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A JOINT RESOLUTION
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proposing a constitutional amendment providing that a statute or |
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appropriations act that furthers a legitimate state purpose or |
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interest such as efficiency or local control meets the requirement |
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of providing an efficient system of public schools and that this |
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requirement is the prerogative of the legislature. |
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 1, Article VII, Texas Constitution, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1. A general diffusion of knowledge being essential to |
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the preservation of the liberties and rights of the people, it shall |
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be the duty of the Legislature of the State to establish and make |
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suitable provision for the support and maintenance of an efficient |
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system of public free schools so that every school district will |
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have substantially equal access to similar revenues per student at |
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similar levels of tax effort. A statute or appropriations act |
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enacted by the Legislature to provide for an efficient system or to |
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provide for its support and maintenance is presumed to meet the |
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requirements of this constitution if the statute or appropriations |
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act rationally furthers a legitimate State purpose or interest such |
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as efficiency or local control. The duty imposed by this section is |
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the prerogative of the Legislature. |
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SECTION 2. 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 providing that a |
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statute or appropriations act that furthers a legitimate state |
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purpose or interest such as efficiency or local control meets the |
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requirement of providing an efficient system of public schools and |
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that this requirement is the prerogative of the legislature." |