Senate Resolution 493
By: Senators Mallow of the 2nd, Halpern of the 39th, Esteves of the 35th, Jackson of the
41st, Jones II of the 22nd and others
A RESOLUTION
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution so as to authorize the General Assembly to
provide by law for the creation of a Children First Trust Fund; to provide for the
appropriation of moneys into such fund, including a one-time appropriation from the
Revenue Shortfall Reserve; to provide that moneys appropriated into such fund shall not
lapse and shall be used to provide scholarships, grants, or other forms of financial assistance
for child care services; to provide for the investment and reinvestment of a portion of the
moneys appropriated into such fund; to provide that returns on such investments shall be
used for financial assistance for child care services; to provide for related matters; to provide
for the submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Article III, Section IX, Paragraph VI of the Constitution is amended by adding a new
subparagraph to read as follows:
<ins>"(s) The General Assembly is authorized to provide by law for the creation of a Children
First Trust Fund for the purpose of providing, in accordance with the provisions of this
subparagraph, financial assistance for child care services in this state. Upon the creation
of such Children First Trust Fund, the General Assembly shall make a one-time
</ins>
<ins>appropriation in the amount of $2 billion into such fund, which shall be appropriated from
the Revenue Shortfall Reserve. The General Assembly shall be authorized, but not
required, to appropriate additional amounts into such fund. All moneys appropriated into
the Children First Trust Fund shall not be subject to the provisions of Article III, Section
IX, Paragraph IV(c), relating to the lapsing of funds, and shall be used to provide
scholarships, grants, or other forms of financial assistance for child care services in this
state; provided, however, that a portion of the moneys appropriated to the Children First
Trust Fund shall be invested and reinvested in a manner as provided by law. Moneys
received from returns on such investments and reinvestments shall be deposited into the
Children First Trust Fund and shall be used to provide scholarships, grants, or other forms
of financial assistance for child care services in this state. The General Assembly shall be
authorized to provide by law for any matters relating to the purpose or provisions of this
subparagraph."
</ins> SECTION 2.
The above proposed amendment to the Constitution shall be published and submitted as
provided in Article X, Section I, Paragraph II of the Constitution. The ballot submitting the
above proposed amendment shall have written or printed thereon the following:
"( ) YES Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to authorize the General
( ) NO Assembly to use a portion of the state's historic, multi-year revenue surplus
to create a self-sustaining Children First Trust Fund for the purpose of
providing access to child care services in this state?"
All persons desiring to vote in favor of ratifying the proposed amendment shall vote "Yes."
All persons desiring to vote against ratifying the proposed amendment shall vote "No." If
such amendment shall be ratified as provided in said Paragraph of the Constitution, it shall
become a part of the Constitution of this state.