By Harris                                        S.B. No. 344

      75R4275 SMH-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to an exemption from ad valorem taxation for certain

 1-3     property acquired for use for a school.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 11.21, Tax Code, is amended by adding

 1-6     Subsection (f) to read as follows:

 1-7           (f)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a), a person is entitled to

 1-8     an exemption from taxation of the buildings and tangible personal

 1-9     property the person acquires for use for a school that meets each

1-10     requirement of Subsection (d) if:

1-11                 (1)  the person authorizes the former owner to continue

1-12     to use the property pending the use of the property for a school;

1-13     and

1-14                 (2)  the former owner would be entitled to an exemption

1-15     from taxation of the property if the former owner continued to own

1-16     the property.

1-17           SECTION 2.  The chief appraiser of an appraisal district

1-18     shall accept and approve or deny an application for an exemption

1-19     from ad valorem taxation under Section 11.21(f), Tax Code, as added

1-20     by this Act, for the ad valorem tax year that began January 1,

1-21     1997, if the application is filed as provided by Section 11.434,

1-22     Tax Code.

1-23           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

1-24           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.