HBA-EDN H.B. 3366 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3366
By: Hamric
Ways & Means
4/27/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current tax provisions provide benefits to homeowners occupying a home as
their principal residence if the individual is over 65 years of age or is
disabled.  However, not all such benefits apply to both disabled
individuals and individuals over 65 years of age.  Disabled homeowners do
not qualify for as many property tax benefits as do homeowners over 65
years of age even though their economic circumstances are often very
similar.   Homeowners over 65 years of age and disabled individuals should
be entitled to the same tax benefits since the primary purpose of limiting
the property taxes of both groups is to allow these individuals to remain
in their homes when they might not otherwise be able to do so.  One such
example of this disparity is that homeowners over 65 years of age are
entitled to a residential homestead tax deferral while disabled homeowners
are not.  House Bill 3366 entitles disabled homeowners to a residential
homestead tax deferral.            

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 3366 amends the Tax Code to entitle a disabled individual to
defer or abate a suit to collect a delinquent tax imposed on the
individual's residence homestead. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.