FIRST REGULAR SESSION

[TRULY AGREED TO AND FINALLY PASSED]

HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

HOUSE BILL NO. 461

93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

0735L.06T                                                                                          2005

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AN ACT

To repeal sections 53.260, 135.010, 137.073, 137.078, 137.100, and 137.106, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof eight new sections relating to assessment of personal property.

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:

            Section A. Sections 53.260, 135.010, 137.073, 137.078, 137.100, and 137.106, RSMo, are repealed and eight new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 53.260, 135.010, 137.073, 137.078, 137.079, 137.100, 137.106, and 137.122, to read as follows:

            53.260. Subject to appropriation, expenses incurred by the assessor or assessor-elect in attending courses of study and additional courses referred to in sections 53.250 to 53.265 shall be paid by the state. Fees for registration, books and materials may be directly billed to the state as provided by the commissioner of administration. The cost of transportation, lodging and meals shall be reimbursed to the assessor or assessor-elect in the manner provided by the commissioner of administration.

            135.010. As used in sections 135.010 to 135.030 the following words and terms mean:

            (1) "Claimant", a person or persons claiming a credit under sections 135.010 to 135.030. If the persons are eligible to file a joint federal income tax return and reside at the same address at any time during the taxable year, then the credit may only be allowed if claimed on a combined Missouri income tax return or a combined claim return reporting their combined incomes and property taxes. A claimant shall not be allowed a property tax credit unless the claimant or spouse has attained the age of sixty-five on or before the last day of the calendar year and the claimant or spouse was a resident of Missouri for the entire year, or the claimant or spouse is a veteran of any branch of the armed forces of the United States or this state who became one hundred percent disabled as a result of such service, or the claimant or spouse is disabled as defined in subdivision (2) of this section, and such claimant or spouse provides proof of such disability in such form and manner, and at such times, as the director of revenue may require, or if the claimant has reached the age of sixty on or before the last day of the calendar year and such claimant received surviving spouse Social Security benefits during the calendar year and the claimant provides proof, as required by the director of revenue, that the claimant received surviving spouse Social Security benefits during the calendar year for which the credit will be claimed. A claimant shall not be allowed a property tax credit if the claimant filed a valid claim for a credit under section 137.106 in the year following the year for which the property tax credit is claimed. The residency requirement shall be deemed to have been fulfilled for the purpose of determining the eligibility of a surviving spouse for a property tax credit if a person of the age of sixty-five years or older who would have otherwise met the requirements for a property tax credit dies before the last day of the calendar year. The residency requirement shall also be deemed to have been fulfilled for the purpose of determining the eligibility of a claimant who would have otherwise met the requirements for a property tax credit but who dies before the last day of the calendar year;

            (2) "Disabled", the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve months. A claimant shall not be required to be gainfully employed prior to such disability to qualify for a property tax credit;

            (3) "Gross rent", amount paid by a claimant to a landlord for the rental, at arm's length, of a homestead during the calendar year, exclusive of charges for health and personal care services and food furnished as part of the rental agreement, whether or not expressly set out in the rental agreement. If the director of revenue determines that the landlord and tenant have not dealt at arm's length, and that the gross rent is excessive, then he shall determine the gross rent based upon a reasonable amount of rent. Gross rent shall be deemed to be paid only if actually paid prior to the date a return is filed. The director of revenue may prescribe regulations requiring a return of information by a landlord receiving rent, certifying for a calendar year the amount of gross rent received from a tenant claiming a property tax credit and shall, by regulation, provide a method for certification by the claimant of the amount of gross rent paid for any calendar year for which a claim is made. The regulations authorized by this subdivision may require a landlord or a tenant or both to provide data relating to health and personal care services and to food. Neither a landlord nor a tenant may be required to provide data relating to utilities, furniture, home furnishings or appliances;

            (4) "Homestead", the dwelling in Missouri owned or rented by the claimant and not to exceed five acres of land surrounding it as is reasonably necessary for use of the dwelling as a home. It may consist of part of a multidwelling or multipurpose building and part of the land upon which it is built. "Owned" includes a vendee in possession under a land contract and one or more tenants by the entireties, joint tenants, or tenants in common and includes a claimant actually in possession if he was the immediate former owner of record, if a lineal descendant is presently the owner of record, and if the claimant actually pays all taxes upon the property. It may include a mobile home;

            (5) "Income", Missouri adjusted gross income as defined in section 143.121, RSMo, less two thousand dollars as an exemption for the claimant's spouse residing at the same address, and increased, where necessary, to reflect the following:

            (a) Social Security, railroad retirement, and veterans payments and benefits unless the claimant is a one hundred percent service-connected, disabled veteran or a spouse of a one hundred percent service-connected, disabled veteran. The one hundred percent service-connected disabled veteran shall not be required to list veterans payments and benefits;

            (b) The total amount of all other public and private pensions and annuities;

            (c) Public relief, public assistance, and unemployment benefits received in cash, other than benefits received under this chapter;

            (d) No deduction being allowed for losses not incurred in a trade or business;

            (e) Interest on the obligations of the United States, any state, or any of their subdivisions and instrumentalities;

            (6) "Property taxes accrued", property taxes paid, exclusive of special assessments, penalties, interest, and charges for service levied on a claimant's homestead in any calendar year. Property taxes shall qualify for the credit only if actually paid prior to the date a return is filed. The director of revenue shall require a tax receipt or other proof of property tax payment. If a homestead is owned only partially by claimant, then "property taxes accrued" is that part of property taxes levied on the homestead which was actually paid by the claimant. For purposes of this subdivision, property taxes are "levied" when the tax roll is delivered to the director of revenue for collection. If a claimant owns a homestead part of the preceding calendar year and rents it or a different homestead for part of the same year, "property taxes accrued" means only taxes levied on the homestead both owned and occupied by the claimant, multiplied by the percentage of twelve months that such property was owned and occupied as the homestead of the claimant during the year. When a claimant owns and occupies two or more different homesteads in the same calendar year, property taxes accrued shall be the sum of taxes allocable to those several properties occupied by the claimant as a homestead for the year. If a homestead is an integral part of a larger unit such as a farm, or multipurpose or multidwelling building, property taxes accrued shall be that percentage of the total property taxes accrued as the value of the homestead is of the total value. For purposes of this subdivision "unit" refers to the parcel of property covered by a single tax statement of which the homestead is a part;

            (7) "Rent constituting property taxes accrued", twenty percent of the gross rent paid by a claimant and spouse in the calendar year.

