79R2136 ESH-D

By:  Madla                                                        S.B. No. 997



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the taxable value of property for school finance 
purposes of certain school districts.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 403.302, Government Code, is amended by 
adding Subsection (c-1) to read as follows:
	(c-1)  This subsection applies only to a school district 
whose central administrative office is located in a county with a 
population of 20,000 or less. If after conducting the annual study 
for a tax year the comptroller determines that the local value for a 
school district is not valid, the comptroller shall adjust the 
taxable value determined under Subsections (a) and (b) as follows:
		(1)  for each category of property sampled and tested 
by the comptroller in the school district, the comptroller shall 
use the weighted mean appraisal ratio determined by the study, 
unless the ratio is more than four percentage points lower than the 
weighted mean appraisal ratio determined by the comptroller for 
that category of property in the immediately preceding study, in 
which case the comptroller shall use the weighted mean appraisal 
ratio determined by the study minus four percentage points;
		(2)  the comptroller shall use the category weighted 
mean appraisal ratios as adjusted under Subdivision (1) to 
establish a value estimate for each category of property sampled 
and tested by the comptroller in the school district; and
		(3)  the value estimates established under Subdivision 
(2), together with the local tax roll value for any categories not 
sampled and tested by the comptroller, less total deductions 
determined by the comptroller, determines the taxable value for the 
school district.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2005.