You asked for summaries of Select Committee on Aging bills favorably reported to the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee.

SB 751 AN ACT CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SENIOR CITIZEN VOLUNTEER SERVICES TAX CREDIT

This bill allows any town to abate the property taxes or interest on delinquent taxes due for a taxpayer age 60 or older who performs volunteer services for the town. The abatement amount must be $ 10 per hour of volunteer service. The abatement amount must be redetermined annually using volunteer service hours during the assessment year. The bill specifies that (1) participation in this program does not disqualify the taxpayer from receiving benefits under other elderly property tax relief programs and (2) the abatements are in addition to other tax relief for which the taxpayer qualifies.

Effective date: October 1, 2007 and applicable to assessment years beginning on or after October 1, 2007

SB 752 AN ACT CONCERNING AN INCOME TAX DEDUCTION FOR LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE PREMIUM PAYMENTS AND FOR HOME-CARE SERVICES

This bill allows taxpayers to exempt the following expenses from their taxable income for purposes of the state income tax:

1. annual premiums paid for a long-term care insurance policy under which the taxpayer is insured and

2. payments they make during the year for home care services (including payments for nursing, home health aide, homemaker-home health aide, homemaker, companion, and personal care assistance services) on behalf of a state resident aged 65 or older, as long as the payments are not the result of the taxpayer's informal arrangement for provision of such services.

Effective date: July 1, 2007 and applicable to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2007

HB 5342 AN ACT CONCERNING PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR CERTAIN ELDERLY HOMEOWNERS

Last year, PA 06-176 allowed towns to freeze property taxes on homes owned by people age 70 or older who have lived in the state at least one year. The freeze can also apply to homeowners who are living with a spouse age 70 or over and to a surviving spouse who is at least age 62 when the homeowner dies. Homeowners must meet the income limits for the “circuit breaker” program. These limits are adjusted annually for inflation. For 2007, they are $ 28,800 for individuals and $ 35,300 for couples. People whose taxes are frozen can still qualify for other property tax relief programs.

Unlike the circuit breaker program, PA 06-176 did not provide state reimbursement for revenue a town loses by freezing taxes. However, it allowed the town to (1) set asset limits for eligibility and (2) put a lien on the property for the amount of tax relief plus interest, which has priority in settlement of the person's estate.

This bill:

1. requires the state to reimburse towns for their lost tax revenue if they implement the tax freeze, specifies procedures for tax assessors to annually notify the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) of the amounts of their foregone taxes and for OPM to reimburse them , sets a $ 250 penalty for towns that do not comply with the procedures, and allows the OPM secretary to issue regulations setting standards and procedures for waiving this penalty;

2. increases the annual income limits for the freeze by $ 5,000, to $ 33,800 for individuals and $ 40,300 for couples and requires OPM annually to adjust the limit for inflation and inform town assessors of the change;

3. eliminates the towns' authority to (a) set asset limits for the program and (b) put a lien on participants' property and recover the unpaid amounts plus interest from the estate after the taxpayers' death; and

4. allows towns to provide additional tax relief under this program, with no state reimbursement, to people who have annual incomes higher than the state-set limits but meet the other requirements.

Effective date: October 1, 2007 and applicable to assessment years beginning on or after October 1, 2007.

HB 6960 AN ACT CONCERNING A REFUND OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE FUELS TAX TO PROVIDERS OF ELDERLY TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

This bill allows a for-profit or nonprofit transportation service to receive a refund on the state motor vehicle fuel tax it has paid if it is acting on behalf of, in lieu of, or under a contract with a Connecticut municipality or transit district and the fuel is used to transport elderly or disabled people as part of a program established to address their transportation needs. Municipalities and transit districts themselves are already eligible for the refund.

Effective Date: July 1, 2006

HB 5098 AN ACT AUTHORIZING BONDS OF THE STATE FOR THE SAUGATUCK SENIOR COOPERATIVE IN WESTPORT

The bill authorizes up to $ 250,000 in bonds to provide a grant to the Saugatuck Senior Cooperative for roof replacement.

Effective date: July 1, 2007

HB 6138 AN ACT AUTHORIZING BONDS OF THE STATE FOR RENOVATION AND EXPANSION OF CHASE PARK HOUSE SENIOR CENTER IN WATERBURY

The bill authorizes up to $ 2 million in bonds for renovation and expansion of the Chase Park House Senior Center in Waterbury.

Effective date: July 1, 2007