| |
| |
|
|
A JOINT RESOLUTION
|
|
|
proposing a constitutional amendment concerning the limitation on |
|
|
the rate of growth of state appropriations. |
|
|
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 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 |
|
|
increase or decrease, during the biennium preceding the biennium |
|
|
for which the appropriations are made, [growth] of: |
|
|
(1) the state's population; and |
|
|
(2) inflation or deflation in this state in the prices |
|
|
of goods [economy]. |
|
|
(b) The rates described by Subsection (a) of this section |
|
|
shall be estimated in the manner provided by general law. If the |
|
|
sum of those estimated rates is a negative number, appropriations |
|
|
for the biennium from all sources of revenue other than the federal |
|
|
government must decrease by a rate at least equal to the sum of |
|
|
those estimated rates. |
|
|
(c) In this section, the rate of change of appropriations |
|
|
from all sources of revenue other than the federal government is the |
|
|
percentage difference between: |
|
|
(1) the amount of money appropriated for the current |
|
|
biennium from those sources as estimated in the manner prescribed |
|
|
by law at or near the time the legislature convenes in regular |
|
|
session during the current biennium; and |
|
|
(2) the amount of money appropriated for the next |
|
|
biennium from those sources as finally estimated by the comptroller |
|
|
at the times the Acts making appropriations are considered by the |
|
|
comptroller under Article III, Section 49a, of this constitution. |
|
|
(d) The legislature shall provide by general law procedures |
|
|
to implement Subsections (a), (b), and (c) of this section |
|
|
[subsection]. |
|
|
(e) [(b)] If the legislature by adoption of a resolution |
|
|
approved by a record vote of two-thirds [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 amount authorized by Subsection (a) |
|
|
of this section. The excess authorized under this subsection may |
|
|
not exceed the amount specified in the resolution. |
|
|
(f) [(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. Section 49a, Article III, Texas Constitution, is |
|
|
amended by adding Subsections (c) and (d) to read as follows: |
|
|
(c) A bill containing an appropriation may not be considered |
|
|
as passed and may not be sent to the Governor for consideration |
|
|
until the Comptroller of Public Accounts endorses on the bill the |
|
|
Comptroller's certificate showing that the amount appropriated |
|
|
does not exceed the limitation on the rate of growth of |
|
|
appropriations imposed by Section 22, Article VIII, of this |
|
|
constitution. |
|
|
(d) When the Comptroller of Public Accounts finds that a |
|
|
bill containing an appropriation exceeds the limitation on the rate |
|
|
of growth of appropriations imposed by Section 22, Article VIII, of |
|
|
this constitution, the Comptroller shall endorse that finding on |
|
|
the bill, return the bill to the House in which it originated, and |
|
|
immediately notify the House of Representatives and the Senate of |
|
|
the finding. |
|
|
SECTION 3. 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 in appropriations." |