SENATE BILL No. 133

 

 

February 4, 2003, Introduced by Senators McMANUS, CASSIS, GARCIA, BISHOP, BIRKHOLZ, TOY, VAN WOERKOM, GOSCHKA, KUIPERS, ALLEN and JELINEK and referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

 

        

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                 A bill to amend 1893 PA 206, entitled                                             

                                                                                

    "The general property tax act,"                                             

                                                                                

    by amending sections 7u, 7cc, 7dd, 24c, 27d, and 120 (MCL 211.7u,           

                                                                                

    211.7cc, 211.7dd, 211.24c, 211.27d, and 211.120), sections 7u and           

                                                                                

    24c as amended by 2002 PA 620, section 7cc as amended by 2002 PA            

                                                                                

    624, section 7dd as amended and section 27d as added by 1996 PA             

                                                                                

    476, and section 120 as added by 1995 PA 74.                                

                                                                                

                THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:                      

                                                                                

1       Sec. 7u.  (1) The  homestead  principal residence of persons                

                                                                                

2   who, in the judgment of the supervisor and board of review, by              

                                                                                

3   reason of poverty, are unable to contribute toward the public               

                                                                                

4   charges is eligible for exemption in whole or in part from                  

                                                                                

5   taxation under this act.  This section does not apply to the                

                                                                                

6   property of a corporation.                                                  

                                                                                

7       (2) To be eligible for exemption under this section, a person               

                                                                                


                                                                                

1   shall do all of the following on an annual basis:                           

                                                                                

2       (a) Be an owner of and occupy as a  homestead  principal                    

                                                                                

3   residence the property for which an exemption is requested.                 

                                                                                

4       (b) File a claim with the supervisor or board of review on a                

                                                                                

5   form provided by the local assessing unit, accompanied by federal           

                                                                                

6   and state income tax returns for all persons residing in the                

                                                                                

7   homestead  principal residence, including any property tax                 

                                                                                

8   credit returns, filed in the immediately preceding year or in the           

                                                                                

9   current year.  The filing of a claim under this subsection                  

                                                                                

10  constitutes an appearance before the board of review for the                

                                                                                

11  purpose of preserving the claimant's right to appeal the decision           

                                                                                

12  of the board of review regarding the claim.                                 

                                                                                

13      (c) Produce a valid driver's license or other form of                       

                                                                                

14  identification if requested by the supervisor or board of                   

                                                                                

15  review.                                                                     

                                                                                

16      (d) Produce a deed, land contract, or other evidence of                     

                                                                                

17  ownership of the property for which an exemption is requested if            

                                                                                

18  required by the supervisor or board of review.                              

                                                                                

19      (e) Meet the federal poverty guidelines updated annually in                 

                                                                                

20  the federal register by the United States department of health              

                                                                                

21  and human services under authority of section 673 of subtitle B             

                                                                                

22  of title VI of the omnibus budget reconciliation act of 1981,               

                                                                                

23  Public Law 97-35, 42 U.S.C. 9902, or alternative guidelines                 

                                                                                

24  adopted by the governing body of the local assessing unit                   

                                                                                

25  provided the alternative guidelines do not provide income                   

                                                                                

26  eligibility requirements less than the federal guidelines.                  

                                                                                

27      (3) The application for an exemption under this section shall               


                                                                                

1   be filed after January 1 but before the day prior to the last day           

                                                                                

2   of the board of review.                                                     

                                                                                

3       (4) The governing body of the local assessing unit shall                    

                                                                                

4   determine and make available to the public the policy and                   

                                                                                

5   guidelines the local assessing unit uses for the granting of                

                                                                                

6   exemptions under this section.  The guidelines shall include but            

                                                                                

7   not be limited to the specific income and asset levels of the               

                                                                                

8   claimant and total household income and assets.                             

                                                                                

9       (5) The board of review shall follow the policy and                         

                                                                                

10  guidelines of the local assessing unit in granting or denying an            

                                                                                

11  exemption under this section unless the board of review                     

                                                                                

12  determines there are substantial and compelling reasons why there           

                                                                                

13  should be a deviation from the policy and guidelines and the                

                                                                                

14  substantial and compelling reasons are communicated in writing to           

                                                                                

15  the claimant.                                                               

                                                                                

16      (6) A person who files a claim under this section is not                    

                                                                                

17  prohibited from also appealing the assessment on the property for           

                                                                                

18  which that claim is made before the board of review in the same             

                                                                                

19  year.                                                                       

                                                                                

20      (7) As used in this section,  "homestead" means homestead                   

                                                                                

21  "principal residence" means principal residence or qualified                

                                                                                

22  agricultural property as those terms are defined in section 7dd.            

                                                                                

23      Sec. 7cc.  (1) A  homestead  principal residence is exempt                  

                                                                                

24  from the tax levied by a local school district for school                   

                                                                                

25  operating purposes to the extent provided under section 1211 of             

                                                                                

26  the revised school code, 1976 PA 451, MCL 380.1211, if an owner             

                                                                                

27  of that  homestead  principal residence claims an exemption as              


                                                                                

1   provided in this section.  Notwithstanding the tax day provided             

                                                                                

2   in section 2, the status of property as a  homestead  principal             

                                                                                

3   residence shall be determined on the date an affidavit claiming             

                                                                                

4   an exemption is filed under subsection (2).                                 

