ยง 700. Construction. 1. The provisions of this chapter shall be
liberally construed for the purpose of effectuating the intent of the
people in adopting section two of article nine of the constitution. It
is the intent of the legislature to set forth the structure of the
alternative forms of county government enumerated in this chapter and
the manner in which each is to function.
2. It is not the intention of the legislature hereby to abolish or
curtail any existing powers or rights heretofore conferred upon or
delegated to a county or counties or to any board, body or officer
thereof, unless a contrary intention is clearly manifest from the
express provisions of this chapter or by necessary intendment therefrom.
3. It is the intention of the legislature hereby to continue in force
all special laws passed by the legislature, not inconsistent with the
provisions of this chapter, until repealed, amended, modified or
superseded by or pursuant to the provisions of this chapter or other law
or pursuant to the form of government adopted by the county affected.
4. All general laws applicable to counties, not inconsistent with the
provisions of this chapter shall continue to apply to a county after it
has adopted one of the alternative forms of county government, until
repealed, amended, modified or superseded by or pursuant to the
provisions of this chapter or other law or by or pursuant to the form of
government adopted by the county.
5. The enumeration of specific powers by this chapter shall not
operate to detract from the meaning of any general grant of power or to
exclude other powers comprehended in such general grant of power.
6. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, word, section or part of this
chapter shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be
invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate the
remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its operation to the clause,
sentence, paragraph, section or part thereof directly involved in the
controversy in which such judgment shall have been rendered.