South Carolina General Assembly
116th Session, 2005-2006

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S. 484

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill
Sponsors: Senators Sheheen, Short, Martin, Ford and Campsen
Document Path: l:\council\bills\gjk\20205htc05.doc
Companion/Similar bill(s): 485, 3693, 3714

Introduced in the Senate on February 10, 2005
Currently residing in the Senate Committee on Finance

Summary: School Equity and Property Tax Relief Act

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   2/10/2005  Senate  Introduced and read first time SJ-12
   2/10/2005  Senate  Referred to Committee on Finance SJ-12
   3/14/2005          Scrivener's error corrected

View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

2/10/2005
3/14/2005

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A BILL

TO ENACT THE SCHOOL EQUITY AND PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ACT BY AMENDING THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 11 TO CHAPTER 36, TITLE 12, SO AS TO IMPOSE AN ADDITIONAL STATE SALES, USE, AND CASUAL EXCISE TAX EQUAL TO ONE PERCENT OF GROSS PROCEEDS OF SALES OR SALES PRICE, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THIS ADDITIONAL ONE PERCENT TAX DOES NOT APPLY ON ACCOMMODATIONS FOR TRANSIENTS; BY AMENDING SECTION 11-11-150, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE TRUST FUND FOR TAX RELIEF, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT REVENUES FROM THE TRUST FUND REIMBURSING SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION TO A SCHOOL DISTRICT MUST BE PAID MONTHLY IN AN AMOUNT THAT IS THE DISTRICT'S PROPORTIONATE SHARE OF THE REIMBURSEMENT BASED ON THE DISTRICT'S WEIGHTED PUPIL UNITS AS A PERCENTAGE OF STATEWIDE WEIGHTED PUPIL UNITS; BY ADDING SECTION 11-11-155 SO AS TO CREATE THE SCHOOL MILLAGE TAX EXEMPTION TRUST FUND (THE SCHOOL TRUST FUND) AND REQUIRE REVENUES OF THE ADDITIONAL SALES AND USE TAX, PROPERTY TAX, AND ADDITIONAL REVENUE GENERATED BY ELIMINATING OR REVISING SALES TAX EXEMPTIONS AND CAPS TO BE CREDITED TO THIS FUND; BY ADDING SECTION 12-37-130 SO AS TO IMPOSE A STATEWIDE PROPERTY TAX AT THE RATE OF ONE HUNDRED MILLS WITH A CREDIT AGAINST THIS TAX IN A SCHOOL DISTRICT IN WHICH FEWER THAN ONE HUNDRED MILLS WERE IMPOSED FOR SCHOOL OPERATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2004-2005; BY AMENDING SECTION 12-24-10, RELATING TO THE DEED RECORDING FEE, SO AS TO INCREASE THIS FEE BY ONE DOLLAR AND FIFTEEN CENTS ON EACH FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS OF THE REALTY'S VALUE; BY ADDING SECTION 12-6-1145 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A DEDUCTION IS ALLOWED FROM SOUTH CAROLINA TAXABLE INCOME FOR CASH CONTRIBUTIONS FOR ANY EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE MADE TO A PUBLIC SCHOOL OR TO A SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THE STATE, OR MADE TO THE SCHOOL TRUST FUND; BY AMENDING SECTIONS 12-36-60 AND 12-36-90, BOTH AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE DEFINITIONS OF "TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY" AND "GROSS PROCEEDS OF SALES" FOR PURPOSES OF THE IMPOSITION OF THE SALES AND USE TAX AND EXEMPTIONS FROM THE SALES TAX, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE SALE OF SOUTH CAROLINA EDUCATION LOTTERY TICKETS IS A SALE OF TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY GIVING RISE TO GROSS PROCEEDS OF SALES IN THE AMOUNT