By:  Harris                                  S.J.R. No. 15

         97S0138/1                            

                               SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

 1-1     proposing a constitutional amendment relating to appropriations for

 1-2     the preservation and perpetuation of certain items of historical

 1-3     value; allowing the legislature and state agencies to accept on

 1-4     behalf of the state gifts of items of historical value and

 1-5     contributions to purchase such items.

 1-6           BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-7           SECTION 1.  Section 39, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, is

 1-8     amended to read as follows:

 1-9           Sec. 39.  The Legislature may, from time to time, make

1-10     appropriations for preserving and perpetuating memorials of the

1-11     history of Texas, by means of monuments, statues, paintings, films,

1-12     videotapes, audiotapes, and documents of historical value.  The

1-13     Legislature or an agency of the state may accept on behalf of the

1-14     state gifts of items of historical value and contributions to

1-15     purchase items of historical value.

1-16           SECTION 2.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be

1-17     submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 4, 1997.

1-18     The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the

1-19     proposition:  "The constitutional amendment allowing the

1-20     legislature to make appropriations for preserving and perpetuating

1-21     certain items of historical value and allowing the legislature and

1-22     state agencies to accept on behalf of the state gifts of items of

1-23     historical value and contributions to preserve and perpetuate such

1-24     items."