20501. This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the
"Gonsalves-Deukmejian-Petris Senior Citizens Property Tax Assistance
Law."
20502. Unless the context otherwise requires, the definitions given
in this chapter shall govern construction of this part.
20503. (a) "Income" means adjusted gross income as defined in
Section 17072 plus all of the following cash items:
(1) Public assistance and relief.
(2) Nontaxable amount of pensions and annuities.
(3) Social security benefits (except Medicare).
(4) Railroad retirement benefits.
(5) Unemployment insurance payments.
(6) Veterans' benefits.
(7) Exempt interest received from any source.
(8) Gifts and inheritances in excess of three hundred dollars
($300), other than transfers between members of the household. Gifts
and inheritances include noncash items.
(9) Amounts contributed on behalf of the contributor to a
tax-sheltered retirement plan or deferred compensation plan.
(10) Temporary workers' compensation payments.
(11) Sick leave payments.
(12) Nontaxable military compensation as defined in Section 112 of
the Internal Revenue Code.
(13) Nontaxable scholarship and fellowship grants as defined in
Section 117 of the Internal Revenue Code.
(14) Nontaxable gain from the sale of a residence as defined in
Section 121 of the Internal Revenue Code.
(15) Life insurance proceeds to the extent that the proceeds
exceed the expenses incurred for the last illness and funeral of the
deceased spouse of the claimant. "Expenses incurred for the last
illness" includes unreimbursed expenses paid or incurred during the
income calendar year and any expenses paid or incurred thereafter up
until the date the claim is filed. For purposes of this paragraph,
funeral expenses shall not exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000).
(16) If an alternative minimum tax is required to be paid pursuant
to Chapter 2.1 (commencing with Section 17062) of Part 10, the
amount of alternative minimum taxable income (whether or not cash) in
excess of the regular taxable income.
(17) Annual winnings from the California Lottery in excess of six
hundred dollars ($600) for the current year.
(b) For purposes of this chapter, total income shall be determined
for the calendar year (or approved fiscal year ending within that
calendar year) which ends within the fiscal year for which assistance
is claimed.
(c) For purposes of Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 20581),
Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 20625), and Chapter 3.5
(commencing with Section 20640), total income shall be determined for
the calendar year ending immediately prior to the commencement of
the fiscal year for which postponement is claimed.
20504. "Household income" means all income received by all persons
of a household while members of such household. In the case of a
nonresident claimant, "household income" also includes all income of
the claimant during the year without regard to source.
20505. "Claimant" means an individual who--
(a) For purposes of this chapter was either (1) 62 years of age or
older on the last day of the calendar year or approved fiscal year
designated in subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 20503, whichever is
applicable, or (2) blind or disabled, as defined in Section 12050 of
the Welfare and Institutions Code on the last day of the calendar
year or approved fiscal year designated in subdivision (b) of Section
20503, who was a member of the household, and who was either: (1)
the owner and occupier of a residential dwelling on the last day of
the year designated in subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 20503, or
(2) the renter of a rented residence on or before the last day of the
year designated in subdivision (b) of Section 20503. An individual
who qualifies as an owner-claimant may not qualify as a
renter-claimant for the same year.
(b) (1) For purposes of Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 20581),
Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 20625), Chapter 3.3 (commencing
with Section 20639), and Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 20640)
was a member of the household and either an owner-occupant, or a
tenant stockholder occupant, or a possessory interestholder occupant,
or a mobilehome owner-occupant, as the case may be, of the
residential dwelling as to which postponement is claimed on the last
day of the year designated in subdivision (b) or (c) of Section
20503, and who was 62 years of age or older by December 31 of the
fiscal year for which postponement is claimed.
(2) For purposes of Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 20581),
Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 20625), Chapter 3.3 (commencing
with Section 20639), and Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 20640)
was a member of the household and an owner-occupant of the
residential dwelling as to which postponement is claimed on the last
day of the year designated in subdivision (c) of Section 20503, and
who was blind or disabled, as defined in Section 12050 of the Welfare
and Institutions Code, at the time of application or on December 10
of the fiscal year for which postponement is claimed, whichever is
earlier.
(c) Where amounts have been postponed for any given fiscal year
and the claimant continues to own and occupy the residential dwelling
on December 31 of the calendar year in which the fiscal year begins,
and the claimant sells the dwelling and buys a new residential
dwelling in this state on or before December 31 of the following
fiscal year and the new dwelling is the claimant's principal place of
residence, then in that event, the claimant shall be deemed to be a
qualified claimant for the purpose of this section. These regulations
shall become effective immediately upon filing with the Secretary of
State.
