2003 Montana Legislature

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HOUSE BILL NO. 604

INTRODUCED BY GALLIK, MATTHEWS, A. OLSON

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF CERTAIN PROCEEDS FROM THE STATE PORTION OF NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION TAXES TO THE SCHOOL FLEXIBILITY ACCOUNT; AMENDING SECTION SECTIONS 15-36-324 AND 20-9-544, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE."

 

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

 

     Section 1.  Section 15-36-324, MCA, is amended to read:

     "15-36-324.  (Temporary) Distribution of taxes -- rules. (1) For each calendar quarter, the department shall determine the amount of tax, late payment interest, and penalty collected under this part. For purposes of distribution of the taxes to county and school taxing units, the department shall determine the amount of oil and natural gas production taxes paid on production in the taxing unit.

     (2)  Except as provided in subsections (3) through (5), oil production taxes must be distributed as follows:

     (a)  The amount equal to 39.3% of the oil production taxes, including late payment interest and penalty, collected under this part must be distributed as provided in subsection (9).

     (b)  The remaining 60.7% of the oil production taxes, plus accumulated interest earned on the amount allocated under this subsection (2)(b), must be deposited in the state special revenue fund in the state treasury and transferred to the county and school taxing units for distribution as provided in subsection (12).

     (3)  The amount equal to 100% of the oil production taxes, including late payment interest and penalty, collected from working interest owners on qualifying production occurring during the first 12 months of production must be distributed as provided in subsection (10).

     (4)  (a) The amount equal to 100% of the oil production taxes, including late payment interest and penalty, collected from working interest owners on production from horizontally completed wells occurring during the first 18 months of production must be distributed as provided in subsection (10).

     (b)  The amount equal to 100% of the oil production taxes, including late payment interest and penalty, collected from working interest owners on the incremental production from horizontally recompleted wells occurring during the first 18 months of production must be distributed as provided in subsection (9).

     (5)  (a) The amount equal to 13.8% of the oil production taxes, including late payment interest and penalty, collected from working interest owners on the first 10 barrels of stripper oil production wells must be distributed as provided in subsection (10).

     (b)  The remaining 86.2% of the oil production taxes, plus accumulated interest earned on the amount allocated under this subsection (5)(b), must be deposited in the state special revenue fund in the state treasury and transferred to the county and school taxing units for distribution as provided in subsection (12).

     (c)  The amount equal to 100% of the oil production taxes, including late payment interest and penalty, collected from working interest owners on stripper well exemption production from pre-1999 wells and post-1999 wells must be distributed as provided in subsection (10).

     (6)  Except as provided in subsections (7) and (8), natural gas production taxes must be allocated as follows:

     (a)  The amount equal to 14% of the natural gas production taxes, including late payment interest and penalty, collected under this part must be distributed as provided in subsection (11).

     (b)  The remaining 86% of the natural gas production taxes, plus accumulated interest earned on the amount allocated under this subsection (6)(b), must be deposited in the state special revenue fund in the state treasury and transferred to the county and school taxing units for distribution as provided in subsection (12).

     (7)  The amount equal to 100% of the natural gas production taxes, including late payment interest and penalty, collected from working interest owners under this part on production from wells occurring during the first 12 months of production must be distributed as provided in subsection (10).

     (8)  The amount equal to 100% of natural gas production taxes, including late payment interest and penalty, collected from working interest owners on production from horizontally completed wells occurring during the first 18 months of production must be distributed as provided in subsection (10).

     (9)  The department shall, in accordance with the provisions of 15-1-501, distribute the state portion of oil production taxes specified in subsections (2)(a) and (4)(b), including late payment interest and penalty collected, as follows:

     (a)  86.21% to the state general fund;

     (b)  5.17% to the state special revenue fund for the purpose of paying expenses of the board as provided in 82-11-135; and

     (c)  8.62% to be distributed as follows:

     (i)  a total of $400,000, including the proceeds from subsections (10)(b)(i) and (11)(c)(i), to the coal bed methane protection account established in 76-15-904;

     (ii) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, all of the remaining proceeds to the state general fund;

     (iii) for the fiscal years beginning on or after July 1, 2003, 50% of the remaining proceeds to the reclamation and development grants special revenue account established in 90-2-1104; and

     (iv) for the fiscal years beginning on or after July 1, 2003, 50% of the remaining proceeds to the orphan share account established in 75-10-743.

