103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB3535 Introduced 2/17/2023, by Rep. Jed Davis SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 35 ILCS 200/15-172 Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for the purposes of the Low-Income Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption, the maximum income limitation does not include any required minimum distributions from an individual retirement account or other retirement account. Effective immediately. LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b A BILL FOR 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB3535 Introduced 2/17/2023, by Rep. Jed Davis SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 35 ILCS 200/15-172 35 ILCS 200/15-172 Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for the purposes of the Low-Income Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption, the maximum income limitation does not include any required minimum distributions from an individual retirement account or other retirement account. Effective immediately. LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b A BILL FOR 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB3535 Introduced 2/17/2023, by Rep. Jed Davis SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 35 ILCS 200/15-172 35 ILCS 200/15-172 35 ILCS 200/15-172 Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for the purposes of the Low-Income Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption, the maximum income limitation does not include any required minimum distributions from an individual retirement account or other retirement account. Effective immediately. LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b A BILL FOR HB3535LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535 LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535 LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b 1 AN ACT concerning revenue. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The Property Tax Code is amended by changing 5 Section 15-172 as follows: 6 (35 ILCS 200/15-172) 7 Sec. 15-172. Low-Income Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze 8 Homestead Exemption. 9 (a) This Section may be cited as the Low-Income Senior 10 Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption. 11 (b) As used in this Section: 12 "Applicant" means an individual who has filed an 13 application under this Section. 14 "Base amount" means the base year equalized assessed value 15 of the residence plus the first year's equalized assessed 16 value of any added improvements which increased the assessed 17 value of the residence after the base year. 18 "Base year" means the taxable year prior to the taxable 19 year for which the applicant first qualifies and applies for 20 the exemption provided that in the prior taxable year the 21 property was improved with a permanent structure that was 22 occupied as a residence by the applicant who was liable for 23 paying real property taxes on the property and who was either 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB3535 Introduced 2/17/2023, by Rep. Jed Davis SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 35 ILCS 200/15-172 35 ILCS 200/15-172 35 ILCS 200/15-172 Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, for the purposes of the Low-Income Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption, the maximum income limitation does not include any required minimum distributions from an individual retirement account or other retirement account. Effective immediately. LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b A BILL FOR 35 ILCS 200/15-172 LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535 LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535- 2 -LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535 - 2 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535 - 2 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b 1 (i) an owner of record of the property or had legal or 2 equitable interest in the property as evidenced by a written 3 instrument or (ii) had a legal or equitable interest as a 4 lessee in the parcel of property that was single family 5 residence. If in any subsequent taxable year for which the 6 applicant applies and qualifies for the exemption the 7 equalized assessed value of the residence is less than the 8 equalized assessed value in the existing base year (provided 9 that such equalized assessed value is not based on an assessed 10 value that results from a temporary irregularity in the 11 property that reduces the assessed value for one or more 12 taxable years), then that subsequent taxable year shall become 13 the base year until a new base year is established under the 14 terms of this paragraph. For taxable year 1999 only, the Chief 15 County Assessment Officer shall review (i) all taxable years 16 for which the applicant applied and qualified for the 17 exemption and (ii) the existing base year. The assessment 18 officer shall select as the new base year the year with the 19 lowest equalized assessed value. An equalized assessed value 20 that is based on an assessed value that results from a 21 temporary irregularity in the property that reduces the 22 assessed value for one or more taxable years shall not be 23 considered the lowest equalized assessed value. The selected 24 year shall be the base year for taxable year 1999 and 25 thereafter until a new base year is established under the 26 terms of this paragraph. HB3535 - 2 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535- 3 -LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535 - 3 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535 - 3 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b 1 "Chief County Assessment Officer" means the County 2 Assessor or Supervisor of Assessments of the county in which 3 the property is located. 4 "Equalized assessed value" means the assessed value as 5 equalized by the Illinois Department of Revenue. 