By: King of Hemphill H.J.R. No. 170

A JOINT RESOLUTION

proposing a constitutional amendment creating the State School Safety Fund to provide financial support for projects that enhance the safety of schools in this state.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Article VII, Texas Constitution, is amended by amending Section 7 to read as follows:

Sec. 7. (a) The State School Safety Fund is created as a special fund in the state treasury outside the general revenue fund. Money in the State School Safety Fund shall be administered, without further appropriation, by the Texas Permanent School Fund Corporation or that corporation's successor in function. In accordance with general law, the State School Safety Fund may be used only to support projects to enhance the safety of schools in this state, including projects ensure schools meet school safety standards as determined by the Texas Education Agency. Separate accounts may be established in the State School Safety Fund as necessary or convenient to administer the fund or the supported projects. The financial assistance authorized by this section may be provided directly to independent school districts and open-enrollment charter schools as provided by general law.

(b) The legislature by general law may authorize the Texas Permanent School Fund Corporation or that corporation's successor in function to use the State School Safety Fund to provide financial assistance, including by direct grant, for projects that enhance the safety of schools in this state.

(c) The State School Safety Fund consists of:

(1) money appropriated to the fund;

(2) money transferred or deposited to the credit of the fund by general law, including money from any source transferred or deposited to the credit of the fund at the discretion of the Texas Permanent School Fund Corporation or that corporation's successor in function as authorized by general law;

(3) revenue from any source, including the proceeds of any fee or tax imposed by this state, that the legislature by statute dedicates for deposit to the credit of the fund;

(4) investment earnings and interest earned on amounts credited to the fund;

(5) surplus funds identified in any fiscal year from the Foundation School Program, and

(6) money transferred to the fund from another fund or account to which money from the fund was transferred, as authorized by general law.

(d) The legislature by general law shall provide for the manner in which the assets of the State School Safety Fund may be used, subject to the limitations provided by this section. The legislature by general law may provide for costs of investment and administration of the State School Safety Fund to be paid from that fund.

(e) For the purposes of Section 22 , Article VIII, of this constitution, an appropriation of money from the economic stabilization fund for the purpose of depositing that money to the credit of the State School Safety Fund is considered to be an appropriation of state tax revenues dedicated by this constitution.

(f) This section is intended to establish a basic framework of the State School Safety Fund, and the legislature by general law may provide for the implementation and effectuate the design and objects of this section and may delegate duties, responsibilities, functions, and authority to the Texas Permanent School Fund Corporation or that corporation's successor in function for those purposes.

SECTION 2. 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 creating the State School Safety Fund to provide financial support for projects that enhance the safety in schools in this state."