     (10) The department shall distribute the state portion of oil and natural gas production taxes specified in subsections (3), (4)(a), (5)(a), (5)(c), (7), and (8), including late payment interest and penalty collected, as follows:

     (a)  37.5% to the state special revenue fund for the purpose of paying expenses of the board as provided in 82-11-135; and

     (b)  62.5% to be distributed as follows:

     (i)  a total of $400,000, including the proceeds from subsections (9)(c)(i) and (11)(c)(i), to the coal bed methane protection account established in 76-15-904;

     (ii) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, all of the remaining proceeds to the state general fund;

     (iii) for the fiscal years beginning on or after July 1, 2003, 50% of the remaining proceeds to the reclamation and development grants special revenue account established in 90-2-1104; and

     (iv) for the fiscal years beginning on or after July 1, 2003, 50% of the remaining proceeds to the orphan share account established in 75-10-743.

     (11) The department shall, in accordance with the provisions of 15-1-501, distribute the state portion of natural gas production taxes specified in subsection (6)(a), including late payment interest and penalty collected, as follows:

     (a)  76.8% to be distributed as follows IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER:

     (i) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2004,:

     (A) $2.859 million to the state general fund and all of the remaining proceeds;

     (B) $3.141 MILLION to the school flexibility account created in 20-9-542 FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE ENSUING FISCAL YEAR; and

     (C) ALL OF THE REMAINING PROCEEDS TO THE STATE GENERAL FUND; AND

     (ii) for the fiscal years beginning on or after July 1, 2004,:

     (A) $2.915 million to the state general fund and all of the remaining proceeds;

     (B) $3.085 MILLION to the school flexibility account created in 20-9-542 FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE ENSUING FISCAL YEAR; AND

     (C) ALL OF THE REMAINING PROCEEDS TO THE STATE GENERAL FUND;

     (b)  8.7% to the state special revenue fund for the purpose of paying expenses of the board as provided in 82-11-135; and

     (c)  14.5% to be distributed as follows:

     (i)  a total of $400,000, including the proceeds from subsections (9)(c)(i) and (10)(b)(i), to the coal bed methane protection account established in 76-15-904;

     (ii) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, all of the remaining proceeds to the state general fund;

     (iii) for the fiscal years beginning on or after July 1, 2003, 50% of the remaining proceeds to the reclamation and development grants special revenue account established in 90-2-1104; and

     (iv) for the fiscal years beginning on or after July 1, 2003, 50% of the remaining proceeds to the orphan share account established in 75-10-743.

     (12) (a) By the dates referred to in subsection (13), the department shall, except as provided in subsection (12)(b), calculate and distribute oil and natural gas production taxes received under subsections (2)(b), (5)(b), and (6)(b) to each eligible county in proportion to the oil and natural gas production taxes received under subsections (2)(b), (5)(b), and (6)(b) that are attributable to production in that county.

     (b)  The department shall distribute 5% of the oil and natural gas production taxes received under subsections (2)(b), (5)(b), and (6)(b) from pre-1999 wells to eligible counties in proportion to the underfunding that would have occurred from the tax liability distribution of pre-1985 oil and natural gas production taxes for production in calendar year 1997.

     (c)  Except as provided in subsection (12)(d), the county treasurer shall distribute the money received under subsection (12)(b) to the taxing units that levied mills in fiscal year 1990 against calendar year 1988 production in the same manner that all other property tax proceeds were distributed during fiscal year 1990 in the taxing unit, except that a distribution may not be made to a municipal taxing unit.

     (d)  The board of county commissioners of a county may direct the county treasurer to reallocate the distribution of oil and natural gas production tax money that would have gone to a taxing unit, as provided in subsection (12)(c), to another taxing unit or taxing units, other than an elementary school or high school, within the county under the following conditions:

     (i)  The county treasurer shall first allocate the oil and natural gas production taxes to the taxing units within the county in the same proportion that all other property tax proceeds were distributed in the county in fiscal year 1990.

     (ii) If the allocation in subsection (12)(d)(i) exceeds the total budget for a taxing unit, the commissioners may direct the county treasurer to allocate the excess to any taxing unit within the county.

     (e)  The board of trustees of an elementary or high school district may reallocate the oil and natural gas production taxes distributed to the district by the county treasurer under the following conditions:

     (i)  The district shall first allocate the oil and natural gas production taxes to the budgeted funds of the district in the same proportion that all other property tax proceeds were distributed in the district in fiscal year 1990.

     (ii) If the allocation under subsection (12)(e)(i) exceeds the total budget for a fund, the trustees may allocate the excess to any budgeted fund of the school district.

     (f)  The county treasurer shall distribute oil and natural gas production taxes received under subsection (12)(a) between county and school taxing units in the relative proportions required by the levies for state, county, and school district purposes in the same manner as property taxes were distributed in the preceding fiscal year.