20506. In the case of an owner-claimant, "household" includes the
claimant and all other persons, except bona fide renters, minors, or
students (as defined by Section 151(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue
Code), whose principal place of residence is the residential dwelling
of the claimant. In the case of a renter-claimant, "household"
includes the claimant, his or her spouse, and all other persons who
reside on the premises, except renters, minors, or students (as
defined by Section 151(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code), and
owners of the same principal place of residence.
20507. (a) A claimant shall not lose his or her eligibility for
purposes of this part if he or she is temporarily confined to a
hospital or medical institution for medical reasons where the
residential dwelling was the principal place of residence of the
claimant immediately prior to such confinement.
(b) For purposes of this section, "medical institution" means a
facility operated by, or licensed by, the United States, one of the
several states, a political subdivision of a state, the State
Department of Health, or exempt from such licensure pursuant to
subdivision (c) of Section 1312 of the Health and Safety Code.
20508. "Residential dwelling" means a dwelling occupied by the
claimant as the principal place of residence, and so much of the land
surrounding it as is reasonably necessary for use of the dwelling as
a home, owned by the claimant, the claimant and his spouse, or by
the claimant and some other individual, and located in this state. It
shall also include a residential unit in a cooperative housing
corporation (as defined in Section 216(b) of the Internal Revenue
Code) occupied by the owner of shares or a membership interest in
such corporation as his or her principal residence, mobilehomes which
are assessed as realty for local property tax purposes and the land
on which situated, houseboats, and other similar living
accommodations, as well as a part of a multidwelling or multipurpose
building and a part of the land upon which it is built. It shall also
include premises occupied by reason of the claimant's ownership of a
dwelling located on land owned by a nonprofit incorporated
association, of which the claimant is a member, when such association
requires the claimant to pay a pro rata share of the property taxes
levied against the association's land. It shall also include premises
occupied by a claimant wherein he is required by law to pay a
property tax by reason of his ownership (including a possessory
interest) in the dwelling, the land, or both. It shall also include a
dwelling unit which is a mobilehome owned by a claimant, subject to
property taxation pursuant to Part 13 (commencing with Section 5800),
and located on land which is owned or rented by such claimant.
(Owned includes the interest of a vendee in possession under a land
sale contract but not the interest of the vendor, the interest of the
holder of a life estate interest, but not the interest of a
remainderman, and of one or more joint tenants or tenants in common.
Except in the case of an unrecorded land sale contract, ownership
must be evidenced by a duly recorded document.)
20508.1. For purposes of Section 20508, "residential dwelling"
includes floating homes.
20509. "Rented residence" means premises rented and occupied by the
claimant as his or her principal place of residence during the
calendar year for which assistance is claimed. The term "rented
residence" shall not include:
(a) Premises which are exempt from property taxation, except those
premises on which the owner pays possessory interest taxes, or makes
payments in lieu of property taxes which are substantially
equivalent to property taxes paid on properties of comparable market
value.
(b) Premises which are not located in this state.
For the purposes of this section, the term "premises" means a
house or a dwelling unit used to provide living accommodations in a
building or structure and the land incidental thereto, but does not
include land only, except in the case where the dwelling unit is a
mobilehome subject to the license fee imposed by Part 5 (commencing
with Section 10701) of this division. "Rented residence" includes a
dwelling unit which is a mobilehome subject to the license fee
imposed by Part 5 (commencing with Section 10701) of this division
owned by the claimant and located on land which is owned or rented by
such claimant.
20510. "Rent" means amount paid at arms length solely for the right
of occupancy of a residence and utility payments required to be paid
by the rental agreement. At least fifty dollars ($50) per month must
be paid by each renter claimant.
20511. "Property tax" shall mean only those property taxes for the
fiscal year in which application for assistance is made pursuant to
Section 20541.
When a residential dwelling is owned by two or more individuals as
joint tenants or tenants in common and one or more of such persons
is not a member of the claimant's household, the term "property tax"
shall include only that part of the taxes levied which reflects the
ownership of the claimant and other members of the household.
The property tax proration required by the preceding sentence
shall not apply to the extent of the ownership interest of the
claimant and one or more of the following:
(a) The claimant's spouse.
(b) The parents, children (natural or adopted), or grandchildren
of either the claimant or the claimant's spouse, or
(c) The spouse of any person enumerated in subdivision (b) of this
section.