            137.073. 1. As used in this section, the following terms mean:

            (1) “General reassessment”, changes in value, entered in the assessor's books, of a substantial portion of the parcels of real property within a county resulting wholly or partly from reappraisal of value or other actions of the assessor or county equalization body or ordered by the state tax commission or any court;

            (2) “Tax rate”, “rate”, or “rate of levy”, singular or plural, includes the tax rate for each purpose of taxation of property a taxing authority is authorized to levy without a vote and any tax rate authorized by election, including bond interest and sinking fund;

            (3) “Tax rate ceiling”, a tax rate as revised by the taxing authority to comply with the provisions of this section or when a court has determined the tax rate; except that, other provisions of law to the contrary notwithstanding, a school district may levy the operating levy for school purposes required for the current year pursuant to subsection 2 of section 163.021, RSMo, less all adjustments required pursuant to article X, section 22 of the Missouri Constitution, if such tax rate does not exceed the highest tax rate in effect subsequent to the 1980 tax year. This is the maximum tax rate that may be levied, unless a higher tax rate ceiling is approved by voters of the political subdivision as provided in this section;

            (4) “Tax revenue”, when referring to the previous year, means the actual receipts from ad valorem levies on all classes of property, including state-assessed property, in the immediately preceding fiscal year of the political subdivision, plus an allowance for taxes billed but not collected in the fiscal year and plus an additional allowance for the revenue which would have been collected from property which was annexed by such political subdivision but which was not previously used in determining tax revenue pursuant to this section. The term “tax revenue” shall not include any receipts from ad valorem levies on any property of a railroad corporation or a public utility, as these terms are defined in section 386.020, RSMo, which were assessed by the assessor of a county or city in the previous year but are assessed by the state tax commission in the current year. All school districts and those counties levying sales taxes pursuant to chapter 67, RSMo, shall include in the calculation of tax revenue an amount equivalent to that by which they reduced property tax levies as a result of sales tax pursuant to section 67.505, RSMo, and section 164.013, RSMo, in the immediately preceding fiscal year but not including any amount calculated to adjust for prior years. For purposes of political subdivisions which were authorized to levy a tax in the prior year but which did not levy such tax or levied a reduced rate, the term “tax revenue”, as used in relation to the revision of tax levies mandated by law, shall mean the revenues equal to the amount that would have been available if the voluntary rate reduction had not been made.

            2. Whenever changes in assessed valuation are entered in the assessor's books for any personal property, in the aggregate, or for any subclass of real property as such subclasses are established in section 4(b) of article X of the Missouri Constitution and defined in section 137.016, the county clerk in all counties and the assessor of St. Louis City shall notify each political subdivision wholly or partially within the county or St. Louis City of the change in valuation of each subclass of real property, individually, and personal property, in the aggregate, exclusive of new construction and improvements. All political subdivisions shall immediately revise the applicable rates of levy for each purpose for each subclass of real property, individually, and personal property, in the aggregate, for which taxes are levied to the extent necessary to produce from all taxable property, exclusive of new construction and improvements, substantially the same amount of tax revenue as was produced in the previous year for each subclass of real property, individually, and personal property, in the aggregate, except that the rate may not exceed the greater of the rate in effect in the 1984 tax year or the most recent voter-approved rate. Such tax revenue shall not include any receipts from ad valorem levies on any real property which was assessed by the assessor of a county or city in such previous year but is assessed by the assessor of a county or city in the current year in a different subclass of real property. Where the taxing authority is a school district for the purposes of revising the applicable rates of levy for each subclass of real property, the tax revenues from state-assessed railroad and utility property shall be apportioned and attributed to each subclass of real property based on the percentage of the total assessed valuation of the county that each subclass of real property represents in the current taxable year. As provided in section 22 of article X of the constitution, a political subdivision may also revise each levy to allow for inflationary assessment growth occurring within the political subdivision. The inflationary growth factor for any such subclass of real property or personal property shall be limited to the actual assessment growth in such subclass or class, exclusive of new construction and improvements, and exclusive of the assessed value on any real property which was assessed by the assessor of a county or city in the current year in a different subclass of real property, but not to exceed the consumer price index or five percent, whichever is lower. Should the tax revenue of a political subdivision from the various tax rates determined in this subsection be different than the tax revenue that would have been determined from a single tax rate as calculated pursuant to the method of calculation in this subsection prior to January 1, 2003, then the political subdivision shall revise the tax rates of those subclasses of real property, individually, and/or personal property, in the aggregate, in which there is a tax rate reduction, pursuant to the provisions of this subsection. Such revision shall yield an amount equal to such difference and shall be apportioned among such subclasses of real property, individually, and/or personal property, in the aggregate, based on the relative assessed valuation of the class or subclasses of property experiencing a tax rate reduction. Such revision in the tax rates of each class or subclass shall be made by computing the percentage of current year adjusted assessed valuation of each class or subclass with a tax rate reduction to the total current year adjusted assessed valuation of the class or subclasses with a tax rate reduction, multiplying the resulting percentages by the revenue difference between the single rate calculation and the calculations pursuant to this subsection and dividing by the respective adjusted current year assessed valuation of each class or subclass to determine the adjustment to the rate to be levied upon each class or subclass of property. The adjustment computed herein shall be multiplied by one hundred, rounded to four decimals in the manner provided in this subsection, and added to the initial rate computed for each class or subclass of property. Notwithstanding any provision of this subsection to the contrary, no revision to the rate of levy for personal property shall cause such levy to increase over the levy for personal property from the prior year.

            3. (1) Where the taxing authority is a school district, it shall be required to revise the rates of levy to the extent necessary to produce from all taxable property, including state-assessed railroad and utility property, which shall be separately estimated in addition to other data required in complying with section 164.011, RSMo, substantially the amount of tax revenue permitted in this section. In the year following tax rate reduction, the tax rate ceiling may be adjusted to offset such district's reduction in the apportionment of state school moneys due to its reduced tax rate. However, in the event any school district, in calculating a tax rate ceiling pursuant to this section, requiring the estimating of effects of state-assessed railroad and utility valuation or loss of state aid, discovers that the estimates used result in receipt of excess revenues, which would have required a lower rate if the actual information had been known, the school district shall reduce the tax rate ceiling in the following year to compensate for the excess receipts, and the recalculated rate shall become the tax rate ceiling for purposes of this section.

            (2) For any political subdivision which experiences a reduction in the amount of assessed valuation relating to a prior year, due to decisions of the state tax commission or a court pursuant to sections 138.430 to 138.433, RSMo, or due to clerical errors or corrections in the calculation or recordation of any assessed valuation:

            (a) Such political subdivision may revise the tax rate ceiling for each purpose it levies taxes to compensate for the reduction in assessed value occurring after the political subdivision calculated the tax rate ceiling for the particular subclass of real property or for personal property, in the aggregate, in the prior year. Such revision by the political subdivision shall be made at the time of the next calculation of the tax rate for the particular subclass of real property or for personal property, in the aggregate, after the reduction in assessed valuation has been determined and shall be calculated in a manner that results in the revised tax rate ceiling being the same as it would have been had the corrected or finalized assessment been available at the time of the prior calculation;

            (b) In addition, for up to three years following the determination of the reduction in assessed valuation as a result of circumstances defined in this subdivision, such political subdivision may levy a tax rate for each purpose it levies taxes above the revised tax rate ceiling provided in paragraph (a) of this subdivision to recoup any revenues it was entitled to receive for the three-year period preceding such determination.

