Florida Senate - 2012                          SENATOR AMENDMENT
       Bill No. CS/HB 7097, 2nd Eng.
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                Barcode 802968                          
       
                              LEGISLATIVE ACTION                        
                    Senate             .             House              
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                Floor: 1/AD/2R         .         Floor: SENA1/C         
             03/09/2012 07:08 PM       .      03/09/2012 08:54 PM       
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       Senator Norman moved the following:
       
    1         Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
    2  
    3         Delete everything after the enacting clause
    4  and insert:
    5         Section 1. Subsections (2) and (18) of section 192.001,
    6  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
    7         192.001 Definitions.—All definitions set out in chapters 1
    8  and 200 that are applicable to this chapter are included herein.
    9  In addition, the following definitions shall apply in the
   10  imposition of ad valorem taxes:
   11         (2) “Assessed value of property” means an annual
   12  determination of:
   13         (a) The just or fair market value of an item or property;
   14  or
   15         (b) The value of the homestead property as limited by
   16  pursuant to s. 4(d), Art. VII of the State Constitution; or,
   17         (c) The value of property in a classified use or at a
   18  fractional value if the a property is assessed solely on the
   19  basis of character or use or at a specified percentage of its
   20  value under, pursuant to s. 4(a) or 4(c), Art. VII of the State
   21  Constitution, its classified use value or fractional value.
   22         (18) “Complete submission of the rolls” includes, but is
   23  not necessarily limited to, accurate tabular summaries of
   24  valuations as prescribed by department rule; an electronic a
   25  computer tape copy of the real property assessment roll
   26  including for each parcel total value of improvements, land
   27  value, the two most recently recorded selling prices, other
   28  ownership transfer data required for an assessment roll under s.
   29  193.114, the value of any improvement made to the parcel in the
   30  12 months preceding the valuation date, the type and amount of
   31  any exemption granted, and such other information as may be
   32  required by department rule; an accurate tabular summary by
   33  property class of any adjustments made to recorded selling
   34  prices or fair market value in arriving at assessed value, as
   35  prescribed by department rule; an electronic a computer tape
   36  copy of the tangible personal property assessment roll,
   37  including for each entry a unique account number and such other
   38  information as may be required by department rule; and an
   39  accurate tabular summary of per-acre land valuations used for
   40  each class of agricultural property in preparing the assessment
   41  roll, as prescribed by department rule.
   42         Section 2. Paragraph (d) of subsection (2) of section
   43  192.0105, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   44         192.0105 Taxpayer rights.—There is created a Florida
   45  Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights for property taxes and assessments to
   46  guarantee that the rights, privacy, and property of the
   47  taxpayers of this state are adequately safeguarded and protected
   48  during tax levy, assessment, collection, and enforcement
   49  processes administered under the revenue laws of this state. The
   50  Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights compiles, in one document, brief but
   51  comprehensive statements that summarize the rights and
   52  obligations of the property appraisers, tax collectors, clerks
   53  of the court, local governing boards, the Department of Revenue,
   54  and taxpayers. Additional rights afforded to payors of taxes and
   55  assessments imposed under the revenue laws of this state are
   56  provided in s. 213.015. The rights afforded taxpayers to assure
   57  that their privacy and property are safeguarded and protected
   58  during tax levy, assessment, and collection are available only
   59  insofar as they are implemented in other parts of the Florida
   60  Statutes or rules of the Department of Revenue. The rights so
   61  guaranteed to state taxpayers in the Florida Statutes and the
   62  departmental rules include:
   63         (2) THE RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS.—
   64         (d) The right to prior notice of the value adjustment
   65  board’s hearing date, and the right to the hearing at the within
   66  4 hours of scheduled time, and the right to have the hearing
   67  rescheduled if the hearing is not commenced within a reasonable
   68  time, not to exceed 2 hours, after the scheduled time (see s.
   69  194.032(2)).
   70         Section 3. Section 192.117, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
   71         Section 4. Paragraphs (n) and (p) of subsection (2) and
   72  subsection (4) of section 193.114, Florida Statutes, are amended
   73  to read:
   74         193.114 Preparation of assessment rolls.—
   75         (2) The real property assessment roll shall include:
   76         (n) The recorded selling For each sale of the property in
   77  the previous year, the sale price, ownership transfer sale date,
   78  and official record book and page number or clerk instrument
   79  number for each deed or other instrument transferring ownership
   80  of real property and recorded or otherwise discovered during the
   81  period beginning 1 year before the assessment date and up to the
   82  date the assessment roll is submitted to the department. The
   83  assessment roll shall also include, and the basis for
   84  qualification or disqualification of a transfer as an arms
   85  length transaction. A decision qualifying or disqualifying a
   86  transfer of property as an arms-length transaction Sale data
   87  must be current on all tax rolls submitted to the department,
   88  and sale qualification decisions must be recorded on the
   89  assessment tax roll within 3 months after the sale date that the
   90  deed or other transfer instrument is recorded or otherwise
   91  discovered. If, subsequent to the initial decision qualifying or
   92  disqualifying a transfer of property, the property appraiser
   93  obtains information indicating that the initial decision should
   94  be changed, the property appraiser may change the qualification
   95  decision and, if so, must document the reason for the change in
   96  a manner acceptable to the executive director or the executive
   97  director’s designee. Sale or transfer data must be current on
   98  all tax rolls submitted to the department. As used in this
   99  paragraph, the term “ownership transfer date” means the date
  100  that the deed or other transfer instrument is signed and
  101  notarized or otherwise executed.
  102         (p) The name and address of the owner or fiduciary
  103  responsible for the payment of taxes on the property and an
  104  indicator of fiduciary capacity, as appropriate.
  105         (4)(a) For every change made to the assessed or taxable
  106  value of a parcel on an assessment roll subsequent to the
  107  mailing of the notice provided for in s. 200.069, the property
  108  appraiser shall document the reason for such change in the
  109  public records of the office of the property appraiser in a
  110  manner acceptable to the executive director or the executive
  111  director’s designee.
  112         (b) For every change that decreases the assessed or taxable
  113  value of a parcel on an assessment roll between the time of
  114  complete submission of the tax roll pursuant to s. 193.1142(3)
  115  and mailing of the notice provided for in s. 200.069, the
  116  property appraiser shall document the reason for such change in
  117  the public records of the office of the property appraiser in a
  118  manner acceptable to the executive director or the executive
  119  director’s designee.
  120         (c) Changes made by the value adjustment board are not
  121  subject to the requirements of this subsection.
  122         Section 5. Paragraphs (f) through (k) of subsection (8) of
  123  section 193.155, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as
  124  paragraphs (g) through (l), respectively, present paragraphs (d)
  125  and (g) of that subsection are amended, and a new paragraph (f)
  126  is added to that subsection, to read:
  127         193.155 Homestead assessments.—Homestead property shall be
  128  assessed at just value as of January 1, 1994. Property receiving
  129  the homestead exemption after January 1, 1994, shall be assessed
  130  at just value as of January 1 of the year in which the property
  131  receives the exemption unless the provisions of subsection (8)
  132  apply.
