Texas Proposition 6, Cancer Prevention and Research Institute Bonds Amendment (2019)

Texas Proposition 6
Election date November 5, 2019
Topic Bond issues
Status a Approved
Type Constitutional amendment	Origin State legislature
List of Texas measuresTexas Proposition 1Texas Proposition 2Texas Proposition 3Texas Proposition 4Texas Proposition 5Texas Proposition 6Texas Proposition 7Texas Proposition 8Texas Proposition 9Texas Proposition 10Submit

Texas Proposition 6, the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute Bonds Amendment, was on the ballot in Texas as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on November 5, 2019. The ballot measure was approved.

A "yes" vote supported this amendment to allow the legislature to increase the maximum amount of bonds for the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas from $3 billion to $6 billion.

A "no" vote opposed this amendment, thereby keeping the maximum amount of bonds for the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas at $3 billion.

Election results

Texas Proposition 6
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		1,259,398	64.02%
No		707,939	35.98%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Overview

What did Proposition 6 do?

Proposition 6 allowed the Texas State Legislature to increase the maximum amount of bonds for the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) from $3 billion to $6 billion. Proposition 6 limited the state to issuing $300 million for CPRIT per year.

What is CPRIT?

CPRIT was created in 2009 after voters approved Proposition 15 in 2007. Proposition 15 authorized the state to issue $3 billion in bonds for the institute's operations; making grants for researching the causes of cancer and cures, mitigation, and developing cures; mitigation procedures; and prevention protocols and services. As of May 1, 2019, the institute had issued $2.26 billion in grants. According to the Texas House Research Organization, the state was projected to run out of bonds for CPRIT between 2020 and 2022.

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title was as follows:

“

The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to increase by $3 billion the maximum bond amount authorized for the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.

”

Constitutional changes

See also: Article 3, Texas Constitution

The measure amended Section 67(c) of Article 3 of the Texas Constitution. The following underlined text was added and struck-through text was deleted:

(c) The legislature by general law may authorize the Texas Public Finance Authority to provide for, issue, and sell general obligation bonds of the State of Texas on behalf of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas in an amount not to exceed $3 $6 billion and to enter into related credit agreements. The Texas Public Finance Authority may not issue more than $300 million in bonds authorized by this subsection in a year. The bonds shall be executed in the form, on the terms, and in the denominations, bear interest, and be issued in installments as prescribed by the Texas Public Finance Authority.

Readability score

See also: Ballot measure readability scores, 2019

Using the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL and Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) formulas, Ballotpedia scored the readability of the ballot title and summary for this measure. Readability scores are designed to indicate the reading difficulty of text. The Flesch-Kincaid formulas account for the number of words, syllables, and sentences in a text; they do not account for the difficulty of the ideas in the text. The Texas State Legislature wrote the ballot language for this measure. The FKGL for the ballot title is grade level 19, and the FRE is 3. The word count for the ballot title is 24, and the estimated reading time is 6 seconds. In 2017, the average grade level for ballot measure titles in Texas was 25.

Support

Texans Fighting Cancer led the campaign in support of Proposition 6. The American Cancer Society (ACS) Cancer Action Network was involved in organizing the campaign, and the network's managing director, James Gray, was the campaign's treasurer.

Supporters

Officials

• Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R)
• U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-10)

The following state legislators sponsored the constitutional amendment:

