Arizona-2023-SB1263-Engrossed

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 15-445, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE15-445. Residents of unorganized territory; school district elections

A. The county school superintendent, on receiving notification from the state school superintendent pursuant to section 15-825.02, subsection B, shall do all of the following before calling an election:

1. Establish the boundaries of the proposed school district, taking into consideration communities of interest and excluding Indian reservations and other federal lands where reasonable to do so.� During the period that the county school superintendent is considering the new school district boundaries, the county school superintendent shall conduct at least two public meetings at which public testimony is heard and questions are answered.

2. Identify adjacent school districts that accept at least twenty-five per cent percent of their open enrollment or certificate of educational convenience students from the unorganized territory and that are willing to accept the unorganized territory into the existing school district.� If there is only one adjacent school district that meets these criteria, the boundaries of that school district shall be reestablished to include the unorganized territory without an election.

3. If there is more than one adjacent school district that meets the criteria prescribed in paragraph 2 of this subsection, prepare a pamphlet and a ballot question that includes the proposed boundaries and identifies existing adjacent school districts that are willing to accept the unorganized territory into the existing school district.� The pamphlet shall be mailed to each household with one or more qualified electors.� The pamphlet and ballot shall require the voters within the boundaries proposed by the county school superintendent to join an existing adjacent school district.� The pamphlet and ballot shall include the full cash value, the assessed valuation and the estimated amount of the primary property taxes and the estimated amount of the secondary property taxes under each of the ballot options for each of the following:

(a) An owner occupied residence whose assessed valuation is the average assessed valuation of property classified as class three, as prescribed by section 42-12003 for the current year in the school district.

(b) An owner occupied residence whose assessed valuation is one-half of the assessed valuation of the residence in subdivision (a).

(c) An owner occupied residence whose assessed valuation is twice the assessed valuation of the residence in subdivision (a).

(d) A business whose assessed valuation is the average of the assessed valuation of property classified as class one, as prescribed by section 42-12001, paragraphs paragraph 12 and 13 for the current year in the school district.

B. The county school superintendent shall schedule the election on the next available general election date allowed by law.

C. On a canvass of the vote and a determination by the county school superintendent that a majority of the voters approve joining an existing adjacent school district, the county school superintendent shall notify the existing school district of the following:

1. That the boundaries of the school district shall be revised to include the property identified in the boundaries established by the county school superintendent.

2. That the school district shall provide the same educational services that are currently provided to students who reside in current boundaries of the school district to all students within the revised boundaries at the beginning of the next school year.

D. If the adjacent school district is a common school district that is within the boundaries of a union high school district, the unorganized territory shall join both the common school district and the union high school district. If the adjacent school district is a common school district that is not within the boundaries of a union high school district, the unorganized territory shall join the common school district, and high school pupils who reside in the previously unorganized territory shall be educated in the same manner as high school pupils who reside in the common school district. END_STATUTE

Sec. 2. Section 15-448, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE15-448. Formation of unified school district; board membership; budget

A. One or more common school districts and a high school district with coterminous or overlapping boundaries may establish a unified school district pursuant to this section. Unification of a common school district and a high school district is not authorized by this section if any of the high school facilities owned by the new unified school district would not be located within its boundaries.

B. Formation of a unified school district shall be by resolutions approved by the governing boards of the unifying school districts and certification of approval by such governing boards to the county school superintendent of the county or counties in which such individual school districts are located.� A common school district and high school district that unify pursuant to this section shall not exclude from the same unification a common school district that has overlapping boundaries with the high school district and that wishes to unify. Except as provided in subsection D of this section, the formation of a unified school district becomes effective on July 1 of the next fiscal year following the certification of the county school superintendent. An election is not required to form a unified school district pursuant to this section. Notice of the proposed vote of the governing boards on the resolutions prescribed in this subsection shall be posted in at least three public places in each of the school districts proposed to be unified at least ninety days before the proposed vote. At least ninety days before the governing boards vote on the resolutions prescribed in this subsection, the governing boards shall mail a pamphlet to each household with one or more qualified electors that lists the full cash value, the assessed valuation and the estimated amount of the primary property taxes and the estimated amount of the secondary property taxes under the proposed unification for each of the following:

1. An owner-occupied residence whose assessed valuation is the average assessed valuation of property classified as class three, as prescribed by section 42-12003 for the current year in the school district.

2. An owner-occupied residence whose assessed valuation is one-half of the assessed valuation of the residence in paragraph 1 of this subsection.

3. An owner-occupied residence whose assessed valuation is twice the assessed valuation of the residence in paragraph 1 of this subsection.

4. A business whose assessed valuation is the average of the assessed valuation of property classified as class one, as prescribed by section 42-12001, paragraphs paragraph 12 and 13 for the current year in the school district.

C. The boundaries of the unified school district shall be the boundaries of the former common school district or districts that unify.� The boundaries of the common school district or districts that are not unifying remain unchanged.� The county school superintendent, immediately on receipt of the approved resolutions prescribed by subsection B of this section, shall file with the board of supervisors, the county assessor and the superintendent of public instruction a transcript of the boundaries of the unified school district. The boundaries shown in the transcript shall become the legal boundaries of the school districts on July 1 of the next fiscal year.

D. On formation of the unified school district, the governing board consists of the members of the former school district governing boards and the members shall hold office until January 1 following the first general election after formation of the district. �For the purpose of all actions that are necessary to operate the unified district for the next year, the unified school district governing board is constituted and may conduct meetings after the adoption of the unification resolutions prescribed by subsection B of this section.

E. Beginning on January 1 following the first general election after formation of the unified school district, the governing board shall have five members.� At the first general election after the formation of the district, members shall be elected in the following manner:

1. The three candidates receiving the highest, the second highest and the third highest number of votes shall be elected to four-year terms.

2. The two candidates receiving the fourth and fifth highest number of votes shall be elected to two-year terms. Thereafter all offices shall have four-year terms.

F. The new unified school district may appoint a resident of the remaining common school district to serve as a nonvoting member of the governing board to represent the interests of the high school pupils who reside in the remaining common school district and who attend school in the unified school district.

G. For the first year of operation, the unified school district governing board shall prepare a consolidated budget based on the student counts from the school districts comprising the unified school district. The unified school district may budget for unification assistance pursuant to section 15-912.01.

H. The governing board of the unified school district shall prepare policies, curricula and budgets for the district. These policies shall require that:

1. The base compensation of each certificated teacher for the first year of operation of the new unified school district shall not be lower than the certificated teacher's base compensation for the prior year in the previously existing school districts.

2. The certificated teacher's years of employment in the previously existing school districts shall be included in determining the teacher's certificated years of employment in the new unified school district.

I. On formation of a unified school district, any existing override authorization of the former high school district and the former common school district or districts shall continue until expiration based on the revenue control limit of the school district or districts that had override authorization before unification. The unified school district may request new override authorization for the budget year as provided in section 15-481 based on the combined revenue control limit of the new district after unification. If the unified school district's request for override authorization is approved, it will replace any existing override for the budget year.

J. The unified school district shall admit high school pupils who reside in a common school district that was located within the boundaries of the former high school district. For the purposes of determining student count and for apportionment of state aid, the school membership of these pupils is deemed to be enrollment in the unified school district.

K. All assets and liabilities of the unifying school districts shall be transferred and assumed by the new unified school district. Any existing bonded indebtedness of a common school district or a high school district unifying pursuant to this section shall be assumed by the new unified school district and shall be regarded as an indebtedness of the new unified school district for the purpose of determining the debt incurring authority of the district. Taxes for the payment of such bonded indebtedness shall be levied on all taxable property in the new unified school district, but nothing in this subsection shall be construed to relieve from liability to taxation for the payment of all taxable property of the former high school district if necessary to prevent a default in the payment of any bonded indebtedness of the former high school district.� The residents of a common school district that does not unify shall not vote in bond or override elections of the unified school district and shall not be assessed taxes as a result of a bond or override election of the unified school district.

L. If the remaining common school district had authorization for an override as provided in section 15-481 or 15-482, the override authorization continues for the remaining common school district or districts in the same manner as before the formation of the unified school district.

M. The bonding authorization and bonding limitations continue for the remaining common school district or districts in the same manner as before the formation of the unified school district.

N. This section does not relieve a school district formed pursuant to section 15-457 or 15-458 of its liability for any outstanding bonded indebtedness.

0. For school districts that become unified after July 1, 2004 and where all of the common schools were eligible for the small school district weight pursuant to section 15-943, paragraph 1, subdivision (a) when computing their base support level and base revenue control limit before unification, the unified school district may continue to use the small school district weight as follows:

1. Annually determine the common school student count and the weighted student count pursuant to section 15-943, paragraph 1, subdivision (a) for each common school district before unification.

2. Calculate the sum of the common school districts' student counts and weighted student counts determined in paragraph 1 of this subsection.

3. Divide the sum of the weighted student counts by the sum of the student counts determined in paragraph 2 of this subsection.

4. The amount determined in paragraph 3 of this subsection shall be the weight for the common schools in the unified school district.

P. A unified school district may calculate its revenue control limit and district support level by using subsection O of this section as follows:

1. Determine the number of individual school districts that existed before unification into a single school district.

2. Multiply the amount determined in paragraph 1 of this subsection by six hundred.

3. Multiply the amount determined in paragraph 2 of this subsection by 0.80.

4. If the amount determined in paragraph 3 of this subsection exceeds the student count of the unified school district, the unified school district is eligible to use subsection O of this section.

Q. Subsections O and P of this section shall remain in effect until the aggregate student count of the common school districts before unification exceeds the aggregate number of students of the common school districts before unification authorized to utilize section 15-943, paragraph 1, subdivision (a). END_STATUTE

Sec. 3. Section 15-459, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE15-459. Consolidation of districts; petition; election; notice; report; ballots; canvass of votes; governing board

A. On the request of the governing boards of two or more school districts in the same county or in adjacent counties or on receipt of petitions bearing the signatures of ten percent or more of the number of qualified electors who voted in whichever of the last two general elections resulted in the higher number of ballots cast and who reside in each of two or more school districts in the same county or in adjacent counties to consolidate the school districts or parts of the districts, the county school superintendent of each of the counties affected, within ten days, shall call an election to determine the question on consolidation.

B. Consolidations allowed pursuant to subsection A of this section include:

1. To change the boundaries of a school district to include any part of an adjacent school district.

2. If all the common school districts within the boundaries of an existing union high school district desire to consolidate into one common school district.

3. If two or more adjacent school districts of the same type, both or all being common, union high or unified school districts, desire to consolidate into one common, union high or unified school district.

4. If a common school district that is not a part of a union high school district desires to consolidate with an adjacent unified school district.

5. If two or more common school districts desire to consolidate into one school district and unify the consolidated district with a union high school district to form one unified school district.

6. To change the boundaries of a school district that has received a letter grade of A or B pursuant to section 15-241 to include another school district within twenty miles.

C. If a school district provides only financing for pupils who are instructed by another school district in the same county or in an adjacent county, the school district or any part of the school district may be consolidated with the school district providing the instructional program as follows:

1. The governing board of the financing school district approves the consolidation or ten percent of the qualified electors residing in the school district, or that part of the school district proposed for consolidation, petitions the county school superintendent to call an election to approve the proposed consolidation.

2. At an election called by the county school superintendent of each of the counties affected, a majority of the persons voting in the school district, or that part of the school district providing financing, approve the proposed consolidation and a majority of the persons voting in the district providing instruction approve the proposed consolidation.

D. Elections held as provided in subsection C of this section shall be conducted in the same manner as elections prescribed in subsections F through J of this section and shall be held concurrently as prescribed in section 15-458.

E. Sections 15-457, 15-975 and 15-997 apply to school districts that are consolidated as provided in subsection C of this section.

F. Notice of the election to determine consolidation of school districts shall be posted in at least three public places in each of the school districts proposed to be consolidated at least ninety days before the election.

G. The county school superintendent shall prepare and the governing board shall distribute a report on the proposed boundary changes in a manner similar to that prescribed in section 15-481, subsection B.� The report shall contain the following information:

1. The date of the election.

2. The polling places and times they are open.

3. The full cash value, the assessed valuation and the estimated amount of the primary property taxes and the estimated amount of the secondary property taxes under the proposed boundary changes for each of the following:

(a) An owner-occupied residence whose assessed valuation is the average assessed valuation of property classified as class three, as prescribed by section 42-12003 for the current year in the school district.

