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78R4560 CBH-F

By:  Lindsay                                                    S.J.R. No. 27 



A JOINT RESOLUTION

proposing a constitutional amendment dedicating certain revenue 
derived from motor fuel taxes for funding group health benefits for  
employees of school districts and for the Texas Department of 
Transportation.
	BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                       
	SECTION 1.  Section 7-a, Article VIII, Texas Constitution, 
is amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 7-a.  (a)  Except as provided by Subsections (b) and (c) 
of this section and subject [Subject] to legislative appropriation, 
allocation and direction, all net revenues remaining after payment 
of all refunds allowed by law and expenses of collection derived 
from motor vehicle registration fees, and all taxes, except gross 
production and ad valorem taxes, on motor fuels and lubricants used 
to propel motor vehicles over public roadways, shall be used for the 
sole purpose of acquiring rights-of-way, constructing, 
maintaining, and policing such public roadways, and for the 
administration of such laws as may be prescribed by the Legislature 
pertaining to the supervision of traffic and safety on such roads;  
and for the payment of the principal and interest on county and road 
district bonds or warrants voted or issued prior to January 2, 1939, 
and declared eligible prior to January 2, 1945, for payment out of 
the County and Road District Highway Fund under existing law; 
provided, however, that one-fourth (1/4) of such net revenue from 
the motor fuel tax shall be allocated to the Available School Fund; 
and, provided, however, that the net revenue derived by counties 
from motor vehicle registration fees shall never be less than the 
maximum amounts allowed to be retained by each County and the 
percentage allowed to be retained by each County under the laws in 
effect on January 1, 1945.  Nothing contained herein shall be 
construed as authorizing the pledging of the State's credit for any 
purpose.
	(b)  The net revenue derived from the first four cents of an 
increase in the rate of the gasoline or diesel fuel taxes otherwise 
dedicated by this section over the rate of the taxes on January 1, 
2003, shall be allocated as follows:
		(1)  one-fourth of the net revenue from the increase 
shall be used only for the purpose of funding group health benefits 
for employees of school districts; and
		(2)  the remainder of the net revenue from the increase 
shall be used only for the purpose of funding the Texas Department 
of Transportation, or its successor in function, programs 
administered by the department, and the department's debt service.
	(c)  Not more than one-third of the net revenue dedicated 
under Subsection (b) of this section may be used to pay the debt 
service of the Texas Department of Transportation or of its 
successor in function.
	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 permit voting for or against the 
proposition: "The constitutional amendment dedicating certain 
revenue derived from motor fuel taxes for funding group health 
benefits for employees of school districts and for the Texas 
Department of Transportation."