By: Seliger S.B. No. 1593

(In the Senate - Filed March 10, 2009; March 17, 2009, read first time and referred to Committee on Economic Development; April 23, 2009, reported favorably, as amended, by the following vote: Yeas 3, Nays 0; April 23, 2009, sent to printer.)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT NO. 1 By: Watson

Amend S.B. No. 1593 as follows:

(1) In SECTION 2 of the bill, in amended Subdivision (3), Section 313.021, Tax Code (page 5, lines 1 through 3), strike amended Paragraph (E) and substitute the following:

(E) pays:

(i) at least the lesser of $50,000 or 110 percent of the county average weekly wage for manufacturing jobs in the county where the job is located, if the county has a population of less than 800,000; or

(ii) at least 110 percent of the county average weekly wage for all industries in the county where the job is located, if the county has a population of 800,000 or more.

(2) Strike the recital to SECTION 4 of the bill (page 5, lines 50 and 51) and substitute the following:

SECTION 4. Section 313.025, Tax Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (a-1) and (d-1) to read as follows:

(3) In SECTION 4 of the bill, following Subsection (a), Section 313.025, Tax Code (page 5, between lines 68 and 69), insert the following, and renumber subsequent SECTIONS as appropriate:

(a-1) If the school district maintains a generally accessible Internet website, the district shall post on that site each application received under Subsection (a) and any information in the possession of the district that relates to an application. This subsection does not require a school district to post information that is confidential business information under Section 313.028.

(d-1) The governing body of a school district may approve an application that the comptroller has recommended should be disapproved only if:

(1) the governing body holds a public hearing the sole purpose of which is to consider the application and the comptroller's recommendation; and

(2) at a subsequent meeting of the governing body held after the date of the public hearing, at least two-thirds of the members of the governing body vote to approve the application.

SECTION 5. Subsections (a) and (b), Section 313.026, Tax Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) The economic impact evaluation of the application must include the following:

(1) the recommendations of the comptroller;

(2) the name of the school district;

(3) the name of the applicant;

(4) the general nature of the applicant's investment;

(5) [(2)] the relationship between the applicant's industry and the types of qualifying jobs to be created by the applicant to the long-term economic growth plans of this state as described in the strategic plan for economic development submitted by the Texas Strategic Economic Development Planning Commission under Section 481.033, Government Code, as that section existed before February 1, 1999;

(6) [(3)] the relative level of the applicant's investment per qualifying job to be created by the applicant;

(7) the number of qualifying jobs to be created by the applicant;

(8) [(4)] the wages, salaries, and benefits to be offered by the applicant to qualifying job holders;

(9) [(5)] the ability of the applicant to locate or relocate in another state or another region of this state;

(10) [(6)] the impact the project [added infrastructure] will have on this state and individual local units of government [the region], including:

(A) tax and other revenue gains, direct or indirect, that would be realized during the qualifying period, the limitation period, and a period of time after the limitation period considered appropriate by the comptroller [by the school district]; and

(B) [subsequent] economic effects of the project, including the impact on jobs and income, during the qualifying period, the limitation period, and a period of time after the limitation period considered appropriate by the Comptroller [on the local and regional tax bases];

(11) [(7)] the economic condition of the region of the state at the time the person's application is being considered;

(12) [(8)] the number of new facilities built or expanded in the region during the two years preceding the date of the application that were eligible to apply for a limitation on appraised value under this subchapter; [and]

(13) [(9)] the effect of the applicant's proposal, if approved, on the number or size of the school district's instructional facilities, as defined by Section 46.001, Education Code;

(14) the projected market value of the qualified property of the applicant during the qualifying period, the limitation period, and a period of time after the limitation period considered appropriate by the comptroller;

(15) the proposed limitation on appraised value for the qualified property of the applicant.

(b) The comptroller's recommendations shall be based on the criteria listed in Subsections (a)(2)-(15) [(a)(2)-(9)] and on any other information available to the comptroller, including information provided by the governing body of the school district under Section 313.025(b).

SECTION 6. Subchapter B, Chapter 313, Tax Code, is amended by adding Section 313.0265 to read as follows:

Sec. 313.0265. DISCLOSURE OF APPRAISED VALUE LIMITATION INFORMATION. (a) If a school district maintains a generally accessible Internet website, the district shall post each document or item of information concerning appraised value limitations under this subchapter and school tax credits under Subchapter D that the comptroller designates as substantive.

(b) Each document or item of information posted under Subsection (a) must continue to be posted until the appraised value limitation expires or the school district no longer maintains the website.

(c) The comptroller shall post on the comptroller's Internet website each document or item of information the comptroller designates as substantive. Each document or item of information must continue to be posted until the appraised value limitation expires.

