Bill Text: CA AB1782 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Amended
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Disaster relief.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-05-04 - Re-referred to Com. on REV. & TAX. [AB1782 Detail]
Download: California-2009-AB1782-Amended.html
Bill Title: Disaster relief.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-05-04 - Re-referred to Com. on REV. & TAX. [AB1782 Detail]
Download: California-2009-AB1782-Amended.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 1782 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 25, 2010
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Harkey
FEBRUARY 9, 2010
An act to amend Section 16418 of the Government Code, to amend
Section 218 of, and to add Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 199) to
Part 1 of Division 1 of, the Revenue and Taxation Code, relating to
disaster relief, and making an appropriation therefor.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1782, as amended, Harkey. Disaster relief.
(1) Existing law authorizes a county board of supervisors to
provide by ordinance for the reassessment of property that is damaged
or destroyed, without fault on the part of the assessee, by a major
misfortune or calamity, upon the application of the assessee or upon
the action of the county assessor with the board's approval. With
respect to certain counties that have adopted reassessment ordinances
and have been declared by the Governor to be in a state of emergency
as a result of certain events, existing law provides for state
allocations of the estimated amounts of the reductions in property
tax revenues resulting in certain fiscal years from reassessments
under those ordinances. Existing law also continuously appropriates,
without regard to fiscal years, moneys in the Special Fund for
Economic Uncertainties for purposes of funding state allocations for
specified disaster relief purposes.
This bill would authorize an eligible county, as defined, to apply
for state allocations to offset property tax revenue reductions
resulting from the reassessment of property that was damaged in a
Governor-declared emergency. This bill would make an appropriation by
continuously appropriating moneys in the Special Fund for Economic
Uncertainties for this purpose.
(2) Existing property tax law provides, pursuant to a specified
provision of the California Constitution, for a homeowners' property
tax exemption in the amount of $7,000 of the full value of a
"dwelling," as defined.
This bill would provide that any dwelling that qualified for the
exemption and that was damaged or destroyed by a natural disaster in
a designated area declared by the Governor to be in a state of
emergency during a specified period of time , and that
has not changed ownership since the commencement date of the
disaster, may not be denied the exemption solely on the basis
that, as a result of that disaster, the dwelling was temporarily
damaged or destroyed or was being reconstructed by the owner ,
or was temporarily uninhabited as a result of restricted access to
the property due to the disaster .
The California Constitution requires the Legislature, in each
fiscal year, to reimburse local governments for the revenue losses
incurred by those governments in that fiscal year as a result of the
homeowners' property tax exemption.
This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to make this
required reimbursement in the annual Budget Act.
(3) By requiring local tax officials to implement new criteria
under the homeowners' exemption, this bill would impose a
state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates
determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these
statutory provisions.
Vote: 2/3. Appropriation: yes. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 16418 of the Government Code is amended to
read:
16418. (a) The Special Fund for Economic Uncertainties is hereby
created in the State Treasury and is continuously appropriated for
the purposes of this section. The contingency reserve for economic
uncertainties established within the General Fund by Section 12.3 of
the Budget Act of 1980 is hereby discontinued, and any balance in
that reserve shall be transferred to the Special Fund for Economic
Uncertainties. This special fund represents a reserve fund within the
meaning of Section 5 of Article XIII B of the California
Constitution. Notwithstanding Sections 16310 and 16314, the
Controller may transfer as necessary from the Special Fund for
Economic Uncertainties or from the special accounts in the General
Fund to the General Fund amounts that are needed to meet cash needs
of the General Fund. The Controller shall return all of the moneys so
transferred without payment of interest as soon as there are
sufficient moneys in the General Fund.
(b) The Controller shall transfer from the Special Fund for
Economic Uncertainties to the unappropriated balance of the General
Fund an amount necessary to eliminate any General Fund deficit as of
the end of each fiscal year, commencing as of June 30, 1985. The
amount of transfer for each fiscal year shall be determined on the
basis of the State of California Preliminary Annual Report--Accrual
Basis, for that fiscal year. Any subsequent adjustments shall be
determined jointly by the Controller and the Director of Finance.