20512. (a) "Property taxes accrued" means current property taxes
(exclusive of interest, penalties, principal payments on improvement
bonds and charges for service) levied against a claimant's
residential dwelling by any taxing agency (as defined in Section 121)
for any fiscal year ending on or after June 30, 1977. If the owner
of a dwelling unit which is a mobilehome located on land owned or
rented by such owner pursuant to Section 20541 elects to claim
assistance under Section 20543, such assistance shall be based on the
appropriate percentage of the motor vehicle license fee tax, not
including the registration fee, paid with regard to such mobilehome.
(b) Whenever a residential dwelling is an integral part of a large
unit such as a farm, or a multipurpose or multidwelling building,
"property taxes accrued" shall be that percentage of the total
property taxes accrued as the value of the residential dwelling is of
the total value.
(c) Where a claimant is purchasing the residential dwelling under
an unrecorded contract of sale, the Franchise Tax Board may require a
copy of the contract or other evidence to establish such fact.
(d) Where the residential dwelling is a dwelling owned by the
claimant on land owned by a nonprofit incorporated association, the
Franchise Tax Board may require an affidavit under penalty of perjury
containing sufficient evidence to establish such fact and that the
nonprofit incorporated association requires that the claimant pay a
pro rata share of the property tax levied against the association's
land.
(e) Where the residential dwelling consists of premises occupied
by reason of the claimant's possessory interest in such premises, the
Franchise Tax Board may require an affidavit under penalty of
perjury stating that the premises are occupied by reason of ownership
of a possessory interest in a dwelling that is otherwise exempt from
property taxation.
20513. When a "rented residence," as defined in Section 20509, is
rented and occupied by the claimant as his principal place of
residence for less than 12 months during the calendar year for which
assistance is claimed, the amount of assistance as provided in
Section 20544 shall be prorated pursuant to rules provided by the
Franchise Tax Board.
20514. (a) Assistance shall not be allowed under this chapter if
gross household income, after allowance for actual cash expenditures
that are reasonable, ordinary, and necessary to realize income,
exceeds thirty-five thousand two hundred fifty-one dollars ($35,251).
(b) With respect to assistance that is provided by the Franchise
Tax Board pursuant to this chapter for the 2002 calendar year and
each calendar year thereafter, the gross household income figure that
applies to assistance provided by the Franchise Tax Board during
that period shall be the gross household income figure that applied
to assistance provided by the Franchise Tax Board in the same period
in the immediately preceding year, multiplied by an inflation
adjustment factor calculated as follows:
(1) On or before February 1 of each year, the Department of
Industrial Relations shall transmit to the Franchise Tax Board the
percentage change in the California Consumer Price Index for all
items from June of the second preceding calendar year to June of the
immediately preceding calendar year.
(2) The Franchise Tax Board shall add 100 percent to the
percentage change figure that is furnished pursuant to paragraph (1)
and divide the result by 100.
(3) The Franchise Tax Board shall multiply the gross household
income figure that applies in the immediately preceding year by the
inflation adjustment factor determined in paragraph (2), and round
off the resulting product to the nearest one dollar ($1).
20501. This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the
"Gonsalves-Deukmejian-Petris Senior Citizens Property Tax Assistance
Law."
20502. Unless the context otherwise requires, the definitions given
in this chapter shall govern construction of this part.
20503. (a) "Income" means adjusted gross income as defined in
Section 17072 plus all of the following cash items:
(1) Public assistance and relief.
(2) Nontaxable amount of pensions and annuities.
(3) Social security benefits (except Medicare).
(4) Railroad retirement benefits.
(5) Unemployment insurance payments.
(6) Veterans' benefits.
(7) Exempt interest received from any source.
(8) Gifts and inheritances in excess of three hundred dollars
($300), other than transfers between members of the household. Gifts
and inheritances include noncash items.
(9) Amounts contributed on behalf of the contributor to a
tax-sheltered retirement plan or deferred compensation plan.
(10) Temporary workers' compensation payments.
(11) Sick leave payments.
(12) Nontaxable military compensation as defined in Section 112 of
the Internal Revenue Code.
(13) Nontaxable scholarship and fellowship grants as defined in
Section 117 of the Internal Revenue Code.
(14) Nontaxable gain from the sale of a residence as defined in
Section 121 of the Internal Revenue Code.
(15) Life insurance proceeds to the extent that the proceeds
exceed the expenses incurred for the last illness and funeral of the
deceased spouse of the claimant. "Expenses incurred for the last
illness" includes unreimbursed expenses paid or incurred during the
income calendar year and any expenses paid or incurred thereafter up
until the date the claim is filed. For purposes of this paragraph,
funeral expenses shall not exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000).