(d) The comptroller shall designate the following as substantive:

(1) each application requesting a limitation on appraised value;

(2) the economic impact evaluation made in connection with the application;

(3) each application requesting school tax credits under Section 313.103; and

(4) any additional information that the comptroller deems substantive that is not otherwise confidential by law.

(e) The comptroller by rule shall determine the requirements for districts to post on their Internet websites the documents provided under Subsection (a) and shall provide a link on the comptroller's website to all school districts' appraised value limitation postings.

(f) The comptroller and the Texas Education Agency shall annually certify that districts comply with the posting requirements of Subsection (b).

(4) Immediately following existing SECTION 5 of the bill (page 6, between lines 11 and 12), insert the following and renumber subsequent SECTIONs appropriately:

SECTION ____. Section 313.028, Tax Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 313.028. CERTAIN BUSINESS INFORMATION CONFIDENTIAL. Information provided to a school district in connection with an application for a limitation on appraised value under this subchapter that describes the specific processes or business activities to be conducted or the specific tangible personal property to be located on real property covered by the application shall be segregated in the application from other information in the application and is confidential and not subject to public disclosure unless the governing body of the school district approves the application. Other information in the custody of a school district or the comptroller in connection with the application, including information related to the economic impact of a project or the essential elements of eligibility under this chapter, such as the nature and amount of the projected investment, employment, wages, and benefits, may not be considered confidential business information if the governing body of the school district agrees to consider the application unless it is considered to be confidential under other law. Information in the custody of a school district or the comptroller if the governing body approves the application is not confidential under this section.

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to agreements for limitations on appraised value under the Texas Economic Development Act.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 313.007, Tax Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 313.007. EXPIRATION. Subchapters B, C, and D expire December 31, 2015 [2011].

SECTION 2. Section 313.021, Tax Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 313.021. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:

(1) "Qualified investment" means:

(A) tangible personal property that is first placed in service in this state during the applicable qualifying time period that begins on or after January 1, 2002 without regard to whether the property is affixed to or incorporated into real property, and is described as Section 1245 property by Section 1245(a), Internal Revenue Code of 1986;

(B) tangible personal property that is first placed in service in this state during the applicable qualifying time period that begins on or after January 1, 2002, without regard to whether the property is affixed to or incorporated into real property, and that is used in connection with the manufacturing, processing, or fabrication in a cleanroom environment of a semiconductor product, without regard to whether the property is actually located in the cleanroom environment, including:

(i) integrated systems, fixtures, and piping;

(ii) all property necessary or adapted to reduce contamination or to control airflow, temperature, humidity, chemical purity, or other environmental conditions or manufacturing tolerances; and

(iii) production equipment and machinery, moveable cleanroom partitions, and cleanroom lighting;

(C) tangible personal property that is first placed in service in this state during the applicable qualifying time period that begins on or after January 1, 2002, without regard to whether the property is affixed to or incorporated into real property, and that is used in connection with the operation of a nuclear electric power generation facility, including:

(i) property, including pressure vessels, pumps, turbines, generators, and condensers, used to produce nuclear electric power; and

(ii) property and systems necessary to control radioactive contamination;

(D) tangible personal property that is first placed in service in this state during the applicable qualifying time period that begins on or after January 1, 2002, without regard to whether the property is affixed to or incorporated into real property, and that is used in connection with operating an integrated gasification combined cycle electric generation facility, including:

(i) property used to produce electric power by means of a combined combustion turbine and steam turbine application using synthetic gas or another product produced by the gasification of coal or another carbon-based feedstock; or

(ii) property used in handling materials to be used as feedstock for gasification or used in the gasification process to produce synthetic gas or another carbon-based feedstock for use in the production of electric power in the manner described by Subparagraph (i); or

(E) a building or a permanent, nonremovable component of a building that is built or constructed during the applicable qualifying time period that begins on or after January 1, 2002, and that houses tangible personal property described by Paragraph (A), (B), (C), or (D).

(2) "Qualified property" means:

(A) land:

(i) that is located in an area designated as a reinvestment zone under Chapter 311 or 312 or as an enterprise zone under Chapter 2303, Government Code;

(ii) on which a person proposes to construct a new building or erect or affix a new improvement that does not exist before the date such person [the owner] applies for a limitation on appraised value under this subchapter;

(iii) that is not subject to a tax abatement agreement entered into by a school district under Chapter 312; and

(iv) on which, in connection with the new building or new improvement described by Subparagraph (ii), the owner or lessee of, or holder of another possessory interest in, the land proposes to:

(a) make a qualified investment in an amount equal to at least the minimum amount required by Section 313.023; and

(b) create at least 25 new jobs;

(B) the new building or other new improvement described by Paragraph (A)(ii); and

(C) tangible personal property that:

(i) is not subject to a tax abatement agreement entered into by a school district under Chapter 312; and

(ii) except for new equipment described in Section 151.318(q) or (q-1), is first placed in service in the new building or in or on the new improvement described by Paragraph (A)(ii), or on the land on which that new building or new improvement is located, if the personal property is ancillary and necessary to the business conducted in that new building or in or on that new improvement.