     (g)  The allocation to the county in subsection (12)(f) must be distributed by the county treasurer in the relative proportions required by the levies for county taxing units and in the same manner as property taxes were distributed in the preceding fiscal year.

     (h)  The money distributed in subsection (12)(f) that is required for the county mill levies for school district retirement obligations and transportation schedules must be deposited to the funds established for these purposes.

     (i)  The oil and natural gas production taxes distributed under subsection (12)(c) that are required for the 6-mill university levy imposed under 20-25-423 and for the county equalization levies imposed under 20-9-331 and 20-9-333, as those sections read on July 1, 1989, must be remitted by the county treasurer to the department.

     (j)  The oil and natural gas production taxes distributed under subsection (12)(f) that are required for the 6-mill university levy imposed under 20-25-423, for the county equalization levies imposed under 20-9-331 and 20-9-333, and for the state equalization aid levy imposed under 20-9-360 must be remitted by the county treasurer to the department.

     (k)  The amount of oil and natural gas production taxes remaining after the treasurer has remitted the amounts determined in subsections (12)(i) and (12)(j) is for the exclusive use and benefit of the county and school taxing units.

     (13) The department shall remit the amounts to be distributed in subsection (12) to the county treasurer by the following dates:

     (a)  On or before August 1 of each year, the department shall remit to the county treasurer oil and natural gas production tax payments received for the calendar quarter ending March 31 of the current year.

     (b)  On or before November 1 of each year, the department shall remit to the county treasurer oil and natural gas production tax payments received for the calendar quarter ending June 30 of the current year.

     (c)  On or before February 1 of each year, the department shall remit to the county treasurer oil and natural gas production tax payments received for the calendar quarter ending September 30 of the previous year.

     (d)  On or before May 1 of each year, the department shall remit to the county treasurer oil and natural gas production tax payments received for the calendar quarter ending December 31 of the previous calendar year.

     (14) The department shall provide to each county by May 31 of each year the amount of gross taxable value represented by all types of production taxed under 15-36-304 for the previous calendar year multiplied by 60%. The resulting value must be treated as taxable value for county classification purposes.

     (15) (a) In the event that the board revises the privilege and license tax pursuant to 82-11-131, the department shall, by rule, change the formula under this section for distribution of taxes collected under 15-36-304. The revised formula must provide for the distribution of taxes in an amount equal to the rate adopted by the board for its expenses.

     (b)  Before the department adopts a rule pursuant to subsection (15)(a), it shall present the proposed rule to the appropriate administrative rule review committee.

     (16) The distribution to taxing units under this section is statutorily appropriated as provided in 17-7-502. (Terminates June 30, 2011--sec. 10, Ch. 531, L. 2001; sec. 8(2), Ch. 12, Sp. L. August 2002.)

     15-36-324.  (Effective July 1, 2011) Distribution of taxes -- rules. (1) For each calendar quarter, the department shall determine the amount of tax, late payment interest, and penalty collected under this part. For purposes of distribution of the taxes to county and school taxing units, the department shall determine the amount of oil and natural gas production taxes paid on production in the taxing unit.

     (2)  Except as provided in subsections (3) through (5), oil production taxes must be distributed as follows:

     (a)  The amount equal to 39.3% of the oil production taxes, including late payment interest and penalty, collected under this part must be distributed as provided in subsection (9).

     (b)  The remaining 60.7% of the oil production taxes, plus accumulated interest earned on the amount allocated under this subsection (2)(b), must be deposited in the state special revenue fund in the state treasury and transferred to the county and school taxing units for distribution as provided in subsection (12).

     (3)  The amount equal to 100% of the oil production taxes, including late payment interest and penalty, collected from working interest owners on qualifying production occurring during the first 12 months of production must be distributed as provided in subsection (10).

     (4)  (a) The amount equal to 100% of the oil production taxes, including late payment interest and penalty, collected from working interest owners on production from horizontally completed wells occurring during the first 18 months of production must be distributed as provided in subsection (10).

     (b)  The amount equal to 100% of the oil production taxes, including late payment interest and penalty, collected from working interest owners on the incremental production from horizontally recompleted wells occurring during the first 18 months of production must be distributed as provided in subsection (9).

     (5)  (a) The amount equal to 13.8% of the oil production taxes, including late payment interest and penalty, collected from working interest owners on the first 10 barrels of stripper oil production wells must be distributed as provided in subsection (10).

     (b)  The remaining 86.2% of the oil production taxes, plus accumulated interest earned on the amount allocated under this subsection (5)(b), must be deposited in the state special revenue fund in the state treasury and transferred to the county and school taxing units for distribution as provided in subsection (12).

