| 1 | 1 | | 84R1612 CJC-D |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | By: Metcalf H.J.R. No. 53 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | A JOINT RESOLUTION |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | proposing a constitutional amendment dedicating certain revenue |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | derived from the tax imposed on the sale of motor vehicles to the |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | state highway fund. |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Article VIII, Texas Constitution, is amended by |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | adding Section 7-c to read as follows: |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | Sec. 7-c. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | section, the net revenue derived from the tax authorized by Chapter |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | 152, Tax Code, or its successor, and imposed on the sale of a motor |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | vehicle sold in this state shall be deposited to the credit of the |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | state highway fund and may be appropriated only: |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | (1) for a purpose authorized by Section 7-a, Article |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | VIII, of this constitution; or |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | (2) to repay the principal and interest on general |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | obligation bonds issued as authorized by Section 49-p, Article III, |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | of this constitution. |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | (b) Subsection (a) of this section does not apply to any |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | revenue described by that subsection that, under general law in |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | effect on January 1, 2015, was required to be deposited to the |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | credit of a fund outside the general revenue fund from which money |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | could be appropriated only for a purpose that decreases the rates |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | of, or reduces reliance on, ad valorem taxes imposed to fund public |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | schools. To the extent general law continues to require the deposit |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | of that revenue in that manner and limit the appropriation of that |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | revenue to that purpose, the requirement and limitation prevail |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | over Subsection (a) of this section. |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | SECTION 2. The following temporary provision is added to |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | the Texas Constitution: |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | TEMPORARY PROVISION. (a) This temporary provision applies |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | to the constitutional amendment proposed by the 84th Legislature, |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | Regular Session, 2015, dedicating certain revenue derived from the |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | tax imposed on the sale of a motor vehicle sold in this state to the |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | state highway fund. |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | (b) The changes to Article VIII of this constitution made by |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | the amendment take effect September 1, 2026. |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | (c) Beginning with the state fiscal year beginning on |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | September 1, 2026, the legislature may not appropriate any revenue |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | to which Section 7-c(a), Article VIII, of this constitution applies |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | for any purpose other than a purpose described by Section 7-c(a), |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | Article VIII, of this constitution. |
|---|
| 46 | 46 | | (d) In each state fiscal year that begins on or after |
|---|
| 47 | 47 | | September 1, 2017, but before September 1, 2026, the legislature |
|---|
| 48 | 48 | | shall decrease in equal increments each year the amount of revenue |
|---|
| 49 | 49 | | to which Section 7-c(a), Article VIII, of this constitution applies |
|---|
| 50 | 50 | | that is appropriated for any purpose other than a purpose described |
|---|
| 51 | 51 | | by Section 7-c(a), Article VIII, of this constitution as necessary |
|---|
| 52 | 52 | | to comply with Subsection (c) of this temporary provision beginning |
|---|
| 53 | 53 | | September 1, 2026. |
|---|
| 54 | 54 | | (e) This temporary provision expires September 1, 2027. |
|---|
| 55 | 55 | | SECTION 3. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be |
|---|
| 56 | 56 | | submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 3, 2015. |
|---|
| 57 | 57 | | The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the |
|---|
| 58 | 58 | | proposition: "The constitutional amendment dedicating certain |
|---|
| 59 | 59 | | revenue derived from the tax imposed on a sale of a motor vehicle |
|---|
| 60 | 60 | | sold in this state to the state highway fund." |
|---|