Source: http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/bills_127th/billtexts/HP070208.asp
Timestamp: 2020-02-24 00:30:59
Document Index: 800401838

Matched Legal Cases: ['§4102', '§5', '§9', '§4103', '§1', '§9', '§683', '§1', '§683', '§3', '§3', '§5', '§683', '§5', '§4', '§5', '§685', '§2', '§4', '§5', '§5681', '§5', '§4', '§16', 'arts 3', 'arts 3', '§11475', '§2', '§4', '§5111', '§1', '§4', '§5111', '§1', '§5111', '§2', '§6', '§5111', '§2', '§5111', '§3', '§8', '§5111', '§3', '§5122', '§1', '§5122', '§2', '§13', '§5122', '§2', '§5122', '§2', '§1', '§26', '§5122', '§2', '§6', '§1', '§4', '§5124', '§9', '§ 5124', '§5124', '§ 5124', '§5125', '§3', '§34', '§5125', '§3', '§8', '§19', '§5125', '§3', '§9', '§19', '§5125', '§5', '§1', '§5213', '§ 5213', '§5215', '§6', '§5216', '§6', '§7', '§5217', '§5', '§5217', '§4', '§5218', '§4', '§10', '§5219', '§46', '§5219', '§90', '§5219', '§4', '§4', '§6', '§5219', '§7', '§5219', '§5', '§5219', '§5', '§5219', '§4', '§31', '§5219', '§5', '§1', '§5403', '§4', '§13090', '§2', '§1', '§1752', '§3', '§1', '§3', '§1752', '§14', '§1760', '§98', '§1811', '§11', '§1812', '§1', '§3736', '§3', '§3762', '§3', '§3', '§1', '§2', '§3762', '§8', '§1', '§3769', '§ 3769', '§4311', '§10', '§ 4311', '§2551', '§1', '§2551', '§2', '§2', '§4', '§2552', '§1', '§14', '§2', '§2557', '§33', '§32', '§2557', '§34', '§33', '§2557', '§35', '§34', '§2557', '§36', '§35', '§2557', '§37']

HP0702, LD 1019, item 8, Document Text
LD 1019 Session - 127th Maine Legislature
S "B" to C "A", Filing Number S-288, Sponsored by Hamper
LR 1852
Amend the amendment by striking out all of Part H.
Amend the amendment by striking out all of Part J and inserting the following:
Sec. J-1. 36 MRSA §4102, sub-§5, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 380, Pt. M, §9, is amended to read:
5. Maine exclusion amount. For estates of decedents dying on or after January 1, 2013, but before January 1, 2016, "Maine exclusion amount" means $2,000,000. For estates of decedents dying on or after January 1, 2016, "Maine exclusion amount" means the basic exclusion amount determined for the calendar year in accordance with the Code, Section 2010(c)(3).
Sec. J-2. 36 MRSA §4103, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 380, Pt. M, §9, is amended to read:
A. If the Maine taxable estate is $2,000,000 or less than or equal to the Maine exclusion amount, the tax is $0.
B. If the Maine taxable estate is more than $2,000,000 the Maine exclusion amount but no more than $5,000,000 the Maine exclusion amount plus $3,000,000, the tax is 8% of the excess over $2,000,000 the Maine exclusion amount.
C. If the Maine taxable estate is more than $5,000,000 the Maine exclusion amount plus $3,000,000 but no more than $8,000,000 the Maine exclusion amount plus $6,000,000, the tax is $240,000 plus 10% of the excess over $5,000,000 the Maine exclusion amount plus $3,000,000.
D. If the Maine taxable estate is more than $8,000,000 the Maine exclusion amount plus $6,000,000, the tax is $540,000 plus 12% of the excess over $8,000,000 the Maine exclusion amount plus $6,000,000.
Sec. J-3. Application. That Section of this Part that amends the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 36, section 4103 applies to estates of decedents dying on or after January 1, 2016.’