OF THE TICKET PRICE AND IS SUBJECT TO THE SALES TAX; BY AMENDING SECTION 12-36-910, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE IMPOSITION OF THE SALES TAX, SO AS TO PROVIDE A SEPARATE STATE SALES AND USE TAX AT THE RATE OF ONE PERCENT ON UNPREPARED FOOD WHICH CAN BE PURCHASED WITH UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOOD COUPONS; BY AMENDING SECTION 12-36-2110, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE MAXIMUM SALES, USE, AND CASUAL EXCISE TAX ON VARIOUS ITEMS OF TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY, INCLUDING MOTOR VEHICLES, SO AS TO RAISE THE MAXIMUM TAX; BY AMENDING SECTION 12-36-2120, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO SALES TAX EXEMPTIONS, SO AS TO DELETE CERTAIN EXEMPTIONS; BY ADDING SECTION 12-37-253 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR A PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR ALL PROPERTY FROM SCHOOL OPERATING MILLAGE NOT OTHERWISE EXEMPT, PROVIDE THE METHOD OF DETERMINING AND PHASING IN THE EXEMPTION, AND TO PROVIDE REIMBURSEMENTS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR THIS NEW EXEMPTION WITH A PAYMENT BASED ON WEIGHTED PUPIL UNITS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-20-40, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE EDUCATION FINANCE ACT, SO AS TO REVISE WEIGHTINGS USED TO PROVIDE RELATIVE COST DIFFERENCES; BY ADDING SECTION 59-20-42 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT BEGINNING WITH FISCAL YEAR 2005-2006 EDUCATION FINANCE ACT APPROPRIATIONS MUST BE DISTRIBUTED TO A SCHOOL DISTRICT IN AN AMOUNT THAT IS THE DISTRICT'S PROPORTIONATE SHARE OF SUCH FUNDS BASED ON THE DISTRICT'S WEIGHTED PUPIL UNITS AS A PERCENTAGE OF STATEWIDE WEIGHTED PUPIL UNITS AS DETERMINED ANNUALLY PURSUANT TO THE EDUCATION FINANCE ACT; TO REQUIRE THE SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO ORDER RATE REDUCTIONS IN RATES CHARGED CUSTOMERS OF REGULATED PUBLIC UTILITIES SUFFICIENT TO REFLECT NET PROPERTY TAX REDUCTIONS TO UTILITIES PROVIDED PURSUANT TO THIS ACT, TO PROVIDE THAT FOR A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS BEGINNING JULY 1, 2005, AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2008, A LOCAL GOVERNING BODY UNDER PROVISIONS OF LAW AUTHORIZING THE ASSESSMENT OF TAXES AND FEES UNDER SPECIFIED CONDITIONS MAY INCREASE THE MILLAGE RATE IMPOSED FOR GENERAL OPERATING PURPOSES ABOVE THE RATE IMPOSED FOR SUCH PURPOSES FOR THE PRECEDING TAX YEAR ONLY BY A TWO-THIRDS VOTE OF THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE GOVERNING BODY, PRESENT OR NOT, RATHER THAN BY A POSITIVE MAJORITY VOTE; BY REPEALING ARTICLE 3, CHAPTER 10 OF TITLE 4, RELATING TO THE CAPITAL PROJECT SALES TAX ACT, AND CHAPTER 37 OF TITLE 4 RELATING TO OPTIONAL METHODS FOR FINANCING TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES INCLUDING LEVY OF ADDITIONAL SALES TAXES, AND TO PROVIDE THAT SALES TAXES FOR PROJECTS PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED UNDER THESE PROVISIONS SHALL CONTINUE UNTIL THEIR SCHEDULED TERMINATION DATE; TO REQUIRE A REFERENDUM IN COUNTIES IN WHICH THE LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX IS CURRENTLY IMPOSED FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING WHETHER TO RESCIND THE TAX AND BY PROVIDING THAT THIS ACT TAKES EFFECT JULY 1, 2005, AND APPLIES FOR PROPERTY TAX YEARS BEGINNING AFTER 2004 AND MOTOR VEHICLE TAX YEARS BEGINNING AFTER JUNE 30, 2005.

