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SCA-9 Property taxation: base year value transfers. (2015-2016)

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SCA9:v99#DOCUMENT


CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2015–2016 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Constitutional Amendment
No. 9

Introduced by Senator Beall

August 18, 2015

A resolution to propose to the people of the State of California an amendment to the Constitution of the State, by amending subdivision (a) of Section 2 of Article XIII  A thereof, relating to taxation.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SCA 9, as introduced, Beall. Property taxation: base year value transfers.
The California Constitution generally limits ad valorem taxes on real property to 1% of the full cash value of that property. For purposes of this limitation, “full cash value” is defined as the assessor’s valuation of real property as shown on the 1975–76 tax bill under “full cash value” or, thereafter, the appraised value of that real property when purchased, newly constructed, or a change in ownership has occurred. The California Constitution authorizes the Legislature to provide that a severely disabled person and a person over 55 years of age may transfer the base year value, as defined, of property that is eligible for the homeowners’ property tax exemption to a replacement dwelling that is of equal or lesser value located within the same county as the property from which the base year value is transferred and the replacement dwelling is purchased or newly constructed within 2 years of the sale of the original property, subject to certain conditions.
This measure would additionally authorize the Legislature to provide, commencing with the 2016–17 fiscal year, for the transfer of base year value to a replacement dwelling that is of greater value, and would require the base year value of the replacement dwelling to be calculated by adding the difference between the full cash value of the original property and the full cash value of the replacement dwelling to the base year value of the original property.
Vote: 2/3   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NO   Local Program: NO  
Resolved by the Senate, the Assembly concurring, That the Legislature of the State of California at its 2015–16 Regular Session commencing on the first day of December 2014, two-thirds of the membership of each house concurring, hereby proposes to the people of the State of California, that the Constitution of the State be amended as follows:

 That subdivision (a) of Section 2 of Article XIII A thereof is amended to read:

Sec. 2.
 (a) (1) The “full cash value” means the county assessor’s valuation of real property as shown on the 1975–76 tax bill under “full cash value” or, thereafter, the appraised value of real property when purchased, newly constructed, or a change in ownership has occurred after the 1975 assessment. All real property not already assessed up to the 1975–76 full cash value may be reassessed to reflect that valuation. For purposes of this section, “newly constructed” does not include real property that is reconstructed after a disaster, as declared by the Governor, where the fair market value of the real property, as reconstructed, is comparable to its fair market value prior to the disaster. Also, the term “newly constructed” does not include the portion of reconstruction or improvement to a structure, constructed of unreinforced masonry bearing wall construction, necessary to comply with any local ordinance relating to seismic safety during the first 15 years following that reconstruction or improvement.

However

(2) However, the Legislature may provide that, under appropriate circumstances and pursuant to definitions and procedures established by the Legislature, any person over the age of 55 years who resides in property that is eligible for the homeowner’s exemption under subdivision (k) of Section 3 of Article XIII and any implementing legislation may transfer the base year value of the property entitled to exemption, with the adjustments authorized by subdivision (b), to in both of the following circumstances:
(A) To any replacement dwelling of equal or lesser value located within the same county and purchased or newly constructed by that person as his or her principal residence within two years of the sale of the original property. For
(B) Commencing with the lien date for the 2016–17 fiscal year, to any replacement dwelling of greater value located within the same county and purchased or newly constructed by that person as his or her principal residence within two years of the sale of the original property. The base year value of the replacement dwelling shall be calculated by adding the difference between the full cash value of the original property and the full cash value of the replacement dwelling to the base year value of the original property.
(3) For purposes of this section, “any person over the age of 55 years” includes a married couple one member of which is over the age of 55 years. For purposes of this section, “replacement dwelling” means a building, structure, or other shelter constituting a place of abode, whether real property or personal property, and any land on which it may be situated. For purposes of this section, a two-dwelling unit shall be considered as two separate single-family dwellings. This paragraph shall apply to any replacement dwelling that was purchased or newly constructed on or after November 5, 1986.

In

(4) In addition, the Legislature may authorize each county board of supervisors, after consultation with the local affected agencies within the county’s boundaries, to adopt an ordinance making the provisions of this subdivision relating to transfer of base year value also applicable to situations in which the replacement dwellings are located in that county and the original properties are located in another county within this State. For purposes of this paragraph, “local affected agency” means any city, special district, school district, or community college district that receives an annual property tax revenue allocation. This paragraph shall apply to any replacement dwelling that was purchased or newly constructed on or after the date the county adopted the provisions of this subdivision relating to transfer of base year value, but shall not apply to any replacement dwelling that was purchased or newly constructed before November 9, 1988.

The

(5) The Legislature may extend the provisions of this subdivision relating to the transfer of base year values from original properties to replacement dwellings of homeowners over the age of 55 years to severely disabled homeowners, but only with respect to those replacement dwellings purchased or newly constructed on or after the effective date of this paragraph.