1-1     By:  Hamric (Senate Sponsor - Lindsay)                H.J.R. No. 96

 1-2           (In the Senate - Received from the House April 17, 1997;

 1-3     April 18, 1997, read first time and referred to Committee on

 1-4     Intergovernmental Relations; May 13, 1997, reported favorably by

 1-5     the following vote:  Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 13, 1997, sent to

 1-6     printer.)

 1-7                           HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 1-8     proposing a constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature

 1-9     to authorize an ad valorem tax of five cents for each $100 of

1-10     taxable property in rural fire prevention districts located in

1-11     Harris County.

1-12           BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

1-13           SECTION 1.  Section 48-d, Article III, Texas Constitution, is

1-14     amended to read as follows:

1-15           Sec. 48-d.  (a)  The Legislature shall have the power to

1-16     provide for the establishment and creation of rural fire prevention

1-17     districts and, except as provided by Subsection (b) of this

1-18     section, to authorize a tax on the ad valorem property situated in

1-19     said districts not to exceed Three (3 ) Cents on the One Hundred

1-20     ($100.00) Dollars valuation for the support thereof.

1-21           (b)  The Legislature shall have the power to authorize a tax

1-22     on the ad valorem property situated in a rural fire prevention

1-23     district located in whole or part in Harris County not to exceed

1-24     Five (5 ) Cents on the One Hundred ($100.00) Dollars valuation for

1-25     the support of the district.

1-26           (c)  Provided, however, [; provided that] no tax shall be

1-27     levied in support of said districts until approved by vote of the

1-28     people residing therein.

1-29           SECTION 2.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be

1-30     submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 4, 1997.

1-31     The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the

1-32     proposition:  "The constitutional amendment to authorize the

1-33     legislature to authorize an ad valorem tax rate in rural fire

1-34     prevention districts located in Harris County of five cents on each

1-35     $100 of taxable value of property."

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