(16) If an alternative minimum tax is required to be paid pursuant
to Chapter 2.1 (commencing with Section 17062) of Part 10, the
amount of alternative minimum taxable income (whether or not cash) in
excess of the regular taxable income.
(17) Annual winnings from the California Lottery in excess of six
hundred dollars ($600) for the current year.
(b) For purposes of this chapter, total income shall be determined
for the calendar year (or approved fiscal year ending within that
calendar year) which ends within the fiscal year for which assistance
is claimed.
(c) For purposes of Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 20581),
Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 20625), and Chapter 3.5
(commencing with Section 20640), total income shall be determined for
the calendar year ending immediately prior to the commencement of
the fiscal year for which postponement is claimed.
20504. "Household income" means all income received by all persons
of a household while members of such household. In the case of a
nonresident claimant, "household income" also includes all income of
the claimant during the year without regard to source.
20505. "Claimant" means an individual who--
(a) For purposes of this chapter was either (1) 62 years of age or
older on the last day of the calendar year or approved fiscal year
designated in subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 20503, whichever is
applicable, or (2) blind or disabled, as defined in Section 12050 of
the Welfare and Institutions Code on the last day of the calendar
year or approved fiscal year designated in subdivision (b) of Section
20503, who was a member of the household, and who was either: (1)
the owner and occupier of a residential dwelling on the last day of
the year designated in subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 20503, or
(2) the renter of a rented residence on or before the last day of the
year designated in subdivision (b) of Section 20503. An individual
who qualifies as an owner-claimant may not qualify as a
renter-claimant for the same year.
(b) (1) For purposes of Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 20581),
Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 20625), Chapter 3.3 (commencing
with Section 20639), and Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 20640)
was a member of the household and either an owner-occupant, or a
tenant stockholder occupant, or a possessory interestholder occupant,
or a mobilehome owner-occupant, as the case may be, of the
residential dwelling as to which postponement is claimed on the last
day of the year designated in subdivision (b) or (c) of Section
20503, and who was 62 years of age or older by December 31 of the
fiscal year for which postponement is claimed.
(2) For purposes of Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 20581),
Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 20625), Chapter 3.3 (commencing
with Section 20639), and Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 20640)
was a member of the household and an owner-occupant of the
residential dwelling as to which postponement is claimed on the last
day of the year designated in subdivision (c) of Section 20503, and
who was blind or disabled, as defined in Section 12050 of the Welfare
and Institutions Code, at the time of application or on December 10
of the fiscal year for which postponement is claimed, whichever is
earlier.
(c) Where amounts have been postponed for any given fiscal year
and the claimant continues to own and occupy the residential dwelling
on December 31 of the calendar year in which the fiscal year begins,
and the claimant sells the dwelling and buys a new residential
dwelling in this state on or before December 31 of the following
fiscal year and the new dwelling is the claimant's principal place of
residence, then in that event, the claimant shall be deemed to be a
qualified claimant for the purpose of this section. These regulations
shall become effective immediately upon filing with the Secretary of
State.
20506. In the case of an owner-claimant, "household" includes the
claimant and all other persons, except bona fide renters, minors, or
students (as defined by Section 151(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue
Code), whose principal place of residence is the residential dwelling
of the claimant. In the case of a renter-claimant, "household"
includes the claimant, his or her spouse, and all other persons who
reside on the premises, except renters, minors, or students (as
defined by Section 151(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code), and
owners of the same principal place of residence.
20507. (a) A claimant shall not lose his or her eligibility for
purposes of this part if he or she is temporarily confined to a
hospital or medical institution for medical reasons where the
residential dwelling was the principal place of residence of the
claimant immediately prior to such confinement.
(b) For purposes of this section, "medical institution" means a
facility operated by, or licensed by, the United States, one of the
several states, a political subdivision of a state, the State
Department of Health, or exempt from such licensure pursuant to
subdivision (c) of Section 1312 of the Health and Safety Code.