Amend the amendment by striking out all of Part K and inserting the following:
Sec. K-1. 36 MRSA §683, sub-§1-B is enacted to read:
1-B. Additional exemption. A homestead eligible for an exemption under subsection 1 is eligible for an additional exemption of $5,000 of the just value of the homestead for property tax years beginning on April 1, 2016 and of $10,000 of the just value of the homestead for property tax years beginning on or after April 1, 2017.
Sec. K-2. 36 MRSA §683, sub-§§3 and 4, as amended by PL 2005, c. 2, Pt. F, §3 and affected by §5, are further amended to read:
3. Effect on state valuation. Fifty percent of the just value of homesteads exempt under this subchapter homestead exemptions under subsection 1 and, for additional exemptions under subsection 1-B, 50% of the just value of the exemptions for property tax years beginning April 1, 2016 and 75% of the just value of the exemptions for subsequent property tax years must be included in the annual determination of state valuation under sections 208 and 305.
4. Property tax rate. Fifty percent of the value of homestead exemptions under this subchapter subsection 1 and, for additional exemptions under subsection 1-B, 50% of the just value of the exemptions for property tax years beginning on April 1, 2016 and 75% of the just value of the exemptions for subsequent property tax years must be included in the total municipal valuation used to determine the municipal tax rate. The municipal tax rate as finally determined may be applied to only the taxable portion of each homestead qualified for that tax year.
Sec. K-3. 36 MRSA §683, sub-§5, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 647, §4 and affected by §5, is amended to read:
5. Determination of exemption for cooperative housing corporation. A cooperative housing corporation may apply for an exemption under this subchapter to be applied against the valuation of property of the corporation that is occupied by qualifying shareholders. The application must include a list of all qualifying shareholders and must be updated annually to reflect changes in the ownership and residency of qualifying shareholders. The exemption is equal to the amount amounts specified in subsection subsections 1 and 1-B multiplied by the number of units in the cooperative property occupied by qualifying shareholders. A cooperative housing corporation that receives an exemption pursuant to this section shall apportion the property tax reduction resulting from the exemption among the qualifying shareholders on a per unit basis. Any supplemental assessment resulting from disqualification for exemption must be applied in the same manner against the qualifying shareholders for whom the disqualification applies.
Sec. K-4. 36 MRSA §685, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2005, c. 2, Pt. F, §4 and affected by §5, is further amended to read:
2. Entitlement to reimbursement by the State; calculation. A municipality that has approved homestead exemptions under this subchapter may recover from the State 50% of the taxes lost by reason of the exemptions upon proof in a form satisfactory to the bureau. The bureau shall reimburse the Unorganized Territory Education and Services Fund for 50% of taxes lost by reason of the exemption. :
A. Fifty percent of the taxes lost by reason of the exemptions under section 683, subsection 1; and
B. For taxes lost by reason of additional exemptions under section 683, subsection 1-B, 50% of the taxes lost for property tax years beginning April 1, 2016 and 75% of the taxes lost for subsequent property tax years.
The municipality must provide proof in a form satisfactory to the bureau. The bureau shall reimburse the Unorganized Territory Education and Services Fund in the same manner for taxes lost by reason of the exemptions.’
Amend the amendment by striking out all of Part L and inserting the following:
Sec. L-1. 30-A MRSA §5681, sub-§5, as amended by PL 2009, c. 213, Pt. S, §4 and affected by §16, is further amended to read:
5. Transfers to funds. No later than the 10th day of each month, the State Controller shall transfer to the Local Government Fund 5% of the receipts during the previous month from the taxes imposed under Title 36, Parts 3 and 8, and Title 36, section 2552, subsection 1, paragraphs A to F and L, and credited to the General Fund without any reduction, except that for fiscal years 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19 the amount transferred is 2% of the receipts during the previous month from the taxes imposed under Title 36, Parts 3 and 8, and Title 36, section 2552, subsection 1, paragraphs A to F and L, and credited to the General Fund without any reduction, and except that the postage, state cost allocation program and programming costs of administering state-municipal revenue sharing may be paid by the Local Government Fund. A percentage share of the amounts transferred to the Local Government Fund each month must be transferred to the Disproportionate Tax Burden Fund and distributed pursuant to subsection 4-B as follows:
H. For months beginning on or after July 1, 2014, 20%.’
Amend the amendment by striking out all of Part EE and inserting the following:
Sec. EE-1. 20-A MRSA §11475, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 732, §4, is amended to read:
2. Lump-sum payments. A participation agreement may permit a participant to make one or more lump-sum deposits to an account for the benefit of a specific beneficiary. Lump-sum deposits may be made through the assignment of state tax refunds.
