H.J.R. No. 90
 
 
 
A JOINT RESOLUTION
  proposing a constitutional amendment providing for the
  establishment of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of
  Texas and authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds for
  the purpose of scientific research of all forms of human cancer.
         BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Article III, Texas Constitution, is amended by
  adding Section 67 to read as follows:
         Sec. 67.  (a)  The legislature shall establish the Cancer
  Prevention and Research Institute of Texas to:
               (1)  make grants to provide funds to public or private
  persons to implement the Texas Cancer Plan, and to institutions of
  learning and to advanced medical research facilities and
  collaborations in this state for:
                     (A)  research into the causes of and cures for all
  forms of cancer in humans;
                     (B)  facilities for use in research into the
  causes of and cures for cancer; and
                     (C)  research, including translational research,
  to develop therapies, protocols, medical pharmaceuticals, or
  procedures for the cure or substantial mitigation of all types of
  cancer in humans;
               (2)  support institutions of learning and advanced
  medical research facilities and collaborations in this state in all
  stages in the process of finding the causes of all types of cancer
  in humans and developing cures, from laboratory research to
  clinical trials and including programs to address the problem of
  access to advanced cancer treatment; and
               (3)  establish the appropriate standards and oversight
  bodies to ensure the proper use of funds authorized under this
  provision for cancer research and facilities development.
         (b)  The members of the governing body and any other
  decision-making body of the Cancer Prevention and Research
  Institute of Texas may serve four-year terms.
         (c)  The legislature by general law may authorize the Texas
  Public Finance Authority to provide for, issue, and sell general
  obligation bonds of the State of Texas on behalf of the Cancer
  Prevention and Research Institute of Texas in an amount not to
  exceed $3 billion and to enter into related credit agreements.  The
  Texas Public Finance Authority may not issue more than $300 million
  in bonds authorized by this subsection in a year.  The bonds shall
  be executed in the form, on the terms, and in the denominations,
  bear interest, and be issued in installments as prescribed by the
  Texas Public Finance Authority.
         (d)  Proceeds from the sale of the bonds shall be deposited
  in separate funds or accounts, as provided by general law, within
  the state treasury to be used by the Cancer Prevention and Research
  Institute of Texas for the purposes of this section.
         (e)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this
  constitution, the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of
  Texas, which is established in state government, may use the
  proceeds from bonds issued under Subsection (c) of this section and
  federal or private grants and gifts to pay for:
               (1)  grants for cancer research, for research
  facilities, and for research opportunities in this state to develop
  therapies, protocols, medical pharmaceuticals, or procedures for
  the cure or substantial mitigation of all types of cancer in humans;
               (2)  grants for cancer prevention and control programs
  in this state to mitigate the incidence of all types of cancer in
  humans;
               (3)  the purchase, subject to approval by the Cancer
  Prevention and Research Institute, of laboratory facilities by or
  on behalf of a state agency or grant recipient; and
               (4)  the operation of the Cancer Prevention and
  Research Institute of Texas.
         (f)  The bond proceeds may be used to pay the costs of issuing
  the bonds and any administrative expense related to the bonds.
         (g)  While any of the bonds or interest on the bonds
  authorized by this section is outstanding and unpaid, from the
  first money coming into the state treasury in each fiscal year not
  otherwise appropriated by this constitution, an amount sufficient
  to pay the principal of and interest on bonds that mature or become
  due during the fiscal year and to make payments that become due
  under a related credit agreement during the fiscal year is
  appropriated, less the amount in the sinking fund at the close of
  the previous fiscal year.
         (h)  Bonds issued under this section, after approval by the
  attorney general, registration by the comptroller of public
  accounts, and delivery to the purchasers, are incontestable and are
  general obligations of the State of Texas under this constitution.
         (i)  Before the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of
  Texas may make a grant of any proceeds of the bonds issued under
  this section, the recipient of the grant must have an amount of
  funds equal to one-half the amount of the grant dedicated to the
  research that is the subject of the grant request.
         (j)  The Texas Public Finance Authority shall consider using
  a business whose principal place of business is located in the state
  to issue the bonds authorized by this section and shall include
  using a historically underutilized business as defined by general
  law.
         SECTION 2.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
  submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 6, 2007.
  The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
  proposition: "The constitutional amendment requiring the creation
  of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and
  authorizing the issuance of up to $3 billion in bonds payable from
  the general revenues of the state for research in Texas to find the
  causes of and cures for cancer."
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.J.R. No. 90 was passed by the House on May 9,
  2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 109, Nays 26, 2 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.J.R.
  No. 90 on May 24, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 116, Nays 26, 1
  present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.J.R. No. 90 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 22, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 24, Nays
  7.
 
  _______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  RECEIVED:  _____________________
                     Date         
   
            _____________________
              Secretary of State