20508. "Residential dwelling" means a dwelling occupied by the
claimant as the principal place of residence, and so much of the land
surrounding it as is reasonably necessary for use of the dwelling as
a home, owned by the claimant, the claimant and his spouse, or by
the claimant and some other individual, and located in this state. It
shall also include a residential unit in a cooperative housing
corporation (as defined in Section 216(b) of the Internal Revenue
Code) occupied by the owner of shares or a membership interest in
such corporation as his or her principal residence, mobilehomes which
are assessed as realty for local property tax purposes and the land
on which situated, houseboats, and other similar living
accommodations, as well as a part of a multidwelling or multipurpose
building and a part of the land upon which it is built. It shall also
include premises occupied by reason of the claimant's ownership of a
dwelling located on land owned by a nonprofit incorporated
association, of which the claimant is a member, when such association
requires the claimant to pay a pro rata share of the property taxes
levied against the association's land. It shall also include premises
occupied by a claimant wherein he is required by law to pay a
property tax by reason of his ownership (including a possessory
interest) in the dwelling, the land, or both. It shall also include a
dwelling unit which is a mobilehome owned by a claimant, subject to
property taxation pursuant to Part 13 (commencing with Section 5800),
and located on land which is owned or rented by such claimant.
(Owned includes the interest of a vendee in possession under a land
sale contract but not the interest of the vendor, the interest of the
holder of a life estate interest, but not the interest of a
remainderman, and of one or more joint tenants or tenants in common.
Except in the case of an unrecorded land sale contract, ownership
must be evidenced by a duly recorded document.)
20508.1. For purposes of Section 20508, "residential dwelling"
includes floating homes.
20509. "Rented residence" means premises rented and occupied by the
claimant as his or her principal place of residence during the
calendar year for which assistance is claimed. The term "rented
residence" shall not include:
(a) Premises which are exempt from property taxation, except those
premises on which the owner pays possessory interest taxes, or makes
payments in lieu of property taxes which are substantially
equivalent to property taxes paid on properties of comparable market
value.
(b) Premises which are not located in this state.
For the purposes of this section, the term "premises" means a
house or a dwelling unit used to provide living accommodations in a
building or structure and the land incidental thereto, but does not
include land only, except in the case where the dwelling unit is a
mobilehome subject to the license fee imposed by Part 5 (commencing
with Section 10701) of this division. "Rented residence" includes a
dwelling unit which is a mobilehome subject to the license fee
imposed by Part 5 (commencing with Section 10701) of this division
owned by the claimant and located on land which is owned or rented by
such claimant.
20510. "Rent" means amount paid at arms length solely for the right
of occupancy of a residence and utility payments required to be paid
by the rental agreement. At least fifty dollars ($50) per month must
be paid by each renter claimant.
20511. "Property tax" shall mean only those property taxes for the
fiscal year in which application for assistance is made pursuant to
Section 20541.
When a residential dwelling is owned by two or more individuals as
joint tenants or tenants in common and one or more of such persons
is not a member of the claimant's household, the term "property tax"
shall include only that part of the taxes levied which reflects the
ownership of the claimant and other members of the household.
The property tax proration required by the preceding sentence
shall not apply to the extent of the ownership interest of the
claimant and one or more of the following:
(a) The claimant's spouse.
(b) The parents, children (natural or adopted), or grandchildren
of either the claimant or the claimant's spouse, or
(c) The spouse of any person enumerated in subdivision (b) of this
section.
20512. (a) "Property taxes accrued" means current property taxes
(exclusive of interest, penalties, principal payments on improvement
bonds and charges for service) levied against a claimant's
residential dwelling by any taxing agency (as defined in Section 121)
for any fiscal year ending on or after June 30, 1977. If the owner
of a dwelling unit which is a mobilehome located on land owned or
rented by such owner pursuant to Section 20541 elects to claim
assistance under Section 20543, such assistance shall be based on the
appropriate percentage of the motor vehicle license fee tax, not
including the registration fee, paid with regard to such mobilehome.
(b) Whenever a residential dwelling is an integral part of a large
unit such as a farm, or a multipurpose or multidwelling building,
"property taxes accrued" shall be that percentage of the total
property taxes accrued as the value of the residential dwelling is of
the total value.
(c) Where a claimant is purchasing the residential dwelling under
an unrecorded contract of sale, the Franchise Tax Board may require a
copy of the contract or other evidence to establish such fact.
(d) Where the residential dwelling is a dwelling owned by the
claimant on land owned by a nonprofit incorporated association, the
Franchise Tax Board may require an affidavit under penalty of perjury
containing sufficient evidence to establish such fact and that the
nonprofit incorporated association requires that the claimant pay a
pro rata share of the property tax levied against the association's
land.
(e) Where the residential dwelling consists of premises occupied
by reason of the claimant's possessory interest in such premises, the
Franchise Tax Board may require an affidavit under penalty of
perjury stating that the premises are occupied by reason of ownership
of a possessory interest in a dwelling that is otherwise exempt from
property taxation.