Sec. EE-2. 36 MRSA §5111, sub-§1-D, as enacted by PL 2013, c. 368, Pt. Q, §4, is amended to read:
1-D. Single individuals and married persons filing separate returns; tax years beginning 2014 and 2015. For tax years beginning on or after January 1, in 2014 or 2015, for single individuals and married persons filing separate returns:
Sec. EE-3. 36 MRSA §5111, sub-§§1-E and 1-F are enacted to read:
1-E. Single individuals and married persons filing separate returns; tax years beginning 2016. For tax years beginning in 2016, for single individuals and married persons filing separate returns:
Less than $21,050 5.8% of the Maine taxable income
At least $21,050 but less than $37,500 $1,221 plus 6.75% of the excess over $21,050
$37,500 or more $2,331 plus 7.15% of the excess over $37,500
1-F. Single individuals and married persons filing separate returns; tax years beginning 2017. For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2017, for single individuals and married persons filing separate returns:
At least $21,050 but less than $50,000 $1,221 plus 6.75% of the excess over $21,050
$50,000 or more $3,175 plus 7.15% of the excess over $50,000
Sec. EE-4. 36 MRSA §5111, sub-§2-D, as enacted by PL 2013, c. 368, Pt. Q, §6, is amended to read:
2-D. Heads of households; tax years beginning 2014 and 2015. For tax years beginning on or after January 1, in 2014 or 2015, for unmarried individuals or legally separated individuals who qualify as heads of households:
Sec. EE-5. 36 MRSA §5111, sub-§§2-E and 2-F are enacted to read:
2-E. Heads of households; tax years beginning 2016. For tax years beginning in 2016, for unmarried individuals or legally separated individuals who qualify as heads of households:
Less than $31,550 5.8% of the Maine taxable income
At least $31,550 but less than $56,250 $1,830 plus 6.75% of the excess over $31,550
$56,250 or more $3,497 plus 7.15% of the excess over $56,250
2-F. Heads of households; tax years beginning 2017. For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2017, for unmarried individuals or legally separated individuals who qualify as heads of households:
At least $31,550 but less than $75,000 $1,830 plus 6.75% of the excess over $31,550
$75,000 or more $4,763 plus 7.15% of the excess over $75,000
Sec. EE-6. 36 MRSA §5111, sub-§3-D, as enacted by PL 2013, c. 368, Pt. Q, §8, is amended to read:
3-D. Individuals filing married joint return or surviving spouses; tax years beginning 2014 and 2015. For tax years beginning on or after January 1, in 2014 or 2015, for individuals filing married joint returns or surviving spouses permitted to file a joint return:
Sec. EE-7. 36 MRSA §5111, sub-§§3-E and 3-F are enacted to read:
3-E. Individuals filing married joint returns or surviving spouses; tax years beginning 2016. For tax years beginning in 2016, for individuals filing married joint returns or surviving spouses permitted to file a joint return:
Less than $42,100 5.8% of the Maine taxable income
At least $42,100 but less than $75,000 $2,442 plus 6.75% of the excess over $42,100
$75,000 or more $4,663 plus 7.15% of the excess over $75,000
3-F. Individuals filing married joint returns or surviving spouses; tax years beginning 2017. For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2017, for individuals filing married joint returns or surviving spouses permitted to file a joint return:
At least $42,100 but less than $100,000 $2,442 plus 6.75% of the excess over $42,100
$100,000 or more $6,350 plus 7.15% of the excess over $100,000
Sec. EE-8. 36 MRSA §5122, sub-§1, ¶JJ is enacted to read:
(1) For single individuals and married persons filing separate returns, the numerator is the taxpayer's Maine adjusted gross income less $70,000, except that the numerator may not be less than zero, and the denominator is $75,000. In no case may the fraction contained in this subparagraph produce a result that is more than one. The $70,000 amount used to calculate the numerator in this subparagraph must be adjusted for inflation in accordance with section 5403, subsection 3;
(2) For individuals filing as heads of households, the numerator is the taxpayer's Maine adjusted gross income less $105,000, except that the numerator may not be less than zero, and the denominator is $112,500. In no case may the fraction contained in this subparagraph produce a result that is more than one. The $105,000 amount used to calculate the numerator in this subparagraph must be adjusted for inflation in accordance with section 5403, subsection 3; or
(3) For individuals filing married joint returns or surviving spouses, the numerator is the taxpayer's Maine adjusted gross income less $140,000, except that the numerator may not be less than zero, and the denominator is $150,000. In no case may the fraction contained in this subparagraph produce a result that is more than one. The $140,000 amount used to calculate the numerator in this subparagraph must be adjusted for inflation in accordance with section 5403, subsection 3.