(b) An owner-occupied residence whose assessed valuation is one-half of the assessed valuation of the residence in subdivision (a) of this paragraph.

(c) An owner-occupied residence whose assessed valuation is twice the assessed valuation of the residence in subdivision (a) of this paragraph.

4. A consolidation plan to include:

(a) The proposed boundary changes.

(b) The impact of the proposed boundary changes, including where pupils will attend school, changes in pupil transportation services, changes in availability of special education services, changes in pupil-teacher ratio and operational costs.

(c) If subsection P of this section applies to one or more of the existing school districts, a detailed description of desegregation funding and expenses for the resulting school district as set forth in subsection P of this section.

(d) Any other information the county school superintendent deems appropriate to include.

H. Ballots shall be prepared by the county school superintendent, shall be delivered to the inspector at least forty-eight hours before the opening of the polls as prescribed in section 16-509 and shall contain the information prescribed in subsection G, paragraph 3 of this section and the following statement: "Do you support consolidation under the specified provisions of the consolidation plan? Yes ( ) No ( )." If the election is to simultaneously consolidate and unify two or more common school districts, the ballot shall contain: "Do you support the consolidation of the (insert names of common school districts) and the subsequent unification of the consolidated districts with the (insert name of union high school district) to form one unified school district under the consolidation and unification plan? Yes ( ) No ( )."

I. The county school superintendent shall hold the election during the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year consolidation is proposed to be effective on a date prescribed by section 16-204.� The election shall be held in the manner and electors shall possess qualifications as prescribed for the election of governing board members.� The results of the election shall be reported to the county school superintendent.

J. The county school superintendent and the chairman of the board of supervisors, on the seventh day after the election, shall canvass the vote. If a majority of the votes cast in each district approved the consolidation, the districts are consolidated and become one district from and after June 30 next following the election.� If parts of two or more school districts are proposed to be consolidated, a majority of the voters in the part of a school district or districts not included in the proposed consolidation and a majority of the voters in the part of the school district or districts proposed for consolidation must approve the consolidation.

K. If the consolidated district includes territory located in two or more counties, the county of jurisdiction is the county in which the largest number of qualified electors of the consolidated school district resides, except that if all of the existing school buildings are in one county, that county is the county of jurisdiction. The county school superintendent of the jurisdictional county shall perform all duties for and with respect to the consolidated school district as required to be performed by county school superintendents.� The board of supervisors of the jurisdictional county shall perform all duties for and with respect to the consolidated school district as required to be performed by boards of supervisors, except that school district taxes to be levied on property in the portion of the consolidated school district lying in another county shall be levied by the board of supervisors of the other county or counties and on receipt shall be transferred to the county of jurisdiction.� All school buildings located within the consolidated school district, together with all equipment and furnishings, become the property of the consolidated school district. Any assumed indebtedness is an indebtedness of the consolidated school district for the purpose of determining the debt incurring authority of the consolidated school district.

L. Consolidation pursuant to this section is not allowed if the resulting school district would have a student count for the current year of more than ten percent of the total student count of all school districts in this state.

M. The governing board is constituted, may conduct meetings and shall prepare policies, curricula and budgets for the new school district after the canvass pursuant to subsection J of this section demonstrates that a majority of the votes cast in each school district approved the consolidation.� These policies shall require that:

1. The base salary and benefits of each employee for the first year of operation of the new school district shall not be lower than the employee's base salary and benefits for the prior year in the previously existing school district.

2. The employee's years of employment in the previously existing school district shall be included in determining the employee's years of employment in the new school district.� An employee who was entitled to continuing employment contract status in the previously existing school district is entitled to continuing employment contract status in the new school district.

3. Notwithstanding paragraphs 1 and 2 of this subsection and pursuant to section 15-544, this section does not restrict the ability of the governing board to implement a reduction in force or to scale back salaries of certified teachers, administrators or noncertificated employees for reasons of economy or to improve the efficient conduct of schools within the district following a school district consolidation.

N. If all of the districts to be consolidated have authorization for an override as provided in section 15-481 that would have continued after the consolidation, the override authorization continues for the new district and expires at the time that the earliest override would have expired.

O. If one or more, but not all, of the districts to be consolidated have authorization for an override as provided in section 15-481 that would have continued after the consolidation, the override authorization shall only apply to the schools included under the terms of the prior override authorization. Consolidation of school districts does not consolidate or pool the liability to be taxed for the override, and only property that was located within the boundaries of the district that approved the override before consolidation is to pay taxes to support the override. This subsection also applies if all of the districts to be consolidated have authorization for overrides, but the authorizations are pursuant to different subsections of section 15-481 or the override amounts are not the same percentage of the revenue control limit.

P. Notwithstanding section 15-457, consolidation of school districts does not consolidate or pool the liability of the former school districts into the resulting school district. Outstanding indebtedness incurred by a school district before consolidation shall be repaid without interruption according to existing debt schedules as determined by the county board of supervisors. If a school district consolidates after July 1, 2004, the new school district may pay tuition to the district of attendance when a pupil is precluded by distance or lack of transportation from attending school in the district of a pupil's residence.

Q. If one or more of the previously existing school districts were authorized to budget for expenses of complying with or continuing to implement activities that were required or permitted by court order of desegregation or administrative agreement with the United States department of education office for civil rights directed toward remediating alleged or proven racial discrimination pursuant to section 15-910, this authorization does not expire on the effective date of consolidation but only applies to schools included in the court order or administrative agreement.

R. If the formation of a new consolidated and unified school district is authorized, the terms of the governing board members of the common and union high school districts do not expire on the effective date of the unification. The governing board members of the previously existing school districts shall serve as provided in section 15-430, except that the power of the governing board members of the previously existing school districts acting as the governing board of the unified school district is limited to the maintenance and operation of the previously existing school districts and compliance with the consolidation and unification plan. END_STATUTE

Sec. 4. Section 15-481, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE15-481. Override election; budget increases; informational pamphlet; notice; ballot; effect

A. If a proposed budget of a school district exceeds the aggregate budget limit for the budget year, at least ninety days before the proposed election the governing board shall order an override election to be held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November as prescribed by section 16-204, subsection F for the purpose of presenting the proposed budget to the qualified electors of the school district who by a majority of those voting either shall affirm or reject the budget. At the same time as the order of the election, the governing board shall publicly declare the deadline for submitting arguments, as set by the county school superintendent pursuant to subsection B, paragraph 9 of this section, to be submitted in the informational pamphlet and shall immediately post the deadline in a prominent location on the district's website. In addition, the governing board shall prepare an alternate budget that does not include an increase in the budget of more than the amount allowed as provided in section 15-905. If the qualified electors approve the proposed budget, the governing board of the school district shall follow the procedures prescribed in section 15-905 for adopting a budget that includes the authorized increase. If the qualified electors disapprove the proposed budget, the governing board shall follow the procedures prescribed in section 15-905 for adopting a budget that does not include the proposed increase or the portion of the proposed increase that exceeds the amount authorized by a previously approved budget increase as prescribed in subsection P of this section.

B. The county school superintendent shall prepare an informational pamphlet on the proposed increase in the budget and a sample ballot and, at least forty days before the election, shall transmit the informational pamphlet and the sample ballot to the governing board of the school district.� The governing board, on receipt of the informational pamphlet and the ballot, shall mail or distribute the informational pamphlet and the ballot to the households in which qualified electors reside within the school district at least thirty-five days before the election. Any distribution of material concerning the proposed increase in the budget shall not be conducted by children enrolled in the school district. The informational pamphlet shall contain the following information:

1. The date of the election.

2. The voter's polling place and the times it is open.

3. The proposed total increase in the budget that exceeds the amount allowed pursuant to section 15-905.

4. The total amount of the current year's budget, the total amount of the proposed budget and the total amount of the alternate budget.

5. If the override is for a period of more than one year, a statement indicating the number of years the proposed increase in the budget would be in effect and the percentage of the school district's revenue control limit that the district is requesting for the future years.

6. The proposed total amount of revenues that will fund the increase in the budget and the amount that will be obtained from a levy of taxes on the taxable property within the school district for the first year for which the budget increase was adopted.

7. The proposed amount of revenues that will fund the increase in the budget and that will be obtained from other than a levy of taxes on the taxable property within the school district for the first year for which the budget increase was adopted.

8. The dollar amount and the purpose for which the proposed increase in the budget is to be expended for the first year for which the budget increase was adopted. The purpose statement shall only present factual information in a neutral manner.� Advocacy for the expenditures is strictly limited to the arguments submitted pursuant to paragraph 9 of this subsection.

9. At least two arguments, if submitted, but not more than ten arguments for and two arguments, if submitted, but not more than ten arguments against the proposed increase in the budget. The arguments shall be in a form prescribed by the county school superintendent, and each argument shall not exceed two hundred words. Arguments for the proposed increase in the budget shall be provided in writing and signed by the governing board. The ballot arguments for the proposed increase in the budget shall be signed as the governing board of the school district without listing any member's individual name for the arguments for the proposed increase. If submitted, additional arguments in favor of the proposed increase in the budget shall be provided in writing with a signed, sworn statement by those in favor. Arguments against the proposed increase in the budget shall be provided in writing with a signed, sworn statement by those in opposition. If the argument is submitted by an organization, it shall contain the sworn statement of two executive officers of the organization. If the argument is submitted by a political committee, it shall contain the sworn statement of the committee's chairperson or treasurer. If the argument is submitted by an individual and not on behalf of an organization, a political committee or any other group, the person individual shall submit the argument with a sworn, notarized statement.� The names of persons and entities submitting written arguments shall be included in the informational pamphlet. Persons signing the argument shall identify themselves by giving their residence address and telephone number, which may not appear in the informational pamphlet, except that the person's city or town and state of residence shall appear in the pamphlet. Any argument that is submitted and that does not comply with this paragraph may not be included in the pamphlet. The county school superintendent shall review all factual statements contained in the written arguments and correct any inaccurate statements of fact.� The superintendent shall not review and correct any portion of the written arguments that are identified as statements of the author's opinion. The county school superintendent shall make the written arguments available to the public as provided in title 39, chapter 1, article 2. A deadline for submitting arguments to be included in the informational pamphlet shall be set by the county school superintendent.

10. A statement that the alternate budget shall be adopted by the governing board if the proposed budget is not adopted by the qualified electors of the school district.

11. The current limited property value and the net assessed valuation provided by the department of revenue, the first year tax rate for the proposed override and the estimated amount of the secondary property taxes if the proposed budget is adopted for each of the following:

(b) An owner-occupied residence whose assessed valuation is one-half of the assessed valuation of the residence in subdivision (a) of this paragraph.

(c) An owner-occupied residence whose assessed valuation is twice the assessed valuation of the residence in subdivision (a) of this paragraph.

12. If the election is conducted pursuant to subsection L or M of this section, the following information:

(a) An executive summary of the school district's most recent capital improvement plan submitted to the school facilities oversight board.

(b) A complete list of each proposed capital improvement that will be funded with the budget increase and a description of the proposed cost of each improvement, including a separate aggregation of capital improvements for administrative purposes as defined by the school facilities oversight board.

(c) The tax rate associated with each of the proposed capital improvements and the estimated cost of each capital improvement for the owner of a single family home that is valued at $80,000.

C. For the purpose of this section, the school district may use its staff, equipment, materials, buildings or other resources only to distribute the informational pamphlet at the school district office or at public hearings and to produce such information as required in subsection B of this section.� This subsection does not preclude school districts from holding or participating in any public hearings at which testimony is given by at least one person for the proposed increase and one person against the proposed increase. Any written information provided by the district pertaining to the override election shall include financial information showing the estimated first year tax rate for the proposed budget override amount.