                                                                                

5       (2) An owner of property may claim an exemption under this                  

                                                                                

6   section by filing an affidavit on or before May 1 with the local            

                                                                                

7   tax collecting unit in which the property is located.  The                  

                                                                                

8   affidavit shall state that the property is owned and occupied as            

                                                                                

9   a  homestead  principal residence by that owner of the property             

                                                                                

10  on the date that the affidavit is signed.  The affidavit shall be           

                                                                                

11  on a form prescribed by the department of treasury.  Beginning in           

                                                                                

12  1995, 1 copy of the affidavit shall be retained by the owner, 1             

                                                                                

13  copy shall be retained by the local tax collecting unit until any           

                                                                                

14  appeal or audit period under this act has expired, and 1 copy               

                                                                                

15  shall be forwarded to the department of treasury pursuant to                

                                                                                

16  subsection (4), together with all information submitted under               

                                                                                

17  subsection (18) for a cooperative housing corporation.  Beginning           

                                                                                

18  in 1995, the affidavit shall require the owner claiming the                 

                                                                                

19  exemption to indicate if that owner has claimed another exemption           

                                                                                

20  on property in this state that is not rescinded.  If the                    

                                                                                

21  affidavit requires an owner to include a social security number,            

                                                                                

22  that owner's number is subject to the disclosure restrictions in            

                                                                                

23  1941 PA 122, MCL 205.1 to 205.31.                                           

                                                                                

24      (3) A husband and wife who are required to file or who do                   

                                                                                

25  file a joint Michigan income tax return are entitled to not more            

                                                                                

26  than 1  homestead  exemption under this section.                            

                                                                                

27      (4) Upon receipt of an affidavit filed under subsection (2)                 


                                                                                

1   and unless the claim is denied under subsection (6), the assessor           

                                                                                

2   shall exempt the property from the collection of the tax levied             

                                                                                

3   by a local school district for school operating purposes to the             

                                                                                

4   extent provided under section 1211 of the revised school code,              

                                                                                

5   1976 PA 451, MCL 380.1211, as provided in subsection (1) until              

                                                                                

6   December 31 of the year in which the property is transferred or             

                                                                                

7   is no longer a  homestead  principal residence as defined in                

                                                                                

8   section 7dd.  The local tax collecting unit shall forward copies            

                                                                                

9   of affidavits to the department of treasury according to a                  

                                                                                

10  schedule prescribed by the department of treasury.                          

                                                                                

11      (5) Not more than 90 days after exempted property is no                     

                                                                                

12  longer used as a  homestead  principal residence by the owner               

                                                                                

13  claiming an exemption, that owner shall rescind the claim of                

                                                                                

14  exemption by filing with the local tax collecting unit a                    

                                                                                

15  rescission form prescribed by the department of treasury.                   

                                                                                

16  Beginning October 1, 1994, an owner who fails to file a                     

                                                                                

17  rescission as required by this subsection is subject to a penalty           

                                                                                

18  of $5.00 per day for each separate failure beginning after the 90           

                                                                                

19  days have elapsed, up to a maximum of $200.00.  This penalty                

                                                                                

20  shall be collected under 1941 PA 122, MCL 205.1 to 205.31, and              

                                                                                

21  shall be deposited in the state school aid fund established in              

                                                                                

22  section 11 of article IX of the state constitution of 1963.  This           

                                                                                

23  penalty may be waived by the department of treasury.                        

                                                                                

24      (6) If the assessor of the local tax collecting unit believes               

                                                                                

25  that the property for which an exemption is claimed is not the              

                                                                                

26  homestead  principal residence of the owner claiming the                   

                                                                                

27  exemption, effective for taxes levied after 1994 the assessor may           


                                                                                

1   deny a new or existing claim by notifying the owner and the                 

                                                                                

2   department of treasury in writing of the reason for the denial              

                                                                                

3   and advising the owner that the denial may be appealed to the               

                                                                                

4   department of treasury within 35 days after the date of the                 

                                                                                

5   notice.  The denial shall be made on a form prescribed by the               

                                                                                

6   department of treasury.  If the assessor of the local tax                   

                                                                                

7   collecting unit believes that the property for which the                    

                                                                                

8   exemption is claimed is not the  homestead  principal residence             

                                                                                

9   of the owner claiming the exemption, for taxes levied in 1994 the           

                                                                                

10  assessor may send a recommendation for denial for any affidavit             

                                                                                

11  that is forwarded to the department of treasury stating the                 

                                                                                

12  reasons for the recommendation.  If the assessor of the local tax           

                                                                                

13  collecting unit believes that the property for which the                    

                                                                                

14  exemption is claimed is not the  homestead  principal residence             

                                                                                

15  of the owner claiming the exemption and has not denied the claim,           

                                                                                

16  for taxes levied after 1994 the assessor shall include a                    

                                                                                

17  recommendation for denial with any affidavit that is forwarded to           

                                                                                

18  the department of treasury or, for an existing claim, shall send            

                                                                                

19  a recommendation for denial to the department of treasury,                  

                                                                                

20  stating the reasons for the recommendation.                                 

