79R5531 MXM-D

By:  Riddle                                                     H.J.R. No. 2  



A JOINT RESOLUTION

proposing a constitutional amendment to allow the state highway 
fund to be used to pay death benefits to the survivors of veterans 
and to allow the retroactive payment of death benefits to the 
survivors of certain veterans.
	BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                       
	SECTION 1.  Article III, Texas Constitution, is amended by 
adding Section 49-b-1 to read as follows:
	Sec. 49-b-1.  The legislature may provide by law for the 
payment of death benefits to the survivors of military veterans, 
including payments to survivors of veterans who died on or after 
September 11, 2001.
	SECTION 2.  Section 7-a, Article VIII, Texas Constitution, 
is amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 7-a.  (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b), 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 legislature may provide by law that revenue 
collected under this section be used to pay death benefits to the 
survivors of military veterans.
	SECTION 3.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be 
submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 8, 2005.  
The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting for or against the 
proposition:  "The constitutional amendment to allow the state 
highway fund to be used to pay death benefits to the survivors of 
military veterans and to allow the retroactive payment of death 
benefits to the survivors of certain veterans."