PROPOSED
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AMENDMENTS TO H.B. 2477
(Reference to printed bill)
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert:
"Section 1. Section 11-495, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
11-495. Taxpayers' information fund
A. A taxpayers' information fund is established in each county treasury consisting of monies collected from the public records copy surcharge imposed pursuant to section 11-496, the tax lien processing fee imposed pursuant to section 42-18116, subsection C, fifteen dollars $15 of each judgment deed fee collected pursuant to section 42-18205, subsection A, interest earned from the elderly assistance fund pursuant to section 42-17401, the community facilities district special assessment fee imposed pursuant to section 48-721 and the fees authorized for collecting municipal fire and emergency services fees in certain areas of the county as prescribed in section 9-500.23.
B. The county treasurer shall administer the fund and spend monies in the fund only to defray the cost of converting or upgrading an automated public information system as follows:
1. Purchasing computer hardware and software.
2. Training employees to operate the system.
3. Maintaining the system, including purchasing equipment maintenance agreements.
4. Updating the system hardware and software.
5. In counties with a population of more than two million persons, notifying property owners of the tax and ownership status of a taxpayer's parcel prior to the taxpayer's parcel being sold at a deed sale and the tax and ownership status of any parcels being sold at a deed sale that are adjacent to a taxpayer's parcel, prior to the deed sale.
C. The county treasurer shall annually submit to the board of supervisors the amount of anticipated revenues under this section. If the projected revenues are considered to be insufficient to establish and maintain the fund at an adequate level, the monies may accumulate until sufficient monies are available in the fund.
Sec. 2. Repeal
Title 42, chapter 17, article 8, Arizona Revised Statutes, is repealed.
Sec. 3. Title 46, chapter 1, article 7, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 46-185, to read:
46-185. Elderly assistance fund; property tax reduction; appropriation; distribution; annual report; definitions
A. The elderly assistance fund is established consisting of legislative appropriations for the purpose of reducing the property taxes on a qualified individual's primary residence. The department shall administer the fund. monies in the fund are continuously appropriated.
B. Beginning in fiscal year 2022-2023 and each fiscal year thereafter, the sum of $7,000,000 is appropriated from the state general fund to the elderly assistance fund.
C. The department shall proportionately distribute the monies in the elderly assistance fund to each area agency on aging established pursuant to the older Americans act of 1965 (P.L. 89-73; 79 Stat. 218; 42 United States Code sections 3001 through 3058ff) that chooses to participate in the elderly assistance fund to reduce up to sixty percent of the property taxes on a qualified individual's or emergency approved individual's primary residence in that area agency on aging's service area.
D. After receiving approval from the county assessor for the property valuation protection option pursuant to article IX, section 18, subsection (7), Constitution of Arizona, the individual shall apply to the participating area agency on aging in which the individual lives to receive assistance from the elderly assistance fund. The participating area agency on aging shall:
1. Approve applications for assistance from the elderly assistance fund based on the greatest social need and greatest economic need.
2. Notify a qualified individual that the qualified individual will receive assistance from the elderly assistance fund, the dollar amount of the assistance and that the qualified individual is responsible for paying any remaining property tax amount due.
3. Pay the monies to the appropriate county treasurer on behalf of the qualified individual.
4. Develop an emergency approval process for individuals who are not qualified individuals due to extenuating circumstances to apply to and receive assistance from the elderly assistance fund. An individual may receive emergency approval pursuant to this paragraph for a total of three tax years of which only two may be consecutive.
E. the department may retain up to five percent of the monies in the fund for the purposes of administering the fund.
F. An area agency on aging that receives monies pursuant to subsection C of this section may use a portion of those monies for administrative costs in providing services relating to the elderly assistance fund as follows:
1. For the first year, up to ten percent.
2. For each year thereafter, up to five percent.
G. On or before November 1 of each year, Each participating area agency on aging shall report to the department the number of qualified individuals who received assistance, the total amount of assistance provided, the average amount of assistance provided, the total number of applications received and the number of applicants who received assistance. On or before December 31 of each year, the department shall compile this information and submit a report to the governor, the PRESIDENT of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives and shall provide a copy of this report to the secretary of state.
H. For the purposes of this section:
1. "Greatest economic need" has the same meaning prescribed in the older americans act of 1965 (P.L. 89-73; 79 stat. 218; 42 United States Code section 3002).
2. "Greatest social need" has the same meaning prescribed in the older Americans act of 1965 (P.L. 89-73; 79 Stat. 218; 42 United States Code section 3002).
3. "primary residence" has the same meaning prescribed in article ix, section 18, constitution of arizona.
4. "Qualified individual" means an individual who is approved for the property valuation protection option pursuant to article IX, section 18, subsection (7), Constitution of Arizona, and who is determined to have the greatest social need and greatest economic need by the area agency on aging in which the individual lives."
Amend title to conform