6 "Household" means the applicant, the spouse of the 7 applicant, and all persons using the residence of the 8 applicant as their principal place of residence. 9 "Household income" means the combined income of the 10 members of a household for the calendar year preceding the 11 taxable year. 12 "Income" has the same meaning as provided in Section 3.07 13 of the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property 14 Tax Relief Act, except that, beginning in assessment year 15 2001, "income" does not include veteran's benefits, and, 16 beginning in assessment year 2024, "income" does not include 17 any required minimum distributions from an individual 18 retirement account or other retirement account.. 19 "Internal Revenue Code of 1986" means the United States 20 Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or any successor law or laws 21 relating to federal income taxes in effect for the year 22 preceding the taxable year. 23 "Life care facility that qualifies as a cooperative" means 24 a facility as defined in Section 2 of the Life Care Facilities 25 Act. 26 "Maximum income limitation" means: HB3535 - 3 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535- 4 -LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535 - 4 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535 - 4 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b 1 (1) $35,000 prior to taxable year 1999; 2 (2) $40,000 in taxable years 1999 through 2003; 3 (3) $45,000 in taxable years 2004 through 2005; 4 (4) $50,000 in taxable years 2006 and 2007; 5 (5) $55,000 in taxable years 2008 through 2016; 6 (6) for taxable year 2017, (i) $65,000 for qualified 7 property located in a county with 3,000,000 or more 8 inhabitants and (ii) $55,000 for qualified property 9 located in a county with fewer than 3,000,000 inhabitants; 10 and 11 (7) for taxable years 2018 and thereafter, $65,000 for 12 all qualified property. 13 As an alternative income valuation, a homeowner who is 14 enrolled in any of the following programs may be presumed to 15 have household income that does not exceed the maximum income 16 limitation for that tax year as required by this Section: Aid 17 to the Aged, Blind or Disabled (AABD) Program or the 18 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), both of 19 which are administered by the Department of Human Services; 20 the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which 21 is administered by the Department of Commerce and Economic 22 Opportunity; The Benefit Access program, which is administered 23 by the Department on Aging; and the Senior Citizens Real 24 Estate Tax Deferral Program. 25 A chief county assessment officer may indicate that he or 26 she has verified an applicant's income eligibility for this HB3535 - 4 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535- 5 -LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535 - 5 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535 - 5 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b 1 exemption but may not report which program or programs, if 2 any, enroll the applicant. Release of personal information 3 submitted pursuant to this Section shall be deemed an 4 unwarranted invasion of personal privacy under the Freedom of 5 Information Act. 6 "Residence" means the principal dwelling place and 7 appurtenant structures used for residential purposes in this 8 State occupied on January 1 of the taxable year by a household 9 and so much of the surrounding land, constituting the parcel 10 upon which the dwelling place is situated, as is used for 11 residential purposes. If the Chief County Assessment Officer 12 has established a specific legal description for a portion of 13 property constituting the residence, then that portion of 14 property shall be deemed the residence for the purposes of 15 this Section. 16 "Taxable year" means the calendar year during which ad 17 valorem property taxes payable in the next succeeding year are 18 levied. 19 (c) Beginning in taxable year 1994, a low-income senior 20 citizens assessment freeze homestead exemption is granted for 21 real property that is improved with a permanent structure that 22 is occupied as a residence by an applicant who (i) is 65 years 23 of age or older during the taxable year, (ii) has a household 24 income that does not exceed the maximum income limitation, 25 (iii) is liable for paying real property taxes on the 26 property, and (iv) is an owner of record of the property or has HB3535 - 5 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535- 6 -LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535 - 6 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535 - 6 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b 1 a legal or equitable interest in the property as evidenced by a 2 written instrument. This homestead exemption shall also apply 3 to a leasehold interest in a parcel of property improved with a 4 permanent structure that is a single family residence that is 5 occupied as a residence by a person who (i) is 65 years of age 6 or older during the taxable year, (ii) has a household income 7 that does not exceed the maximum income limitation, (iii) has 8 a legal or equitable ownership interest in the property as 9 lessee, and (iv) is liable for the payment of real property 10 taxes on that property. 11 In counties of 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, the amount 12 of the exemption for all taxable years is the equalized 13 assessed value of the residence in the taxable year for which 14 application is made minus the base amount. In all other 15 counties, the amount of the exemption is as follows: (i) 16 through taxable year 2005 and for taxable year 2007 and 17 thereafter, the amount of this exemption shall be the 18 equalized assessed value of the residence in the taxable year 19 for which application is made minus the base amount; and (ii) 20 for taxable year 2006, the amount of the exemption is as 21 follows: 22 (1) For an applicant who has a household income of 23 $45,000 or less, the amount of the exemption is the 24 equalized assessed value of the residence in the taxable 25 year for which application is made minus the base amount. 