                                                                                

21      (7) The department of treasury shall determine if the                       

                                                                                

22  property is the  homestead  principal residence of the owner                

                                                                                

23  claiming the exemption.  The department of treasury may review              

                                                                                

24  the validity of exemptions for the current calendar year and for            

                                                                                

25  the 3 immediately preceding calendar years.  If the department of           

                                                                                

26  treasury determines that the property is not the  homestead                 

                                                                                

27  principal residence of the owner claiming the exemption, the                


                                                                                

1   department shall send a notice of that determination to the local           

                                                                                

2   tax collecting unit and to the owner of the property claiming the           

                                                                                

3   exemption, indicating that the claim for exemption is denied,               

                                                                                

4   stating the reason for the denial, and advising the owner                   

                                                                                

5   claiming the exemption of the right to appeal the determination             

                                                                                

6   to the department of treasury and what those rights of appeal               

                                                                                

7   are.  The department of treasury may issue a notice denying a               

                                                                                

8   claim if an owner fails to respond within 30 days of receipt of a           

                                                                                

9   request for information from that department.  An owner may                 

                                                                                

10  appeal the denial of a claim of exemption to the department of              

                                                                                

11  treasury within 35 days of receipt of the notice of denial.  An             

                                                                                

12  appeal to the department of treasury shall be conducted according           

                                                                                

13  to the provisions for an informal conference in section 21 of               

                                                                                

14  1941 PA 122, MCL 205.21.  Within 10 days after acknowledging an             

                                                                                

15  appeal of a denial of a claim of exemption, the department of               

                                                                                

16  treasury shall notify the assessor and the treasurer for the                

                                                                                

17  county in which the property is located that an appeal has been             

                                                                                

18  filed.  Upon receipt of a notice that the department of treasury            

                                                                                

19  has denied a claim for exemption, the assessor shall remove the             

                                                                                

20  exemption of the property and, if the tax roll is in the local              

                                                                                

21  tax collecting unit's possession, amend the tax roll to reflect             

                                                                                

22  the denial and the local treasurer shall issue a corrected tax              

                                                                                

23  bill for previously unpaid taxes with interest and penalties                

                                                                                

24  computed based on the interest and penalties that would have                

                                                                                

25  accrued from the date the taxes were originally levied if there             

                                                                                

26  had not been an exemption.  If the tax roll is in the county                

                                                                                

27  treasurer's possession, the tax roll shall be amended to reflect            


                                                                                

1   the denial and the county treasurer shall prepare and submit a              

                                                                                

2   supplemental tax bill for any additional taxes, together with any           

                                                                                

3   interest and penalties.  For taxes levied in 1994 only, the                 

                                                                                

4   county treasurer shall waive any interest and penalties due if              

                                                                                

5   the owner pays the supplemental tax bill not more than 30 days              

                                                                                

6   after the owner receives the supplemental tax bill.  Interest and           

                                                                                

7   penalties shall not be assessed for any period before February              

                                                                                

8   14, 1995.  However, if the property has been transferred to a               

                                                                                

9   bona fide purchaser before additional taxes were billed to the              

                                                                                

10  seller as a result of the denial of a claim for exemption, the              

                                                                                

11  taxes, interest, and penalties shall not be billed to the bona              

                                                                                

12  fide purchaser, and the local tax collecting unit if the local              

                                                                                

13  tax collecting unit has possession of the tax roll or the county            

                                                                                

14  treasurer if the county has possession of the tax roll shall                

                                                                                

15  notify the department of treasury of the amount of tax due and              

                                                                                

16  interest through the date of that notification.  The department             

                                                                                

17  of treasury shall then assess the owner who claimed the                     

                                                                                

18  homestead property tax  exemption under this section for the tax           

                                                                                

19  and interest plus penalty accruing as a result of the denial of             

                                                                                

20  the claim for exemption, if any, as for unpaid taxes provided               

                                                                                

21  under 1941 PA 122, MCL 205.1 to 205.31, and shall deposit any               

                                                                                

22  tax, interest, or penalty collected into the state school aid               

                                                                                

23  fund.                                                                       

                                                                                

24      (8) An owner may appeal a final decision of the department of               

                                                                                

25  treasury to the residential and small claims division of the                

                                                                                

26  Michigan tax tribunal within 35 days of that decision.  An                  

                                                                                

27  assessor may appeal a final decision of the department of                   


                                                                                

1   treasury to the residential and small claims division of the                

                                                                                

2   Michigan tax tribunal within 35 days of that decision if the                

                                                                                

3   assessor denied the exemption under subsection (6), or, for taxes           

                                                                                

4   levied in 1994 only, the assessor forwarded a recommendation for            

                                                                                

5   denial to the department of treasury under subsection (6).  An              

                                                                                

6   owner is not required to pay the amount of tax in dispute in                

                                                                                

7   order to appeal a denial of a claim of exemption to the                     

                                                                                

8   department of treasury or to receive a final determination of the           

                                                                                

9   residential and small claims division of the Michigan tax                   

                                                                                

10  tribunal.  However, interest and penalties except as provided in            

                                                                                

11  subsection (7), if any, shall accrue and be computed based on the           

                                                                                

12  interest and penalties that would have accrued from the date the            

                                                                                

13  taxes were originally levied as if there had not been an                    

                                                                                

14  exemption.                                                                  

                                                                                

15      (9) An affidavit filed by an owner for  a homestead  the                    

                                                                                

16  exemption under this section rescinds all previous exemptions               

                                                                                

17  filed by that owner for any other  homestead  property.  The                

                                                                                

18  department of treasury shall notify the assessor of the local tax           

                                                                                

19  collecting unit in which the property for which a previous                  

                                                                                

