By Alexander                                          H.J.R. No. 46
         77R4038 DAK-D                           
                                 A JOINT RESOLUTION
 1-1     proposing a constitutional amendment dedicating one-fourth of any
 1-2     revenue derived from an increase in the rate of the gasoline tax to
 1-3     funding group health benefits for active employees of school
 1-4     districts.
 1-5           BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-6           SECTION 1. Section 7-a, Article VIII, Texas Constitution, is
 1-7     amended to read as follows:
 1-8           Sec. 7-a.  (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this
 1-9     section and subject [Subject] to legislative appropriation,
1-10     allocation, and direction, all net revenues remaining after payment
1-11     of all refunds allowed by law and expenses of collection derived
1-12     from motor vehicle registration fees, and all taxes, except gross
1-13     production and ad valorem taxes, on motor fuels and lubricants used
1-14     to propel motor vehicles over public roadways, shall be used for
1-15     the sole purpose of:
1-16                 (1)  acquiring rights-of-way;
1-17                 (2)  [,] constructing, maintaining, and policing such
1-18     public roadways;[,] and
1-19                 (3)  [for] the administration of such laws as may be
1-20     prescribed by the Legislature pertaining to the supervision of
1-21     traffic and safety on such roads.
1-22           (b)  Use of the revenue described by Subsection (a) of this
1-23     section for the purposes described in that subsection is subject to
1-24     the following conditions:
 2-1                 (1)  except as provided by Subdivision (3) of this
 2-2     subsection, [; and for the payment of the principal and interest on
 2-3     county and road district bonds or warrants voted or issued prior to
 2-4     January 2, 1939, and declared eligible prior to January 2, 1945,
 2-5     for payment out of the County and Road District Highway Fund under
 2-6     existing law; provided, however, that] one-fourth [(1/4)] of such
 2-7     net revenue from the motor fuel tax shall be allocated to the
 2-8     Available School Fund;
 2-9                 (2)  [and, provided, however, that] the net revenue
2-10     derived by counties from motor vehicle registration fees shall
2-11     never be less than the maximum amounts allowed to be retained by
2-12     each County and the percentage allowed to be retained by each
2-13     County under the laws in effect on January 1, 1945; and
2-14                 (3)  one-fourth of such net revenue derived from any
2-15     increase in the rate of the gasoline tax over its rate on January
2-16     1, 2001, shall be used for the sole purpose of funding group health
2-17     benefits for active employees of school districts.
2-18           (c)  Nothing contained in this section [herein] shall be
2-19     construed as authorizing the pledging of the State's credit for any
2-20     purpose.
2-21           SECTION 2.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
2-22     submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 6, 2001.
2-23     The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
2-24     proposition:  "The constitutional amendment dedicating one-fourth
2-25     of any revenue derived from an increase in the rate of the gasoline
2-26     tax to funding group health benefits for active employees of school
2-27     districts."