By Williamson H.J.R. No. 101 75R5848 ESH-D A JOINT RESOLUTION 1-1 proposing a constitutional amendment providing for full state 1-2 funding of basic educational costs, limiting local ad valorem 1-3 taxes for public schools, and permitting the legislature to exempt 1-4 business property from ad valorem taxation. 1-5 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-6 SECTION 1. Article VII, Texas Constitution, is amended by 1-7 adding Section 1A to read as follows: 1-8 Sec. 1A. (a) To support and maintain an efficient system of 1-9 public free schools as required by Section 1 of this article, for 1-10 each school year the legislature shall, from state funds, 1-11 appropriate for the public primary and secondary schools an amount 1-12 that is not less than $5,000 multiplied by the number of public 1-13 school students for that year. 1-14 (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this 1-15 constitution, a political subdivision may not impose an ad valorem 1-16 tax for the support of public primary and secondary schools at a 1-17 rate that exceeds $0.50 for each hundred dollars of valuation. 1-18 (c) This section expires September 1, 2007. 1-19 SECTION 2. Article VIII, Texas Constitution, is amended by 1-20 adding Section 1-m to read as follows: 1-21 Sec. 1-m. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this 1-22 constitution, the legislature by general law may exempt from ad 1-23 valorem taxation real or personal property that is owned by an 1-24 entity engaged in business and that is used for business purposes. 2-1 (b) Notwithstanding any other provision in this 2-2 constitution, other than Section 1A(b), Article VII, of this 2-3 constitution, the legislature may by general law authorize the 2-4 imposition of taxes by the state or by political subdivisions 2-5 necessary to meet the requirements of Section 1A, Article VII, of 2-6 this constitution. 2-7 (c) This section expires September 1, 2007. 2-8 SECTION 3. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be 2-9 submitted to the voters at an election to be held August 9, 1997. 2-10 The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the 2-11 proposition: "The constitutional amendment providing for full 2-12 state funding of basic educational costs, limiting local ad valorem 2-13 taxes for public schools, and permitting the legislature to exempt 2-14 business property from ad valorem taxation."