• Rep. Carol Alvarado (D-6)
• Rep. Paul Bettencourt (R-7)
• Rep. Donna Campbell (R-25)
• Rep. Pat Fallon (R-30)
• Rep. Peter Flores (D-19)
• Rep. Juan Hinojosa (D-20)
• Rep. Joan Huffman (R-17)
• Rep. Nathan Johnson (D-16)
• Rep. Lois Kolkhorst (R-18)
• Rep. Eddie Lucio (D-27)
• Rep. Jose Menendez (D-26)
• Rep. Borris Miles (D-13)
• Rep. Jane Nelson (R-12)
• Rep. Charles Perry (R-28)
• Rep. Beverly Powell (D-10)
• Rep. Jose R. Rodriguez (D-29)
• Rep. Larry Taylor (R-11)
• Rep. Kirk Watson (D-14)
• Rep. Royce West (D-23)
• Rep. John Whitmire (D-15)
• Rep. Judith Zaffirini (D-21)
• Rep. Alma Allen (D-131)
• Rep. Steve Allison (R-121)
• Rep. Rafael Anchia (D-103)
• Rep. Trent Ashby (R-57)
• Rep. Ernest Bailes (R-18)
• Rep. Keith Bell (R-4)
• Rep. Cecil Bell Jr. (R-3)
• Rep. Cesar Blanco (D-76)
• Rep. Dwayne Bohac (R-138)
• Rep. Rhetta Bowers (D-113)
• Rep. Brad Buckley (R-54)
• Rep. Angie Chen Button (D-112)
• Rep. Briscoe Cain (R-128)
• Rep. Gina Calanni (D-132)
• Rep. Terry Canales (D-40)
• Rep. Giovanni Capriglione (R-98)
• Rep. Garnet Coleman (D-147)
• Rep. Philip Cortez (D-117)
• Rep. Tom Craddick (R-82)
• Rep. John Cyrier (R-17)
• Rep. Drew Darby (R-72)
• Rep. Sarah Davis (R-134)
• Rep. Joe Deshotel (D-22)
• Rep. Dan Flynn (R-2)
• Rep. John Frullo (R-84)
• Rep. Robert Guerra (D-41)
• Rep. Ryan Guillen (D-31)
• Rep. E. Sam Harless (R-126)
• Rep. Cole Hefner (R-5)
• Rep. Abel Herrero (D-34)
• Rep. Donna Howard (D-48)
• Rep. Dan Huberty (R-127)
• Rep. Kyle Kacal (R-12)
• Rep. Ken King (R-88)
• Rep. John Kuempel (R-44)
• Rep. Stan Lambert (R-71)
• Rep. Brooks Landgraf (R-81)
• Rep. Eddie Lucio III (D-38)
• Rep. Armando Martinez (D-39)
• Rep. Will Metcalf (R-16)
• Rep. Rick Miller (R-26)
• Rep. Joe Moody (D-78)
• Rep. Geanie Morrison (R-30)
• Rep. Sergio Munoz Jr. (D-36)
• Rep. Tom Oliverson (R-130)
• Rep. Evelina Ortega (D-77)
• Rep. Leo Pacheco (D-118)
• Rep. Chris Paddie (R-9)
• Rep. Tan Parker (R-63)
• Rep. Mary Ann Perez (D-144)
• Rep. Four Price (R-87)
• Rep. John Raney (R-14)
• Rep. Richard Raymond (D-42)
• Rep. Eddie Rodriguez (D-51)
• Rep. Ramon Romero Jr. (D-90)
• Rep. Toni Rose (D-110)
• Rep. Carl Sherman (D-109)
• Rep. Reggie Smith (R-62)
• Rep. Ed Thompson (R-29)
• Rep. Chris Turner (D-101)
• Rep. John Turner (D-114)
• Rep. Gary VanDeaver (R-1)
• Rep. James White (R-19)
• Rep. John Wray (R-10)
• Rep. Gene Wu (D-137)
• Rep. John Zerwas (R-28)
• Rep. Erin Zwiener (D-45)

Organizations

• American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network of Texas
• American Childhood Cancer Organization
• The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
• Methodist Healthcare System
• Texas Pediatric Society
• Texas Society of Clinical Oncology
• Texas Women's Foundation

Arguments

The Texas House Research Organization wrote arguments for and against the amendment. The following was the argument for the amendment:

“

Reauthorizing the funding and continuing taxpayer support of the Cancer Research and Prevention Institute (CPRIT) under HJR 12 is needed to maintain the agency’s current level of activity and continue Texas’ national leadership in cancer research and prevention. Although CPRIT has statutory approval to continue making grant awards through fiscal 2022, without added funds it could issue its last awards during fiscal 2020-21. The sustained funding proposed by HJR 12 is necessary to plan and complete research and report on prevention successes and failures. Funding CPRIT is an investment into the state economy and worthy of state dollars. Annual grant funding under CPRIT has supported worldrenowned scholars, including a 2018 Nobel Prize recipient, and helped make Texas a biomedical center. The multiplier effects of CPRIT’s programs have created thousands of jobs, generated billions of dollars in economic activity, and encouraged biotech companies to expand or relocate to the state. By approving the original bond program in 2007, voters agreed that cancer research was worthy of public investment. CPRIT’s efforts have been shown to reduce cancer costs and serve an important state goal by enhancing patients’ quality of life, productivity, and lifespans. The substantial benefits to the economy and the health of Texans from the sustainable funding for CPRIT's programs in HJR 12 far outweigh the direct commitment of taxpayer resources and state debt.

