BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 728
86R3678 CJC-F	By: Kolkhorst
	Natural Resources & Economic Development
	4/1/2019
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Section 313.032, Tax Code, requires the comptroller of public accounts of the State of Texas (comptroller) to submit to the legislature a report on agreements made under the Texas Economic Development Act. Among other requirements, the report must include an assessment of the progress of each agreement, the number of qualifying jobs the recipient committed to create, and the number of jobs actually created. Under current law, there is no requirement that employment data in the compliance report be verified. Though the comptroller must certify the report, it is unclear if the data provided is required to be accurately verified.

S.B. 728 amends the Tax Code to require the comptroller to verify submitted data with the Texas Workforce Commission, the chief appraiser of the applicable appraisal district, or another reliable source. This bill ensures that companies that benefit from property tax abatement are providing accurate data and creating an economic benefit for the state. The legislature will have more knowledge regarding how economic development funds are being spent. 

As proposed, S.B. 728 amends current law relating to the verification of information provided to the comptroller and contained in reports on compliance with agreements under the Texas Economic Development Act.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 313.032(c), Tax Code, as follows:

(c) Requires the recipient or former recipient of a limitation on appraised value under the Texas Economic Development Act that is certifying certain data to the comptroller of public accounts of the State of Texas (comptroller) to contract with an independent certified public accountant to verify the data certified to the comptroller. Authorizes the data to be verified using information from any reliable source, including the Texas Workforce Commission and the chief appraiser of the applicable appraisal district.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2019. �