83R266 JAM-D
By: Larson H.J.R. No. 29
A JOINT RESOLUTION
proposing a constitutional amendment to limit the purposes for
which revenues from motor vehicle registration fees, taxes on motor
fuels and lubricants, and certain revenues received from the
federal government may be used.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 7-a, Article VIII, Texas Constitution,
is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 7-a. (a) Subject to legislative appropriation,
allocation and direction, all net revenues remaining after payment
of all refunds allowed by law and expenses of collection derived
from motor vehicle registration fees, and all taxes, except gross
production and ad valorem taxes, on motor fuels and lubricants used
to propel motor vehicles over public roadways, shall be used for the
sole purpose of acquiring rights-of-way, constructing,
maintaining, and policing such public roadways, and for the
administration of such laws as may be prescribed by the Legislature
pertaining to the supervision of traffic and safety on such roads;
[and for the payment of the principal and interest on county and
road district bonds or warrants voted or issued prior to January 2,
1939, and declared eligible prior to January 2, 1945, for payment
out of the County and Road District Highway Fund under existing
law;] provided, however, that one-fourth (1/4) of such net revenue
from the motor fuel tax shall be allocated to the Available School
Fund; and, provided, however, that the net revenue derived by
counties from motor vehicle registration fees shall never be less
than the maximum amounts allowed to be retained by each County and
the percentage allowed to be retained by each County under the laws
in effect on January 1, 1945. Nothing contained herein shall be
construed as authorizing the pledging of the State's credit for any
purpose.
(b) For a biennium, the Legislature may not appropriate
funds derived from the revenue described by Subsection (a) of this
section or Section 7-b of this article for a purpose other than
acquiring rights-of-way or constructing or maintaining public
roadways in an amount that exceeds the lesser of:
(1) the total amount of those funds appropriated for a
purpose other than acquiring rights-of-way or constructing or
maintaining public roadways in the preceding biennium; or
(2) the amount determined under Subsection (c) of this
section.
(c) For each biennium, the maximum amount that may be
appropriated as provided by Subsection (b) of this section is
reduced by 20 percent from the preceding biennium if the estimate of
anticipated revenue from all sources made in advance of the regular
session under Section 49a(a), Article III, of this constitution for
the biennium exceeds the total amount of revenue from all sources
for the preceding biennium by more than three times the amount of
the reduction.
SECTION 2. The following temporary provision is added to
the Texas Constitution:
TEMPORARY PROVISION. (a) This temporary provision applies
to the constitutional amendment proposed by the 83rd Legislature,
Regular Session, 2013, to limit the purposes for which revenues
from motor vehicle registration fees, taxes on motor fuels and
lubricants, and certain revenues received from the federal
government may be used.
(b) The changes to Section 7-a, Article VIII, of this
constitution made by the amendment apply only in connection with a
state fiscal biennium that begins on or after September 1, 2015.
(c) This temporary provision expires September 2, 2015.
SECTION 3. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 5, 2013.
The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
proposition: "The constitutional amendment to limit the purposes
for which revenues from motor vehicle registration fees, taxes on
motor fuels and lubricants, and certain revenues received from the
federal government may be used."