20  exemption was claimed is located that the previous exemption is             

                                                                                

21  rescinded by the subsequent affidavit.  Upon receipt of notice              

                                                                                

22  that an exemption is rescinded, the assessor of the local tax               

                                                                                

23  collecting unit shall remove the exemption effective December 31            

                                                                                

24  of the year in which the property is transferred or is no longer            

                                                                                

25  a  homestead  principal residence as defined in section 7dd.  The           

                                                                                

26  assessor of the local tax collecting unit in which that property            

                                                                                

27  is located shall notify the treasurer in possession of the tax              


                                                                                

1   roll for a year for which the exemption is rescinded.  If the tax           

                                                                                

2   roll is in the local tax collecting unit's possession, the tax              

                                                                                

3   roll shall be amended to reflect the rescission and the local               

                                                                                

4   treasurer shall prepare and issue a corrected tax bill for                  

                                                                                

5   previously unpaid taxes with interest and penalties computed                

                                                                                

6   based on the interest and penalties that would have accrued from            

                                                                                

7   the date the taxes were originally levied if there had not been             

                                                                                

8   an exemption for that year.  If the tax roll is in the county               

                                                                                

9   treasurer's possession, the tax roll shall be amended to reflect            

                                                                                

10  the rescission and the county treasurer shall prepare and submit            

                                                                                

11  a supplemental tax bill for any additional taxes, together with             

                                                                                

12  any interest and penalties.  However, if the property has been              

                                                                                

13  transferred to a bona fide purchaser, the taxes, interest, and              

                                                                                

14  penalties shall not be billed to the bona fide purchaser, and the           

                                                                                

15  local tax collecting unit if the local tax collecting unit has              

                                                                                

16  possession of the tax roll or the county treasurer if the county            

                                                                                

17  has possession of the tax roll shall notify the department of               

                                                                                

18  treasury of the amount of tax due and interest through the date             

                                                                                

19  of that notification.  The department of treasury shall then                

                                                                                

20  assess the owner who received the  homestead property tax                   

                                                                                

21  exemption under this section when the property was not a                    

                                                                                

22  homestead  principal residence as defined in section 7dd for the           

                                                                                

23  tax and interest plus penalty accruing, if any, as for unpaid               

                                                                                

24  taxes provided under 1941 PA 122, MCL 205.1 to 205.31, and shall            

                                                                                

25  deposit any tax, interest, or penalty collected into the state              

                                                                                

26  school aid fund.                                                            

                                                                                

27      (10) An owner of property for which a claim of exemption is                 


                                                                                

1   rescinded may appeal that rescission with either the July or                

                                                                                

2   December board of review in either the year for which the                   

                                                                                

3   exemption is rescinded or in the immediately succeeding year.  If           

                                                                                

4   an appeal of a rescission of a claim for exemption is received              

                                                                                

5   not later than 5 days prior to the date of the December board of            

                                                                                

6   review, the local tax collecting unit shall convene a December              

                                                                                

7   board of review and consider the appeal pursuant to this section            

                                                                                

8   and section 53b.  An owner of property for which a claim of                 

                                                                                

9   exemption is rescinded may appeal the decision of the board of              

                                                                                

10  review to the residential and small claims division of the                  

                                                                                

11  Michigan tax tribunal within 35 days of that decision.                      

                                                                                

12      (11) If the  homestead  property is part of a unit in a                     

                                                                                

13  multiple-unit dwelling or a dwelling unit in a multiple-purpose             

                                                                                

14  structure, an owner shall claim an exemption for only that                  

                                                                                

15  portion of the total taxable value of the property used as the              

                                                                                

16  homestead  principal residence of that owner in a manner                   

                                                                                

17  prescribed by the department of treasury.  If a portion of a                

                                                                                

18  parcel for which the owner claims an exemption is used for a                

                                                                                

19  purpose other than as a  homestead  principal residence, the                

                                                                                

20  owner shall claim an exemption for only that portion of the                 

                                                                                

21  taxable value of the property used as the  homestead  principal             

                                                                                

22  residence of that owner in a manner prescribed by the department            

                                                                                

23  of treasury.                                                                

                                                                                

24      (12) When a county register of deeds records a transfer of                  

                                                                                

25  ownership of a property, he or she shall notify the local tax               

                                                                                

26  collecting unit in which the property is located of the                     

                                                                                

27  transfer.                                                                   


                                                                                

1       (13) The department of treasury shall make available the                    

                                                                                

2   affidavit forms and the forms to rescind an exemption, which may            

                                                                                

3   be on the same form, to all city and township assessors, county             

                                                                                

4   equalization officers, county registers of deeds, and closing               

                                                                                

5   agents.  A person who prepares a closing statement for the sale             

                                                                                

6   of property shall provide affidavit and rescission forms to the             

                                                                                

7   buyer and seller at the closing and, if requested by the buyer or           

                                                                                

8   seller after execution by the buyer or seller, shall file the               

                                                                                

9   forms with the local tax collecting unit in which the property is           

                                                                                

10  located.  If a closing statement preparer fails to provide                  

                                                                                

11  homestead  exemption affidavit and rescission forms to the buyer           

                                                                                

12  and seller, or fails to file the affidavit and rescission forms             

                                                                                

13  with the local tax collecting unit if requested by the buyer or             

                                                                                

14  seller, the buyer may appeal to the department of treasury within           

                                                                                

