Introduced Version






HOUSE BILL No. 1333

_____


DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL



Citations Affected: IC 6-1.1-10-16.

Synopsis: Nonprofit organization property tax exemptions. Provides that property owned by a religious or charitable organization that: (1) is occupied by a lessee, life tenant, or trust beneficiary; and (2) generates income for the religious or charitable organization; is not exempt from the property tax.

Effective: July 1, 2002.





Saunders, Adams T




    January 15, 2002, read first time and referred to Committee on Ways and Means.







Introduced

Second Regular Session 112th General Assembly (2002)


PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type, additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
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HOUSE BILL No. 1333



    A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning taxation.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:

SOURCE: IC 6-1.1-10-16; (02)IN1333.1.1. -->     SECTION 1. IC 6-1.1-10-16 , AS AMENDED BY P.L.198-2001, SECTION 28, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2002]: Sec. 16. (a) All or part of a building is exempt from property taxation if it is owned, occupied, and used by a person for educational, literary, scientific, religious, or charitable purposes.
    (b) A building is exempt from property taxation if it is owned, occupied, and used by a town, city, township, or county for educational, literary, scientific, fraternal, or charitable purposes.
    (c) A tract of land, including the campus and athletic grounds of an educational institution, is exempt from property taxation if:
        (1) a building which is exempt under subsection (a) or (b) is situated on it; and
        (2) the tract does not exceed:
            (A) one hundred fifty (150) acres in the case of:
                (i) an educational institution;
                (ii) a tract that was exempt under this subsection on March 1, 1987; or
            (B) two hundred (200) acres in the case of a local association formed for the purpose of promoting 4-H programs; or
            (C) fifteen (15) acres in all other cases.
    (d) A tract of land is exempt from property taxation if:
        (1) it is purchased for the purpose of erecting a building which is to be owned, occupied, and used in such a manner that the building will be exempt under subsection (a) or (b);
        (2) the tract does not exceed:
            (A) one hundred fifty (150) acres in the case of:
                (i) an educational institution; or
                (ii) a tract that was exempt under this subsection on March 1, 1987;
            (B) two hundred (200) acres in the case of a local association formed for the purpose of promoting 4-H programs; or
            (C) fifteen (15) acres in all other cases; and
        (3) not more than three (3) years after the property is purchased, and for each year after the three (3) year period, the owner demonstrates substantial progress towards the erection of the intended building and use of the tract for the exempt purpose. To establish that substantial progress is being made, the owner must prove the existence of factors such as the following:
            (A) Organization of and activity by a building committee or other oversight group.
            (B) Completion and filing of building plans with the appropriate local government authority.
            (C) Cash reserves dedicated to the project of a sufficient amount to lead a reasonable individual to believe the actual construction can and will begin within three (3) years.
            (D) The breaking of ground and the beginning of actual construction.
            (E) Any other factor that would lead a reasonable individual to believe that construction of the building is an active plan and that the building is capable of being completed within six (6) years considering the circumstances of the owner.
    (e) Personal property is exempt from property taxation if it is owned and used in such a manner that it would be exempt under subsection (a) or (b) if it were a building.
    (f) A hospital's property which is exempt from property taxation under subsection (a), (b), or (e) shall remain exempt from property taxation even if the property is used in part to furnish goods or services to another hospital whose property qualifies for exemption under this section.
    (g) Property owned by a shared hospital services organization which is exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501(c)(3) or 501(e) of the Internal Revenue Code is exempt from property taxation if it is owned, occupied, and used exclusively to furnish goods or services to a hospital whose property is exempt from property taxation under subsection (a), (b), or (e).
    (h) This section does not exempt from property tax an office or a practice of a physician or group of physicians that is owned by a hospital licensed under IC 16-21-1 or other property that is not substantially related to or supportive of the inpatient facility of the hospital unless the office, practice, or other property:
        (1) provides or supports the provision of charity care (as defined in IC 16-18-2-52.5 ), including providing funds or other financial support for health care services for individuals who are indigent (as defined in IC 16-18-2-52.5 (b) and IC 16-18-2-52.5 (c)); or
        (2) provides or supports the provision of community benefits (as defined in IC 16-21-9-1 ), including research, education, or government sponsored indigent health care (as defined in IC 16-21-9-2 ).
However, participation in the Medicaid or Medicare program alone does not entitle an office, practice, or other property described in this subsection to an exemption under this section.
    (i) A tract of land or a tract of land plus all or part of a structure on the land is exempt from property taxation if:
        (1) the tract is acquired for the purpose of erecting, renovating, or improving a single family residential structure that is to be given away or sold:
            (A) in a charitable manner;
            (B) by a nonprofit organization; and
            (C) to low income individuals who will:
                (i) use the land as a family residence; and
                (ii) not have an exemption for the land under this section;
        (2) the tract does not exceed three (3) acres;
        (3) the tract of land or the tract of land plus all or part of a structure on the land is not used for profit while exempt under this section; and
        (4) not more than three (3) years after the property is acquired for the purpose described in subdivision (1), and for each year after the three (3) year period, the owner demonstrates substantial progress towards the erection, renovation, or improvement of the intended structure. To establish that substantial progress is being made, the owner must prove the existence of factors such as the

