Tax reform 2020 committee.

2018
STATE OF WYOMING
18LSO-0328
Numbered
1.2

HOUSE BILL

NO.
HB0176

Tax reform 2020 committee.

Sponsored by:
Representative(s) Kirkbride, Blake, Madden and Zwonitzer

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to taxation and revenue; creating the tax reform 2020 committee as specified; establishing membership; providing duties and responsibilities; authorizing consulting services; requiring a report; providing appropriations; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section
1
.

(a)

There is created the tax reform 2020 committee consisting of eleven (11) members appointed as follows:

(i)

Five (5) members appointed by the governor;

(ii)

Three (3) members
of the senate
appointed by the president of the senate, one (1) of whom shall be a member of the minority party
. If any member appointed under this paragraph is not elected to a new term during the existence of the committee, the president of the senate may retain that member as a member of the committee or may appoint a new member under this paragraph
;

(iii)

Three (3) members
of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, one (1) of whom shall be a member of the minority party.
If any member appointed under this paragraph is not elected to a new term during the existence of the committee, the speaker of the house may retain that member as a member of the committee or may appoint a new member under this paragraph.

(b)

The
committee shall
recommend standards and options for developing a fair, viable and economically
competitive state and local tax structure capable of generating sufficient revenues to meet expected needs in the future. In developing the standards and options
under this subsection
the committee shall:

(i)

Review the tax reform 2000 committee report and the actions taken by the state and the legislature following the report;

(ii)

Establish criteria for determining and evaluating state and local revenue options;

(iii)

Analyze the current state and local revenue system including:

(A)

The composition, dependability and flexibility of Wyoming's current tax system and its adequacy to meet the state's long term needs;

(B)

The relative burden imposed by the current tax system and the relative equity of that burden;

(C)

The relationship between the current tax system and the overall revenue needs of state and local governments in this state;

(D)

The relationship between the current tax burden and the benefits received by taxpayers and citizens in this state;

(E)

The impact of the state and local tax system on economic development;

(F)

The simplicity of the tax system
both in terms of
government administration and taxpayer c
ompliance.

(iv
)

Deter
mine the impact of federal taxes
on Wyoming's state and local tax system and on businesses and individuals
in this state
;

(
v)

Review and evaluate forecasts of state and local revenue needs;

(v
i
)

Identify and analyze all revenue options available to state and local governments by:

(A)

Examining the revenue potential of each option;

(B)

Analyzing how each option compares to the evaluation criteria established by the committee and the potential impact of each option on businesses and individual taxpayers;

(C)

Assessing the relative potential impact of each option on economic development in the state.

(vi
i
)

Make recommendations, including any proposed legislation necessary to implement the recommendations,
to develop a fair, viable and economically competitive state and local tax structure
as provided in this act
.

(c)

The committee may engage the services of research firms or consultants as necessary to carry out the purposes
of this act.
Any contract under this subsection shall be approved by the governor.
The committee shall be staffed by the department of revenue and the legislative service office.

(d)

The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations to the joint revenue interim committee, the governor and the legislature on or before July 1, 2019.
The joint revenue interim committee shall review the recommendations and may sponsor any recommended legislation for consideration during the 2020 budget session of the legislature. The tax reform 2020 committee shall cease to exist on December 31, 2019.

Section 2.

(a)

There is appropriated
one hundred sixty thousand dollars ($160,000.00)
from the legislative stabilization reserve account
to the
governor's office
.
This amount shall be used to pay mileage and per diem for nonlegislative
members appointed by the governor, to pay for any consultant as approved by the governor and any other costs
related to the operation of this act. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, this appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose and any unexpended, unobligated funds remaining from this appropriation shall revert as provided by law on June 30, 2020.

(b)

There is appropriated forty thousand dollars ($40,000.00) from the legislative stabilization reserve account to the legislative service office. This appropriation shall only be expended for salary, mileage and per diem of members appointed to the committee or retained on the committee by the president of the senate or the speaker of the house as provided in section 1 of this act. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, this appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose and any unexpended, unobligated funds remaining from this appropriation shall revert as provided by law on June 30, 2020.

Section
3
.

This act is effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(END)

1
HB0176