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.