By: Huffman S.J.R. No. 5
         (In the Senate - Filed March 10, 2023; March 13, 2023, read
  first time and referred to Committee on Finance; April 4, 2023,
  reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the
  following vote:  Yeas 17, Nays 0; April 4, 2023, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.J.R. No. 5 By:  Huffman
 
 
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION
 
 
  proposing a constitutional amendment renaming the national
  research university fund as the Texas University Fund, providing
  for the appropriation of certain investment income from the
  economic stabilization fund to the Texas University Fund, and
  excepting appropriations to and from the Texas University Fund from
  the constitutional limit on the rate of growth of appropriations.
         BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 49-g, Article III, Texas Constitution,
  is amended by adding Subsection (p) to read as follows:
         (p)  On the first day of each state fiscal year, an amount, if
  the amount is greater than zero, equal to the lesser of $100 million
  or the interest and other earnings attributable to the investment
  of money in the economic stabilization fund for the preceding state
  fiscal year is appropriated from the economic stabilization fund to
  the comptroller of public accounts for the purpose of deposit to the
  credit of the Texas University Fund not later than the 90th day of
  the state fiscal year in which the appropriation is made.  For
  purposes of this subsection, the amount of interest and other
  earnings attributable to the investment of money in the economic
  stabilization fund for a state fiscal year is computed by:
               (1)  determining the amount of interest due to the fund
  for that fiscal year, including any interest credited to general
  revenue under Subsection (i) of this section;
               (2)  adding to the amount determined under Subdivision
  (1) of this subsection an amount equal to the change in the fair
  market value of the fund between the last day of that fiscal year
  and the last day of the preceding state fiscal year; and
               (3)  subtracting from the amount determined under
  Subdivision (2) of this subsection the amount of any expenses of
  managing the investments of money in the fund that are paid from the
  fund during that fiscal year.
         SECTION 2.  Section 20, Article VII, Texas Constitution, is
  amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (i) to
  read as follows:
         (a)  There is established the Texas University Fund
  [national research university fund] for the purpose of providing a
  dedicated, independent, and equitable source of funding to enable
  emerging research universities in this state to achieve national
  prominence as major research universities.
         (i)  For purposes of Section 22, Article VIII, of this
  constitution:
               (1)  money in the fund is dedicated by this
  constitution; and
               (2)  an appropriation of state tax revenues for the
  purpose of depositing money to the credit of the fund is treated as
  if it were an appropriation of revenues dedicated by this
  constitution.
         SECTION 3.  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 permit voting for or against the
  proposition:  "The constitutional amendment renaming the national
  research university fund as the Texas University Fund, providing
  for the appropriation of certain investment income from the
  economic stabilization fund to the Texas University Fund, and
  excepting appropriations to and from the Texas University Fund from
  the constitutional limit on the rate of growth of appropriations."
 
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