Bill Text: MI HB5220 | 2011-2012 | 96th Legislature | Chaptered


Bill Title: Property tax; tax tribunal; informal settlement conference; require if requested by petitioner. Amends 1973 PA 186 (MCL 205.701 - 205.779) by adding sec. 62b.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2012-12-31 - Assigned Pa 463'12 With Immediate Effect 2012 Addenda [HB5220 Detail]

Download: Michigan-2011-HB5220-Chaptered.html

Act No. 463

Public Acts of 2012

Approved by the Governor

December 22, 2012

Filed with the Secretary of State

December 27, 2012

EFFECTIVE DATE: December 27, 2012

STATE OF MICHIGAN

96TH LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2012

Introduced by Reps. Knollenberg and Tyler

ENROLLED HOUSE BILL No. 5220

AN ACT to amend 1973 PA 186, entitled “An act to create the tax tribunal; to provide for personnel, jurisdiction, functions, practice and procedure; to provide for appeals; and to prescribe the powers and duties of certain state agencies; and to abolish certain boards,” (MCL 205.701 to 205.779) by adding section 62b.

The People of the State of Michigan enact:

Sec. 62b. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, after a petitioner has filed a petition under this chapter and the residential property and small claims division has issued notice of the docket number assigned to the petition and before a hearing for the petition has been scheduled, the petitioner or the respondent local tax collecting unit may request an informal settlement conference as provided in this section.

(2) A petitioner shall submit a written request for an informal settlement conference to the local tax collecting unit and shall file a copy of that written request with the residential property and small claims division. A local tax collecting unit shall submit a written request for an informal settlement conference to the petitioner and shall file a copy of that written request with the residential property and small claims division. A written request shall include a statement attesting to the service of the written request on the petitioner or local tax collecting unit, as appropriate. The statement shall identify the person upon whom the request was served and the date and method by which the written request was served on that person.

(3) If a petitioner has requested an informal settlement conference under subsection (2), the local tax collecting unit shall schedule and hold an informal settlement conference within 60 days after receipt of the written request. The informal settlement conference shall be held telephonically or at the offices of the local tax collecting unit. If the local tax collecting unit does not schedule and hold an informal settlement conference within 60 days after receipt of the written request, the petitioner may file a motion with the residential property and small claims division for an order to compel the informal settlement conference. If the residential and small claims division issues an order compelling an informal settlement conference, the local tax collecting unit shall conduct an informal settlement conference as required by the order. If the local tax collecting unit does not schedule and hold an informal settlement conference as required by the order to compel the informal settlement conference, the residential property and small claims division shall schedule an expedited default hearing.

(4) If a local tax collecting unit has requested an informal settlement conference under subsection (2), the local tax collecting unit shall schedule and hold an informal settlement conference within 60 days after delivery of the written request to the petitioner. The informal settlement conference shall be held telephonically or at the offices of the local tax collecting unit. A petitioner is not required to respond to the local tax collecting unit’s request for an informal settlement conference or to attend the informal settlement conference. If a petitioner does not respond to the local tax collecting unit’s request for an informal settlement conference or attend the informal settlement conference, the petitioner’s appeal shall continue as provided in this act.

(5) At the informal settlement conference, the petitioner and the local tax collecting unit may enter into a stipulation for judgment. The stipulation for judgment shall be filed with the residential property and small claims division. The residential property and small claims division shall review the stipulation for judgment to determine if the stipulation for judgment shall be adopted as a final order. Upon a showing of good cause or at the residential property and small claims division’s discretion, the residential property and small claims division may reject the proposed stipulation for judgment.

(6) If the petitioner and the local tax collecting unit do not agree to a stipulation for judgment or if the residential property and small claims division rejects the proposed stipulation for judgment, the petitioner’s appeal shall continue as provided in this act.

(7) This section does not apply to the denial of a claim for exemption of a principal residence under section 7cc(8) or (11) of the general property tax act, 1893 PA 206, MCL 211.7cc.

This act is ordered to take immediate effect.

Clerk of the House of Representatives

Secretary of the Senate

Approved

Governor