20513. When a "rented residence," as defined in Section 20509, is
rented and occupied by the claimant as his principal place of
residence for less than 12 months during the calendar year for which
assistance is claimed, the amount of assistance as provided in
Section 20544 shall be prorated pursuant to rules provided by the
Franchise Tax Board.
20514. (a) Assistance shall not be allowed under this chapter if
gross household income, after allowance for actual cash expenditures
that are reasonable, ordinary, and necessary to realize income,
exceeds thirty-five thousand two hundred fifty-one dollars ($35,251).
(b) With respect to assistance that is provided by the Franchise
Tax Board pursuant to this chapter for the 2002 calendar year and
each calendar year thereafter, the gross household income figure that
applies to assistance provided by the Franchise Tax Board during
that period shall be the gross household income figure that applied
to assistance provided by the Franchise Tax Board in the same period
in the immediately preceding year, multiplied by an inflation
adjustment factor calculated as follows:
(1) On or before February 1 of each year, the Department of
Industrial Relations shall transmit to the Franchise Tax Board the
percentage change in the California Consumer Price Index for all
items from June of the second preceding calendar year to June of the
immediately preceding calendar year.
(2) The Franchise Tax Board shall add 100 percent to the
percentage change figure that is furnished pursuant to paragraph (1)
and divide the result by 100.
(3) The Franchise Tax Board shall multiply the gross household
income figure that applies in the immediately preceding year by the
inflation adjustment factor determined in paragraph (2), and round
off the resulting product to the nearest one dollar ($1).
20501. This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the
"Gonsalves-Deukmejian-Petris Senior Citizens Property Tax Assistance
Law."
20502. Unless the context otherwise requires, the definitions given
in this chapter shall govern construction of this part.
20503. (a) "Income" means adjusted gross income as defined in
Section 17072 plus all of the following cash items:
(1) Public assistance and relief.
(2) Nontaxable amount of pensions and annuities.
(3) Social security benefits (except Medicare).
(4) Railroad retirement benefits.
(5) Unemployment insurance payments.
(6) Veterans' benefits.
(7) Exempt interest received from any source.
(8) Gifts and inheritances in excess of three hundred dollars
($300), other than transfers between members of the household. Gifts
and inheritances include noncash items.
(9) Amounts contributed on behalf of the contributor to a
tax-sheltered retirement plan or deferred compensation plan.
(10) Temporary workers' compensation payments.
(11) Sick leave payments.
(12) Nontaxable military compensation as defined in Section 112 of
the Internal Revenue Code.
(13) Nontaxable scholarship and fellowship grants as defined in
Section 117 of the Internal Revenue Code.
(14) Nontaxable gain from the sale of a residence as defined in
Section 121 of the Internal Revenue Code.
(15) Life insurance proceeds to the extent that the proceeds
exceed the expenses incurred for the last illness and funeral of the
deceased spouse of the claimant. "Expenses incurred for the last
illness" includes unreimbursed expenses paid or incurred during the
income calendar year and any expenses paid or incurred thereafter up
until the date the claim is filed. For purposes of this paragraph,
funeral expenses shall not exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000).
(16) If an alternative minimum tax is required to be paid pursuant
to Chapter 2.1 (commencing with Section 17062) of Part 10, the
amount of alternative minimum taxable income (whether or not cash) in
excess of the regular taxable income.
(17) Annual winnings from the California Lottery in excess of six
hundred dollars ($600) for the current year.
(b) For purposes of this chapter, total income shall be determined
for the calendar year (or approved fiscal year ending within that
calendar year) which ends within the fiscal year for which assistance
is claimed.
(c) For purposes of Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 20581),
Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 20625), and Chapter 3.5
(commencing with Section 20640), total income shall be determined for
the calendar year ending immediately prior to the commencement of
the fiscal year for which postponement is claimed.
20504. "Household income" means all income received by all persons
of a household while members of such household. In the case of a
nonresident claimant, "household income" also includes all income of
the claimant during the year without regard to source.
20505. "Claimant" means an individual who--
(a) For purposes of this chapter was either (1) 62 years of age or
older on the last day of the calendar year or approved fiscal year
designated in subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 20503, whichever is
applicable, or (2) blind or disabled, as defined in Section 12050 of
the Welfare and Institutions Code on the last day of the calendar
year or approved fiscal year designated in subdivision (b) of Section
20503, who was a member of the household, and who was either: (1)
the owner and occupier of a residential dwelling on the last day of
the year designated in subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 20503, or
(2) the renter of a rented residence on or before the last day of the
year designated in subdivision (b) of Section 20503. An individual
who qualifies as an owner-claimant may not qualify as a
renter-claimant for the same year.