(3) "Qualifying job" means a permanent full-time job that:

(A) requires at least 1,600 hours of work a year;

(B) is not transferred from one area in this state to another area in this state;

(C) is not created to replace a previous employee;

(D) is covered by a group health benefit plan, as defined by Section 481.151, Government Code, for which the business offers to pay at least 80 percent of the premiums or other charges assessed for employee-only coverage under the plan, regardless of whether an employee may voluntarily waive the coverage; and

(E) pays at least 110 percent of the county average weekly wage [for manufacturing jobs] in the county where the job is located.

(4) "Qualifying time period" means:

(A) the period from the date that a person's application for a limitation on appraised value is approved by the governing body of the school district through the end of the first two tax years that begin on or after the date a person's application for a limitation on appraised value under this subchapter is approved, except as provided by Paragraph (B) or by Section 313.027(h); or

(B) in connection with a nuclear electric power generation facility, the first seven tax years that begin on or after the third anniversary of the date the school district approves the property owner's application for a limitation on appraised value under this subchapter, unless a shorter time period is agreed to by the governing body of the school district and the property owner.

(5) "County average weekly wage [for manufacturing jobs]" means the average weekly wage in a county [for manufacturing jobs] as computed by the Texas Workforce Commission with respect to the most recent four quarters then available from the Texas Workforce Commission.

SECTION 3. Subsection (e), Section 313.024, Tax Code, is amended to read as follows:

(e) In this section:

(1) "Manufacturing" means an establishment that is primarily engaged in activities that are described in sector codes 31-33 of the North American Industry Classification System [and "research and development" have the meanings assigned by Section 171.751].

(2) "Research and development" means an establishment that is primarily engaged in activities that are described in industry code 541710 of the 2002 North American Industry Classification System.

(3) "Renewable energy electric generation" means an establishment primarily engaged in activities described in category 221119 of the 1997 North American Industry Classification System.

(4) [(3)] "Integrated gasification combined cycle technology" means technology used to produce electricity in a combined combustion turbine and steam turbine application using synthetic gas or another product produced from the gasification of coal or another carbon-based feedstock, including related activities such as materials-handling and gasification of coal or another carbon-based feedstock.

(5) [(4)] "Nuclear electric power generation" means activities described in category 221113 of the 2002 North American Industry Classification System.

SECTION 4. Subsection (a), Section 313.025, Tax Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) The owner or lessee of, or other holder of a possessory interest in, any qualified property described in Section 313.021(2)(A), (B), or (C) may apply to the governing body of the school district in which the property is located for a limitation on the appraised value for school district maintenance and operations ad valorem tax purposes of the person's qualified property. An application must be made on the form prescribed by the comptroller and include the information required by the comptroller, and it must be accompanied by:

(1) the application fee established by the governing body of the school district;

(2) information sufficient to show that the real and personal property identified in the application as qualified property meets the applicable criteria established by Section 313.021(2); and

(3) information relating to each applicable criterion listed in Section 313.026.

SECTION 5. Section 313.027, Tax Code, is amended by adding Subsection (h) to read as follows:

(h) The governing body of the school district and the property owner may agree to delay the effective date of the agreement or subsequently amend the agreement to delay the effective date of the agreement for a period not to exceed five years from the date that the governing body of the school district first approves the agreement. In the event that the governing body of the school district and the property owner agree to delay the effective date of the agreement, the qualifying time period shall consist of the first two tax years that begin on or after the effective date of the agreement.

SECTION 6. Section 313.051, Tax Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 313.051. APPLICABILITY. (a) This subchapter applies only to a school district that has territory in:

(1) an area that qualified as a strategic investment area under Subchapter O, Chapter 171, immediately before that subchapter expired[, as defined by Section 171.721]; or

(2) a county:

(A) that has a population of less than 50,000; and

(B) [that is not partially or wholly located in a metropolitan statistical area; and

[(C)] in which, from 1990 to 2000, according to the federal decennial census, the population:

(i) remained the same;

(ii) decreased; or

(iii) increased, but at a rate of not more than three percent per annum.

(a-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), if on January 1, 2002, this subchapter applied to a school district in whose territory is located a federal nuclear facility, this subchapter continues to apply to the school district regardless of whether the school district ceased or ceases to be described by Subsection (a) after that date.

