Section 21.810

Title III LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

Chapter 21

Effective - 28 Aug 2004, 2 histories   

  21.810.  Joint committee on tax policy established, members, appointment, duties. — 1.  There is established a permanent joint committee of the general assembly to be known as the "Joint Committee on Tax Policy" which shall be composed of five members of the senate, appointed by the president pro tem of the senate, and five members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.  A majority of the members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.  The members shall annually select one of the members to be the chair and one of the members to be the vice chair.  The speaker of the house of representatives and the president pro tem of the senate shall appoint the respective majority members.  The minority leader of the house and the minority leader of the senate shall appoint the respective minority members.  The members shall receive no additional compensation, but shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties.  No major party shall be represented on the committee by more than three members from the senate nor by more than three members from the house.  The committee is authorized to meet and act year round and to employ the necessary personnel within the limits of appropriations.  The staff of the committee on legislative research, house research, and senate research shall provide necessary clerical, research, fiscal, and legal services to the committee, as the committee may request.

  2.  It shall be the duty of the committee:

  (1)  To make a continuing study and analysis of the current and proposed tax policy of this state as it relates to:

  (a)  Fairness and equity;

  (b)  True economic impact;

  (c)  Burden on individuals and businesses;

  (d)  Effectiveness of tax expenditures;

  (e)  Impact on political subdivisions of this state;

  (f)  Agreements and contracts with the federal government, other states and territories, political subdivisions, and private entities relating to the collection and administration of state and local taxes and fees;

  (g)  Compliance with the state and United States Constitution and federal and international law; and

  (h)  The effects of interstate commerce;

  (2)  To make a continuing study and review of the department of revenue, the department of economic development, the state tax commission, and any other state agency, commission, or state executive office responsible for the administration of tax policies;

  (3)  To study the effects of the coupling or decoupling with the federal income tax code as it relates to the state income tax;

  (4)  To make recommendations, as and when the committee deems fit, to the general assembly for legislative action or to report findings and to the departments, commissions, and offices for administrative or procedural changes;

  (5)  To study the effects of a sales tax holiday; and

  (6)  To examine and assess the public benefit of any tax credit program that is the subject of an audit by the state auditor pursuant to section 620.1300 and provide a report to the general assembly and the governor with the committee's findings and recommendations, if any, regarding such tax credit program within six months of receiving the audit report.

  3.  All state departments, commissions, and offices responsible for the administration of tax policies shall cooperate with and assist the committee in the performance of its duties and shall make available all books, records and information requested, except individually identifiable information regarding a specific taxpayer.  The committee may also consult with public and private universities and academies, public and private organizations, and private citizens in the performance of its duties.  The committee may contract with public and private entities, within the limits of appropriation, for analysis and study of current or proposed changes to state and local tax policy.  The committee shall have the power to subpoena witnesses, take testimony under oath, compel the attendance of witnesses, the giving of testimony and the production of records.

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(L. 2003 H.B. 600 merged with S.B. 11, A.L. 2004 S.B. 1099)