By: Nelson S.J.R. No. 6 73R3413 RJA-F A JOINT RESOLUTION 1-1 proposing a constitutional amendment relating to the powers of the 1-2 district courts. 1-3 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Article V of the Texas Constitution is amended by 1-5 adding Section 8a to read as follows: 1-6 Sec. 8a. Notwithstanding Section 8 of this article, a 1-7 district court does not have the power or authority to order or 1-8 decree that the system of public free schools be closed or 1-9 prohibited from operating. A district court does not have the 1-10 power or authority to order or decree that funds the legislature 1-11 has appropriated for the purpose of funding a system of public free 1-12 schools be diverted or withheld from their dedicated use. A 1-13 district court does not have the power or authority to confiscate 1-14 or to prohibit the distribution of funds in the state treasury 1-15 appropriated for the purpose of funding a system of public free 1-16 schools. A district court does not have the power or authority to 1-17 prohibit, by order or decree, a legal subdivision of the state, 1-18 including a school district, from making expenditures of funds and 1-19 revenues obtained in accordance with this constitution and the laws 1-20 of the state for the purpose of funding public elementary and 1-21 secondary education or funding any locally funded share of the 1-22 system of public free schools. The legislature has the power to 1-23 enforce and interpret this section by appropriate act. 1-24 SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be 2-1 submitted to the voters at an election to be held May 1, 1993. The 2-2 ballot shall be printed to provide for voting for or against the 2-3 proposition: "The constitutional amendment to prohibit the 2-4 district courts from ordering the closure of the system of public 2-5 free schools."