| |
| |
|
|
A JOINT RESOLUTION
|
|
|
proposing a constitutional amendment 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. |
|
|
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Sections 7-a and 7-b, Article VIII, Texas |
|
|
Constitution, are amended to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 7-a. 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 and [,] constructing and |
|
|
[,] 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. |
|
|
Sec. 7-b. All revenues received from the federal government |
|
|
as reimbursement for state expenditures of funds that are |
|
|
themselves dedicated for acquiring rights-of-way and constructing |
|
|
and[,] maintaining[, and policing] public roadways are also |
|
|
constitutionally dedicated and shall be used only for those |
|
|
purposes. |
|
|
SECTION 2. The following temporary provision is added to |
|
|
the Texas Constitution: |
|
|
TEMPORARY PROVISION. (a) This temporary provision applies |
|
|
to the constitutional amendment proposed by the 81st Legislature, |
|
|
Regular Session, 2009, 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) 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, |
|
|
2011. |
|
|
SECTION 3. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be |
|
|
submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 3, 2009. |
|
|
The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the |
|
|
proposition: "The constitutional amendment 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." |