, county, local and federal laws and regulations relative to the operation and maintenance of the Tombigbee river.
(f) To own, acquire, maintain and control easements, rights-of-way, streets, approaches, roads, interests in land, including the fee simple title to real property, riparian rights, and mooring rights necessary, useful or convenient in gaining access, entry or approach to waterways, rivers, canals and streams, whether or not navigable and whether or not such easements, rights of way, streets, approaches, roads, interests in land, riparian rights and mooring rights lead to property owned or controlled by the corporation.
(g) To acquire, whether by purchase, construction, exchange, gift, lease or otherwise and to improve, equip and furnish and to own and maintain or lease one or more projects or parts thereof, including all real and personal properties and interests therein which its board may deem necessary in connection therewith, regardless of whether or not any such project or projects shall then be in existence;
(h) To acquire, receive, take, hold, lease or operate, whether by purchase, gift, devise or otherwise, property of every description, whether real, personal or mixed, and to manage the same and to improve or develop any undeveloped property owned, leased or controlled by it;
(i) To sell, convey, lease or grant options for such purposes, any or all of its projects or properties, whenever its board shall find that such action is in the furtherance of the purposes for which the corporation was organized;
(j) To exchange or donate any or all of its projects or properties or parts thereof whenever its board shall find such action to be in furtherance of the purpose for which the corporation was organized;
(k) To execute and deliver such contracts or instruments of writing and to take such action as may be necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes for which the corporation was organized or to exercise any power or authority granted herein;
(l) To lease or let any project or any part thereof to such tenant or tenants for such term or terms at such compensation or rentals and subject to such provisions, limitations and conditions as its board may approve;
(m) To furnish or supply upon any property owned, leased or controlled by the corporation to any persons, machines, automobiles, and watercraft thereon, for reward or compensation, any goods, commodities, safety and health care facilities, fire fighting and prevention facilities, and services convenient or useful to the owners, operators and users of any watercraft, machines, and automobiles, and to persons upon property owned, leased or controlled by the corporation, including, but not limited to, food, lodging, shelter, lawful drinks, confections, oil, gasoline, motors and watercraft, motor and watercraft parts and equipment, guard services, space in buildings, space for buildings and structures, communication facilities, telephone systems, and the services of mechanics, repairmen and technicians;
(n) To charge fees for admission to any of its properties;
(o) To borrow money on such terms as are acceptable to the corporation for any corporate purpose and to execute and deliver its promissory note or notes and such other agreements as may be reasonably necessary or required to consummate the loan and secure the payment of the indebtedness;
(p) To sell, exchange and convey any of its properties that may have become obsolete or worn out or that may no longer be needed or useful, subject to the approval of the directors of the corporation;
(q) To procure and agree to the procurement of insurance or guarantees from the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof, or from any private insurance company, of the payment of any bonds issued by the corporation, and to pay premiums or fees for any such insurance or guarantees;
(r) To enter into contracts with, to accept aid, loans and grants from, to cooperate with, and to do any and all things not specifically prohibited by this amendment, and other applicable laws of the state that may be necessary in order to avail itself of the aid and cooperation of the United States of America, the state, the county or any agency, instrumentality or political subdivision of either thereof in furtherance of the purposes of the corporation;
(s) To appoint, employ, contract with and provide for compensation of such officers, employees and agents, including engineers, attorneys, planning consultants, fiscal advisors, architects, accountants, financial experts, fiscal agents, managers and such other advisors, consultants and agents as may in its judgment be necessary or desirable as the business of the corporation may require, including the power to fix working conditions by general rule or other conditions of employment and at its option to provide a system of disability pay, retirement compensation and pensions or any of them and to hire and fire servants, agents, employees and officers at will;
(t) To fix, establish, collect and alter landing fees, docking fees, tolls, rents and other charges for the use of any facility or other property owned or controlled by the corporation;
(u) To make and enforce rules and regulations governing the use of any property or facility or other property owned or controlled by the corporation;
(v) To procure insurance against any loss in connection with its property and other assets in such amounts and from such insurers as its board may deem desirable;
(w) To enter into a management contract or contracts with any person, firm or corporation, whether public or private, for the management, supervision or operation of all or any part of its facilities as may in the judgment of the corporation be necessary or desirable in order to perform more efficiently or economically any function for which it may become responsible in the exercise of the powers conferred upon it by this amendment;
(x) To invest its monies [moneys] (including, without limitation, the monies [moneys] held in any special fund created pursuant to any trust indenture or agreement or resolution securing any of its bonds or notes and proceeds from the sale of any of its bonds or notes) not required for immediate use in:
