SRC-CTC S.J.R. 37 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.J.R. 37
By: Lucio
Business & Commerce
6/5/2001
Enrolled


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, unscrupulous development and substandard housing conditions
along the Texas-Mexico border are prohibited by state law.  However, many
neighborhoods, known as colonias, were built in this region prior to 1989
when legislative reform began.  Since little is available or affordable to
the residents of these colonias, many Texas residents continue to live in
neighborhoods without basic services.  S.J.R. 37 authorizes the issuance of
general obligation bonds to aid counties in roadway improvement projects to
serve colonias. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Article III, Texas Constitution, by adding Section 49-1,
as follows: 

Sec. 49-1.  (a) Authorizes the legislature, in order to fund financial
assistance to counties for roadways to serve border colonias, to authorize
the governor by general law to authorize the Texas Public Finance Authority
or its successor to issue general obligation bonds or notes of the State of
Texas in an aggregate amount not to exceed $175 million and to enter into
related credit agreements.  Authorizes the proceeds from the sale of the
bonds and notes to be used, except as provided by Subsection (c), only to
provide financial assistance to counties for projects to provide access
roads to connect border colonias with public roads.  Authorizes projects to
include the construction of colonia access roads, the acquisition of
materials used in maintaining colonia access roads, and projects related to
the construction of colonia access roads, such as projects for the drainage
of the roads. 

(b) Authorizes the Texas Transportation Commission, in its discretion and
in consultation with the office of the governor, to determine what
constitutes a border colonia for purposes of selecting the counties and
projects that may receive assistance under this section. 

(c) Authorizes a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the bonds and
notes and a portion of the interest earned on the bonds and notes to be
used to pay the costs of administering projects authorized under this
section and all or part of a payment owed or to be owed under a credit
agreement. 

(d) Provides that the bonds and notes authorized under this section
constitute a general obligation of the state.  Provides that while any of
the bonds or notes or interest on the bonds or notes is outstanding and
unpaid, there is appropriated out of the general revenue fund in each
fiscal year an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on
the bonds and notes that mature or become due during the fiscal year,
including an amount sufficient to make payments under a related credit
agreement. 
 
SECTION 2.  Requires that this constitutional amendment be put before the
voters in an election on November 6, 2001.  Requires the ballot to be
printed to permit a person to vote for or against the proposition and sets
forth specific wording to be contained on the ballot.