  133         (8) Property assessed under this section shall be assessed
  134  at less than just value when the person who establishes a new
  135  homestead has received a homestead exemption as of January 1 of
  136  either of the 2 immediately preceding years. A person who
  137  establishes a new homestead as of January 1, 2008, is entitled
  138  to have the new homestead assessed at less than just value only
  139  if that person received a homestead exemption on January 1,
  140  2007, and only if this subsection applies retroactive to January
  141  1, 2008. For purposes of this subsection, a husband and wife who
  142  owned and both permanently resided on a previous homestead shall
  143  each be considered to have received the homestead exemption even
  144  though only the husband or the wife applied for the homestead
  145  exemption on the previous homestead. The assessed value of the
  146  newly established homestead shall be determined as provided in
  147  this subsection.
  148         (d) If two or more persons abandon jointly owned and
  149  jointly titled property that received a homestead exemption as
  150  of January 1 of either of the 2 immediately preceding years, and
  151  one or more such persons who were entitled to and received a
  152  homestead exemption on the abandoned property establish a new
  153  homestead that would otherwise be eligible for assessment under
  154  this subsection, each such person establishing a new homestead
  155  is entitled to a reduction from just value for the new homestead
  156  equal to the just value of the prior homestead minus the
  157  assessed value of the prior homestead divided by the number of
  158  owners of the prior homestead who received a homestead
  159  exemption, unless the title of the property contains specific
  160  ownership shares, in which case the share of reduction from just
  161  value shall be proportionate to the ownership share. In the case
  162  of a husband and wife abandoning jointly titled property, the
  163  husband and wife may designate the ownership share to be
  164  attributed to each spouse by following the procedure in
  165  paragraph (f). To qualify to make such a designation, the
  166  husband and wife must be married on the date that the jointly
  167  owned property is abandoned. In calculating the assessment
  168  reduction to be transferred from a prior homestead that has an
  169  assessment reduction for living quarters of parents or
  170  grandparents pursuant to s. 193.703, the value calculated
  171  pursuant to s. 193.703(6) must first be added back to the
  172  assessed value of the prior homestead. The total reduction from
  173  just value for all new homesteads established under this
  174  paragraph may not exceed $500,000. There shall be no reduction
  175  from just value of any new homestead unless the prior homestead
  176  is reassessed at just value or is reassessed under this
  177  subsection as of January 1 after the abandonment occurs.
  178         (f) A husband and wife abandoning jointly titled property
  179  who wish to designate the ownership share to be attributed to
  180  each person for purposes of paragraph (d) must file a form
  181  provided by the department with the property appraiser in the
  182  county where such property is located. The form must include a
  183  sworn statement by each person designating the ownership share
  184  to be attributed to each person for purposes of paragraph (d)
  185  and must be filed prior to either person filing the form
  186  required under paragraph (h) to have a parcel of property
  187  assessed under this subsection. Such a designation, once filed
  188  with the property appraiser, is irrevocable.
  189         (h)(g) In order to have his or her homestead property
  190  assessed under this subsection, a person must file a form
  191  provided by the department as an attachment to the application
  192  for homestead exemption, including a copy of the form required
  193  to be filed under paragraph (f), if applicable. The form, which
  194  must include a sworn statement attesting to the applicant’s
  195  entitlement to assessment under this subsection, shall be
  196  considered sufficient documentation for applying for assessment
  197  under this subsection. The department shall require by rule that
  198  the required form be submitted with the application for
  199  homestead exemption under the timeframes and processes set forth
  200  in chapter 196 to the extent practicable.
  201         Section 6. Subsections (2), (3), and (7) of section
  202  193.1554, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  203         193.1554 Assessment of nonhomestead residential property.—
  204         (2) For all levies other than school district levies,
  205  nonhomestead residential property shall be assessed at just
  206  value as of January 1 of the year that the property becomes
  207  eligible for assessment pursuant to this section, 2008. Property
  208  placed on the tax roll after January 1, 2008, shall be assessed
  209  at just value as of January 1 of the year in which the property
  210  is placed on the tax roll.
  211         (3) Beginning in 2009, or the year following the year the
  212  nonhomestead residential property becomes eligible for
  213  assessment pursuant to this section is placed on the tax roll,
  214  whichever is later, the property shall be reassessed annually on
  215  January 1. Any change resulting from such reassessment may not
  216  exceed 10 percent of the assessed value of the property for the
  217  prior year.
  218         (7) Any increase in the value of property assessed under
  219  this section which is attributable to combining or dividing
  220  parcels shall be assessed at just value, and the just value
  221  shall be apportioned among the parcels created.
  222         (a) For divided parcels, the amount by which the sum of the
  223  just values of the divided parcels exceeds what the just value
  224  of the parcel would be if undivided shall be attributable to the
  225  division. This amount shall be apportioned to the parcels pro
  226  rata based on their relative just values.
  227         (b) For combined parcels, the amount by which the just
  228  value of the combined parcel exceeds what the sum of the just
  229  values of the component parcels would be if they had not been
  230  combined shall be attributable to the combination.
  231         (c) A parcel that is combined or divided after January 1
  232  and included as a combined or divided parcel on the tax notice
  233  is not considered to be a combined or divided parcel until the
  234  January 1 on which it is first assessed as a combined or divided
  235  parcel.
  236         Section 7. Subsections (1), (2), (3), and (7) of section
  237  193.1555, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  238         193.1555 Assessment of certain residential and
  239  nonresidential real property.—
  240         (1) As used in this section, the term:
  241         (a) “Nonresidential real property” means real property that
  242  is not subject to the assessment limitations set forth in
  243  subsection 4(a), (b), (c), (d), or (g), Art. VII of the State
  244  Constitution s. 4(a), (c), (d), or (g), Art. VII of the State
  245  Constitution.
  246         (b) “Improvement” means an addition or change to land or
  247  buildings which increases their value and is more than a repair
  248  or a replacement.
  249         (2) For all levies other than school district levies,
  250  nonresidential real property and residential real property that
  251  is not assessed under s. 193.155 or s. 193.1554 shall be
  252  assessed at just value as of January 1 of the year that the
  253  property becomes eligible for assessment pursuant to this
  254  section, 2008. Property placed on the tax roll after January 1,
  255  2008, shall be assessed at just value as of January 1 of the
  256  year in which the property is placed on the tax roll.
  257         (3) Beginning in 2009, or the year following the year the
  258  property becomes eligible for assessment pursuant to this
  259  section is placed on the tax roll, whichever is later, the
  260  property shall be reassessed annually on January 1. Any change
  261  resulting from such reassessment may not exceed 10 percent of
  262  the assessed value of the property for the prior year.
  263         (7) Any increase in the value of property assessed under
  264  this section which is attributable to combining or dividing
  265  parcels shall be assessed at just value, and the just value
  266  shall be apportioned among the parcels created.
  267         (a)For divided parcels, the amount by which the sum of the
  268  just values of the divided parcels exceeds what the just value
  269  of the parcel would be if undivided shall be attributable to the
  270  division. This amount shall be apportioned to the parcels pro
  271  rata based on their relative just values.
  272         (b) For combined parcels, the amount by which the just
  273  value of the combined parcel exceeds what the sum of the just
  274  values of the component parcels would be if they had not been
  275  combined shall be attributable to the combination.
  276         (c) A parcel that is combined or divided after January 1
  277  and included as a combined or divided parcel on the tax notice
  278  is not considered to be a combined or divided parcel until the
  279  January 1 on which it is first assessed as a combined or divided
  280  parcel.
