Bill Text: TX SJR15 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Proposing a constitutional amendment excepting certain appropriations for reducing state debt from the constitutional limitation on the rate of growth of appropriations.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-01-25 - Referred to Finance [SJR15 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-SJR15-Introduced.html

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85R2145 JJT-D
By: Hinojosa S.J.R. No. 15

A JOINT RESOLUTION
proposing a constitutional amendment excepting certain
appropriations for reducing state debt from the constitutional
limitation on the rate of growth of appropriations.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 22(a), Article VIII, Texas Constitution,
is amended to read as follows:
(a) In no biennium shall the rate of growth of
appropriations from state tax revenues, other than state tax
revenues [not] dedicated by this constitution and state tax
revenues appropriated for the purpose of paying the principal of or
interest on state debt, exceed the estimated rate of growth of the
state's economy. The legislature shall provide by general law
procedures to implement this subsection.
SECTION 2. The following temporary provision is added to
the Texas Constitution:
TEMPORARY PROVISION. (a) This temporary provision applies
to the amendment to Section 22(a), Article VIII, of this
constitution as proposed by the 85th Legislature, Regular Session,
2017, excepting certain appropriations for reducing state debt from
the constitutional limitation on the rate of growth of
appropriations. This temporary provision expires December 1, 2019.
(b) The change made to Section 22(a), Article VIII, of this
constitution by the amendment applies only in relation to
appropriations made for the state fiscal biennium beginning
September 1, 2019, and subsequent state fiscal bienniums.
Appropriations for the state fiscal biennium that began September
1, 2017, are governed by Section 22, Article VIII, as that section
provided immediately before the voters approved the amendment.
SECTION 3. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 7, 2017.
The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting for or against the
proposition: "The constitutional amendment excepting certain
appropriations for reducing state debt from the constitutional
limitation on the rate of growth of appropriations."