82R12205 TJB-D
By: Larson H.J.R. No. 149
A JOINT RESOLUTION
proposing a constitutional amendment to require the comptroller of
public accounts to make a state revenue report after the first year
of a state fiscal biennium and the governor to call a special
session of the legislature if actual state revenue for that fiscal
year was at least five percent less than projected revenue.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 49a(a), Article III, Texas Constitution,
is amended to read as follows:
(a) It shall be the duty of the Comptroller of Public
Accounts in advance of each Regular Session of the Legislature to
prepare and submit to the Governor and to the Legislature upon its
convening a statement under oath showing fully the financial
condition of the State Treasury at the close of the last fiscal
period and an estimate of the probable receipts and disbursements
for the then current fiscal year. There shall also be contained in
said statement an itemized estimate of the anticipated revenue
based on the laws then in effect that will be received by and for the
State from all sources showing the fund accounts to be credited
during each fiscal year of the succeeding biennium and said
statement shall contain such other information as may be required
by law. Supplemental statements shall be submitted at any Special
Session of the Legislature, and at such other times as may be
necessary to show probable changes. Not later than September 10 of
each even-numbered year, the Comptroller shall prepare and submit
to the Governor and the Legislature a statement under oath showing
fully the condition of the State Treasury, including actual revenue
received by and for the State from all sources, during the first
year of the current fiscal biennium.
SECTION 2. Section 8, Article IV, Texas Constitution, is
amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
(c) The governor shall immediately convene the legislature
in special session if, according to the comptroller's statement
prepared immediately after the end of the first year of the current
fiscal biennium under Section 49a, Article III, of this
constitution, actual revenue received by and for the state from all
sources during that year was at least five percent less than the
revenue that was anticipated by the comptroller to be received for
that fiscal year according to the last statement submitted to the
governor and legislature before the beginning of that fiscal year
under Section 49a, Article III. The legislature may consider any
state fiscal matter, including appropriations or taxation, at that
special session.
SECTION 3. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 8, 2011.
The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting for or against the
proposition: "The constitutional amendment requiring the
comptroller of public accounts to make state revenue projections
after the first fiscal year of a state biennium and the governor to
call a special session of the legislature if actual revenue for that
fiscal year was at least five percent less than projected revenue."