84R529 JAM-D
By: Schwertner S.J.R. No. 15
A JOINT RESOLUTION
proposing a constitutional amendment prescribing the purposes for
which revenue from motor vehicle registration fees, certain motor
vehicle-related taxes, and certain revenues received from the
federal government may be used.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 7-a and 7-b, Article VIII, Texas
Constitution, are amended to read as follows:
Sec. 7-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 and [,] constructing and
[,] 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.
Sec. 7-b. All revenues received from the federal government
as reimbursement for state expenditures of funds that are
themselves dedicated for acquiring rights-of-way and constructing
and[,] maintaining[, and policing] public roadways are also
constitutionally dedicated and shall be used only for those
purposes.
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 84th Legislature,
Regular Session, 2015, prescribing the purposes for which revenue
from motor vehicle registration fees, taxes on motor fuels and
lubricants, and certain revenues received from the federal
government may be used.
(b) The amendments to Sections 7-a and 7-b, Article VIII, of
this constitution apply only in connection with a state fiscal
biennium that begins on or after September 1, 2017.
(c) Beginning in the state fiscal year that begins on
September 1, 2017, the legislature may not appropriate any revenue
described by Section 7-a, Article VIII, of this constitution, and
the state agency responsible for the construction and maintenance
of state highways may not allocate any revenue described by that
section that is appropriated to the state agency, for any purpose
other than acquiring rights-of-way and constructing and
maintaining public roadways.
(d) This temporary provision does not affect:
(1) the allocation of revenue to the available school
fund or the allocation to counties of motor vehicle registration
fees under Section 7-a, Article VIII, of this constitution; or
(2) the use of revenue described by Section 7-a or 7-b,
Article VIII, of this constitution for a purpose specifically
authorized by another provision of this constitution.
(e) This temporary provision expires September 2, 2017.
SECTION 3. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 3, 2015.
The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
proposition: "The constitutional amendment prescribing the
purposes for which revenue from motor vehicle registration fees,
taxes on motor fuels and lubricants, and certain revenues received
from the federal government may be used."