H*3713(Rat #0091, Act #0057 of 2011)  General Bill, By Merrill, J.R. Smith, 
Ryan, Hamilton, G.R. Smith, Bedingfield, Barfield, Sandifer, McCoy, Horne, 
Stavrinakis, Clemmons, Loftis, Lucas, Herbkersman, Patrick, Erickson, 
G.M. Smith, Hixon, Pinson, Viers and Henderson

Similar(S 647)
 AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 12-37-3135 SO AS TO ALLOW A PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION EQUAL TO TWENTY-FIVE
 PERCENT OF THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF A PARCEL OF REAL PROPERTY AND IMPROVEMENTS
 THEREON UNDERGOING AN ASSESSABLE TRANSFER OF INTEREST AFTER 2010, WHICH IS
 CURRENTLY SUBJECT TO PROPERTY TAX, AND SUBJECT TO THE SIX PERCENT ASSESSMENT
 RATIO, TO PROVIDE THAT THIS EXEMPTION MAY NOT REDUCE THE VALUE OF THE PARCEL
 BELOW ITS CURRENT FAIR MARKET VALUE AS REFLECTED ON THE BOOKS OF THE PROPERTY
 TAX ASSESSOR, TO PROVIDE THAT THE FIFTEEN PERCENT CAP ON INCREASES IN VALUE
 ATTRIBUTABLE TO A COUNTYWIDE REASSESSMENT PROGRAM IS CALCULATED ON THE VALUE
 OF THE PARCEL AS REDUCED BY THIS EXEMPTION, TO REQUIRE NOTICE TO THE ASSESSOR
 TO CLAIM THIS EXEMPTION WHICH SERVES FOR SO LONG AS THE PROPERTY REMAINS
 SUBJECT TO THE SIX PERCENT ASSESSMENT RATIO, AND TO PROVIDE DEFINITIONS
 APPLICABLE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THIS EXEMPTION; TO AMEND SECTION 6-1-320,
 AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE LIMIT ON ANNUAL INCREASES ON PROPERTY TAX MILLAGE
 IMPOSED FOR OPERATING PURPOSES, SO AS TO ALLOW A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION,
 INCLUDING A SCHOOL DISTRICT, TO IMPOSE MILLAGE INCREASES ALLOWED BUT NOT
 IMPOSED FOR THE THREE PRECEDING PROPERTY TAX YEARS AND TO EXEMPT FROM THE CAP
 MILLAGE IMPOSED FOR OPERATING PURPOSES BY A SPECIAL TAX DISTRICT; AND TO AMEND
 SECTION 12-37-251, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE CALCULATION OF ROLLBACK
 MILLAGE, SO AS TO REVISE THE METHOD OF CALCULATING ROLLBACK MILLAGE AND
 PROVIDE FOR THE CALCULATION OF AN EQUIVALENT MILLAGE RATE IN A MUNICIPALITY
 LOCATED IN MORE THAN ONE COUNTY WHEN THOSE COUNTIES HAVE DIFFERENT SCHEDULES
 FOR IMPLEMENTING A COUNTYWIDE REASSESSMENT PROGRAM. - ratified title

