SRC-PNG S.J.R. 36 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.J.R. 36
76R5551 SMH-DBy: Cain
Finance
4/20/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, under Texas law, a person is required to render, for purposes of
ad valorem taxation, all tangible personal property used for the production
of income.  A recent court case ruled that the renditions requirement was
merely directory and not mandatory.  As a result, tax consultants are
advising their clients that rendition of business personal property is not
required in Texas.  This bill would require the submission to the voters of
a constitutional amendment to authorize a partial exemption or other relief
from ad valorem taxation for commercial tangible personal property if the
property is voluntarily rendered for taxation. 


PURPOSE

As proposed, S.J.R. 36 requires the submission to the voters of a
constitutional amendment to authorize a partial exemption or other relief
from ad valorem taxation for commercial tangible personal property if the
property is voluntarily rendered for taxation. 

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 1, Article VIII, Texas Constitution, by adding
Subsection (j), to authorize the legislature to exempt from ad valorem
taxation all or part of the market value of tangible personal property held
or used for the production of income or provide other tax relief of the
property is voluntarily rendered for taxation. 

SECTION 2. Requires this proposed constitutional amendment to be submitted
to the voters at an election to be held November 2, 1999.  Sets forth the
required language for the ballot.