  281         Section 8. Subsection (7) of section 193.501, Florida
  282  Statutes, is amended to read:
  283         193.501 Assessment of lands subject to a conservation
  284  easement, environmentally endangered lands, or lands used for
  285  outdoor recreational or park purposes when land development
  286  rights have been conveyed or conservation restrictions have been
  287  covenanted.—
  288         (7)(a) The property appraiser shall report to the
  289  department showing the just value and the classified use value
  290  of property that is subject to a conservation easement under s.
  291  704.06, property assessed as environmentally endangered land
  292  pursuant to this section, and property assessed as outdoor
  293  recreational or park land.
  294         (b)The tax collector shall annually report to the
  295  department the amount of deferred tax liability collected
  296  pursuant to this section.
  297         Section 9. Paragraph (d) of subsection (9) of section
  298  193.503, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  299         193.503 Classification and assessment of historic property
  300  used for commercial or certain nonprofit purposes.—
  301         (9)
  302         (d)The tax collector shall annually report to the
  303  department the amount of deferred tax liability collected
  304  pursuant to this section.
  305         Section 10. Paragraph (c) of subsection (9) of section
  306  193.505, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  307         193.505 Assessment of historically significant property
  308  when development rights have been conveyed or historic
  309  preservation restrictions have been covenanted.—
  310         (9)
  311         (c)The tax collector shall annually report to the
  312  department the amount of deferred tax liability collected
  313  pursuant to this section.
  314         Section 11. Subsection (2) of section 194.032, Florida
  315  Statutes, is amended to read:
  316         194.032 Hearing purposes; timetable.—
  317         (2)(a) The clerk of the governing body of the county shall
  318  prepare a schedule of appearances before the board based on
  319  petitions timely filed with him or her. The clerk shall notify
  320  each petitioner of the scheduled time of his or her appearance
  321  at least no less than 25 calendar days before prior to the day
  322  of the such scheduled appearance. The notice shall indicate
  323  whether the petition has been scheduled to be heard at a
  324  particular time or during a block of time. If the petition has
  325  been scheduled to be heard within a block of time, the beginning
  326  and ending of that block of time shall be indicated on the
  327  notice; however, as provided in paragraph (b), a petitioner may
  328  not be required to wait for more than a reasonable time, not to
  329  exceed 2 hours, after the beginning of the block of time. If the
  330  petitioner checked the appropriate box on the petition form to
  331  request a copy of the property record card containing relevant
  332  information used in computing the current assessment, the clerk
  333  shall provide the copy of the card along with the notice. Upon
  334  receipt of the notice this notification, the petitioner may
  335  shall have the right to reschedule the hearing a single time by
  336  submitting to the clerk of the governing body of the county a
  337  written request to reschedule, at least no less than 5 calendar
  338  days before the day of the originally scheduled hearing.
  339         (b) A copy of the property record card containing relevant
  340  information used in computing the taxpayer’s current assessment
  341  shall be included with such notice, if said card was requested
  342  by the taxpayer. Such request shall be made by checking an
  343  appropriate box on the petition form. No petitioner may not
  344  shall be required to wait for more than a reasonable time, not
  345  to exceed 2 4 hours, after from the scheduled time for the
  346  hearing to commence.; and, If the hearing is not commenced
  347  within his or her petition is not heard in that time, the
  348  petitioner may inform, at his or her option, report to the
  349  chairperson of the meeting that he or she intends to leave.;
  350  and, If the petitioner leaves he or she is not heard
  351  immediately, the clerk shall reschedule the hearing, and the
  352  rescheduling is not considered to be a request to reschedule as
  353  provided in paragraph (a) petitioner’s administrative remedies
  354  will be deemed to be exhausted, and he or she may seek further
  355  relief as he or she deems appropriate.
  356         (c) Failure on three occasions with respect to any single
  357  tax year to convene at the scheduled time of meetings of the
  358  board is shall constitute grounds for removal from office by the
  359  Governor for neglect of duties.
  360         Section 12. Subsection (2) of section 194.034, Florida
  361  Statutes, is amended to read:
  362         194.034 Hearing procedures; rules.—
  363         (2) In each case, except if the when a complaint is
  364  withdrawn by the petitioner or if the complaint, is acknowledged
  365  as correct by the property appraiser, or is denied pursuant to
  366  s. 194.014(1)(c), the value adjustment board shall render a
  367  written decision. All such decisions shall be issued within 20
  368  calendar days after of the last day the board is in session
  369  under s. 194.032. The decision of the board must shall contain
  370  findings of fact and conclusions of law and must shall include
  371  reasons for upholding or overturning the determination of the
  372  property appraiser. If When a special magistrate has been
  373  appointed, the recommendations of the special magistrate shall
  374  be considered by the board. The clerk, upon issuance of a
  375  decision the decisions, shall, on a form provided by the
  376  Department of Revenue, notify by first-class mail each taxpayer
  377  and, the property appraiser, and the department of the decision
  378  of the board. If requested by the Department of Revenue, the
  379  clerk shall provide to the department a copy of the decision or
  380  information relating to the tax impact of the findings and
  381  results of the board as described in s. 194.037 in the manner
  382  and form requested.
  383         Section 13. Section 195.072, Florida Statutes, is amended
  384  to read:
  385         195.072 Cooperation with of other state agencies of state
  386  government.—
  387         (1)The several departments and agencies of State agencies
  388  government are hereby authorized and directed to render such
  389  necessary aid and assistance to the Department of Revenue as is
  390  required to enable the department to carry out its functions of
  391  ensuring insuring just valuation and equitable administration of
  392  property taxes in this state.
  393         (2) The Department of Revenue shall render such aid and
  394  assistance as may be required in an active investigation of a
  395  property appraiser by a state agency by providing procedural and
  396  valuation assistance as it relates to the property appraiser’s
  397  property tax administrative duties.
  398         Section 14. Effective July 1, 2012, paragraph (f) of
  399  subsection (2) and subsection (3) of section 195.096, Florida
  400  Statutes, are amended to read:
  401         195.096 Review of assessment rolls.—
  402         (2) The department shall conduct, no less frequently than
  403  once every 2 years, an in-depth review of the assessment rolls
  404  of each county. The department need not individually study every
  405  use-class of property set forth in s. 195.073, but shall at a
  406  minimum study the level of assessment in relation to just value
  407  of each classification specified in subsection (3). Such in
  408  depth review may include proceedings of the value adjustment
  409  board and the audit or review of procedures used by the counties
  410  to appraise property.
