Bill Text: TX SB196 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to the Business Tax Advisory Committee.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-02-13 - Referred to s/c on Fiscal Matters by Chair [SB196 Detail]

Download: Texas-2013-SB196-Introduced.html
 
 
  By: Watson S.B. No. 196
 
 
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the Business Tax Advisory Committee.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter E, Chapter 171, Tax Code, is amended
  by adding Section 171.214 to read as follows:
         Sec. 171.214.  BUSINESS TAX ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) The
  Business Tax Advisory Committee is created.  The committee is
  composed of:
               (1)  two members of the house of representatives,
  appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;
               (2)  two members of the senate, appointed by the
  lieutenant governor;
               (3)  the comptroller; and
               (4)  the following persons appointed by the
  comptroller:
                     (A)  at least five residents of this state who are
  engaged in a private business, as either an employee or an owner,
  that is subject to taxation under this chapter;
                     (B)  at least two residents of this state with
  expertise in state business taxation;
                     (C)  at least one resident of this state who
  represents social services organizations in this state;
                     (D)  at least one resident of this state who is a
  public school teacher; and
                     (E)  at least one resident of this state who is a
  public school district administrator or public school board member.
         (b)  The comptroller shall determine the number of residents
  appointed under Subsection (a)(4).
         (c)  Not later than July 1 of each odd-numbered year, the
  lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of representatives
  shall designate one member of the committee as chair and one member
  as vice chair. The power to designate the chair and vice chair
  alternates between the lieutenant governor and the speaker so that
  in 2013 the lieutenant governor designates the chair and the
  speaker designates the vice chair, in 2015 the speaker designates
  the chair and the lieutenant governor designates the vice chair,
  and so on.
         (d)  The committee shall conduct a biennial study of the
  effects of the tax imposed under this chapter on businesses in this
  state.  The study must take into consideration:
               (1)  the relative share of the tax paid by industry and
  by size of business;
               (2)  how the incidence of the tax compares with the
  economic makeup of this state's business economy;
               (3)  how the tax compares in structure and in amounts
  paid to the business taxes imposed by other states;
               (4)  the effect of the tax on the economic climate of
  this state, including the effect on capital investment and job
  creation;
               (5)  any factors that result in the tax not operating as
  intended; and
               (6)  any other item presented by the comptroller or by a
  majority of the committee.
         (e)  The comptroller by rule shall establish procedures for
  the functions of the committee, including procedures requiring the
  committee to issue a report on its findings to the speaker of the
  house of representatives, the lieutenant governor, and the governor
  not later than the date each regular session of the legislature
  begins.
         (f)  The committee shall consider proposed changes to the tax
  imposed under this chapter and shall include recommendations for
  changes to the tax in the committee's report under Subsection (e).
         (g)  The committee shall meet at the call of the chair:
               (1)  at least once in each odd-numbered year after the
  conclusion of the regular legislative session; and
               (2)  at least once in each even-numbered year.
         (h)  Section 2110.008, Government Code, does not apply to the
  committee.
         SECTION 2.  Not later than the 60th day after the effective
  date of this Act, the relevant appointing officers shall appoint
  the members of the Business Tax Advisory Committee under Section
  171.214, Tax Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  Not later than the 90th day after the effective
  date of this Act, the lieutenant governor shall designate the chair
  and the speaker of the house of representatives shall designate the
  vice chair of the Business Tax Advisory Committee under Section
  171.214, Tax Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 4.  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, 2013.
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