88R4612 JTZ-D
 
  By: Moody H.J.R. No. 79
 
 
 
A JOINT RESOLUTION
  proposing a constitutional amendment relating to the authority of
  the legislature to permit conservation and reclamation districts in
  El Paso County to issue bonds supported by ad valorem taxes to fund
  the development and maintenance of parks and recreational
  facilities.
         BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subsection (c-1), Section 59, Article XVI, Texas
  Constitution, is amended to read as follows:
         (c-1)  In addition and only as provided by this subsection,
  the Legislature may authorize conservation and reclamation
  districts to develop and finance with taxes those types and
  categories of parks and recreational facilities that were not
  authorized by this section to be developed and financed with taxes
  before September 13, 2003.  For development of such parks and
  recreational facilities, the Legislature may authorize
  indebtedness payable from taxes as may be necessary to provide for
  improvements and maintenance only for a conservation and
  reclamation district all or part of which is located in Bexar
  County, Bastrop County, Waller County, Travis County, Williamson
  County, Harris County, Galveston County, Brazoria County, Fort Bend
  County, [or] Montgomery County, or El Paso County, or for the
  Tarrant Regional Water District, a water control and improvement
  district located in whole or in part in Tarrant County.  All the
  indebtedness may be evidenced by bonds of the conservation and
  reclamation district, to be issued under regulations as may be
  prescribed by law.  The Legislature may also authorize the levy and
  collection within such district of all taxes, equitably
  distributed, as may be necessary for the payment of the interest and
  the creation of a sinking fund for the payment of the bonds and for
  maintenance of and improvements to such parks and recreational
  facilities.  The indebtedness shall be a lien on the property
  assessed for the payment of the bonds.  The Legislature may not
  authorize the issuance of bonds or provide for indebtedness under
  this subsection against a conservation and reclamation district
  unless a proposition is first submitted to the qualified voters of
  the district and the proposition is adopted.  This subsection
  expands the authority of the Legislature with respect to certain
  conservation and reclamation districts and is not a limitation on
  the authority of the Legislature with respect to conservation and
  reclamation districts and parks and recreational facilities
  pursuant to this section as that authority existed before September
  13, 2003.
         SECTION 2.  The legislature intends by the amendment
  proposed by Section 1 of this resolution to expand the authority of
  the legislature with regard to conservation and reclamation
  districts in El Paso County. The proposed amendment should not be
  construed as a limitation on the powers of the legislature or of a
  district with respect to parks and recreational facilities as those
  powers exist immediately before the amendment takes effect.
         SECTION 3.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
  submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 7, 2023.
  The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
  proposition: "The constitutional amendment authorizing the
  legislature to permit conservation and reclamation districts in El
  Paso County to issue bonds supported by ad valorem taxes to fund the
  development and maintenance of parks and recreational facilities."