   02/17/11  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 7)
   02/17/11  House  Referred to Committee on Ways and Means
                     (House Journal-page 7)
   02/22/11  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: J.R.Smith
   03/01/11  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Ryan,
                     Hamilton, Stringer, G.R.Smith, Bedingfield, Barfield
   03/02/11  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor:
                     Sandifer, McCoy, Murphy, Horne, Stavrinakis, Clemmons
   03/08/11  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Loftis,
                     Lucas, Herbkersman, Patrick, Erickson,
                     G.M.Smith, Knight
   03/10/11  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Hixon
   03/29/11  House  Member(s) request name removed as sponsor: Murphy
   04/06/11  House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment Ways
                     and Means (House Journal-page 57)
   04/07/11         Scrivener's error corrected
   04/12/11  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Pinson
   04/13/11  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Viers
   04/13/11  House  Member(s) request name removed as sponsor: Stringer
   04/13/11  House  Requests for debate-Rep(s). Cobb-Hunter, Ott,
                     Butler Garrick, Hart, McEachern, JH Neal,
                     Jefferson, Sabb, Johnson, Knight, Brantley,
                     Merrill, RL Brown, Anderson, Clyburn, Hosey,
                     Brannon, Hayes, Alexander, and McLeod
                     (House Journal-page 58)
   04/26/11  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Henderson
   04/27/11  House  Member(s) request name removed as sponsor: Knight
   04/27/11  House  Amended (House Journal-page 91)
   04/27/11  House  Debate adjourned (House Journal-page 91)
   04/28/11  House  Debate adjourned until Tuesday, May 3, 2011
                     (House Journal-page 67)
   05/04/11  House  Debate adjourned until Wednesday, May 11, 2011
                     (House Journal-page 46)
   05/12/11  House  Amended (House Journal-page 18)
   05/12/11  House  Read second time (House Journal-page 18)
   05/12/11  House  Roll call Yeas-60  Nays-45 (House Journal-page 18)
   05/16/11         Scrivener's error corrected
   05/17/11  House  Debate adjourned until Thursday, May 18, 2011
                     (House Journal-page 26)
   05/18/11  House  Read third time and sent to Senate
                     (House Journal-page 25)
   05/18/11  House  Roll call Yeas-64  Nays-51 (House Journal-page 25)
   05/19/11  Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 10)
   05/19/11  Senate Referred to Committee on Finance
                     (Senate Journal-page 10)
   06/01/11  Senate Recalled from Committee on Finance
                     (Senate Journal-page 196)
   06/01/11  Senate Read second time (Senate Journal-page 196)
   06/02/11  Senate Amended (Senate Journal-page 14)
   06/02/11  Senate Read third time and returned to House with
                     amendments (Senate Journal-page 14)
   06/02/11  Senate Roll call Ayes-42  Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 14)
   06/02/11  House  Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled
                     (House Journal-page 56)
   06/02/11  House  Roll call Yeas-105  Nays-4 (House Journal-page 56)
   06/08/11         Ratified R 91
   06/14/11         Signed By Governor
   06/20/11         Effective date See Act for Effective Date
   06/20/11         Act No. 57

(A57, R91, H3713)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 12-37-3135 SO AS TO ALLOW A PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION EQUAL TO TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF A PARCEL OF REAL PROPERTY AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON UNDERGOING AN ASSESSABLE TRANSFER OF INTEREST AFTER 2010, WHICH IS CURRENTLY SUBJECT TO PROPERTY TAX, AND SUBJECT TO THE SIX PERCENT ASSESSMENT RATIO, TO PROVIDE THAT THIS EXEMPTION MAY NOT REDUCE THE VALUE OF THE PARCEL BELOW ITS CURRENT FAIR MARKET VALUE AS REFLECTED ON THE BOOKS OF THE PROPERTY TAX ASSESSOR, TO PROVIDE THAT THE FIFTEEN PERCENT CAP ON INCREASES IN VALUE ATTRIBUTABLE TO A COUNTYWIDE REASSESSMENT PROGRAM IS CALCULATED ON THE VALUE OF THE PARCEL AS REDUCED BY THIS EXEMPTION, TO REQUIRE NOTICE TO THE ASSESSOR TO CLAIM THIS EXEMPTION WHICH SERVES FOR SO LONG AS THE PROPERTY REMAINS SUBJECT TO THE SIX PERCENT ASSESSMENT RATIO, AND TO PROVIDE DEFINITIONS APPLICABLE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THIS EXEMPTION; TO AMEND SECTION 6-1-320, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE LIMIT ON ANNUAL INCREASES ON PROPERTY TAX MILLAGE IMPOSED FOR OPERATING PURPOSES, SO AS TO ALLOW A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION, INCLUDING A SCHOOL DISTRICT, TO IMPOSE MILLAGE INCREASES ALLOWED BUT NOT IMPOSED FOR THE THREE PRECEDING PROPERTY TAX YEARS AND TO EXEMPT FROM THE CAP MILLAGE IMPOSED FOR OPERATING PURPOSES BY A SPECIAL TAX DISTRICT; AND TO AMEND SECTION 12-37-251, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE CALCULATION OF ROLLBACK MILLAGE, SO AS TO REVISE THE METHOD OF CALCULATING ROLLBACK MILLAGE AND PROVIDE FOR THE CALCULATION OF AN EQUIVALENT MILLAGE RATE IN A MUNICIPALITY LOCATED IN MORE THAN ONE COUNTY WHEN THOSE COUNTIES HAVE DIFFERENT SCHEDULES FOR IMPLEMENTING A COUNTYWIDE REASSESSMENT PROGRAM.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Commercial real property, property tax exemption

SECTION    1.    Article 25, Chapter 37, Title 12 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 12-37-3135.    (A)    As used in this section:

(1)    'ATI fair market value' means the fair market value of a parcel of real property and any improvements thereon as determined by appraisal at the time the parcel last underwent an assessable transfer of interest.

