Personal Income Tax Law: retired police dogs: tax credit.
Impact
The introduction of AB 514 is expected to impact California's tax law by creating a new tax expenditure that incentivizes the adoption of retired law enforcement dogs. It encourages pet ownership among families while providing financial incentives to cover the additional expenses associated with such adoptions, including potential training and veterinary costs. This reflects a broader legislative goal of recognizing and supporting the service of these dogs post-retirement.
Summary
Assembly Bill 514, introduced by Assembly Members Joe Patterson and Lackey, aims to provide a tax credit for individuals who adopt retired law enforcement dogs. For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2025, and before January 1, 2030, taxpayers will be eligible for a $1,500 credit for each qualified dog they adopt. A qualified dog is defined as a dog that has served a California law enforcement agency for at least five years before retirement or a dog that was in service for at least three years and was injured in the line of service.
Contention
While the bill sets forth specific objectives for promoting the adoption of retired law enforcement dogs, there may be discussions around the fiscal implications of the new tax credit, particularly in terms of potential costs for the state budget. Additional scrutiny may arise from the need for comprehensive reporting mechanisms to track the effectiveness of the tax credit, ensuring that it meets its stated goals of promoting adoptions and supporting retired police dogs. The bill will also be subject to considerations about its expiration in 2030, which may lead to future legislative revisions or extensions.