81R19849 PAM-F
By: Raymond H.J.R. No. 142
Substitute the following for H.J.R. No. 142:
By: Gonzales C.S.H.J.R. No. 142
A JOINT RESOLUTION
proposing a constitutional amendment relating to the disposition of
proceeds from the development or sale of the rights to natural
resources or minerals in land held by Webb County for the county
permanent school fund.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 6, Article VII, Texas Constitution, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 6. (a) All lands heretofore, or hereafter granted to
the several counties of this State for educational purposes, are of
right the property of said counties respectively, to which they
were granted, and title thereto is vested in said counties, and no
adverse possession or limitation shall ever be available against
the title of any county. Each county may sell or dispose of its
lands in whole or in part, in manner to be provided by the
Commissioners Court of the county. Said lands, and, except as
provided by Subsection (b) of this section, the proceeds thereof,
when sold, shall be held by said counties alone as a trust for the
benefit of public schools therein; said proceeds to be invested in
bonds of the United States, the State of Texas, or counties in said
State, or in such other securities, and under such restrictions as
may be prescribed by law; and the counties shall be responsible for
all investments; the interest thereon, and other revenue, except
the principal shall be available fund.
(b) Webb County may:
(1) develop or sell the rights to natural resources or
minerals in lands held in trust by Webb County under this section;
and
(2) enter into an agreement with the school districts
for which the lands are held in trust that allows Webb County to:
(A) obtain from the proceeds of a disposition
under Subdivision (1) of this subsection reimbursement of
reasonable and necessary expenses incurred by Webb County in
connection with the disposition; and
(B) distribute the proceeds remaining after
reimbursement under Paragraph (A) of this subdivision to each
school district for which the lands are held in trust according to
each school district's scholastic population.
SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 3, 2009.
The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
proposition: "The constitutional amendment to authorize Webb
County to obtain proceeds of the county permanent school fund and
recover expenses from proceeds of the county permanent school fund
incurred by the county in a transaction to develop or sell the
rights to natural resources or minerals in county permanent school
fund property and distribute the proceeds remaining after
reimbursement to the school districts for which the property is
held in trust."