Bill Text: PA HB1966 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: A Joint Resolution proposing integrated amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, further providing for uniformity of taxation and for exemptions and special provisions.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 18-3)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-11-10 - Referred to FINANCE [HB1966 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-HB1966-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 2874
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1966 Session of2009
INTRODUCED BY HOUGHTON, SEIP, McCALL, KESSLER, BURNS, MURPHY, LENTZ, CUTLER, McILVAINE SMITH, EVERETT, GIBBONS, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, HENNESSEY, HORNAMAN, MAHONEY, MELIO, MUNDY, SANTONI, SIPTROTH AND WHITE, NOVEMBER 10, 2009
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON FINANCE, NOVEMBER 10, 2009
A JOINT RESOLUTION
Proposing integrated amendments to the Constitution of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, further providing for
uniformity of taxation and for exemptions and special
provisions.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby resolves as follows:
Section 1. The following integrated amendments to the
Constitution of Pennsylvania are proposed in accordance with
Article XI:
(1) That section 1 of Article VIII be amended to read:
§ 1. Uniformity of taxation.
[All] (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), all taxes
shall be uniform, upon the same class of subjects, within the
territorial limits of the authority levying the tax, and shall
be levied and collected under general laws.
(b) Any school district levying a tax on real property shall
be prohibited from levying the tax on homestead property for any
tax year beginning after June 30, 2013.
(2) That section 2(b)(vi) of Article VIII be amended to
read:
§ 2. Exemptions and special provisions.
* * *
(b) The General Assembly may, by law:
* * *
(vi) Authorize local taxing authorities to exclude from
taxation an amount based on the assessed value of homestead
property. The exclusions authorized by this clause shall not
exceed [one-half] 100 percent of the [median] actual assessed
value of [all] each homestead property within a local taxing
jurisdiction. A local taxing authority may not increase the
millage rate of its tax on real property to pay for these
exclusions.
* * *
Section 2. (a) Upon the first passage by the General
Assembly of these proposed constitutional amendments, the
Secretary of the Commonwealth shall proceed immediately to
comply with the advertising requirements of section 1 of Article
XI of the Constitution of Pennsylvania and shall transmit the
required advertisements to two newspapers in every county in
which such newspapers are published in sufficient time after
passage of these proposed constitutional amendments.
(b) Upon the second passage by the General Assembly of these
proposed constitutional amendments, the Secretary of the
Commonwealth shall proceed immediately to comply with the
advertising requirements of section 1 of Article XI of the
Constitution of Pennsylvania and shall transmit the required
advertisements to two newspapers in every county in which such
newspapers are published in sufficient time after passage of
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these proposed constitutional amendments. The Secretary of the
Commonwealth shall submit the proposed constitutional amendments
as a single ballot question to the qualified electors of this
Commonwealth at the first primary, general or municipal election
which meets the requirements of and is in conformance with
section 1 of Article XI of the Constitution of Pennsylvania and
which occurs at least three months after these proposed
constitutional amendments are passed by the General Assembly.
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