By Shapiro                                      S.J.R. No. 28

      75R3763 GCH-D                           

                                 A JOINT RESOLUTION

 1-1     proposing a constitutional amendment requiring the legislature to

 1-2     finance the basic elements of public education.

 1-3           BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Article VII, Texas Constitution, is amended by

 1-5     adding Section 1-a to read as follows:

 1-6           Sec. 1-a.  The legislature shall appropriate the amounts

 1-7     necessary to finance the basic elements of education for public

 1-8     elementary and secondary schools.  The basic elements of education

 1-9     are the basic resources necessary for instruction in the essential

1-10     knowledge and skills addressed by the curriculum required by

1-11     statute and adopted by the State Board of Education.

1-12           SECTION 2.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be

1-13     submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 4, 1997.

1-14     The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the

1-15     proposition:  "The constitutional amendment requiring the

1-16     legislature to appropriate money to finance the basic elements of

1-17     public education."