(b) The governing body of a school district to which this subchapter applies may enter into an agreement in the same manner as a school district to which Subchapter B applies may do so under Subchapter B, subject to Sections 313.052-313.054. Except as otherwise provided by this subchapter, the provisions of Subchapter B apply to a school district to which this subchapter applies. For purposes of this subchapter, a property owner is required to create only at least 10 new jobs on the owner's qualified property. At least 80 percent of all the new jobs created must be qualifying jobs as defined by Section 313.021(3)[, except that, for a school district described by Subsection (a)(2), each qualifying job must pay at least 110 percent of the average weekly wage for manufacturing jobs in the region designated for the regional planning commission, council of governments, or similar regional planning agency created under Chapter 391, Local Government Code, in which the district is located].

SECTION 7. Subsection (d), Section 403.302, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(d) For the purposes of this section, "taxable value" means the market value of all taxable property less:

(1) the total dollar amount of any residence homestead exemptions lawfully granted under Section 11.13(b) or (c), Tax Code, in the year that is the subject of the study for each school district;

(2) one-half of the total dollar amount of any residence homestead exemptions granted under Section 11.13(n), Tax Code, in the year that is the subject of the study for each school district;

(3) the total dollar amount of any exemptions granted before May 31, 1993, within a reinvestment zone under agreements authorized by Chapter 312, Tax Code;

(4) subject to Subsection (e), the total dollar amount of any captured appraised value of property that:

(A) is within a reinvestment zone created on or before May 31, 1999, or is proposed to be included within the boundaries of a reinvestment zone as the boundaries of the zone and the proposed portion of tax increment paid into the tax increment fund by a school district are described in a written notification provided by the municipality or the board of directors of the zone to the governing bodies of the other taxing units in the manner provided by Section 311.003(e), Tax Code, before May 31, 1999, and within the boundaries of the zone as those boundaries existed on September 1, 1999, including subsequent improvements to the property regardless of when made;

(B) generates taxes paid into a tax increment fund created under Chapter 311, Tax Code, under a reinvestment zone financing plan approved under Section 311.011(d), Tax Code, on or before September 1, 1999; and

(C) is eligible for tax increment financing under Chapter 311, Tax Code;

(5) for a school district for which a deduction from taxable value is made under Subdivision (4), an amount equal to the taxable value required to generate revenue when taxed at the school district's current tax rate in an amount that, when added to the taxes of the district paid into a tax increment fund as described by Subdivision (4)(B), is equal to the total amount of taxes the district would have paid into the tax increment fund if the district levied taxes at the rate the district levied in 2005;

(6) the total dollar amount of any captured appraised value of property that:

(A) is within a reinvestment zone:

(i) created on or before December 31, 2008, by a municipality with a population of less than 18,000; and

(ii) the project plan for which includes the alteration, remodeling, repair, or reconstruction of a structure that is included on the National Register of Historic Places and requires that a portion of the tax increment of the zone be used for the improvement or construction of related facilities or for affordable housing;

(B) generates school district taxes that are paid into a tax increment fund created under Chapter 311, Tax Code; and

(C) is eligible for tax increment financing under Chapter 311, Tax Code;

(7) the total dollar amount of any exemptions granted under Section 11.251 or 11.253, Tax Code;

(8) the difference between the comptroller's estimate of the market value and the productivity value of land that qualifies for appraisal on the basis of its productive capacity, except that the productivity value estimated by the comptroller may not exceed the fair market value of the land;

(9) the portion of the appraised value of residence homesteads of individuals who receive a tax limitation under Section 11.26, Tax Code, on which school district taxes are not imposed in the year that is the subject of the study, calculated as if the residence homesteads were appraised at the full value required by law;

(10) a portion of the market value of property not otherwise fully taxable by the district at market value because of:

(A) action required by statute or the constitution of this state that, if the tax rate adopted by the district is applied to it, produces an amount equal to the difference between the tax that the district would have imposed on the property if the property were fully taxable at market value and the tax that the district is actually authorized to impose on the property, if this subsection does not otherwise require that portion to be deducted; or

(B) action taken by the district under Subchapter B or C, Chapter 313, Tax Code, before the expiration of the subchapter;

(11) the market value of all tangible personal property, other than manufactured homes, owned by a family or individual and not held or used for the production of income;

(12) the appraised value of property the collection of delinquent taxes on which is deferred under Section 33.06, Tax Code;

(13) the portion of the appraised value of property the collection of delinquent taxes on which is deferred under Section 33.065, Tax Code; and

(14) the amount by which the market value of a residence homestead to which Section 23.23, Tax Code, applies exceeds the appraised value of that property as calculated under that section.

SECTION 8. Paragraph (A), Subdivision (1), and Subdivision (2), Section 313.021, Tax Code, as amended by Section 2 of this Act, Subsection (e), Section 313.024, Tax Code, as amended by Section 3 of this Act, and Subsection (a), Section 313.025, Tax Code, as amended by Section 4 of this Act, are intended to clarify existing law in effect before the effective date of this Act and are not intended to make a substantive change in the law.

SECTION 9. 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, 2009.

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