Bill Text: TX HJR60 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced


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

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-02-26 - Referred to Appropriations [HJR60 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-HJR60-Introduced.html
  84R7 JJT-D
 
  By: Bonnen of Galveston H.J.R. No. 60
 
 
 
A JOINT RESOLUTION
  proposing a constitutional amendment concerning the limitation on
  the rate of growth of state 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)  In no state fiscal biennium shall the rate of
  growth of appropriations from state tax revenues not dedicated by
  this constitution exceed a rate equal to the sum of the estimated
  rates [rate of growth] of:
               (1)  change of the state's population during the state
  fiscal biennium preceding the state fiscal biennium for which the
  appropriations are made; and
               (2)  monetary inflation or deflation in this state
  during the state fiscal biennium preceding the biennium for which
  the appropriations are made [economy].
         (b)  If the sum of the estimated rate of change of the state's
  population and the estimated rate of monetary inflation or
  deflation in this state during that preceding state fiscal biennium
  is a negative number, the appropriations from state tax revenues
  not dedicated by this constitution for the biennium may not exceed
  the amount determined by subtracting from the estimated amount of
  appropriations from state tax revenues not dedicated by this
  constitution for that preceding biennium the product of the
  additive inverse of that negative number and the estimated amount
  of appropriations from state tax revenues not dedicated by this
  constitution for that preceding biennium.
         (c)  The legislature shall provide by general law procedures
  to implement Subsections (a) and (b) of this section [subsection].
         (d) [(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 maximum amount authorized by [Subsection (a) of] this
  section. The excess authorized under this subsection may not
  exceed the amount specified in the resolution.
         (e) [(c)]  In no case shall appropriations exceed revenues
  as provided in Article III, Section 49a, of this constitution.
  Nothing in this section shall be construed to alter, amend, or
  repeal Article III, Section 49a, of this constitution.
         SECTION 2.  The following temporary provision is added to
  the Texas Constitution:
         TEMPORARY PROVISION.  (a) This temporary provision applies
  to the amendments to Section 22, Article VIII, of this
  constitution, proposed by the 84th Legislature, Regular Session,
  2015, concerning the limitation on the rate of growth of
  appropriations. This temporary provision expires December 1, 2017.
         (b)  The changes made to Section 22, Article VIII, of this
  constitution, as made by the amendments, apply only in relation to
  appropriations made for the state fiscal biennium beginning
  September 1, 2017, and subsequent state fiscal bienniums.
  Appropriations for the state fiscal biennium that began September
  1, 2015, are governed by Section 22, Article VIII, of this
  constitution as that section provided immediately before the
  amendment was approved by the voters.
         SECTION 3.  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 state appropriations."
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