00                             HOUSE BILL NO. 90                                                                          
01 "An Act relating to and increasing the amount of the municipal property tax exemption                                   
02 on residences of certain seniors and others; and providing for an effective date."                                      
03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
04    * Section 1. AS 29.45.030(e) is amended to read:                                                                   
05            (e)  The real property owned and occupied as the primary residence and                                       
06       permanent place of abode by a resident and whose gross household income does not                              
07       exceed 150 percent of the most recent federal poverty guidelines for Alaska set by                            
08       the United States Department of Health and Human Services and revised under                                   
09       42 U.S.C. 9902(2) and who is (1) 65 years of age or older; (2) a disabled veteran; or                         
10       (3) at least 60 years of age and the widow or widower of a person who qualified for an                            
11       exemption under (1) or (2) of this subsection is exempt from taxation on the first                                
12       $200,000 [$150,000] of the assessed value of the real property. A municipality may by                         
13       ordinance approved by the voters grant the exemption under this subsection to the                                 
14       widow or widower under 60 years of age of a person who qualified for an exemption                                 

01       under (2) of this subsection and whose gross household income does not exceed 150                             
02       percent of the most recent federal poverty guidelines for Alaska set by the United                            
03       States Department of Health and Human Services and revised under 42 U.S.C.                                    
04       9902(2). A municipality may, in case of hardship, provide for exemption beyond the                            
05       first $200,000 [$150,000] of assessed value in accordance with regulations of the                             
06       department. Only one exemption may be granted for the same property, and, if two or                               
07       more persons are eligible for an exemption for the same property, the parties shall                               
08       decide between or among themselves who is to receive the benefit of the exemption.                                
09       Real property may not be exempted under this subsection if the assessor determines,                               
10       after notice and hearing to the parties, that the property was conveyed to the applicant                          
11       primarily for the purpose of obtaining the exemption. The determination of the                                    
12       assessor may be appealed under AS 44.62.560 - 44.62.570.                                                          
13    * Sec. 2. AS 29.45.050(i) is amended to read:                                                                      
14            (i)  A municipality may by ordinance approved by the voters exempt from                                      
15       taxation the assessed value that exceeds $200,000 [$150,000] of real property owned                           
16       and occupied as a permanent place of abode by a resident whose gross household                                
17       income does not exceed 150 percent of the most recent federal poverty guidelines                              
18       for Alaska set by the United States Department of Health and Human Services                                   
19       and revised under 42 U.S.C. 9902(2) and who is                                                                
20                 (1)  65 years of age or older;                                                                          
21                 (2)  a disabled veteran, including a person who was disabled in the line                                
22       of duty while serving in the Alaska Territorial Guard; or                                                         
23                 (3)  at least 60 years old and a widow or widower of a person who                                       
24       qualified for an exemption under (1) or (2) of this subsection.                                                   
25    * Sec. 3. This Act takes effect January 1, 2012.