SENATE BILL NO. 529

INTRODUCED BY G. JERGESON

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT SUBMITTING TO THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF MONTANA AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE VIII OF THE MONTANA CONSTITUTION TO PROHIBIT THE LEGISLATURE FROM ENACTING TAX CHANGES THAT RESULT IN SHIFTING A TAX BURDEN OR A LOSS OF REVENUE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS UNLESS REPLACEMENT REVENUE IS PROVIDED TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS OR SCHOOL DISTRICTS; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE."

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

NEW SECTION. Section 1. Article VIII of The Constitution of the State of Montana is amended by adding a new section 17 that reads:

Section 17. State prohibited from tax changes that result in local revenue loss or increased tax burden. The legislature is prohibited from enacting a change in taxation that results in shifting a tax burden to or a loss of revenue to local government units or school districts unless replacement revenue is provided to the local government units or school districts.

NEW SECTION. Section 2. Effective date. If approved by the electorate, this act is effective January 1, 2001.

NEW SECTION. Section 3. Submission to electorate. This amendment shall be submitted to the qualified electors of Montana at the general election to be held in November 2000 by printing on the ballot the full title of this act and the following:

[]	FOR prohibiting the legislature from enacting tax changes that result in increased local tax burden or revenue loss.

[]	AGAINST prohibiting the legislature from enacting tax changes that result in increased local tax burden or revenue loss.

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