It is the intent of the legislature in enacting this chapter that:

1. (1) economic development decisions involving school district taxes should occur at the local level with oversight by the state and should be consistent with identifiable statewide economic development goals;

2. (2) this chapter should not be construed or interpreted to allow:

   1. (A) property owners to pool investments to create sufficiently large investments to qualify for an ad valorem tax benefit provided by this chapter;
   2. (B) an applicant for an ad valorem tax benefit provided by this chapter to assert that jobs will be eliminated if certain investments are not made if the assertion is not true; or
   3. (C) an entity not subject to the tax imposed by Chapter 171 to receive an ad valorem tax benefit provided by this chapter;

3. (3) in implementing this chapter, school districts should:

   1. (A) strictly interpret the criteria and selection guidelines provided by this chapter; and

   2. (B) approve only those applications for an ad valorem tax benefit provided by this chapter that:

      1. (i) enhance the local community;
      2. (ii) improve the local public education system;
      3. (iii) create high-paying jobs; and
      4. (iv) advance the economic development goals of this state; and

4. (4) in implementing this chapter, the comptroller should:

   1. (A) strictly interpret the criteria and selection guidelines provided by this chapter; and

   2. (B) issue certificates for limitations on appraised value only for those applications for an ad valorem tax benefit provided by this chapter that:

      1. (i) create high-paying jobs;
      2. (ii) provide a net benefit to the state over the long term; and
      3. (iii) advance the economic development goals of this state.

Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1505, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 2002.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1304 (H.B. 3390), Sec. 1, eff. January 1, 2014.