            4. (1) In order to implement the provisions of this section and section 22 of article X of the Constitution of Missouri, the term “improvements” shall apply to both real and personal property. In order to determine the value of new construction and improvements, each county assessor shall maintain a record of real property valuations in such a manner as to identify each year the increase in valuation for each political subdivision in the county as a result of new construction and improvements. The value of new construction and improvements shall include the additional assessed value of all improvements or additions to real property which were begun after and were not part of the prior year's assessment, except that the additional assessed value of all improvements or additions to real property which had been totally or partially exempt from ad valorem taxes pursuant to sections 99.800 to 99.865, RSMo, sections 135.200 to 135.255, RSMo, and section 353.110, RSMo, shall be included in the value of new construction and improvements when the property becomes totally or partially subject to assessment and payment of all ad valorem taxes. The aggregate increase in valuation of personal property for the current year over that of the previous year is the equivalent of the new construction and improvements factor for personal property. Notwithstanding any opt-out implemented pursuant to subsection 15 of section 137.115, the assessor shall certify the amount of new construction and improvements and the amount of assessed value on any real property which was assessed by the assessor of a county or city in such previous year but is assessed by the assessor of a county or city in the current year in a different subclass of real property separately for each of the three subclasses of real property for each political subdivision to the county clerk in order that political subdivisions shall have this information for the purpose of calculating tax rates pursuant to this section and section 22, article X, Constitution of Missouri. In addition, the state tax commission shall certify each year to each county clerk the increase in the general price level as measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for the United States, or its successor publications, as defined and officially reported by the United States Department of Labor, or its successor agency. The state tax commission shall certify the increase in such index on the latest twelve-month basis available on June first of each year over the immediately preceding prior twelve-month period in order that political subdivisions shall have this information available in setting their tax rates according to law and section 22 of article X of the Constitution of Missouri. For purposes of implementing the provisions of this section and section 22 of article X of the Missouri Constitution, the term “property” means all taxable property, including state assessed property.

            (2) Each political subdivision required to revise rates of levy pursuant to this section or section 22 of article X of the Constitution of Missouri shall calculate each tax rate it is authorized to levy and, in establishing each tax rate, shall consider each provision for tax rate revision provided in this section and section 22 of article X of the Constitution of Missouri, separately and without regard to annual tax rate reductions provided in section 67.505, RSMo, and section 164.013, RSMo. Each political subdivision shall set each tax rate it is authorized to levy using the calculation that produces the lowest tax rate ceiling. It is further the intent of the general assembly, pursuant to the authority of section 10(c) of article X of the Constitution of Missouri, that the provisions of such section be applicable to tax rate revisions mandated pursuant to section 22 of article X of the Constitution of Missouri as to reestablishing tax rates as revised in subsequent years, enforcement provisions, and other provisions not in conflict with section 22 of article X of the Constitution of Missouri. Annual tax rate reductions provided in section 67.505, RSMo, and section 164.013, RSMo, shall be applied to the tax rate as established pursuant to this section and section 22 of article X of the Constitution of Missouri, unless otherwise provided by law.

            5. (1) In all political subdivisions, the tax rate ceiling established pursuant to this section shall not be increased unless approved by a vote of the people. Approval of the higher tax rate shall be by at least a majority of votes cast. When a proposed higher tax rate requires approval by more than a simple majority pursuant to any provision of law or the constitution, the tax rate increase must receive approval by at least the majority required.  

            (2) When voters approve an increase in the tax rate, the amount of the increase shall be added to the tax rate ceiling as calculated pursuant to this section to the extent the total rate does not exceed any maximum rate prescribed by law. If a ballot question presents a stated tax rate for approval rather than describing the amount of increase in the question, the stated tax rate approved shall be the current tax rate ceiling. The increased tax rate ceiling as approved may be applied to the total assessed valuation of the political subdivision at the setting of the next tax rate.

            (3) The governing body of any political subdivision may levy a tax rate lower than its tax rate ceiling and may increase that lowered tax rate to a level not exceeding the tax rate ceiling without voter approval.

            6. (1) For the purposes of calculating state aid for public schools pursuant to section 163.031, RSMo, each taxing authority which is a school district shall determine its proposed tax rate as a blended rate of the classes or subclasses of property. Such blended rate shall be calculated by first determining the total tax revenue of the property within the jurisdiction of the taxing authority, which amount shall be equal to the sum of the products of multiplying the assessed valuation of each class and subclass of property by the corresponding tax rate for such class or subclass, then dividing the total tax revenue by the total assessed valuation of the same jurisdiction, and then multiplying the resulting quotient by a factor of one-hundred. Where the taxing authority is a school district, such blended rate shall also be used by such school district for calculating revenue from state-assessed railroad and utility property as defined in chapter 151, RSMo, and for apportioning the tax rate by purpose.

            (2) Each taxing authority proposing to levy a tax rate in any year shall notify the clerk of the county commission in the county or counties where the tax rate applies of its tax rate ceiling and its proposed tax rate. Each taxing authority shall express its proposed tax rate in a fraction equal to the nearest one-tenth of a cent, unless its proposed tax rate is in excess of one dollar, then one/one-hundredth of a cent. If a taxing authority shall round to one/one-hundredth of a cent, it shall round up a fraction greater than or equal to five/one-thousandth of one cent to the next higher one/one-hundredth of a cent; if a taxing authority shall round to one-tenth of a cent, it shall round up a fraction greater than or equal to five/one-hundredths of a cent to the next higher one-tenth of a cent. Any taxing authority levying a property tax rate shall provide data, in such form as shall be prescribed by the state auditor by rule, substantiating such tax rate complies with Missouri law. All forms for the calculation of rates pursuant to this section shall be promulgated as a rule and shall not be incorporated by reference. [Within thirty days after the effective date of this act,] The state auditor shall promulgate rules for any and all forms for the calculation of rates pursuant to this section which do not currently exist in rule form or that have been incorporated by reference. In addition, each taxing authority proposing to levy a tax rate for debt service shall provide data, in such form as shall be prescribed by the state auditor by rule, substantiating the tax rate for debt service complies with Missouri law. A tax rate proposed for annual debt service requirements will be prima facie valid if, after making the payment for which the tax was levied, bonds remain outstanding and the debt fund reserves do not exceed the following year's payments. The county clerk shall keep on file and available for public inspection all such information for a period of three years. The clerk shall, within three days of receipt, forward a copy of the notice of a taxing authority's tax rate ceiling and proposed tax rate and any substantiating data to the state auditor. The state auditor shall, within fifteen days of the date of receipt, examine such information and return to the county clerk his or her findings as to compliance of the tax rate ceiling with this section and as to compliance of any proposed tax rate for debt service with Missouri law. If the state auditor believes that a taxing authority's proposed tax rate does not comply with Missouri law, then the state auditor's findings shall include a recalculated tax rate, and the state auditor may request a taxing authority to submit documentation supporting such taxing authority's proposed tax rate. The county clerk shall immediately forward a copy of the auditor's findings to the taxing authority and shall file a copy of the findings with the information received from the taxing authority. The taxing authority shall have fifteen days from the date of receipt from the county clerk of the state auditor's findings and any request for supporting documentation to accept or reject in writing the rate change certified by the state auditor and to submit all requested information to the state auditor. A copy of the taxing authority's acceptance or rejection and any information submitted to the state auditor shall also be mailed to the county clerk. If a taxing authority rejects a rate change certified by the state auditor and the state auditor does not receive supporting information which justifies the taxing authority's original or any subsequent proposed tax rate, then the state auditor shall refer the perceived violations of such taxing authority to the attorney general's office and the attorney general is authorized to obtain injunctive relief to prevent the taxing authority from levying a violative tax rate.

