Bill Text: GA SB543 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Engrossed

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Bill Title: Baldwin County; ad valorem taxes for county purposes; reduce the age for qualifying for such homestead exemption from 65 to 60 years

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2010-06-02 - Effective Date [SB543 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2009-SB543-Engrossed.html

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10 LC 21 0869

Senate Bill 543

By: Senator Grant of the 25th

AS PASSED SENATE

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

To amend an Act entitled "An Act to provide for a homestead exemption from Baldwin County ad valorem taxes for county purposes", approved April 15, 2005 (Ga. L. 2005, p. 3564), so as to reduce the age for qualifying for such homestead exemption from 65 to 60 years; to provide for applicability; to provide for a referendum, effective dates, and automatic repeal; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

An Act entitled "An Act to provide for a homestead exemption from Baldwin County ad valorem taxes for county purposes", approved April 15, 2005 (Ga. L. 2005, p. 3564), is amended by revising paragraph (4) of subsection (a) as follows:

"(4) 'Senior citizen' means a person who is 60 years of age or over on or before January 1 of the year in which application for the exemption under this Act is made."

SECTION 2.

Unless prohibited by the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended, the election superintendent of Baldwin County shall call and conduct an election as provided in this section for the purpose of submitting this Act to the electors of Baldwin County for approval or rejection. The election superintendent shall conduct that election on day of the state-wide general election in November, 2010, and shall issue the call and conduct that election as provided by general law. The superintendent shall cause the date and purpose of the election to be published once a week for two weeks immediately preceding the date thereof in the official organ of Baldwin County. The ballot shall have written or printed thereon the words:

"(  )  YES (  )  NO

Shall the Act be approved which changes the age for qualifying for a homestead exemption from Baldwin County ad valorem taxes for county purposes for senior citizens from 65 to 60 years of age?"

All persons desiring to vote for approval of the Act shall vote "Yes," and all persons desiring to vote for rejection of the Act shall vote "No." If more than one-half of the votes cast on such question are for approval of the Act, Section 1 of this Act shall become of full force and effect on January 1, 2011. If the Act is not so approved or if the election is not conducted as provided in this section, Section 1 of this Act shall not become effective and this Act shall be automatically repealed on the first day of January immediately following that election date. The expense of such election shall be borne by Baldwin County. It shall be the election superintendent's duty to certify the result thereof to the Secretary of State.

SECTION 3.

Except as otherwise provided in Section 2 of this Act, this Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law without such approval.

SECTION 4.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.