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A JOINT RESOLUTION
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proposing a constitutional amendment regarding limits on the rate |
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of growth of spending by the state and certain political |
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subdivisions of the state. |
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Article VIII, Texas Constitution, is amended by |
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amending Section 22 and adding Section 22-a to read as follows: |
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Sec. 22. (a) The [In no biennium shall the] rate of growth |
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of appropriations from state tax revenues not dedicated by this |
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constitution may not for any state fiscal biennium exceed the |
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estimated rate of growth of this state's population, adjusted by |
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the estimated rate of monetary inflation in this state [the state's
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economy]. The legislature shall provide by general law procedures |
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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 a majority of the members of each house finds |
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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 amount authorized by Subsection (a) of this section. The |
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excess amount authorized under this subsection may not exceed the |
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amount specified in the resolution. |
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(c) In no case shall appropriations exceed revenues as |
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provided by Section 49a, [in] 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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Sec. 22-a. (a) Unless additional expenditures are |
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authorized by a majority of the political subdivision's voters |
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voting at an election called for that purpose, the rate of growth of |
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a political subdivision's total expenditures from all available |
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sources of revenue in a fiscal year may not exceed the estimated |
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rate of growth of this state's population, adjusted by the |
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estimated rate of monetary inflation in this state. |
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(b) This section does not apply to a political subdivision |
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that does not impose taxes or incur debt. |
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(c) The legislature by general law shall provide procedures |
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to implement this section. |
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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 86th Legislature, |
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Regular Session, 2019, regarding limits on the rate of growth of |
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spending by the state and certain political subdivisions of the |
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state. |
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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 a |
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state fiscal biennium beginning on or after September 1, 2021. |
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(c) Section 22-a, Article VIII, of this constitution takes |
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effect January 1, 2020, and applies only to a fiscal year of a |
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political subdivision beginning on or after that date. |
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(d) This temporary provision expires January 1, 2022. |
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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 5, 2019. |
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The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting for or against the |
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proposition: "The constitutional amendment regarding limits on the |
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rate of growth of spending by the state and certain political |
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subdivisions of the state." |