            7. No tax rate shall be extended on the tax rolls by the county clerk unless the political subdivision has complied with the foregoing provisions of this section.

            8. Whenever a taxpayer has cause to believe that a taxing authority has not complied with the provisions of this section, the taxpayer may make a formal complaint with the prosecuting attorney of the county. Where the prosecuting attorney fails to bring an action within ten days of the filing of the complaint, the taxpayer may bring a civil action pursuant to this section and institute an action as representative of a class of all taxpayers within a taxing authority if the class is so numerous that joinder of all members is impracticable, if there are questions of law or fact common to the class, if the claims or defenses of the representative parties are typical of the claims or defenses of the class, and if the representative parties will fairly and adequately protect the interests of the class. In any class action maintained pursuant to this section, the court may direct to the members of the class a notice to be published at least once each week for four consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation published in the county where the civil action is commenced and in other counties within the jurisdiction of a taxing authority. The notice shall advise each member that the court will exclude him or her from the class if he or she so requests by a specified date, that the judgment, whether favorable or not, will include all members who do not request exclusion, and that any member who does not request exclusion may, if he or she desires, enter an appearance. In any class action brought pursuant to this section, the court, in addition to the relief requested, shall assess against the taxing authority found to be in violation of this section the reasonable costs of bringing the action, including reasonable attorney's fees, provided no attorney's fees shall be awarded any attorney or association of attorneys who receive public funds from any source for their services. Any action brought pursuant to this section shall be set for hearing as soon as practicable after the cause is at issue.

            9. If in any action, including a class action, the court issues an order requiring a taxing authority to revise the tax rates as provided in this section or enjoins a taxing authority from the collection of a tax because of its failure to revise the rate of levy as provided in this section, any taxpayer paying his or her taxes when an improper rate is applied has erroneously paid his or her taxes in part, whether or not the taxes are paid under protest as provided in section 139.031, RSMo. The part of the taxes paid erroneously is the difference in the amount produced by the original levy and the amount produced by the revised levy. The township or county collector of taxes or the collector of taxes in any city shall refund the amount of the tax erroneously paid. The taxing authority refusing to revise the rate of levy as provided in this section shall make available to the collector all funds necessary to make refunds pursuant to this subsection. No taxpayer shall receive any interest on any money erroneously paid by him or her pursuant to this subsection. Effective in the 1994 tax year, nothing in this section shall be construed to require a taxing authority to refund any tax erroneously paid prior to or during the third tax year preceding the current tax year.

            10. A taxing authority, including but not limited to a township, county collector, or collector of taxes, responsible for determining and collecting the amount of residential real property tax levied in its jurisdiction, shall report such amount of tax collected by December thirty-first of each year such property is assessed to the state tax commission. The state tax commission shall compile the tax data by county or taxing jurisdiction and submit a report to the general assembly no later than January thirty-first of the following year.

            11. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, RSMo, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536, RSMo, and, if applicable, section 536.028, RSMo. This section and chapter 536, RSMo, are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536, RSMo, to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2004, shall be invalid and void.

            137.078. 1. For purposes of this section, the following terms shall mean:

            (1) "Analog equipment", all depreciable items of tangible personal property that are used directly or indirectly in broadcasting television shows [and], radio programs, or commercials through the use of analog technology, including studio broadcast equipment, transmitter and antenna equipment, and broadcast towers;

            (2) "Applicable analog fraction", a fraction, the numerator of which is the total number of analog television sets in the United States for the immediately preceding calendar year and the denominator of which is an amount representing the total combined number of analog and digital television sets in the United States for the immediately preceding calendar year. The applicable analog fraction will be determined on an annual basis by the Missouri Broadcasters Association;

            (3) "Applicable analog percentage", the following percentages for the following years:

            Year                     2004                   2005                      2006                      2007

 of Acquisition              Tax Year            Tax Year               Tax Year              Tax Year

                                                                                                                                1%

            2006                                                                                                            1%

            2005                                                                              25%                       1%

            2004                                                50%                      25%                       1%

            2003                     75%                   50%                      25%                       1%

            2002                     75%                   50%                      25%                       1%

            2001                     75%                   50%                      25%                       1%

            2000                     75%                   50%                      25%                       1%

            1999                     75%                   50%                      25%                       1%

            1998                     75%                   50%                      25%                       1%

            Prior                     75%                   50%                      25%                      1%;

            (4) "Applicable digital fraction", a fraction, the numerator of which is the total number of digital television sets in the United States for the immediately preceding calendar year and the denominator of which is an amount representing the total combined number of analog and digital television sets in the United States for the immediately preceding calendar year. The applicable digital fraction will be determined on an annual basis by the Missouri Broadcasters Association;

            (5) "Broadcast towers", structures with a function that includes holding television or radio broadcasters' antennae, repeaters, or translators at the height required or needed to transmit over-the-air signals or enhance the transmission of the signals. This term also includes the structures at least partially used by television broadcasters or radio broadcasters to provide weather radar information to the public. For property tax assessment purposes, broadcast towers are classified as tangible personal property;

            (6) "Digital equipment", all depreciable items of tangible personal property that are used directly or indirectly in broadcasting television shows [and], radio programs, or commercials through the use of digital technology, including studio broadcast equipment, transmitter and antenna equipment, and broadcast towers;

            (7) "Radio broadcasters", all businesses that own, lease, or operate radio broadcasting stations that transmit radio shows and commercials and that are required to be licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to provide such services;

            (8) "Radio broadcasting equipment", both analog equipment and digital equipment;

            [(6)] (9) "Television broadcasters", all businesses that own, lease, or operate television broadcasting stations that transmit television shows and commercials and that are required to be licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to provide such services;

            [(7)] (10) "Television broadcasting equipment", both analog equipment and digital equipment;

            (11) "Transmitter and antenna equipment", equipment with functions that include transmitting signals from broadcast studios by increasing the power, tuning signals to the frequency allowed by regulatory authorities, and broadcasting signals to the public for television broadcasters or radio broadcasters;

            (12) "Studio broadcast equipment", studio equipment that receives, produces, modifies, controls, measures, modulates, adds to or subtracts from, or enhances signals in the process that results in over-the-air signals for television broadcasters or radio broadcasters.

