By Madden                                             H.B. No. 1041
       74R2785 SMH-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to the filing of a late application for a residence
    1-3  homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Section 11.431, Tax Code, is amended to read as
    1-6  follows:
    1-7        Sec. 11.431.  Late Application of Homestead Exemption.
    1-8  <(a)>  The chief appraiser shall accept and approve or deny an
    1-9  application for a residence homestead exemption after the deadline
   1-10  for filing it has passed if it is filed not later than October 1
   1-11  <one year after the date the taxes on the homestead were paid or
   1-12  became delinquent, whichever is earlier.>
   1-13        <(b)  If a late application is approved after approval of the
   1-14  appraisal records by the appraisal review board, the chief
   1-15  appraiser shall notify the collector for each unit in which the
   1-16  residence is located.  The collector shall deduct from the person's
   1-17  tax bill the amount of tax imposed on the exempted amount if the
   1-18  tax has not been paid.  If the tax has been paid, the collector
   1-19  shall refund the amount of tax imposed on the exempted amount>.
   1-20        SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect January 1, 1996, and
   1-21  applies only to an application for a residence homestead exemption
   1-22  from taxes imposed for tax years beginning on or after that date.
   1-23  An application for a residence homestead exemption from taxes
   1-24  imposed before that date is governed by the law in effect when the
    2-1  taxes were imposed, and the former law is continued in effect for
    2-2  that purpose.
    2-3        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
    2-4  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
    2-5  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
    2-6  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
    2-7  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.