D. If any amount of the proposed increase will be funded by a levy of taxes in the district, the election prescribed in subsection A of this section shall be held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November as prescribed by section 16-204, subsection F. If the proposed increase will be fully funded by revenues from other than a levy of taxes, the elections prescribed in subsection A of this section shall be held on any date prescribed by section 16-204. The elections shall be conducted as nearly as practicable in the manner prescribed in article 1 of this chapter, and sections 15-422, through 15-423, 15-424 and section 15-426, relating to special elections, except that:

1. The notices required pursuant to section 15-403 shall be posted not less than twenty-five days before the election.

2. Ballots shall be counted pursuant to title 16, chapter 4, article 10.

E. If the election is to exceed the revenue control limit and if the proposed increase will be fully funded by a levy of taxes on the taxable property within the school district, the ballot shall contain the words "budget increase, yes" and "budget increase, no", and the voter shall signify the voter's desired choice. The ballot shall also contain the amount of the proposed increase of the proposed budget over the alternate budget, a statement that the amount of the proposed increase will be based on a percentage of the school district's revenue control limit in future years, if applicable, as provided in subsection P of this section and the following statement:

Any budget increase authorized by this election shall be entirely funded by a levy of taxes on the taxable property within this school district for the year for which adopted and for ____ subsequent years, shall not be realized from monies furnished by the state and shall not be subject to the limitation on taxes specified in article IX, section 18, Constitution of Arizona. Based on the current net assessed valuation used for secondary property tax purposes, to fund the proposed increase in the school district's budget would require an estimated tax rate of $_____________ per $100 of net assessed valuation used for secondary property tax purposes and is in addition to the school district's tax rate that will be levied to fund the school district's revenue control limit allowed by law.

F. If the election is to exceed the revenue control limit and if the proposed increase will be fully funded by revenues from other than a levy of taxes on the taxable property within the school district, the ballot shall contain the words "budget increase, yes" and "budget increase, no", and the voter shall signify the voter's desired choice.� The ballot shall also contain:

1. The amount of the proposed increase of the proposed budget over the alternate budget.

2. A statement that the amount of the proposed increase will be based on a percentage of the school district's revenue control limit in future years, if applicable, as provided in subsection P of this section.

3. The following statement:

Any budget increase authorized by this election shall be entirely funded by this school district with revenues from other than a levy of taxes on the taxable property within the school district for the year for which adopted and for ______ subsequent years and shall not be realized from monies furnished by the state.

G. Except as provided in subsection H of this section, the maximum budget increase that may be requested and authorized as provided in subsection E or F of this section or the combination of subsections E and F of this section is fifteen percent of the revenue control limit as provided in section 15-947, subsection A for the budget year.� If a school district requests an override pursuant to section 15-482 or to continue with a budget override pursuant to section 15-482 for pupils in kindergarten programs and grades one through three that was authorized before December 31, 2008, the maximum budget increase that may be requested and authorized as provided in subsection E or F of this section or the combination of subsections E and F of this section is ten percent of the revenue control limit as provided in section 15-947, subsection A for the budget year.

H. Special budget override provisions for school districts with a student count of less than one hundred fifty-four in kindergarten programs and grades one through eight or with a student count of less than one hundred seventy-six in grades nine through twelve are as follows:

1. The maximum budget increase that may be requested and authorized as provided in subsections E and F of this section is the greater of the amount prescribed in subsection G of this section or a limit computed as follows:

(a) For common or unified districts with a student count of less than one hundred fifty-four in kindergarten programs and grades one through eight, the limit computed as prescribed in item (i) or (ii) of this subdivision, whichever is appropriate:

(i)

�� Small School�� Support Level Weight�� Phase Down

Student�� Student�� for Small Isolated�� Reduction

Count �� Count Limit�� School Districts �� Base Level�� Factor

� 125 � x 1.358 + (0.0005 x�� x $ = $

�� (500 � Student Count))

�� Small Isolated

�� Phase Down�� Phase Down�� School District

�� Base �� Reduction Factor�� Elementary Limit

�� $150,000�� -� $ �� = $

(ii)

�� Small School�� Support Level Weight�� Phase Down

Student�� Student�� for Small�� Reduction

Count �� Count Limit �� School Districts �� Base Level�� Factor

� 125 x 1.278 + (0.0003 x�� x $ = $

�� (500 - Student Count))

�� Small

�� Phase Down�� Phase Down�� School District

�� Base �� Reduction Factor�� Elementary Limit

�� $150,000�� $ �� =� $

(b) For unified or union high school districts with a student count of less than one hundred seventy-six in grades nine through twelve, the limit computed as prescribed in item (i) or (ii) of this subdivision, whichever is appropriate:

(i)

�� Small School�� Support Level Weight�� Phase Down

Student�� Student�� for Small Isolated�� Reduction

Count �� Count Limit�� School Districts �� Base Level �� Factor

� 100 � x 1.468 + (0.0005 x�� x $ = $ __

�� (500 � Student Count))

�� Small Isolated

�� Phase Down�� Phase Down�� District

�� Base �� Reduction Factor�� Secondary Limit

�� $350,000�� $ �� =� $

(ii)

�� Small School�� Support Level Weight�� Phase Down

Student�� Student�� for Small�� Reduction

Count �� Count Limit �� School Districts �� Base Level_�� Factor

� 100 x� 1.398 + (0.0004 x�� x $ = $

�� (500 - Student Count))

�� Small

�� Phase Down�� Phase Down�� School District

�� Base �� Reduction Factor�� Secondary Limit

�� $350,000�� $ �� =� $

(c) If both subdivisions (a) and (b) of this paragraph apply to a unified school district, its limit for the purposes of this paragraph is the combination of its elementary limit and its secondary limit.

(d) If only subdivision (a) or (b) of this paragraph applies to a unified school district, the district's limit for the purposes of this paragraph is the sum of the limit computed as provided in subdivision (a) or (b) of this paragraph plus ten percent of the revenue control limit attributable to those grade levels that do not meet the eligibility requirements of this subsection. If a school district budgets monies outside the revenue control limit pursuant to section 15-949, subsection E, the district's limit for the purposes of this paragraph is only the ten percent of the revenue control limit attributable to those grade levels that are not included under section 15-949, subsection E. For the purposes of this subdivision, the revenue control limit is separated into elementary and secondary components based on the weighted student count as provided in section 15-971, subsection B, paragraph 2, subdivision (a).

2. If a school district utilizes this subsection to request an override of more than one year, the ballot shall include an estimate of the amount of the proposed increase in the future years in place of the statement that the amount of the proposed increase will be based on a percentage of the school district's revenue control limit in future years, as prescribed in subsections E and F of this section.

3. Notwithstanding subsection P of this section, the maximum period of an override authorized pursuant to this subsection is five years.

4. Subsection P, paragraphs 1 and 2 of this section do not apply to overrides authorized pursuant to this subsection.

I. If the election is to exceed the revenue control limit as provided in section 15-482 and if the proposed increase will be fully funded by a levy of taxes on the taxable property within the school district, the ballot shall contain the words "budget increase, yes" and "budget increase, no", and the voter shall signify the voter's desired choice.� The ballot shall also contain the amount of the proposed increase of the budget over the alternate budget, a statement that the amount of the proposed increase will be based on a percentage of the school district's revenue control limit in future years, if applicable, as provided in subsection Q of this section, and the following statement:

Any budget increase authorized by this election shall be entirely funded by a levy of taxes on the taxable property within this school district for the year for which adopted and for _____ subsequent years, shall not be realized from monies furnished by the state and shall not be subject to the limitation on taxes specified in article IX, section 18, Constitution of Arizona. Based on the current net assessed valuation used for secondary property tax purposes, to fund the proposed increase in the school district's budget that will be funded by a levy of taxes on the taxable property within this school district would require an estimated tax rate of $__________ per $100 of net assessed valuation used for secondary property tax purposes and is in addition to the school district's tax rate that will be levied to fund the school district's revenue control limit allowed by law.

J. If the election is to exceed the revenue control limit as provided in section 15-482 and if the proposed increase will be fully funded by revenues other than a levy of taxes on the taxable property within the school district, the ballot shall contain the words "budget increase, yes" and "budget increase, no", and the voter shall signify the voter's desired choice. The ballot shall also contain the amount of the proposed increase of the proposed budget over the alternate budget, a statement that the amount of the proposed increase will be based on a percentage of the school district's revenue control limit in future years, if applicable, as provided in subsection Q of this section and the following statement:

Any budget increase authorized by this election shall be entirely funded by this school district with revenues from other than a levy of taxes on the taxable property within the school district for the year for which adopted and for _____ subsequent years and shall not be realized from monies furnished by the state.

K. The maximum budget increase that may be requested and authorized as provided in subsection I or J of this section, or a combination of both of these subsections, is five percent of the revenue control limit as provided in section 15-947, subsection A for the budget year. For a common school district not within a high school district or a common school district within a high school district that offers instruction in high school subjects as provided in section 15-447, five percent of the revenue control limit means five percent of the revenue control limit attributable to the weighted student count in preschool programs for children with disabilities, kindergarten programs and grades one through eight as provided in section 15-971, subsection B.� For a unified school district, five percent of the revenue control limit means five percent of the revenue control limit attributable to the weighted student count in preschool programs for children with disabilities, kindergarten programs and grades one through twelve. For a union high school district, five percent of the revenue control limit means five percent of the revenue control limit attributable to the weighted student count in grades nine through twelve.

L. If the election is to exceed district additional assistance and if the proposed increase will be fully funded by a levy of taxes on the taxable property within the school district, the ballot shall contain the words "budget increase, yes" and "budget increase, no", and the voter shall signify the voter's desired choice. An election held pursuant to this subsection shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November. The ballot shall also contain the amount of the proposed increase of the proposed budget over the alternate budget and the following statement:

Any budget increase authorized by this election shall be entirely funded by a levy of taxes on the taxable property within this school district for the year in which adopted and for _____ subsequent years, shall not be realized from monies furnished by the state and shall not be subject to the limitation on taxes specified in article IX, section 18, Constitution of Arizona. Based on the current net assessed valuation used for secondary property tax purposes, to fund the proposed increase in the school district's budget would require an estimated tax rate of $____________ per $100 of net assessed valuation used for secondary property tax purposes and is in addition to the school district's tax rate that will be levied to fund the school district's district additional assistance allowed by law.

M. If the election is to exceed district additional assistance and if the proposed increase will be fully funded by revenues from other than a levy of taxes on the taxable property within the school district, the ballot shall contain the words "budget increase, yes" and "budget increase, no", and the voter shall signify the voter's desired choice.� An election held pursuant to this subsection shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November.� The ballot shall also contain the amount of the proposed increase of the proposed budget over the alternate budget and the following statement:

Any budget increase authorized by this election shall be entirely funded by this school district with revenues from other than a levy of taxes on the taxable property within the school district for the year in which adopted and for ______ subsequent years and shall not be realized from monies furnished by the state.

N. If the election is to exceed a combination of the revenue control limit as provided in subsection E or F of this section, the revenue control limit as provided in subsection I or J of this section or district additional assistance as provided in subsection L or M of this section, the ballot shall be prepared so that the voters may vote on each proposed increase separately and shall contain statements required in the same manner as if each proposed increase were submitted separately.

O. If the election provides for a levy of taxes on the taxable property within the school district, at least thirty days before the election, the department of revenue shall provide the school district governing board and the county school superintendent with the current net assessed valuation of the school district. The governing board and the county school superintendent shall use the current net assessed valuation of the school district to translate the amount of the proposed dollar increase in the budget of the school district over that allowed by law into a tax rate figure.

P. If the voters in a school district vote to adopt a budget in excess of the revenue control limit as provided in subsection E or F of this section, any additional increase shall be included in the aggregate budget limit for each of the years authorized. Any additional increase shall be excluded from the determination of equalization assistance. The school district governing board, however, may levy on the net assessed valuation used for secondary property tax purposes of the property in the school district the additional increase if adopted under subsection E of this section for the period of one year, two years or five through seven years as authorized.� If an additional increase is approved as provided in subsection F of this section, the school district governing board may only use revenues derived from the school district's prior year's maintenance and operation fund ending cash balance to fund the additional increase.� If a budget increase was previously authorized and will be in effect for the budget year or budget year and subsequent years, as provided in subsection E or F of this section, the governing board may request a new budget increase as provided in the same subsection under which the prior budget increase was adopted, which shall not exceed the maximum amount allowed under subsection G of this section. If the voters in the school district authorize the new budget increase amount, the existing budget increase no longer is in effect. If the voters in the school district do not authorize the budget increase amount, the existing budget increase remains in effect for the time period for which it was authorized. The maximum additional increase authorized as provided in subsection E or F of this section and the additional increase that is included in the aggregate budget limit is based on a percentage of a school district's revenue control limit in future years, if the budget increase is authorized for more than one year. If the additional increase:

1. Is for two years, the proposed increase in the second year is equal to the initial proposed percentage increase.

2. Is for five years or more, the proposed increase is equal to the initial proposed percentage increase in the following years of the proposed increase, except that in the next to last year it is two-thirds of the initial proposed percentage increase and it is one-third of the initial proposed percentage increase in the last year of the proposed increase.