            2. In response to recent action by the Federal Communications Commission, as described by the commission in the fifth report and order, docket number 97-116, for purposes of assessing all items of television broadcasting equipment that are owned and used by television broadcasters for purposes of broadcasting television shows and commercials:

            (1) The true value in money of all analog equipment shall be determined by depreciating the historical cost of such property using the depreciation tables provided in subdivision (1) of subsection 3 of this section and multiplying the results by the applicable analog percentage. The result of the second computation is multiplied by the applicable analog fraction to determine the true value in money of the analog equipment; and

            (2) The true value in money of all digital equipment shall be determined by depreciating the historical cost of such property using the depreciation tables provided in subdivision (2) of subsection 3 of this section and multiplying the results by the applicable digital fraction to determine the true value in money of the digital equipment.

            3. For purposes of subsection 2 of this section, the depreciation tables for determining the [fair] true value in money of television broadcasting equipment are as follows:

            (1) For analog equipment, the following depreciation tables will apply for the following years:

            Year                     2004                   2005                      2006                      2007

 of Acquisition              Tax Year            Tax Year               Tax Year               Tax Year

            2006                                                                                                            65%

            2005                                                                              65%                      45%

            2004                                                65%                      45%                      30%

            2003                     65%                   45%                      30%                      20%

            2002                     45%                   30%                      20%                      10%

            2001                     30%                   20%                      10%                        5%

            2000                     20%                   10%                        5%                        5%

            1999                     10%                     5%                        5%                        5%

            1998                      5%                     5%                        5%                        5%

            Prior                      5%                     5%                        5%                        5%;

            (2) For digital equipment, the following depreciation tables will apply for the following years:

            Year                     2004                   2005                      2006                      2007

of Acquisition              Tax Year            Tax Year               Tax Year              Tax Year

            2006                                                                                                            65%

            2005                                                                              65%                      45%

            2004                                                65%                      45%                      30%

            2003                     65%                   45%                      30%                      20%

            2002                     45%                   30%                      20%                      10%

            2001                     30%                   20%                      10%                        5%

            2000                     20%                   10%                        5%                        5%

            1999                     10%                     5%                        5%                        5%

            1998                      5%                     5%                        5%                        5%

            Prior                      5%                     5%                        5%                        5%.

            4. Beginning January 1, 2008, for purposes of assessing all items of television broadcasting equipment that are owned and used by television broadcasters for purposes of broadcasting television shows and commercials, the following depreciation tables will be used to determine their true value in money. The percentage shown for the first year shall be the percentage of the original cost used for January first of the year following the year of acquisition of the property, and the percentage shown for each succeeding year shall be the percentage of the original cost used for January first of the respective succeeding year as follows:

Year                  Studio Broadcast            Transmitter and          Broadcast Tower

                                Equipment               Antenna Equipment

1                                    65%                                  91%                               96%

2                                    45%                                  82%                               93%

3                                    30%                                  73%                               89%

4                                    20%                                  64%                               86%

5                                    10%                                  55%                               82%

6                                     5%                                  46%                               79%

7                                                                             37%                               75%

8                                                                             28%                               72%

9                                                                             19%                               68%

10                                                                           10%                               65%

11                                                                                                                  61% 

12                                                                                                                  58%

13                                                                                                                  54%

14                                                                                                                  51%

15                                                                                                                  47%

16                                                                                                                  44%

17                                                                                                                  40%

19                                                                                                                  33%

20                                                                                                                  30%

21                                                                                                                  27%

22                                                                                                                  24%

23                                                                                                                  21%

24                                                                                                                  18%

25                                                                                                                  15%.

 

Television broadcasting equipment in all recovery periods shall continue in subsequent years to have the depreciation percentage last listed in the appropriate column so long as it is owned or held by the taxpayer.

            5. Effective January 1, 2006, for purposes of assessing all items of radio broadcasting equipment that are owned and used by radio broadcasters for purposes of broadcasting radio programs and commercials, the following depreciation tables will be used to determine their true value in money. The percentage shown for the first year shall be the percentage of the original cost used for January first of the year following the year of acquisition of the property, and the percentage shown for each succeeding year shall be the percentage of the original cost used for January first of the respective succeeding year as follows:

Year                  Studio Broadcast             Transmitter and          Broadcast Tower

                                Equipment               Antenna Equipment

1                                    65%                                  91%                               96%

2                                    45%                                  82%                               93%

3                                    30%                                  73%                               89%

4                                    20%                                  64%                               86%

5                                    10%                                  55%                               82%

6                                     5%                                   46%                               79%

7                                                                             37%                               75%

8                                                                             28%                               72%

9                                                                             19%                               68%

10                                                                           10%                               65%

11                                                                                                                  61%

12                                                                                                                  58%

13                                                                                                                  54%

14                                                                                                                  51%

15                                                                                                                  47%

16                                                                                                                  44%

17                                                                                                                  40%

19                                                                                                                  33%

20                                                                                                                  30%

21                                                                                                                  27%

22                                                                                                                  24%

23                                                                                                                  21%

24                                                                                                                  18%

25                                                                                                                  15%.

 

Radio broadcast equipment in all recovery periods shall continue in subsequent years to have the depreciation percentage last listed in the appropriate column so long as it is owned or held by the taxpayer.

            137.079. Prior to setting its rate or rates as required by section 137.073, each taxing authority shall exclude from its total assessed valuation seventy-two percent of the total amount of assessed value to business personal property that is subject of an appeal at the state tax commission or in a court of competent jurisdiction in this state. This exclusion shall only apply to the portion of the assessed value of business personal property that is disputed in the appeal, and shall not exclude any portion of the same property that is not disputed. If the taxing authority uses a multi-rate approach as provided in section 137.073, this exclusion shall be made from the personal property class. The state tax commission shall provide each taxing authority with the total assessed value of business personal property within the jurisdiction of such taxing authority for which an appeal is pending no later than August 20 of each year. Whenever any appeal is resolved, whether by final adjudication or settlement, and the result of the appeal causes money to be paid to the taxing authority, the taxing authority shall not be required to make an additional adjustment to its rate or rates due to such payment once the deadline for setting its rates, as provided by this chapter, has passed in a taxable year, but shall adjust its rate or rates due to such payment in the next rate setting cycle to offset the payment in the next taxable year. For the purposes of this section, the term "business personal property", means tangible personal property which is used in a trade of business or used for production of income and which has a determinable life of longer than one year except that supplies used by a business shall also be considered business personal property, but shall not include livestock, farm machinery, property subject to the motor vehicle registration provisions of chapter 301, RSMo, property subject to the tables provided in section 137.078, property of rural electric cooperatives under chapter 394, RSMo, or property assessed by the state tax commission under chapters 151, 153, and 155, RSMo, section 137.022, and sections 137.1000 to 137.1030.

