HB2849 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB097 10619 HLH 51013 b

97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB2849

Introduced 2/22/2011, by Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

35 ILCS 200/9-195
35 ILCS 200/15-35
35 ILCS 200/15-57 new
30 ILCS 805/8.35 new

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, if property is owned by the State, a unit of local government, or a school district and that property is leased to the State, a unit of local government, or a school district, then the property and the leasehold interest are exempt from taxation under the Property Tax Code or under any other law. Further provides that property of schools that is leased to the State, a unit of local government, or a school district (now, only leases to a municipality) for governmental purposes on a not-for-profit basis is exempt and that the leasehold interest is not taxable. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Provides that the changes made by the amendatory Act apply to taxable years 2010 and thereafter. Provides that the changes also apply to taxable years prior to 2010, but no payments of any such taxes need be refunded. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning revenue.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Property Tax Code is amended by changing Sections 9-195 and 15-35 and by adding Section 15-57 as follows:

(35 ILCS 200/9-195)

Sec. 9-195. Leasing of exempt property.

(a) Except as provided in Sections 15-35, 15-55, 15-57, 15-60, 15-100, 15-103, and 15-185, when property which is exempt from taxation is leased to another whose property is not exempt, and the leasing of which does not make the property taxable, the leasehold estate and the appurtenances shall be listed as the property of the lessee thereof, or his or her assignee. Taxes on that property shall be collected in the same manner as on property that is not exempt, and the lessee shall be liable for those taxes. However, no tax lien shall attach to the exempt real estate. The changes made by this amendatory Act of 1997 and by this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly are declaratory of existing law and shall not be construed as a new enactment. The changes made by Public Acts 88-221 and 88-420 that are incorporated into this Section by this amendatory Act of 1993 are declarative of existing law and are not a new enactment.

(b) The provisions of this Section regarding taxation of leasehold interests in exempt property do not apply to any leasehold interest created pursuant to any transaction described in subsection (e) of Section 15-35, item (a) of Section 15-35, Section 15-57, subsection (c-5) of Section 15-60, subsection (b) of Section 15-100, Section 15-103, or Section 15-185.

(Source: P.A. 92-844, eff. 8-23-02; 92-846, eff. 8-23-02; 93-19, eff. 6-20-03.)

(35 ILCS 200/15-35)

Sec. 15-35. Schools. All property donated by the United States for school purposes, and all property of schools, not sold or leased or otherwise used with a view to profit, is exempt, whether owned by a resident or non-resident of this State or by a corporation incorporated in any state of the United States. Also exempt is:

(a) property, along with the leasehold interest in that property, of schools which is leased to the State, a unit of local government, or school district municipality to be used for governmental municipal purposes on a not-for-profit basis;

(b) property of schools on which the schools are located and any other property of schools used by the schools exclusively for school purposes, including, but not limited to, student residence halls, dormitories and other housing facilities for students and their spouses and children, staff housing facilities, and school-owned and operated dormitory or residence halls occupied in whole or in part by students who belong to fraternities, sororities, or other campus organizations;

(c) property donated, granted, received or used for public school, college, theological seminary, university, or other educational purposes, whether held in trust or absolutely;

(d) in counties with more than 200,000 inhabitants which classify property, property (including interests in land and other facilities) on or adjacent to (even if separated by a public street, alley, sidewalk, parkway or other public way) the grounds of a school, if that property is used by an academic, research or professional society, institute, association or organization which serves the advancement of learning in a field or fields of study taught by the school and which property is not used with a view to profit;

(e) property owned by a school district. The exemption under this subsection is not affected by any transaction in which, for the purpose of obtaining financing, the school district, directly or indirectly, leases or otherwise transfers the property to another for which or whom property is not exempt and immediately after the lease or transfer enters into a leaseback or other agreement that directly or indirectly gives the school district a right to use, control, and possess the property. In the case of a conveyance of the property, the school district must retain an option to purchase the property at a future date or, within the limitations period for reverters, the property must revert back to the school district.

(1) If the property has been conveyed as described in this subsection, the property is no longer exempt under this Section as of the date when:

(A) the right of the school district to use, control, and possess the property is terminated;

(B) the school district no longer has an option to purchase or otherwise acquire the property; and

(C) there is no provision for a reverter of the property to the school district within the limitations period for reverters.

(2) Pursuant to Sections 15-15 and 15-20 of this Code, the school district shall notify the chief county assessment officer of any transaction under this subsection. The chief county assessment officer shall determine initial and continuing compliance with the requirements of this subsection for tax exemption. Failure to notify the chief county assessment officer of a transaction under this subsection or to otherwise comply with the requirements of Sections 15-15 and 15-20 of this Code shall, in the discretion of the chief county assessment officer, constitute cause to terminate the exemption, notwithstanding any other provision of this Code.

(3) No provision of this subsection shall be construed to affect the obligation of the school district to which an exemption certificate has been issued under this Section from its obligation under Section 15-10 of this Code to file an annual certificate of status or to notify the chief county assessment officer of transfers of interest or other changes in the status of the property as required by this Code.

(4) The changes made by this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly are declarative of existing law and shall not be construed as a new enactment; and

(f) in counties with more than 200,000 inhabitants which classify property, property of a corporation, which is an exempt entity under paragraph (3) of Section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code or its successor law, used by the corporation for the following purposes: (1) conducting continuing education for professional development of personnel in energy-related industries; (2) maintaining a library of energy technology information available to students and the public free of charge; and (3) conducting research in energy and environment, which research results could be ultimately accessible to persons involved in education.

(Source: P.A. 91-513, eff. 8-13-99; 91-578, eff. 8-14-99; 92-16, eff. 6-28-01.)

(35 ILCS 200/15-57 new)

Sec. 15-57. Government property leased to another government entity. If property is owned by the State, a unit of local government, or a school district and that property is leased to the State, a unit of local government, or a school district, then the property is exempt from taxation under this Code and the leasehold interest is exempt from taxation under this Code or under any other law. The provisions of this Section apply notwithstanding any other provision of law.

Section 90. The State Mandates Act is amended by adding Section 8.35 as follows:

(30 ILCS 805/8.35 new)

Sec. 8.35. Exempt mandate. Notwithstanding Sections 6 and 8 of this Act, no reimbursement by the State is required for the implementation of any mandate created by this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly.

Section 95. Applicability. The changes made by this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly apply to taxable years 2010 and thereafter. In addition, the changes made by this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly also apply to taxable years prior to 2010, but no such taxes paid for any taxable year prior to 2010 need be refunded.

Section 97. Severability. The provisions of this Act are severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.