SB2123sam002 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Sen. Frank C. Watson

Filed: 4/6/2006

09400SB2123sam002 LRB094 12610 BDD 58170 a

AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 2123

AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 2123, AS AMENDED, by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the following:

"Section 5. The Property Tax Code is amended by changing Section 15-165 and by adding Section 15-166 as follows:

(35 ILCS 200/15-165)

Sec. 15-165. Disabled veterans. This Section applies through the 2005 tax year.

Property up to an assessed value of $70,000, owned and used exclusively by a disabled veteran, or the spouse or unmarried surviving spouse of the veteran, as a home, is exempt. As used in this Section, a disabled veteran means a person who has served in the Armed Forces of the United States and whose disability is of such a nature that the Federal Government has authorized payment for purchase or construction of Specially Adapted Housing as set forth in the United States Code, Title 38, Chapter 21, Section 2101.

The exemption applies to housing where Federal funds have been used to purchase or construct special adaptations to suit the veteran's disability.

The exemption also applies to housing that is specially adapted to suit the veteran's disability, and purchased entirely or in part by the proceeds of a sale, casualty loss reimbursement, or other transfer of a home for which the Federal Government had previously authorized payment for purchase or construction as Specially Adapted Housing.

However, the entire proceeds of the sale, casualty loss reimbursement, or other transfer of that housing shall be applied to the acquisition of subsequent specially adapted housing to the extent that the proceeds equal the purchase price of the subsequently acquired housing.

For purposes of this Section, "unmarried surviving spouse" means the surviving spouse of the veteran at any time after the death of the veteran during which such surviving spouse is not married.

This exemption must be reestablished on an annual basis by certification from the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs to the Department, which shall forward a copy of the certification to local assessing officials.

(Source: P.A. 94-310, eff. 7-25-05.)

(35 ILCS 200/15-166 new)

Sec. 15-166. Disabled veterans; surviving spouses.

(a) This Section applies to tax years 2006 and thereafter.

(b) Property that is owned and used exclusively by a disabled veteran, or the spouse or unmarried surviving spouse of the veteran, as a home, is entitled to an exemption in an amount set forth under subsection (c). As used in this Section, a disabled veteran means a veteran who was honorably discharged with a service-connected disability and for whom documentation, in any form, from any branch of the United States Armed Forces has been issued certifying that the veteran suffers from a disability. "Veteran" means an Illinois resident who has served as a member of the United States Armed Forces on active duty or State active duty, a member of the Illinois National Guard, or a member of the United States Reserve Forces.

(c) The amount of the exemption under this Section is an amount equal to the assessed value of the property multiplied by the percentage of disability of the veteran as certified by the United States Government or United States Department of Veterans Affairs or its predecessor.

(d) The production by a veteran or the spouse or surviving spouse of a letter of disability from the United States Government or United States Department of Veterans Affairs or its predecessor before the chief county assessment officer of the county in which property of the veteran lies is prima facie evidence of the fact that the veteran or the surviving spouse is entitled to the exemption.

If the disabled veteran predeceases his or her spouse and if, upon the death of the veteran, the spouse holds the legal or beneficial title to the homestead and permanently resides thereon, then the exemption from taxation carries over to the benefit of the veteran's spouse until such time as he or she remarries or sells or otherwise disposes of the property. If the spouse sells the property, then an exemption not to exceed the amount granted from the most recent ad valorem tax roll may be transferred to his or her new residence, as long as it is used as his or her primary residence and he or she does not remarry.

(e) Every person who, on January 1, has the legal title to real or personal property that is entitled to an exemption under this Section must, on or before March 1 of each year, file an application for the exemption with the chief county assessment officer, listing and describing the property for which exemption is claimed and certifying its ownership and use. The Department of Revenue shall prescribe the forms upon which the application is made. The failure to make an application as required under this subsection constitutes a waiver of the exemption privilege for that year.

Once an original application for tax exemption has been granted, in each succeeding year on or before February 1, the chief county assessment officer must mail a renewal application to the applicant, and the officer shall accept from each applicant a renewal application on a form to be prescribed by the Department of Revenue. This renewal application shall be accepted as evidence of exemption by the chief county assessment officer unless he or she denies the application.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.".