(2)    'Current fair market value' means the fair market value of a parcel of real property as reflected on the books of the property tax assessor for the current property tax year.

(3)    'Exemption value' means the ATI fair market value when reduced by the exemption allowed by this section.

(4)    'Fair market value' means the fair market value of a parcel of real property and any improvements thereon as determined by the property tax assessor by an initial appraisal, by an appraisal at the time the parcel undergoes an assessable transfer of interest, and as periodically reappraised pursuant to Section 12-43-217.

(5)    'Property tax value' means fair market value as it may be adjusted downward to reflect the limit imposed pursuant to Section 12-37-3140(B).

(B)(1)    When a parcel of real property and any improvements thereon subject to the six percent assessment ratio provided pursuant to Section 12-43-220(e) and which is currently subject to property tax undergoes an assessable transfer of interest after 2010, there is allowed an exemption from property tax of an amount of the ATI fair market value of the parcel as determined in the manner provided in item (2) of this subsection. Calculation of property tax value for such parcels is based on exemption value. The exemption allowed by this section applies at the time the ATI fair market value first applies.

(2)(a)    The exemption allowed by this section is an amount equal to twenty-five percent of ATI fair market value of the parcel. However, no exemption value calculated pursuant to this section may be less than current fair market value of the parcel.

(b)    If the ATI fair market value of the parcel is less than the current fair market value, the exemption otherwise allowed pursuant to this section does not apply and the ATI fair market value applies as provided pursuant to Section 12-37-3140(A)(1)(b).

(C)    The exemption allowed in this section does not apply unless the owner of the property, or the owner's agent, notifies the county assessor that the property will be subject to the six percent assessment ratio provided pursuant to Section 12-43-220(e) before January thirty-first for the tax year for which the owner first claims eligibility for the exemption. No further notifications are necessary from the current owner while the property remains subject to the six percent assessment ratio."

Cap on property tax millage increases revised

SECTION    2.    A.        Section 6-1-320(A) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 116 of 2007, is further amended to read:

"(A)(1)    Notwithstanding Section 12-37-251(E), a local governing body may increase the millage rate imposed for general operating purposes above the rate imposed for such purposes for the preceding tax year only to the extent of the increase in the average of the twelve monthly consumer price indices for the most recent twelve-month period consisting of January through December of the preceding calendar year, plus, beginning in 2007, the percentage increase in the previous year in the population of the entity as determined by the Office of Research and Statistics of the State Budget and Control Board. If the average of the twelve monthly consumer price indices experiences a negative percentage, the average is deemed to be zero. If an entity experiences a reduction in population, the percentage change in population is deemed to be zero. However, in the year in which a reassessment program is implemented, the rollback millage, as calculated pursuant to Section 12-37-251(E), must be used in lieu of the previous year's millage rate.

(2)    There may be added to the operating millage increase allowed pursuant to item (1) of this subsection any such increase, allowed but not previously imposed, for the three property tax years preceding the year to which the current limit applies."

B.        Section 6-1-320 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 410 of 2008, is further amended by adding at the end:

"(F)    The restriction contained in this section does not affect millage imposed to pay bonded indebtedness or operating expenses of a special tax district established pursuant to Section 4-9-30(5), but the special tax district is subject to the millage rate limitations in Section 4-9-30(5)."

Rollback millage calculation revised, uniform millage imposed

SECTION    3.    A.        Section 12-37-251(E) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(E)    Rollback millage is calculated by dividing the prior year property taxes levied as adjusted by abatements and additions by the adjusted total assessed value applicable in the year the values derived from a countywide equalization and reassessment program are implemented. This amount of assessed value must be adjusted by deducting assessments added for property or improvements not previously taxed, for new construction, for renovation of existing structures, and assessments attributable to increases in value due to an assessable transfer of interest."

B.        Section 12-37-251 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 388 of 2006, is further amended by adding at the end:

"(G)    If the boundaries of a municipality extend into more than one county and those counties implement the countywide appraisal and equalization programs required pursuant to Section 12-43-217 on different schedules, then the governing body of the municipality shall set an equivalent millage to be used to compute municipal ad valorem property taxes. The equivalent millage to be set by the municipal governing body must be determined by methodology established by the respective county auditors which must be consistent with the methodology for calculating equivalent millage to be established by the Department of Revenue for use in these situations for the purpose of equalizing the municipal property tax on real property situated in different counties."

C.        This section takes effect for rollback millage calculated for property tax years beginning after 2010.

Time effective

SECTION    4.    Except where otherwise provided, this act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Ratified the 8th day of June, 2011.

Approved the 14th day of June, 2011.