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

SECTION    1.    Chapter 36, Title 12 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Article 11

Additional Sales, Use, and Casual Excise Tax

Section 12-36-1110.    An additional sales, use, and casual excise tax equal to one percent is imposed on amounts taxable pursuant to this chapter, except that this additional one percent tax does not apply to amounts taxed pursuant to Section 12-36-920, the tax on accommodations for transients."

SECTION    2.    Section 11-11-150 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 387 of 2000, is further amended by adding:

"(H)    Beginning July 1, 2005, and notwithstanding the provisions of Section 12-37-251(B) revenues from the Trust Fund for Tax Relief to be distributed to a school district as a reimbursement for the property tax exemption enumerated in item (1) of subsection (A) must be paid monthly in an amount that is the district's share of these revenues based on the district's weighted pupil units as a percentage of statewide weighted pupil units as determined annually pursuant to the Education Finance Act."

SECTION    3.    Section 12-24-10 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 12-24-10.    (A)In addition to all other recording fees, a recording fee is imposed for the privilege of recording a deed in which any lands and all improvements on the land, tenements, or other realty is transferred to another person. The fee is one dollar eighty-five cents for each five hundred dollars, or fractional part of five hundred dollars, of the realty's value as determined by Section 12-24-30.

(B)    In addition to all other recording fees and in addition to the fee described in subsection (A), there is imposed a recording fee for the privilege of recording a deed in which any lands and all improvements on the land, tenements, or other realty is transferred to another person. The additional fee is one dollar fifteen cents for each five hundred dollars, or fractional part of five hundred dollars of the realty's value as determined by Section 12-24-30. Notwithstanding another provision of this chapter to the contrary, this additional recording fee imposed in this subsection (B) must be deposited in the School Tax Millage Exemption Trust Fund established by Section 11-11-155."

SECTION    4.    Article 1, Chapter 37, Title 12 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 12-37-130.    (A)    In addition to all other property taxes imposed by law, there is imposed on all taxable property for every property tax year a property tax at the rate of one hundred mills. The revenue of this additional property tax must be remitted to the State Treasurer on the schedule and in the manner he directs and credited to the School Tax Millage Exemption Trust Fund established pursuant to Section 11-11-155.

(B)    To the extent the millage imposed pursuant to subsection (A) of this section exceeds the millage imposed in a school district for school operations for fiscal year 2004-2005, there is allowed as a credit against the tax attributable to this millage an amount equal to the tax attributable to the difference in the millage rates.    "

SECTION    5.    Chapter 11, Title 11 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 11-11-155.    (A)    For each fiscal year, the revenue from the tax imposed pursuant to Section 12-36-1110, the revenue derived from the additional deed transfer fee imposed pursuant to Section 12-24-10(B), the revenue of the property tax imposed pursuant to Section 12-37-130, and all estimated additional sales, use, and casual excise tax revenue collected as a result of tax exemptions and tax caps deleted, revised, or repealed effective July 1, 2005, as determined by the Board of Economic Advisors, are automatically credited to a fund separate and distinct from the state general fund known as the 'School Tax Millage Exemption Trust Fund' (the School Trust Fund). The Board of Economic Advisors shall account for the School Trust Fund revenue separately from general fund revenues in reports to the Governor and the General Assembly. No portion of these revenues are credited to the Education Improvement Act (EIA) Fund.

(B)    An unexpended balance in the School Trust Fund at the end of a fiscal year must remain in the School Trust Fund.

(C)    Earnings on the School Trust Fund must be credited to the School Trust Fund.

(D)    Nothing in this section prohibits appropriations by the General Assembly of additional revenues to the School Trust Fund.

(E)    The School Trust Fund may also accept cash contributions from taxpayers authorized by Section 12-6-1145 and these contributions must be used and applied in the same manner other School Trust Fund revenues are used and applied."

SECTION    6.    Chapter 6 of Title 12 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 12-6-1145.    A deduction is allowed from South Carolina taxable income for cash contributions for any educational purpose made to a public school or to a school district of the State, or made to the School Tax Millage Exemption Trust Fund established by Section 11-11-155."

SECTION    7.    Section 12-36-60 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 12-36-60.    'Tangible personal property' means personal property which may be seen, weighed, measured, felt, touched, or which is in any other manner perceptible to the senses. It also includes a South Carolina Education Lottery Ticket sold by a lottery retailer as provided in Chapter 150 of Title 59. It also includes services and intangibles, including communications, laundry and related services, furnishing of accommodations, and sales of electricity, the sale or use of which is subject to tax under this chapter and does not include stocks, notes, bonds, mortgages, or other evidences of debt. Tangible personal property does not include the transmission of computer database information by a cooperative service when the database information has been assembled by and for the exclusive use of the members of the cooperative service."

SECTION    8.    Section 12-36-90(1) of the 1976 Code is amended by adding a subitem appropriately lettered at the end to read:

"( )    the proceeds from the sale of a South Carolina Education Lottery Ticket. The ticket prices must be in whole dollar amounts to which the required sales tax must be added."