(c) Notwithstanding Section 13340, moneys in the Special Fund for
Economic Uncertainties are hereby continuously appropriated without
regard to fiscal years to the Director of Finance for the purpose of
allocating funds for disaster relief pursuant to Chapter 5
(commencing with Section 194) and Chapter 6 (commencing with Section
197) of Part 1 of Division 1 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, and
for making allocations to counties pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing
with Section 199) of Part 1 of Division 1 of the Revenue and Taxation
Code. However, any allocation made by the director pursuant to this
subdivision shall not be made sooner than 30 days after notification
in writing of the necessity therefor is provided to the
Joint Legislative Budget Committee.
(d) For budgeting and accounting purposes, any appropriations
heretofore or hereafter made specifically from the Special Fund for
Economic Uncertainties, other than appropriations contained in this
section, shall be deemed an appropriation from the General Fund. For
yearend reporting purposes, the Controller shall add the balance in
the Special Fund for Economic Uncertainties to the balance in the
General Fund so as to show the total moneys then available for
General Fund purposes.
(e) (1) Notwithstanding Section 13340, there is hereby
appropriated from the General Fund, without regard to fiscal years,
for transfer by the Controller to the Special Fund for Economic
Uncertainties as of the end of each fiscal year the unencumbered
balance in the General Fund.
(2) If , at the end of any fiscal year in which
it has been determined that there are revenues in excess of the
amount that may be appropriated, as defined in subdivision (a) of
Section 2 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution, the
transfer pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be reduced by the amount of
these excess revenues. The estimates of the transfer shall be made
jointly by the Department of Finance and the Legislative Analyst's
Office.
SEC. 2. Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 199) is added to Part 1
of Division 1 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, to read:
CHAPTER 7. EMERGENCY PROPERTY TAX REASSESSMENT REIMBURSEMENT
199. For purposes of this chapter, all of the following apply:
(a) "Basic state aid school district" means any school district
that does not receive a state apportionment pursuant to subdivision
(h) of Section 42238 of the Education Code, but receives from the
state only a basic apportionment pursuant to Section 6 of Article IX
of the California Constitution.
(b) "Certification date" shall be established by the Director of
Finance as a reasonable amount of time after the Governor-declared
state of emergency by which a county auditor may reasonably certify
the estimate described in subdivision (a) of Section 199.1.
(c) "Eligible county" has the same meaning as specified in
subdivision (a) of Section 194.
(d) "Reimbursement date" shall be established by the Controller as
a reasonable amount of time after the allocation described in
subdivision (b) of Section 199.1 by which a county may reasonably
compute the amounts described in subdivision (c) of Section 199.1.
199.1. (a) On or before the certification date, the auditor of an
eligible county, which was the subject of the Governor's
proclamation of a state of emergency, shall certify to the Director
of Finance an estimate of the total amount of the reduction in
property tax revenues on both the regular secured roll and the
supplemental rolls for the designated period of time in which an
emergency was declared, resulting from the reassessment by the county
assessor pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 170
of those properties that are eligible properties as a result of that
disaster, except that the amount certified shall not include any
estimated property tax revenue reductions to school districts, other
than basic state aid school districts, and county offices of
education.
(b) After the auditor of the eligible county has made the
certification described in subdivision (a), the Director of Finance
shall, within 30 days after verification of the county auditor's
estimate, certify this amount to the Controller for allocation to the
county. Upon receipt of certification from the Director of Finance,
the Controller shall make the appropriate allocation to the county
within 10 working days.
