By: Hancock, Birdwell, Creighton S.J.R. No. 2
(In the Senate - Filed March 10, 2015; March 10, 2015, read
first time and referred to Committee on Finance; April 7, 2015,
reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the
following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 5; April 7, 2015, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.J.R. No. 2 By: Hancock
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION
proposing a constitutional amendment concerning the limitation on
the rate of growth in appropriations.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 22, Article VIII, Texas Constitution, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 22. (a) For purposes of this section, "consolidated
general revenue appropriations" means appropriations from:
(1) the general revenue fund in the state treasury;
(2) a dedicated account in the general revenue fund in
the state treasury; or
(3) a general revenue-related fund in the state
treasury as identified in the biennial statement required of the
comptroller of public accounts under Section 49a, Article III, of
this constitution.
(b) In no state fiscal biennium shall the rate of growth of
consolidated general revenue appropriations [from state tax
revenues not dedicated by this constitution] exceed the estimated
average biennial rate of growth of the state's population during
the state fiscal biennium preceding the biennium for which
appropriations are made and during the state fiscal biennium for
which appropriations are made adjusted by the estimated average
biennial rate of monetary inflation in this state during the same
period [economy].
(c) Notwithstanding Subsection (b) of this section, an
appropriation to pay for a rebate of state taxes must be excluded
from computations used to determine whether appropriations exceed
the amount authorized by this section.
(d) The rates described by Subsection (b) of this section
shall be determined in the manner provided by general law. If the
determined rate is a negative number, consolidated general revenue
appropriations for the next state fiscal biennium may not exceed
the consolidated general revenue appropriations in the current
state fiscal biennium.
(e) The legislature shall provide by general law procedures
to implement Subsections (b), (c), and (d) of this section
[subsection].
(f) [(b)] If the legislature by adoption of a resolution
approved by a record vote of three-fifths [a majority] of the
members of each house finds that an emergency exists and identifies
the nature of the emergency, the legislature may provide for
appropriations in excess of the amount authorized by Subsection (b)
[(a)] of this section. The excess authorized under this subsection
may not exceed the amount specified in the resolution.
(g) [(c)] In no case shall appropriations exceed revenues
as provided in Section 49a, Article III, [Section 49a,] of this
constitution. Nothing in this section shall be construed to alter,
amend, or repeal Section 49a, Article III, [Section 49a,] of this
constitution.
SECTION 2. 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 concerning the
limitation on the rate of growth in appropriations."
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