(AP) -- By The Associated Press
Eleven proposed constitutional amendments go before Texas voters
in the Nov. 3 election. The proposals passed both chambers of the
Legislature with a two-thirds vote and must win voter approval to
be added to the state constitution. The propositions are:
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PROPOSITION 1: Authorizes financing methods for municipalities
and counties to acquire buffer zones or open spaces next to
military bases. The proposal could prevent encroachment next to the
base and allow construction of roads, utilities and other
infrastructure to promote the mission of a military base.
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PROPOSITION 2: Allows the Legislature to provide for ad valorem
taxation of a residence homestead solely on the basis of the
property's value as a residence, not at the potentially higher
commercial use value.
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PROPOSITION 3: Provides for uniform standards and procedures for
the appraisal of property for taxation. Texas lacks uniform
standards, and proponents say this amendment would ensure that
property in diverse parts of the state are valued using the same
generally accepted practices.
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PROPOSITION 4: Establishes a national research university fund
to help emerging research universities achieve national prominence
as major research universities. Those pushing the proposal say it
will provide funding similar to what elevated Texas A&M University
and the University of Texas to Tier One status, providing jobs and
stature or the state. Others question whether now is the time to
spend such money.
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PROPOSITION 5: Permits the Texas Legislature to allow a single
board of equalization for two or more adjoining appraisal entities.
That means area appraisal boards can be consolidated if they
choose.
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PROPOSITION 6: Authorizes the Veterans' Land Board to issue
general obligation bonds in amounts equal to or less than amounts
previously authorized. It would prevent the land board from
continually having to seek legislative authorization.
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PROPOSITION 7: Allows an officer or enlisted member of the Texas
State Guard or other state militia or military force to hold other
civil offices. This would correct what some say is an oversight in
the state constitution.
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PROPOSITION 8: Authorizes the state to contribute money,
property and other resources to establish veterans hospital. It's
designed to speed up efforts to open a federal Veterans
Administration hospital in the Rio Grande Valley, where residents
currently must travel to San Antonio to receive some VA hospital
services.
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PROPOSITION 9: Protects the right of the public to access and
use the public beaches bordering the seaward shore of the Gulf of
Mexico. This would block private developers from restricting beach
access to the public, but some say it could infringe on private
property rights.
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PROPOSITION 10: Limits elected members of the governing boards
of emergency services districts to terms no longer than four years.
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PROPOSITION 11: Prohibits governments from taking private
property for private economic development to increase a tax base.
It also limits the Legislature's power to grant eminent domain
authority to a governmental entity.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
AP-NY-11-01-09 1347EST
(Copyright ©2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