(b) (1) For purposes of Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 20581),
Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 20625), Chapter 3.3 (commencing
with Section 20639), and Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 20640)
was a member of the household and either an owner-occupant, or a
tenant stockholder occupant, or a possessory interestholder occupant,
or a mobilehome owner-occupant, as the case may be, of the
residential dwelling as to which postponement is claimed on the last
day of the year designated in subdivision (b) or (c) of Section
20503, and who was 62 years of age or older by December 31 of the
fiscal year for which postponement is claimed.
(2) For purposes of Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 20581),
Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 20625), Chapter 3.3 (commencing
with Section 20639), and Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 20640)
was a member of the household and an owner-occupant of the
residential dwelling as to which postponement is claimed on the last
day of the year designated in subdivision (c) of Section 20503, and
who was blind or disabled, as defined in Section 12050 of the Welfare
and Institutions Code, at the time of application or on December 10
of the fiscal year for which postponement is claimed, whichever is
earlier.
(c) Where amounts have been postponed for any given fiscal year
and the claimant continues to own and occupy the residential dwelling
on December 31 of the calendar year in which the fiscal year begins,
and the claimant sells the dwelling and buys a new residential
dwelling in this state on or before December 31 of the following
fiscal year and the new dwelling is the claimant's principal place of
residence, then in that event, the claimant shall be deemed to be a
qualified claimant for the purpose of this section. These regulations
shall become effective immediately upon filing with the Secretary of
State.
20506. In the case of an owner-claimant, "household" includes the
claimant and all other persons, except bona fide renters, minors, or
students (as defined by Section 151(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue
Code), whose principal place of residence is the residential dwelling
of the claimant. In the case of a renter-claimant, "household"
includes the claimant, his or her spouse, and all other persons who
reside on the premises, except renters, minors, or students (as
defined by Section 151(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code), and
owners of the same principal place of residence.
20507. (a) A claimant shall not lose his or her eligibility for
purposes of this part if he or she is temporarily confined to a
hospital or medical institution for medical reasons where the
residential dwelling was the principal place of residence of the
claimant immediately prior to such confinement.
(b) For purposes of this section, "medical institution" means a
facility operated by, or licensed by, the United States, one of the
several states, a political subdivision of a state, the State
Department of Health, or exempt from such licensure pursuant to
subdivision (c) of Section 1312 of the Health and Safety Code.
20508. "Residential dwelling" means a dwelling occupied by the
claimant as the principal place of residence, and so much of the land
surrounding it as is reasonably necessary for use of the dwelling as
a home, owned by the claimant, the claimant and his spouse, or by
the claimant and some other individual, and located in this state. It
shall also include a residential unit in a cooperative housing
corporation (as defined in Section 216(b) of the Internal Revenue
Code) occupied by the owner of shares or a membership interest in
such corporation as his or her principal residence, mobilehomes which
are assessed as realty for local property tax purposes and the land
on which situated, houseboats, and other similar living
accommodations, as well as a part of a multidwelling or multipurpose
building and a part of the land upon which it is built. It shall also
include premises occupied by reason of the claimant's ownership of a
dwelling located on land owned by a nonprofit incorporated
association, of which the claimant is a member, when such association
requires the claimant to pay a pro rata share of the property taxes
levied against the association's land. It shall also include premises
occupied by a claimant wherein he is required by law to pay a
property tax by reason of his ownership (including a possessory
interest) in the dwelling, the land, or both. It shall also include a
dwelling unit which is a mobilehome owned by a claimant, subject to
property taxation pursuant to Part 13 (commencing with Section 5800),
and located on land which is owned or rented by such claimant.
(Owned includes the interest of a vendee in possession under a land
sale contract but not the interest of the vendor, the interest of the
holder of a life estate interest, but not the interest of a
remainderman, and of one or more joint tenants or tenants in common.
Except in the case of an unrecorded land sale contract, ownership
must be evidenced by a duly recorded document.)
20508.1. For purposes of Section 20508, "residential dwelling"
includes floating homes.
20509. "Rented residence" means premises rented and occupied by the
claimant as his or her principal place of residence during the
calendar year for which assistance is claimed. The term "rented
residence" shall not include:
(a) Premises which are exempt from property taxation, except those
premises on which the owner pays possessory interest taxes, or makes
payments in lieu of property taxes which are substantially
equivalent to property taxes paid on properties of comparable market
value.
