Amend CSHJR 4 by striking all below the resolving clause and
substituting the following:
      SECTION 1.  Section 1-b(c), Article VIII, Texas Constitution,
is amended to read as follows:
      (c)  Thirty <Five> Thousand Dollars ($30,000) <($5,000)> of
the market value of the residence homestead of a married or
unmarried adult, including one living alone, is exempt from ad
valorem taxation for general elementary and secondary public school
purposes.  In addition to this exemption, the legislature by
general law may exempt an amount not to exceed Ten Thousand Dollars
($10,000) of the market value of the residence homestead of a
person who is disabled as defined in Subsection (b) of this section
and of a person sixty-five (65) years of age or older from ad
valorem taxation for general elementary and secondary public school
purposes.  The legislature by general law may base the amount of
and condition eligibility for the additional exemption authorized
by this subsection for disabled persons and for persons sixty-five
(65) years of age or older on economic need.  An eligible disabled
person who is sixty-five (65) years of age or older may not receive
both exemptions from a school district but may choose either.  An
eligible person is entitled to receive both the exemption required
by this subsection for all residence homesteads and any exemption
adopted pursuant to Subsection (b) of this section, but the
legislature shall provide by general law whether an eligible
disabled or elderly person may receive both the additional
exemption for the elderly and disabled authorized by this
subsection and any exemption for the elderly or disabled adopted
pursuant to Subsection (b) of this section.  Where ad valorem tax
has previously been pledged for the payment of debt, the taxing
officers of a school district may continue to levy and collect the
tax against the value of homesteads exempted under this subsection
until the debt is discharged if the cessation of the levy would
impair the obligation of the contract by which the debt was
created.  The legislature shall provide for formulas to protect
school districts against all or part of the revenue loss incurred
by the implementation of Article VIII, Sections 1-b(c), 1-b(d), and
1-d-1, of this constitution.  The legislature by general law may
define residence homestead for purposes of this section.
      SECTION 2.  The following temporary provision is added to the
Texas Constitution:
      TEMPORARY PROVISION.  (a)  This temporary provision applies
to the constitutional amendment proposed by H.J.R. No. 4, 75th
Legislature, Regular Session, 1997, and expires January 2, 1998.
      (b)  The amendment to Section 1-b(c), Article VIII, of this
constitution takes effect January 1, 1998.
      SECTION 3.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 4, 1997.
The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
proposition: "The constitutional amendment to increase the
residence homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation for general
elementary and secondary public school purposes from $5,000 to
$30,000."  Start typing here.