Q. If the voters in a school district vote to adopt a budget in excess of the revenue control limit as provided in subsection I or J of this section, any additional increase shall be included in the aggregate budget limit for each of the years authorized.� Any additional increase shall be excluded from the determination of equalization assistance. The school district governing board, however, may levy on the net assessed valuation used for secondary property tax purposes of the property in the school district the additional increase if adopted under subsection I of this section for the period of one year, two years or five through seven years as authorized.� If an additional increase is approved as provided in subsection J of this section, the increase may only be budgeted and expended if sufficient monies are available in the maintenance and operation fund of the school district. If a budget increase was previously authorized and will be in effect for the budget year or budget year and subsequent years, as provided in subsection I or J of this section, the governing board may request a new budget increase as provided in the same subsection under which the prior budget increase was adopted that does not exceed the maximum amount permitted under subsection K of this section. If the voters in the school district authorize the new budget increase amount, the existing budget increase no longer is in effect.� If the voters in the school district do not authorize the budget increase amount, the existing budget increase remains in effect for the time period for which it was authorized. The maximum additional increase authorized as provided in subsection I or J of this section and the additional increase that is included in the aggregate budget limit is based on a percentage of a school district's revenue control limit in future years, if the budget increase is authorized for more than one year. If the additional increase:

1. Is for two years, the proposed increase in the second year is equal to the initial proposed percentage increase.

R. If the voters in a school district vote to adopt a budget in excess of district additional assistance as provided in subsection L of this section, any additional increase shall be included in the aggregate budget limit for each of the years authorized. The additional increase shall be excluded from the determination of equalization assistance. The school district governing board, however, may levy on the net assessed valuation used for secondary property tax purposes of the property in the school district the additional increase for the period authorized but not to exceed ten years.� For overrides approved by a vote of the qualified electors of the school district at an election held from and after October 31, 1998, the period of the additional increase prescribed in this subsection shall not exceed seven years for any capital override election.

S. If the voters in a school district vote to adopt a budget in excess of district additional assistance as provided in subsection M of this section, any additional increase shall be included in the aggregate budget limit for each of the years authorized. The additional increase shall be excluded from the determination of equalization assistance. The school district governing board may only use revenues derived from the school district's prior year's maintenance and operation fund ending cash balance and capital outlay fund ending cash balance to fund the additional increase for the period authorized but not to exceed ten years. For overrides approved by a vote of the qualified electors of the school district at an election held from and after October 31, 1998, the period of the additional increase prescribed in this subsection shall not exceed seven years for any capital override election.

T. In addition to subsections P and S of this section, from the maintenance and operation fund and capital outlay fund ending cash balances, the school district governing board shall first use any available revenues to reduce its primary tax rate to zero and shall use any remaining revenues to fund the additional increase authorized as provided in subsections F and M of this section.

U. If the voters in a school district disapprove the proposed budget, the alternate budget that, except for any budget increase authorized by a prior election, does not include an increase in the budget in excess of the amount provided in section 15-905 shall be adopted by the governing board as provided in section 15-905.

V. The governing board may request that any override election be cancelled if any change in chapter 9 of this title changes the amount of the aggregate budget limit as provided in section 15-905.� The request to cancel the override election shall be made to the county school superintendent at least eighty days before the date of the scheduled override election.

W. For any election conducted pursuant to subsection L or M of this section:

1. The ballot shall include the following statement in addition to any other statement required by this section:

The capital improvements that are proposed to be funded through this override election are to exceed the state standards and are in addition to monies provided by the state.

___________ school district is proposing to increase its budget by $__________ to fund capital improvements over and above those funded by the state. Under the students first capital funding system, _________ school district is entitled to state monies for new construction and renovation of school buildings in accordance with state law.

2. The ballot shall contain the words "budget increase, yes" and "budget increase, no", and the voter shall signify the voter's desired choice.

3. At least eighty-five days before the election, the school district shall submit proposed ballot language to the director of the Arizona legislative council. The director of the Arizona legislative council shall review the proposed ballot language to determine whether the proposed ballot language complies with this section. If the director of the Arizona legislative council determines that the proposed ballot language does not comply with this section, the director, within ten calendar days after receiving the proposed ballot language, shall notify the school district of the director's objections, and the school district shall resubmit revised ballot language to the director for approval.

X. If the voters approve the budget increase pursuant to subsection L or M of this section, the school district shall not use the override proceeds for any purposes other than the proposed capital improvements listed in the informational pamphlet, except that up to ten percent of the override proceeds may be used for general capital expenses, including cost overruns of proposed capital improvements.

Y. Each school district that currently increases its budget pursuant to this section shall hold a public meeting each year between September 1 and October 31 at which an update of the programs or capital improvements financed through the override is discussed and at which the public is allowed an opportunity to comment and:

1. If the increase is pursuant to subsection L or M of this section, at a minimum, the update shall include the progress of capital improvements financed through the override, a comparison of the current status and the original projections on the construction of capital improvements, the costs of capital improvements and the costs of capital improvements in progress or completed since the prior meeting and the future capital plans of the school district. The school district shall include in the public meeting a discussion of the school district's use of state capital aid and voter-approved bonding in funding capital improvements, if any.

2. If the increase is pursuant to subsection E, F, I or J of this section, the update shall include at a minimum the amount expended in the previous fiscal year and the amount included in the current budget for each of the purposes listed in the informational pamphlet prescribed by subsection B of this section.

Z. If a budget in excess of district additional assistance was previously adopted by the voters in a school district and will be in effect for the budget year or budget year and subsequent years, as provided in subsection L or M of this section, the governing board may request an additional budget in excess of district additional assistance. If the voters in a school district authorize the additional budget in excess of district additional assistance, the existing district additional assistance budget increase remains in effect.

AA. Notwithstanding any other law, the maximum budget increase that may be authorized pursuant to subsection L or M of this section is ten percent of the school district's revenue control limit.

BB. If the election is to continue to exceed the revenue control limit and if the proposed override will be fully funded by a continuation of a levy of taxes on the taxable property in the school district, the ballot shall contain the words "budget override continuation, yes" and "budget override continuation, no", and the voter shall signify the voter's desired choice.� The ballot shall also contain the amount of the proposed continuation of the budget increase of the proposed budget over the alternate budget, a statement that the amount of the proposed increase will be based on a percentage of the school district's revenue control limit in future years, if applicable, as provided in subsection P of this section and the following statement:

Any budget increase continuation authorized by this election shall be entirely funded by a levy of taxes on the taxable property in this school district for the year for which adopted and for _______ subsequent years, shall not be realized from monies furnished by the state and shall not be subject to the limitation on taxes specified in article IX, section 18, Constitution of Arizona. Based on the current net assessed valuation used for secondary property tax purposes, to fund the proposed continuation of the increase in the school district's budget would require an estimated continuation of a tax rate of $______________ per $100 of assessed valuation used for secondary property tax purposes and is in addition to the school district's tax rate that will be levied to fund the school district's revenue control limit allowed by law.

CC. If the election is to continue to exceed the revenue control limit as provided in section 15-482 and if the proposed override will be fully funded by a continuation of a levy of taxes on the taxable property in the school district, the ballot shall contain the words "budget override continuation, yes" and "budget override continuation, no", and the voter shall signify the voter's desired choice.� The ballot shall also contain the amount of the proposed continuation of the budget increase of the proposed budget over the alternate budget, a statement that the amount of the proposed increase will be based on a percentage of the school district's revenue control limit in future years, if applicable, as provided in subsection P of this section and the following statement:

Any budget increase continuation authorized by this election shall be entirely funded by a levy of taxes on the taxable property in this school district for the year for which adopted and for ______ subsequent years, shall not be realized from monies furnished by the state and shall not be subject to the limitation on taxes specified in article IX, section 18, Constitution of Arizona. Based on the current net assessed valuation used for secondary property tax purposes, to fund the proposed continuation of the increase in the school district's budget would require an estimated continuation of a tax rate of $______________ per $100 of net assessed valuation used for secondary property tax purposes and is in addition to the school district's tax rate that will be levied to fund the school district's revenue control limit allowed by law. END_STATUTE

Sec. 5. Section 42-5075, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE42-5075. Prime contracting classification; exemptions; definitions

A. The prime contracting classification is comprised of the business of prime contracting and the business of manufactured building dealer.� Sales for resale to another manufactured building dealer are not subject to tax.� Sales for resale do not include sales to a lessor of manufactured buildings. The sale of a used manufactured building is not taxable under this chapter. The prime contracting classification does not include any work or operation performed by a person that is not required to be licensed by the registrar of contractors pursuant to section 32-1121.

B. The tax base for the prime contracting classification is sixty-five percent of the gross proceeds of sales or gross income derived from the business. The following amounts shall be deducted from the gross proceeds of sales or gross income before computing the tax base:

1. The sales price of land, which shall not exceed the fair market value.

2. Sales and installation of groundwater measuring devices required under section 45-604 and groundwater monitoring wells required by law, including monitoring wells installed for acquiring information for a permit required by law.

3. The sales price of furniture, furnishings, fixtures, appliances and attachments that are not incorporated as component parts of or attached to a manufactured building or the setup site.� The sale of such items may be subject to the taxes imposed by article 1 of this chapter separately and distinctly from the sale of the manufactured building.

4. The gross proceeds of sales or gross income received from a contract entered into for the modification of any building, highway, road, railroad, excavation, manufactured building or other structure, project, development or improvement located in a military reuse zone for providing aviation or aerospace services or for a manufacturer, assembler or fabricator of aviation or aerospace products within an active military reuse zone after the zone is initially established or renewed under section 41-1531. To be eligible to qualify for this deduction, before beginning work under the contract, the prime contractor must have applied for a letter of qualification from the department of revenue.

5. The gross proceeds of sales or gross income derived from a contract to construct a qualified environmental technology manufacturing, producing or processing facility, as described in section 41-1514.02, and from subsequent construction and installation contracts that begin within ten years after the start of initial construction. To qualify for this deduction, before beginning work under the contract, the prime contractor must obtain a letter of qualification from the department of revenue.� This paragraph shall apply for ten full consecutive calendar or fiscal years after the start of initial construction.

6. The gross proceeds of sales or gross income from a contract to provide for one or more of the following actions, or a contract for site preparation, constructing, furnishing or installing machinery, equipment or other tangible personal property, including structures necessary to protect exempt incorporated materials or installed machinery or equipment, and tangible personal property incorporated into the project, to perform one or more of the following actions in response to a release or suspected release of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant from a facility to the environment, unless the release was authorized by a permit issued by a governmental authority:

(a) Actions to monitor, assess and evaluate such a release or a suspected release.

(b) Excavation, removal and transportation of contaminated soil and its treatment or disposal.

(c) Treatment of contaminated soil by vapor extraction, chemical or physical stabilization, soil washing or biological treatment to reduce the concentration, toxicity or mobility of a contaminant.

(d) Pumping and treatment or in situ treatment of contaminated groundwater or surface water to reduce the concentration or toxicity of a contaminant.

(e) The installation of structures, such as cutoff walls or caps, to contain contaminants present in groundwater or soil and prevent them from reaching a location where they could threaten human health or welfare or the environment.

This paragraph does not include asbestos removal or the construction or use of ancillary structures such as maintenance sheds, offices or storage facilities for unattached equipment, pollution control equipment, facilities or other control items required or to be used by a person to prevent or control contamination before it reaches the environment.

7. The gross proceeds of sales or gross income that is derived from a contract for the installation, assembly, repair or maintenance of machinery, equipment or other tangible personal property that is either deducted from the tax base of the retail classification under section 42-5061, subsection B or that is exempt from use tax under section 42-5159, subsection B and that has independent functional utility, pursuant to the following provisions:

(a) The deduction provided in this paragraph includes the gross proceeds of sales or gross income derived from all of the following:

(i) Any activity performed on machinery, equipment or other tangible personal property with independent functional utility.

