HOUSE BILL NO. 66 "An Act relating to municipal property tax exemptions for certain residences and to property tax equivalency payments for certain residents; and providing for an effective date." Co-Chair Larson announced that HB 66 would be HELD in Committee following public testimony. Representative Brown presented members with Amendment 1, creating a mandatory deferral for low income persons (Attachment 1). She noted that a memorandum from Legislative Counsel is attached to Amendment 1. Legal Counsel advises that it is necessary to include language to base the optional exemption on "hardship". In response to a question by Representative Parnell, Representative Brown explained that $36,000 for individuals filling jointly has been added to subsection (b). The intent of the amendment would be to mandate that communities allow low income citizens to defer tax payments until death. BRAD BRADLEY, spoke in support of continued funding for the Senior Citizen Tax Exemption. He pointed out that many seniors could not afford to stay in the state without the aid of support programs. He urged the Committee to maintain current programs. He felt that rural seniors would be most adversely affected. He suggested that the cap be lowered or the age raised rather than to discontinue the senior citizen property tax exemption. PAUL WOERNER, RETIRED OFFICERS ASSOCIATION spoke in support of continued funding for the Disabled Veterans Property Tax Exemption. He pointed out that the Veterans Home is not being funded. He added that the veteran's burial allowance is also being discontinued. He stressed that eligible veterans are 50 percent disabled. He emphasized the difficulty that disabled veterans encounter in reaching their full earning potential. He suggested that, "surely in 2 a state that can offer upwards of a $1,000 dollars for each resident, each year for no other criteria than that person is a resident in the State for twelve months, surely we don't have to offer up our disabled American veterans to get government spending under control." Representative Grussendorf expressed his concern that disabled veterans are likely to be renters and would therefore be affected by the deletion of the Renters Rebate Program. Mr. Woerner agreed that perhaps half of the disabled veterans live in rental property. Representative Grussendorf stated that in making things easier for the State and municipalities that some times "we forget who the people were that we originally set the program up, and the service that it provides." Representative Martin asserted that the State has an influx of seniors because the State's senior programs are generous. He felt that controls must be put on the State's generosity. Co-Chair Larson clarified that the legislation passed in FY 93 to create a Veterans Home stated that the Home would be funded with private donations. Representative Therriault asked if most disabled veterans would fit under the caps provided for in Amendment 1. Mr. Woerner thought that most disabled veterans would have incomes under the cap. GENE DOWE, LEGISLATIVE OFFICE, VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS (VFW) spoke in support of continued funding for the Disabled Veterans Property Tax Exemption. HB 66 was HELD in Committee.