AN ACT

RELATING TO PROPERTY TAXES; CHANGING THE PERIOD FOR CLAIMING PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS; AMENDING A SECTION OF THE NMSA 1978; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1. Section 7-38-17 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1973, Chapter 258, Section 57, as amended) is amended to read:

"7-38-17. CLAIMING EXEMPTIONS--REQUIREMENTS--PENALTIES.--

A. Subject to the requirements of Subsection E of this section, head-of-family exemptions claimed and allowed in the 1974 or a subsequent tax year, veteran exemptions claimed and allowed in the 1982 or a subsequent tax year or disabled veteran exemptions claimed and allowed in the 2000 or a subsequent tax year need not be claimed for subsequent tax years if there is no change in eligibility for the exemption nor any change in ownership of the property against which the exemption was claimed. Head-of-family and veteran exemptions allowable under this subsection shall be applied automatically by county assessors in the subsequent tax years.

B. Beginning with the 1983 tax year, other exemptions of real property specified under Section 7-36-7 NMSA 1978 for nongovernmental entities shall be claimed in order to be allowed. Once such exemptions are claimed and allowed for a tax year, they need not be claimed for subsequent tax years if there is no change in eligibility. Exemptions allowable under this subsection shall be applied automatically by county assessors in subsequent tax years.

C. An exemption required to be claimed under this section shall be applied for no later than thirty days after the mailing of the county assessors' notices of valuation pursuant to Section 7-38-20 NMSA 1978 in order for it to be allowed for that tax year.

D. A person who has had an exemption applied to a tax year and subsequently becomes ineligible for the exemption because of a change in the person's status or a change in the ownership of the property against which the exemption was applied shall notify the county assessor of the loss of eligibility for the exemption by the last day of February of the tax year immediately following the year in which loss of eligibility occurs.

E. Exemptions may be claimed by filing proof of eligibility for the exemption with the county assessor. The proof shall be in a form prescribed by regulation of the department. Procedures for determining eligibility of claimants for any exemption shall be prescribed by regulation of the department, and these regulations shall include provisions for requiring the New Mexico veterans' service commission to issue certificates of eligibility for veteran exemptions in a form and with the information required by the department. The regulations shall also include verification procedures to assure that veteran exemptions in excess of the amount authorized under Section 7-37-5 NMSA 1978 are not allowed as a result of multiple claiming in more than one county or claiming against more than one property in a single tax year.

F. The department shall consult and cooperate with the New Mexico veterans' service commission in the development and promulgation of regulations under Subsection E of this section. The commission shall comply with the promulgated regulations. The commission shall collect a fee of five dollars ($5.00) for the issuance of a duplicate certificate of eligibility to a veteran.

G. A person who violates the provisions of this section by intentionally claiming and receiving the benefit of an exemption to which he is not entitled or who fails to comply with the provisions of Subsection D of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000). A county assessor or his employee who knowingly permits a claimant for an exemption to receive the benefit of an exemption to which he is not entitled is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) and shall also be automatically removed from office or dismissed from employment upon conviction under this subsection."

Section 2. APPLICABILITY.--The provisions of this act apply to property tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2003.

Section 3. EMERGENCY.--It is necessary for the public peace, health and safety that this act take effect immediately.

HB 300

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