Senate Bill sb1576c1

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    Florida Senate - 2001        (Corrected Copy)   CS for SB 1576

    By the Committee on Finance and Taxation; and Senator Carlton





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  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to ad valorem tax

  3         administration; amending s. 195.096, F.S.;

  4         requiring the Department of Revenue to document

  5         and retain records used in the review of

  6         assessment rolls; amending s. 195.096, F.S.,

  7         effective for the 2003 tax rolls and subsequent

  8         tax rolls; requiring the Department of Revenue

  9         to study assessment groups or market areas to

10         assure the representativeness of ratio-study

11         samples; amending s. 197.502, F.S.; authorizing

12         the tax collector to contract with a title

13         abstract company to provide information

14         concerning property described in a tax

15         certificate; authorizing the tax collector to

16         pay a reasonable fee for this information;

17         providing that the amount of any fee paid for

18         this information must be added to the opening

19         bid for a tax deed for the property; amending

20         s. 200.069, F.S.; changing the presentation of

21         independent special districts' debt-service

22         levies on notices of proposed property taxes;

23         amending s. 193.155, F.S.; revising provisions

24         governing assessment of homestead property;

25         amending s. 197.343, F.S.; changing the date

26         for an additional tax notice; amending s.

27         193.461, F.S.; adding boarding of livestock to

28         the list of agricultural purposes; creating the

29         Property Tax Administration Task Force;

30         providing purposes and membership of the task

31         force; requiring periodic reports to the

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  1         Department of Revenue; providing an effective

  2         date.

  3

  4  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

  5

  6         Section 1.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section

  7  195.096, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

  8         195.096  Review of assessment rolls.--

  9         (2)  The department shall conduct, no less frequently

10  than once every 2 years, an in-depth review of the assessment

11  rolls of each county. The department need not individually

12  study every use-class of property set forth in s. 195.073, but

13  shall at a minimum study the level of assessment in relation

14  to just value of each classification specified in subsection

15  (3). Such in-depth review may include proceedings of the value

16  adjustment board and the audit or review of procedures used by

17  the counties to appraise property.

18         (c)  In conducting assessment ratio studies, the

19  department must use a representative or statistically reliable

20  sample of properties in tests of each classification, stratum,

21  or roll made the subject of a ratio study published by it. The

22  department shall document and retain records of the measures

23  of representativeness of the properties studied in compliance

24  with this section. Such documentation must include a record of

25  findings used as the basis for the approval or disapproval of

26  the tax roll in each county pursuant to s. 193.1142. For

27  purposes of this section, the department shall rely primarily

28  on an assessment-to-sales-ratio study in conducting assessment

29  ratio studies in those classifications of property specified

30  in subsection (3) for which there are adequate market sales.

31  The department shall compute the median and the value-weighted

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  1  mean for each classification or subclassification studied and

  2  for the roll as a whole.

  3         Section 2.  Effective January 1, 2003, paragraph (c) of

  4  subsection (2) of section 195.096, Florida Statutes, as

  5  amended by section 1 of this act, is amended to read:

  6         195.096  Review of assessment rolls.--

  7         (2)  The department shall conduct, no less frequently

  8  than once every 2 years, an in-depth review of the assessment

  9  rolls of each county. The department need not individually

10  study every use-class of property set forth in s. 195.073, but

11  shall at a minimum study the level of assessment in relation

12  to just value of each classification specified in subsection

13  (3). Such in-depth review may include proceedings of the value

14  adjustment board and the audit or review of procedures used by

15  the counties to appraise property.

16         (c)  In conducting assessment ratio studies, the

17  department must use a representative or statistically reliable

18  sample of properties in tests of each classification, stratum,

19  or roll made the subject of a ratio study published by it. The

20  department shall document and retain records of the measures

21  of representativeness of the properties studied in compliance

22  with this section. Such documentation must include a record of

23  findings used as the basis for the approval or disapproval of

24  the tax roll in each county pursuant to s. 193.1142. In

25  addition, to the greatest extent practicable, the department

26  shall study assessment roll strata by value groups or market

27  areas for each classification, subclassification, or stratum

28  to be studied, to assure the representativeness of ratio study

29  samples. For purposes of this section, the department shall

30  rely primarily on an assessment-to-sales-ratio study in

31  conducting assessment ratio studies in those classifications

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  1  of property specified in subsection (3) for which there are

  2  adequate market sales.  The department shall compute the

  3  median and the value-weighted mean for each classification or

  4  subclassification studied and for the roll as a whole.