SECTION    9.    Section 12-36-2110 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 283 of 2000, is further amended to read:

"Section 12-36-2110.    (A)    The maximum tax imposed by this chapter is three hundred one thousand dollars for each sale made or lease executed after June 30, 1984, or lease executed after August 31, 1985 2005, of each:

(1)    aircraft, including unassembled aircraft which is to be assembled by the purchaser, but not items to be added to the unassembled aircraft;

(2)    motor vehicle;

(3)    motorcycle;

(4)    boat;

(5)    trailer or semitrailer, pulled by a truck tractor, as defined in Section 56-3-20, and horse trailers but not including house trailers or campers as defined in Section 56-3-710;

(6)    recreational vehicle, including tent campers, travel trailer, park model, park trailer, motor home, and fifth wheel; or

(7)    self-propelled light construction equipment with compatible attachments limited to a maximum of one hundred sixty net engine horsepower.

In the case of a lease, the total tax rate required by law applies on each payment until the total tax paid equals three hundred one thousand dollars. Nothing in this section prohibits a taxpayer from paying the total tax due at the time of execution of the lease, or with any payment under the lease. To qualify for the tax limitation provided by this section, a lease must be in writing and specifically state the term of, and remain in force for, a period in excess of ninety continuous days.

(B)    For the sale of a manufactured home, as defined in Section 40-29-20, the tax is calculated as follows:

(1)    subtract trade-in allowance from the sales price;

(2)    multiply the result from (1) by sixty-five percent;

(3)    if the result from (2) is no greater than six sixteen thousand six hundred sixty-six dollars and sixty-seven cents, multiply by five six percent for the amount of tax due;

(4)    if the result from (2) is greater than six sixteen thousand six hundred sixty-six dollars and sixty-seven cents, the tax due is three hundred one thousand dollars plus two three percent of the amount greater than six sixteen thousand six hundred sixty-six dollars and sixty-seven cents.

However, a manufactured home is exempt from any tax that may be due above three hundred one thousand dollars as a result of the calculation in item (4) if it meets these energy efficiency levels: storm or double pane glass windows, insulated or storm doors, a minimum thermal resistance rating of the insulation only of R-11 for walls, R-19 for floors, and R-30 for ceilings. However, variations in the energy efficiency levels for walls, floors, and ceilings are allowed and the exemption on tax due above three hundred one thousand dollars applies if the total heat loss does not exceed that calculated using the levels of R-11 for walls, R-19 for floors, and R-30 for ceilings. The edition of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers Guide in effect at the time is the source for heat loss calculation. The dealer selling the manufactured home must maintain records, on forms provided by the State Energy Office, on each manufactured home sold which contains the above calculations and verifying whether or not the manufactured home met the energy efficiency levels provided for in this subsection. These records must be maintained for three years and must be made available for inspection upon request of the Department of Consumer Affairs or the State Energy Office.

(C)    For the sale of each musical instrument, or each piece of office equipment, purchased by a religious organization exempt under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3), the maximum tax imposed by this chapter is three hundred one thousand dollars. The musical instrument or office equipment must be located on church property and used exclusively for the organization's exempt purpose. The religious organization must furnish to the seller an affidavit on forms prescribed by the department. The affidavit must be retained by the seller.

(D)    Repealed Reserved.

(E)    Equipment provided, supplied, or installed on a firefighting vehicle is included with the vehicle for purposes of calculating the maximum tax due under this section."

SECTION    10.    Section 12-36-910 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 69 of 2003, is further amended by adding a new subsection at the end to read:

"(D)(1)    Notwithstanding the rate of the tax imposed pursuant to subsection (A) of this section or the rate of any other sales tax imposed pursuant to this chapter and the rate of any use tax imposed pursuant to this chapter, the sales and use tax on the gross proceeds of sales or sales price of unprepared food which lawfully can be purchased with United States Department of Agriculture food coupons is one percent.

(2)    Notwithstanding any other provision of law providing for the use of sales and use tax revenues, an amount equal to twenty percent of the revenue of the sales and use tax imposed pursuant to this subsection; as estimated by the Board of Economic Advisors, must be credited to the Education Improvement Act Fund as provided in Section 59-21-1010(B)."