following:
            (A) Organization of and activity by a building committee or other oversight group.
            (B) Completion and filing of building plans with the appropriate local government authority.
            (C) Cash reserves dedicated to the project of a sufficient amount to lead a reasonable individual to believe the actual construction can and will begin within six (6) years of the initial exemption received under this subsection.
            (D) The breaking of ground and the beginning of actual construction.
            (E) Any other factor that would lead a reasonable individual to believe that construction of the structure is an active plan and that the structure is capable of being:
                (i) completed; and
                (ii) transferred to a low income individual who does not receive an exemption under this section;
            within six (6) years considering the circumstances of the owner.
    (j) An exemption under subsection (i) terminates when the property is conveyed by the nonprofit organization to another owner. When the property is conveyed to another owner, the nonprofit organization receiving the exemption must file a certified statement with the auditor of the county, notifying the auditor of the change not later than sixty (60) days after the date of the conveyance. The county auditor shall immediately forward a copy of the certified statement to the county assessor. A nonprofit organization that fails to file the statement required by this subsection is liable for the amount of property taxes due on the property conveyed if it were not for the exemption allowed under this chapter.
    (k) If property is granted an exemption in any year under subsection (i) and the owner:
        (1) ceases to be eligible for the exemption under subsection (i)(4);
        (2) fails to transfer the tangible property within six (6) years after the assessment date for which the exemption is initially granted; or
        (3) transfers the tangible property to a person who:
            (A) is not a low income individual; or
            (B) does not use the transferred property as a residence for at least one (1) year after the property is transferred;
the person receiving the exemption shall notify the county recorder and the county auditor of the county in which the property is located not

later than sixty (60) days after the event described in subdivision (1), (2), or (3) occurs. The county auditor shall immediately inform the county assessor of a notification received under this subsection.
    (l) If subsection (k)(1), (k)(2), or (k)(3) applies, the owner shall pay, not later than the date that the next installment of property taxes is due, an amount equal to the sum of the following:                     
        (1) The total property taxes that, if it were not for the exemption under subsection (i), would have been levied on the property in each year in which an exemption was allowed.
        (2) Interest on the property taxes at the rate of ten percent (10%) per year.
    (m) The liability imposed by subsection (l) is a lien upon the property receiving the exemption under subsection (i). An amount collected under subsection (l) shall be collected as an excess levy. If the amount is not paid, it shall be collected in the same manner that delinquent taxes on real property are collected.
    (n) Property referred to in this section shall be assessed to the extent required under IC 6-1.1-11-9.
     (o) Except as provided in section 18.5 of this chapter, this section does not exempt from property tax a building or tract of land that is:
        (1) owned by, or held in trust for the use of, a:
            (A) church;
            (B) religious society;
            (C) charitable organization; or
            (D) nonprofit corporation or association;
        (2) occupied by a:
            (A) lessee;
            (B) life tenant; or
            (C) beneficiary of a trust described in subdivision (1); and
        (3) used to produce income for the religious or charitable organization.