  5         Section 3.  Subsection (5) of section 197.502, Florida

  6  Statutes, is amended to read:

  7         197.502  Application for obtaining tax deed by holder

  8  of tax sale certificate; fees.--

  9         (5)(a)  The tax collector may contract with a title

10  company or an abstract company at a reasonable fee to provide

11  the minimum information required in subsection (4), consistent

12  with rules adopted by the department. If additional

13  information is required, the tax collector must make a written

14  request to the title or abstract company stating the

15  additional requirements. The tax collector may select any

16  title or abstract company, regardless of its location, as long

17  as the fee is reasonable, the minimum information is

18  submitted, and the title or abstract company is authorized to

19  do business in this state. The tax collector may advertise and

20  accept bids for the title or abstract company if he or she

21  considers it appropriate to do so.

22         1.  The ownership and encumbrance report must be

23  printed or typed on stationery or other paper showing a

24  letterhead of the person, firm, or company that makes the

25  search, and the signature of the person who makes the search

26  or of an officer of the firm must be attached. The tax

27  collector is not liable for payment to the firm unless these

28  requirements are met.

29         2.  The tax collector may not accept or pay for any

30  title search or abstract if no financial responsibility is

31  assumed for the search. However, reasonable restrictions as to

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  1  the liability or responsibility of the title or abstract

  2  company are acceptable.

  3         3.  In order to establish uniform prices for ownership

  4  and encumbrance reports within the county, the tax collector

  5  shall ensure that the contract for ownership and encumbrance

  6  reports include all requests for title searches or abstracts

  7  for a given period of time.

  8         (b)  Any fee paid for any title search or abstract must

  9  be collected at the time of application under section (1), and

10  the amount of the fee must be added to the opening bid.

11         (c)  The clerk shall advertise and administer the sale

12  and receive such fees for the issuance of the deed and sale of

13  the property as are provided in s. 28.24.

14         Section 4.  Effective January 1, 2002, section 200.069,

15  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

16         200.069  Notice of proposed property taxes and non-ad

17  valorem assessments.--Pursuant to s. 200.065(2)(b), the

18  property appraiser, in the name of the taxing authorities and

19  local governing boards levying non-ad valorem assessments

20  within his or her jurisdiction and at the expense of the

21  county, shall prepare and deliver by first-class mail to each

22  taxpayer to be listed on the current year's assessment roll a

23  notice of proposed property taxes, which notice shall be in

24  substantially the following form. Notwithstanding the

25  provisions of s. 195.022, no county officer shall use a form

26  other than that provided by the department for this purpose,

27  except as provided in subsection (11) and s. 200.065(13).

28         (1)  The notice shall read:

29

30                NOTICE OF PROPOSED PROPERTY TAXES

31                  DO NOT PAY--THIS IS NOT A BILL

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  1

  2         The taxing authorities which levy property taxes

  3  against your property will soon hold PUBLIC HEARINGS to adopt

  4  budgets and tax rates for the next year.

  5         The purpose of these PUBLIC HEARINGS is to receive

  6  opinions from the general public and to answer questions on

  7  the proposed tax change and budget PRIOR TO TAKING FINAL

  8  ACTION.

  9         Each taxing authority may AMEND OR ALTER its proposals

10  at the hearing.

11

12         (2)  The notice shall further contain information

13  applicable to the specific parcel in question.  The

14  information shall be in columnar form. There shall be five

15  column headings which shall read:  "Taxing Authority," "Your

16  Property Taxes Last Year," "Your Taxes This Year IF PROPOSED

17  Budget Change is Made," "A Public Hearing on the Proposed

18  Taxes and Budget Will be Held:", and "Your Taxes This Year IF

19  NO Budget Change is Made."

20         (3)  There shall be under each column heading an entry

21  for the county; the school district levy required pursuant to

22  s. 236.02(6); other operating school levies; the municipality

23  or municipal service taxing unit or units in which the parcel

24  lies, if any; the water management district levying pursuant

25  to s. 373.503; the a single entry for other independent

26  special districts in which the parcel lies, if any; and,

27  except as provided in subsection (11); and a single entry for

28  all voted levies for debt service applicable to the parcel, if

29  any.

30         (4)  For each entry listed in subsection (3), there

31  shall appear on the notice the following:

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  1         (a)  In the first column, a brief, commonly used name

  2  for the taxing authority or its governing body. The entry in

  3  the first column for the levy required pursuant to s.

