SRC-AMY S.J.R. 46 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.J.R. 46 78R5939 KEL-FBy: Fraser Veteran Affairs & Military Installations 3/24/2003 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, Article III, Section 49-b, Texas Constitution allows the Veterans' Land Board (VLB) to administer the Veterans' Land Program and the Veterans' Housing Assistance Program. However, the Texas Constitution does not provide for the use of assets in the Veterans' Land or Housing Assistance programs for the state veterans' home programs. As proposed, S.J.R. 46 provides 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 finds, authorizing VLB to use such receipts to pay the debt service on any revenue bonds issued by the VLB. S.J.R. 46 also authorizes the use of the funds' assets, if not needed for the purposes of the fund, to be used for the planning and designing, construction, acquisition, owning, operating, maintenance, enlargement, improvement, furnishing, or equipping of veterans homes, and requires the submission to the voters of a constitutional amendment. 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 Article III, Section 49-b, Texas Constitution, by amending Subsections (r) and (s), as follows: (r) Deletes text referring to bonds issued to provide funds to purchase and sell lands to veterans or make home mortgage loans to veterans. (s) Includes in the list of authorized uses of assets from the Veterans' Land Fund, the Veterans' Housing Assistance Fund, or the Veterans' Housing Assistance Fund II, if not required for the purpose of the fund, the planning and designing, construction, acquisition, owning, operating, maintenance, enlargement, improvement, furnishing, or equipping of veterans homes. SECTION 2. Requires that this proposed constitutional amendment be submitted to the voters at an election on November 4, 2003. Sets forth the required wording of the ballot.