Sec. EE-9. 36 MRSA §5122, sub-§2, ¶M-1, as amended by PL 2013, c. 546, §13, is further amended to read:
M-1. For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2014, for each individual who is a primary recipient of retirement plan benefits under an employee retirement plan or an individual retirement account, an amount that is the lesser of the aggregate of retirement plan benefits under employee retirement plans or individual retirement accounts included in the individual's federal adjusted gross income and the pension deduction amount reduced by the total amount of the individual's social security benefits and railroad retirement benefits paid by the United States, but not less than $0. The social security benefits and railroad retirement benefits reduction does not apply to benefits paid under a military retirement plan.
(1) "Employee retirement plan" means a state , or federal or military retirement plan or any other retirement benefit plan established and maintained by an employer for the benefit of its employees under the Code, Section 401(a), Section 403 or Section 457(b), except that distributions made pursuant to a Section 457(b) plan are not eligible for the deduction provided by this paragraph if they are made prior to age 55 and are not part of a series of substantially equal periodic payments made for the life of the primary recipient or the joint lives of the primary recipient and that recipient's designated beneficiary. "Employee retirement plan" does not include a military retirement plan or survivor benefits under such a plan.
Sec. EE-10. 36 MRSA §5122, sub-§2, ¶M-2 is enacted to read:
(a) Excluding military retirement plan benefits, an amount that is the lesser of the aggregate of retirement plan benefits under employee retirement plans or individual retirement accounts included in the individual’s federal adjusted gross income and the pension deduction amount. The amount claimed under this division must be reduced by the total amount of the individual’s social security benefits and railroad retirement benefits paid by the United States, but not less than $0; and
(b) An amount equal to the aggregate of retirement benefits under military retirement plans included in the individual’s federal adjusted gross income; and
(a) "Employee retirement plan" means a state, federal or military retirement plan or any other retirement benefit plan established and maintained by an employer for the benefit of its employees under the Code, Section 401(a), Section 403 or Section 457(b), except that distributions made pursuant to a Section 457(b) plan are not eligible for the deduction provided by this paragraph if they are made prior to age 55 and are not part of a series of substantially equal periodic payments made for the life of the primary recipient or the joint lives of the primary recipient and that recipient's designated beneficiary.
(b) "Individual retirement account" means an individual retirement account under Section 408 of the Code, a Roth IRA under Section 408A of the Code, a simplified employee pension under Section 408(k) of the Code or a simple retirement account for employees under Section 408(p) of the Code.
(c) "Military retirement plan" means retirement plan benefits received as a result of service in the active or reserve components of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines or Coast Guard.
(d) "Pension deduction amount" means $10,000 for tax years beginning in 2014.
(e) "Primary recipient" means the individual upon whose earnings or contributions the retirement plan benefits are based or the surviving spouse of that individual.
(f) "Retirement plan benefits" means employee retirement plan benefits, except pick-up contributions for which a subtraction is allowed under paragraph E, reported as pension or annuity income for federal income tax purposes and individual retirement account benefits reported as individual retirement account distributions for federal income tax purposes. "Retirement plan benefits" does not include distributions that are subject to the tax imposed by the Code, Section 72(t);
Sec. EE-11. 36 MRSA §5122, sub-§2, ¶T, as amended by PL 2005, c. 519, Pt. LLL, §1 and c. 622, §26, is repealed.
