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        |  | A JOINT RESOLUTION | 
      
        |  | proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing an exemption from | 
      
        |  | ad valorem taxation of the residence homestead of the surviving | 
      
        |  | spouse of a totally disabled veteran or the principal residence of | 
      
        |  | the surviving minor children of such a disabled veteran. | 
      
        |  | BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | 
      
        |  | SECTION 1.  Section 1-b, Article VIII, Texas Constitution, | 
      
        |  | is amended by adding Subsections (j) and (k) to read as follows: | 
      
        |  | (j)  The legislature by general law may provide that the | 
      
        |  | surviving spouse of a 100 percent or totally disabled veteran who | 
      
        |  | received an exemption under Subsection (i) of this section is | 
      
        |  | entitled to an exemption for the same property in an amount equal to | 
      
        |  | the amount of the exemption received by the disabled veteran if the | 
      
        |  | property: | 
      
        |  | (1)  was the residence homestead of the surviving | 
      
        |  | spouse when the disabled veteran died; and | 
      
        |  | (2)  remains the residence homestead of the surviving | 
      
        |  | spouse. | 
      
        |  | (k)  The legislature by general law may provide that if a 100 | 
      
        |  | percent or totally disabled veteran who received an exemption under | 
      
        |  | Subsection (i) of this section dies, the owner of the property is | 
      
        |  | entitled to an exemption for the property in an amount equal to the | 
      
        |  | amount of the exemption received by the disabled veteran if the | 
      
        |  | property: | 
      
        |  | (1)  was the principal residence of the disabled | 
      
        |  | veteran's surviving minor children when the disabled veteran died; | 
      
        |  | and | 
      
        |  | (2)  remains the principal residence of the surviving | 
      
        |  | minor children. | 
      
        |  | 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 82nd Legislature, | 
      
        |  | Regular Session, 2011, authorizing the legislature to provide for | 
      
        |  | the exemption from ad valorem taxation of the residence homestead | 
      
        |  | of the surviving spouse of a 100 percent or totally disabled veteran | 
      
        |  | or the principal residence of the surviving minor children of such a | 
      
        |  | disabled veteran in an amount equal to the amount of the residence | 
      
        |  | homestead exemption to which the disabled veteran was entitled on | 
      
        |  | the same property. | 
      
        |  | (b)  Sections 1-b(j) and (k), Article VIII, of this | 
      
        |  | constitution take effect January 1, 2012, and apply only to a tax | 
      
        |  | year beginning on or after that date. | 
      
        |  | (c)  This temporary provision expires January 1, 2013. | 
      
        |  | SECTIONਃ.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be | 
      
        |  | submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 8, 2011. | 
      
        |  | The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the | 
      
        |  | proposition: "The constitutional amendment authorizing the | 
      
        |  | legislature to provide for the exemption from ad valorem taxation | 
      
        |  | of the residence homestead of the surviving spouse of a 100 percent | 
      
        |  | or totally disabled veteran or the principal residence of the | 
      
        |  | surviving minor children of such a disabled veteran in an amount | 
      
        |  | equal to the amount of the residence homestead exemption to which | 
      
        |  | the disabled veteran was entitled on the same property." |