(ii) Any activity performed on any tangible personal property relating to machinery, equipment or other tangible personal property with independent functional utility in furtherance of any of the purposes provided for under subdivision (d) of this paragraph.

(iii) Any activity that is related to the activities described in items (i) and (ii) of this subdivision, including inspecting the installation of or testing the machinery, equipment or other tangible personal property.

(b) The deduction provided in this paragraph does not include gross proceeds of sales or gross income from the portion of any contracting activity that consists of the development of, or modification to, real property in order to facilitate the installation, assembly, repair, maintenance or removal of machinery, equipment or other tangible personal property that is either deducted from the tax base of the retail classification under section 42-5061, subsection B or exempt from use tax under section 42-5159, subsection B.

(c) The deduction provided in this paragraph shall be determined without regard to the size or useful life of the machinery, equipment or other tangible personal property.

(d) For the purposes of this paragraph, "independent functional utility" means that the machinery, equipment or other tangible personal property can independently perform its function without attachment to real property, other than attachment for any of the following purposes:

(i) Assembling the machinery, equipment or other tangible personal property.

(ii) Connecting items of machinery, equipment or other tangible personal property to each other.

(iii) Connecting the machinery, equipment or other tangible personal property, whether as an individual item or as a system of items, to water, power, gas, communication or other services.

(iv) Stabilizing or protecting the machinery, equipment or other tangible personal property during operation by bolting, burying or performing other similar nonpermanent connections to either real property or real property improvements.

8. The gross proceeds of sales or gross income attributable to the purchase of machinery, equipment or other tangible personal property that is exempt from or deductible from transaction privilege and use tax under:

(a) Section 42-5061, subsection A, paragraph 25, 29 or 58.

(b) Section 42-5061, subsection B.

(c) Section 42-5159, subsection A, paragraph 13, subdivision (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (j), (k), (m) or (n) or paragraph 55.

(d) Section 42-5159, subsection B.

9. The gross proceeds of sales or gross income received from a contract for the construction of an environmentally controlled facility for the raising of poultry for the production of eggs and the sorting, cooling and packaging of eggs.

10. The gross proceeds of sales or gross income that is derived from a contract entered into with a person who is engaged in the commercial production of livestock, livestock products or agricultural, horticultural, viticultural or floricultural crops or products in this state for the modification of any building, highway, road, excavation, manufactured building or other structure, project, development or improvement used directly and primarily to prevent, monitor, control or reduce air, water or land pollution.

11. The gross proceeds of sales or gross income that is derived from the installation, assembly, repair or maintenance of clean rooms that are deducted from the tax base of the retail classification pursuant to section 42-5061, subsection B, paragraph 17.

12. For taxable periods beginning from and after June 30, 2001, the gross proceeds of sales or gross income derived from a contract entered into for the construction of a residential apartment housing facility that qualifies for a federal housing subsidy for low-income persons over sixty-two years of age and that is owned by a nonprofit charitable organization that has qualified under section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code.

13. For taxable periods beginning from and after December 31, 1996 and ending before January 1, 2017, the gross proceeds of sales or gross income derived from a contract to provide and install a solar energy device. The contractor shall register with the department as a solar energy contractor.� By registering, the contractor acknowledges that it will make its books and records relating to sales of solar energy devices available to the department for examination.

14. The gross proceeds of sales or gross income derived from a contract entered into for the construction of a launch site, as defined in 14 Code of Federal Regulations section 401.5.

15. The gross proceeds of sales or gross income derived from a contract entered into for the construction of a domestic violence shelter that is owned and operated by a nonprofit charitable organization that has qualified under section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code.

16. The gross proceeds of sales or gross income derived from contracts to perform postconstruction treatment of real property for termite and general pest control, including wood-destroying organisms.

17. The gross proceeds of sales or gross income received from contracts entered into before July 1, 2006 for constructing a state university research infrastructure project if the project has been reviewed by the joint committee on capital review before the university enters into the construction contract for the project. For the purposes of this paragraph, "research infrastructure" has the same meaning prescribed in section 15-1670.

18. The gross proceeds of sales or gross income received from a contract for the construction of any building, or other structure, project, development or improvement owned by a qualified business under section 41-1516 for harvesting or processing qualifying forest products removed from qualifying projects as defined in section 41-1516 if actual construction begins before January 1, 2024. To qualify for this deduction, the prime contractor must obtain a letter of qualification from the Arizona commerce authority before beginning work under the contract.

19. Any amount of the gross proceeds of sales or gross income attributable to development fees that are incurred in relation to a contract for construction, development or improvement of real property and that are paid by a prime contractor or subcontractor. For the purposes of this paragraph:

(a) The attributable amount shall not exceed the value of the development fees actually imposed.

(b) The attributable amount is equal to the total amount of development fees paid by the prime contractor or subcontractor, and the total development fees credited in exchange for the construction of, contribution to or dedication of real property for providing public infrastructure, public safety or other public services necessary to the development. The real property must be the subject of the development fees.

(c) "Development fees" means fees imposed to offset capital costs of providing public infrastructure, public safety or other public services to a development and authorized pursuant to section 9-463.05, section 11-1102 or title 48 regardless of the jurisdiction to which the fees are paid.

20. The gross proceeds of sales or gross income derived from a contract entered into for the construction of a mixed waste processing facility that is located on a municipal solid waste landfill and that is constructed for the purpose of recycling solid waste or producing renewable energy from landfill waste. For the purposes of this paragraph:

(a) "Mixed waste processing facility" means a solid waste facility that is owned, operated or used for the treatment, processing or disposal of solid waste, recyclable solid waste, conditionally exempt small quantity generator waste or household hazardous waste. For the purposes of this subdivision, "conditionally exempt small quantity generator waste", "household hazardous waste" and "solid waste facility" have the same meanings prescribed in section 49-701, except that solid waste facility does include a site that stores, treats or processes paper, glass, wood, cardboard, household textiles, scrap metal, plastic, vegetative waste, aluminum, steel or other recyclable material.

(b) "Municipal solid waste landfill" has the same meaning prescribed in section 49-701.

(c) "Recycling" means collecting, separating, cleansing, treating and reconstituting recyclable solid waste that would otherwise become solid waste, but does not include incineration or other similar processes.

(d) "Renewable energy" means usable energy, including electricity, fuels, gas and heat, produced through the conversion of energy provided by sunlight, water, wind, geothermal, heat, biomass, biogas, landfill gas or other another nonfossil renewable resource.

21. The gross proceeds of sales or gross income derived from a contract to install containment structures. For the purposes of this paragraph, "containment structure" means a structure that prevents, monitors, controls or reduces noxious or harmful discharge into the environment.

C. Entitlement to the deduction pursuant to subsection B, paragraph 7 of this section is subject to the following provisions:

1. A prime contractor may establish entitlement to the deduction by both:

(a) Marking the invoice for the transaction to indicate that the gross proceeds of sales or gross income derived from the transaction was deducted from the base.

(b) Obtaining a certificate executed by the purchaser indicating the name and address of the purchaser, the precise nature of the business of the purchaser, the purpose for which the purchase was made, the necessary facts to establish the deductibility of the property under section 42-5061, subsection B, and a certification that the person executing the certificate is authorized to do so on behalf of the purchaser.� The certificate may be disregarded if the prime contractor has reason to believe that the information contained in the certificate is not accurate or complete.

2. A person who does not comply with paragraph 1 of this subsection may establish entitlement to the deduction by presenting facts necessary to support the entitlement, but the burden of proof is on that person.

3. The department may prescribe a form for the certificate described in paragraph 1, subdivision (b) of this subsection. The department may also adopt rules that describe the transactions with respect to which a person is not entitled to rely solely on the information contained in the certificate provided in paragraph 1, subdivision (b) of this subsection but must instead obtain such additional information as required in order to be entitled to the deduction.

4. If a prime contractor is entitled to a deduction by complying with paragraph 1 of this subsection, the department may require the purchaser who caused the execution of the certificate to establish the accuracy and completeness of the information required to be contained in the certificate that would entitle the prime contractor to the deduction.� If the purchaser cannot establish the accuracy and completeness of the information, the purchaser is liable in an amount equal to any tax, penalty and interest that the prime contractor would have been required to pay under article 1 of this chapter if the prime contractor had not complied with paragraph 1 of this subsection.� Payment of the amount under this paragraph exempts the purchaser from liability for any tax imposed under article 4 of this chapter. The amount shall be treated as a transaction privilege tax to the purchaser and as tax revenues collected from the prime contractor in order to designate the distribution base for purposes of section 42-5029.

D. Subcontractors or others who perform modification activities are not subject to tax if they can demonstrate that the job was within the control of a prime contractor or contractors or a dealership of manufactured buildings and that the prime contractor or dealership is liable for the tax on the gross income, gross proceeds of sales or gross receipts attributable to the job and from which the subcontractors or others were paid.

E. Amounts received by a contractor for a project are excluded from the contractor's gross proceeds of sales or gross income derived from the business if the person who hired the contractor executes and provides a certificate to the contractor stating that the person providing the certificate is a prime contractor and is liable for the tax under article 1 of this chapter. The department shall prescribe the form of the certificate. If the contractor has reason to believe that the information contained on the certificate is erroneous or incomplete, the department may disregard the certificate. If the person who provides the certificate is not liable for the tax as a prime contractor, that person is nevertheless deemed to be the prime contractor in lieu of the contractor and is subject to the tax under this section on the gross receipts or gross proceeds received by the contractor.

F. Every person engaging or continuing in this state in the business of prime contracting or dealership of manufactured buildings shall present to the purchaser of such prime contracting or manufactured building a written receipt of the gross income or gross proceeds of sales from such activity and shall separately state the taxes to be paid pursuant to this section.

G. For the purposes of section 42-5032.01, the department shall separately account for revenues collected under the prime contracting classification from any prime contractor engaged in the preparation or construction of a multipurpose facility, and related infrastructure, that is owned, operated or leased by the tourism and sports authority pursuant to title 5, chapter 8.

H. For the purposes of section 42-5032.02, from and after September 30, 2013, the department shall separately account for revenues reported and collected under the prime contracting classification from any prime contractor engaged in the construction of any buildings and associated improvements that are for the benefit of a manufacturing facility.� For the purposes of this subsection, "associated improvements" and "manufacturing facility" have the same meanings prescribed in section 42-5032.02.

I. The gross proceeds of sales or gross income derived from a contract for lawn maintenance services is not subject to tax under this section if the contract does not include landscaping activities.� Lawn maintenance service is a service pursuant to section 42-5061, subsection A, paragraph 1, and includes lawn mowing and edging, weeding, repairing sprinkler heads or drip irrigation heads, seasonal replacement of flowers, refreshing gravel, lawn dethatching, seeding winter lawns, leaf and debris collection and removal, tree or shrub pruning or clipping, garden and gravel raking and applying pesticides, as defined in section 3-361, and fertilizer materials, as defined in section 3-262.

J. Except as provided in subsection O of this section, the gross proceeds of sales or gross income derived from landscaping activities is subject to tax under this section.� Landscaping includes installing lawns, grading or leveling ground, installing gravel or boulders, planting trees and other plants, felling trees, removing or mulching tree stumps, removing other imbedded plants, building irrigation berms, installing railroad ties and installing underground sprinkler or watering systems.

K. The portion of gross proceeds of sales or gross income attributable to the actual direct costs of providing architectural or engineering services that are incorporated in a contract is not subject to tax under this section.� For the purposes of this subsection, "direct costs" means the portion of the actual costs that are directly expended in providing architectural or engineering services.

L. Operating a landfill or a solid waste disposal facility is not subject to taxation under this section, including filling, compacting and creating vehicle access to and from cell sites within the landfill. Constructing roads to a landfill or solid waste disposal facility and constructing cells within a landfill or solid waste disposal facility may be deemed prime contracting under this section.

M. The following apply in determining the taxable situs of sales of manufactured buildings:

1. For sales in this state where the manufactured building dealer contracts to deliver the building to a setup site or to perform the setup in this state, the taxable situs is the setup site.

2. For sales in this state where the manufactured building dealer does not contract to deliver the building to a setup site or does not perform the setup, the taxable situs is the location of the dealership where the building is delivered to the buyer.

