CS/HB 1051

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to property tax exemptions for totally and
3	permanently disabled persons; amending s. 196.101, F.S.;
4	providing for certification of total and permanent
5	disability due to blindness for purposes of such
6	exemption; specifying a certification form; providing an
7	effective date.
8
9	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
10
11	Section 1.  Subsections (6) and (7) are added to section
12	196.101, Florida Statutes, to read:
13	196.101  Exemption for totally and permanently disabled
14	persons.--
15	(6)  An optometrist licensed under chapter 463 may certify
16	a person to be totally and permanently disabled as a result of
17	legal blindness alone by issuing a certification in accordance
18	with subsection (7). Certification of total and permanent
19	disability due to legal blindness by a physician and an
20	optometrist licensed in this state may be deemed to meet the
21	requirements of subsection (3).
22	(7)  The optometrist's certification shall read as follows:
23
24	OPTOMETRIST'S CERTIFICATION OF
25	TOTAL AND PERMANENT DISABILITY
26
27	I, (name of optometrist), an optometrist licensed pursuant to
28	chapter 463, Florida Statutes, hereby certify that Mr.__ Mrs.__
29	Miss__ Ms.__ (name of totally and permanently disabled person),
30	social security number ________, is totally and permanently
31	disabled as of January 1, (year), due to legal blindness.
32
33	It is my professional belief that the above-named condition
34	renders Mr.__ Mrs.__ Miss__ Ms.__ (name of totally and
35	permanently disabled person) totally and permanently disabled
36	and that the foregoing statements are true, correct, and
37	complete to the best of my knowledge and professional belief.
38
39	Signature ________
40	Address (print) ________
41	Date _______
42	Florida Board of Optometry license number ________
43	Issued on _________
44
45	NOTICE TO TAXPAYER: Each Florida resident applying for a total
46	and permanent disability exemption must present to the county
47	property appraiser, on or before March 1 of each year, a copy of
48	this form or a letter from the United States Department of
49	Veterans Affairs or its predecessor. Each form is to be
50	completed by a licensed Florida optometrist.
51
52	NOTICE TO TAXPAYER AND OPTOMETRIST: Section 196.131(2), Florida
53	Statutes, provides that any person who knowingly and willfully
54	gives false information for the purpose of claiming homestead
55	exemption commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable
56	by a term of imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or a fine not
57	exceeding $5,000, or both.
58	Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2007.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.