OFFICE OF FISCAL ANALYSIS Legislative Office Building, Room 5200 Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 240-0200 http://www.cga.ct.gov/ofa HB-6458 AN ACT LOWERING THE AGE OF ELIGIBILITY FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR SENIOR CITIZENS. As Amended by House "A" (LCO 9371) House Calendar No.: 298 Primary Analyst: DC 5/28/21 Contributing Analyst(s): OFA Fiscal Note State Impact: None Municipal Impact: None Explanation The bill expands eligibility for a local option tax freeze for certain low-income elderly homeowners. This shifts any increase in property taxes away from program beneficiaries and towards other property taxpayers. The freeze precludes recipients from paying any increase in property taxes beyond the amount paid during their first year of eligibility. It is estimated that, between FY 16 and FY 20, the average tax bill increased by approximately $225 annually. The bill establishes a ten-member task force to study ways to protect senior citizens from fraud. Such study shall include, but need not be limited to, an examination of whether persons offering planning advice to Medicaid applicants should be required to be elder law attorneys admitted to the bar. Not later than January 1, 2022, the task force shall submit a report on its findings and recommendations to the aging and human services committees. The task force shall terminate on the date it submits such report or January 1, 2022, whichever is later. 2021HB-06458-R01-FN.DOCX Page 2 of 2 House "A" establishes a ten-member task force to study ways to protect senior citizens from fraud. This has no fiscal impact. The Out Years State Impact: None Municipal Impact: None