15  30 days of notice to the buyer that an exemption was not                    

                                                                                

16  recorded.  If the department of treasury determines that the                

                                                                                

17  buyer qualifies for the exemption, the department of treasury               

                                                                                

18  shall notify the assessor of the local tax collecting unit that             

                                                                                

19  the exemption is granted and the assessor of the local tax                  

                                                                                

20  collecting unit or, if the tax roll is in the possession of the             

                                                                                

21  county treasurer, the county treasurer shall correct the tax roll           

                                                                                

22  to reflect the exemption.  This subsection does not create a                

                                                                                

23  cause of action at law or in equity against a closing statement             

                                                                                

24  preparer who fails to provide  homestead  exemption affidavit and           

                                                                                

25  rescission forms to a buyer and seller or who fails to file the             

                                                                                

26  affidavit and rescission forms with the local tax collecting unit           

                                                                                

27  when requested to do so by the buyer or seller.                             


                                                                                

1       (14) An owner who owned and occupied a  homestead  principal                

                                                                                

2   balance on May 1 for which the exemption was not on the tax roll            

                                                                                

3   may file an appeal with the July board of review or December                

                                                                                

4   board of review in the year for which the exemption was claimed             

                                                                                

5   or the immediately succeeding 3 years.  If an appeal of a claim             

                                                                                

6   for exemption that was not on the tax roll is received not later            

                                                                                

7   than 5 days prior to the date of the December board of review,              

                                                                                

8   the local tax collecting unit shall convene a December board of             

                                                                                

9   review and consider the appeal pursuant to this section and                 

                                                                                

10  section 53b.                                                                

                                                                                

11      (15) If the assessor or treasurer of the local tax collecting               

                                                                                

12  unit believes that the department of treasury erroneously denied            

                                                                                

13  a claim for exemption, the assessor or treasurer may submit                 

                                                                                

14  written information supporting the owner's claim for exemption to           

                                                                                

15  the department of treasury within 35 days of the owner's receipt            

                                                                                

16  of the notice denying the claim for exemption.  If, after                   

                                                                                

17  reviewing the information provided, the department of treasury              

                                                                                

18  determines that the claim for exemption was erroneously denied,             

                                                                                

19  the department of treasury shall grant the exemption and the tax            

                                                                                

20  roll shall be amended to reflect the exemption.                             

                                                                                

21      (16) If granting the exemption under this section results in                

                                                                                

22  an overpayment of the tax, a rebate, including any interest paid,           

                                                                                

23  shall be made to the taxpayer by the local tax collecting unit if           

                                                                                

24  the local tax collecting unit has possession of the tax roll or             

                                                                                

25  by the county treasurer if the county has possession of the tax             

                                                                                

26  roll within 30 days of the date the exemption is granted.  The              

                                                                                

27  rebate shall be without interest.                                           


                                                                                

1       (17) If an exemption under this section is erroneously                      

                                                                                

2   granted, an owner may request in writing that the department of             

                                                                                

3   treasury withdraw the exemption.  If an owner requests that an              

                                                                                

4   exemption be withdrawn, the department of treasury shall issue an           

                                                                                

5   order notifying the local assessor that the exemption issued                

                                                                                

6   under this section has been denied based on the owner's request.            

                                                                                

7   If an exemption is withdrawn, the property that had been subject            

                                                                                

8   to that exemption shall be immediately placed on the tax roll by            

                                                                                

9   the local tax collecting unit if the local tax collecting unit              

                                                                                

10  has possession of the tax roll or by the county treasurer if the            

                                                                                

11  county has possession of the tax roll as though the exemption had           

                                                                                

12  not been granted.  A corrected tax bill shall be issued for the             

                                                                                

13  tax year being adjusted by the local tax collecting unit if the             

                                                                                

14  local tax collecting unit has possession of the tax roll or by              

                                                                                

15  the county treasurer if the county has possession of the tax                

                                                                                

16  roll.  If an owner requests that an exemption under this section            

                                                                                

17  be withdrawn before that owner is contacted in writing by either            

                                                                                

18  the local assessor or the department of treasury regarding that             

                                                                                

19  owner's eligibility for the exemption and that owner pays the               

                                                                                

20  corrected tax bill issued under this subsection within 30 days              

                                                                                

21  after the corrected tax bill is issued, that owner is not liable            

                                                                                

22  for any penalty or interest on the additional tax.  An owner who            

                                                                                

23  pays a corrected tax bill issued under this subsection more than            

                                                                                

24  30 days after the corrected tax bill is issued is liable for the            

                                                                                

25  penalties and interest that would have accrued if the exemption             

                                                                                

26  had not been granted from the date the taxes were originally                

                                                                                

27  levied.                                                                     


                                                                                

1       (18) For tax years beginning on and after January 1, 1994, a                

                                                                                

2   cooperative housing corporation is entitled to a full or partial            

                                                                                

3   exemption under this section for the tax year in which the                  

                                                                                

4   cooperative housing corporation files all of the following with             

                                                                                

5   the local tax collecting unit in which the cooperative housing              

                                                                                

6   corporation is located if filed on or before May 1 of the tax               

                                                                                

7   year, or for the tax year following the year in which all of the            

                                                                                

8   following are filed if filed after May 1 of the tax year:                   

                                                                                

9       (a) An affidavit form.                                                      

                                                                                

10      (b) A statement of the total number of units owned by the                   

                                                                                

