89R20804 MPF-D
By: Huffman, et al. S.J.R. No. 3
(Craddick, Bonnen, Hunter, Thompson, Curry, et al.)
Substitute the following for S.J.R. No. 3: No.
A JOINT RESOLUTION
proposing a constitutional amendment providing for the
establishment of the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of
Texas, establishing the Dementia Prevention and Research Fund to
provide money for research on and prevention and treatment of
dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related
disorders in this state, and transferring to that fund $3 billion
from state general revenue.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Article III, Texas Constitution, is amended by
adding Section 68 to read as follows:
Sec. 68. (a) The legislature shall establish the Dementia
Prevention and Research Institute of Texas to:
(1) award grants to institutions of learning, advanced
medical research facilities, public or private persons, and
collaboratives in this state to provide money for:
(A) research into the causes of, means of
prevention of, and treatment and rehabilitation for dementia,
Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders;
(B) research, including translational research,
to develop therapies, protocols, medical pharmaceuticals, or
procedures for the substantial mitigation of the symptoms of
dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related
disorders;
(C) facilities, equipment, and other costs
related to research on dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's
disease, and related disorders; and
(D) prevention programs and strategies to
mitigate the detrimental health impacts of dementia, Alzheimer's
disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders;
(2) support institutions of learning and advanced
medical research facilities and collaboratives in this state in all
stages of:
(A) discovering the causes of dementia,
Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders;
(B) developing therapies, protocols, medical
pharmaceuticals, or procedures for the substantial mitigation of
the symptoms of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease,
and related disorders from laboratory research to clinical trials;
and
(C) developing programs to address access to
advanced treatment for dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's
disease, and related disorders; and
(3) establish the appropriate standards and oversight
bodies to ensure the proper use of funding authorized under this
section, including facilities development.
(b) The members of the governing body and any other
decision-making body of the Dementia Prevention and Research
Institute of Texas may serve six-year terms.
(c) The Dementia Prevention and Research Fund is
established as a special fund in the state treasury outside the
general revenue fund to be administered by the Dementia Prevention
and Research Institute of Texas. The comptroller of public
accounts shall credit to general revenue interest due to the fund.
(c-1) On January 1, 2026, the comptroller shall transfer $3
billion from this state's general revenue fund to the Dementia
Prevention and Research Fund. The transfer made under this
subsection is not an appropriation of state tax revenues for the
purposes of Section 22, Article VIII, of this constitution. This
subsection expires January 1, 2029.
(d) The Dementia Prevention and Research Fund consists of:
(1) money transferred to the fund under this section;
(2) money the legislature appropriates, credits, or
transfers to the fund; and
(3) gifts and grants, including grants from the
federal government, and other donations received for the fund.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this
constitution, the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of
Texas, as established by general law, may use money in the Dementia
Prevention and Research Fund only for the purpose of funding:
(1) grants for research on dementia, Alzheimer's
disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders, research
facilities, and research opportunities in this state:
(A) for the prevention, treatment, and
rehabilitation of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's
disease, and related disorders and the mitigation of the incidence
of and detrimental health impacts from dementia, Alzheimer's
disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders; and
(B) to develop therapies, protocols, medical
pharmaceuticals, or procedures for the substantial mitigation of
the symptoms of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease,
and related disorders;
(2) the purchase, construction, or renovation,
subject to the institute's approval, of facilities by or on behalf
of a state agency or grant recipient; and
(3) the institute's operation.
(f) Not including any unspent money appropriated to the
Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas carried forward
from the preceding state fiscal year, the legislature may
appropriate not more than $300 million from the Dementia Prevention
and Research Fund to the institute for a state fiscal year.
(g) Before the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute
of Texas may award a grant authorized under this section, the grant
recipient must have available an unexpended amount of money equal
to one-half of the grant amount dedicated to the research specified
in the grant proposal.
(h) The reasonable expenses of managing the assets of the
Dementia Prevention and Research Fund shall be paid from the fund.
SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 4, 2025.
The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
proposition: "The constitutional amendment providing for the
establishment of the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of
Texas, establishing the Dementia Prevention and Research Fund to
provide money for research on and prevention and treatment of
dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related
disorders in this state, and transferring to that fund $3 billion
from state general revenue."