”

Opposition

Opponents

• Progress Texas

Arguments

The Texas House Research Organization wrote arguments for and against the amendment. The following was the argument against the amendment:

“

HJR 12 would double the size of the original bond package approved by voters for CPRIT, committing $3 billion more in taxpayer money and increasing state debt. Funding cancer research is not an essential function of state government, and although CPRIT’s mission is noble, bonds require interest and future appropriations which could be better spent on other priorities and more pressing needs. HJR 12 is not necessary at this time because CPRIT has authority to issue the original bonds through the end of fiscal 2022. Instead of asking voters to commit additional taxpayer money, the Legislature should use this time to discuss CPRIT's long-term future, including a plan for it to become financially self-sufficient.

”

Campaign finance

Total campaign contributions:
Support:	$277,684.71
Opposition:	$0.00

See also: Campaign finance requirements for Texas ballot measures

Texans Fighting Cancer registered in support of the ballot measure. The political action committee (PAC) reported $277,685 in contributions and $274,685 in expenditures. There was no committee registered to oppose the ballot measure.

Support

The following table includes contribution and expenditure totals for the committee in support of the measure.

Committees in support of Proposition 6 Supporting committees Cash contributions In-kind services Cash expenditures Texans Fighting Cancer $77,650.00 $200,034.71 $74,650.00 Total $77,650.00 $200,034.71 $74,650.00

Totals in support Total raised: $277,684.71 Total spent: $274,684.71

Donors

The following were the top five donors who contributed to the support committee.

Donor	Cash	In-kind	Total
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network	$0.00	$176,826.80	$176,826.80
Lyda Hill	$25,000.00	$0.00	$25,000.00
Texas Medical Association	$0.00	$12,607.92	$12,607.92
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society	$0.00	$10,599.99	$10,599.99
Sam Susser	$10,000.00	$0.00	$10,000.00

Methodology

To read Ballotpedia's methodology for covering ballot measure campaign finance information, click here.

Media editorials

See also: 2019 ballot measure media endorsements

Support

• Austin American-Statesman: “YES to allow the Legislature to issue another $3 billion in general obligation bonds to fund cancer research and prevention, an effort that is saving lives and generating economic activity for Texas.”
• Corpus Christi Caller-Times: “Cancer is our No. 1 killer. Take that into consideration. This entity known by the acronym CPRIT had some shady mismanagement history, but take into consideration that it's old history. Finally, take into consideration that the current fund is expected to run out in 2021.”
• The Dallas Morning News: “CPRIT funding has supported more than 100 clinical trials, lured about a dozen companies to the state, and laid the groundwork for billions of dollars in follow-on investing. CPRIT is the reason about 170 cancer researchers and their labs are in the state, including James Allison at MD Anderson Cancer Center who won the 2018 Nobel Prize. Such accomplishments must be nurtured to keep Texas a national leader in cancer research.”
• The Eagle: “All this research is bound to move us ever closer to eradicating the devastating scourge of cancer.”
• Fort Worth Star-Telegram: “After some initial stumbles in governance, the initiative has found its footing. It’s a good investment for Texas, but after this, the Legislature needs to find a way to ensure long-term funding without further debt.”
• Houston Chronicle: “After allegations of mismanagement in 2012, the institute has tightened financial controls and continued its pioneering work saving lives. The new authorization would allow the institute to plan its future beyond 2021, when current funding would run out. We strongly support the amendment.”
• Longview News-Journal: “Cancer is not just going to go away and CPRIT has, after some glitches, proved to be a vital force in this fight. Beyond saving lives, this generates economic activity.”
• San Antonio Express-News: "Texas is a leader in cancer research and this will keep that momentum going."
• Waco Tribune-Herald: “Some argue the state has no business involved in cancer research, but given the huge cost of health care to taxpayers and the economic benefit such scientific research can yield in creating high-tech jobs across Texas, we see it as an investment with many dividends. The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas is the second largest public source of cancer funding in the United States after the federal government.”