  411         (f) Within 120 days after following the receipt of a county
  412  assessment roll by the executive director of the department
  413  pursuant to s. 193.1142(1), or within 10 days after approval of
  414  the assessment roll, whichever is later, the department shall
  415  complete the review for that county and publish the department’s
  416  forward its findings. The findings must include, including a
  417  statement of the confidence interval for the median and such
  418  other measures as may be appropriate for each classification or
  419  subclassification studied and for the roll as a whole, employing
  420  a 95-percent level of confidence, and related statistical and
  421  analytical details. The measures in the findings must be based
  422  on:
  423         1. A 95 percent level of confidence; or
  424         2. Ratio study standards that are generally accepted by
  425  professional appraisal organizations in developing a
  426  statistically valid sampling plan if a 95 percent level of
  427  confidence is not attainable to the Senate and the House of
  428  Representatives committees with oversight responsibilities for
  429  taxation, and the appropriate property appraiser. Upon releasing
  430  its findings, the department shall notify the chairperson of the
  431  appropriate county commission or the corresponding official
  432  under a consolidated charter that the department’s findings are
  433  available upon request. The department shall, within 90 days
  434  after receiving a written request from the chairperson of the
  435  appropriate county commission or the corresponding official
  436  under a consolidated charter, forward a copy of its findings,
  437  including the confidence interval for the median and such other
  438  measures of each classification or subclassification studied and
  439  for all the roll as a whole, and related statistical and
  440  analytical details, to the requesting party.
  441         (3)(a) Upon completion of review pursuant to paragraph
  442  (2)(f), the department shall publish the results of reviews
  443  conducted under this section. The results must include all
  444  statistical and analytical measures computed under this section
  445  for the real property assessment roll as a whole, the personal
  446  property assessment roll as a whole, and independently for the
  447  following real property classes if whenever the classes
  448  constituted 5 percent or more of the total assessed value of
  449  real property in a county on the previous tax roll:
  450         1. Residential property that consists of one primary living
  451  unit, including, but not limited to, single-family residences,
  452  condominiums, cooperatives, and mobile homes.
  453         2. Residential property that consists of two or more
  454  primary living units.
  455         3. Agricultural, high-water recharge, historic property
  456  used for commercial or certain nonprofit purposes, and other
  457  use-valued property.
  458         4. Vacant lots.
  459         5. Nonagricultural acreage and other undeveloped parcels.
  460         6. Improved commercial and industrial property.
  461         7. Taxable institutional or governmental, utility, locally
  462  assessed railroad, oil, gas and mineral land, subsurface rights,
  463  and other real property.
  464  
  465  If When one of the above classes constituted less than 5 percent
  466  of the total assessed value of all real property in a county on
  467  the previous assessment roll, the department may combine it with
  468  one or more other classes of real property for purposes of
  469  assessment ratio studies or use the weighted average of the
  470  other classes for purposes of calculating the level of
  471  assessment for all real property in a county. The department
  472  shall also publish such results for any subclassifications of
  473  the classes or assessment rolls it may have chosen to study.
  474         (b) If When necessary for compliance with s. 1011.62, and
  475  for those counties not being studied in the current year, the
  476  department shall project value-weighted mean levels of
  477  assessment for each county. The department shall make its
  478  projection based upon the best information available, using
  479  utilizing professionally accepted methodology, and shall
  480  separately allocate changes in total assessed value to:
  481         1. New construction, additions, and deletions.
  482         2. Changes in the value of the dollar.
  483         3. Changes in the market value of property other than those
  484  attributable to changes in the value of the dollar.
  485         4. Changes in the level of assessment.
  486  
  487  In lieu of the statistical and analytical measures published
  488  pursuant to paragraph (a), the department shall publish details
  489  concerning the computation of estimated assessment levels and
  490  the allocation of changes in assessed value for those counties
  491  not subject to an in-depth review.
  492         (c)Upon publication of data and findings as required by
  493  this subsection, the department shall notify the committees of
  494  the Senate and of the House of Representatives having oversight
  495  responsibility for taxation, the appropriate property appraiser,
  496  and the county commission chair or corresponding official under
  497  a consolidated charter. Copies of the data and findings shall be
  498  provided upon request.
  499         Section 15. Section 195.0985, Florida Statutes, is
  500  repealed.
  501         Section 16. Section 195.099, Florida Statutes, is amended
  502  to read:
  503         195.099 Periodic review.—
  504         (1)(a) The department may shall periodically review the
  505  assessments of new, rebuilt, and expanded business reported
  506  according to s. 193.077(3), to ensure parity of level of
  507  assessment with other classifications of property.
  508         (b) This subsection shall expire on the date specified in
  509  s. 290.016 for the expiration of the Florida Enterprise Zone
  510  Act.
  511         (2) The department may shall review the assessments of new
  512  and expanded businesses granted an exemption pursuant to s.
  513  196.1995 to ensure parity of level of assessment with other
  514  classifications of property.
  515         Section 17. Subsection (7) of section 196.031, Florida
  516  Statutes, is amended to read:
  517         196.031 Exemption of homesteads.—
  518         (7) Unless the homestead property is totally exempt from ad
  519  valorem taxation, the exemptions provided in paragraphs (1)(a)
  520  and (b) shall be applied before and other homestead exemptions,
  521  which shall then be applied in the order that results in the
  522  lowest taxable value. as follows:
  523         (a)The exemption in paragraph (1)(a) shall apply to the
  524  first $25,000 of assessed value;
  525         (b)The second $25,000 of assessed value shall be taxable
  526  unless other exemptions, as listed in paragraph (d), are
  527  applicable in the order listed;
  528         (c)The additional homestead exemption in paragraph (1)(b),
  529  for levies other than school district levies, shall be applied
  530  to the assessed value greater than $50,000 before any other
  531  exemptions are applied to that assessed value; and
  532         (d)Other exemptions include and shall be applied in the
  533  following order: widows, widowers, blind persons, and disabled
  534  persons, as provided in s. 196.202; disabled ex-servicemembers
  535  and surviving spouses, as provided in s. 196.24, applicable to
  536  all levies; the local option low-income senior exemption up to
  537  $50,000, applicable to county levies or municipal levies, as
  538  provided in s. 196.075; and the veterans percentage discount, as
  539  provided in s. 196.082.
  540         Section 18. Section 196.061, Florida Statutes, is amended
  541  to read:
  542         196.061 Rental of homestead to constitute abandonment.—The
  543  rental of all or substantially all of a an entire dwelling
  544  previously claimed to be a homestead for tax purposes shall
  545  constitute the abandonment of such said dwelling as a homestead,
  546  and the said abandonment shall continue until such dwelling is
  547  physically occupied by the owner thereof. However, such
  548  abandonment of such homestead after January 1 of any year does
  549  shall not affect the homestead exemption for tax purposes for
  550  that particular year if so long as this provision is not used
  551  for 2 consecutive years. The provisions of this section do shall
  552  not apply to a member of the Armed Forces of the United States
  553  whose service in such forces is the result of a mandatory
  554  obligation imposed by the federal Selective Service Act or who
  555  volunteers for service as a member of the Armed Forces of the
  556  United States. Moreover, valid military orders transferring such
  557  member are shall be sufficient to maintain permanent residence,
  558  for the purpose of s. 196.015, for the member and his or her
  559  spouse.
  560         Section 19. Subsection (5) is added to section 196.081,
  561  Florida Statutes, to read:
  562         196.081 Exemption for certain permanently and totally
  563  disabled veterans and for surviving spouses of veterans.—
  564         (5)An applicant for the exemption under this section may
  565  apply for the exemption before receiving the necessary
  566  documentation from the United States Government or the United
  567  States Department of Veterans Affairs or its predecessor. Upon
  568  receipt of the documentation, the exemption shall be granted as
  569  of the date of the original application, and the excess taxes
  570  paid shall be refunded. Any refund of excess taxes paid shall be
  571  limited to those paid during the 4-year period of limitation set
  572  forth in s. 197.182(1)(e).
