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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 centennial parks conservation fund. |
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Article III, Texas Constitution, is amended by |
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adding Section 49-e-1 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 49-e-1. (a) The centennial parks conservation fund is |
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established as a trust fund outside the treasury. In accordance |
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with general law, the fund may be used only for the creation and |
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improvement of state parks. |
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(b) The centennial parks conservation fund consists of: |
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(1) money appropriated to the fund; |
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(2) money transferred or deposited to the credit of |
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the fund by general law; |
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(3) investment earnings and interest earned on amounts |
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credited to the fund; and |
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(4) gifts, grants, and donations received for the |
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fund. |
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(c) The legislature may appropriate money from the |
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centennial parks conservation fund to the Parks and Wildlife |
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Department or the department's successor in function for the |
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purposes prescribed for the fund by this section and general law. |
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(d) For purposes of Section 22, Article VIII, of this |
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constitution: |
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(1) money in the centennial parks conservation fund is |
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dedicated by this constitution; and |
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(2) an appropriation of state tax revenues for the |
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purpose of depositing money to the credit of the fund is treated as |
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if it were an appropriation of revenues dedicated by this |
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constitution. |
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(d-1) On January 1, 2024, the comptroller of public accounts |
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shall transfer $1 billion of the unencumbered balance of the |
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general revenue fund that exists on that date to the centennial |
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parks conservation fund. This subsection expires December 31, |
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2024. |
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SECTION 2. 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 centennial parks conservation fund to be used for |
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the creation and improvement of state parks." |