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                                                                S.J.R. No. 30 
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION


proposing a constitutional amendment relating to the provision of 
parks and recreational facilities by certain conservation and 
reclamation districts.
	BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                       
	SECTION 1.  Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, is 
amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c-1) to 
read as follows:
	(a)  The conservation and development of all of the natural 
resources of this State, and development of parks and recreational 
facilities, including the control, storing, preservation and 
distribution of its storm and flood waters, the waters of its rivers 
and streams, for irrigation, power and all other useful purposes, 
the reclamation and irrigation of its arid, semi-arid and other 
lands needing irrigation, the reclamation and drainage of its 
overflowed lands, and other lands needing drainage, the 
conservation and development of its forests, water and 
hydro-electric power, the navigation of its inland and coastal 
waters, and the preservation and conservation of all such natural 
resources of the State are each and all hereby declared public 
rights and duties; and the Legislature shall pass all such laws as 
may be appropriate thereto.
	(c-1)  In addition and only as provided by this subsection, 
the Legislature may authorize conservation and reclamation 
districts to develop and finance with taxes those types and 
categories of parks and recreational facilities that were not 
authorized by this section to be developed and financed with taxes 
before September 13, 2003.  For development of such parks and 
recreational facilities, the Legislature may authorize 
indebtedness payable from taxes as may be necessary to provide for 
improvements and maintenance only for a conservation and 
reclamation district all or part of which is located in Bexar 
County, Bastrop County, Waller County, Travis County, Williamson 
County, Harris County, Galveston County, Brazoria County, Fort Bend 
County, or Montgomery County, or for the Tarrant Regional Water 
District, a water control and improvement district located in whole 
or in part in Tarrant County.  All the indebtedness may be evidenced 
by bonds of the conservation and reclamation district, to be issued 
under regulations as may be prescribed by law.  The Legislature may 
also authorize the levy and collection within such district of all 
taxes, equitably distributed, as may be necessary for the payment 
of the interest and the creation of a sinking fund for the payment 
of the bonds and for maintenance of and improvements to such parks 
and recreational facilities.  The indebtedness shall be a lien on 
the property assessed for the payment of the bonds.  The Legislature 
may not authorize the issuance of bonds or provide for indebtedness 
under this subsection against a conservation and reclamation 
district unless a proposition is first submitted to the qualified 
voters of the district and the proposition is adopted.  This 
subsection expands the authority of the Legislature with respect to 
certain conservation and reclamation districts and is not a 
limitation on the authority of the Legislature with respect to 
conservation and reclamation districts and parks and recreational 
facilities pursuant to this section as that authority existed 
before September 13, 2003.
	SECTION 2.  The legislature intends by the amendment 
proposed by Section 1 of this resolution to expand the authority of 
the legislature with regard to certain conservation and reclamation 
districts.  The proposed amendment should not be construed as a 
limitation on the powers of the legislature or of a district with 
respect to parks and recreational facilities as those powers exist 
immediately before the amendment takes effect.
	SECTION 3.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be 
submitted to the voters at an election to be held September 13, 
2003.  The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against 
the proposition:  "The constitutional amendment relating to the 
provision of parks and recreational facilities by certain 
conservation and reclamation districts."

                                                                              




______________________________    ______________________________
President of the Senate             Speaker of the House
	I hereby certify that S.J.R. No. 30 was adopted by the Senate 
on April 23, 2003, by the following vote:  Yeas 26, Nays 5; 
May 28, 2003, Senate refused to concur in House amendments and 
requested appointment of Conference Committee; May 29, 2003, House 
granted request of the Senate; May 31, 2003, Senate adopted 
Conference Committee Report by the following vote:  Yeas 30, 
Nays 0.




______________________________ 
   Secretary of the Senate             
	I hereby certify that S.J.R. No. 30 was adopted by the House, 
with amendments, on May 24, 2003, by the following vote:  Yeas 130, 
Nays 0, two present not voting; May 29, 2003, House granted request 
of the Senate for appointment of Conference Committee; 
June 1, 2003, House adopted Conference Committee Report by the 
following vote:  Yeas 141, Nays 0, one present not voting.




______________________________ 
   Chief Clerk of the House