  573         Section 20. Subsection (6) is added to section 196.082,
  574  Florida Statutes, to read:
  575         196.082 Discounts for disabled veterans.—
  576         (6)An applicant for the discount under this section may
  577  apply for the discount before receiving the necessary
  578  documentation from the United States Department of Veterans
  579  Affairs or its predecessor. Upon receipt of the documentation,
  580  the discount shall be granted as of the date of the original
  581  application, and the excess taxes paid shall be refunded. Any
  582  refund of excess taxes paid shall be limited to those paid
  583  during the 4-year period of limitation set forth in s.
  584  197.182(1)(e).
  585         Section 21. Subsection (4) is added to section 196.091,
  586  Florida Statutes, to read:
  587         196.091 Exemption for disabled veterans confined to
  588  wheelchairs.—
  589         (4)An applicant for the exemption under this section may
  590  apply for the exemption before receiving the necessary
  591  documentation from the United States Government or the United
  592  States Department of Veterans Affairs or its predecessor. Upon
  593  receipt of the documentation, the exemption shall be granted as
  594  of the date of the original application, and the excess taxes
  595  paid shall be refunded. Any refund of excess taxes paid shall be
  596  limited to those paid during the 4-year period of limitation set
  597  forth in s. 197.182(1)(e).
  598         Section 22. Subsection (8) is added to section 196.101,
  599  Florida Statutes, to read:
  600         196.101 Exemption for totally and permanently disabled
  601  persons.—
  602         (8)An applicant for the exemption under this section may
  603  apply for the exemption before receiving the necessary
  604  documentation from the United States Department of Veterans
  605  Affairs or its predecessor. Upon receipt of the documentation,
  606  the exemption shall be granted as of the date of the original
  607  application, and the excess taxes paid shall be refunded. Any
  608  refund of excess taxes paid shall be limited to those paid
  609  during the 4-year period of limitation set forth in s.
  610  197.182(1)(e).
  611         Section 23. Subsection (1) of section 196.121, Florida
  612  Statutes, is amended to read:
  613         196.121 Homestead exemptions; forms.—
  614         (1) The Department of Revenue shall provide, by electronic
  615  means or other methods designated by the department, furnish to
  616  the property appraiser of each county a sufficient number of
  617  printed forms to be filed by taxpayers claiming to be entitled
  618  to a homestead said exemption and shall prescribe the content of
  619  such forms by rule.
  620         Section 24. Subsection (2) of section 196.173, Florida
  621  Statutes, is amended to read:
  622         196.173 Exemption for deployed servicemembers.—
  623         (2) The exemption is available to servicemembers who were
  624  deployed during the preceding calendar year on active duty
  625  outside the continental United States, Alaska, or Hawaii in
  626  support of:
  627         (a) Operation Noble Eagle, which began on September 15,
  628  2001;
  629         (b)(a) Operation Enduring Freedom, which began on October
  630  7, 2001;
  631         (c)(b) Operation Iraqi Freedom, which began on March 19,
  632  2003, and ended on August 31, 2010; or
  633         (d)(c) Operation New Dawn, which began on September 1,
  634  2010, and ended on December 15, 2011; or
  635         (e) Operation Odyssey Dawn, which began on March 19, 2011,
  636  and ended on October 31, 2011.
  637  
  638  The Department of Revenue shall notify all property appraisers
  639  and tax collectors in this state of the designated military
  640  operations.
  641         Section 25. Section 196.198, Florida Statutes, is amended
  642  to read:
  643         196.198 Educational property exemption.—Educational
  644  institutions within this state and their property used by them
  645  or by any other exempt entity or educational institution
  646  exclusively for educational purposes shall be exempt from
  647  taxation. Sheltered workshops providing rehabilitation and
  648  retraining of disabled individuals and exempted by a certificate
  649  under s. (d) of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as
  650  amended, are declared wholly educational in purpose and shall be
  651  exempted from certification, accreditation, and membership
  652  requirements set forth in s. 196.012. Those portions of property
  653  of college fraternities and sororities certified by the
  654  president of the college or university to the appropriate
  655  property appraiser as being essential to the educational process
  656  shall be exempt from ad valorem taxation. The use of property by
  657  public fairs and expositions chartered by chapter 616 is
  658  presumed to be an educational use of such property and shall be
  659  exempt from ad valorem taxation to the extent of such use.
  660  Property used exclusively for educational purposes shall be
  661  deemed owned by an educational institution if the entity owning
  662  100 percent of the educational institution is owned by the
  663  identical persons who own the property. Land, buildings, and
  664  other improvements to real property used exclusively for
  665  educational purposes shall be deemed owned by an educational
  666  institution if the entity owning 100 percent of the land is a
  667  nonprofit entity and the land is used, under a ground lease or
  668  other contractual arrangement, by an educational institution
  669  that owns the buildings and other improvements to the real
  670  property, is a nonprofit entity under s. 501(c)(3) of the
  671  Internal Revenue Code, and provides education limited to
  672  students in prekindergarten through grade 8. If legal title to
  673  property is held by a governmental agency that leases the
  674  property to a lessee, the property shall be deemed to be owned
  675  by the governmental agency and used exclusively for educational
  676  purposes if the governmental agency continues to use such
  677  property exclusively for educational purposes pursuant to a
  678  sublease or other contractual agreement with that lessee. If the
  679  title to land is held by the trustee of an irrevocable inter
  680  vivos trust and if the trust grantor owns 100 percent of the
  681  entity that owns an educational institution that is using the
  682  land exclusively for educational purposes, the land is deemed to
  683  be property owned by the educational institution for purposes of
  684  this exemption. Property owned by an educational institution
  685  shall be deemed to be used for an educational purpose if the
  686  institution has taken affirmative steps to prepare the property
  687  for educational use. Affirmative steps means environmental or
  688  land use permitting activities, creation of architectural plans
  689  or schematic drawings, land clearing or site preparation,
  690  construction or renovation activities, or other similar
  691  activities that demonstrate commitment of the property to an
  692  educational use.
  693         Section 26. Paragraph (d) is added to subsection (1) of
  694  section 196.199, Florida Statutes, to read:
  695         196.199 Government property exemption.—
  696         (1) Property owned and used by the following governmental
  697  units shall be exempt from taxation under the following
  698  conditions:
  699         (d) All property of municipalities is exempt from ad
  700  valorem taxation if used as an essential ancillary function of a
  701  facility constructed with financing obtained in part by pledging
  702  proceeds from the tax authorized under s. 212.0305(4) which is
  703  upon exempt or immune federal, state, or county property.
  704         Section 27. Section 196.202, Florida Statutes, is amended
  705  to read:
  706         196.202 Property of widows, widowers, blind persons, and
  707  persons totally and permanently disabled.—
  708         (1) Property to the value of $500 of every widow, widower,
  709  blind person, or totally and permanently disabled person who is
  710  a bona fide resident of this state is shall be exempt from
  711  taxation. As used in this section, the term “totally and
  712  permanently disabled person” means a person who is currently
  713  certified by a physician licensed in this state, by the United
  714  States Department of Veterans Affairs or its predecessor, or by
  715  the Social Security Administration to be totally and permanently
  716  disabled.