  4  236.02(6) shall be "By State Law." The entry for other

  5  operating school district levies shall be "By Local Board."

  6  Both school levy entries shall be indented and preceded by the

  7  notation "Public Schools:". The entry in the first column for

  8  independent special districts other than the water management

  9  district shall be "Independent Special Districts," except as

10  provided in subsection (11). For each voted levy levies for

11  debt service, the entry shall be "Voter Approved Debt

12  Payments."

13         (b)  In the second column, the gross amount of ad

14  valorem taxes levied against the parcel in the previous year.

15  If the parcel did not exist in the previous year, the second

16  column shall be blank.

17         (c)  In the third column, the gross amount of ad

18  valorem taxes proposed to be levied in the current year, which

19  amount shall be based on the proposed millage rates provided

20  to the property appraiser pursuant to s. 200.065(2)(b) or, in

21  the case of voted levies for debt service, the millage rate

22  previously authorized by referendum, and the taxable value of

23  the parcel as shown on the current year's assessment roll.

24         (d)  In the fourth column, the date, the time, and a

25  brief description of the location of the public hearing

26  required pursuant to s. 200.065(2)(c). However:

27         1.  No entry shall be made in the fourth column for the

28  line showing independent special districts other than water

29  management districts if that line represents more than one

30  district;

31

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  1         2.  For the line showing voted levies for debt service

  2  pursuant to paragraph (a), the following statement shall

  3  appear: "Includes debt of ...(list of brief, commonly used

  4  names for each taxing authority whose debt service levy is

  5  included on this line)..."; and

  6         3.  For the line showing totals, the following

  7  statement shall appear: "For details on independent special

  8  districts and voter-approved debt, contact your Tax Collector

  9  at ...(phone number)...."  If the option in subsection (11) is

10  utilized, the phrase "independent special districts and" shall

11  be deleted.

12         (e)  In the fifth column, the gross amount of ad

13  valorem taxes which would apply to the parcel in the current

14  year if each taxing authority were to levy the rolled-back

15  rate computed pursuant to s. 200.065(1) or, in the case of

16  voted levies for debt service, the amount previously

17  authorized by referendum.

18         (f)  For special assessments collected utilizing the ad

19  valorem method pursuant to s. 197.363, the previous year's

20  assessment amount shall be added to the ad valorem taxes shown

21  in the second and fifth columns, and the amount proposed to be

22  imposed for the current year shall be added to the ad valorem

23  taxes shown in the third column.

24         (5)  The amounts shown on each line preceding each the

25  entry for voted levies for debt service shall include the sum

26  of all ad valorem levies of the applicable unit of local

27  government for operating purposes, including those of

28  dependent special districts (except for municipal service

29  taxing units, which shall be listed on the line for

30  municipalities), and all nonvoted or nondebt service special

31  assessments imposed by the applicable unit of local government

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  1  to be collected utilizing the ad valorem method.  Voted levies

  2  for debt service for all units of local government shall be

  3  combined and shown on a single line, including voter-approved

  4  special assessments for debt service if collected utilizing

  5  the ad valorem method.

  6         (6)  Following the entries for each taxing authority, a

  7  final entry shall show:  in the first column, the words "Total

  8  Property Taxes:" and in the second, third, and fifth columns,

  9  the sum of the entries for each of the individual taxing

10  authorities.  The second, third, and fifth columns shall,

11  immediately below said entries, be labeled Column 1, Column 2,

12  and Column 3, respectively.  Below these labels shall appear,

13  in boldfaced type, the statement:  SEE REVERSE SIDE FOR

14  EXPLANATION.

15         (7)  The notice shall further show a brief legal

16  description of the property and the name and mailing address

17  of the owner of record.

18         (8)  The notice shall further read:

19

20                 Market       Assessed       Exemp-       Taxable

21                 Value         Value         tions         Value

22  Your Property

23  Value Last

24  Year         $.......      $.......      $.......      $.......

25  Your Property

26  Value This

27  Year         $.......      $.......      $.......      $.......

28

29         If you feel that the market value of your property is

30  inaccurate or does not reflect fair market value, contact your

31

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  1  county property appraiser at ...(phone number)... or

  2  ...(location)....

