00                            HOUSE BILL NO. 169                                                                          
01 "An Act relating to a municipal property tax exemption for real property owned and                                      
02 occupied as the primary residence and permanent place of abode by a resident 65 years                                   
03 of age or older, a disabled veteran, or the widow or widower of a resident 65 years of age                              
04 or older or a disabled veteran; and providing for an effective date."                                                   
05 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
06    * Section 1. AS 29.45.030(e) is amended to read:                                                                   
07 (e)  The real property owned and occupied as the primary residence and                                                  
08 permanent place of abode by a resident who is (1) 65 years of age or older; (2) a                                       
09 disabled veteran; or (3) at least 60 years of age and the widow or widower of a person                                  
10 who qualified for an exemption under (1) or (2) of this subsection is exempt from                                       
11 taxation on the first $250,000 [$150,000] of the assessed value of the real property. A                             
12 municipality may by ordinance approved by the voters grant the exemption under this                                     
13 subsection to the widow or widower under 60 years of age of a person who qualified                                      
14 for an exemption under (2) of this subsection or to a resident who is the widow or                                      

01 widower of a person who dies from a service-connected cause sustained while serving                                     
02 as a member of the United States armed forces or as a member of the National Guard.                                     
03 A municipality may, in case of hardship, provide for exemption beyond the first                                         
04 $250,000 [$150,000] of assessed value in accordance with regulations of the                                         
05 department. Only one exemption may be granted for the same property, and, if two or                                     
06 more persons are eligible for an exemption for the same property, the parties shall                                     
07 decide between or among themselves who is to receive the benefit of the exemption.                                      
08 Real property may not be exempted under this subsection if the assessor determines,                                     
09 after notice and hearing to the parties, that the property was conveyed to the applicant                                
10 primarily for the purpose of obtaining the exemption. The determination of the                                          
11 assessor may be appealed under AS 44.62.560 - 44.62.570. A municipality shall                                           
12 determine the eligibility requirements and application procedure for an optional                                        
13 exemption provided under this subsection. In this subsection, "widow or widower"                                        
14       means a person whose spouse has died and who has not remarried.                                                   
15    * Sec. 2. This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).