3. For sales in this state where the manufactured building dealer contracts to deliver the building to a setup site that is outside this state, the situs is outside this state and the transaction is excluded from tax.

N. The gross proceeds of sales or gross income attributable to a written contract for design phase services or professional services, executed before modification begins and with terms, conditions and pricing of all of these services separately stated in the contract from those for construction phase services, is not subject to tax under this section, regardless of whether the services are provided sequential to or concurrent with prime contracting activities that are subject to tax under this section. This subsection does not include the gross proceeds of sales or gross income attributable to construction phase services. For the purposes of this subsection:

1. "Construction phase services" means services for the execution and completion of any modification, including the following:

(a) Administration or supervision of any modification performed on the project, including team management and coordination, scheduling, cost controls, submittal process management, field management, safety program, close-out process and warranty period services.

(b) Administration or supervision of any modification performed pursuant to a punch list.� For the purposes of this subdivision, "punch list" means minor items of modification work performed after substantial completion and before final completion of the project.

(c) Administration or supervision of any modification performed pursuant to change orders. For the purposes of this subdivision, "change order" means a written instrument issued after execution of a contract for modification work, providing for all of the following:

(i) The scope of a change in the modification work, contract for modification work or other contract documents.

(ii) The amount of an adjustment, if any, to the guaranteed maximum price as set in the contract for modification work.� For the purposes of this item, "guaranteed maximum price" means the amount guaranteed to be the maximum amount due to a prime contractor for the performance of all modification work for the project.

(iii) The extent of an adjustment, if any, to the contract time of performance set forth in the contract.

(d) Administration or supervision of any modification performed pursuant to change directives. For the purposes of this subdivision, "change directive" means a written order directing a change in modification work before agreement on an adjustment of the guaranteed maximum price or contract time.

(e) Inspection to determine the dates of substantial completion or final completion.

(f) Preparation of any manuals, warranties, as-built drawings, spares or other items the prime contractor must furnish pursuant to the contract for modification work. For the purposes of this subdivision, "as-built drawing" means a drawing that indicates field changes made to adapt to field conditions, field changes resulting from change orders or buried and concealed installation of piping, conduit and utility services.

(g) Preparation of status reports after modification work has begun detailing the progress of work performed, including preparation of any of the following:

(i) Master schedule updates.

(ii) Modification work cash flow projection updates.

(iii) Site reports made on a periodic basis.

(iv) Identification of discrepancies, conflicts or ambiguities in modification work documents that require resolution.

(v) Identification of any health and safety issues that have arisen in connection with the modification work.

(h) Preparation of daily logs of modification work, including documentation of personnel, weather conditions and on-site occurrences.

(i) Preparation of any submittals or shop drawings used by the prime contractor to illustrate details of the modification work performed.

(j) Administration or supervision of any other activities for which a prime contractor receives a certificate for payment or certificate for final payment based on the progress of modification work performed on the project.

2. "Design phase services" means services for developing and completing a design for a project that are not construction phase services, including the following:

(a) Evaluating surveys, reports, test results or any other information on-site conditions for the project, including physical characteristics, legal limitations and utility locations for the site.

(b) Evaluating any criteria or programming objectives for the project to ascertain requirements for the project, such as physical requirements affecting cost or projected utilization of the project.

(c) Preparing drawings and specifications for architectural program documents, schematic design documents, design development documents, modification work documents or documents that identify the scope of or materials for the project.

(d) Preparing an initial schedule for the project, excluding the preparation of updates to the master schedule after modification work has begun.

(e) Preparing preliminary estimates of costs of modification work before completion of the final design of the project, including an estimate or schedule of values for any of the following:

(i) Labor, materials, machinery and equipment, tools, water, heat, utilities, transportation and other facilities and services used in the execution and completion of modification work, regardless of whether they are temporary or permanent or whether they are incorporated in the modifications.

(ii) The cost of labor and materials to be furnished by the owner of the real property.

(iii) The cost of any equipment of the owner of the real property to be assigned by the owner to the prime contractor.

(iv) The cost of any labor for installation of equipment separately provided by the owner of the real property that has been designed, specified, selected or specifically provided for in any design document for the project.

(v) Any fee paid by the owner of the real property to the prime contractor pursuant to the contract for modification work.

(vi) Any bond and insurance premiums.

(vii) Any applicable taxes.

(viii) Any contingency fees for the prime contractor that may be used before final completion of the project.

(f) Reviewing and evaluating cost estimates and project documents to prepare recommendations on site use, site improvements, selection of materials, building systems and equipment, modification feasibility, availability of materials and labor, local modification activity as related to schedules and time requirements for modification work.

(g) Preparing the plan and procedures for selection of subcontractors, including any prequalification of subcontractor candidates.

3. "Professional services" means architect services, engineer services, geologist services, land surveying services or landscape architect services that are within the scope of those services as provided in title 32, chapter 1 and for which gross proceeds of sales or gross income has not otherwise been deducted under subsection K of this section.

O. The gross proceeds of sales or gross income derived from a contract with the owner of real property or improvements to real property for the maintenance, repair, replacement or alteration of existing property is not subject to tax under this section if the contract does not include modification activities, except as specified in this subsection.� The gross proceeds of sales or gross income derived from a de minimis amount of modification activity does not subject the contract or any part of the contract to tax under this section.� For the purposes of this subsection:

1. Tangible personal property that is incorporated or fabricated into a project described in this subsection may be subject to the amount prescribed in section 42-5008.01.

2. Each contract is independent of any other contract, except that any change order that directly relates to the scope of work of the original contract shall be treated the same as the original contract under this chapter, regardless of the amount of modification activities included in the change order.� If a change order does not directly relate to the scope of work of the original contract, the change order shall be treated as a new contract, with the tax treatment of any subsequent change order to follow the tax treatment of the contract to which the scope of work of the subsequent change order directly relates.

P. Notwithstanding subsection O of this section, a contract that primarily involves surface or subsurface improvements to land and that is subject to title 28, chapter 19, 20 or 22 or title 34, chapter 2 or 6 is taxable under this section, even if the contract also includes vertical improvements. Agencies that are subject to procurement processes under those provisions shall include in the request for proposals a notice to bidders when those projects are subject to this section.� This subsection does not apply to contracts with:

1. Community facilities districts, fire districts, county television improvement districts, community park maintenance districts, cotton pest control districts, hospital districts, pest abatement districts, health service districts, agricultural improvement districts, county free library districts, county jail districts, county stadium districts, special health care districts, public health services districts, theme park districts or revitalization districts.

2. Any special taxing district not specified in paragraph 1 of this subsection if the district does not substantially engage in the modification, maintenance, repair, replacement or alteration of surface or subsurface improvements to land.

Q. Notwithstanding subsection R, paragraph 10 of this section, a person owning real property who enters into a contract for sale of the real property, who is responsible to the new owner of the property for modifications made to the property in the period subsequent to the transfer of title and who receives a consideration for the modifications is considered a prime contractor solely for purposes of taxing the gross proceeds of sale or gross income received for the modifications made subsequent to the transfer of title.� The original owner's gross proceeds of sale or gross income received for the modifications shall be determined according to the following methodology:

1. If any part of the contract for sale of the property specifies amounts to be paid to the original owner for the modifications to be made in the period subsequent to the transfer of title, the amounts are included in the original owner's gross proceeds of sale or gross income under this section. Proceeds from the sale of the property that are received after transfer of title and that are unrelated to the modifications made subsequent to the transfer of title are not considered gross proceeds of sale or gross income from the modifications.

2. If the original owner enters into an agreement separate from the contract for sale of the real property providing for amounts to be paid to the original owner for the modifications to be made in the period subsequent to the transfer of title to the property, the amounts are included in the original owner's gross proceeds of sale or gross income received for the modifications made subsequent to the transfer of title.

3. If the original owner is responsible to the new owner for modifications made to the property in the period subsequent to the transfer of title and derives any gross proceeds of sale or gross income from the project subsequent to the transfer of title other than a delayed disbursement from escrow unrelated to the modifications, it is presumed that the amounts are received for the modifications made subsequent to the transfer of title unless the contrary is established by the owner through its books, records and papers kept in the regular course of business.

4. The tax base of the original owner is computed in the same manner as a prime contractor under this section.

R. For the purposes of this section:

1. "Alteration" means an activity or action that causes a direct physical change to existing property.� For the purposes of this paragraph:

(a) For existing property that is properly classified as class two property under section 42-12002, paragraph 1, subdivision (c) or paragraph 2, subdivision (c) and that is used for residential purposes, class three property under section 42-12003 or class four property under section 42-12004, this paragraph does not apply if the contract amount is more than twenty-five percent of the most recent full cash value established under chapter 13, article 2 of this title as of the date of any bid for the work or the date of the contract, whichever value is higher.

(b) For all existing property other than existing property described in subdivision (a) of this paragraph, this paragraph does not apply if the contract amount is more than $750,000.

(c) Project elements may not be artificially separated from a contract to cause a project to qualify as an alteration.� The department has the burden of proof that project elements have been artificially separated from a contract.

(d) If a project for which the owner and the person performing the work reasonably believed, at the inception of the contract, would be treated as an alteration under this paragraph and, on completion of the project, the project exceeded the applicable threshold described in either subdivision (a) or (b) of this paragraph by no not more than twenty-five percent of the applicable threshold for any reason, the work performed under the contract qualifies as an alteration.

(e) A change order that directly relates to the scope of work of the original contract shall be treated as part of the original contract, and the contract amount shall include any amount attributable to a change order that directly relates to the scope of work of the original contract.

(f) Alteration does not include maintenance, repair or replacement.

2. "Contracting" means engaging in business as a contractor.

3. "Contractor" is synonymous with the term "builder" and means any person or organization that undertakes to or offers to undertake to, or purports to have the capacity to undertake to, or submits a bid to, or does personally or by or through others, modify any building, highway, road, railroad, excavation, manufactured building or other structure, project, development or improvement, or to do any part of such a project, including the erection of scaffolding or other structure or works in connection with such a project, and includes subcontractors and specialty contractors.� For all purposes of taxation or deduction, this definition shall govern without regard to whether or not such a contractor is acting in fulfillment of a contract.

4. "Manufactured building" means a manufactured home, mobile home or factory-built building, as defined in section 41-4001.

5. "Manufactured building dealer" means a dealer who either:

(a) Is licensed pursuant to title 41, chapter 37, article 4 and who sells manufactured buildings to the final consumer.

(b) Supervises, performs or coordinates the excavation and completion of site improvements or the setup of a manufactured building, including the contracting, if any, with any subcontractor or specialty contractor for the completion of the contract.

6. "Modification" means construction, grading and leveling ground, wreckage or demolition.� Modification does not include:

(a) Any project described in subsection O of this section.

(b) Any wreckage or demolition of existing property, or any other activity that is a necessary component of a project described in subsection O of this section.

(c) Any mobilization or demobilization related to a project described in subsection O of this section, such as the erection or removal of temporary facilities to be used by those persons working on the project.

7. "Modify" means to make a modification or cause a modification to be made.

8. "Owner" means the person that holds title to the real property or improvements to real property that is the subject of the work, as well as an agent of the title holder and any person with the authority to perform or authorize work on the real property or improvements, including a tenant and a property manager.� For the purposes of subsection O of this section, a person who is hired by a general contractor that is hired by an owner, or a subcontractor of a general contractor that is hired by an owner, is considered to be hired by the owner.

9. "Prime contracting" means engaging in business as a prime contractor.

10. "Prime contractor" means a contractor who supervises, performs or coordinates the modification of any building, highway, road, railroad, excavation, manufactured building or other structure, project, development or improvement, including the contracting, if any, with any subcontractors or specialty contractors and who is responsible for the completion of the contract.� Except as provided in subsections E and Q of this section, a person who owns real property, who engages one or more contractors to modify that real property and who does not itself modify that real property is not a prime contractor within the meaning of this paragraph regardless of the existence of a contract for sale or the subsequent sale of that real property.

11. "Replacement" means the removal from service of one component or system of existing property or tangible personal property installed in existing property, including machinery or equipment, and the installation of a new component or system or new tangible personal property, including machinery or equipment, that provides the same, a similar or an upgraded design or functionality, regardless of the contract amount and regardless of whether the existing component or system or existing tangible personal property is physically removed from the existing property.

