SRC-AMY H.J.R. 68 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.J.R. 68
78R11198 KEL-DBy: Hupp (Fraser)
Veteran Affairs & Military Installations
5/10/2003
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, under Section 49 of Article III of the Texas Constitution the
Veterans' Land Board of the State of Texas (VLB) is authorized to
administer the veterans' land program and the veterans' housing assistance
program.  The 77th Legislature passed a constitutional amendment, which
was approved by the voters in November 2001, allowing excess assets in
those programs also to be used to plan and design, operate, maintain,
enlarge, or improve veterans cemeteries.  The Texas Constitution does not
currently provide for the use of assets in the veterans' land program or
the veterans' housing assistance program for the state veterans home
program.  H.J.R. 68 proposes an amendment to the Texas Constitution to
authorize VLB, if it determines that receipts of the veterans' land fund,
veterans' housing assistance fund or veterans' housing assistance fund II
are not required for the payment of debt service on the general obligation
bonds benefitting those funds, to use such receipts to pay the debt
service on any revenue bonds issued by the VLB. The proposed amendment
also authorizes VLB to use assets from these various funds to plan,
design, construct, acquire, own, operate, maintain, enlarge, improve,
furnish, or equip veterans homes. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subsections (r) and (s), Section 49-b, Article III,
Texas Constitution, as follows: 

(r) Deletes text referring to bonds issued to provide funds to purchase
and sell lands or make home mortgage loans to veterans.  

(s) Authorizes the Veterans' Land Board (VLB) to use assets from various
funds to plan and design, construct, acquire, own, operate, maintain,
enlarge, improve, furnish, or equip veterans homes, as well as other
activities.  Makes nonsubstantive changes. 

SECTION 2.  Requires this constitutional amendment to be submitted to the
voters at an election on September 13, 2003.  Sets forth the required
content of the ballot.