No endorsement

• The Austin Chronicle: “We of course do not oppose curing, treating, and preventing cancer. Why the state should have a stand-alone agency investing in that outcome by awarding grants instead of simply adequately funding the Texas medical schools, research hospitals, public health agencies, et al. that now compete for those grants is a philosophical question we leave to the voter.”

Overview of media editorials

The following table provides an overview of the positions that media editorial boards had taken on the Texas 2019 ballot measures:

Media	Prop. 1	Prop. 2	Prop. 3	Prop. 4	Prop. 5	Prop. 6	Prop. 7	Prop. 8	Prop. 9	Prop. 10
Austin American-Statesman	a	a	a	d	a	a	a	a	a	a
The Austin Chronicle	a	a	d	d	a	tc	a	a	d	a
Corpus Christi Caller-Times	a	a	a	d	a	a	a	a	a	a
The Dallas Morning News	a	a	a	d	d	a	a	a	d	a
The Eagle	a	a	a	d	a	a	a	a	a	a
Fort Worth Star-Telegram	a	a	a	a	a	a	a	a	d	a
Houston Chronicle	d	a	a	d	a	a	a	a	a	a
Longview News-Journal	a	a	a	d	a	a	a	a	a	a
San Antonio Express-News	d	a	a	d	a	a	a	a	a	a
Waco Tribune-Herald	a	a	a	d	a	a	a	a	d	a

Background

Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas

See also: Texas Cancer Prevention and Research Institute, Proposition 15 (2007)

The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) was created in 2009 after voters approved Proposition 15 in 2007. The ballot measure tasked CPRIT with making grants to public and private researchers, education institutions, and medical research facilities to research the causes of cancer in humans and develop cures, mitigation procedures, and prevention protocols and services.

Proposition 15 allowed the Texas Public Finance Authority to authorize $3 billion in general obligation bonds, which were used for the institute's operation and grants. Under Proposition 15, no more than $300 million in bonds could be authorized per year.

CPRIT grants issued

Between September 1, 2009, and February 21, 2019, CPRIT had issued $2.26 billion in grants. The average size of a grant was $1.65 million, with a range of $7,745 to $25.21 million. The list of each grant funded is available here. The following chart illustrates the amount of grants issued per year and the cumulative amount over time:

Referred amendments on the ballot

See also: List of Texas ballot measures

The following statistics are based on ballot measures between 1995 and 2018 in Texas:

• Ballots featured 159 constitutional amendments.
• An average of 13 measures appeared on odd-year statewide ballots.
• The number of ballot measures on odd-year statewide ballots ranged from 7 to 22.
• Voters approved 91 percent (145 of 159) and rejected 9 percent (14 of 159) of the constitutional amendments.

Legislatively-referred constitutional amendments, 1995-2018
Total number	Approved	Percent approved	Defeated	Percent defeated	Odd-year average	Odd-year median	Odd-year minimum	Odd-year maximum
159	145	91.2%	14	8.8%	13.1	12.5	7	22

In 2019, 216 constitutional amendments had been filed in the Texas State Legislature. Legislators were permitted to file constitutional amendments through March 8, 2019, unless permission was given to introduce an amendment after the deadline. Between 2009 and 2017, an average of 187 constitutional amendments were filed during regular legislative sessions. The state legislature approved an average of nine constitutional amendments during regular legislative sessions. Therefore, the average rate of certification during regular legislative sessions was 4.7 percent. In 2019, 10 of the 216 proposed constitutional amendments were certified for the ballot, meaning the rate of certification was 4.6 percent.

Path to the ballot

See also: Amending the Texas Constitution

In Texas, a two-thirds vote is needed in each chamber of the Texas State Legislature to refer a constitutional amendment to the ballot for voter consideration.

The constitutional amendment was introduced into the state legislature as House Joint Resolution 12 (HJR 12) on November 12, 2018.

On April 16, 2019, the Texas House of Representatives voted 130 to 15 to approve HJR 12. At least 100 votes were needed to pass the amendment. On May 10, 2019, the Texas State Senate voted unanimously to approve HJR 12. At least 21 votes were needed to pass the amendment.

