Bill Text: TX SJR55 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Engrossed

Texas Senate Joint Resolution 55 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Proposing a constitutional amendment appropriating money from the system benefit fund for the purpose of returning system benefit fund fees to retail electric customers.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 9)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2013-05-17 - Referred to Appropriations [SJR55 Detail]

Download: Texas-2013-SJR55-Engrossed.html



	By: Williams, et al.	S.J.R. No. 55


	SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION




	proposing a constitutional amendment appropriating money from the
	system benefit fund for the purpose of returning system benefit
	fund fees to retail electric customers.
	BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Article VIII, Texas Constitution, is amended by
	adding Section 30 to read as follows:
	Sec. 30. (a) On November 10, 2013, 90 percent of the
	unobligated and otherwise unappropriated balance of the system
	benefit fund account in the general revenue fund is appropriated to
	the comptroller for the purpose of returning the appropriated money
	to retail electric customers in the manner provided by general law.
	The appropriation made by this subsection is not considered an
	appropriation of state tax revenues for purposes of Section 22 of
	this article.
	(b) On the date specified by Subsection (a) of this section,
	the comptroller shall transfer the amount appropriated by that
	subsection from the system benefit fund account in the general
	revenue fund into a special fund in the state treasury outside of
	the general revenue fund. The comptroller shall retain the balance
	in that special fund and without further appropriation shall
	disburse the money to retail electric customers as directed under
	general law. The comptroller shall credit to the special fund all
	interest or other earnings on the balance of the special fund.
	(c) Money authorized to be spent out of the system benefit
	fund account by an appropriation that is made by law before November
	10, 2013, may be spent as provided by general law and in accordance
	with that appropriation.
	(d) The legislature by general law shall provide for the
	Public Utility Commission of Texas to direct the comptroller to
	disburse the money appropriated by Subsection (a) of this section
	to retail electric customers beginning as soon as practicable, with
	the entire balance of the appropriated money disbursed before
	September 1, 2014.
	(e) This section expires January 1, 2016.
	SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
	submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 5, 2013.
	The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting for or against the
	proposition: "The constitutional amendment appropriating the
	system benefit fund for the purpose of returning system benefit
	fund fees to retail electric customers as provided by the Texas
	Legislature."