(c) On or before the reimbursement date, an eligible county shall
compute and remit to the Controller for deposit in the General Fund
an amount equal to the amount allocated to it by the Controller
pursuant to subdivision (b), less the actual amount of its property
tax revenue lost on the regular secured and supplemental rolls with
respect to those eligible properties described in subdivision (a) as
a result of the reassessment of those properties pursuant to
paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 170, excluding any
property tax revenue lost by school districts, other than basic state
aid school districts, and county offices of education. If the actual
amount of property tax revenue lost by the eligible county in the
immediately preceding fiscal year, as described and limited in the
preceding sentence, exceeds the amount allocated by the Controller to
that county pursuant to subdivision (b), the Controller shall
allocate the amount of that excess to that county.
SEC. 3. Section 218 of the Revenue and Taxation Code is amended to
read:
218. (a) The homeowners' property tax exemption is in the amount
of the assessed value of the dwelling specified in this section, as
authorized by subdivision (k) of Section 3 of Article XIII of the
California Constitution. That exemption shall be in the amount of
seven thousand dollars ($7,000) of the full value of the dwelling.
(b) The exemption does not extend to property that is rented,
vacant, under construction on the lien date, or that is a vacation or
secondary home of the owner or owners, nor does it apply to property
on which an owner receives the veteran's exemption.
(c) For purposes of this section, all of the following apply:
(1) "Owner" includes a person purchasing the dwelling under a
contract of sale or who holds shares or membership in a cooperative
housing corporation, which holding is a requisite to the exclusive
right of occupancy of a dwelling.
(2) (A) "Dwelling" means a building, structure, or other shelter
constituting a place of abode, whether real property or personal
property, and any land on which it may be situated. A two-dwelling
unit shall be considered as two separate single-family dwellings.
(B) "Dwelling" includes the following:
(i) A single-family dwelling occupied by an owner thereof as his
or her principal place of residence on the lien date.
(ii) A multiple-dwelling unit occupied by an owner thereof on the
lien date as his or her principal place of residence.
(iii) A condominium occupied by an owner thereof as his or her
principal place of residence on the lien date.
(iv) Premises occupied by the owner of shares or a membership
interest in a cooperative housing corporation, as defined in
subdivision (i) of Section 61, as his or her principal place of
residence on the lien date. Each exemption allowed pursuant to this
subdivision shall be deducted from the total assessed valuation of
the cooperative housing corporation. The exemption shall be taken
into account in apportioning property taxes among owners of share or
membership interests in the cooperative housing corporations so as to
benefit those owners who qualify for the exemption.
(d) Any dwelling that qualified for an exemption under this
section prior to October 20, 1991, that was damaged or destroyed by
fire in a disaster, as declared by the Governor, occurring on or
after October 20, 1991, and before November 1, 1991, and that has not
changed ownership since October 20, 1991, shall not be disqualified
as a "dwelling" or be denied an exemption under this section solely
on the basis that the dwelling was temporarily damaged or destroyed
or was being reconstructed by the owner.
(e) Any dwelling that qualified for an exemption under this
section prior to October 15, 2003, that was damaged or destroyed by
fire or earthquake in a disaster, as declared by the Governor, during
October, November, or December 2003, and that has not changed
ownership since October 15, 2003, shall not be disqualified as a
"dwelling" or be denied an exemption under this section solely on the
basis that the dwelling was temporarily damaged or destroyed or was
being reconstructed by the owner.
(f) Any dwelling that qualified for an exemption under this
section prior to June 3, 2004, that was damaged or destroyed by flood
in a disaster, as declared by the Governor, during June 2004, and
that has not changed ownership since June 3, 2004, shall not be
disqualified as a "dwelling" or be denied an exemption under this
section solely on the basis that the dwelling was temporarily damaged
or destroyed or was being reconstructed by the owner.
(g) Any dwelling that qualified for an exemption under this
section prior to August 11, 2004, that was damaged or destroyed by
the wildfires and any other related casualty that occurred in Shasta
County in a disaster, as declared by the Governor, during August
2004, and that has not changed ownership since August 11, 2004, shall
not be disqualified as a "dwelling" or be denied an exemption under
this section solely on the basis that the dwelling was temporarily
damaged or destroyed or was being reconstructed by the owner.
