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.