By:  Solis                                                      H.J.R. No. 98 



A JOINT RESOLUTION

proposing a constitutional amendment requiring the legislature to 
appropriate money for public schools, public colleges and 
universities, and health and human services before appropriating 
money for other purposes.
	BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                       
	SECTION 1.  Article III of the Texas Constitution is amended 
by adding Section 49a-1 to read as follows:
	Sec. 49a-1.  (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b) of 
this section, the legislature may not enact a bill containing an 
appropriation for a state fiscal biennium for a purpose other than 
public schools, public colleges and universities, and state health 
and human services until the comptroller, in the manner provided by 
law, certifies that the legislature has passed and sent to the 
comptroller for certification a comprehensive bill appropriating 
money for that state fiscal biennium for the state's spending on 
public schools, public colleges and universities, and state health 
and human services.
	(b)  Subsection (a) of this section does not apply to an 
appropriation that the governor has submitted as an emergency 
matter.
	SECTION 2.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be 
submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 4, 2003.  
The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting for or against the 
proposition:  "The constitutional amendment requiring the 
legislature to appropriate money for public schools, public 
colleges and universities, and state health and human services 
before appropriating money for other purposes."