(h) Any dwelling that qualified for an exemption under this
section prior to December 28, 2004, that was damaged or destroyed by
severe rainstorms, floods, mudslides, or the accumulation of debris
in a disaster, as declared by the Governor, during December 2004,
January 2005, February 2005, March 2005, or June 2005, and that has
not changed ownership since December 28, 2004, shall not be
disqualified as a "dwelling" or be denied an exemption under this
section solely on the basis that the dwelling was temporarily damaged
or destroyed or was being reconstructed by the owner, or was
temporarily uninhabited as a result of restricted access to the
property due to floods, mudslides, the accumulation of debris, or
washed-out or damaged roads.
(i) Any dwelling that qualified for an exemption under this
section prior to December 19, 2005, that was damaged or destroyed by
severe rainstorms, floods, mudslides, or the accumulation of debris
in a disaster, as declared by the Governor in January 2006, April
2006, May 2006, or June 2006, and that has not changed ownership
since December 19, 2005, shall not be disqualified as a "dwelling" or
be denied an exemption under this section solely on the basis that
the dwelling was temporarily damaged or destroyed or was being
reconstructed by the owner, or was temporarily uninhabited as a
result of restricted access to the property due to floods, mudslides,
the accumulation of debris, or washed-out or damaged roads.
(j) Any dwelling that qualified for an exemption under this
section prior to July 9, 2006, that was damaged or destroyed by the
wildfires and any other related casualty that occurred in the County
of San Bernardino, as declared by the Governor in July 2006, and that
has not changed ownership since July 9, 2006, shall not be
disqualified as a "dwelling" or be denied an exemption under this
section solely on the basis that the dwelling was temporarily damaged
or destroyed or was being reconstructed by the owner, or was
temporarily uninhabited as a result of restricted access to the
property due to the wildfires.
(k) Any dwelling that qualified for an exemption under this
section prior to the commencement dates of the wildfires listed in
the Governor's proclamations of 2006 that was damaged or destroyed by
the wildfires and any other related casualty that occurred in the
Counties of Riverside and Ventura, and that has not changed ownership
since the commencement dates of these disasters as listed in the
Governor's proclamations of 2006 shall not be disqualified as a
"dwelling" or be denied an exemption under this section solely on the
basis that the dwelling was temporarily damaged or destroyed or was
being reconstructed by the owner, or was temporarily uninhabited as a
result of restricted access to the property due to the wildfires.
(l) Any dwelling that qualified for an exemption under this
section prior to January 11, 2007, that was damaged or destroyed by
severe freezing conditions, commencing January 11, 2007, and any
other related casualty that occurred in the Counties of El Dorado,
Fresno, Imperial, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, Monterey, Riverside,
San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa
Clara, Stanislaus, Tulare, Ventura, and Yuba as a result of a
disaster as declared by the Governor, and that has not changed
ownership since January 11, 2007, shall not be disqualified as a
"dwelling" or be denied an exemption under this section solely on the
basis that the dwelling was temporarily damaged or destroyed or was
being reconstructed by the owner, or was temporarily uninhabited as a
result of restricted access to the property due to severe freezing
conditions.
(m) Any dwelling that qualified for an exemption under this
section prior to June 24, 2007, that was damaged or destroyed by the
wildfires and any other related casualty that occurred as a result of
this disaster in the County of El Dorado, as declared by the
Governor in June 2007, and that has not changed ownership since June
24, 2007, shall not be disqualified as a "dwelling" or be denied an
exemption under this section solely on the basis that the dwelling
was temporarily damaged or destroyed or was being reconstructed by
the owner, or was temporarily uninhabited as a result of restricted
access to the property due to the wildfires.