  3         If the property appraiser's office is unable to resolve

  4  the matter as to market value, you may file a petition for

  5  adjustment with the Value Adjustment Board. Petition forms are

  6  available from the county property appraiser and must be filed

  7  ON OR BEFORE ...(date)....

  8

  9         (9)  The reverse side of the form shall read:

10

11                           EXPLANATION

12

13  *COLUMN 1--"YOUR PROPERTY TAXES LAST YEAR"

14  This column shows the taxes that applied last year to your

15  property. These amounts were based on budgets adopted last

16  year and your property's previous taxable value.

17  *COLUMN 2--"YOUR TAXES IF PROPOSED BUDGET CHANGE IS MADE"

18  This column shows what your taxes will be this year under the

19  BUDGET ACTUALLY PROPOSED by each local taxing authority. The

20  proposal is NOT final and may be amended at the public

21  hearings shown on the front side of this notice.

22  *COLUMN 3--"YOUR TAXES IF NO BUDGET CHANGE IS MADE"

23  This column shows what your taxes will be this year IF EACH

24  TAXING AUTHORITY DOES NOT INCREASE ITS PROPERTY TAX LEVY.

25  These amounts are based on last year's budgets and your

26  current assessment. The difference between columns 2 and 3 is

27  the tax change proposed by each local taxing authority and is

28  NOT the result of higher assessments.

29         ASSESSED VALUE means:

30         For homestead property: value as limited by the State

31  Constitution;

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  1         For agricultural and similarly assessed property:

  2  classified use value;

  3         For all other property: market value.

  4

  5  *Note: Amounts shown on this form do NOT reflect early payment

  6  discounts you may have received or may be eligible to receive.

  7  (Discounts are a maximum of 4 percent of the amounts shown on

  8  this form.)

  9

10         (10)  The front side of the form required pursuant to

11  this section shall approximate in all essential respects the

12  facsimile set forth in this subsection as it appears in s. 26,

13  chapter 80-274, Laws of Florida, except for amendments

14  subsequent to 1980.

15         (11)  If authorized by resolution of the governing body

16  of the county prior to July 1, and with the written

17  concurrence of the property appraiser, the notice specified in

18  this section shall contain a separate line entry for each

19  independent special taxing district in the jurisdiction of

20  which the parcel lies.  Each such district shall be identified

21  by name.  The form used for this purpose shall be identical to

22  that supplied by the department and shall be delivered to the

23  property appraiser not later than July 31, except that a

24  larger space shall be provided for listing the columnar

25  information specified in subsections (2), (3), (4), and (5).

26  If the executive director of the department grants written

27  permission, the form may be printed only on one side.  The

28  governing body of the county shall bear the expense of

29  procuring such form.

30         (11)(12)  The bottom portion of the notice shall

31  further read in bold, conspicuous print:

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  1

  2         "Your final tax bill may contain non-ad valorem

  3         assessments which may not be reflected on this

  4         notice such as assessments for roads, fire,

  5         garbage, lighting, drainage, water, sewer, or

  6         other governmental services and facilities

  7         which may be levied by your county, city, or

  8         any special district."

  9

10         (12)(13)(a)  If requested by the local governing board

11  levying non-ad valorem assessments and agreed to by the

12  property appraiser, the notice specified in this section may

13  contain a notice of proposed or adopted non-ad valorem

14  assessments.  If so agreed, the notice shall be titled:

15

16                NOTICE OF PROPOSED PROPERTY TAXES

17                     AND PROPOSED OR ADOPTED

18                    NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENTS

19                  DO NOT PAY--THIS IS NOT A BILL

20

21  There must be a clear partition between the notice of proposed

22  property taxes and the notice of proposed or adopted non-ad

23  valorem assessments.  The partition must be a bold, horizontal

24  line approximately  1/8 -inch thick.  By rule, the department

25  shall provide a format for the form of the notice of proposed

26  or adopted non-ad valorem assessments which meets the

27  following minimum requirements:

28         1.  There must be subheading for columns listing the

29  levying local governing board, with corresponding assessment

30  rates expressed in dollars and cents per unit of assessment,

31  and the associated assessment amount.

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  1         2.  The purpose of each assessment must also be listed

  2  in the column listing the levying local governing board if the

  3  purpose is not clearly indicated by the name of the board.

  4         3.  Each non-ad valorem assessment for each levying

  5  local governing board must be listed separately.

  6         4.  If a county has too many municipal service benefit

  7  units or assessments to be listed separately, it shall combine

  8  them by function.

  9         5.  A brief statement outlining the responsibility of

10  the tax collector and each levying local governing board as to

11  any non-ad valorem assessment must be provided on the form,

12  accompanied by directions as to which office to contact for

13  particular questions or problems.

