SRC-JRN C.S.S.B. 1019 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   C.S.S.B. 1019
By: Ogden
Education
5-15-97
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST 

Currently, Texas law defines a school district's rollback tax rate as the
tax rate necessary to offset the district's loss using a certain formula.
If a school district imposes a tax rate above the rollback tax rate,
voters may decide at an election, held for the purpose of determining
rollback taxes, to roll back the tax rate to the rollback rate.  This bill
provides tax relief by reducing the amount added to a school district's
rollback tax rate from eight cents to six cents. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, C.S.S.B. 1019 provides tax relief by reducing the amount
added to a school district's rollback tax rate from eight cents to six
cents. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 26.08, Tax Code, as follows:

Sec. 26.08.  New heading:  ELECTION TO RATIFY SCHOOL TAXES.  Requires the
registered voters of a school district at an election held for that
purpose to determine whether to approve the adopted tax rate, if the
governing body of a school district adopts a tax rate that exceeds the
district's rollback tax rate.  Deletes the provision regarding the tax
rate the governing body is authorized to adopt for the current year.
Provides that an election is not required under this section to approve,
rather than limit, the tax rate adopted by the governing body.  Sets forth
the manner in which the ballot is to be prepared to permit voting for or
against the proposition.  Requires the ballot proposition to include the
adopted tax rate and the difference between that rate and the rollback tax
rate in the appropriate place.  Provides that the tax rate for the current
year is the rate adopted by the governing body, if a majority of the votes
cast in the election favor the proposition.  Provides that the tax rate
for the school district for the current year is the school district's
rollback tax rate, if the proposition is not approved as provided by
Subsection (c).  Deletes provisions establishing the formula for the
rollback tax rate. Deletes existing Subsections (e) and (f).  Redesignates
existing Subsection (i) as Subsection (f).  Sets forth provisions relating
to the base rollback tax rate of a school district, the computation of a
school district's rollback tax rate, and the rollback correction rate of a
school district.  Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes. 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1997.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

SECTION 1.

Amends Section 26.08, Tax Code, to require the registered voters of a
school district at an election held for that purpose to determine whether
to approve the adopted tax rate, rather  than rate, if the governing body
of a school district adopts a tax rate that exceeds the district's
rollback tax rate, rather than the rate calculated under Subsection (c).
Provides that the tax rate for the current year is the rate adopted by the
governing body, if a majority of the votes cast in the election favor the
proposition.  Provides that the tax rate for the school district for the
current year is the school district for the current year the school
district's rollback tax rate, if the proposition is not approved as
provided by Subsection (c).  Deletes a provision providing that if a
majority of votes cast in an election do not favor the proposition the tax
rate for the school district for the current year is a certain calculated
rollback tax rate. Deletes the proposed rollback tax rate calculation.
Sets forth provisions relating to the base rollback tax rate of a school
district, the computation of a school district's rollback tax rate, and
the rollback correction rate of a school district. 

SECTION 2. 

Deletes a provision providing that the tax rate calculations for a tax
year that began before the effective date of this Act are governed by the
applicable law in effect before the effective date of this Act.