(n) Any dwelling that qualified for an exemption under this
section prior to July 4, 2007, that was damaged or destroyed by the
Zaca Fire and any other related casualty that occurred as a result of
this disaster in the Counties of Santa Barbara and Ventura, as
declared by the Governor in August 2007, and that has not changed
ownership since July 4, 2007, may not be denied an exemption solely
on the basis that the dwelling was temporarily damaged or destroyed
or was being reconstructed by the owner, or was temporarily
uninhabited as a result of restricted access to the property due to
the Zaca Fire.
(o) Any dwelling that qualified for an exemption under this
section prior to July 6, 2007, that was damaged or destroyed by the
wildfires and any other related casualty that occurred as a result of
this disaster in the County of Inyo, as declared by the Governor in
July 2007, and that has not changed ownership since July 6, 2007, may
not be denied an exemption solely on the basis that the dwelling was
temporarily damaged or destroyed or was being reconstructed by the
owner, or was temporarily uninhabited as a result of restricted
access to the property due to the wildfires.
(p) Any dwelling that qualified for an exemption under this
section prior to the commencement dates of the wildfires listed in
the Governor's disaster proclamations of September 15, 2007, and
October 21, 2007, that was damaged or destroyed by the wildfires and
any other related casualty that occurred in the Counties of Los
Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara,
and Ventura, and that has not changed ownership since the
commencement dates of these disasters as listed in the proclamations
shall not be disqualified as a "dwelling" or be denied an exemption
under this section solely on the basis that the dwelling was
temporarily damaged or destroyed or was being reconstructed by the
owner, or was temporarily uninhabited as a result of restricted
access to the property due to the wildfires.
(q) Any dwelling that qualified for an exemption under this
section prior to October 20, 2007, that was damaged or destroyed by
the extremely strong and damaging winds and any other related
casualty that occurred as a result of this disaster in the County of
Riverside, as declared by the Governor in November 2007, and that has
not changed ownership since October 20, 2007, shall not be
disqualified as a "dwelling" or be denied an exemption under this
section solely on the basis that the dwelling was temporarily damaged
or destroyed or was being reconstructed by the owner, or was
temporarily uninhabited as a result of restricted access to the
property due to the extremely strong and damaging winds.
(r) Any dwelling that qualified for an exemption under this
section prior to the commencement dates of the wildfires listed in
the Governor's disaster proclamations of May, June, or July 2008,
that was damaged or destroyed by the wildfires and any other related
casualty that occurred in the Counties of Butte, Kern, Mariposa,
Mendocino, Monterey, Plumas, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, and
Trinity and that has not changed ownership since the commencement
dates of these disasters as listed in the proclamations shall not be
disqualified as a "dwelling" or be denied an exemption under this
section solely on the basis that the dwelling was temporarily damaged
or destroyed or was being reconstructed by the owner, or was
temporarily uninhabited as a result of restricted access to the
property due to the wildfires.
(s) Any dwelling that qualified for an exemption under this
section prior to July 1, 2008, that was damaged or destroyed by the
wildfires and any other related casualty that occurred as a result of
this disaster in the County of Santa Barbara, as declared by the
Governor in July 2008, and that has not changed ownership since July
1, 2008, may not be denied an exemption solely on the basis that the
dwelling was temporarily damaged or destroyed or was being
reconstructed by the owner, or was temporarily uninhabited as a
result of restricted access to the property due to the wildfires.
(t) Any dwelling that qualified for an exemption under this
section prior to July 12, 2008, that was damaged or destroyed by
severe rainstorms, floods, landslides, or the accumulation of debris
in a disaster, as declared by the Governor, in July 2008, and that
has not changed ownership since July 12, 2008, shall not be
disqualified as a "dwelling" or be denied an exemption under this
section solely on the basis that the dwelling was temporarily damaged
or destroyed or was being reconstructed by the owner, or was
temporarily uninhabited as a result of restricted access to the
property due to floods, landslides, the accumulation of debris, or
washed-out or damaged roads.