26 (2) For an applicant who has a household income HB3535 - 6 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535- 7 -LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535 - 7 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535 - 7 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b 1 exceeding $45,000 but not exceeding $46,250, the amount of 2 the exemption is (i) the equalized assessed value of the 3 residence in the taxable year for which application is 4 made minus the base amount (ii) multiplied by 0.8. 5 (3) For an applicant who has a household income 6 exceeding $46,250 but not exceeding $47,500, the amount of 7 the exemption is (i) the equalized assessed value of the 8 residence in the taxable year for which application is 9 made minus the base amount (ii) multiplied by 0.6. 10 (4) For an applicant who has a household income 11 exceeding $47,500 but not exceeding $48,750, the amount of 12 the exemption is (i) the equalized assessed value of the 13 residence in the taxable year for which application is 14 made minus the base amount (ii) multiplied by 0.4. 15 (5) For an applicant who has a household income 16 exceeding $48,750 but not exceeding $50,000, the amount of 17 the exemption is (i) the equalized assessed value of the 18 residence in the taxable year for which application is 19 made minus the base amount (ii) multiplied by 0.2. 20 When the applicant is a surviving spouse of an applicant 21 for a prior year for the same residence for which an exemption 22 under this Section has been granted, the base year and base 23 amount for that residence are the same as for the applicant for 24 the prior year. 25 Each year at the time the assessment books are certified 26 to the County Clerk, the Board of Review or Board of Appeals HB3535 - 7 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535- 8 -LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535 - 8 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535 - 8 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b 1 shall give to the County Clerk a list of the assessed values of 2 improvements on each parcel qualifying for this exemption that 3 were added after the base year for this parcel and that 4 increased the assessed value of the property. 5 In the case of land improved with an apartment building 6 owned and operated as a cooperative or a building that is a 7 life care facility that qualifies as a cooperative, the 8 maximum reduction from the equalized assessed value of the 9 property is limited to the sum of the reductions calculated 10 for each unit occupied as a residence by a person or persons 11 (i) 65 years of age or older, (ii) with a household income that 12 does not exceed the maximum income limitation, (iii) who is 13 liable, by contract with the owner or owners of record, for 14 paying real property taxes on the property, and (iv) who is an 15 owner of record of a legal or equitable interest in the 16 cooperative apartment building, other than a leasehold 17 interest. In the instance of a cooperative where a homestead 18 exemption has been granted under this Section, the cooperative 19 association or its management firm shall credit the savings 20 resulting from that exemption only to the apportioned tax 21 liability of the owner who qualified for the exemption. Any 22 person who willfully refuses to credit that savings to an 23 owner who qualifies for the exemption is guilty of a Class B 24 misdemeanor. 25 When a homestead exemption has been granted under this 26 Section and an applicant then becomes a resident of a facility HB3535 - 8 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535- 9 -LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535 - 9 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535 - 9 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b 1 licensed under the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act, the 2 Nursing Home Care Act, the Specialized Mental Health 3 Rehabilitation Act of 2013, the ID/DD Community Care Act, or 4 the MC/DD Act, the exemption shall be granted in subsequent 5 years so long as the residence (i) continues to be occupied by 6 the qualified applicant's spouse or (ii) if remaining 7 unoccupied, is still owned by the qualified applicant for the 8 homestead exemption. 9 Beginning January 1, 1997, when an individual dies who 10 would have qualified for an exemption under this Section, and 11 the surviving spouse does not independently qualify for this 12 exemption because of age, the exemption under this Section 13 shall be granted to the surviving spouse for the taxable year 14 preceding and the taxable year of the death, provided that, 15 except for age, the surviving spouse meets all other 16 qualifications for the granting of this exemption for those 17 years. 18 When married persons maintain separate residences, the 19 exemption provided for in this Section may be claimed by only 20 one of such persons and for only one residence. 