11  cooperative housing corporation and occupied as the principal               

                                                                                

12  residence of a tenant stockholder as of the date of the filing              

                                                                                

13  under this subsection.                                                      

                                                                                

14      (c) A list that includes the name, address, and social                      

                                                                                

15  security number of each tenant stockholder of the cooperative               

                                                                                

16  housing corporation occupying a unit in the cooperative housing             

                                                                                

17  corporation as his or her principal residence as of the date of             

                                                                                

18  the filing under this subsection.                                           

                                                                                

19      (d) A statement of the total number of units of the                         

                                                                                

20  cooperative housing corporation on which an exemption under this            

                                                                                

21  section was claimed and that were transferred in the tax year               

                                                                                

22  immediately preceding the tax year in which the filing under this           

                                                                                

23  section was made.                                                           

                                                                                

24      Sec. 7dd.  As used in sections 7cc and 7ee:                                 

                                                                                

25      (a) "Homestead" means that portion of a dwelling or unit in                 

                                                                                

26  a multiple-unit dwelling that is subject to ad valorem taxes and            

                                                                                

27  is owned and occupied as a principal residence by an owner of the           


                                                                                

1   dwelling or unit.  Homestead also includes all of an owner's                

                                                                                

2   unoccupied property classified as residential that is adjoining             

                                                                                

3   or contiguous to the dwelling subject to ad valorem taxes and               

                                                                                

4   that is owned and occupied as a principal residence by the                  

                                                                                

5   owner.  Contiguity is not broken by a road, a right-of-way, or              

                                                                                

6   property purchased or taken under condemnation proceedings by a             

                                                                                

7   public utility for power transmission lines if the 2 parcels                

                                                                                

8   separated by the purchased or condemned property were a single              

                                                                                

9   parcel prior to the sale or condemnation.  Homestead also                   

                                                                                

10  includes any portion of a principal residence of an owner that is           

                                                                                

11  rented or leased to another person as a residence as long as that           

                                                                                

12  portion of the principal residence that is rented or leased is              

                                                                                

13  less than 50% of the total square footage of living space in that           

                                                                                

14  principal residence.  Homestead also includes a life care                   

                                                                                

15  facility registered under the living care disclosure act, Act               

                                                                                

16  No. 440 of the Public Acts of 1976, being sections 554.801 to               

                                                                                

17  554.844 of the Michigan Compiled Laws.  Homestead also includes             

                                                                                

18  property owned by a cooperative housing corporation and occupied            

                                                                                

19  as a principal residence by tenant stockholders.                            

                                                                                

20      (a)  (b)  "Owner" means any of the following:                               

                                                                                

21                                                                               (i) A person who owns property or who is purchasing property                        

                                                                                

22  under a land contract.                                                      

                                                                                

23      (ii) A person who is a partial owner of property.                            

                                                                                

24      (iii) A person who owns property as a result of being a                      

                                                                                

25  beneficiary of a will or trust or as a result of intestate                  

                                                                                

26  succession.                                                                 

                                                                                

27      (iv) A person who owns or is purchasing a dwelling on leased                 


                                                                                

1   land.                                                                       

                                                                                

2       (v) A person holding a life lease in property previously sold               

                                                                                

3   or transferred to another.                                                  

                                                                                

4       (vi) A grantor who has placed the property in a revocable                    

                                                                                

5   trust or a qualified personal residence trust.                              

                                                                                

6       (vii) A cooperative housing corporation.                                     

                                                                                

7       (viii) A facility registered under  Act No. 440 of the Public                 

                                                                                

8   Acts of 1976  the living care disclosure act, 1976 PA 440, MCL              

                                                                                

9   554.801 to 554.844.                                                         

                                                                                

10      (b)  (c)  "Person", for purposes of defining owner as used in               

                                                                                

11  section 7cc, means an individual and for purposes of defining               

                                                                                

12  owner as used in section 7ee means an individual, partnership,              

                                                                                

13  corporation, limited liability company, association, or other               

                                                                                

14  legal entity.                                                               

                                                                                

15      (c)  (d)  "Principal residence" means the 1 place where a                   

                                                                                

16  person has his or her true, fixed, and permanent home to which,             

                                                                                

17  whenever absent, he or she intends to return and that shall                 

                                                                                

18  continue as a principal residence until another principal                   

                                                                                

19  residence is established.  Principal residence includes only that           

                                                                                

20  portion of a dwelling or unit in a multiple-unit dwelling that is           

                                                                                

21  subject to ad valorem taxes and that is owned and occupied by an            

                                                                                

22  owner of the dwelling or unit.  Principal residence also includes           

                                                                                

23  all of an owner's unoccupied property classified as residential             

                                                                                

24  that is adjoining or contiguous to the dwelling subject to ad               

                                                                                

25  valorem taxes and that is owned and occupied by the owner.                  