Sec. EE-12. 36 MRSA §5122, sub-§2, ¶Y, as amended by PL 2007, c. 539, Pt. CCC, §6 and c. 689, §1 and affected by §4, is repealed.
Sec. EE-13. 36 MRSA §5124-A, as amended by PL 2013, c. 368, Pt. TT, §9, is further amended to read:
§ 5124-A. Standard deduction; resident before 2016
The For tax years beginning before January 1, 2016, the standard deduction of a resident individual is equal to the standard deduction as determined in accordance with the Code, Section 63, except that, for tax years beginning in 2013, the standard deduction is $10,150 in the case of individuals filing a married joint return and surviving spouses permitted to file a joint return and $5,075 in the case of a married individual filing a separate return.
Sec. EE-14. 36 MRSA §5124-B is enacted to read:
§ 5124-B. Standard deduction; resident on or after January 1, 2016
For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2016, the standard deduction of a resident individual is equal to the sum of the basic standard deduction and any additional standard deduction.
Sec. EE-15. 36 MRSA §5125, sub-§3, ¶C, as amended by PL 2003, c. 390, §34, is further amended to read:
C. Reduced by any amount of deduction attributable to income taxable to financial institutions under chapter 819; and
Sec. EE-16. 36 MRSA §5125, sub-§3, ¶D, as amended by PL 2011, c. 380, Pt. N, §8 and affected by §§19 and 20, is further amended to read:
D. Reduced by any amount attributable to interest or expenses incurred in the production of income exempt from tax under this Part ; and .
Sec. EE-17. 36 MRSA §5125, sub-§3, ¶E, as amended by PL 2011, c. 380, Pt. N, §9 and affected by §§19 and 20, is repealed.
Sec. EE-18. 36 MRSA §5125, sub-§5, as enacted by PL 2013, c. 590, §1, is repealed.
Sec. EE-19. 36 MRSA §5213-A is enacted to read:
§ 5213-A. Sales tax fairness credit
For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2016, individuals are allowed a credit as computed under this section against the taxes imposed under this Part.
A. "Base credit" means:
(1) For an individual income tax return claiming one personal exemption, $125;
(2) For an individual income tax return claiming 2 personal exemptions, $175;
(3) For an individual income tax return claiming 3 personal exemptions, $200; and
(4) For an individual income tax return claiming 4 or more personal exemptions, $225.
A. For single individuals, the credit is reduced by $10 for every $500 or portion thereof that exceeds $20,000 of the income.
B. For unmarried individuals or legally separated individuals who qualify as heads of households, the credit is reduced by $15 for every $750 or portion thereof that exceeds $30,000 of the income.
C. For individuals filing married joint returns or surviving spouses permitted to file joint returns, the credit is reduced by $20 for every $1,000 or portion thereof that exceeds $40,000 of the income.
B. Individuals who do not qualify as resident individuals because they do not meet the requirements of section 5102, subsection 5102, subsection 5, paragraph A.
Sec. EE-20. 36 MRSA §5215, sub-§6-C is enacted to read:
Sec. EE-21. 36 MRSA §5216-C, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 475, §6 and affected by §7, is repealed.
Sec. EE-22. 36 MRSA §5217, sub-§5 is enacted to read:
5. Application. Except for the credit allowed with respect to the carry-over of unused credit amounts pursuant to subsection 3, the credit allowed under this section does not apply to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2016.
Sec. EE-23. 36 MRSA §5217-C, sub-§4 is enacted to read:
4. Application. Except for the credit allowed with respect to the carry-over of unused credit amounts pursuant to subsection 3, the tax credit allowed under this section does not apply to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2016.
