Second Regular Session Sixty-eighth General Assembly STATE OF COLORADO INTRODUCED LLS NO. 12-0344.02 Jason Gelender x4330 HOUSE BILL 12-1253 HOUSE SPONSORSHIP Kefalas, SENATE SPONSORSHIP Johnston, House Committees Senate Committees Finance A BILL FOR AN ACT Concerning the real property expense assistance grants for low-income seniors and disabled individuals, and, in connection therewith, modifying grant amounts and increasing maximum income limits for grant qualification. Bill Summary (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://www.leg.state.co.us/billsummaries.) For grants claimed for 2013, the bill modifies the amounts of the real property tax expense and heat or fuel expenses assistance grants for low-income seniors and disabled individuals and the maximum income limits for grant qualification in a manner that: Increases grant amounts for individuals who earn more than $10,040 and married couples who earn more than $13,932; and Increases the income limits for grant eligibility from $12,313 to $28,000 for individuals and from $16,205 to $32,000 for married couples; and Establishes flat minimum grant amounts for any eligible individual or married couple of the lesser of $227 or the actual amount of property tax paid for the real property tax expense assistance grant and $73 for the heat or fuel expenses assistance grant. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado: SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 39-31-101, amend (2) as follows: 39-31-101. Real property tax assistance - eligibility - applicability - definitions. (2) Such A grant shall be is the amount of the general property taxes actually paid on the a residence or the amount of taxes actually paid on a mobile home, plus any tax-equivalent payments computed pursuant to subsection (4) of this section, with respect to the rent of a trailer space during the year for which such the grant is claimed, the amount of the specific ownership tax actually paid on a trailer coach, or the amount of the tax-equivalent payments, computed pursuant to subsection (4) of this section, actually made during the year for which such the grant is claimed, but in no event may it exceed: (a) In the case of an individual: (I) For grants claimed for years commencing prior to January 1, 1999, five hundred dollars reduced by twenty percent of the amount by which the individual's income exceeds five thousand dollars; (II) For grants claimed for years commencing on or after January 1, 1999, but prior to January 1, 2008, six hundred dollars reduced by ten percent of the amount by which the individual's income exceeds five thousand dollars; and (III) For grants claimed for years commencing on or after January 1, 2008, but before January 1, 2013, and for years commencing on or after January 1, 2014, six hundred dollars reduced by ten percent of the amount by which the individual's income exceeds six thousand dollars in 2008, and, each year thereafter, the amount for the prior year adjusted for inflation; except that, for 2014, the amount for 2012 adjusted for inflation; and (IV) For grants claimed for 2013: (A) For an individual whose income is less than or equal to ten thousand forty dollars, six hundred dollars reduced by ten percent of the amount by which the individual's income exceeds six thousand three hundred thirteen dollars; or (B) For an individual whose income is more than ten thousand forty dollars but less than or equal to twenty-eight thousand dollars, two hundred twenty-seven dollars. (b) In the case of a husband and wife: (I) For grants claimed for years commencing prior to January 1, 1999, five hundred dollars reduced by twenty percent of their income over eight thousand seven hundred dollars; (II) For grants claimed for years commencing on or after January 1, 1999, but prior to January 1, 2008, six hundred dollars reduced by ten percent of their income over eight thousand seven hundred dollars; and (III) For grants claimed for years commencing on or after January 1, 2008, but before January 1, 2013, and for years commencing on or after January 1, 2014, six hundred dollars reduced by ten percent of their income over nine thousand seven hundred dollars in 2008, and, each year thereafter, the amount for the prior year adjusted for inflation; except that, for 2014, the amount for 2012 adjusted for inflation; and (IV) For grants claimed for 2013: (A) For a husband and wife whose income is less than or equal to thirteen thousand nine hundred thirty-two dollars, six hundred dollars reduced by ten percent of their income over ten thousand two hundred five dollars; or (B) For a husband and wife whose income is more than thirteen thousand nine hundred thirty-two dollars but less than or equal to thirty-two thousand dollars, two hundred twenty-seven dollars. SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 39-31-104, amend (2) as follows: 39-31-104. Heat or fuel expenses assistance - eligibility - applicability - definitions. (2) Such The grant shall be as follows is: (a) In the case of an individual: (I) For grants claimed for years commencing prior to January 1, 1999, one hundred sixty dollars reduced by six and four-tenths percent of the amount by which the individual's income exceeds five thousand dollars; (II) For grants claimed for years commencing on or after January 1, 1999, but prior to January 1, 2008, one hundred ninety-two dollars reduced by three and two-tenths percent of the amount by which the individual's income exceeds five thousand dollars; and (III) For grants claimed for years commencing on or after January 1, 2008, but before January 1, 2013, and for years commencing on or after January 1, 2014, one hundred ninety-two dollars reduced by three and two-tenths percent of the amount by which the individual's income exceeds six thousand dollars in 2008, and, each year thereafter, the amount for the prior year adjusted for inflation; except that, for 2014, the amount for 2012 adjusted for inflation; and (IV) For grants claimed for 2013: (A) For an individual whose income is less than or equal to ten thousand forty dollars, one hundred ninety-two dollars reduced by three and two-tenths percent of the amount by which the individual's income exceeds six thousand three hundred thirteen dollars; or (B) For an individual whose income is more than ten thousand forty dollars but less than or equal to twenty-eight thousand dollars, seventy-three dollars. (b) In the case of a husband and wife: (I) For grants claimed for years commencing prior to January 1, 1999, one hundred sixty dollars reduced by six and four-tenths percent of their income over eight thousand seven hundred dollars; (II) For grants claimed for years commencing on or after January 1, 1999, but prior to January 1, 2008, one hundred ninety-two dollars reduced by three and two-tenths percent of their income over eight thousand seven hundred dollars; and (III) For grants claimed for years commencing on or after January 1, 2008, but before January 1, 2013, and for years commencing on or after January 1, 2014, one hundred ninety-two dollars reduced by three and two-tenths percent of their income over nine thousand seven hundred dollars in 2008, and, each year thereafter, the amount for the prior year adjusted for inflation; except that, for 2014, the amount for 2012 adjusted for inflation; and (IV) For grants claimed for 2013: (A) For a husband and wife whose income is less than or equal to thirteen thousand nine hundred thirty-two dollars, one hundred ninety-two dollars reduced by three and two-tenths percent of their income over ten thousand two hundred five dollars; or (B) For a husband and wife whose income is more than thirteen thousand nine hundred thirty-two dollars but less than or equal to thirty-two thousand dollars, seventy-three dollars. SECTION 3. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly (August 8, 2012, if adjournment sine die is on May 9, 2012); except that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in November 2012 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.