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A JOINT RESOLUTION
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proposing a constitutional amendment providing for the creation of |
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the land and water conservation fund, dedicating certain money in |
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that fund to the conservation of, restoration of, or public access |
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to land, water, or natural resources in this state, and providing |
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for the transfer of certain general revenues to the economic |
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stabilization fund, the land and water conservation fund, and the |
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state highway fund. |
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 49-g(c) and (c-1), Article III, Texas |
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Constitution, are amended to read as follows: |
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(c) Not later than the 90th day of each fiscal year, the |
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comptroller of public accounts shall transfer from the general |
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revenue fund to the economic stabilization fund, the land and water |
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conservation fund, and the state highway fund the sum of the amounts |
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described by Subsections (d) and (e) of this section, to be |
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allocated as provided by Subsections (c-1) and (c-2) of this |
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section. However, if necessary and notwithstanding the |
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allocations prescribed by Subsections (c-1) and (c-2) of this |
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section, the comptroller shall reduce proportionately the amounts |
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described by Subsections (d) and (e) of this section to be |
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transferred and allocated to the economic stabilization fund to |
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prevent the amount in that fund from exceeding the limit in effect |
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for that biennium under Subsection (g) of this section. Revenue |
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transferred to the state highway fund under this subsection may be |
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used only for constructing, maintaining, and acquiring |
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rights-of-way for public roadways other than toll roads. |
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(c-1) Except as provided by Subsection (c-2) of this |
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section, the comptroller shall allocate [Of] the sum of the amounts |
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described by Subsections (d) and (e) of this section and required to |
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be transferred from the general revenue fund under Subsection (c) |
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of this section as follows: |
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(1) 46 percent of that sum [, the comptroller shall |
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allocate one-half] to the economic stabilization fund; |
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(2) four percent of that sum to the land and water |
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conservation fund; and |
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(3) the remainder of that sum to the state highway fund |
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[, except as provided by Subsection (c-2) of this section]. |
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SECTION 2. Article III, Texas Constitution, is amended by |
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adding Section 49-g-1 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 49-g-1. (a) The land and water conservation fund is |
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established as a special fund in the state treasury. |
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(b) The land and water conservation fund consists of money |
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transferred to the fund under Section 49-g of this article and money |
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the legislature: |
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(1) may appropriate to the credit of the fund; or |
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(2) by general law may dedicate or provide for deposit |
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to the credit of the fund. |
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(c) Money in the land and water conservation fund may be |
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spent: |
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(1) without further appropriation; |
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(2) only for purposes related to the conservation of, |
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restoration of, or public access to land, water, or natural |
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resources in this state; and |
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(3) without further legislative appropriation. |
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SECTION 3. 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 88th Legislature, |
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Regular Session, 2023, providing for the creation of the land and |
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water conservation fund, dedicating certain money in that fund to |
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the conservation of, restoration of, or public access to land, |
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water, or natural resources in this state, and providing for the |
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transfer of certain general revenues to the economic stabilization |
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fund, the land and water conservation fund, and the state highway |
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fund. |
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(b) The transfers and allocations to be made under Sections |
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49-g(c) and (c-1), Article III, of this constitution are to be made |
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beginning with the state fiscal year beginning September 1, 2025. |
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(c) This temporary provision expires September 1, 2026. |
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SECTION 4. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be |
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submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 7, 2023. |
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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 for the |
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creation of the land and water conservation fund, dedicating |
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certain money in that fund to the conservation of, restoration of, |
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or public access to land, water, or natural resources in this state, |
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and providing for the transfer of certain general revenues to the |
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economic stabilization fund, the land and water conservation fund, |
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and the state highway fund." |