12. "Sale of a used manufactured building" does not include a lease of a used manufactured building. END_STATUTE

Sec. 6. Section 42-11054, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE42-11054. Standard appraisal methods and techniques

A. Subject to subsection B of this section, The department shall:

1. Prescribe guidelines for applying standard appraisal methods and techniques that shall be used by the department and county assessors in determining the valuation of property.

2. Prepare and maintain manuals and other necessary guidelines, consistent with this section, reflecting the standard methods and techniques to perpetuate a current inventory of taxable property and the valuation of that property.

B. Before they are adopted, the department shall submit each substantive proposed guideline, table and manual that is developed, amended or otherwise modified from and after December 31, 2006 to the joint legislative oversight committee on property tax assessment and appeals.� The department shall not finally adopt, amend or otherwise modify a substantive guideline, table or manual for at least thirty days after submitting the measure to the committee.� The committee may hold one or more informational hearings on the proposed measure within thirty days after submission. In adopting, amending or modifying the measure the department shall consider the committee's comments. If the committee fails to hold a hearing within thirty days after submission, the department may adopt, amend or modify the measure without further consideration.

C. B. In applying prescribed standard appraisal methods and techniques:

1. Current usage shall be included in the formula for reaching a determination of full cash value.

2. Solar energy devices, as defined in section 44-1761, grid-tied photovoltaic systems and any other device or system designed to produce solar energy primarily for on-site consumption are considered to add no value to the property on which such a device or system is installed.

3. If characterized as personal property, subject to any applicable constitutional exemption from taxation, solar energy devices, as defined in section 44-1761, grid-tied photovoltaic systems and any other device or system designed to produce solar energy primarily for on-site consumption shall be valued as provided in section 42-13056.

4. 3. Energy efficient building components, renewable energy equipment and combined heat and power systems are considered to add no value to the property, if the property owner provides the county assessor with documentation of all elements that qualify pursuant to this paragraph, including documents showing actual acquisition and installation costs.� The documentation must be submitted to the county assessor not later than six months before the notice of full cash value is issued for the initial evaluation year pursuant to section 42-15101 or, if the component is added after September 30 of the preceding year, not later than March 31 of the initial valuation year.� For the purposes of this paragraph:

(a) "Combined heat and power system" means a system that generates electricity or mechanical power and useful thermal energy in a single, integrated system such that the useful power output of the facility plus one-half the useful thermal output during any twelve-month period is not less than 42.5 percent of the total energy input of fuel to the facility.

(b) "Energy efficient building components" means high performance sustainable building components installed so that the buildings or building components meet or exceed the energy efficiencies prescribed by the United States environmental protection agency energy star program or by a leadership in energy and environmental design green building rating standard developed by the United States green building council, or an equivalent green building standard, or that are at least fifteen percent more energy efficient than the international energy conservation code in effect at the time of building permit issuance.

(c) "Renewable energy equipment" means equipment that is used to produce energy primarily for on-site consumption from renewable resources, including wind, forest thinnings, agricultural waste, biogas, biomass, geothermal, low-impact hydropower and solar energy not included under paragraph 2 of this subsection.

D. C. If the methods and techniques prescribe using market data as an indication of market value, the price paid for future anticipated property value increments shall be excluded.

E. D. For the purposes of determining full cash value the department and county assessors shall use and apply the ratio standard guidelines issued by the department for tax year 1993 in the same manner as they were applied in tax year 1993. This subsection does not apply to property that is valued according to prescribed statutory methods or to property for which values are determined in the year after an appeal pursuant to section 42-16002. END_STATUTE

Sec. 7. Section 42-11127, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE42-11127. Exempt personal property

A. Pursuant to article IX, section 2, subsection F, Constitution of Arizona, personal property that is class two property pursuant to section 42-12002, paragraph 2, subdivision (a) or (b) and that is used for agricultural purposes or personal property that is class one property pursuant to section 42-12001 and that is used in a trade or business as described in section 42-12001, paragraphs 8 through 11 or 13 and that is not valued pursuant to chapter 14 of this title is exempt from taxation up to a maximum amount of $207,366 of full cash value for each taxpayer.

B. On or before December 31 of each year, the department shall increase the maximum amount of the exemption for the following tax year based on the percentage increase, if any, in the employment cost index for total compensation for private industry workers in the two most recent complete state fiscal years. For the purposes of this subsection, "employment cost index" means the average of the employment cost indices reported by the bureau of labor statistics of the United States department of labor or its successor for the eight quarters of the two most recent state fiscal years. END_STATUTE

Sec. 8. Section 42-12001, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE42-12001. Class one property

For the purposes of taxation, class one is established consisting of the following subclasses:

1. Producing mines and mining claims, personal property used on mines and mining claims, improvements to mines and mining claims and mills and smelters operated in conjunction with mines and mining claims that are valued at full cash value pursuant to section 42-14053.

2. Standing timber that is valued at full cash value.

3. Real and personal property of gas distribution companies, electric transmission companies, electric distribution companies, combination gas and electric transmission and distribution companies, and companies engaged in the generation of electricity that are valued at full cash value pursuant to section 42-14151.

4. Real and personal property of airport fuel delivery companies that are valued pursuant to section 42-14503.

5. Real and personal property that is used by producing oil, gas and geothermal resource interests that are valued at full cash value pursuant to section 42-14102.

6. Real and personal property of water, sewer and wastewater utility companies that are valued at full cash value pursuant to section 42-14151.

7. Real and personal property of pipeline companies that are valued at full cash value pursuant to section 42-14201.

8. Real and personal property of shopping centers that are valued at full cash value or pursuant to chapter 13, article 5 of this title, as applicable, other than property that is included in class nine.

9. Real and personal property of golf courses that are valued at full cash value or pursuant to chapter 13, article 4 of this title.

10. All real property, both real and personal, of manufacturers, assemblers or fabricators, other than property that is specifically included in another class described in this article, that is valued under this title.

11. Real and personal property that is used in communications transmission facilities and that provides public telephone or telecommunications exchange or interexchange access for compensation to effect two-way communication to, from, through or within this state.

12. Real property and improvements that are devoted to any other commercial or industrial use, other than property that is specifically included in another class described in this article, and that are valued at full cash value.

13. Personal property that is devoted to any other commercial or industrial use, other than property that is specifically included in another class described in this article, and that is valued at full cash value.

14. 13. Real and personal property of electric cooperatives that are valued at full cash value pursuant to section 42-14159. END_STATUTE

Sec. 9. Section 42-12002, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE42-12002. Class two property

For purposes of taxation, class two is established consisting of three subclasses:

1. Class two (R) consists of:

(a) Real property and improvements to property that are used for agricultural purposes and that are valued at full cash value or pursuant to chapter 13, article 3 of this title, as applicable.

(b) Real property and improvements to property that are primarily used for agricultural purposes to produce trees other than standing timber, vines, rosebushes, ornamental plants or other horticultural crops, regardless of whether the crop is grown in containers, soil or any other medium, that are not included in class one, three, four, six, seven or eight and that are valued at full cash value or pursuant to chapter 13, article 3 of this title, as applicable.

(c) Real property and improvements to property that are owned and controlled by a nonprofit organization that is exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(3), (4), (7), (10) or (14) of the internal revenue code if the property is not used or intended for the financial benefit of members of the organization or any other individual or organization, unless the financial benefit is for charitable, religious, scientific, literary or educational purposes, and that are valued at full cash value.

(d) Real property of golf courses that is valued at full cash value or pursuant to chapter 13, article 4 of this title.

(e) Real property and improvements to property of a guest ranch that are valued pursuant to chapter 13, article 12 of this title.

(f) All other real property and improvements to property, if any, that are not included in class one, three, four, six, seven or eight and that are valued at full cash value.

2. Class two (P) consists of:

(a) Personal property that is used for agricultural purposes and that is valued at full cash value or pursuant to chapter 13, article 3 of this title, as applicable.

(b) Personal property that is primarily used for agricultural purposes to produce trees other than standing timber, vines, rosebushes, ornamental plants or other horticultural crops, regardless of whether the crop is grown in containers, soil or any other medium, that is not included in class one, three, four, six, seven or eight and that is valued at full cash value or pursuant to chapter 13, article 3 of this title, as applicable.

(c) Personal property that is owned and controlled by a nonprofit organization that is exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(3), (4), (7), (10) or (14) of the internal revenue code if the property is not used or intended for the financial benefit of members of the organization or any other individual or organization, unless the financial benefit is for charitable, religious, scientific, literary or educational purposes, and that is valued at full cash value.

(d) Personal property of golf courses that is valued at full cash value or pursuant to chapter 13, article 4 of this title.

(e) Personal property of a guest ranch that is valued pursuant to chapter 13, article 12 of this title.

(f) All other personal property that is not included in class one, three, four, six, seven or eight and that is valued at full cash value.

3. 2. Class two (C) consists of real property, and improvements to real property, that is burdened by a conservation easement that has been created and is currently in effect pursuant to title 33, chapter 2, article 4. END_STATUTE

Sec. 10. Section 42-12004, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE42-12004. Class four property

A. For the purposes of taxation, class four is established consisting of:

1. Real and personal property and improvements to the property that are used for residential purposes, including residential property that is owned in foreclosure by a financial institution, that is not otherwise included in another classification and that is valued at full cash value.� The homesite that is included in class four may include:

(a) Up to ten acres on a single parcel of real property on which the residential improvement is located.

(b) More than ten, but not more than forty, acres on a single parcel of real property on which the residential improvement is located if it is zoned exclusively for residential purposes or contains legal restrictions or physical conditions that prevent the division of the parcel. For the purposes of this subdivision, "physical conditions" means topography, mountains, washes, rivers, roads or any other configuration that limits the residential usable land area.

2. Real and personal property and improvements to the property that are used for residential purposes and solely leased or rented, that are not included in class one, two, three, six, seven or eight and that are valued at full cash value.

3. Child care facilities that are licensed under title 36, chapter 7.1 and that are valued at full cash value.

4. Real and personal property and improvements to property that are used to operate nonprofit residential housing facilities that are structured to house or care for persons with disabilities or who are at least sixty-two years of age and that are valued at full cash value.

5. Real and personal property and improvements that are used to operate licensed residential care institutions or licensed nursing care institutions that provide medical services, nursing services or health-related services and that are structured to house or care for persons with disabilities or who are at least sixty-two years of age and that are valued at full cash value.

6. Real and personal property consisting of not more than eight rooms of residential property that are leased or rented to transient lodgers, together with furnishing not more than a breakfast meal, by the owner who resides on the property and that is valued at full cash value.

7. Real and personal property that consists of residential dwellings maintained for occupancy by agricultural employees as a condition of employment or as a convenience to the employer, that is not included in class three and that is valued at full cash value. The land associated with these dwellings shall be valued as agricultural land pursuant to chapter 13, article 3 of this title.

8. Real property and improvements to property constituting common areas that are valued pursuant to chapter 13, article 9 of this title.

9. Real and personal property that is defined as timeshare property by section 32-2197 and valued pursuant to chapter 13, article 10 of this title, except for any property used for commercial, industrial or transient occupancy purposes and included in class one to the extent of that use.

10. Real and personal property and improvements that are used for residential purposes and that are leased or rented to lodgers, except for:

(a) Property occupied by the owner of the property as the owner's primary residence and included in class three.

(b) Property used for commercial purposes and included in class one.

11. Low-income multifamily residential rental properties that are valued pursuant to chapter 13, article 13 of this title.

B. Subsection A, paragraphs 4 and 5 of this section do not limit eligibility for exemption from taxation under chapter 11, article 3 of this title. END_STATUTE

Sec. 11. Section 42-12006, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE42-12006. Class six property

For the purposes of taxation, class six is established consisting of:

1. Noncommercial historic property as defined in section 42-12101 and valued at full cash value.

2. Real and personal property that is located within the area of a foreign trade zone or subzone established under 19 United States Code sections 81a through 81u and title 44, chapter 18, that is activated for foreign trade zone use by the district director of the United States customs service pursuant to 19 Code of Federal Regulations section 146.6 and that is valued at full cash value.� Property that is classified under this paragraph shall not thereafter be classified under paragraph 6 of this section.

