Bill Text: FL S0484 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: First Responder Property Tax Exemption
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 3-1)
Status: (Failed) 2020-03-14 - Died in Finance and Tax [S0484 Detail]
Download: Florida-2020-S0484-Introduced.html
Florida Senate - 2020 SB 484 By Senator Simmons 9-00503-20 2020484__ 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to a first responder property tax 3 exemption; amending s. 196.102, F.S.; revising the 4 definition of the term “first responder” for purposes 5 of eligibility for the tax exemption to include a law 6 enforcement officer or firefighter who, before 7 becoming a resident of this state, sustained a total 8 and permanent disability in the line of duty while 9 serving as a full-time paid law enforcement officer or 10 firefighter in another state; defining the term “law 11 enforcement officer”; providing applicability; 12 providing an effective date. 13 14 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 15 16 Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) and subsection 17 (2) of section 196.102, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 18 196.102 Exemption for certain totally and permanently 19 disabled first responders; surviving spouse carryover.— 20 (1) As used in this section, the term: 21 (b) “First responder” means: 22 1. A law enforcement officer or correctional officer as 23 defined in s. 943.10, a firefighter as defined in s. 633.102, or 24 an emergency medical technician or paramedic as defined in s. 25 401.23 who is a full-time paid employee, part-time paid 26 employee, or unpaid volunteer; or 27 2. A law enforcement officer or firefighter who, before 28 becoming a resident of this state, sustained a total and 29 permanent disability in the line of duty while serving as a 30 full-time paid law enforcement officer or firefighter in another 31 state. As used in this subparagraph, the term “law enforcement 32 officer” means a person who was employed full time by a 33 municipality of another state, by another state, or by any 34 political subdivision thereof; who was vested with authority to 35 bear arms and make arrests; and whose primary responsibility was 36 the prevention and detection of crime or the enforcement of the 37 penal, criminal, traffic, or highway laws of that statehas the38same meaning as in s. 196.081. 39 (2) Any real estate that is owned and used as a homestead 40 by a person who has a total and permanent disability as a result 41 of an injury or injuries sustained in the line of duty while 42 serving as a first responder in this state, in another state as 43 provided under subparagraph (1)(b)2., or during an operation in 44 another state or country authorized by this state or a political 45 subdivision of this state is exempt from taxation if the first 46 responder is a permanent resident of this state on January 1 of 47 the year for which the exemption is being claimed. 48 Section 2. The amendment to s. 196.102, Florida Statutes, 49 made by this act applies beginning with the 2021 tax roll. 50 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2020.