SECTION    11.    Items (8), (11), (12), (13), (14), (20), (21), (26), (33), (35), (37), (40), (49), (53), (54), (55), (57), (58), (59), and (60) of Section 12-36-2120 of the 1976 Code are amended to read:

"(8)    newsprint paper, newspapers, and religious publications, including the Holy Bible and the South Carolina Department of Agriculture's The Market Bulletin;

(11)[Reserved](a)    toll charges for the transmission of voice or messages between telephone exchanges;

(b)    charges for telegraph messages;

(c)    carrier access charges and customer access line charges established by the Federal Communications department or the South Carolina Public Service department; and

(d)transactions involving automatic teller machines;

(12)    [Reserved]water sold by public utilities, if rates and charges are of the kind determined by the Public Service Commission, or water sold by nonprofit corporations organized pursuant to Chapter 36 of Title 33;

(13)    [Reserved]fuel, lubricants, and supplies for use or consumption aboard ships in intercoastal trade or foreign commerce. This exemption does not exempt or exclude from the tax the sale of materials and supplies used in fulfilling a contract for the painting, repair or reconditioning of ships and other watercraft;

(14)    [Reserved]wrapping paper, wrapping twine, paper bags, and containers, used incident to the sale and delivery of tangible personal property;

(20)    [Reserved]railroad cars, locomotives, and their parts, monorail cars, and the engines or motors that propel them, and their parts;

(21)    [Reserved]vessels and barges of more than fifty tons burden;

(26)    [Reserved]all supplies, technical equipment, machinery, and electricity sold to radio and television stations, and cable television systems, for use in producing, broadcasting, or distributing programs. For the purpose of this exemption, radio stations, television stations, and cable television systems are deemed to be manufacturers;

(33)    [Reserved]electricity, natural gas, fuel oil, kerosene, LP gas, coal, or any other combustible heating material or substance used for residential purposes. Individual sales of kerosene or LP gas of twenty gallons or less by retailers are considered used for residential heating purposes;

(35)    [Reserved]motion picture film sold or rented to or by theaters;

(37)    [Reserved]petroleum asphalt products, commonly used in paving, purchased in this State, which are transported and consumed out of this State;

(40)    [Reserved]containers and chassis, including all parts, components, and attachments, sold to international shipping lines which have a contractual relationship with the South Carolina State Ports Authority and which are used in the import or export of goods to and from this State;

(49)    [Reserved]postage purchased by a person engaged in the business of selling advertising services for clients consisting of mailing, or directing the mailing of, printed advertising material through the United States mail directly to the client's customers or potential customers or by a person to mail or direct the mailing of printed advertising material through the United States mail to a potential customer;

(53)    [Reserved]motor vehicle extended service contracts and motor vehicle extended warranty contracts.

(54)    [Reserved]clothing and other attire required for working in a Class 100 or better as defined in Federal Standard 209E clean room environment.

(55)    [Reserved]audiovisual masters made or used by a production company in making visual and audio images for first generation reproduction. For purposes of this item:

(a)    'Audiovisual master' means an audio or video film, tape, or disk, or another audio or video storage device from which all other copies are made.

(b)    'Production company' means a person or entity engaged in the business of making motion picture, television, or radio images for theatrical, commercial, advertising, or education purposes.;

(57)[Reserved](a)    sales taking place during a period beginning 12:01 a.m. on the first Friday in August and ending at twelve midnight the following Sunday of:

(i)        clothing;

(ii)    clothing accessories including, but not limited to, hats, scarves, hosiery, and handbags;

(iii)    footwear;

(iv)    school supplies including, but not limited to, pens, pencils, paper, binders, notebooks, books, bookbags, lunchboxes, and calculators;

(v)    computers, printers and printer supplies, and computer software.;

(b)    the exemption allowed by this item does not apply to:

(i)        sales of jewelry, cosmetics, eyewear, wallets, and watches;

(ii)    sales of furniture;

(iii)    a sale of an item placed on layaway or similar deferred payment and delivery plan however described;

(iv)    rental of clothing or footwear;

(v)    a sale or lease of an item for use in a trade or business.;

(c)    before July tenth of each year, the department shall publish and make available to the public and retailers a list of those articles qualifying for the exemption allowed by this item.;

(58)    [Reserved]cooperative direct mail promotional advertising materials delivered by means of interstate carrier, a mailing house, or a United States Post Office to residents of this State from locations both inside and outside the State. For purposes of this item, "cooperative direct mail promotional advertising materials" means discount coupons, advertising leaflets, and similar printed advertising, including any accompanying envelopes and labels which are distributed with promotional advertising materials of more than one business in a single package to potential customers, at no charge to the potential customer, of the businesses paying for the delivery of the material.