(1) Any debt securities that are direct, general obligations of the United States of America,
(2) Any debt securities, the payment of the principal or any interest on which is unconditionally guaranteed by the United States of America,
(3) Any time deposit with, or any certificate of deposit issued by, any bank which is organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof and deposits in which are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any department, agency or instrumentality of the United States of America that may succeed to the functions of such corporation, and
(4) Any debt obligation in which an insurance company organized under the laws of the state may legally invest its money at the time of investment by the corporation;
(y) To issue its bonds for the purpose of carrying out any of its powers and to apply proceeds from the sale of its bonds not only for payment of interest thereon prior to and during the construction and equipment of any buildings, structures, facilities or other improvements being financed thereby but also to pay bond discount, commissions or other financing charges, interest on the obligations issued in evidence of such borrowing for such period as its board shall deem advisable, fees and expenses of financial advisors and planning and management consultants, all legal, accounting, publishing, printing, recording and filing fees and expenses and such other expenses as shall be necessary or incident to such borrowing;
(z) To mortgage and pledge any or all of its projects or any part or parts thereof, as security for the payment of the principal, interest and premium, if any, on any bonds so issued and any agreements made in connection therewith, whether then owned or thereafter acquired, and to pledge the revenues and receipts therefrom or from any thereof;
(aa) To exercise the power of eminent domain in the manner provided in and subject to the provisions of Act No. 85-548, S. 287, 1985 Regular Session (Acts 1985, p. 802), as amended;
(bb) To expend funds for the purchase or lease of materials, equipment, supplies or other personal property without compliance with the provisions of the competitive bid laws then in effect in the state of Alabama that might otherwise be applicable;
(cc) To lend upon such terms and conditions as its board may deem advisable, all or any portion of the proceeds derived from the issuance of its bonds, notes or obligations to a user, whether pursuant to one or more loan agreements or in conjunction with the lease or sale of one or more facilities to such user or the purchase of any authorized purpose obligation relating to a facility or facilities operated by such user, for one or more or any combination of the following purposes:
(1) To enable such user to borrow an amount not substantially in excess of the equity (determined on any basis not resulting in a higher value for any facility in question than the estimated replacement cost or the appraised market value thereof, whichever may be greater) which such user may then have in any facility or facilities;
(2) To enable such user to refinance any outstanding indebtedness incurred or assumed in connection with the acquisition, improvement or operation of any existing facility or facilities;
(3) To enable such user to finance the costs of acquiring, by purchase, construction or otherwise, one or more facilities and/or the costs of expending or improving one or more facilities, regardless of whether any such facility has theretofore been owned or leased by such user or is to be acquired or leased by such user; and
(4) To enable such user to borrow working capital for use in the operation of one or more facilities;
(dd) To do any and all things necessary or convenient to carry out its purposes and to exercise its powers pursuant to the provisions of this amendment.
Section 7. (a) All bonds issued by the corporation shall be payable solely out of the revenues and receipts derived from the leasing or sale by the board of its projects or of any thereof as may be designated in the proceedings of the board under which the bonds shall be authorized to be issued.
(b) The principal of and interest on any bonds issued by the corporation shall be secured by a pledge of the revenues and receipts out of which the same may be payable and may be secured by a mortgage and deed of trust or trust indenture conveying as security for such bonds all or any part of the property of the corporation from which the revenues or receipts so pledged may be derived. The resolution under which the bonds are authorized to be issued and any such mortgage and deed of trust or trust indenture may contain any agreements and provisions respecting the operation, maintenance and insurance of the property covered by said mortgage and deed of trust or trust indenture, the use of the revenues and receipts subject to such mortgage and deed of trust or trust indenture, the creation and maintenance of special funds from such revenues and receipts, rights, duties and remedies of the parties to any such instrument and the parties for the benefit of whom such instrument is made and the rights and remedies available in the event of default as the board shall deem advisable and which are not in conflict with the provisions of this article. Each pledge, agreement, mortgage and deed of trust or trust indenture made for the benefit or security of any of the bonds of the corporation shall continue effective until the principal of and interest on the bonds for the benefit of which the same were made shall have been fully paid. In the event of default in such payment or in any agreements of the corporation made as a part of the contract under which the bonds were issued, whether contained in the proceedings authorizing the bonds or in any mortgage and deed of trust or trust indenture executed as security therefor, such default may be enforced by mandamus, the appointment of a receiver, or either of said remedies, and foreclosure of such mortgage and deed of trust or trust indenture may, if provided for in said instrument, be had.
