By: Walle H.J.R. No. 185
A JOINT RESOLUTION
proposing a constitutional amendment relating to the appropriation
of the net revenue received from the imposition of state sales and
use taxes on sporting goods.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Article VIII, Texas Constitution, Section 7-d is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 7-d. (a) Subject to Subsection (b) of this section,
for each state fiscal year, the net revenue received from the
collection of any state taxes imposed on the sale, storage, use, or
other consumption in this state of sporting goods that were subject
to taxation on January 1, 2019, under Chapter 151, Tax Code, is
automatically appropriated when received to the Parks and Wildlife
Department and the Texas Historical Commission, or their successors
in function, and is allocated between those agencies as provided by
general law. Of revenue allocated to the Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department, an amount equal to five percent of the net revenue
received is automatically appropriated to the State Park Land
Acquisition Trust Fund established under Chapter 11, Parks and
Wildlife Code. The legislature by general law may provide
limitations on the use of money appropriated under this subsection.
(b) The legislature by adoption of a resolution approved by
a record vote of two-thirds of the members of each house of the
legislature may direct the comptroller of public accounts to reduce
the amount of money appropriated to the Parks and Wildlife
Department and the Texas Historical Commission, or their successors
in function, under Subsection (a) of this section. The comptroller
may be directed to make that reduction only:
(1) in the state fiscal year in which the resolution is
adopted, or in either of the following two state fiscal years; and
(2) by an amount that does not result in a reduction of
more than 50 percent of the amount that would otherwise be
appropriated to the Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas
Historical Commission, or their successors in function, in the
affected state fiscal year under Subsection (a) of this section.
(c) Money appropriated to the Parks and Wildlife Department
and the Texas Historical Commission, or their successors in
function, under Subsection (a) of this section may not be
considered available for certification by the comptroller of public
accounts under Section 49a(b), Article III, of this constitution.
(d) In this section, "sporting goods" means an item of
tangible personal property designed and sold for use in a sport or
sporting activity, excluding apparel and footwear except that which
is suitable only for use in a sport or sporting activity, and
excluding board games, electronic games and similar devices,
aircraft and powered vehicles, and replacement parts and
accessories for any excluded item
SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 7, 2023.
The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting for or against the
proposition: "The constitutional amendment dedicating five percent
of the revenue received from the existing state sales and use taxes
that are imposed on sporting goods to the Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department for the acquisition of state park lands."