(1) The governing body is authorized to provide by resolution, at one time or from time to time, for the issuance of bonds of a unit for the purpose of paying all or a part of the cost of any one or more port facilities. The bonds of each issue or series shall be dated, shall bear interest at such rate or rates, and shall mature at such time or times not exceeding 40 years from their date or dates, as may be determined by the governing body, and may be made redeemable before maturity, at the option of the unit, at such price or prices and under such terms and conditions as may be fixed by the governing body prior to the issuance of the bonds.

(2) The governing body shall determine the form of the bonds including any interest coupons to be attached thereto, and the manner of execution of the bonds, and shall fix the denomination or denominations of the bonds, and the place or places of payment of principal and interest, which may be at any bank or trust company within or without the state. In case any officer whose signature or a facsimile of whose signature shall appear on any bonds or coupons shall cease to be such officer before the delivery of such bonds, such signature or such facsimile shall nevertheless be valid and sufficient for all purposes the same as if the officer had remained in office until such delivery, and any bond may bear the facsimile signature of, or may be signed by, such persons as at the actual time of the execution of such bond shall be the proper officers to sign such bond although at the date of such bond such persons may not have been such officers.

(3) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this law or any recitals in any bonds issued under the provisions of this law, all such bonds shall be deemed to be negotiable instruments under the laws of Florida. The bonds may be issued in coupon or in registered form, or both, as the governing body may determine, and provision may be made for the registration of any coupon bonds as to principal alone and also as to both principal and interest, for the reconversion into coupon bonds of any bonds registered as to both principal and interest, and for the interchange of coupon and registered bonds. The issuance of such bonds shall not be subject to any limitations or conditions contained in any other law, and any bonds issued by a unit under this law shall not be considered in computing the amount of indebtedness which the unit may incur under any other law.

(4) The governing body may sell such bonds in such manner, either at public or private sale, and for such price as it may determine to be for the best interests of the unit. Prior to the delivery of definitive bonds, the unit may issue interim receipts or temporary bonds, with or without coupons, exchangeable for definitive bonds when such bonds have been executed and are available for delivery.

(5) The governing body may also provide for the replacement of any bonds which shall become mutilated or be destroyed or lost. Bonds may be issued under the provisions of this law without obtaining the consent of any commission, board, bureau or agency of the state, and without any other proceeding or the happening of any other condition or thing than those proceedings, conditions or things which are specifically required by this law.

History.—s. 5, ch. 59-411; s. 25, ch. 73-302; s. 1, ch. 79-401; s. 295, ch. 95-148.