     (c)  The amount equal to 100% of the oil production taxes, including late payment interest and penalty, collected from working interest owners on stripper well exemption production from pre-1999 wells and post-1999 wells must be distributed as provided in subsection (10).

     (6)  Except as provided in subsections (7) and (8), natural gas production taxes must be allocated as follows:

     (a)  The amount equal to 14% of the natural gas production taxes, including late payment interest and penalty, collected under this part must be distributed as provided in subsection (11).

     (b)  The remaining 86% of the natural gas production taxes, plus accumulated interest earned on the amount allocated under this subsection (6)(b), must be deposited in the state special revenue fund in the state treasury and transferred to the county and school taxing units for distribution as provided in subsection (12).

     (7)  The amount equal to 100% of the natural gas production taxes, including late payment interest and penalty, collected from working interest owners under this part on production from wells occurring during the first 12 months of production must be distributed as provided in subsection (10).

     (8)  The amount equal to 100% of natural gas production taxes, including late payment interest and penalty, collected from working interest owners on production from horizontally completed wells occurring during the first 18 months of production must be distributed as provided in subsection (10).

     (9)  The department shall, in accordance with the provisions of 15-1-501, distribute the state portion of oil production taxes specified in subsections (2)(a) and (4)(b), including late payment interest and penalty collected, as follows:

     (a)  86.21% to the state general fund;

     (b)  5.17% to the state special revenue fund for the purpose of paying expenses of the board as provided in 82-11-135; and

     (c)  8.62% to be distributed as follows:

     (i)  50% to the resource indemnity trust fund of the nonexpendable trust fund type;

     (ii) 25% to the reclamation and development grants special revenue account established in 90-2-1104; and

     (iii) 25% to the orphan share account established in 75-10-743.

     (10) The department shall distribute the state portion of oil and natural gas production taxes specified in subsections (3), (4)(a), (5)(a), (5)(c), (7), and (8), including late payment interest and penalty collected, as follows:

     (a)  37.5% to the state special revenue fund for the purpose of paying expenses of the board as provided in 82-11-135; and

     (b)  62.5% to be distributed as follows:

     (i)  50% to the resource indemnity trust fund of the nonexpendable trust fund type;

     (ii) 25% to the reclamation and development grants special revenue account established by 90-2-1104; and

     (iii) 25% to the orphan share account established in 75-10-743.

     (11) The department shall, in accordance with the provisions of 15-1-501, distribute the state portion of natural gas production taxes specified in subsection (6)(a), including late payment interest and penalty collected, as follows:

     (a)  76.8% to be distributed as follows IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER:

     (i) $2.915 million to the state general fund; and

     (ii) all of the remaining proceeds $3.085 MILLION to the school flexibility account created in 20-9-542 FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE ENSUING FISCAL YEAR; AND

     (III) ALL OF THE REMAINING PROCEEDS TO THE STATE GENERAL FUND;

     (b)  8.7% to the state special revenue fund for the purpose of paying expenses of the board as provided in 82-11-135; and

     (c)  14.5% to be distributed as follows:

     (i)  50% to the resource indemnity trust fund of the nonexpendable trust fund type;

     (ii) 25% to the reclamation and development grants special revenue account established in 90-2-1104; and

     (iii) 25% to the orphan share account established in 75-10-743.

     (12) (a) By the dates referred to in subsection (13), the department shall, except as provided in subsection (12)(b), calculate and distribute oil and natural gas production taxes received under subsections (2)(b), (5)(b), and (6)(b) to each eligible county in proportion to the oil and natural gas production taxes received under subsections (2)(b), (5)(b), and (6)(b) that are attributable to production in that county.

     (b)  The department shall distribute 5% of the oil and natural gas production taxes received under subsections (2)(b), (5)(b), and (6)(b) from pre-1999 wells to eligible counties in proportion to the underfunding that would have occurred from the tax liability distribution of pre-1985 oil and natural gas production taxes for production in calendar year 1997.

     (c)  Except as provided in subsection (12)(d), the county treasurer shall distribute the money received under subsection (12)(b) to the taxing units that levied mills in fiscal year 1990 against calendar year 1988 production in the same manner that all other property tax proceeds were distributed during fiscal year 1990 in the taxing unit, except that a distribution may not be made to a municipal taxing unit.

     (d)  The board of county commissioners of a county may direct the county treasurer to reallocate the distribution of oil and natural gas production tax money that would have gone to a taxing unit, as provided in subsection (12)(c), to another taxing unit or taxing units, other than an elementary school or high school, within the county under the following conditions:

     (i)  The county treasurer shall first allocate the oil and natural gas production taxes to the taxing units within the county in the same proportion that all other property tax proceeds were distributed in the county in fiscal year 1990.