(u) Any dwelling that qualified for an exemption under this
section prior to May 22, 2008, that was damaged or destroyed by the
wildfires and any other related casualty that occurred as a result of
this disaster in the County of Humboldt, as declared by the Governor
in August 2008, and that has not changed ownership since May 22,
2008, may not be denied an exemption solely on the basis that the
dwelling was temporarily damaged or destroyed or was being
reconstructed by the owner, or was temporarily uninhabited as a
result of restricted access to the property due to the wildfires.
(v) Any dwelling that qualified for an exemption under this
section prior to the commencement dates of the wildfires that were
the subject of the Governor's disaster proclamations of October 13,
2008, and November 15, 2008, that was damaged or destroyed by the
wildfires and any other related casualty that occurred in the
Counties of Los Angeles and Ventura and that has not changed
ownership since the commencement dates of these wildfires, shall not
be disqualified as a "dwelling" or be denied an exemption under this
section solely on the basis that the dwelling was temporarily damaged
or destroyed or was being reconstructed by the owner, or was
temporarily uninhabited as a result of restricted access to the
property due to the wildfires.
(w) Any dwelling that qualified for an exemption under this
section prior to November 13, 2008, that was damaged or destroyed by
the wildfires and any other related casualty that occurred as a
result of this disaster in the County of Santa Barbara, as declared
by the Governor in November 2008, and that has not changed ownership
since November 13, 2008, shall not be disqualified as a "dwelling" or
be denied an exemption under this section solely on the basis that
the dwelling was temporarily damaged or destroyed or was being
reconstructed by the owner, or was temporarily uninhabited as a
result of restricted access to the property due to the wildfires.
(x) Any dwelling that qualified for an exemption under this
section prior to the commencement dates of the wildfires listed in
the Governor's disaster proclamations of November 15, 2008, and
November 17, 2008, that was damaged or destroyed by the wildfires and
any other related casualty that occurred as a result of this
disaster in the Counties of Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino, as
declared by the Governor in November 2008, and that has not changed
ownership since the commencement dates of these disasters as listed
in the proclamations, shall not be disqualified as a "dwelling" or be
denied an exemption under this section solely on the basis that the
dwelling was temporarily damaged or destroyed or was being
reconstructed by the owner, or was temporarily uninhabited as a
result of restricted access to the property due to the wildfires.
(y) Any dwelling that qualified for an exemption under this
section prior to May 5, 2009, that was damaged or destroyed by the
wildfires and any other related casualty that occurred as a result of
this disaster in the County of Santa Barbara, as declared by the
Governor in May 2009, and that has not changed ownership since May 5,
2009, shall not be disqualified as a "dwelling" or be denied an
exemption under this section solely on the basis that the dwelling
was temporarily damaged or destroyed or was being reconstructed by
the owner, or was temporarily uninhabited as a result of restricted
access to the property due to the wildfires.
(z) A dwelling that qualified for an exemption under this section
and that was damaged or destroyed by a natural disaster in a
designated area declared by the Governor to be in a state of
emergency during a specified period of time , and that has not
changed ownership since the commencement date of the disaster ,
shall not be disqualified as a "dwelling" or be denied an exemption
under this section solely on the basis that, as a result of that
disaster, the dwelling was temporarily damaged or destroyed or was
being reconstructed by the owner , or was temporarily
uninhabited as a result of restricted access to the property due to
the disaster .
(aa) The exemption provided for in subdivision (k) of Section 3 of
Article XIII of the California Constitution shall first be applied
to the building, structure, or other shelter and the excess, if any,
shall be applied to any land on which it may be located.
SEC. 4. It is the intent of the Legislature to provide in the
annual Budget Act those additional reimbursements to local
governments that may, as a result of Section 3 of this act, be
required by Section 25 of Article XIII of the California
Constitution.
SEC. 5. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this
act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local
agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant
to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of
the Government Code.
