SENATE BILL REPORT

                                   SHB 1313

            AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS, APRIL 2, 1991

Brief Description:  Modifying qualifications for senior citizen property tax relief.

SPONSORS:House Committee on Revenue (originally sponsored by Representatives Fraser, Brumsickle, Phillips, Jones and Scott).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON REVENUE

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators McDonald, Chairman; Craswell, Vice Chairman; Bailey, Bauer, Bluechel, Gaspard, Hayner, Johnson, L. Kreidler, Murray, Niemi, Saling, L. Smith, Talmadge, West, Williams, and Wojahn. 

Staff:  Terry Wilson (786‑7715)

Hearing Dates:April 1, 1991; April 2, 1991

BACKGROUND:

Qualifying senior citizens and retired disabled persons are entitled to a property tax exemption on their principal residence.  To qualify a person must be 61 on January 1 of the application year, or retired from employment because of a physical disability.  In addition, the disposable income of the applicant's household must fall below $18,000 a year.

SUMMARY:

The age for qualification in the senior citizen property tax exemption program is reduced by one year.  A person may qualify if 61 years old by December 31 of the year of application.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

TESTIMONY FOR:

This is a significant little step that helps seniors.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Representative Karen Fraser (pro); Representative Art Wang (pro); Ann Clifton, Thurston County Assessor (pro)