PRIOR PASSAGE - NONE
PRINTER'S NO. 221
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
239
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY VULAKOVICH, BARTOLOTTA, SCARNATI, COSTA, AUMENT,
BAKER, BLAKE, BREWSTER, BROOKS, EICHELBERGER, GREENLEAF,
HUTCHINSON, LAUGHLIN, LEACH, RAFFERTY, RESCHENTHALER,
SABATINA, SCAVELLO, STEFANO, VOGEL, WAGNER, WARD AND
YUDICHAK, JANUARY 26, 2017
REFERRED TO VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS,
JANUARY 26, 2017
A JOINT RESOLUTION
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania, in taxation and finance, further providing
for exemptions and special provisions.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby resolves as follows:
Section 1. The following amendment to the Constitution of
Pennsylvania is proposed in accordance with Article XI:
That section 2(c) of Article VIII be amended to read:
ยง 2. Exemptions and special provisions.
* * *
(c) Citizens and residents of this Commonwealth, who served
in any war or armed conflict in which the United States was
engaged and were honorably discharged or released under
honorable circumstances from active service, shall be exempt
from the payment of [all] a portion of real property taxes upon
the residence occupied by the said citizens and residents of
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this Commonwealth imposed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or
any of its political subdivisions if, as a result of military
service, they are blind, paraplegic or double or quadruple
amputees or have a service-connected disability declared by the
United States [Veterans Administration] Department of Veterans
Affairs or its successor to be a [total or 100%] permanent
disability of 50% or greater, and if the State Veterans'
Commission determines that such persons are in need of the tax
exemptions granted herein. The percentage of exemption from real
property taxes shall be in direct proportion to the percentage
of disability. This exemption shall be extended to the unmarried
surviving spouse upon the death of an eligible veteran provided
that the State Veterans' Commission determines that such person
is in need of the exemption.
Section 2. (a) Upon the first passage by the General
Assembly of this proposed constitutional amendment, the
Secretary of the Commonwealth shall proceed immediately to
comply with the advertising requirements of section 1 of Article
XI of the Constitution of Pennsylvania and shall transmit the
required advertisements to two newspapers in every county in
which such newspapers are published in sufficient time after
passage of this proposed constitutional amendment.
(b) Upon the second passage by the General Assembly of this
proposed constitutional amendment, the Secretary of the
Commonwealth shall proceed immediately to comply with the
advertising requirements of section 1 of Article XI of the
Constitution of Pennsylvania and shall transmit the required
advertisements to two newspapers in every county in which such
newspapers are published in sufficient time after passage of
this proposed constitutional amendment. The Secretary of the
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Commonwealth shall submit this proposed constitutional amendment
to the qualified electors of this Commonwealth at the first
primary, general or municipal election which meets the
requirements of and is in conformance with section 1 of Article
XI of the Constitution of Pennsylvania and which occurs at least
three months after the proposed constitutional amendment is
passed by the General Assembly.
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