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."