BILL ANALYSIS
By: Watson
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Currently, public television stations in Texas such as Austin's KLRU are granted an exemption from ad valorem taxes if they produce or broadcast educational, cultural, or other public interest programming. Similarly, the Tax Code provides an exemption from ad valorem taxes to charitable organizations that promote performing arts, including symphony orchestra performances.
Listener-supported radio stations in Texas provide education and public interest programming similar to public television and also serve their respective art communities as primary sources of cultural news and entertainment. Non-commercial radio stations should also be exempt from ad valorem taxation.
As proposed, S.B. 1087 exempts a radio station that broadcasts educational, cultural, or other public interest programming, including classical music, and that in the preceding five years has received or been selected to receive one or more grants or similar funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting from ad valorem taxation.
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to any state officer, institution, or agency.
ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 11.18(d), Tax Code, as follows:
(d) Includes operating a radio station that broadcasts educational, cultural, or other public interest programming, including classical music, and that in the preceding five years has received or been selected to receive one or more grants or similar funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting under 47 U.S.C. Section 396, as amended, as a charitable function required to be performed by a certain organization under this subsection.
SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective.
SECTION 3. Effective date: January 1, 2008.
EFFECTIVE DATE
January 1, 2008.