(c) All bonds issued by the corporation shall be signed by the president of its board and attested by its secretary, and the seal of the corporation shall be affixed thereto, and any interest coupons applicable to the bonds of the authority shall be signed by the chairman of its board; provided, that a facsimile of the signature of one, but not both, of said officers may be printed or otherwise reproduced on any such bonds in lieu of his manually signing the same, a facsimile of the seal of the authority may be printed or otherwise reproduced on any such bonds in lieu of being manually affixed thereof, and a facsimile of the signature of the president of the board may be printed or otherwise reproduced on any such interest coupons in lieu of his manually signing the same.
(d) Any such bonds may be executed and delivered by the corporation at any time and from time to time, shall be in such form and denominations and of such tenor and maturities, shall contain such provisions not inconsistent with the provisions of this article, and shall bear such rate or rates of interest, payable and evidenced in such manner, as may be provided by resolution of its board. Bonds of the corporation may be sold at either public or private sale in such manner and at such price or prices and at such time or times as may be determined by the board to be most advantageous. The corporation may pay all expenses, premiums and commissions in connection with any financing done by it. All bonds, except bonds registered as to principal or as to both principal and interest, and any interest coupons applicable thereto issued by the corporation shall be construed to be negotiable instruments although payable solely from a specified source.
(e) All obligations created or assumed and all bonds issued or assumed by the corporation shall be solely and exclusively an obligation of the corporation and shall not create an obligation or debt of the state or of any county or municipality; provided that the provisions of this sentence shall not be construed to release the original obligor from liability on any bond or other obligation assumed by the corporation. Any bonds issued by the corporation shall be limited or special obligations of the corporation payable solely out of the revenues and receipts of the corporation specified in the proceedings authorizing those bonds.
(f) Bonds of a corporation are hereby made legal investments for executors, administrators, trustees and other fiduciaries, unless otherwise directed by the court having jurisdiction of the fiduciary relation or by the document that is the source of the fiduciary's authority, and for savings banks and insurance companies organized under the laws of the state.
Section 8. All moneys derived from the sale of any bonds issued by the corporation shall be used solely for the purpose or purposes for which the same are authorized, including, but without limitation to, the use of bond proceeds to establish reserve funds as security for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the bonds, and any costs and expenses incidental thereto. Such costs and expenses may include but shall not be limited to the fiscal, engineering, legal and other expenses incurred in connection with the issuance of the bonds, and except in the case of refunding bonds, interest to accrue on such bonds for a period ending not later than two years from their date.
Section 9. Any bonds issued by the corporation may from time to time be refunded by the issuance, by sale or exchange, of refunding bonds payable from the same or different sources for the purpose of paying all or any part of the principal of the bonds to be refunded, any redemption premium required to be paid as a condition to the redemption prior to maturity of any such bonds that are to be so redeemed in connection with such refunding, any accrued and unpaid interest on the bonds to be refunded, any interest to accrue on each bond to be refunded to the date on which it is to be paid, whether at maturity or by redemption prior to maturity, and the expenses incurred in connection with refunding; provided, that unless duly called for redemption pursuant to provisions contained therein, the holders of any such bonds then outstanding and proposed to be refunded shall not be compelled without their consent to surrender their outstanding bonds for such refunding. Any refunding bonds may be sold by the corporation at public or private sale at such price or prices as may be determined by its board to be most advantageous, or may be exchanged for the bonds or other obligations to be refunded. Any such refunding bonds may be executed and delivered by the corporation at any time and from time to time, shall be in such form and denominations and have such tenor and maturities, shall contain such provisions not inconsistent with the provisions of this article, and shall bear such rate or rates of interest, payable and evidenced in such manner, as may be provided by resolution of its board.
Any refunding bonds issued by the corporation shall be issued and may be secured in accordance with the provisions of Section 7, hereof.
Section 10. Upon the adoption by the board of the corporation of any resolution providing for the issuance of bonds, the corporation may, in its discretion, cause to be published once a week for two consecutive weeks, in a newspaper published or having a general circulation in Washington county, a notice in substantially the following form (the blanks being properly filled in) at the end of which shall be printed the name and title of either the president or secretary of such corporation. "..., a public corporation under the laws of the state of Alabama, on the ... day of ..., authorized the issuance of $ ... principal amount of bonds of the said public corporation for purposes authorized in the act of the legislature of Alabama under which the said public corporation was organized. Any action or proceeding questioning the validity of the said bonds, or the pledge and the mortgage and deed of trust or trust indenture to secure the same, or the proceedings authorizing the same, must be commenced within thirty (30) days after the first publication of this notice".
