By:  Harris                                   S.B. No. 344

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

                                       AN ACT

 1-1     relating to an exemption from ad valorem taxation for certain

 1-2     property acquired for use for a school.

 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Section 11.21, Tax Code, is amended by adding

 1-5     Subsection (f) to read as follows:

 1-6           (f)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a), a person is entitled to

 1-7     an exemption from taxation of the buildings and tangible personal

 1-8     property the person acquires for use for a school that meets each

 1-9     requirement of Subsection (d) if:

1-10                 (1)  the person authorizes the former owner to continue

1-11     to use the property pending the use of the property for a school;

1-12     and

1-13                 (2)  the former owner would be entitled to an exemption

1-14     from taxation of the property if the former owner continued to own

1-15     the property.

1-16           SECTION 2.  The chief appraiser of an appraisal district

1-17     shall accept and approve or deny an application for an exemption

1-18     from ad valorem taxation under Subsection (f), Section 11.21, Tax

1-19     Code, as added by this Act, for the ad valorem tax year that began

1-20     January 1, 1997, if the application is filed as provided by Section

1-21     11.434, Tax Code.

1-22           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

1-23           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the

 2-1     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-2     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-3     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-4     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.