Vote in the Texas House of Representatives April 16, 2019
Requirement: Two-thirds (66.67 percent) vote of all members in each chamber
Number of yes votes required: 100  a
	Yes	No	Not voting
Total	130	15	5
Total percent	86.67%	10.00%	3.33%
Democrat	66	0	1
Republican	64	15	4

Vote in the Texas State Senate May 10, 2019
Requirement: Two-thirds (66.67 percent) vote of all members in each chamber
Number of yes votes required: 21  a
	Yes	No	Not voting
Total	31	0	0
Total percent	100.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Democrat	12	0	0
Republican	19	0	0

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in Texas

Poll times

In Texas, all polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote. Texas is divided between Central and Mountain time zones.

Registration Texas

Check your voter registration status here.

To register to vote in Texas, an applicant must be a United States citizen, a resident of the county in which he or she is registering, and at least 17 years and 10 months old.

The deadline to register to vote is 30 days before the election. Prospective voters can request a postage-paid voter registration form online or complete the form online and return it to the county voter registrar. Applications are also available at a variety of locations including the county voter registrar’s office, the secretary of state’s office, libraries, and high schools. Voter registration certificates are mailed to newly registered voters.

Automatic registration

Texas does not practice automatic voter registration.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

Texas does not permit online voter registration.

Same-day registration

Texas does not allow same-day voter registration.

Residency requirements

Prospective voters must reside in the county in which they are registering to vote.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Texas does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. Section 18.068 of the Texas Election Code says the following:

“	The secretary of state shall quarterly compare the information received under Section 16.001 of this code and Section 62.113, Government Code, to the statewide computerized voter registration list. If the secretary determines that a voter on the registration list is deceased or has been excused or disqualified from jury service because the voter is not a citizen, the secretary shall send notice of the determination to the voter registrar of the counties considered appropriate by the secretary.	”
—Section 18.068, Texas Election Code

In January 2019, the Texas secretary of state’s office announced that it would be providing local election officials with a list of registered voters who obtained driver’s licenses or IDs with documentation such as work visas or green cards. Counties would then be able to require voters on the list to provide proof of citizenship within 30 days. The review was halted by a federal judge in February 2019, and Secretary of State David Whitley rescinded the advisory in April. A news release from Whitley’s office stated that “... going forward, the Texas Secretary of State's office will send to county voter registrars only the matching records of individuals who registered to vote before identifying themselves as non-U.S. citizens to DPS when applying for a driver's license or personal identification card. This will ensure that naturalized U.S. citizens who lawfully registered to vote are not impacted by this voter registration list maintenance process.”

Verifying your registration

The Texas Secretary of State’s office allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting this website.

Voter ID requirements

Texas requires voters to present photo identification while voting.

The following list of accepted ID was current as of February 2023. Click here for the Texas Secretary of State's page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.

• Texas driver’s license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
• Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS
• Texas Personal Identification Card issued by DPS
• Texas handgun license issued by DPS
• United States Military Identification Card containing the person’s photograph
• United States Citizenship Certificate containing the person’s photograph
• United States passport (book or card)

Identification provided by voters aged 18-69 may be expired for no more than four years before the election date. Voters aged 70 and older can use an expired ID card regardless of how long ago the ID expired.

Voters who are unable to provide one of the ID options listed above can sign a Reasonable Impediment Declaration and provide one of the following supporting documents:

• Copy or original of a government document that shows the voter’s name and an address, including the voter’s voter registration certificate
• Copy of or original current utility bill
• Copy of or original bank statement
• Copy of or original government check
• Copy of or original paycheck
• Copy of or original of (a) a certified domestic (from a U.S. state or territory) birth certificate or (b) a document confirming birth admissible in a court of law which establishes the voter’s identity (which may include a foreign birth document)

The following voters are exempt from showing photo ID:

• Voters with a disability
  • Voters with a disability "may apply with the county voter registrar for a permanent exemption to presenting an acceptable photo identification or following the Reasonable Impediment Declaration procedure in the county."
• Voters who have a religious objection to being photographed

Voters who do not have a photo ID can obtain a Texas Election Identification Certificate (EIC) at any Texas driver’s license office during regular business hours. Voters can also obtain an Election Identification Certificate from a mobile station. Locations are listed here.

See also

2019 measures

• 2019 ballot measures
• Bond issues on the ballot
• Healthcare on the ballot
• 2019 legislative sessions

Texas

• Texas ballot measures
• Texas ballot measure laws

News and analysis

• Ballot measure lawsuits
• Ballot measure readability
• Ballot measure polls

External links

• House Joint Resolution 12 (2019)