Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Texas House Bill HJR107

Caption

Proposing a constitutional amendment to dedicate net revenue from the state lottery to support educational programs that benefit classroom teaching in the state's public schools and to prohibit certain lottery advertisements and promotions.

Impact

If enacted, HJR107 would amend Section 47 of Article III of the Texas Constitution. This amendment would specify that all net revenue received from lottery operations, less administrative costs and unclaimed prizes, is intended solely for educational purposes. This financial allocation would provide a direct boost to state educational funding, potentially leading to better educational outcomes in public schools across Texas. Supporters argue that this dedicated funding source could alleviate some of the fiscal pressures faced by educational institutions in the state.

Summary

HJR107 is a joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment focused on the management and allocation of net revenues generated from state lottery operations. The primary aim of the bill is to dedicate these revenues specifically to support educational programs that directly benefit classroom teaching in Texas public primary and secondary schools. By establishing this financial commitment, the bill seeks to enhance educational resources, including teacher compensation, textbooks, and necessary equipment and materials for effective learning environments.

Conclusion

Overall, HJR107 represents an effort to secure financial support for public education through state lottery revenues while also addressing concerns about clear and honest advertising practices surrounding lottery promotions. The resolution aims not only to improve educational funding but also to assure taxpayers that their contributions to the lottery are directly benefitting educational institutions rather than being obscured by misleading marketing tactics.

Contention

A notable point of contention within the resolution is the prohibition of certain lottery advertisements. Specifically, HJR107 seeks to prohibit advertisements that suggest or imply that lottery ticket sales will contribute additional funds for public schools. Critics of this provision may argue that it restricts transparency about how lottery proceeds are utilized. Proponents believe that such advertising practices could mislead consumers regarding the correlation between lottery revenues and educational funding, thus justifying the need for stricter regulations.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

TX HJR92

Proposing a constitutional amendment to dedicate net state lottery revenue to support educational programs that benefit classroom teaching in public schools and to prohibit advertisements and promotions that state or imply lottery ticket sales revenue will financially assist public schools.

TX HJR1

Proposing a constitutional amendment creating the state school safety fund to provide ongoing financial support for projects that ensure the safety of public schools in this state and providing for the transfer of certain general revenues to that fund, the economic stabilization fund, and the state highway fund.

TX HJR170

Proposing a constitutional amendment creating the state school safety fund to provide financial support for projects that enhance the safety of public schools in this state.

TX HJR102

Proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to legalize wagering in this state on certain sporting events and requiring the legislature to dedicate to property tax relief at least 98 percent of the net state tax revenue generated from the wagering on sporting events.

TX HJR169

Proposing a constitutional amendment providing for the dedication of certain sales and use tax revenue to a special fund established in the state treasury to pay for water infrastructure in this state.

TX HJR205

Proposing a constitutional amendment to prohibit the imposition of school district maintenance and operations ad valorem taxes on residence homesteads, to increase the rates of state sales and use taxes and dedicate the revenue attributable to that increase for public education, and to establish and prescribe the permissible uses of the homeowner protection fund.

TX SJR81

Proposing a constitutional amendment providing for the creation of funds to support the capital needs of educational programs offered by the Texas State Technical College System and certain component institutions of the Texas State University System and repealing the limitation on the allocation to the Texas State Technical College System and its campuses of the annual appropriation of certain constitutionally dedicated funding for public institutions of higher education.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.