3. Real and personal property and improvements that are located in a military reuse zone that is established under title 41, chapter 10, article 3 and that is devoted to providing aviation or aerospace services or to manufacturing, assembling or fabricating aviation or aerospace products, valued at full cash value and subject to the following terms and conditions:

(a) Property may not be classified under this paragraph for more than five tax years.

(b) Any new addition or improvement to property already classified under this paragraph qualifies separately for classification under this paragraph for not more than five tax years.

(c) If a military reuse zone is terminated, the property in that zone that was previously classified under this paragraph shall be reclassified as prescribed by this article.

(d) Property that is classified under this paragraph shall not thereafter be classified under paragraph 6 of this section.

4. Real and personal property and improvements or a portion of such property comprising an environmental technology manufacturing, producing or processing facility that qualified under section 41-1514.02, valued at full cash value and subject to the following terms and conditions:

(a) Property shall be classified under this paragraph for twenty tax years from the date placed in service.

(b) Any addition or improvement to property already classified under this paragraph qualifies separately for classification under this subdivision for an additional twenty tax years from the date placed in service.

(c) After revocation of certification under section 41-1514.02, property that was previously classified under this paragraph shall be reclassified as prescribed by this article.

(d) Property that is classified under this paragraph shall not thereafter be classified under paragraph 6 of this section.

5. That portion of real and personal property that is used on or after January 1, 1999 specifically and solely for remediation of the environment by an action that has been determined to be reasonable and necessary to respond to the release or threatened release of a hazardous substance by the department of environmental quality pursuant to section 49-282.06 or pursuant to its corrective action authority under rules adopted pursuant to section 49-922, subsection B, paragraph 4 or by the United States environmental protection agency pursuant to the national contingency plan (40 Code of Federal Regulations part 300) and that is valued at full cash value.� Property that is not being used specifically and solely for the remediation objectives described in this paragraph shall not be classified under this paragraph. For the purposes of this paragraph, "remediation of the environment" means one or more of the following actions:

(a) Monitoring, assessing or evaluating the release or threatened release.

(b) Excavating, removing, transporting, treating and disposing of contaminated soil.

(d) Treating, containing or removing of contaminants in groundwater or soil.

6. Real and personal property and improvements constructed or installed from and after December 31, 2004 through December 31, 2024 and owned by a qualified business under section 41-1516 and used solely for the purpose of harvesting, transporting or processing qualifying forest products removed from qualifying projects as defined in section 41-1516.� The classification under this paragraph is subject to the following terms and conditions:

(a) Property may be initially classified under this paragraph only in valuation years 2005 through 2024.

(b) Property may not be classified under this paragraph for more than five years.

(c) Any new addition or improvement, constructed or installed from and after December 31, 2004 through December 31, 2024, to property already classified under this paragraph qualifies separately for classification and assessment under this paragraph for not more than five years.

(d) Property that is classified under this paragraph shall not thereafter be classified under paragraph 2, 3 or 4 of this section.

7. Real and personal property and improvements to the property that are used specifically and solely to manufacture from and after December 31, 2006 through December 31, 2023 biodiesel fuel that is one hundred percent biodiesel and its by-products or motor vehicle biofuel and its by-products and that are valued at full cash value. This paragraph applies only to the portion of property that is used specifically for manufacturing and processing one hundred per cent percent biodiesel fuel, or its related by-products, or motor vehicle biofuel, or its related by-products, from raw feedstock obtained from off-site sources, including necessary on-site storage facilities that are intrinsically associated with the manufacturing process. Any other commercial or industrial use disqualifies the entire property from classification under this paragraph. For the purposes of this paragraph, "motor vehicle biofuel" means a solid, liquid or gaseous fuel that is derived from biological material such as plant or animal matter, excluding organic material that has been transformed by geological processes into substances such as coal or petroleum or derivatives thereof, and that:

(a) Contains fuel additives in compliance with federal and state law.

(b) Is manufactured exclusively for use in a motor vehicle.

8. Real and personal property and improvements that are used for renewable energy manufacturing or headquarters operations as provided by section 42-12057.� This paragraph applies only to property that is used in manufacturing and headquarters operations of renewable energy companies, including necessary on-site research and development, testing and storage facilities that are associated with the manufacturing process.� Up to ten percent of the aggregate full cash value of the property may be derived from uses that are ancillary to and intrinsically associated with the manufacturing process or headquarters operation. Any additional ancillary property is not qualified for classification under this paragraph.� No new properties may be classified pursuant to this paragraph from and after December 31, 2014. Property that is classified under this paragraph shall not thereafter be classified under any other paragraph of this section. END_STATUTE

Sec. 12. Section 42-12007, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE42-12007. Class seven property

For the purposes of taxation, class seven is established consisting of real and personal property and improvements that meet the criteria for property included in class one, paragraphs under section 42-12001, paragraph 12 and 13 and also the criteria for commercial historic property as defined in section 42-12101. END_STATUTE

Sec. 13. Section 42-12054, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE42-12054. Change in classification of owner-occupied residence

A. If a person purchases or converts property that is listed as class one pursuant to section 42-12001, paragraph 12 or 13, class two or class four pursuant to article 1 of this chapter and occupies the property as the person's primary residence, the person may have the classification reviewed for change to class three from the date of conversion and occupancy as a primary residence and may appeal from the decision resulting from the review in the same manner as provided by law for review of a valuation for ad valorem property taxes and appeal from that review.

B. If a person purchases or converts property that is listed as class one pursuant to section 42-12001, paragraph 12 or 13, class two or class four pursuant to article 1 of this chapter and the property is occupied by a member of the owner's immediate family as described in section 42-12053, the person may have the classification reviewed for change to class three from the date of occupancy and may appeal the decision resulting from the review in the same manner as provided by law for review of a valuation for ad valorem property taxes and appeal from that review.

C. If a person makes such a conversion or occupancy or appeals the classification after the county assessor has closed the rolls, the person may petition the county board of supervisors to change the classification and reduce the assessed valuation from the date of conversion or occupancy.

D. The board of supervisors shall entertain the petition in the same manner as a board of equalization hears a request for reduction in valuation.

E. The petitioner may appeal the board of supervisors' decision in the same manner as provided in section 42-16111, except that the petitioner shall file the notice of appeal within fifteen days after the board's finding.

F. If the board of supervisors finds that the property is in fact the owner's primary residence and should be listed as class three property, the board shall change the classification on the roll and fix the assessed valuation from the date of occupancy. The amount of taxes that is assessed against the property shall be computed by applying the current tax rate to the original assessed valuation prorated for the portion of the tax year before the property was occupied plus the current tax rate applied to the reassessed value of the property prorated for the balance of the year.

G. The board of supervisors shall notify the department, assessor and county treasurer of the change in classification, the change in assessed valuation and the amount of tax assessed. The department and the assessor may appeal any such decision in the same manner as provided in section 42-16111. The assessor and treasurer shall note the change on their records, and the treasurer may issue a future tax credit, endorsed by the board, to the person whose property is liable for the tax. The tax credit shall be used on the next or several succeeding property tax assessments that the person may owe thereafter. END_STATUTE

Sec. 14. Section 42-12058, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE42-12058. Registry of real property burdened by conservation easements

A. The county assessor in each county shall establish and maintain a public digital registry of each parcel of property in the county that is classified as class two (C) pursuant to section 42-12002, paragraph 3 2 from and after December 31, 2016 because it is burdened by a conservation easement.

B. The registry shall include the following information regarding each parcel:

1. The name of the owner or owners of the real property that is burdened by the conservation easement.

2. The name of the holder of the conservation easement and the name of any governmental body, charitable corporation or trustee of a charitable trust having a third-party right of enforcement.

3. The date the conservation easement was created or recorded.

4. Whether the conservation easement is perpetual or limited in duration and, if so limited, the date or conditions under which the conservation easement terminates.

5. The value of the real property that is burdened by the conservation easement as determined by an independent appraisal prior to the creation and recording of the conservation easement.

C. The assessor shall periodically review and revise as necessary the information contained in the registry for the purpose of verifying that the listed properties should remain classified as class two (C). END_STATUTE

Sec. 15. Repeal

Sections 42-13054, 42-13055 and 42-13056, Arizona Revised Statutes, are repealed.

Sec. 16. Section 42-13304, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE42-13304. Exemptions from limitation

The limitations prescribed by this article do not apply to:

1. Personal property, other than mobile homes. The full cash value of personal property, other than mobile homes, shall be used for all purposes in lieu of limited property value.

2. Property included in property class one under section 42-12001, paragraphs 1 through 7, 11 and 14 13. The full cash value of that property shall be used for all purposes in lieu of limited property value. END_STATUTE

Sec. 17. Section 42-13351, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE42-13351. Method and procedures for valuing property of manufacturers, assemblers or fabricators; confidentiality

A. Real or personal property that is subject to valuation for property tax purposes and that is used by any manufacturer, assembler or fabricator of tangible personal property, except property that is included in class one, under section 42-12001, paragraphs 1, through 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and paragraphs 11, through 14 12 and 13 and classes two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight or nine, shall be valued pursuant to this article.

B. All information that a taxpayer submits pursuant to this article is confidential pursuant to chapter 2, article 1 of this title.

Sec. 18. Section 42-15002, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE42-15002. Assessed valuation of class two property

The following percentages apply to the full cash value or limited valuation, as applicable, as a basis for determining the assessed valuation of class two property described in section 42-12002:

1. Class two (R): sixteen percent through December 31, 2015 and fifteen percent beginning from and after December 31, 2015.

2. Class two (P): sixteen percent through December 31, 2015, and fifteen percent beginning from and after December 31, 2015, of the value exceeding the maximum amount of valuation of personal property that is exempt from taxation pursuant to section 42-11127.

3. 2. Class two (C): fifteen percent. END_STATUTE

Sec. 19. Section 42-15005, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE42-15005. Assessed valuation of class five property

The director shall annually determine percentages to apply as a basis for determining the assessed valuation of class five property described in section 42-12005 equal to the ratios ratio that the total net assessed valuation of all taxable property for primary and secondary tax purposes in class one under section 42-12001, and class six, under section 42-12006, �paragraph 3 and personal property in class two bears to the total limited valuation used for primary tax purposes of such property, and that ratio shall be used for primary tax purposes as required by federal law. END_STATUTE

Sec. 20. Section 42-15053, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE42-15053. Duty to report personal property; exemption; contents of report; confidentiality

A. On or before February 1 of each year, the assessor shall mail a form, notice or demand to each person that owns or has charge or control of taxable personal property in this state. Each person shall prepare and deliver to the assessor a correct report of property on or before April 1 of each year. On written request and for good cause shown, the assessor may extend for up to thirty days the time for filing the report.

B. Property that is not required to be reported as provided by subsection D of this section is exempt from the reporting requirement of subsection A of this section. The county assessor may not require a person that owns or has charge or control of property that is not required to be reported as provided by subsection D of this section to apply to be exempt from the reporting requirement of subsection A of this section.

C. The duty to report taxable property pursuant to this section applies regardless of whether the person or entity that owns or has charge or control of the personal property also owns real property in the county with a value of $200 or more.

D. The assessor shall not require a report of:

1. The breed, number, age or location of livestock on hand from individuals, corporations, partnerships or any other business if the livestock is exempt from taxation pursuant to article IX, section 13, Constitution of Arizona.

2. The personal property that is class two (P) property pursuant to section 42-12002, paragraph 2 and that is used for agricultural purposes or that is class one, subclasses 8 through 11 and 13 property pursuant to section 42-12001 and that is used in a trade or business and that is exempt from taxation pursuant to article IX, section 2, subsection E, Constitution of Arizona, and section 42-11127.

E. Every assessment made against property that is subject to taxation is valid whether or not the form, notice or demand was sent or received.

F. The department shall prescribe in detail the contents of property reports including the specific wording to be used by county assessors and the method of reporting property. The report shall not include any question that is not germane to the valuation function.

G. A report that is furnished under this section:

1. Is not open to public inspection, but the report may be used as evidence in any prosecution brought under section 42-15055.

2. May be subject to audit. On completing an audit or on discovering property that has not been reported, any property that was found to have escaped taxation is liable for the amount of taxes due determined under chapter 16, article 6 of this title, plus a penalty equal to ten percent of that amount.� The county treasurer shall credit monies received as penalties under this paragraph to the county general fund. END_STATUTE

Sec. 21. Applicability

This act applies to tax years beginning from and after December 31, 2023.