Constitutional Background:
 

Act of the 53rd Texas Legislature Regarding the Texas Supreme Court Plaques

GENERAL & SPECIAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS

Passed by the Regular Session of the
FIFTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE

Convened at the City of Austin, January 13, 1953
and Adjourned May 27, 1953

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION No. 10

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Texas creating the State Building Commission...; creating the State Building Fund: providing for surplus in the Confederate Pension Fund to be transferred annually to the State Building Fund;....;providing for an election thereon, the proclamation of such election, and the form of ballot.

 

Be it resolved by the Legislature of the State of Texas:

 

Section 1. Article III of the Constitution of the State of Texas shall be hereby amended by adding thereto a new section to be known as Section 51-b and reading as follows:

 

Section 51-b.

(a) The State Building Commission is hereby created....." "

 

(b) The State Building Fund is hereby created..... The Comptroller of Public Accounts shall certify to the State Treasurer the amount of money necessary to pay Confederate pensions for the ensuing calendar year as
provided by the constitution and laws of this State. Thereupon each year the State Treasurer shall transfer forthwith from the Confederate Pension Fund to the State Building Fund all money except that needed to pay the
Confederate pensions as certified by the Comptroller...."

 

(c)...... The first major structure erected from the State Building Fund
shall be known and designated as a memorial to the Texans who served in the Armed Forces of the Confederate States of America, and shall be devoted to the use and occupancy of the Supreme Court......"

 

Section 2. The foregoing amendment shall be submitted to a vote of the qualified electors of Texas at the general election to be held throughout the State on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, 1954, at which election those favoring such amendment have printed or written on their ballot the following:

 

FOR the amendment transferring that portion of the Confederate Pension Fund not needed for the payment of Confederate pensions to the State Building Fund to be used for State building purposes as may be provided by law...."

 

Passed the Senate, March 30, 1953: Yeas 28, Nays 0;
April 30, 1953, Senate concurred in House amendments: Yeas 26, Nays 1;

Adopted by the House, April 30, 1953, with amendments: Yeas 137, Nays 2

Approved May 12, 1953