Sec. EE-24. 36 MRSA §5218, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2003, c. 391, §10, is further amended to read:
4. Refund. The credit allowed by this section may result in a refund of up to $500 . In except, in the case of a nonresident individual, the refundable portion of the credit may not exceed $500 multiplied by the ratio of the individual's Maine adjusted gross income, as defined in section 5102, subsection 1-C, paragraph B, to the individual's entire federal adjusted gross income, as modified by section 5122 reduce the Maine income tax to less than zero. In the case of an individual who files a return as a part-year resident in accordance with section 5224-A, the refundable portion of the credit may not exceed $500 multiplied by a ratio, the numerator of which is the individual's Maine adjusted gross income as defined in section 5102, subsection 1-C, paragraph A for that portion of the taxable year during which the individual was a resident plus the individual's Maine adjusted gross income as defined in section 5102, subsection 1-C, paragraph B for that portion of the taxable year during which the individual was a nonresident and the denominator of which is the individual's entire federal adjusted gross income, as modified by section 5122.
Sec. EE-25. 36 MRSA §5219-A, as amended by PL 2003, c. 390, §§46 and 47, is repealed.
Sec. EE-26. 36 MRSA §5219-C, as amended by PL 2007, c. 627, §90, is repealed.
Sec. EE-27. 36 MRSA §5219-M, sub-§4, ¶C, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 358, Pt. M, §4 and affected by §6, is amended to read:
C. Except as otherwise provided by subsection 5, paragraph B, to reduce a person's tax liability by more than $100,000, after the allowance of all other tax credits except for the credits credit allowed under s ections 5216-C and section 5219-L.
Sec. EE-28. 36 MRSA §5219-M, sub-§7 is enacted to read:
Sec. EE-29. 36 MRSA §5219-O, sub-§5 is enacted to read:
Sec. EE-30. 36 MRSA §5219-Q, sub-§5 is enacted to read:
Sec. EE-31. 36 MRSA §5219-S, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 693, §31, is amended to read:
4. Limitation. The credit allowed by this section may not reduce the Maine income tax to less than zero is refundable.
Sec. EE-32. 36 MRSA §5219-X, sub-§5, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 698, §1, is amended to read:
5. Application. This section applies to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2004. Except for the credit allowed with respect to the carry-over of unused credit amounts pursuant to subsection 3, the tax credit allowed under this section does not apply to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2016.
Sec. EE-33. 36 MRSA §5403, as repealed and replaced by PL 2013, c. 551, §4, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
On or about September 15th of each year as specified in subsections 1 to 6, the assessor shall multiply the cost-of-living adjustment for taxable years beginning in the succeeding calendar year by the following:
A. Beginning in 2016 and each year thereafter, by the lowest dollar amounts of the tax rate tables specified in section 5111, subsections 1-F, 2-F and 3-F, except that for the purposes of this paragraph, notwithstanding section 5402, subsection 1-B, the "cost-of-living adjustment" is the Chained Consumer Price Index for the 12-month period ending June 30th of the preceding calendar year divided by the Chained Consumer Price Index for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2015; and
B. Beginning in 2017 and each year thereafter, by the highest taxable income dollar amount of each tax rate table, except that for the purposes of this paragraph, notwithstanding section 5402, subsection 1-B, the "cost-of-living adjustment" is the Chained Consumer Price Index for the 12-month period ending June 30th of the preceding calendar year divided by the Chained Consumer Price Index for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2016;
2. Standard deductions. By the dollar amount contained in section 5124-B, subsection 1, paragraph A, except that for the purposes of this subsection, notwithstanding section 5402, subsection 1-B, the "cost-of-living adjustment" is the Chained Consumer Price Index for the 12-month period ending June 30th of the preceding calendar year divided by the Chained Consumer Price Index for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2015;
3. Itemized deductions. By the dollar amount of the itemized deduction limitation amount in section 5125, subsection 4;
4. Individual income tax standard deduction and itemized deduction phase-out. Beginning in 2017 and each year thereafter, by the dollar amount contained in the numerator of the fraction specified in section 5122, subsection 1, paragraph JJ, subparagraphs (1), (2) and (3), except that for the purposes of this subsection, notwithstanding section 5402, subsection 1-B, the "cost-of-living adjustment" is the Chained Consumer Price Index for the 12-month period ending June 30th of the preceding calendar year divided by the Chained Consumer Price Index for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2016;
A. Beginning in 2017 and each year thereafter, by the base credit amount in section 5213-A, subsection 1, paragraph A, subparagraph (1), except that for the purposes of this paragraph, notwithstanding section 5402, subsection 1-B, the "cost-of-living adjustment" is the Chained Consumer Price Index for the 12-month period ending June 30th of the preceding calendar year divided by the Chained Consumer Price Index for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2016. If the base credit amount, adjusted by application of the cost-of-living adjustment, is not a multiple of $5, any increase must be rounded to the next lowest multiple of $5;
6. Property tax fairness credit. Beginning in 2015 and each year thereafter, the benefit base amounts in section 5219-KK, subsection 1, paragraph A.
