Missouri HJR 74: Proposes a constitutional amendment to authorize the highways and transportation commission to construct toll roads and impose and collect tolls on interstates and four-lane roadways

Bill Text

SECOND REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 74
99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE MESSENGER.
4192H.01I D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk
JOINT RESOLUTION
Submitting to the qualified voters of Missouri an amendment repealing section 30(b) of article
IV of the Constitution of Missouri, and adopting one new section in lieu thereof relating
to toll roads.
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring therein:
That at the next general election to be held in the state of Missouri, on Tuesday next
2 following the first Monday in November, 2018, or at a special election to be called by the
3 governor for that purpose, there is hereby submitted to the qualified voters of this state, for
4 adoption or rejection, the following amendment to article IV of the Constitution of the state of
5 Missouri:
Section A. Section 30(b), article IV, Constitution of Missouri, is repealed and one new
2 section adopted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 30(b), to read as follows:
Section 30(b). 1. For the purpose of constructing and maintaining an adequate system
2 of connected state highways all state revenue derived from highway users as an incident to their
3 use or right to use the highways of the state, including all state license fees and taxes upon motor
4 vehicles, trailers and motor vehicle fuels, and upon, with respect to, or on the privilege of the
5 manufacture, receipt, storage, distribution, sale or use thereof (excepting those portions of the
6 sales tax on motor vehicles and trailers which are not distributed to the state road fund pursuant
7 to subsection 2 of this section 30(b) and further excepting all property taxes), less the (1) actual
8 cost of collection of the department of revenue (but not to exceed three percent of the particular
9 tax or fee collected), (2) actual cost of refunds for overpayments and erroneous payments of such
10 taxes and fees and maintaining retirement programs as permitted by law and (3) actual cost of
11 the state highway patrol in administering and enforcing any state motor vehicle laws and traffic
EXPLANATION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is intended
to be omitted from the law. Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language.

HJR 74 2
12 regulations, shall be deposited in the state road fund which is hereby created within the state
13 treasury and stand appropriated without legislative action to be used and expended by the
14 highways and transportation commission for the following purposes, and no other:
15 First, to the payment of the principal and interest on any outstanding state road bonds.
16 The term state road bonds in this section 30(b) means any bonds or refunding bonds issued by
17 the highways and transportation commission to finance or refinance the construction or
18 reconstruction of the state highway system.
19 Second, to maintain a balance in the state road fund in the amount deemed necessary to
20 meet the payment of the principal and interest of any state road bonds for the next succeeding
21 twelve months.
22 The remaining balance in the state road fund shall be used and expended in the sole
23 discretion of and under the supervision and direction of the highways and transportation
24 commission for the following state highway system uses and purposes and no other:
25 (1) To complete and widen or otherwise improve and maintain the state highway system
26 heretofore designated and laid out under existing laws;
27 (2) To reimburse the various counties and other political subdivisions of the state, except
28 incorporated cities and towns, for money expended by them in the construction or acquisition
29 of roads and bridges now or hereafter taken over by the highways and transportation commission
30 as permanent parts of the state highway system, to the extent of the value to the state of such
31 roads and bridges at the time taken over, not exceeding in any case the amount expended by such
32 counties and subdivisions in the construction or acquisition of such roads and bridges, except
33 that the highways and transportation commission may, in its discretion, repay, or agree to repay,
34 any cash advanced by a county or subdivision to expedite state road construction or
35 improvement;
36 (3) In the discretion of the commission to plan, locate, relocate, establish, acquire,
37 construct and maintain the following:
38 (a) interstate and primary highways within the state;
39 (b) supplementary state highways and bridges in each county of the state;
40 (c) state highways and bridges in, to and through state parks, public areas and
41 reservations, and state institutions now or hereafter established to connect the same with the state
42 highways, and also national, state or local parkways, travelways, tourways, with coordinated
43 facilities;
44 (d) any tunnel or interstate bridge or part thereof, where necessary to connect the state
45 highways of this st