14         (b)  If the notice includes all adopted non-ad valorem

15  assessments, the provisions contained in subsection (12) shall

16  not be placed on the notice.

17         Section 5.  Section 193.155, Florida Statutes, is

18  amended to read:

19         193.155  Homestead assessments.--Homestead property

20  shall be assessed at just value as of January 1, 1994.

21  Property receiving the homestead exemption after January 1,

22  1994, shall be assessed at just value as of January 1 of the

23  year in which the property receives the exemption. Thereafter,

24  determination of the assessed value of the property is subject

25  to the following provisions:

26         (1)  Beginning in 1995, or the year following the year

27  the property receives homestead exemption, whichever is later,

28  the property shall be reassessed annually on January 1. Any

29  change resulting from such reassessment shall not exceed the

30  lower of the following:

31

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  1         (a)  Three percent of the assessed value of the

  2  property for the prior year; or

  3         (b)  The percentage change in the Consumer Price Index

  4  for All Urban Consumers, U.S. City Average, all items

  5  1967=100, or successor reports for the preceding calendar year

  6  as initially reported by the United States Department of

  7  Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

  8         (2)  If the assessed value of the property as

  9  calculated under subsection (1) exceeds the just value, the

10  assessed value of the property shall be lowered to the just

11  value of the property.

12         (3)  Except as provided in this subsection, property

13  assessed under this section shall be assessed at just value as

14  of January 1 of the year following a change of ownership.

15  Thereafter, the annual changes in the assessed value of the

16  property are subject to the limitations in subsections (1) and

17  (2). For the purpose of this section, a change in ownership

18  means any sale, foreclosure, or transfer of legal title or

19  beneficial title in equity to any person, except as provided

20  in this subsection. There is no change of ownership if:

21         (a)  Subsequent to the change or transfer, the same

22  person is entitled to the homestead exemption as was

23  previously entitled and:

24         1.  The transfer of title is to correct an error; or

25         2.  The transfer is between legal and equitable title;

26         (b)  The transfer is between husband and wife,

27  including a transfer to a surviving spouse or a transfer due

28  to a dissolution of marriage;

29         (c)  The transfer occurs by operation of law under s.

30  732.4015; or

31

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  1         (d)  Upon the death of the owner, the transfer is

  2  between the owner and another who is a permanent resident and

  3  is legally or naturally dependent upon the owner.

  4         (4)(a)  Changes, additions, or improvements to

  5  homestead property shall be assessed at just value as of the

  6  first January 1 after the changes, additions, or improvements

  7  are substantially completed.

  8         (b)  Changes, additions, or improvements do not include

  9  replacement of a portion of real property damaged or destroyed

10  by misfortune or calamity when the just value of the damaged

11  or destroyed portion as replaced is not more than 125 percent

12  of the just value of the damaged or destroyed portion. The

13  value of any replaced real property, or portion thereof, which

14  is in excess of 125 percent of the just value of the damaged

15  or destroyed property shall be deemed to be a change,

16  addition, or improvement. Replaced real property with a just

17  value of less than 100 percent of the original property's just

18  value shall be assessed pursuant to subsection (5).

19         (c)  Changes, additions, or improvements include

20  improvements made to common areas or other improvements made

21  to property other than to the homestead property by the owner

22  or by an owner association, which improvements directly

23  benefit the homestead property. Such changes, additions, or

24  improvements shall be assessed at just value, and the just

25  value shall be apportioned among the parcels benefiting from

26  the improvement.

27         (5)  When property is destroyed or removed and not

28  replaced, the assessed value of the parcel shall be reduced by

29  the assessed value attributable to the destroyed or removed

30  property.

31

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  1         (6)  Only property that receives a homestead exemption

  2  is subject to this section. No portion of property that is

  3  assessed solely on the basis of character or use pursuant to

  4  s. 193.461 or s. 193.501, or assessed pursuant to s. 193.505,

  5  is subject to this section. When property is assessed under s.

  6  193.461, s. 193.501, or s. 193.505 and contains a residence

  7  under the same ownership, the portion of the property

  8  consisting of the residence and curtilage must be assessed

  9  separately, pursuant to s. 193.011, for the assessment to be

10  subject to the limitation in this section.

11         (7)  If a person received a homestead exemption limited

12  to that person's proportionate interest in real property, the

13  provisions of this section apply only to that interest.

