Texas 2019 86th Regular

Texas House Bill HJR82 Introduced / Bill

Filed 02/21/2019

                    86R11490 CJC-D
 By: Craddick H.J.R. No. 82


 A JOINT RESOLUTION
 proposing a constitutional amendment providing for the creation of
 and use of money in the generate recurring oil wealth for Texas
 (GROW Texas) fund and allocating certain general revenues to that
 fund, the economic stabilization fund, and the state highway fund.
 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Sections 49-g(c), (c-1), and (c-2), Article III,
 Texas Constitution, are amended to read as follows:
 (c)  Not later than the 90th day of each fiscal year, the
 comptroller of public accounts shall transfer from the general
 revenue fund to the economic stabilization fund, [and] the state
 highway fund, and the generate recurring oil wealth for Texas (GROW
 Texas) fund the sum of the amounts described by Subsections (d) and
 (e) of this section, to be allocated as provided by Subsections
 (c-1) and (c-2) of this section. However, if necessary and
 notwithstanding the allocations prescribed by Subsections (c-1)
 and (c-2) of this section, the comptroller shall reduce
 proportionately the amounts described by Subsections (d) and (e) of
 this section to be transferred and allocated to the economic
 stabilization fund to prevent the amount in that fund from
 exceeding the limit in effect for that biennium under Subsection
 (g) of this section. Revenue transferred to the state highway fund
 under this subsection may be used only for constructing,
 maintaining, and acquiring rights-of-way for public roadways other
 than toll roads.
 (c-1)  Except as provided by Subsection (c-2) of this
 section, the comptroller shall allocate [Of] the sum of the amounts
 described by Subsections (d) and (e) of this section and required to
 be transferred from the general revenue fund under Subsection (c)
 of this section as follows:
 (1)  38 percent[, the comptroller shall allocate
 one-half] to the economic stabilization fund;
 (2)  12 percent to the generate recurring oil wealth
 for Texas (GROW Texas) fund; and
 (3)  the remainder to the state highway fund[, except
 as provided by Subsection (c-2) of this section].
 (c-2)  The legislature by general law shall provide for a
 procedure by which the allocation prescribed by Subsection (c-1)
 [of the sum of the amounts described by Subsections (d) and (e)] of
 this section may be adjusted to provide for a transfer to the
 economic stabilization fund of an amount greater than the
 allocation provided for under that subsection [Subsection (c-1) of
 this section] with the remainder of that sum, if any, allocated for
 transfer to the state highway fund and the generate recurring oil
 wealth for Texas (GROW Texas) fund as provided by general law.  The
 allocation made as provided by that general law is binding on the
 comptroller for the purposes of the transfers required by
 Subsection (c) of this section.
 SECTION 2.  Article III, Texas Constitution, is amended by
 adding Section 49-g-3 to read as follows:
 Sec. 49-g-3.  (a) The generate recurring oil wealth for
 Texas (GROW Texas) fund is established as a fund in the state
 treasury.
 (b)  The generate recurring oil wealth for Texas (GROW Texas)
 fund consists of:
 (1)  money transferred to the fund under Section 49-g
 of this article;
 (2)  money appropriated to the fund by the legislature;
 (3)  money that the legislature by statute dedicates
 for deposit to the credit of the fund;
 (4)  gifts or grants contributed to the fund; and
 (5)  investment earnings and interest earned on amounts
 credited to the fund.
 (c)  The legislature may appropriate money from the generate
 recurring oil wealth for Texas (GROW Texas) fund only for use in
 areas of the state from which oil and gas are produced and only for
 the following purposes:
 (1)  to construct, maintain, or improve public roadways
 and related infrastructure;
 (2)  to address public safety concerns relating to
 public roadways, including concerns resulting from the increased
 amount of traffic on those roadways; and
 (3)  to fund grants to state agencies and political
 subdivisions of the state to address public safety concerns and
 supplement educational opportunities.
 SECTION 3.  The following temporary provision is added to
 the Texas Constitution:
 TEMPORARY PROVISION. (a) This temporary provision applies
 to the constitutional amendment proposed by the 86th Legislature,
 Regular Session, 2019, providing for the creation of the generate
 recurring oil wealth for Texas (GROW Texas) fund, dedicating the
 money in that fund to benefit areas of the state from which oil and
 gas are produced, and providing for the transfer of certain general
 revenues to that fund, the economic stabilization fund, and the
 state highway fund.
 (b)  Section 49-g-3, Article III, of this constitution, as
 added by the amendment, and the amendment to Section 49-g, Article
 III, of this constitution, take effect January 1, 2020.
 (c)  This temporary provision expires January 1, 2021.
 SECTION 4.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
 submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 5, 2019.
 The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
 proposition: "The constitutional amendment providing for the
 creation of the generate recurring oil wealth for Texas (GROW
 Texas) fund, dedicating the money in that fund to benefit areas of
 the state from which oil and gas are produced, and providing for the
 transfer of certain general revenues to that fund, the economic
 stabilization fund, and the state highway fund."