Any action or proceeding in any court to set aside or question the proceedings for the issuance of the bonds referred to in said notice or to contest the validity of any such bonds, or the validity of any pledge and mortgage and deed of trust or trust indenture made therefor, must be commenced within 30 days after the first publication of such notice. After the expiration of the said period no right of action or defense questioning or attacking the validity of the said proceedings or of the said bonds or the said pledge or mortgage and deed of trust or trust indenture shall be asserted, nor shall the validity of the said proceedings, bonds, pledge, mortgage, and deed of trust or trust indenture be open to question in any court on any ground whatsoever except in an action commenced within such period.
Section 11. The corporation and all properties at any time owned by it and the income therefrom and all bonds issued by it and the income therefrom shall be exempt from all taxation in the state of Alabama, including, without limitation, ad valorem, sales, excise, license and privilege taxes; provided, however, this exemption shall not be construed to exempt concessionaires or lessees of the authority from the payment of any taxes, including licenses, privileges, or sales taxes levied by the state, county or any municipality. The certificate of incorporation of the corporation, the certificate of dissolution, all deeds or other documents whereby properties are conveyed to the corporation and all deeds, indentures or leases executed by the corporation may be filed for record in the office of the judge of probate of Washington county and, if necessary, in the office of the secretary of state, without the payment of any tax or fees other than such fees as may be authorized by law for the recording of such instrument.
Section 12. Washington county shall not in any event be liable for the payment of the principal of or interest on any bonds of the corporation or for the performance of any pledge, mortgage, obligation or agreement of any kind whatsoever which may be undertaken by the corporation, and none of the bonds of the corporation or any of its agreements or obligations shall be construed to constitute an indebtedness of Washington county within the meaning of any constitutional or statutory provision whatsoever.
Section 13. The corporation shall be exempt from the laws of the state of Alabama governing usury or prescribing or limiting interest rates.
Section 14. The corporation shall be a nonprofit corporation and no part of its net earnings remaining after payment of its expenses shall inure to the benefit of any individual, firm or corporation, except that in the event a board shall determine that sufficient provision has been made for the full payment of the expenses, bonds and other obligations of the corporation, then any net earnings of the corporation thereafter accruing shall be paid to Washington county.
Section 15. At any time when the corporation has no bonds or other obligations outstanding, its board may adopt a resolution, which shall be duly entered upon its minutes, declaring that the corporation shall be dissolved. Upon filing for record of a certified copy of the said resolution in the office of the judge of probate of Washington county, the corporation shall thereupon stand dissolved and in the event it owned any property at the time of its dissolution, the title to all its properties shall thereupon pass to Washington county.
Section 16. The existence of a corporation incorporated under the provisions of this amendment shall prevent the subsequent incorporation hereunder of another corporation pursuant to authority granted to such corporation.
Section 17. The contracts of the corporation shall be executed in the name of the corporation by the president of the corporation and attested by the secretary of the corporation. Except for bonds it is not required that the seal be impressed or printed on contracts. It is further provided hereby that, except for bonds, the corporation may provide by resolution for a different form for the execution of contracts and for the execution thereof by an officer or agent other than the president and secretary. But in no event shall a contract, irrespective of the form and of the person executing the same, be binding unless such contract was authorized or ratified by the corporation.
Section 18. Washington county or any municipality within the county, is authorized, but not required, to lease, sell, donate or otherwise convey to the corporation, real or personal property, including park properties, without the necessity of authorization by election of the qualified voters of said county, the municipality, and the governing body of said county or any municipality within the county, and is hereby authorized to enter into any agreements which such corporation may deem necessary in order to effectuate such lease, sale, donation, or transfer. The governing body of Washington county, or any municipality within the county, is further authorized to covenant with the corporation, which covenant shall likewise constitute a contract with the holders of any revenue bonds, notes or other obligations thereafter issued by the corporation, that it will not acquire, construct or operate or permit the acquisition, construction or operation within the municipality or county, of any facility in competition with the corporation so long as any of the bonds, notes or other obligation of the corporation shall remain outstanding.
Section 19. The provisions of this amendment shall be self-executing and become effective upon the ratification of this amendment by the people.
