By Dutton                                             H.J.R. No. 51
         77R2105 MXM-D                           
                                 A JOINT RESOLUTION
 1-1     proposing a constitutional amendment to authorize school districts
 1-2     to purchase insurance to cover students who are injured while
 1-3     riding as passengers in a vehicle operated by or for the school
 1-4     district.
 1-5           BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-6           SECTION 1.  Section 52(a), Article III, Texas Constitution,
 1-7     is amended to read as follows:
 1-8           (a)  Except as otherwise provided by this section, the
 1-9     Legislature shall have no power to authorize any county, city, town
1-10     or other political corporation or subdivision of the State to lend
1-11     its credit or to grant public money or thing of value in aid of, or
1-12     to any individual, association or corporation whatsoever, or to
1-13     become a stockholder in such corporation, association or company.
1-14     However, this section does not prohibit the use of public funds or
1-15     credit for the payment of premiums on:
1-16                 (1)  nonassessable property and casualty, life, health,
1-17     or accident insurance policies and annuity contracts issued by a
1-18     mutual insurance company authorized to do business in this State;
1-19     or
1-20                 (2)  insurance coverage obtained through a motor
1-21     vehicle insurance policy purchased by a school district to cover
1-22     injuries sustained by a student while riding as a passenger in a
1-23     motor vehicle operated by or for the school district.
1-24           SECTION 2.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
 2-1     submitted to the voters at an election to be held on November 6,
 2-2     2001.  The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against
 2-3     the proposition:  "The constitutional amendment authorizing a
 2-4     school district to purchase insurance coverage to cover students
 2-5     who are injured while riding as passengers in a vehicle operated by
 2-6     or for the school district."