                                                                                

26  Contiguity is not broken by a road, a right-of-way, or property             

                                                                                

27  purchased or taken under condemnation proceedings by a public               


                                                                                

1   utility for power transmission lines if the 2 parcels separated             

                                                                                

2   by the purchased or condemned property were a single parcel prior           

                                                                                

3   to the sale or condemnation.  Principal residence also includes             

                                                                                

4   any portion of a dwelling or unit of an owner that is rented or             

                                                                                

5   leased to another person as a residence as long as that portion             

                                                                                

6   of the dwelling or unit that is rented or leased is less than 50%           

                                                                                

7   of the total square footage of living space in that dwelling or             

                                                                                

8   unit.  Principal residence also includes a life care facility               

                                                                                

9   registered under the living care disclosure act, 1976 PA 440, MCL           

                                                                                

10  554.801 to 554.844.  Principal residence also includes property             

                                                                                

11  owned by a cooperative housing corporation and occupied by tenant           

                                                                                

12  stockholders.                                                               

                                                                                

13      (d)  (e)  "Qualified agricultural property" means unoccupied                

                                                                                

14  property and related buildings classified as agricultural, or               

                                                                                

15  other unoccupied property and related buildings located on that             

                                                                                

16  property devoted primarily to agricultural use as defined in                

                                                                                

17  section 36101 of  part 361 (farmland and open space preservation)           

                                                                                

18  of  the natural resources and environmental protection act,  Act            

                                                                                

19  No. 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being section 324.36101 of              

                                                                                

20  the Michigan Compiled Laws  1994 PA 451, MCL 324.36101.  Related            

                                                                                

21  buildings include a residence occupied by a person employed in or           

                                                                                

22  actively involved in the agricultural use and who has not claimed           

                                                                                

23  a  homestead  principal residence exemption on other property.              

                                                                                

24  Property used for commercial storage, commercial processing,                

                                                                                

25  commercial distribution, commercial marketing, or commercial                

                                                                                

26  shipping operations or other commercial or industrial purposes is           

                                                                                

27  not qualified agricultural property.  A parcel of property is               


                                                                                

1   devoted primarily to agricultural use only if more than 50% of              

                                                                                

2   the parcel's acreage is devoted to agricultural use.  An owner              

                                                                                

3   shall not receive an exemption for that portion of the total                

                                                                                

4   state equalized valuation of the property that is used for a                

                                                                                

5   commercial or industrial purpose or that is a residence that is             

                                                                                

6   not a related building.                                                     

                                                                                

7       Sec. 24c.  (1) The assessor shall give to each owner or                     

                                                                                

8   person or persons listed on the assessment roll of the property a           

                                                                                

9   notice by first-class mail of an increase in the tentative state            

                                                                                

10  equalized valuation or the tentative taxable value for the year.            

                                                                                

11  The notice shall specify each parcel of property, the tentative             

                                                                                

12  taxable value for the current year and, beginning in 1996, the              

                                                                                

13  taxable value for the immediately preceding year.  The notice               

                                                                                

14  shall also specify the time and place of the meeting of the board           

                                                                                

15  of review.  Beginning in 1996, the notice shall also specify the            

                                                                                

16  difference between the property's tentative taxable value in the            

                                                                                

17  current year and the property's taxable value in the immediately            

                                                                                

18  preceding year.                                                             

                                                                                

19      (2) The notice shall include, in addition to the information                

                                                                                

20  required by subsection (1), all of the following:                           

                                                                                

21      (a) The state equalized valuation for the immediately                       

                                                                                

22  preceding year.                                                             

                                                                                

23      (b) The tentative state equalized valuation for the current                 

                                                                                

24  year.                                                                       

                                                                                

25      (c) The net change between the tentative state equalized                    

                                                                                

26  valuation for the current year and the state equalized valuation            

                                                                                

27  for the immediately preceding year.                                         


                                                                                

1       (d) The classification of the property as defined by section                

                                                                                

2   34c.                                                                        

                                                                                

3       (e) The inflation rate for the immediately preceding year as                

                                                                                

4   defined in section 34d.                                                     

                                                                                

5       (f) A statement provided by the state tax commission                        

                                                                                

6   explaining the relationship between state equalized valuation and           

                                                                                

7   taxable value.  Beginning in 1996, if the assessor believes that            

                                                                                

8   a transfer of ownership has occurred in the immediately preceding           

                                                                                

9   year, the statement shall state that the ownership was                      

                                                                                

10  transferred and that the taxable value of that property is the              

                                                                                

11  same as the state equalized valuation of that property.                     

                                                                                

12      (3) When required by the income tax act of 1967, 1967 PA 281,               

                                                                                

13  MCL 206.1 to 206.532, the assessment notice shall include or be             

                                                                                

14  accompanied by information or forms prescribed by the income tax            

                                                                                

15  act of 1967, 1967 PA 281, MCL 206.1 to 206.532.                             

                                                                                

16      (4) The assessment notice shall be addressed to the owner                   

                                                                                

17  according to the records of the assessor and mailed not less than           

                                                                                

18  10 days before the meeting of the board of review.  The failure             

                                                                                

19  to send or receive an assessment notice does not invalidate an              

                                                                                

20  assessment roll or an assessment on that property.                          