(b) Premises which are not located in this state.
For the purposes of this section, the term "premises" means a
house or a dwelling unit used to provide living accommodations in a
building or structure and the land incidental thereto, but does not
include land only, except in the case where the dwelling unit is a
mobilehome subject to the license fee imposed by Part 5 (commencing
with Section 10701) of this division. "Rented residence" includes a
dwelling unit which is a mobilehome subject to the license fee
imposed by Part 5 (commencing with Section 10701) of this division
owned by the claimant and located on land which is owned or rented by
such claimant.
20510. "Rent" means amount paid at arms length solely for the right
of occupancy of a residence and utility payments required to be paid
by the rental agreement. At least fifty dollars ($50) per month must
be paid by each renter claimant.
20511. "Property tax" shall mean only those property taxes for the
fiscal year in which application for assistance is made pursuant to
Section 20541.
When a residential dwelling is owned by two or more individuals as
joint tenants or tenants in common and one or more of such persons
is not a member of the claimant's household, the term "property tax"
shall include only that part of the taxes levied which reflects the
ownership of the claimant and other members of the household.
The property tax proration required by the preceding sentence
shall not apply to the extent of the ownership interest of the
claimant and one or more of the following:
(a) The claimant's spouse.
(b) The parents, children (natural or adopted), or grandchildren
of either the claimant or the claimant's spouse, or
(c) The spouse of any person enumerated in subdivision (b) of this
section.
20512. (a) "Property taxes accrued" means current property taxes
(exclusive of interest, penalties, principal payments on improvement
bonds and charges for service) levied against a claimant's
residential dwelling by any taxing agency (as defined in Section 121)
for any fiscal year ending on or after June 30, 1977. If the owner
of a dwelling unit which is a mobilehome located on land owned or
rented by such owner pursuant to Section 20541 elects to claim
assistance under Section 20543, such assistance shall be based on the
appropriate percentage of the motor vehicle license fee tax, not
including the registration fee, paid with regard to such mobilehome.
(b) Whenever a residential dwelling is an integral part of a large
unit such as a farm, or a multipurpose or multidwelling building,
"property taxes accrued" shall be that percentage of the total
property taxes accrued as the value of the residential dwelling is of
the total value.
(c) Where a claimant is purchasing the residential dwelling under
an unrecorded contract of sale, the Franchise Tax Board may require a
copy of the contract or other evidence to establish such fact.
(d) Where the residential dwelling is a dwelling owned by the
claimant on land owned by a nonprofit incorporated association, the
Franchise Tax Board may require an affidavit under penalty of perjury
containing sufficient evidence to establish such fact and that the
nonprofit incorporated association requires that the claimant pay a
pro rata share of the property tax levied against the association's
land.
(e) Where the residential dwelling consists of premises occupied
by reason of the claimant's possessory interest in such premises, the
Franchise Tax Board may require an affidavit under penalty of
perjury stating that the premises are occupied by reason of ownership
of a possessory interest in a dwelling that is otherwise exempt from
property taxation.
20513. When a "rented residence," as defined in Section 20509, is
rented and occupied by the claimant as his principal place of
residence for less than 12 months during the calendar year for which
assistance is claimed, the amount of assistance as provided in
Section 20544 shall be prorated pursuant to rules provided by the
Franchise Tax Board.
20514. (a) Assistance shall not be allowed under this chapter if
gross household income, after allowance for actual cash expenditures
that are reasonable, ordinary, and necessary to realize income,
exceeds thirty-five thousand two hundred fifty-one dollars ($35,251).
(b) With respect to assistance that is provided by the Franchise
Tax Board pursuant to this chapter for the 2002 calendar year and
each calendar year thereafter, the gross household income figure that
applies to assistance provided by the Franchise Tax Board during
that period shall be the gross household income figure that applied
to assistance provided by the Franchise Tax Board in the same period
in the immediately preceding year, multiplied by an inflation
adjustment factor calculated as follows:
(1) On or before February 1 of each year, the Department of
Industrial Relations shall transmit to the Franchise Tax Board the
percentage change in the California Consumer Price Index for all
items from June of the second preceding calendar year to June of the
immediately preceding calendar year.
(2) The Franchise Tax Board shall add 100 percent to the
percentage change figure that is furnished pursuant to paragraph (1)
and divide the result by 100.
(3) The Franchise Tax Board shall multiply the gross household
income figure that applies in the immediately preceding year by the
inflation adjustment factor determined in paragraph (2), and round
off the resulting product to the nearest one dollar ($1).
