HB 0475 2004
   
1 A bill to be entitled
2          An act relating to real estate taxation; amending s.
3    196.101, F.S.; revising provisions for exemption for
4    totally and permanently disabled persons; providing an
5    effective date.
6         
7          Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
8         
9          Section 1. Subsections (2) and (5) of section 196.101,
10    Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
11          196.101 Exemption for totally and permanently disabled
12    persons.--
13          (2) Any real estate used and owned as a homestead by a
14    person who is totally and permanently disabled due to paraplegia
15    or hemiplegia paraplegic, hemiplegic, or other totally and
16    permanently disabled person, as defined in s. 196.012(11), who
17    must use a wheelchair for mobility or by a personwho is legally
18    blind, is exempt from taxation.
19          (5) The physician's certification shall read as follows:
20         
21 PHYSICIAN'S CERTIFICATION
22 OF
23 TOTAL AND PERMANENT DISABILITY
24         
25          I, ... (name of physician) ..., a physician licensed pursuant
26    to chapter 458 or chapter 459, Florida Statutes, hereby certify
27    Mr. _____ Mrs. _____ Miss _____ Ms. _____ ... (name of totally
28    and permanently disabled person) ..., social security number
29    _____, is totally and permanently disabled as of January 1, ...
30    (year) ..., due to the following mental or physical
31    condition(s):
32         
33          _____ Quadriplegia
34          _____ Paraplegia
35          _____ Hemiplegia
36          _____ Other total and permanent disability requiring use of
37    a wheelchair for mobility
38          _____ Legal Blindness
39         
40          It is my professional belief that the above-named condition(s)
41    render Mr. _____ Mrs. _____ Miss _____ Ms. _____ totally and
42    permanently disabled, and that the foregoing statements are
43    true, correct, and complete to the best of my knowledge and
44    professional belief.
45         
46          Signature
47          Address (print)
48          Date
49          Florida Board of Medicine or Osteopathic Medicine license number
50         
51          Issued on
52         
53          NOTICE TO TAXPAYER: Each Florida resident applying for a total
54    and permanent disability exemption must present to the county
55    property appraiser, on or before March 1 of each year, a copy of
56    this form or a letter from the United States Department of
57    Veterans Affairs or its predecessor. Each form is to be
58    completed by a licensed Florida physician.
59         
60          NOTICE TO TAXPAYER AND PHYSICIAN: Section 196.131(2), Florida
61    Statutes, provides that any person who shall knowingly and
62    willfully give false information for the purpose of claiming
63    homestead exemption shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the
64    first degree, punishable by a term of imprisonment not exceeding
65    1 year or a fine not exceeding $5,000, or both.
66          Section 2. This act shall take effect January 1, 2005.