  717         (2)An applicant for the exemption under this section may
  718  apply for the exemption before receiving the necessary
  719  documentation from the United States Department of Veterans
  720  Affairs or its predecessor, or the Social Security
  721  Administration. Upon receipt of the documentation, the exemption
  722  shall be granted as of the date of the original application, and
  723  the excess taxes paid shall be refunded. Any refund of excess
  724  taxes paid shall be limited to those paid during the 4-year
  725  period of limitation set forth in s. 197.182(1)(e).
  726         Section 28. Section 196.24, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  727  read:
  728         196.24 Exemption for disabled ex-servicemember or surviving
  729  spouse; evidence of disability.—
  730         (1) Any ex-servicemember, as defined in s. 196.012, who is
  731  a bona fide resident of the state, who was discharged under
  732  honorable conditions, and who has been disabled to a degree of
  733  10 percent or more by misfortune or while serving during a
  734  period of wartime service as defined in s. 1.01(14), or by
  735  misfortune, is entitled to the exemption from taxation provided
  736  for in s. 3(b), Art. VII of the State Constitution as provided
  737  in this section. Property to the value of $5,000 of such a
  738  person is exempt from taxation. The production by him or her of
  739  a certificate of disability from the United States Government or
  740  the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or its
  741  predecessor before the property appraiser of the county wherein
  742  the ex-servicemember’s property lies is prima facie evidence of
  743  the fact that he or she is entitled to the exemption. The
  744  unremarried surviving spouse of such a disabled ex-servicemember
  745  who, on the date of the disabled ex-servicemember’s death, had
  746  been married to the disabled ex-servicemember for at least 5
  747  years is also entitled to the exemption.
  748         (2)An applicant for the exemption under this section may
  749  apply for the exemption before receiving the necessary
  750  documentation from the United States Government or the United
  751  States Department of Veterans Affairs or its predecessor. Upon
  752  receipt of the documentation, the exemption shall be granted as
  753  of the date of the original application, and the excess taxes
  754  paid shall be refunded. Any refund of excess taxes paid shall be
  755  limited to those paid during the 4-year period of limitation set
  756  forth in s. 197.182(1)(e).
  757         Section 29. Effective July 1, 2012, subsection (5) and
  758  paragraph (a) of subsection (10) of section 200.065, Florida
  759  Statutes, are amended to read:
  760         200.065 Method of fixing millage.—
  761         (5) Beginning in the 2009-2010 fiscal year and In each
  762  fiscal year thereafter:
  763         (a) The maximum millage rate that a county, municipality,
  764  special district dependent to a county or municipality,
  765  municipal service taxing unit, or independent special district
  766  may levy is a rolled-back rate based on the amount of taxes
  767  which would have been levied in the prior year if the maximum
  768  millage rate had been applied, adjusted for change in per capita
  769  Florida personal income, unless a higher rate was is adopted, in
  770  which case the maximum is the adopted rate. The maximum millage
  771  rate applicable to a county authorized to levy a county public
  772  hospital surtax under s. 212.055 and which did so in fiscal year
  773  2007 shall exclude the revenues required to be contributed to
  774  the county public general hospital in the current fiscal year
  775  for the purposes of making the maximum millage rate calculation,
  776  but shall be added back to the maximum millage rate allowed
  777  after the roll back has been applied, the total of which shall
  778  be considered the maximum millage rate for such a county for
  779  purposes of this subsection. The revenue required to be
  780  contributed to the county public general hospital for the
  781  upcoming fiscal year shall be calculated as 11.873 percent times
  782  the millage rate levied for countywide purposes in fiscal year
  783  2007 times 95 percent of the preliminary tax roll for the
  784  upcoming fiscal year. A higher rate may be adopted only under
  785  the following conditions:
  786         1. A rate of not more than 110 percent of the rolled-back
  787  rate based on the previous year’s maximum millage rate, adjusted
  788  for change in per capita Florida personal income, may be adopted
  789  if approved by a two-thirds vote of the membership of the
  790  governing body of the county, municipality, or independent
  791  district; or
  792         2. A rate in excess of 110 percent may be adopted if
  793  approved by a unanimous vote of the membership of the governing
  794  body of the county, municipality, or independent district or by
  795  a three-fourths vote of the membership of the governing body if
  796  the governing body has nine or more members, or if the rate is
  797  approved by a referendum.
  798         (b) The millage rate of a county or municipality, municipal
  799  service taxing unit of that county, and any special district
  800  dependent to that county or municipality may exceed the maximum
  801  millage rate calculated pursuant to this subsection if the total
  802  county ad valorem taxes levied or total municipal ad valorem
  803  taxes levied do not exceed the maximum total county ad valorem
  804  taxes levied or maximum total municipal ad valorem taxes levied
  805  respectively. Voted millage and taxes levied by a municipality
  806  or independent special district that has levied ad valorem taxes
  807  for less than 5 years are not subject to this limitation. The
  808  millage rate of a county authorized to levy a county public
  809  hospital surtax under s. 212.055 may exceed the maximum millage
  810  rate calculated pursuant to this subsection to the extent
  811  necessary to account for the revenues required to be contributed
  812  to the county public hospital. Total taxes levied may exceed the
  813  maximum calculated pursuant to subsection (6) as a result of an
  814  increase in taxable value above that certified in subsection (1)
  815  if such increase is less than the percentage amounts contained
  816  in subsection (6) or if the administrative adjustment cannot be
  817  made because the value adjustment board is still in session at
  818  the time the tax roll is extended; otherwise, millage rates
  819  subject to this subsection, s. 200.185, or s. 200.186 may be
  820  reduced so that total taxes levied do not exceed the maximum.
  821  
  822  Any unit of government operating under a home rule charter
  823  adopted pursuant to ss. 10, 11, and 24, Art. VIII of the State
  824  Constitution of 1885, as preserved by s. 6(e), Art. VIII of the
  825  State Constitution of 1968, which is granted the authority in
  826  the State Constitution to exercise all the powers conferred now
  827  or hereafter by general law upon municipalities and which
  828  exercises such powers in the unincorporated area shall be
  829  recognized as a municipality under this subsection. For a
  830  downtown development authority established before the effective
  831  date of the 1968 State Constitution which has a millage that
  832  must be approved by a municipality, the governing body of that
  833  municipality shall be considered the governing body of the
  834  downtown development authority for purposes of this subsection.
  835         (10)(a) In addition to the notice required in subsection
  836  (3), a district school board shall publish a second notice of
  837  intent to levy additional taxes under s. 1011.71(2) or (3). The
  838  Such notice shall specify the projects or number of school buses
  839  anticipated to be funded by the such additional taxes and shall
  840  be published in the size, within the time periods, adjacent to,
  841  and in substantial conformity with the advertisement required
  842  under subsection (3). The projects shall be listed in priority
  843  within each category as follows: construction and remodeling;
  844  maintenance, renovation, and repair; motor vehicle purchases;
  845  new and replacement equipment; payments for educational
  846  facilities and sites due under a lease-purchase agreement;
  847  payments for renting and leasing educational facilities and
  848  sites; payments of loans approved pursuant to ss. 1011.14 and
  849  1011.15; payment of costs of compliance with environmental
  850  statutes and regulations; payment of premiums for property and
  851  casualty insurance necessary to insure the educational and
  852  ancillary plants of the school district; payment of costs of
  853  leasing relocatable educational facilities; and payments to
  854  private entities to offset the cost of school buses pursuant to
  855  s. 1011.71(2)(i). The additional notice shall be in the
  856  following form, except that if the district school board is
  857  proposing to levy the same millage under s. 1011.71(2) or (3)
  858  which it levied in the prior year, the words “continue to” shall
  859  be inserted before the word “impose” in the first sentence, and
  860  except that the second sentence of the second paragraph shall be
  861  deleted if the district is advertising pursuant to paragraph
  862  (3)(e):
  863  
  864                      NOTICE OF TAX FOR SCHOOL                     
  865                           CAPITAL OUTLAY                          
  866  
  867         The ...(name of school district)... will soon consider a
  868  measure to impose a ...(number)... mill property tax for the
  869  capital outlay projects listed herein.
