Texas Almanac, 1992-1993 Page: 359
656 p. : ill. (some col.), maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this book.
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CONSTITUTION 359
Article Ill - (Cont'd.)
macadamized, graveled or paved roads and turnpikes, or in
aid thereof, may, without the necessity of further or amen-
datory legislation, be issued upon a vote of a majority of the
resident property taxpayers voting thereon who are qual-
ified electors of said county, and bonds heretofore or here-
after issued under Subsections (a) and (b) of said Sec. 52
shall not be included in determining the debt limit pre-
scribed in said Section.
[Note - The foregoing Sec. 52-e of Art. III, an amend-
ment, was added to allow Dallas County to issue bonds for
construction of roads upon majority vote of resident prop-
erty taxpayers. Submitted by the Sixtieth Legislature (19671
and adopted in election Nov. 5, 1968.)
Note: As in the case of Sec. 52-d above, this section might
more properly have been designated as paragraph "e" un-
der Sec. 52, but the Sixtieth Legislature designated it as Sec.
52-e, which resulted in there being two Sections 52-e, as they
also designated the section below, relating to payment of
medical expenses for county and precinct officials, as Sec.
52-e.
Sec. 52-e. Payment of Medical Expenses for County and
Precinct Officials - Each county in the State of Texas is
hereby authorized to pay all medical expenses, all doctor
bills and all hospital bills for Sheriffs, Deputy Sheriffs, Con-
stables, Deputy Constables and other county and precinct
law enforcement officials who are injured in the course of
their official duties; providing that while said Sheriff, Deputy
Sheriff, Constable, Deputy Constable or other county or pre-
cinct law enforcement official is hospitalized or incapaci-
tated that the county shall continue to pay his maximum
salary; providing, however, that said payment of salary shall
cease on the expiration of the term of office to which such
official was elected or appointed. Provided, however, that no
provision contained herein shall be construed to amend,
modify, repeal or nullify Art. XVI, Sec. 31, of the Constitution
of the State of Texas.
(Note - The foregoing Sec. 52-e of Art. III, an amend-
ment, was added to authorize counties to pay medical bills
for county and precinct law enforcement officials who are
injured in line of duty; and the county shall continue to pay
maximum salary for duration of term to which they were
elected or appointed. Submitted by the Sixtieth Legislature
(1967) and adopted in election Nov. 11, 1967.1
Sec. 52-f. Private Roads in County - A county with a
population of 5,000 or less, according to the most recent fed-
eral census, may construct and maintain private roads if it
imposes a reasonable charge for the work. The Legislature
by general law may limit this authority. Revenue received
from private road work may be used only for the con-
struction, including right-of-way acquisition, or mainte-
nance of public roads.
[Note - Sec. 52-f of Art. III, an amendment, was added to
authorize counties with population of 5,000 or less to perform
private road work. Submitted by the Sixty-sixth Legislature
(1979) and adopted in election Nov. 4, 1980.]
Sec. 53. Extra Compensation by Municipal Corporations
- The Legislature shall have no power to grant or to autho-
rize any county or municipal authority to grant any extra
compensation, fee or allowance to a public officer, agent,
servant or contractor, after service has been rendered or a
contract has been entered into and performed in whole or in
part; nor pay, nor authorize the payment of any claim cre-
ated against any county or municipality of the State under
any agreement or contract made without authority of law.
Sec. 54. Liens on Railroads - The Legislature shall have
no power to release or alienate any lien held by the State
upon any railroad, or in anywise change the tenor or mean-
ing or pass any act explanatory thereof; but the same shall
be enforced in accordance with the original terms upon
which it was acquired.
Sec. 55. Power of Legislature to Release Debt - The
Legislature shall have no power to release or extinguish, or
to authorize the releasing or extinguishing, in whole or in
part, the indebtedness, liability or obligation of any cor-
poration or individual, to this State or to any county or de-
fined subdivision thereof, or other municipal corporation
therein, except delinquent taxes which have been due for a
period of at least ten years.