            137.100. The following subjects are exempt from taxation for state, county or local purposes:

            (1) Lands and other property belonging to this state;

            (2) Lands and other property belonging to any city, county or other political subdivision in this state, including market houses, town halls and other public structures, with their furniture and equipments, and on public squares and lots kept open for health, use or ornament;

            (3) Nonprofit cemeteries;

            (4) The real estate and tangible personal property which is used exclusively for agricultural or horticultural societies organized in this state, including not-for-profit agribusiness associations;

            (5) All property, real and personal, actually and regularly used exclusively for religious worship, for schools and colleges, or for purposes purely charitable and not held for private or corporate profit, except that the exemption herein granted does not include real property not actually used or occupied for the purpose of the organization but held or used as investment even though the income or rentals received therefrom is used wholly for religious, educational or charitable purposes;

            (6) Household goods, furniture, wearing apparel and articles of personal use and adornment, as defined by the state tax commission, owned and used by a person in his home or dwelling place;

            (7) Motor vehicles leased for a period of at least one year to this state or to any city, county, or political subdivision or to any religious, educational, or charitable organization which has obtained an exemption from the payment of federal income taxes, provided the motor vehicles are used exclusively for religious, educational, or charitable purposes; and

            (8) Real or personal property leased or otherwise transferred by an interstate compact agency created pursuant to sections 70.370 to 70.430, RSMo, or sections 238.010 to 238.100, RSMo, to another for which or whom such property is not exempt when immediately after the lease or transfer, the interstate compact agency enters into a leaseback or other agreement that directly or indirectly gives such interstate compact agency a right to use, control, and possess the property; provided, however, that in the event of a conveyance of such property, the interstate compact agency must retain an option to purchase the property at a future date or, within the limitations period for reverters, the property must revert back to the interstate compact agency. Property will no longer be exempt under this subdivision in the event of a conveyance as of the date, if any, when:

            (a) The right of the interstate compact agency to use, control, and possess the property is terminated;

            (b) The interstate compact agency no longer has an option to purchase or otherwise acquire the property; and

            (c) There are no provisions for reverter of the property within the limitation period for reverters.

            137.106. 1. This section may be known and may be cited as "The Missouri Homestead Preservation Act".

            2. As used in this section, the following terms shall mean:

            (1) "Department", the department of revenue;

            (2) "Director", the director of revenue;

            (3) "Disabled", as such term is defined in section 135.010, RSMo;

            (4) "Eligible owner", any individual owner of property who is sixty-five years old or older as of January first of the tax year in which the individual is claiming the credit or who is disabled, and who had an income of equal to or less than the maximum upper limit in the year prior to completing an application pursuant to subsection 4 of this section; in the case of a married couple owning property either jointly or as tenants by the entirety, or where only one spouse owns the property, such couple shall be considered an eligible taxpayer if both spouses have reached the age of sixty-five or if one spouse is disabled, or if one spouse is at least sixty-five years old and the other spouse is at least sixty years old, and the combined income of the couple in the year prior to completing an application pursuant to subsection 4 of this section did not exceed the maximum upper limit; in the case of property held in trust, the eligible owner and recipient of the tax credit shall be the trust itself provided the previous owner of the homestead or the previous owner's spouse: is the settlor of the trust with respect to the homestead; currently resides in such homestead; and but for the transfer of such property would have satisfied the age, ownership, and maximum upper limit requirements for income as defined in subdivisions 7 and 8 of this subsection; no individual shall be an eligible owner if the individual has not paid their property tax liability, if any, in full by the payment due date in any of the three prior tax years, except that a late payment of a property tax liability in any prior year, [not including the year in which the application was completed,] shall not disqualify a potential eligible owner if such owner paid in full the tax liability and any and all penalties, additions and interest that arose as a result of such late payment; no individual shall be an eligible owner if such person [qualifies] filed a valid claim for the senior citizens property tax relief credit pursuant to sections 135.010 to 135.035, RSMo;

            (5) "Homestead", as such term is defined pursuant to section 135.010, RSMo, except as limited by provisions of this section to the contrary. No property shall be considered a homestead if such property was improved since the most recent annual assessment by more than five percent of the prior year appraised value, except where an eligible owner of the property has made such improvements to accommodate a disabled person;

            (6) "Homestead exemption limit", a percentage increase, rounded to the nearest hundredth of a percent, which shall be equal to the percentage increase to tax liability, not including improvements, of a homestead from one tax year to the next that exceeds a certain percentage set pursuant to subsection [8] 10 of this section. For applications filed in 2005 or 2006, the homestead exemption limit shall be based on the increase to tax liability from 2004 to 2005. For applications filed between April 1, 2005 and September 30, 2006, an eligible owner, who otherwise satisfied the requirements of this section, shall not apply for the homestead exemption credit more than once during such period. For applications filed after 2006, the homestead exemption limit shall be based on the increase to tax liability from two years prior to application to the year immediately prior to application;

            (7) "Income", federal adjusted gross income, and in the case of ownership of the homestead by trust, the income of the settlor applicant shall be imputed to the income of the trust for purposes of determining eligibility with regards to the maximum upper limit;

            (8) "Maximum upper limit", in the calendar year 2005, the income sum of seventy thousand dollars; in each successive calendar year this amount shall be raised by the incremental increase in the general price level, as defined pursuant to article X, section 17 of the Missouri Constitution.

            3. Pursuant to article X, section 6(a) of the Constitution of Missouri, if in the prior tax year, the property tax liability on any parcel of subclass (1) real property increased by more than the homestead exemption limit, without regard for any prior credit received due to the provisions of this section, then any eligible owner of the property shall receive a homestead exemption credit to be applied in the current tax year property tax liability to offset the prior year increase to tax liability that exceeds the homestead exemption limit, except as eligibility for the credit is limited by the provisions of this section. The amount of the credit shall be listed separately on each taxpayer's tax bill for the current tax year, or on a document enclosed with the taxpayer's bill. The homestead exemption credit shall not affect the process of setting the tax rate as required pursuant to article X, section 22 of the Constitution of Missouri and section 137.073 in any prior, current, or subsequent tax year.

            4. If application is made in 2005, any potential eligible owner may apply for the homestead exemption credit by completing an application through their local assessor's office. Applications may be completed between April first and September thirtieth of any tax year in order for the taxpayer to be eligible for the homestead exemption credit in the tax year next following the calendar year in which the homestead exemption credit application was completed. The application shall be on forms provided to the assessor's office by the department. Forms also shall be made available on the department's Internet site and at all permanent branch offices and all full-time, temporary, or fee offices maintained by the department of revenue. The applicant shall attest under penalty of perjury:

            (1) To the applicant's age;

            (2) That the applicant's prior year income was less than the maximum upper limit;

            (3) To the address of the homestead property; and

            (4) That any improvements made to the homestead, not made to accommodate a disabled person, did not total more than five percent of the prior year appraised value.

The applicant shall also include with the application copies of receipts indicating payment of property tax by the applicant for the homestead property for the two prior tax years.

