PRINTER'S NO. 1127
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
820
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY BOSCOLA, ARGALL, TARTAGLIONE AND YUDICHAK,
AUGUST 7, 2019
REFERRED TO FINANCE, AUGUST 7, 2019
AN ACT
Providing for property tax elimination for homesteads and
farmsteads, establishing the Public School Funding Commission
and making repeals.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Homestead and
Farmstead Property Tax Elimination Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Commission." The Public School Funding Commission
established under section 4.
"Farmstead." As defined in 53 Pa.C.S. § 8582 (relating to
definitions).
"Homestead." As defined in 53 Pa.C.S. § 8401 (relating to
definitions).
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Section 3. Prohibition on property taxes.
Notwithstanding any other law, beginning June 30, 2020, no
school district may levy property taxes on a homestead or
farmstead in this Commonwealth.
Section 4. Public School Funding Commission.
(a) Establishment.--The Public School Funding Commission is
established and shall exercise the duties described under
subsection (f).
(b) Membership.--The commission shall consist of the
following members:
(1) An individual appointed by the Governor from within
the Governor's administration.
(2) The Secretary of the Budget or the secretary's
designee.
(3) The Secretary of Education or the secretary's
designee.
(4) The Secretary of Revenue or the secretary's
designee.
(5) A member of the General Assembly appointed by the
President pro tempore of the Senate.
(6) A member of the General Assembly appointed by the
Minority Leader of the Senate.
(7) A member of the General Assembly appointed by the
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(8) A member of the General Assembly appointed by the
Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.
(9) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Education Committee of the Senate and the chairperson and
minority chairperson of the Education Committee of the House
of Representatives.
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(10) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Finance Committee of the Senate and the chairperson and
minority chairpersons of the Finance Committee of the House
of Representatives.
(11) An individual appointed by the Pennsylvania School
Boards Association.
(12) An individual appointed by the County Commissioners
Association of Pennsylvania.
(13) Three individuals appointed by the Pennsylvania
Municipal League, one of whom shall be an elected official
who represents a city, one of whom shall be an elected
official who represents a township and one of whom shall be
an elected official who represents a borough.
(c) Chairperson.--The commission shall elect one of its
members to serve as chairperson.
(d) Meetings.--
(1) The commission shall hold its first meeting within
30 days of the effective date of this section,
notwithstanding if all of the members of the commission have
been appointed.
(2) Twelve members of the commission shall constitute a
quorum.
(e) Compensation.--Members may not receive compensation for
services but shall be reimbursed for all necessary travel and
other reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the
performance of their duties as members of the commission.
(f) Duties.--The commission shall conduct a study that
identifies ways to ensure adequate funding for public schools to
replace revenues lost from the prohibition on collection of
property taxes under section 3. The commission shall evaluate a
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means of increasing personal income tax, increasing and
expanding sales and use tax and implementing alternative tax
plans.
(g) Support.--The General Assembly shall provide
administrative support, meeting space and any other assistance
required by the commission to carry out the commission's duties.
The Department of Education, the Department of Revenue, the
Office of the Budget, the Independent Fiscal Office and
political subdivisions shall provide the commission with data,
research and other information upon request by the commission.
(h) Report to General Assembly.--The commission shall
prepare a report of its study and submit the report and
recommendations to the Governor, the Education Committee of the
Senate, the Education Committee of the House of Representatives,
the Finance Committee of the Senate and the Finance Committee of
the House of Representatives before January 1, 2020.
Section 5. Repeals.
All acts and parts of acts are repealed insofar as they are
inconsistent with this act.
Section 6. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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