     (ii) If the allocation in subsection (12)(d)(i) exceeds the total budget for a taxing unit, the commissioners may direct the county treasurer to allocate the excess to any taxing unit within the county.

     (e)  The board of trustees of an elementary or high school district may reallocate the oil and natural gas production taxes distributed to the district by the county treasurer under the following conditions:

     (i)  The district shall first allocate the oil and natural gas production taxes to the budgeted funds of the district in the same proportion that all other property tax proceeds were distributed in the district in fiscal year 1990.

     (ii) If the allocation under subsection (12)(e)(i) exceeds the total budget for a fund, the trustees may allocate the excess to any budgeted fund of the school district.

     (f)  The county treasurer shall distribute oil and natural gas production taxes received under subsection (12)(a) between county and school taxing units in the relative proportions required by the levies for state, county, and school district purposes in the same manner as property taxes were distributed in the preceding fiscal year.

     (g)  The allocation to the county in subsection (12)(f) must be distributed by the county treasurer in the relative proportions required by the levies for county taxing units and in the same manner as property taxes were distributed in the preceding fiscal year.

     (h)  The money distributed in subsection (12)(f) that is required for the county mill levies for school district retirement obligations and transportation schedules must be deposited to the funds established for these purposes.

     (i)  The oil and natural gas production taxes distributed under subsection (12)(c) that are required for the 6-mill university levy imposed under 20-25-423 and for the county equalization levies imposed under 20-9-331 and 20-9-333, as those sections read on July 1, 1989, must be remitted by the county treasurer to the department.

     (j)  The oil and natural gas production taxes distributed under subsection (12)(f) that are required for the 6-mill university levy imposed under 20-25-423, for the county equalization levies imposed under 20-9-331 and 20-9-333, and for the state equalization aid levy imposed under 20-9-360 must be remitted by the county treasurer to the department.

     (k)  The amount of oil and natural gas production taxes remaining after the treasurer has remitted the amounts determined in subsections (12)(i) and (12)(j) is for the exclusive use and benefit of the county and school taxing units.

     (13) The department shall remit the amounts to be distributed in subsection (12) to the county treasurer by the following dates:

     (a)  On or before August 1 of each year, the department shall remit to the county treasurer oil and natural gas production tax payments received for the calendar quarter ending March 31 of the current year.

     (b)  On or before November 1 of each year, the department shall remit to the county treasurer oil and natural gas production tax payments received for the calendar quarter ending June 30 of the current year.

     (c)  On or before February 1 of each year, the department shall remit to the county treasurer oil and natural gas production tax payments received for the calendar quarter ending September 30 of the previous year.

     (d)  On or before May 1 of each year, the department shall remit to the county treasurer oil and natural gas production tax payments received for the calendar quarter ending December 31 of the previous calendar year.

     (14) The department shall provide to each county by May 31 of each year the amount of gross taxable value represented by all types of production taxed under 15-36-304 for the previous calendar year multiplied by 60%. The resulting value must be treated as taxable value for county classification purposes.

     (15) (a) In the event that the board revises the privilege and license tax pursuant to 82-11-131, the department shall, by rule, change the formula under this section for distribution of taxes collected under 15-36-304. The revised formula must provide for the distribution of taxes in an amount equal to the rate adopted by the board for its expenses.

     (b)  Before the department adopts a rule pursuant to subsection (15)(a), it shall present the proposed rule to the appropriate administrative rule review committee.

     (16) The distribution to taxing units under this section is statutorily appropriated as provided in 17-7-502."

 

     SECTION 2.  SECTION 20-9-544, MCA, IS AMENDED TO READ:

     "20-9-544.  District school flexibility fund levy. (1) In addition to the money allocated in 20-9-542 for a district's school flexibility fund, the trustees of a school district may submit a proposition to the qualified electors of the district to approve a levy for the ensuing school year in an amount not to exceed 25% of the district's current year allocation in 20-9-542 to fund the school flexibility fund authorized under 20-9-543. An election called pursuant to this section must be called and conducted in the manner prescribed by this title for school elections. The ballot for a proposition must provide "FOR" and "AGAINST" provisions, stating whether the district is authorized to impose a levy of (state the dollars) dollars and (state the approximate number of mills) mills to fund the school flexibility fund in the school district. The school flexibility fund proposition is approved if a majority of those electors voting at the election approve the levy.

     (2)  Money collected from the levy must be deposited in the district's school flexibility fund and spent in accordance with 20-9-543."

 

     NEW SECTION.  Section 3.  Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 2003.

- END -

 


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