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A JOINT RESOLUTION
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proposing a constitutional amendment concerning the limitation on |
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the rate of growth of state appropriations. |
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 22, Article VIII, Texas Constitution, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 22. (a) In no state fiscal biennium shall the rate of |
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growth of appropriations from state tax revenues not dedicated by |
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this constitution exceed a rate equal to the sum of the estimated |
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rates [rate of growth] of: |
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(1) change of the state's population during the state |
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fiscal biennium preceding the state fiscal biennium for which the |
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appropriations are made; and |
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(2) monetary inflation or deflation in this state |
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during the state fiscal biennium preceding the biennium for which |
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the appropriations are made [economy]. |
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(b) If the sum of the estimated rate of change of the state's |
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population and the estimated rate of monetary inflation or |
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deflation in this state during that preceding state fiscal biennium |
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is a negative number, the appropriations from state tax revenues |
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not dedicated by this constitution for the biennium may not exceed |
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the amount determined by subtracting from the estimated amount of |
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appropriations from state tax revenues not dedicated by this |
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constitution for that preceding biennium the product of the |
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additive inverse of that negative number and the estimated amount |
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of appropriations from state tax revenues not dedicated by this |
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constitution for that preceding biennium. |
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(c) The legislature shall provide by general law procedures |
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to implement Subsections (a) and (b) of this section [subsection]. |
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(d) [(b)] If the legislature by adoption of a resolution |
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approved by a record vote of a majority of the members of each house |
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finds that an emergency exists and identifies the nature of the |
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emergency, the legislature may provide for appropriations in excess |
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of the maximum amount authorized by [Subsection (a) of] this |
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section. The excess authorized under this subsection may not |
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exceed the amount specified in the resolution. |
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(e) [(c)] In no case shall appropriations exceed revenues |
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as provided in Article III, Section 49a, of this constitution. |
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Nothing in this section shall be construed to alter, amend, or |
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repeal Article III, Section 49a, of this constitution. |
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SECTION 2. The following temporary provision is added to |
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the Texas Constitution: |
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TEMPORARY PROVISION. (a) This temporary provision applies |
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to the amendments to Section 22, Article VIII, of this |
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constitution, proposed by the 84th Legislature, Regular Session, |
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2015, concerning the limitation on the rate of growth of |
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appropriations. This temporary provision expires December 1, 2017. |
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(b) The changes made to Section 22, Article VIII, of this |
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constitution, as made by the amendments, apply only in relation to |
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appropriations made for the state fiscal biennium beginning |
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September 1, 2017, and subsequent state fiscal bienniums. |
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Appropriations for the state fiscal biennium that began September |
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1, 2015, are governed by Section 22, Article VIII, of this |
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constitution as that section provided immediately before the |
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amendment was approved by the voters. |
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SECTION 3. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be |
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submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 3, 2015. |
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The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the |
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proposition: "The constitutional amendment concerning the |
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limitation on the rate of growth in state appropriations." |