SB3012sam001 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Sen. Mike Simmons

Filed: 2/7/2022

10200SB3012sam001 LRB102 22883 HLH 35872 a

AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 3012

AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 3012 by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the following:

"Section 5. The Property Tax Code is amended by adding Section 15-173.1 as follows:

(35 ILCS 200/15-173.1 new)

Sec. 15-173.1. Homestead exemption for property in a flood zone.

(a) Beginning with tax year 2023, if a geographic area within a county experiences excessive flooding in any tax year, the county board of the county may, by ordinance, designate that area as a flood zone for that tax year. Areas that may be designated as flood zones include, but are not limited to, Special Flood Hazard Areas designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, areas adjacent to Lake Michigan or the Chicago River, or other geographic areas determined by the county board to have experienced excessive flooding during the tax year. Qualified residential property that is located within a flood zone is entitled to a reduction of $5,000 from the property's equalized assessed value for the tax year in which the area is designated as a flood zone.

(b) In the case of qualified residential property that is not owner-occupied, the property owner shall provide each tenant with (i) written information approved by the chief county assessment officer concerning best practices for flood damage prevention and mitigation and (ii) the brochure entitled "Flood Insurance for Renters", prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or any similar informational materials prepared by that Agency.

(c) Application must be made during the application period in effect for the county. The assessor or chief county assessment officer may determine the eligibility of residential property to receive the homestead exemption provided by this Section by application, visual inspection, questionnaire, or other reasonable methods. The determination must be made in accordance with guidelines established by the Department. Photographic evidence collected from the homeowner shall be sufficient to demonstrate flood damage.

(d) As used in this Section:

"Household" means all persons using the residence as their principal place of residence.

"Qualified residential property" means real property that is improved with a permanent structure that is occupied as a primary residence by one or more individuals with a household income that does not exceed 100% of the area median income, as determined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.".