By:  Van de Putte                                     S.B. No. 1710
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to requirements regarding and terms of local tax abatement
 1-3     agreements.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subsection (a), Section 312.206, Tax Code, is
 1-6     amended to read as follows:
 1-7           (a)  If property taxes on property located in the taxing
 1-8     jurisdiction of a municipality are abated under an agreement made
 1-9     under Section 312.204 or 312.211, the governing body of each other
1-10     taxing unit eligible to enter into tax abatement agreements under
1-11     Section 312.002 in which the property is located may execute a
1-12     written tax abatement agreement with the owner of the property [not
1-13     later than the 90th day after the date the municipal agreement is
1-14     executed].  The agreement is not required to contain terms
1-15     identical to those contained in the agreement with the
1-16     municipality.  The execution, duration, and other terms of an
1-17     agreement made under this section are governed by the provisions of
1-18     Sections 312.204, 312.205, and 312.211 applicable to a
1-19     municipality.  [Section 312.205 applies to an agreement made by a
1-20     taxing unit under this section in the same manner as it applies to
1-21     an agreement made by a municipality under Section 312.204 or
1-22     312.211.]  If the governing body of the taxing unit by official
1-23     action at any time before the execution of the municipal agreement
1-24     expresses an intent to be bound by the terms of the municipal
1-25     agreement if the municipality enters into an agreement under
 2-1     Section 312.204 or 312.211 with the owner relating to the property,
 2-2     the terms of the municipal agreement regarding the share of the
 2-3     property to be exempt in each year of the municipal agreement apply
 2-4     to the taxation of the property by the taxing unit.
 2-5           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.