Bill Text: TX HJR42 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Proposing a constitutional amendment regarding the limitation on the rate of growth of appropriations.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-02-20 - Referred to Appropriations [HJR42 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-HJR42-Introduced.html

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85R951 CJC-D
By: Metcalf H.J.R. No. 42

A JOINT RESOLUTION
proposing a constitutional amendment regarding the limitation on
the rate of growth of 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) The amount [In no biennium shall the rate of
growth] of appropriations from state tax revenues not dedicated by
this constitution for a state fiscal biennium may not exceed the
amount determined in accordance with Subsection (c) of this section
and general law.
(b) The rate of growth of appropriations from state tax
revenues not dedicated by this constitution from one state fiscal
biennium to the next state fiscal biennium may not exceed the lesser
of the following rates:
(1) a rate equal to the sum of the estimated rates of:
(A) increase or decrease in the state's
population during the current state fiscal biennium; and
(B) monetary inflation or deflation in the state
during the current state fiscal biennium; or
(2) the estimated rate of growth of the state's
economy.
(c) The amount of appropriations from state tax revenues not
dedicated by this constitution for the next state fiscal biennium
may not exceed an amount determined by multiplying the amount of
appropriations for the current state fiscal biennium by the sum of
one plus the lesser of the rates described by Subsection (b) of this
section. If the lesser of the rates described by Subsection (b) is
a negative number, the amount of appropriations from state tax
revenues not dedicated by this constitution for the next state
fiscal biennium may not exceed the amount of appropriations from
those revenues in the current state fiscal biennium reduced by the
product of that amount and the additive inverse of that negative
number.
(d) The legislature shall provide by general law procedures
to implement this section [subsection].
(e) [(b)] If the legislature, by adoption of a resolution
approved by a record vote of 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 of appropriations authorized under [by]
Subsection (c) [(a)] of this section. The excess authorized under
this subsection may not exceed the amount specified in the
resolution.
(f) [(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. The following temporary provision is added to
the Texas Constitution:
TEMPORARY PROVISION. The constitutional amendment proposed
by the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017, regarding the
limitation on the rate of growth of appropriations applies
beginning with the state fiscal biennium beginning September 1,
2019. This temporary provision expires September 1, 2021.
SECTION 3. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 7, 2017.
The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
proposition: "The constitutional amendment regarding the
limitation on the rate of growth of appropriations."