            5. If application is made in 2005, the assessor, upon [receiving] request for an application, shall:

            (1) Certify the parcel number and owner of record as of January first of the homestead, including verification of the acreage classified as residential on the assessor's property record card;

            (2) Obtain appropriate prior tax year levy codes for each homestead from the county clerks for inclusion on the form;

            (3) Record on the application the assessed valuation of the homestead for the current tax year, and any new construction or improvements for the current tax year; and

            (4) Sign the application, certifying the accuracy of the assessor's entries.

            6. If application is made after 2005, any potential eligible owner may apply for the homestead exemption credit by completing an application. Applications may be completed between April 1 and September 30 of any tax year in order for the taxpayer to be eligible for the homestead exemption credit in the tax year next following the calendar year in which the homestead exemption credit application was completed. The application shall be on forms provided by the department. Forms also shall be made available on the department's internet site and at all permanent branch offices and all full-time, temporary, or fee offices maintained by the department of revenue. The applicant shall attest under penalty of perjury:

            (1) To the applicant's age;

            (2) That the applicant's prior year income was less than the maximum upper limit;

            (3) To the address of the homestead property;

            (4) That any improvements made to the homestead, not made to accommodate a disabled person, did not total more than five percent of the prior year appraised value; and

            (5) The applicant shall also include with the application copies of receipts indicating payment of property tax by the applicant for the homestead property for the three prior tax years.

            7. Each applicant shall send the application to the department by September thirtieth of each year for the taxpayer to be eligible for the homestead exemption credit in the tax year next following the calendar year in which the application was completed.

            [7.] 8. If application is made in 2005, upon receipt of the applications, the department shall calculate the tax liability, adjusted to exclude new construction or improvements verify compliance with the maximum income limit, verify the age of the applicants, and make adjustments to these numbers as necessary on the applications. The department also shall disallow any application where the applicant has also filed a valid application for the senior citizens property tax credit, pursuant to sections 135.010 to 135.035, RSMo. Once adjusted tax liability, age, and income are verified, the director shall determine eligibility for the credit, and provide a list of all verified eligible owners to the county collectors or county clerks in counties with a township form of government by December fifteenth of each year. By January fifteenth, the county collectors or county clerks in counties with a township form of government shall provide a list to the department of any verified eligible owners who failed to pay the property tax due for the tax year that ended immediately prior. Such eligible owners shall be disqualified from receiving the credit in the current tax year.

            [8.] 9. If application is made after 2005, upon receipt of the applications, the department shall calculate the tax liability, verify compliance with the maximum income limit, verify the age of the applicants, and make adjustments to these numbers as necessary on the applications. The department also shall disallow any application where the applicant also has filed a valid application for the senior citizens property tax credit under sections 135.010 to 135.035, RSMo. Once adjusted tax liability, age, and income is verified, the director shall determine eligibility for the credit and provide a list of all verified eligible owners to the county assessors or county clerks in counties with a township form of government by December fifteenth of each year. By January fifteenth, the county assessors shall provide a list to the department of any verified eligible owners who made improvements not for accommodation of a disability to the homestead and the dollar amount of the assessed value of such improvements. If the dollar amount of the assessed value of such improvements totaled more than five percent of the prior year appraised value, such eligible owners shall be disqualified from receiving the credit in the current tax year.

            10. The director shall calculate the level of appropriation necessary to set the homestead exemption limit at five percent when based on a year of general reassessment or at two and one-half percent when based on a year without general reassessment for the homesteads of all verified eligible owners, and provide such calculation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president pro tempore of the senate, and the director of the office of budget and planning in the office of administration by January thirty-first of each year.

            [9.] 11. [If, in any given year,] For applications made in 2005, the general assembly shall make an appropriation for the funding of the homestead exemption credit that is signed by the governor, then the director shall, by July thirty-first of such year, set the homestead exemption limit. The limit shall be a single, statewide percentage increase to tax liability, rounded to the nearest hundredth of a percent, which, if applied to all homesteads of verified eligible owners who applied for the homestead exemption credit in the immediately prior tax year, would cause all but one-quarter of one percent of the amount of the appropriation, minus any withholding by the governor, to be distributed during that fiscal year. The remaining one-quarter of one percent shall be distributed to the county assessment funds of each county on a proportional basis, based on the number of eligible owners in each county; such one-quarter percent distribution shall be delineated in any such appropriation as a separate line item in the total appropriation. If no appropriation is made by the general assembly during any tax year or no funds are actually distributed pursuant to any appropriation therefor, then no homestead preservation credit shall apply in such year.

            [10.] 12. After setting the homestead exemption limit for applications made in 2005, the director shall apply the limit to the homestead of each verified eligible owner and calculate the credit to be associated with each verified eligible owner's homestead, if any. The director shall send a list of those eligible owners who are to receive the homestead exemption credit, including the amount of each credit, the certified parcel number of the homestead, and the address of the homestead property, to the county collectors or county clerks in counties with a township form of government by August thirty-first. Pursuant to such calculation, the director shall instruct the state treasurer as to how to distribute the appropriation and assessment fund allocation to the county collector's funds of each county or the treasurer ex officio collector's fund in counties with a township form of government where recipients of the homestead exemption credit are located, so as to exactly offset each homestead exemption credit being issued, plus the one-quarter of one percent distribution for the county assessment funds. As a result of the appropriation, in no case shall a political subdivision receive more money than it would have received absent the provisions of this section plus the one-quarter of one percent distribution for the county assessment funds. Funds, at the direction of the county collector or the treasurer ex officio collector in counties with a township form of government, shall be deposited in the county collector's fund of a county or the treasurer ex officio collector's fund or may be sent by mail to the collector of a county, or the treasurer ex officio collector in counties with a township form of government, not later than October first in any year a homestead exemption credit is appropriated as a result of this section and shall be distributed as moneys in such funds are commonly distributed from other property tax revenues by the collector of the county or the treasurer ex officio collector of the county in counties with a township form of government, so as to exactly offset each homestead exemption credit being issued. In counties with a township form of government, the county clerk shall provide the treasurer ex officio collector a summary of the homestead exemption credit for each township for the purpose of distributing the total homestead exemption credit to each township collector in a particular county.

            [11.] 13. If, in any given year after 2005, the general assembly shall make an appropriation for the funding of the homestead exemption credit that is signed by the governor, then the director shall, by July thirty-first of such year, set the homestead exemption limit. The limit shall be a single, statewide percentage increase to tax liability, rounded to the nearest hundredth of a percent, which, if applied to all homesteads of verified eligible owners who applied for the homestead exemption credit in the immediately prior tax year, would cause all of the amount of the appropriation, minus any withholding by the governor, to be distributed during that fiscal year. If no appropriation is made by the general assembly during any tax year or no funds are actually distributed pursuant to any appropriation therefor, then no homestead preservation credit shall apply in such year.

