Property tax: intercounty base year value transfers.

The California Constitution authorizes the Legislature to provide that a person who is either severely disabled or over the age of 55 years 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 if a county ordinance so providing has been adopted, to a replacement dwelling that is located in a different county. This bill would authorize any person over the age of 65 years to transfer the base year value of an original property to a replacement dwelling located in a different county without the adoption of a county ordinance so providing. This bill would require this provision to be applied only to intercounty transfers of base year value that occur on or after January 1, 2011.  By changing the manner in which local assessors assess property for property taxation purposes, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions. Section 2229 of the Revenue and Taxation Code requires the Legislature to reimburse local agencies annually for certain property tax revenues lost as a result of any exemption or classification of property for purposes of ad valorem property taxation. This bill would provide that, notwithstanding Section 2229 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, no appropriation is made and the state shall not reimburse local agencies for property tax revenues lost by them pursuant to the bill. This bill would take effect immediately as a tax levy. This bill would take effect immediately as a tax levy, but would become operative only if Senate Constitutional Amendment ____ of the 2009–10 Regular Session is approved by the voters.