Rep. BRAWLEY proposes the following Amendment No.     to H.5201 as introduced by Ways & Means

(Doc Name COUNCIL\SA\5201C003.RT.SA20.DOCX):

EXPLANATION: Repurposes Income Tax Relief funds to increase the Homestead Exemption by twenty-five thousand dollars.

Amend the bill, as and if amended, Part IB, Section 118, STATEWIDE REVENUE, page 550, after line 8, by adding an appropriately numbered paragraph to read:

/ (SR: Homestead Property Tax Exemption) (A) In Fiscal Year 2020-2021, there is appropriated to the Trust Fund for Tax Relief an amount necessary to reimburse local governments for the amount exempted in subsection (B).

(B) Twenty-five thousand dollars of the fair market value of the dwelling place of a person is exempt, in addition to any amount already exempted, from county, municipal, school, and special assessment real estate property taxes in property tax year 2020 when the person:

(1) has been a resident of this State for at least one year and has reached the age of sixty-five years on or before December thirty-first;

(2) has been classified as totally and permanently disabled by a state or federal agency having the function of classifying persons; or

(3) is legally blind as defined in Section 43-25-20 and holds complete fee simple title or a life estate to the dwelling place. A person claiming to be totally and permanently disabled, but who has not been classified by one of the agencies, may apply to the state agency of Vocational Rehabilitation. The agency shall make an evaluation of the person using its own standards. /

Amend totals and titles to conform.