                                                                                

21      (5) The tentative state equalized valuation shall be                        

                                                                                

22  calculated by multiplying the assessment by the tentative                   

                                                                                

23  equalized valuation multiplier.  If the assessor has made                   

                                                                                

24  assessment adjustments that would have changed the tentative                

                                                                                

25  multiplier, the assessor may recalculate the multiplier for use             

                                                                                

26  in the notice.                                                              

                                                                                

27      (6) The state tax commission shall prepare a model assessment               


                                                                                

1   notice form that shall be made available to local units of                  

                                                                                

2   government.                                                                 

                                                                                

3       (7) Beginning in 1995, the assessment notice under subsection               

                                                                                

4   (1) shall include the following statement:                                  

                                                                                

5        "If you purchased your  homestead  principal                           

                                                                                

6        residence after May 1 last year, to claim the                          

                                                                                

7         homestead  principal residence exemption, if you                      

                                                                                

8        have not already done so, you are required to file an                  

                                                                                

9        affidavit before May 1.".                                              

                                                                                

10      (8) For taxes levied after December 31, 2003, the assessment                

                                                                                

11  notice under subsection (1) shall separately state the state                

                                                                                

12  equalized valuation and taxable value for any leasehold                     

                                                                                

13  improvements.                                                               

                                                                                

14      Sec. 27d.  Not later than the fourth Monday in June in each                 

                                                                                

15  year, the county equalization director for each county shall                

                                                                                

16  report all of the following to the state tax commission on a form           

                                                                                

17  prepared by the state tax commission:                                       

                                                                                

18      (a) Total taxable value of all property in the county as of                 

                                                                                

19  the fourth Monday in May in that year.                                      

                                                                                

20      (b) Taxable value for each separately equalized class of                    

                                                                                

21  property.                                                                   

                                                                                

22      (c) Total taxable value of all property in the county for                   

                                                                                

23  which a  homestead  principal residence exemption is granted                

                                                                                

24  under section 7cc or a qualified agricultural property exemption            

                                                                                

25  is granted under section 7ee.                                               

                                                                                

26      (d) Total taxable value of all property in the county for                   

                                                                                

27  which a  homestead  principal residence exemption has not been              


                                                                                

1   granted under section 7cc and a qualified agricultural property             

                                                                                

2   exemption has not been granted under section 7ee.                           

                                                                                

3       Sec. 120.  (1) A person claiming an exemption under                         

                                                                                

4   section 7cc shall not do any of the following:                              

                                                                                

5       (a) Make a false or fraudulent affidavit claiming an                        

                                                                                

6   exemption or a false statement on an affidavit claiming an                  

                                                                                

7   exemption.                                                                  

                                                                                

8       (b) Aid, abet, or assist another in an attempt to wrongfully                

                                                                                

9   obtain an exemption.                                                        

                                                                                

10      (c) Make or permit to be made for himself or herself or for                 

                                                                                

11  any other person a false affidavit claiming an exemption or a               

                                                                                

12  false statement on an affidavit claiming an exemption, either in            

                                                                                

13  whole or in part.                                                           

                                                                                

14      (d) Fail to rescind an exemption after the property subject                 

                                                                                

15  to that exemption is no longer a  homestead  principal residence            

                                                                                

16  as defined in section 7dd.                                                  

                                                                                

17      (2) A person who violates a provision of subsection (1) with                

                                                                                

18  the intent to wrongfully obtain or attempt to obtain an exemption           

                                                                                

19  under section 7cc is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by                  

                                                                                

20  imprisonment of not more than 1 year and punishable by a fine of            

                                                                                

21  not more than $5,000.00 or public service of not more than 1,500            

                                                                                

22  hours, or both.                                                             

                                                                                

23      (3) In addition to the penalties provided in subsection (2),                

                                                                                

24  a person who knowingly swears to or verifies an affidavit                   

                                                                                

25  claiming an exemption under section 7cc, or an affidavit claiming           

                                                                                

26  any exemption under section 7cc that contains a false or                    

                                                                                

27  fraudulent statement, with the intent to aid, abet, or assist in            


                                                                                

1   defrauding this state or a political subdivision of this state,             

                                                                                

2   is guilty of perjury, a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment of           

                                                                                

3   not more than 1 year and punishable by a fine of not more than              

                                                                                

4   $5,000.00 or public service of not more than 1,500 hours, or                

                                                                                

5   both.                                                                       

                                                                                

6       (4) A person who does not violate a provision of                            

                                                                                

7   subsection (1), but who knowingly violates any other provision of           

                                                                                

8   this act with the intent to defraud this state or a political               

                                                                                

9   subdivision of this state, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable            

                                                                                

10  by a fine of not more than $1,000.00 or public service of not               

                                                                                

11  more than 500 hours, or both.                                               

                                                                                

12      (5) The attorney general and the prosecuting attorney of each               

                                                                                

13  county of this state have concurrent power to enforce this act.             

                                                                                

14      (6) The penalty provisions set forth in subsections (2), (3),               

                                                                                

15  and (4) do not apply to a violation of subsection (1) or any                

                                                                                

16  other provision of this act occurring before December 31, 1995.             

                                                                                

17      Enacting section 1.  This amendatory act does not take                      

                                                                                

18  effect unless all of the following bills of the 92nd Legislature            

                                                                                

19  are enacted into law:                                                       

                                                                                

20      (a) Senate Bill No. 132.                                                    

                                                                                

21                                                                              

                                                                                

22      (b) Senate Bill No. 131.                                                    

                                                                                

23                                                                              

                                                                                

24      (c) Senate Bill No. 136.                                                    

                                                                                

25                                                                              

                                                                                

26      (d) Senate Bill No. 129.                                                    

                                                                                

27                                                                              


                                                                                

1       (e) Senate Bill No. 130.                                                    

                                                                                

2                                                                               

                                                                                

3       (f) Senate Bill No. 135.                                                    

                                                                                

4                                                                               

                                                                                

5       (g) Senate Bill No. 134.                                                    

                                                                                

6