By: Lindsay S.J.R. No. 27
2001S0496/1
1-1 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION
1-2 proposing a constitutional amendment establishing a special motor
1-3 fuels tax and dedicating the proceeds of the special tax to the
1-4 Texas Department of Transportation and to the funding of group
1-5 health benefits for employees of school districts.
1-6 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-7 SECTION 1. Section 7-a, Article VIII, Texas Constitution, is
1-8 amended to read as follows:
1-9 Sec. 7-a. (a) Except as provided by Section 7-c of this
1-10 article and subject [Subject] to legislative appropriation,
1-11 allocation, and direction, all net revenues remaining after payment
1-12 of all refunds allowed by law and expenses of collection derived
1-13 from motor vehicle registration fees, and all taxes, except gross
1-14 production and ad valorem taxes, on motor fuels and lubricants used
1-15 to propel motor vehicles over public roadways, shall be used for
1-16 the sole purpose of:
1-17 (1) acquiring rights-of-way;
1-18 (2) [,] constructing, maintaining, and policing such
1-19 public roadways;[,] and
1-20 (3) [for] the administration of such laws as may be
1-21 prescribed by the legislature [Legislature] pertaining to the
1-22 supervision of traffic and safety on such roads.
1-23 (b) One-fourth[; and for the payment of the principal and
1-24 interest on county and road district bonds or warrants voted or
2-1 issued prior to January 2, 1939, and declared eligible prior to
2-2 January 2, 1945, for payment out of the County and Road District
2-3 Highway Fund under existing law; provided, however, that one-fourth
2-4 (1/4)] of the [such] net revenue from the motor fuel tax authorized
2-5 under this section shall be allocated to the available school fund.
2-6 (c) The [Available School Fund; and, provided, however, that
2-7 the] net revenue derived by counties from motor vehicle
2-8 registration fees shall never be less than the maximum amounts
2-9 allowed to be retained by each County and the percentage allowed to
2-10 be retained by each County under the laws in effect on January 1,
2-11 1945.
2-12 (d) Nothing contained in this section [herein] shall be
2-13 construed as authorizing the pledging of the State's credit for any
2-14 purpose.
2-15 SECTION 2. Article VIII, Texas Constitution, is amended by
2-16 adding Section 7-c to read as follows:
2-17 Sec. 7-c. (a) In addition to any taxes on motor fuels
2-18 authorized by other provisions of this constitution, for the
2-19 purposes described by this section the legislature by law shall
2-20 impose a special tax of four cents on the sale of motor fuels used
2-21 to propel motor vehicles over public roadways.
2-22 (b) One cent from the tax imposed under Subsection (a) of
2-23 this section shall be allocated to the available school fund to be
2-24 used for the sole purpose of funding group health benefits for
2-25 employees of school districts. Three cents from the tax imposed
2-26 under Subsection (a) of this section shall be allocated to the
3-1 Texas Department of Transportation, of which not more than one cent
3-2 may be used for the purpose of paying the department's debt
3-3 service.
3-4 SECTION 3. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
3-5 submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 6, 2001.
3-6 The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
3-7 proposition: "The constitutional amendment establishing a special
3-8 motor fuels tax and dedicating the proceeds of the special tax to
3-9 the Texas Department of Transportation and to funding group health
3-10 benefits for employees of school districts."