21 For taxable year 1994 only, in counties having less than 22 3,000,000 inhabitants, to receive the exemption, a person 23 shall submit an application by February 15, 1995 to the Chief 24 County Assessment Officer of the county in which the property 25 is located. In counties having 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, 26 for taxable year 1994 and all subsequent taxable years, to HB3535 - 9 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535- 10 -LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535 - 10 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535 - 10 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b 1 receive the exemption, a person may submit an application to 2 the Chief County Assessment Officer of the county in which the 3 property is located during such period as may be specified by 4 the Chief County Assessment Officer. The Chief County 5 Assessment Officer in counties of 3,000,000 or more 6 inhabitants shall annually give notice of the application 7 period by mail or by publication. In counties having less than 8 3,000,000 inhabitants, beginning with taxable year 1995 and 9 thereafter, to receive the exemption, a person shall submit an 10 application by July 1 of each taxable year to the Chief County 11 Assessment Officer of the county in which the property is 12 located. A county may, by ordinance, establish a date for 13 submission of applications that is different than July 1. The 14 applicant shall submit with the application an affidavit of 15 the applicant's total household income, age, marital status 16 (and if married the name and address of the applicant's 17 spouse, if known), and principal dwelling place of members of 18 the household on January 1 of the taxable year. The Department 19 shall establish, by rule, a method for verifying the accuracy 20 of affidavits filed by applicants under this Section, and the 21 Chief County Assessment Officer may conduct audits of any 22 taxpayer claiming an exemption under this Section to verify 23 that the taxpayer is eligible to receive the exemption. Each 24 application shall contain or be verified by a written 25 declaration that it is made under the penalties of perjury. A 26 taxpayer's signing a fraudulent application under this Act is HB3535 - 10 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535- 11 -LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535 - 11 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535 - 11 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b 1 perjury, as defined in Section 32-2 of the Criminal Code of 2 2012. The applications shall be clearly marked as applications 3 for the Low-Income Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead 4 Exemption and must contain a notice that any taxpayer who 5 receives the exemption is subject to an audit by the Chief 6 County Assessment Officer. 7 Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, in 8 counties having fewer than 3,000,000 inhabitants, if an 9 applicant fails to file the application required by this 10 Section in a timely manner and this failure to file is due to a 11 mental or physical condition sufficiently severe so as to 12 render the applicant incapable of filing the application in a 13 timely manner, the Chief County Assessment Officer may extend 14 the filing deadline for a period of 30 days after the applicant 15 regains the capability to file the application, but in no case 16 may the filing deadline be extended beyond 3 months of the 17 original filing deadline. In order to receive the extension 18 provided in this paragraph, the applicant shall provide the 19 Chief County Assessment Officer with a signed statement from 20 the applicant's physician, advanced practice registered nurse, 21 or physician assistant stating the nature and extent of the 22 condition, that, in the physician's, advanced practice 23 registered nurse's, or physician assistant's opinion, the 24 condition was so severe that it rendered the applicant 25 incapable of filing the application in a timely manner, and 26 the date on which the applicant regained the capability to HB3535 - 11 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535- 12 -LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535 - 12 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535 - 12 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b 1 file the application. 2 Beginning January 1, 1998, notwithstanding any other 3 provision to the contrary, in counties having fewer than 4 3,000,000 inhabitants, if an applicant fails to file the 5 application required by this Section in a timely manner and 6 this failure to file is due to a mental or physical condition 7 sufficiently severe so as to render the applicant incapable of 8 filing the application in a timely manner, the Chief County 9 Assessment Officer may extend the filing deadline for a period 10 of 3 months. In order to receive the extension provided in this 11 paragraph, the applicant shall provide the Chief County 12 Assessment Officer with a signed statement from the 13 applicant's physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or 14 physician assistant stating the nature and extent of the 15 condition, and that, in the physician's, advanced practice 16 registered nurse's, or physician assistant's opinion, the 17 condition was so severe that it rendered the applicant 18 incapable of filing the application in a timely manner. 19 In counties having less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, if an 20 applicant was denied an exemption in taxable year 1994 and the 21 denial occurred due to an error on the part of an assessment 22 official, or his or her agent or employee, then beginning in 23 taxable year 1997 the applicant's base year, for purposes of 24 determining the amount of the exemption, shall be 1993 rather 25 than 1994. In addition, in taxable year 1997, the applicant's 26 exemption shall also include an amount equal to (i) the amount HB3535 - 12 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535- 13 -LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535 - 13 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535 - 13 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b 1 of any exemption denied to the applicant in taxable year 1995 2 as a result of using 1994, rather than 1993, as the base year, 3 (ii) the amount of any exemption denied to the applicant in 4 taxable year 1996 as a result of using 1994, rather than 1993, 5 as the base year, and (iii) the amount of the exemption 6 erroneously denied for taxable year 1994. 7 For purposes of this Section, a person who will be 65 years 8 of age during the current taxable year shall be eligible to 9 apply for the homestead exemption during that taxable year. 10 Application shall be made during the application period in 11 effect for the county of his or her residence. 