By: Lindsay 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 Subsections (a) and (c) 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) Except as provided by Subsection (c-1), the [The]
Legislature shall authorize all such indebtedness as may be
necessary to provide all improvements and the maintenance thereof
requisite to the achievement of the purposes of this amendment. All
such indebtedness may be evidenced by bonds of such conservation
and reclamation districts, to be issued under such regulations as
may be prescribed by law. The Legislature shall also authorize the
levy and collection within such districts of all such taxes,
equitably distributed, as may be necessary for the payment of the
interest and the creation of a sinking fund for the payment of such
bonds and for the maintenance of such districts and improvements.
Such indebtedness shall be a lien upon the property assessed for the
payment thereof. The Legislature shall not authorize the issuance
of any bonds or provide for any indebtedness against any
reclamation district unless such proposition shall first be
submitted to the qualified voters of such district and the
proposition adopted.
(c-1) For development of parks and recreational facilities
the Legislature may authorize indebtedness 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 Travis
County, Harris County, Galveston County, Brazoria County, Fort Bend
County, or Montgomery 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 the
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 the 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 reclamation district
unless a proposition is first submitted to the qualified voters of
the district and the proposition is adopted.
SECTION 2. The legislature intends by the amendment
proposed by Section 1 of this resolution to expand the authority of
conservation and reclamation districts with respect to parks and
recreational facilities. The proposed amendment should not be
construed as a limitation on the powers of a district 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 November 4, 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."