84R8753 TJB-F
 
  By: Harless H.J.R. No. 24
 
 
 
A JOINT RESOLUTION
  proposing a constitutional amendment dedicating revenue derived
  from the taxes imposed on the sale, use, or rental of motor vehicles
  to the state highway fund and limiting the permissible uses of
  certain money in the fund.
         BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 7-a, Article VIII, Texas Constitution,
  is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 7-a.  (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, constructing,
  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.
         (b)  For a biennium, the Legislature may not appropriate
  funds derived from the revenue described by Subsection (a) of this
  section or Section 7-b of this article for a purpose other than
  acquiring rights-of-way or planning, designing, constructing, or
  maintaining public roadways in an amount that exceeds the lesser
  of:
               (1)  the total amount of those funds appropriated for a
  purpose other than acquiring rights-of-way or planning, designing,
  constructing, or maintaining public roadways in the preceding
  biennium; or
               (2)  the amount determined under Subsection (c) of this
  section.
         (c)  For each biennium, the maximum amount that may be
  appropriated as provided by Subsection (b) of this section is
  reduced by 20 percent from the preceding biennium if the estimate of
  anticipated revenue from all sources made in advance of the regular
  session under Section 49a(a), Article III, of this constitution for
  the biennium exceeds the total amount of revenue from all sources
  for the preceding biennium by more than three times the amount of
  the reduction.
         (d)  All net revenue derived from the taxes imposed on the
  sale, use, or rental of motor vehicles by Chapter 152, Tax Code, or
  its successor shall be deposited to the credit of a special account
  in the state highway fund.
         (e)  Interest earned on the account under Subsection (d) of
  this section in the state highway fund shall be credited to the
  account. Revenue allocated to the account and interest on the
  revenue may be used only for acquiring rights-of-way and planning,
  designing, constructing, and maintaining nontolled public
  roadways.
         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 84th Legislature,
  Regular Session, 2015, dedicating revenue derived from the taxes
  imposed on the sale, use, or rental of motor vehicles to the state
  highway fund and limiting the permissible uses of certain money in
  the fund.
         (b)  Sections 7-a(b) and (c), Article VIII, of this
  constitution apply only in connection with a state fiscal biennium
  that begins on or after September 1, 2017.
         (c)  Sections 7-a(d) and (e), Article VIII, of this
  constitution take effect January 1, 2016.
         (d)  This temporary provision expires September 2, 2017.
         SECTION 3.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
  submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 3, 2015.
  The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
  proposition: "The constitutional amendment dedicating revenue
  derived from the taxes imposed on the sale, use, or rental of motor
  vehicles to the state highway fund and limiting the permissible
  uses of certain money in the fund."