RESOLUTION ANALYSIS

S.J.R. 17

By: Perry

County Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The Texas Constitution gives a county with a population of 5,000 or less the authority to construct and maintain private roads if the county imposes a reasonable charge for the work. Interested parties report that, in the last decade, certain rural counties have acquired state prisons that subsequently caused the counties to exceed this population threshold. The parties contend that these instances, along with rapid statewide population growth that has changed what constitutes a rural county, highlight the need to raise the population threshold. S.J.R. 17 seeks to address this need.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this resolution does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this resolution does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.J.R. 17 proposes an amendment to the Texas Constitution to increase from 5,000 to 7,500 the maximum population threshold of a county that may construct and maintain private roads if it imposes a reasonable charge for the work.

ELECTION DATE

The constitutional amendment proposed by this joint resolution will be submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 3, 2015.