(59)    [Reserved]facilities for transmitting electricity that is transferred, sold, or exchanged by electrical utilities, municipalities, electric cooperatives, or political subdivisions to a limited liability company which is subject to regulation under the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. Section 791(a)) and which is formed to operate or to take functional control of electric transmission assets as defined in the Federal Power Act;

(60)    [Reserved]a lottery ticket sold pursuant to Chapter 150 of Title 59;"

SECTION    12.    Chapter 37 of Title 12 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 12-37-253.    (A)    After the exemption allowed pursuant to Section 12-37-250 and Section 12-37-251, any remaining fair market value otherwise subject to tax is exempt from all school taxes except taxes:

(1)    levied for bonded indebtedness for capital construction for schools;

(2)    levied to make payments pursuant to a lease purchase agreement or other financing instrument for capital construction for schools; and

(3)    levied for school operations sufficient to prevent any decline in the district's operating budget from state funds and property taxes from fiscal year 2004-2005 to 2005-2006. Millage for fiscal year 2005-2006 to prevent a reduction and fund teacher salaries may not be increased in subsequent years, and it must be decreased in subsequent years through millage adjustments by a dollar amount equal to one-half of the new revenue provided to the district from EFA distributions and the School Trust Fund for those years. It must also be decreased to reflect any rollback resulting from reassessment.

(B)    School districts must be paid monthly from revenues credited to the School Trust Fund for a fiscal year for the exemption allowed by this section in an amount that is the district's proportionate share of School Trust Fund revenues based on the district's weighted pupil units as a percentage of statewide weighted pupil units as determined annually pursuant to the Education Finance Act. The School Trust Fund revenues that must be paid to school districts comprise the total of the following amounts:

(1)    the revenue of the taxes imposed pursuant to Section 12-36-1110;

(2)    the revenue of the tax imposed pursuant to Section 12-37-130;

(3)    the revenue of the additional deed transfer fee imposed pursuant to Section 12-24-10(B);

(4)    annual sales, use and casual excise tax revenue attributable to the exemptions and caps deleted or revised as of July 1, 2005; and

(5)    the General Assembly expresses its intent to fund annual growth in School Trust Fund revenues at least equal to the increase in the Consumer Price Index and state population each year.

(C)    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, property exempted from property taxation in the manner provided in this section is considered taxable property for purposes of bonded indebtedness pursuant to Sections 14 and 15 of Article X of the Constitution of this State.

(D)    The exemption provided by this section applies for property taxes imposed by any property taxing entity if the revenues of taxes imposed by the entity are used directly or indirectly for school operations."

SECTION    13.    Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, the South Carolina Public Service Commission shall order reductions on regulated utility rates charged customers of public utilities with rates regulated by the commission sufficient to reflect the net reduced property tax paid by these utilities.

SECTION    14.    Section 59-20-40(1)(c) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 92 of 2003, is further amended to read:

"(c)    Weightings, used to provide for relative cost differences, between programs for different students are established in order that funds may be equitably distributed on the basis of pupil needs. The criteria for qualifications for each special classification must be established by the State Board of Education according to definitions established in this article and in accordance with Sections 59-21-510, 59-35-10, 59-53-1860, and 59-53-1900. Cost factors enumerated in this section must be used to fund programs approved by the State Board of Education. Pupil data received by the Department of Education is subject to audit by the department. Cost factors or weightings are as follows:

Pupil Classification                                                    Weightings

(1)    Kindergarten pupils                                                    1.30

(2)    Primary pupils (grades 1 through 3)                            1.24

(3)    Elementary pupils (grades 4 through 8)

base students                                                                                1.00

(4)    High school pupils (grades 9 through 12)                    1.25

Special Programs for Exceptional Students                Weightings

(5)    Handicapped                                                                1.74

a.    Educable mentally handicapped pupils

b.    Learning disabilities pupils

(6)    Handicapped                                                                2.04

a.    Trainable mentally handicapped pupils

b.    Emotionally handicapped pupils

c.    Orthopedically handicapped pupils

(7)    Handicapped                                                                2.57

a.    Visually handicapped pupils

b.    Hearing handicapped pupils

c.    pupils with autism.

