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A JOINT RESOLUTION
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proposing a constitutional amendment providing for the |
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establishment of the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of |
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Texas, establishing the Dementia Prevention and Research Fund to |
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provide money for research on and prevention and treatment of |
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dementia and related disorders in this state, and transferring to |
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that fund $3 billion from state general revenue. |
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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 68 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 68. (a) The legislature shall establish the Dementia |
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Prevention and Research Institute of Texas to: |
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(1) award grants to institutions of learning, advanced |
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medical research facilities, public or private persons, and |
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collaboratives in this state to provide money for: |
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(A) research into the causes of, means of |
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prevention of, and treatment and rehabilitation for dementia and |
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related disorders; |
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(B) research, including translational research, |
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to develop therapies, protocols, medical pharmaceuticals, or |
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procedures for the substantial mitigation of the symptoms of |
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dementia and related disorders; |
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(C) facilities, equipment, and other costs |
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related to research on dementia and related disorders; and |
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(D) prevention programs and strategies to |
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mitigate the detrimental health impacts of dementia and related |
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disorders; |
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(2) support institutions of learning and advanced |
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medical research facilities and collaboratives in this state in all |
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stages of: |
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(A) discovering the causes of dementia and |
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related disorders; |
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(B) developing therapies, protocols, medical |
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pharmaceuticals, or procedures for the substantial mitigation of |
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the symptoms of dementia and related disorders from laboratory |
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research to clinical trials; and |
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(C) developing programs to address access to |
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advanced treatment for dementia and related disorders; and |
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(3) establish the appropriate standards and oversight |
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bodies to ensure the proper use of funding authorized under this |
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section, including facilities development. |
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(b) The members of the governing body and any other |
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decision-making body of the Dementia Prevention and Research |
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Institute of Texas may serve six-year terms. |
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(c) The Dementia Prevention and Research Fund is |
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established as a special fund in the state treasury outside the |
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general revenue fund to be administered by the Dementia Prevention |
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and Research Institute of Texas. |
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(c-1) On January 1, 2026, the comptroller shall transfer $3 |
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billion from this state's general revenue fund to the Dementia |
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Prevention and Research Fund. The transfer made under this |
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subsection is not an appropriation of state tax revenues for the |
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purposes of Section 22, Article VIII, of this constitution. This |
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subsection expires January 1, 2029. |
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(d) The Dementia Prevention and Research Fund consists of: |
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(1) money transferred to the fund under this section; |
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(2) money the legislature appropriates, credits, or |
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transfers to the fund; |
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(3) gifts and grants, including grants from the |
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federal government, and other donations received for the fund; |
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(4) patent, royalty, and license fees and other income |
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received under a contract executed by the Dementia Prevention and |
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Research Institute of Texas; and |
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(5) investment earnings and interest earned on amounts |
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credited to the fund. |
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(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this |
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constitution, the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of |
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Texas, as established by general law, may use money in the Dementia |
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Prevention and Research Fund only for the purpose of funding: |
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(1) grants for research on dementia and related |
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disorders, research facilities, and research opportunities in this |
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state: |
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(A) for the prevention, treatment, and |
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rehabilitation of dementia and related disorders and the mitigation |
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of the incidence of and detrimental health impacts from dementia |
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and related disorders; and |
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(B) to develop therapies, protocols, medical |
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pharmaceuticals, or procedures for the substantial mitigation of |
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the symptoms of dementia and related disorders; |
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(2) the purchase, construction, or renovation, |
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subject to the institute's approval, of facilities by or on behalf |
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of a state agency or grant recipient; and |
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(3) the institute's operation. |
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(f) The Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas |
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may not award more than $300 million in grants authorized under this |
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section in a state fiscal year. |
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(g) Before the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute |
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of Texas may award a grant authorized under this section, the grant |
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recipient must have available an unexpended amount of money equal |
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to one-half of the grant amount dedicated to the research specified |
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in the grant proposal. |
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(h) The reasonable expenses of managing the assets of the |
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Dementia Prevention and Research Fund shall be paid from the fund. |
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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 4, 2025. |
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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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establishment of the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of |
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Texas, establishing the Dementia Prevention and Research Fund to |
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provide money for research on and prevention and treatment of |
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dementia and related disorders in this state, and transferring to |
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that fund $3 billion from state general revenue." |