By Chavez                                       H.J.R. No. 88

      75R7006 CLG-F                           

                                 A JOINT RESOLUTION

 1-1     proposing a constitutional amendment to allow equal access to

 1-2     public services, assistance, and benefits to all United States

 1-3     legal residents.

 1-4           BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Article III, Texas Constitution, is amended by

 1-6     adding Section 51-e to read as follows:

 1-7           Sec. 51-e.  Except as required by federal law, the

 1-8     legislature or a county, municipality, or other political

 1-9     subdivison of the state may not withhold or restrict the use of

1-10     public money to provide services, assistance, or benefits to a

1-11     person who is not a citizen of the United States but is a legal

1-12     resident of the United States as authorized by federal law if the

1-13     sole reason for that withholding or restriction is the person's

1-14     status as a noncitizen.

1-15           SECTION 2.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be

1-16     submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 4, 1997.

1-17     The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting for or against

1-18     the following proposition:  "The constitutional amendment to allow

1-19     equal access to public services, assistance, and benefits to all

1-20     United States legal residents."