  870         This tax is in addition to the school board’s proposed tax
  871  of ...(number)... mills for operating expenses and is proposed
  872  solely at the discretion of the school board. THE PROPOSED
  873  COMBINED SCHOOL BOARD TAX INCREASE FOR BOTH OPERATING EXPENSES
  874  AND CAPITAL OUTLAY IS SHOWN IN THE ADJACENT NOTICE.
  875         The capital outlay tax will generate approximately
  876  $...(amount)..., to be used for the following projects:
  877  
  878               ...(list of capital outlay projects)...             
  879  
  880         All concerned citizens are invited to a public hearing to
  881  be held on ...(date and time)... at ...(meeting place)....
  882         A DECISION on the proposed CAPITAL OUTLAY TAXES will be
  883  made at this hearing.
  884         Section 30. Effective July 1, 2012, subsection (2) of
  885  section 218.12, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  886         218.12 Appropriations to offset reductions in ad valorem
  887  tax revenue in fiscally constrained counties.—
  888         (2) On or before November 15 of each year, beginning in
  889  2008, each fiscally constrained county shall apply to the
  890  Department of Revenue to participate in the distribution of the
  891  appropriation and provide documentation supporting the county’s
  892  estimated reduction in ad valorem tax revenue in the form and
  893  manner prescribed by the Department of Revenue. The
  894  documentation must include an estimate of the reduction in
  895  taxable value directly attributable to revisions of Art. VII of
  896  the State Constitution for all county taxing jurisdictions
  897  within the county and shall be prepared by the property
  898  appraiser in each fiscally constrained county. The documentation
  899  must also include the county millage rates applicable in all
  900  such jurisdictions for both the current year and the prior year;
  901  rolled-back rates, determined as provided in s. 200.065, for
  902  each county taxing jurisdiction; and maximum millage rates that
  903  could have been levied by majority vote pursuant to s.
  904  200.065(5) s. 200.185. For purposes of this section, each
  905  fiscally constrained county’s reduction in ad valorem tax
  906  revenue shall be calculated as 95 percent of the estimated
  907  reduction in taxable value times the lesser of the 2007
  908  applicable millage rate or the applicable millage rate for each
  909  county taxing jurisdiction in the current prior year. If a
  910  fiscally constrained county fails to apply for the distribution,
  911  its share shall revert to the fund from which the appropriation
  912  was made.
  913         Section 31. Effective July 1, 2012, subsection (2) of
  914  section 218.125, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  915         218.125 Offset for tax loss associated with certain
  916  constitutional amendments affecting fiscally constrained
  917  counties.—
  918         (2) On or before November 15 of each year, beginning in
  919  2010, each fiscally constrained county shall apply to the
  920  Department of Revenue to participate in the distribution of the
  921  appropriation and provide documentation supporting the county’s
  922  estimated reduction in ad valorem tax revenue in the form and
  923  manner prescribed by the Department of Revenue. The
  924  documentation must include an estimate of the reduction in
  925  taxable value directly attributable to revisions of Art. VII of
  926  the State Constitution for all county taxing jurisdictions
  927  within the county and shall be prepared by the property
  928  appraiser in each fiscally constrained county. The documentation
  929  must also include the county millage rates applicable in all
  930  such jurisdictions for the current year and the prior year,
  931  rolled-back rates determined as provided in s. 200.065 for each
  932  county taxing jurisdiction, and maximum millage rates that could
  933  have been levied by majority vote pursuant to s. 200.065(5)
  934  200.185. For purposes of this section, each fiscally constrained
  935  county’s reduction in ad valorem tax revenue shall be calculated
  936  as 95 percent of the estimated reduction in taxable value
  937  multiplied by the lesser of the 2010 applicable millage rate or
  938  the applicable millage rate for each county taxing jurisdiction
  939  in the current prior year. If a fiscally constrained county
  940  fails to apply for the distribution, its share shall revert to
  941  the fund from which the appropriation was made.
  942         Section 32. Notwithstanding the application deadline in s.
  943  196.173(5), Florida Statutes, the deadline for an eligible
  944  servicemember to file a claim for an additional ad valorem tax
  945  exemption for a qualifying deployment during the 2011 calendar
  946  year is June 1, 2012. Any applicant who seeks to claim the
  947  additional exemption and who fails to file an application by
  948  June 1 must file an application for the exemption with the
  949  property appraiser on or before the 25th day after the mailing
  950  by the property appraiser of the notices required under s.
  951  194.011(1), Florida Statutes. Upon receipt of sufficient
  952  evidence, as determined by the property appraiser, which
  953  demonstrates that the applicant was unable to apply for the
  954  exemption in a timely manner or otherwise demonstrating
  955  extenuating circumstances judged by the property appraiser to
  956  warrant granting the exemption, the property appraiser may grant
  957  the exemption. If the applicant fails to produce sufficient
  958  evidence demonstrating that the applicant was unable to apply
  959  for the exemption in a timely manner or otherwise demonstrating
  960  extenuating circumstances as judged by the property appraiser,
  961  the applicant may file, pursuant to s. 194.011(3), Florida
  962  Statutes, a petition with the value adjustment board which
  963  requests that the exemption be granted. Such petition must be
  964  filed during the taxable year on or before the 25th day after
  965  the mailing of the notice by the property appraiser as provided
  966  in s. 194.011(1), Florida Statutes. Notwithstanding s. 194.013,
  967  Florida Statutes, the applicant is not required to pay a filing
  968  fee for such petition. Upon reviewing the petition, if the
  969  applicant is qualified to receive the exemption and demonstrates
  970  particular extenuating circumstances as judged by the value
  971  adjustment board to warrant granting the exemption, the value
  972  adjustment board may grant the exemption for the current year.
  973         Section 33. Sections 24, 25, 26, and 32 of this act shall
  974  take effect upon this act becoming a law and shall first apply
  975  to ad valorem tax rolls for 2012.
  976         Section 34. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
  977  act, this act shall take effect upon becoming a law.
  978  
  979  ================= T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================
  980         And the title is amended as follows:
  981         Delete everything before the enacting clause
  982  and insert:
  983                        A bill to be entitled                      
  984         An act relating to the administration of property
  985         taxes; amending s. 192.001, F.S.; revising the
  986         definitions of the terms “assessed value of property”
  987         and “complete submission of the rolls”; amending s.
