MARVIN MANDEL, Governor

2005

article.]

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That new
Section 12F—2 be and it is hereby added to Article 81 —
Revenue and Taxes, of the Annotated Code of Maryland
(1975 Replacement Volume and 1975 Supplement) to read as
follows:

Article 81 — Revenue and Taxes

12F-2.

(A)         IT IS THE INTENTION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN
ADOPTING THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION THAT ALL ELDERLY
OR DISABLED TAXPAYERS WHO RECEIVED A TAX CREDIT UNDER THE
PROVISIONS OF ANY LAW, WHICH WAS IN EFFECT FOR THE
1974-1975 TAXABLE YEAR AND WHICH HAS BEEN SUBSEQUENTLY
REPEALED, SHALL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE IN THE 1975-1976 AND
SUBSEQUENT TAXABLE YEARS THE BENEFITS OF THESE REPEALED
LAWS. IT IS THE FURTHER INTENTION OF THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY IN ADOPTING THE PROGRAM AUTHORIZED BY SECTION
12F-1 OF THIS ARTICLE TO CONTINUE THE FULLEST EXTENT OF
ALL OF THE BENEFITS OF THESE REPEALED LAWS AS A PART OF
THE SECTION 12F-1 PROGRAM, IN ORDER NOT TO CAUSE A
FINANCIAL LOSS TO ANY TAXPAYERS WHO MIGHT RECEIVE LESSER
BENEFITS UNDER SECTION 12F-1 THAN THEY RECEIVED UNDER THE
REPEALED LAWS IN EFFECT FOR THE 1974-1975 TAXABLE YEAR,
PROVIDED THE TAXPAYER CONTINUES TO HAVE A LEGAL INTEREST
IN THE DWELLING FOR WHICH THE CREDITS WERE GRANTED IN THE
1974-1975 TAXABLE YEAR AND THE TAXPAYER REMAINS QUALIFIED
FOR THE BENEFITS GRANTED BY THE REPEALED LAWS.

(B)          AS USED IN SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION, THE
TERM "FULLEST EXTENT OF ALL OF THE BENEFITS" MEANS THAT A
TAXPAYER, WHO RECEIVED ANY BENEFITS UNDER THE PROVISIONS
OF ANY LAW GOVERNING THE GRANTING OF TAX CREDITS FOR
ELDERLY OR DISABLED PERSONS IN THE TAXABLE YEAR 1974-1975
AND WHO REMAINS QUALIFIED FOR BENEFITS UNDER THESE LAWS
SHALL HAVE HIS PROPERTY TAXES CALCULATED IN THE 1975-1976
TAXABLE YEAR AND IN ANY SUBSEQUENT TAXABLE YEAR BOTH
UNDER THE LAWS IN EFFECT IN THE 1974-1975 TAXABLE YEAR
AND UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 12F-1 OR SECTION
12F-3 OF THIS ARTICLE; WHICHEVER IS APPLICABLE.         THE
TAXPAYER SHALL RECEIVE BENEFITS UNDER THAT LAW WHICH
PROVIDES THE GREATER AMOUNT OF BENEFITS TO THE TAXPAYER.

(C)         THE COST OF ANY BENEFITS PROVIDED TO AN
ELDERLY TAXPAYER UNDER THIS SECTION IN EXCESS OF THOSE
WHICH THE STATE IS REQUIRED TO PAY UNDER SECTION 12F-1
AND THE COST OF ANY BENEFITS PROVIDED TO A DISABLED
TAXPAYER UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY
OF THE COUNTIES, BALTIMORE CITY, OR ANY MUNICIPALITIES,
AS REQUIRED.

SECTION 3.         AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That,

notwithstanding any provisions of law to the contrary,
and with respect to the amount of property taxes due in