BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.J.R. 37
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
The state highway fund includes revenue from the motor vehicle registration fees, federal highway funds, and the sales tax on motor fuels and lubricants. The motor fuel tax revenue is deposited to the General Revenue Fund and a portion is allocated to the state highway fund. Currently, revenue from the state highway fund is used for acquiring rights-of-way, highway construction and maintenance, and law enforcement on public roads.
S.J.R. 37 proposes a constitutional amendment to eliminate the use of certain funds for law enforcement of traffic and safety on public roads and provides that these funds may only be used to acquire rights-of-way and to construct and maintain public roadways.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to any state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Sections 7-a and 7-b, Article VIII, Texas Constitution, as follows:
Sec. 7-a. Deletes existing text requiring the use of revenue from motor vehicle registration fees and taxes on motor fuels and lubricant for policing public roadways, the administration of laws relating to supervision of traffic and safety, and payment of certain county and district road bonds issued prior to January 2, 1939.
Sec. 7-b. Deletes existing text requiring federal highway funds to be used for policing public roadways.
SECTION 2. Adds a temporary provision to the Texas Constitution, as follows:
TEMPORARY PROVISION. (a) Provides that this temporary provision applies to the constitutional amendment proposed by the 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007, to limit the purposes for which revenues from motor vehicle registration fees, taxes on motor fuels and lubricants, and certain revenues received from the federal government may be used.
(b) Provides that the changes to Sections 7-a and 7-b, Article VIII, of this constitution made by the amendment apply only in connection with a state fiscal biennium that begins on or after September 1, 2009.
SECTION 3. Requires this proposed constitutional amendment to be submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 6, 2007. Sets forth the required language for the ballot.