  988         192.0105, F.S.; providing that a taxpayer has a right
  989         to have a hearing before the value adjustment board
  990         rescheduled if the hearing is not commenced within a
  991         certain period after the scheduled time; repealing s.
  992         192.117, F.S., relating to the Property Tax
  993         Administration Task Force; amending s. 193.114, F.S.;
  994         revising the information that must be included on a
  995         real property assessment roll relating to the transfer
  996         of ownership of property; defining the term “ownership
  997         transfer date”; deleting a requirement to include
  998         information relating to a fiduciary on a real property
  999         assessment roll; limiting the review of changes in the
 1000         assessed value of real property resulting from an
 1001         informal conference with the taxpayer to a review by
 1002         the Department of Revenue or a designated entity;
 1003         amending s. 193.155, F.S.; providing for designation
 1004         of the ownership share to be attributed to certain
 1005         persons who abandon a homestead property for purposes
 1006         of determining the assessed value of a newly
 1007         established homestead under certain circumstances;
 1008         amending s. 193.1554, F.S.; deleting obsolete
 1009         provisions; providing for the apportionment of
 1010         increases in the value of combined and divided parcels
 1011         of nonhomestead residential property; providing for
 1012         the application of an assessment limitation to a
 1013         combined or divided parcel of nonhomestead residential
 1014         property; amending s. 193.1555, F.S.; redefining the
 1015         term “nonresidential real property” to conform a
 1016         cross-reference to the State Constitution; deleting
 1017         obsolete provisions; providing for the apportionment
 1018         of increases in the value of combined and divided
 1019         parcels of property; providing for the application of
 1020         an assessment limitation to a combined or divided
 1021         parcel of property; amending ss. 193.501, 193.503, and
 1022         193.505, F.S.; deleting provisions requiring that the
 1023         tax collector report amounts of deferred tax liability
 1024         to the Department of Revenue; amending s. 194.032,
 1025         F.S.; requiring that certain information be included
 1026         in, or provided along with, the notice provided to a
 1027         petitioner concerning the time scheduled for an
 1028         appearance before a value adjustment board; requiring
 1029         that a hearing before the value adjustment board be
 1030         rescheduled if the hearing on the petitioner’s
 1031         petition is not commenced within a certain time after
 1032         the scheduled time; making technical and grammatical
 1033         changes; amending s. 194.034, F.S.; deleting an
 1034         exception to a requirement that a value adjustment
 1035         board render a written decision relating to the
 1036         petitioner’s failure to make a required payment;
 1037         deleting a requirement that the Department of Revenue
 1038         be notified of decisions by the value adjustment
 1039         board; requiring that the clerk notify the Department
 1040         of Revenue of a decision of the value adjustment board
 1041         or information relating to the tax impact of the
 1042         decision upon request; making technical and
 1043         grammatical changes; amending s. 195.072, F.S.;
 1044         requiring the department to provide certain assistance
 1045         in investigations of property appraisers; amending s.
 1046         195.096, F.S.; authorizing the measures in the
 1047         findings resulting from an in-depth review of an
 1048         assessment roll of a county to be based on a ratio
 1049         that is generally accepted by professional appraisal
 1050         organizations in developing a statistically valid
 1051         sampling plan under certain circumstances; revising
 1052         the requirements for the Department of Revenue to
 1053         provide certain information concerning its review of
 1054         assessment rolls to the Legislature, the appropriate
 1055         property appraiser, and county commissions; requiring
 1056         that copies of the review data and findings be
 1057         provided upon request; repealing s. 195.0985, F.S.,
 1058         relating to a requirement that the department publish
 1059         annual ratio studies; amending s. 195.099, F.S.;
 1060         allowing the department discretion in determining
 1061         whether to review the assessments of certain
 1062         businesses; amending s. 196.031, F.S.; specifying the
 1063         order in which homestead exemptions from ad valorem
 1064         taxation are applied; amending s. 196.061, F.S.;
 1065         clarifying provisions relating to the rental of a
 1066         homestead dwelling; amending s. 196.081, F.S.;
 1067         authorizing an applicant for an ad valorem tax
 1068         exemption for a disabled veteran or for a surviving
 1069         spouse to apply for the exemption before receiving
 1070         certain documentation from the Federal Government;
 1071         requiring refunds of excess taxes paid under certain
 1072         circumstances; amending s. 196.082, F.S.; authorizing
 1073         an applicant for an ad valorem tax discount available
 1074         to disabled veterans to apply for the discount before
 1075         receiving certain documentation from the Federal
 1076         Government; requiring refunds of excess taxes paid
 1077         under certain circumstances; amending s. 196.091,
 1078         F.S.; authorizing an applicant for an ad valorem tax
 1079         exemption for disabled veterans confined to a
 1080         wheelchair to apply for the exemption before receiving
 1081         certain documentation from the Federal Government;
 1082         requiring refunds of excess taxes paid under certain
 1083         circumstances; amending s. 196.101, F.S.; authorizing
 1084         an applicant for an ad valorem tax exemption for
 1085         totally and permanently disabled persons to apply for
 1086         the exemption before receiving certain documentation
 1087         from the Federal Government; requiring refunds of
 1088         excess taxes paid under certain circumstances;
 1089         amending s. 196.121, F.S.; authorizing the Department
 1090         of Revenue to provide certain forms electronically;
 1091         deleting a requirement that the department supply
 1092         printed forms to property appraisers; amending s.
 1093         196.173, F.S.; authorizing servicemembers who receive
 1094         a homestead exemption and who are deployed in certain
 1095         military operations to receive an additional ad
 1096         valorem tax exemption; amending s. 196.198, F.S.;
 1097         providing an exemption from ad valorem taxation for
 1098         certain property used for educational purposes;
 1099         amending s. 196.199, F.S.; providing that property of
 1100         a municipality is exempt from ad valorem taxation
 1101         under specified circumstances; amending s. 196.202,
 1102         F.S.; authorizing an applicant for an ad valorem
 1103         exemption for widows, widowers, blind persons, or
 1104         persons who are totally and permanently disabled to
 1105         apply for the exemption before receiving certain
 1106         documentation from the Federal Government; requiring
 1107         refunds of excess taxes paid under certain
 1108         circumstances; amending s. 196.24, F.S.; authorizing
 1109         an applicant for an ad valorem tax exemption for
 1110         disabled ex-servicemembers or a surviving spouse to
 1111         apply for the exemption before receiving certain
 1112         documentation from the Federal Government; requiring
 1113         refunds of excess taxes paid under certain
 1114         circumstances; amending s. 200.065, F.S.; deleting
 1115         obsolete provisions; revising provisions relating to
 1116         the calculation of the rolled-back rate; correcting
 1117         cross-references to certain additional taxes; amending
 1118         ss. 218.12 and 218.125, F.S.; deleting obsolete
 1119         provisions; providing for the reversion of funds
 1120         appropriated to offset reductions in ad valorem tax
 1121         revenue to a fiscally constrained county if the county
 1122         fails to apply for a distribution of funds; providing
 1123         a deadline for claiming tax exemptions for qualifying
 1124         military deployments during the 2011 calendar year;
 1125         providing procedures and requirements for filing
 1126         applications and petitions to receive the tax
 1127         exemption after the deadline; providing for
 1128         retroactive applicability with respect to specified
 1129         provisions of the act; providing effective dates.