By: Williams, Nichols S.J.R. No. 1

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

proposing a constitutional amendment concerning the limitation on the rate of growth of appropriations of revenue.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 22, Article VIII, Texas Constitution, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 22. (a) In no state fiscal biennium shall the rate of growth of appropriations from all sources of revenue other than the federal government [state tax revenues not dedicated by this constitution] exceed a rate equal to the sum of the estimated rates [rate of growth] of:

(1) change of the state's population during the state fiscal biennium for which the appropriations are made; and

(2) monetary inflation or deflation in this state during the state fiscal biennium for which the appropriations are made [economy].

(b) If the sum of the estimated rate of change of the state's population and the estimated rate of monetary inflation or deflation in this state is a negative number, the appropriations from all sources of revenue other than the federal government for the biennium may not exceed the amount determined by subtracting from the estimated amount of appropriations from all sources of revenue other than the federal government for the preceding state fiscal biennium the product of the additive inverse of that negative number and the estimated amount of appropriations from all sources of revenue other than the federal government for that preceding biennium.

(c) The legislature shall provide by general law procedures to implement Subsections (a) and (b) of this section [subsection].

(d) [(b)] If the legislature by adoption of a resolution approved by a record vote of a majority of the members of each house finds that an emergency exists and identifies the nature of the emergency, the legislature may provide for appropriations in excess of the maximum amount authorized by [Subsection (a) of] this section. The excess authorized under this subsection may not exceed the amount specified in the resolution.

(e) [(c)] In no case shall appropriations exceed revenues as provided in Article III, Section 49a, of this constitution. Nothing in this section shall be construed to alter, amend, or repeal Article III, Section 49a, of this constitution.

SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 4, 2014. The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the proposition: "The constitutional amendment regarding the limitation on the rate of growth of appropriations of revenue."