            14. After setting the homestead exemption limit for applications made after 2005, the director shall apply the limit to the homestead of each verified eligible owner and calculate the credit to be associated with each verified eligible owner's homestead, if any. The director shall send a list of those eligible owners who are to receive the homestead exemption credit, including the amount of each credit, the certified parcel number of the homestead, and the address of the homestead property, to the county collectors or county clerks in counties with a township form of government by August thirty-first. Pursuant to such calculation, the director shall instruct the state treasurer as to how to distribute the appropriation to the county collector's fund of each county where recipients of the homestead exemption credit are located, so as to exactly offset each homestead exemption credit being issued. As a result of the appropriation, in no case shall a political subdivision receive more money than it would have received absent the provisions of this section. Funds, at the direction of the collector of the county or treasurer ex-officio collector in counties with a township form of government, shall be deposited in the county collector's fund of a county or may be sent by mail to the collector of a county, or treasurer ex officio collector in counties with a township form of government, not later than October first in any year a homestead exemption credit is appropriated as a result of this section and shall be distributed as moneys in such funds are commonly distributed from other property tax revenues by the collector of the county or the treasurer ex officio collector of the county in counties with a township form of government, so as to exactly offset each homestead exemption credit being issued.

            15. The department shall promulgate rules for implementation of this section. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, RSMo, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536, RSMo, and, if applicable, section 536.028, RSMo. This section and chapter 536, RSMo, are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536, RSMo, to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2004, shall be invalid and void. Any rule promulgated by the department shall in no way impact, affect, interrupt, or interfere with the performance of the required statutory duties of any county elected official, more particularly including the county collector when performing such duties as deemed necessary for the distribution of any homestead appropriation and the distribution of all other real and personal property taxes.

            [12.] 16. In the event that an eligible owner dies or transfers ownership of the property after the homestead exemption limit has been set in any given year, but prior to [the mailing of the tax bill] January first of the year in which the credit would otherwise be applied, the credit shall be void and any corresponding moneys, pursuant to subsection 10 of this section, shall lapse to the state to be credited to the general revenue fund. In the event the collector of the county or the treasurer ex officio collector of the county in counties with a township form of government determines prior to issuing the credit that the individual is not an eligible owner because the individual did not pay the prior three years' property tax liability in full, the credit shall be void and any corresponding moneys, under subsection 11 of this section, shall lapse to the state to be credited to the general revenue fund.

            [13.] 17. This section shall apply to all tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2005. This subsection shall become effective June 28, 2004.

            [14.] 18. In accordance with the provisions of sections 23.250 to 23.298, RSMo, and unless otherwise authorized pursuant to section 23.253, RSMo:

            (1) Any new program authorized under the provisions of this section shall automatically sunset six years after the effective date of this section; and

            (2) This section shall terminate on September first of the year following the year in which any new program authorized under this section is sunset, and the revisor of statutes shall designate such sections and this section in a revision bill for repeal.

            137.122. 1. As used in this section, the following terms mean:

            (1) "Business personal property", tangible personal property which is used in a trade or business or used for production of income and which has a determinable life of longer than one year except that supplies used by a business shall also be considered business personal property, but shall not include livestock, farm machinery, grain and other agricultural crops in an unmanufactured condition, property subject to the motor vehicle registration provisions of chapter 301, RSMo, property assessed under section 137.078, property of rural electric cooperatives under chapter 394, RSMo, or property assessed by the state tax commission under chapters 151, 153, and 155, RSMo, section 137.022, and sections 137.1000 to 137.1030;

            (2) "Class life", the class life of property as set out in the federal Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System life tables or their successors under the Internal Revenue Code as amended;

            (3) "Economic or functional obsolescence", a loss in value of personal property above and beyond physical deterioration and age of the property. Such loss may be the result of economic or functional obsolescence or both;

            (4) "Original cost", the price the current owner, the taxpayer, paid for the item without freight, installation, or sales or use tax. In the case of acquisition of items of personal property as part of an acquisition of an entity, the original cost shall be the historical cost of those assets remaining in place and in use and the placed in service date shall be the date of acquisition by the entity being acquired;

            (5) "Placed in service", property is placed in service when it is ready and available for a specific use, whether in a business activity, an income-producing activity, a tax-exempt activity, or a personal activity. Even if the property is not being used, the property is in service when it is ready and available for its specific use;

            (6) "Recovery period", the period over which the original cost of depreciable tangible personal property shall be depreciated for property tax purposes and shall be the same as the recovery period allowed for such property under the Internal Revenue Code.

            2. To establish uniformity in the assessment of depreciable tangible personal property, each assessor shall use the standardized schedule of depreciation in this section to determine the assessed valuation of depreciable tangible personal property for the purpose of estimating the value of such property subject to taxation under this chapter.

            3. For purposes of this section, and to estimate the value of depreciable tangible personal property for mass appraisal purposes, each assessor shall value depreciable tangible personal property by applying the class life and recovery period to the original cost of the property according to the following depreciation schedule. The percentage shown for the first year shall be the percentage of the original cost used for January first of the year following the year of acquisition of the property, and the percentage shown for each succeeding year shall be the percentage of the original cost used for January first of the respective succeeding year as follows:

Year                                         Recovery Period in Years

                       3                      5                      7                  10                 15                 20

 1                 75.00               85.00               89.29            92.50            95.00            96.25

 2                 37.50               59.50               70.16            78.62            85.50            89.03

 3                 12.50               41.65               55.13            66.83            76.95            82.35

 4                  5.00                24.99               42.88            56.81            69.25            76.18

 5                                         10.00               30.63            48.07            62.32            70.46

 6                                                                 18.38            39.33            56.09            65.18

 7                                                                 10.00            30.59            50.19            60.29

 8                                                                                      21.85            44.29            55.77

 9                                                                                      15.00            38.38            51.31

10                                                                                                         32.48            46.85

11                                                                                                         26.57            42.38

12                                                                                                         20.67            37.92

13                                                                                                         15.00            33.46

14                                                                                                                              29.00

15                                                                                                                              24.54

16                                                                                                                              20.08

17                                                                                                                              20.00

 

Depreciable tangible personal property in all recovery periods shall continue in subsequent years to have the depreciation factor last listed in the appropriate column so long as it is owned or held by the taxpayer. The state tax commission shall study and analyze the values established by this method of assessment and in every odd-numbered year make recommendations to the joint committee on tax policy pertaining to any changes in this methodology, if any, that are warranted.

            4. Such estimate of value determined under this section shall be presumed to be correct for the purpose of determining the true value in money of the depreciable tangible personal property, but such estimation may be disproved by substantial and persuasive evidence of the true value in money under any method determined by the state tax commission to be correct, including, but not limited to, an appraisal of the tangible personal property specifically utilizing generally accepted appraisal techniques, and contained in a narrative appraisal report in accordance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice or by proof of economic or functional obsolescence or evidence of excessive physical deterioration. For purposes of appeal of the provisions of this section, the salvage or scrap value of depreciable tangible personal property may only be considered if the property is not in use as of the assessment date.

            5. This section shall not apply to business personal property placed in service before January 2, 2006.

            6. The provisions of this section are not intended to modify the definition of “tangible personal property” as defined in section 137.010.