[Note-The foregoing Sec. 55 of Art. III is an amendment
of an original section, the amendment having been adopted
to include the clause "except delinquent taxes which have
been due for a period of at least ten years." Submitted by the
Forty-second Legislature (1931) and adopted in an election
Nov. 8, 1932. Proclaimed Jan. 9, 1933.)Sec. 56. Special Laws; Limitations - The Legislature
shall not, except as otherwise provided in this Constitution,
pass any local or special law authorizing:
The creation, extension or impairing of liens;
Regulating the affairs of counties, cities, towns, wards or
school districts;
Changing the names of persons or places;
Changing the venue in civil or criminal cases;
Authorizing the laying out, opening, altering or main-
taining of roads, highways, streets or alleys;
Relating to ferries or bridges, or incorporating ferry or
bridge companies, except for the erection of bridges cross-
ing streams which form boundaries between this and any
other State;
Vacating roads, town plats, streets or alleys;
Relating to cemeteries, graveyards or public grounds not
of the states;
Authorizing the adoption or legitimation of children;
Locating or changing county seats;
Incorporating cities, towns or villages, or changing their
charter;
For the opening and conducting of election or fixing or
changing the places of voting;
Granting divorces;
Creating offices, or prescribing the powers and duties of
officers in counties, cities, towns, election or school districts;
Changing the law of descent or succession;
Regulating the practice or jurisdiction of, or changing
the rules of evidence in any judicial proceeding or inquiry
before courts, justices of the peace, sheriffs, commissioners,
arbitrators or other tribunals, or providing or changing
methods for the collection of debts or the enforcing of
judgments or prescribing the effect of judicial sales of real
estate;
Regulating the fees or extending the powers and duties
of aldermen, justices of the peace, magistrates or consta-
bles;
Regulating the management of public schools, the build-
ing or repairing of schoolhouses, and the raising of money
for such purposes;
Fixing the rate of interest;
Affecting the estates of minors or persons under disabili-
ty;
Remitting fines, penalties and forfeitures and refunding
moneys legally paid into the Treasury;
Exempting property from taxation;
Regulating labor, trade, mining and manufacturing;
Declaring any named person of age;
Extending the time for the assessment or collection of
taxes, or otherwise relieving any assessor or collector of
taxes from the due performance of his official duties or his
securities from liability;
Giving effect to informal or invalid wills or deeds;
Summoning or impaneling grand or petit juries;
For limitation of civil or criminal actions;
For incorporating railroads or other works of internal
improvements;
And in all other cases where a general law can be made
applicable no local or special law shall be enacted; provided,
that nothing herein contained shall be construed to prohibit
the Legislature from passing special laws for the preserva-
tion of the game and fish of this State in certain localities.
Sec. 57. Notice of Local or Special Laws - No local or
special law shall be passed unless notice of the intention to
apply therefor shall have been published in the locality
where the matter or thing to be affected may be situated,
which notice shall state the substance of the contemplated
law, and shall be published at least thirty days prior to the in-
troduction into the Legislature of such bill and in the manner
to be provided by law. The evidence of such notice having
been published shall be exhibited in the Legislature before
such act shall be passed.
Sec. 58. Sessions to Be Held at Austin, Seat of Govern-
ment - The Legislature shall hold its sessions at the City of
Austin, which is hereby declared to be the seat of govern-
ment.
Sec. 59. Workmen's Compensation for State Employees
- The Legislature shall have power to pass such laws as may
be necessary to provide for workmen's compensation insur-
ance for such State employees, as in its judgment is nec-
essary or required; and to provide for the payment of all
costs, charges and premiums on such policies of insurance;
providing, the state shall never be required to purchase in-
surance for any employee.
[Note - The foregoing Sec. 59 of Art. III, an amendment,
was added for the stated purpose of providing for work-
men's compensation for state employees. Adopted in an
election, Nov. 3, 1936.]
Sec. 60. Workmen's Compensation Insurance for County
Employees - The Legislature shall have the power to pass
such laws as may be necessary to enable all counties and
other political subdivisions of this State to provide
Workmen's Compensation insurance, including the right to
provide its own insurance risk, for all employees of the coun-
ty or political subdivision as in its judgment is necessary orCONSTITUTION
359
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Kingston, Mike. Texas Almanac, 1992-1993, book, 1991; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth279642/m1/363/: accessed April 20, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.