By Bivins                                             S.J.R. No. 52
         77R13448 GJH-D                           
                                 A JOINT RESOLUTION
 1-1     proposing a constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature
 1-2     to use contributions to the pension fund of the Teacher Retirement
 1-3     System of Texas to finance health care benefits for retirees of
 1-4     that system.
 1-5           BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-6           SECTION 1. Section 67(b)(1), Article XVI, Texas Constitution,
 1-7     is amended to read as follows:
 1-8                 (1)  The legislature shall establish by law a Teacher
 1-9     Retirement System of Texas to provide benefits for persons employed
1-10     in the public schools, colleges, and universities supported wholly
1-11     or partly by the state.  Other employees may be included under the
1-12     system by law. The legislature may enact laws to include within the
1-13     retirement benefits provided to retirees by the Teacher Retirement
1-14     System of Texas health care benefits in the manner provided by
1-15     Section 401(h), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and its subsequent
1-16     amendments, or its successor statute, that are financed by
1-17     contributions under this section.
1-18           SECTION 2.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
1-19     submitted to the voters at an election to be held August 11, 2001.
1-20     The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against  the
1-21     proposition:  "The constitutional amendment to provide for the use
1-22     of contributions to the pension fund of the Teacher Retirement
1-23     System of Texas to finance health care benefits for retirees of the
1-24     system."