12 The Chief County Assessment Officer may determine the 13 eligibility of a life care facility that qualifies as a 14 cooperative to receive the benefits provided by this Section 15 by use of an affidavit, application, visual inspection, 16 questionnaire, or other reasonable method in order to insure 17 that the tax savings resulting from the exemption are credited 18 by the management firm to the apportioned tax liability of 19 each qualifying resident. The Chief County Assessment Officer 20 may request reasonable proof that the management firm has so 21 credited that exemption. 22 Except as provided in this Section, all information 23 received by the chief county assessment officer or the 24 Department from applications filed under this Section, or from 25 any investigation conducted under the provisions of this 26 Section, shall be confidential, except for official purposes HB3535 - 13 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535- 14 -LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535 - 14 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535 - 14 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b 1 or pursuant to official procedures for collection of any State 2 or local tax or enforcement of any civil or criminal penalty or 3 sanction imposed by this Act or by any statute or ordinance 4 imposing a State or local tax. Any person who divulges any such 5 information in any manner, except in accordance with a proper 6 judicial order, is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. 7 Nothing contained in this Section shall prevent the 8 Director or chief county assessment officer from publishing or 9 making available reasonable statistics concerning the 10 operation of the exemption contained in this Section in which 11 the contents of claims are grouped into aggregates in such a 12 way that information contained in any individual claim shall 13 not be disclosed. 14 Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for taxable 15 year 2017 and thereafter, in counties of 3,000,000 or more 16 inhabitants, the amount of the exemption shall be the greater 17 of (i) the amount of the exemption otherwise calculated under 18 this Section or (ii) $2,000. 19 (c-5) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, each 20 chief county assessment officer may approve this exemption for 21 the 2020 taxable year, without application, for any property 22 that was approved for this exemption for the 2019 taxable 23 year, provided that: 24 (1) the county board has declared a local disaster as 25 provided in the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act 26 related to the COVID-19 public health emergency; HB3535 - 14 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535- 15 -LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535 - 15 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535 - 15 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b 1 (2) the owner of record of the property as of January 2 1, 2020 is the same as the owner of record of the property 3 as of January 1, 2019; 4 (3) the exemption for the 2019 taxable year has not 5 been determined to be an erroneous exemption as defined by 6 this Code; and 7 (4) the applicant for the 2019 taxable year has not 8 asked for the exemption to be removed for the 2019 or 2020 9 taxable years. 10 Nothing in this subsection shall preclude or impair the 11 authority of a chief county assessment officer to conduct 12 audits of any taxpayer claiming an exemption under this 13 Section to verify that the taxpayer is eligible to receive the 14 exemption as provided elsewhere in this Section. 15 (c-10) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, each 16 chief county assessment officer may approve this exemption for 17 the 2021 taxable year, without application, for any property 18 that was approved for this exemption for the 2020 taxable 19 year, if: 20 (1) the county board has declared a local disaster as 21 provided in the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act 22 related to the COVID-19 public health emergency; 23 (2) the owner of record of the property as of January 24 1, 2021 is the same as the owner of record of the property 25 as of January 1, 2020; 26 (3) the exemption for the 2020 taxable year has not HB3535 - 15 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535- 16 -LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535 - 16 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b HB3535 - 16 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b 1 been determined to be an erroneous exemption as defined by 2 this Code; and 3 (4) the taxpayer for the 2020 taxable year has not 4 asked for the exemption to be removed for the 2020 or 2021 5 taxable years. 6 Nothing in this subsection shall preclude or impair the 7 authority of a chief county assessment officer to conduct 8 audits of any taxpayer claiming an exemption under this 9 Section to verify that the taxpayer is eligible to receive the 10 exemption as provided elsewhere in this Section. 11 (d) Each Chief County Assessment Officer shall annually 12 publish a notice of availability of the exemption provided 13 under this Section. The notice shall be published at least 60 14 days but no more than 75 days prior to the date on which the 15 application must be submitted to the Chief County Assessment 16 Officer of the county in which the property is located. The 17 notice shall appear in a newspaper of general circulation in 18 the county. 19 Notwithstanding Sections 6 and 8 of the State Mandates 20 Act, no reimbursement by the State is required for the 21 implementation of any mandate created by this Section. 22 (Source: P.A. 101-635, eff. 6-5-20; 102-136, eff. 7-23-21; 23 102-895, eff. 5-23-22.) 24 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 25 becoming law. HB3535 - 16 - LRB103 29691 HLH 56095 b