14         (8)  Erroneous assessments of homestead property

15  assessed under this section may be corrected in the following

16  manner:

17         (a)  If errors are made in arriving at any annual

18  assessment under this section due to a material mistake of

19  fact concerning an essential characteristic of the property,

20  the just value and assessed value assessment must be

21  recalculated for every such year, including the year in which

22  the mistake occurred.

23         (b)  If changes, additions, or improvements are not

24  assessed at just value as of the first January 1 after they

25  were substantially completed, the property appraiser shall

26  determine the just value for such changes, additions, or

27  improvements for the year they were substantially completed.

28  Assessments for subsequent years shall be corrected, applying

29  this section if applicable.

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  1         (c)  If back taxes are due pursuant to s. 193.092, the

  2  corrections made pursuant to this subsection shall be used to

  3  calculate such back taxes.

  4         (9)  If the property appraiser determines that for any

  5  year or years within the prior 10 years a person who was not

  6  entitled to the homestead property assessment limitation

  7  granted under this section was granted the homestead property

  8  assessment limitation, the property appraiser making such

  9  determination shall record in the public records of the county

10  a notice of tax lien against any property owned by that person

11  in the county, and such property must be identified in the

12  notice of tax lien. Such property that is situated in this

13  state is subject to the unpaid taxes, plus a penalty of 50

14  percent of the unpaid taxes for each year and 15 percent

15  interest per annum. However, when a person entitled to

16  exemption pursuant to s. 196.031 inadvertently receives the

17  limitation pursuant to this section following a change of

18  ownership, the assessment of such property must be corrected

19  as provided in paragraph (8)(a), and the person need not pay

20  the unpaid taxes, penalties, or interest.

21         Section 6.  Subsection (1) of section 197.343, Florida

22  Statutes, is amended to read:

23         197.343  Tax notices; additional notice required.--

24         (1)  An additional tax notice shall be mailed by April

25  30 April 10 to each taxpayer whose payment has not been

26  received.  The notice shall include a description of the

27  property and the following statement: If the taxes for

28  ...(year)... on your property are not paid, a tax certificate

29  will be sold for these taxes, and your property may be sold at

30  a future date. Contact the tax collector's office at once.

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  1         Section 7.  Subsection (5) of s. 193.461, Florida

  2  Statutes, is amended to read:

  3         193.461  Agricultural lands; classification and

  4  assessment; mandated eradication or quarantine program.--

  5         (5)  For the purpose of this section, "agricultural

  6  purposes" includes, but is not limited to, horticulture;

  7  floriculture; viticulture; forestry; dairy; livestock;

  8  boarding of livestock; poultry; bee; pisciculture, when the

  9  land is used principally for the production of tropical fish;

10  aquaculture; sod farming; and all forms of farm products and

11  farm production.

12         Section 8.  (1)  There is created the Property Tax

13  Administration Task Force for the purpose of serving as a

14  forum for bringing issues in property tax administration to

15  the Department of Revenue, of providing and evaluating

16  suggestions for improving the property tax administration

17  process, and of promoting greater understanding of property

18  tax administration issues. The Property Tax Administration

19  Task Force shall consist of members representing business and

20  industry, taxpayer groups, municipalities, counties, school

21  districts, special districts, state government, and elected

22  officials charged with assessing and collecting property

23  taxes. The Executive Director of the Department of Revenue

24  shall appoint the members. The task force shall make periodic

25  reports to the department concerning findings and

26  recommendations in the area of property tax administration.

27         (2)  This section shall take effect upon becoming a

28  law.

29         Section 9.  Except as otherwise expressly provided in

30  this act, this act shall take effect July 1, 2001.

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  1          STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
                       COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
  2                             SB 1576

  3

  4  The Committee Substitute:

  5  1)    removes the provisions for indexing the reported level
          of assessment and basing allocation of school funds
  6        based on a 4 year moving average of levels of
          assessment;
  7
    2)    amends the TRIM Notice to include a separate entry for
  8        each independent special district and each voted levy
          for debt service, and remove the instruction to the
  9        taxpayer to contact the Tax Collector for information
          about independent special districts and voter approved
10        debt;

11  3)    allows the property appraiser to correct material
          mistakes of fact on the assessment of homestead
12        properties;

13  4)    delays the date for delinquent property tax notices from
          April 10 to April 30; and
14
    5)    adds"boarding of livestock" to the list of agricultural
15        purposes used in determining whether real property
          should be classified as agricultural; and
16
    6)    creates the Property Tax Administration Task Force.
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