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A JOINT RESOLUTION
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proposing a constitutional amendment regarding the limitation on |
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the rate of growth of 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) The rate of growth of appropriations from all |
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sources of state revenue other than the federal government may not |
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in any [In no] biennium exceed the estimated [shall the] rate of |
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growth in this state's population during the biennium for which |
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appropriations are made, adjusted by the estimated rate of |
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inflation in this state during the same period [of appropriations
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from state tax revenues not dedicated by this constitution exceed
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the estimated rate of growth of the state's economy]. The |
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legislature by general law shall provide [by general law] |
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procedures to implement this subsection. |
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(b) If the legislature by adoption of a resolution approved |
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by a record vote of three-fifths [a majority] of the members of each |
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house finds that an emergency exists and identifies the nature of |
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the emergency, the legislature may provide for appropriations in |
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excess of the amount authorized by Subsection (a) of this section. |
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The excess amount authorized under this subsection may not exceed |
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the amount specified in the resolution. |
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(c) In no case shall appropriations exceed revenues as |
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provided in Section 49a, Article III, [Section 49a,] of this |
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constitution. Nothing in this section shall be construed to alter, |
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amend, or repeal Section 49a, Article III, [Section 49a,] of this |
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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 constitutional amendment proposed by the 85th Legislature, |
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1st Called Session, 2017, regarding the limitation on the rate of |
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growth of appropriations. |
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(b) The amendments to Section 22, Article VIII, of this |
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constitution apply only in relation to appropriations made for the |
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state fiscal biennium beginning September 1, 2019, and subsequent |
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state fiscal bienniums. |
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(c) This temporary provision expires January 1, 2020. |
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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 7, 2017. |
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The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the |
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proposition: "The constitutional amendment regarding the |
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limitation on the rate of growth of appropriations." |