(8)    Speech handicapped pupils                                        1.90

(9)    Homebound pupils                                                        2.10

a.    pupils who are homebound

b.    pupils who reside in emergency shelters

(10)    Pre-vocational                                                             1.20

(11)    Vocational                                                                     1.29

Add-on Weights for Early Childhood Development and Academic Weightings Assistance

(12)    Early Childhood Assistance                                         0.26

(13)    Grades 4-12 Academic Assistance                                0.114

Adult Education

(14)    Adult Education                                                            0.15

(5)    Trainable Mentally Handicapped                                2.04

(6)    Speech Handicapped                                                    1.90

(7)    Homebound                                                                2.10

(8)    Emotionally Handicapped                                            2.04

(9)    Educable Mentally Handicapped                                1.74

(10)    Learning Disabilities                                                    1.74

(11)    Hearing Handicapped                                                    2.57

(12)    Visually Handicapped                                                2.57

(13)    Orthopedically Handicapped                                        2.04

(14)    Vocational (Grades 9-12)                                            1.29

(15)    Autism                                                                            2.57

No local match is required for adult education and the number of weighted pupil units funded depends on funding available from the general fund of the State and the Education Improvement Act of 1984 Fund.

Each student in the State must be counted in only one of the first eleven pupil classifications. Students shall generate funds for early childhood assistance and grades 4-12 academic assistance in accordance with Section 59-139-20. The State Board of Education must determine the qualifications for each classification in accordance with Sections 59-21-510, 59-35-10, 59-53-1860, 59-53-1900, and Chapter 30 of this title. The program for each classification must meet specifications approved by the State Board of Education.

School districts may count each student who is instructed at home under the provisions of Section 59-65-40 in the district's weighted pupil units at a weighting of .25 for supervising, overseeing, or reviewing the student's program of home instruction. No local match is required for students instructed at home under the provisions of Section 59-65-40."

SECTION    15.    Chapter 20 of Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-20-42.    (A)    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, beginning with fiscal year 2005-2006, Education Finance Act appropriations and employer contributions must be distributed to a school district in an amount that is the district's proportionate share of such funds based on the district's weighted pupil units as a percentage of statewide weighted pupil units as determined annually pursuant to the Education Finance Act.

(B)    It is the intent of the General Assembly that funding for weighted pupil unit growth for Education Finance Act purposes must be at least equal to the growth in the Consumer Price Index each year.

(C)    Beginning July 1, 2005, a base student cost no longer shall be established annually by the General Assembly nor shall the Division of Research and Statistics calculate an annual inflation factor as required by Section 59-20-40(1)(b)."

SECTION    16.    Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 6-1-320 of the 1976 Code, for a period of three years beginning July 1, 2005, and ending June 30, 2008, a local governing body pursuant to Article 3, Chapter 1 of Title 6, and if otherwise permitted to do so by law may increase the millage rate imposed for general operating purposes above the rate imposed for such purposes for the preceding tax year only by a two-thirds vote of the membership of the governing body, present or not, rather than by a positive majority vote as defined therein. If there is a vacancy in the membership of the governing body, a two-thirds vote of the membership of the governing body as constituted on the date of the vote is required.

SECTION    17.    (A)    Article 3, Chapter 10 of Title 4 and Chapter 37 of Title 4 of the 1976 Code are repealed; provided, however, that the special sales taxes authorized before the effective date of this section to support capital projects under Article 3, Chapter 10 of Title 4 and the special sales taxes or tolls authorized before the effective date of this section to support transportation infrastructure projects under Chapter 37 of Title 4 shall continue until their termination date to provide financing or debt service funding for the projects authorized.

(B)    In those counties in which is imposed on the effective date of this act the local sales and use tax allowed pursuant to Article 1, Chapter 10, Title 4 of the 1976 Code, there must be conducted a referendum held on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November following such effective date on rescinding the tax in the county as provided in Section 4-10-35 of the 1976 Code, without regard to the petition requirements provided therein. If a majority of the qualified electors voting in the referendum favor rescinding the tax, the tax is rescinded on a date determined by the governing body of the county not more than twenty-four months following the date the result of the referendum is certified to county council. The governing body of the county shall notify the Department of Revenue of the date the tax is rescinded.

SECTION    18.    This act takes effect July 1, 2005, and for purposes of the tax exemption allowed and property tax imposed pursuant to Sections 12-37-253 and 12-37-130 of the 1976 Code as added by this act, apply for property tax years beginning after 2004 and motor vehicle tax years beginning after June 30, 2005.

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