Except for subsection 5, paragraphs A and B, if the dollar amount of each item, adjusted by the application of the cost-of-living adjustment, is not a multiple of $50, any increase must be rounded to the next lowest multiple of $50.
If the cost-of-living adjustment for any taxable year would be less than the cost-of-living adjustment for the preceding calendar year, the cost-of-living adjustment is the same as for the preceding calendar year. The assessor shall incorporate such changes into the income tax forms, instructions and withholding tables for the taxable year.
Sec. EE-34. Application. Those sections of this Part that amend the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 11475, subsection 2 and Title 36, section 5122, subsection 2, paragraph M-1, section 5124-A, section 5218, subsection 4 and section 5219-S, subsection 4; and that repeal Title 36, section 5122, subsection 2, paragraphs T and Y and sections 5216-C, 5219-A and 5219-C apply to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2016.’
Amend the amendment by striking out all of Part PPPP.
Amend the amendment by striking out all of Part QQQQ and inserting the following:
Sec. QQQQ-1. 5 MRSA §13090-K, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2013, c. 368, Pt. M, §1, is further amended to read:
2. Source of fund. Beginning July 1, 2003 and every July 1st thereafter, the State Controller shall transfer to the Tourism Marketing Promotion Fund an amount, as certified by the State Tax Assessor, that is equivalent to 5% of the 7% tax imposed on tangible personal property and taxable services pursuant to Title 36, section 1811, for the first 6 months of the prior fiscal year after the reduction for the transfer to the Local Government Fund as described by Title 30-A, section 5681, subsection 5, except that, from October 1, 2013 to June 30 December 31, 2015, the amount is equivalent to 5% of the 8% tax imposed on tangible personal property and taxable services pursuant to Title 36, section 1811 and beginning July 1, 2016 the amount is equivalent to 5% of the 8% tax and 5% of the 9% tax imposed on tangible personal property and taxable services pursuant to Title 36, section 1811. Beginning on October 1, 2003 and every October 1st thereafter, the State Controller shall transfer to the Tourism Marketing Promotion Fund an amount, as certified by the State Tax Assessor, that is equivalent to 5% of the 7% tax imposed on tangible personal property and taxable services pursuant to Title 36, section 1811, for the last 6 months of the prior fiscal year after the reduction for the transfer to the Local Government Fund, except that, from October 1, 2013 to June 30 December 31, 2015, the amount is equivalent to 5% of the 8% tax imposed on tangible personal property and taxable services pursuant to Title 36, section 1811 and beginning October 1, 2016 the amount is equivalent to 5% of the 8% tax and 5% of the 9% tax imposed on tangible personal property and taxable services pursuant to Title 36, section 1811. The tax amount must be based on actual sales for that fiscal year and may not consider any accruals that may be required by law. The amount transferred from General Fund sales and use tax revenues does not affect the calculation for the transfer to the Local Government Fund.
Sec. QQQQ-2. 36 MRSA §1752, sub-§3-B, as amended by PL 1999, c. 698, §1 and affected by §3, is further amended to read:
"Grocery staples" does not include spirituous, malt or vinous liquors; soft drinks, iced tea, sodas or beverages such as are ordinarily dispensed at bars or soda fountains or in connection with bars or soda fountains; medicines, tonics, vitamins and preparations in liquid, powdered, granular, tablet, capsule, lozenge or pill form, sold as dietary supplements or adjuncts, except when sold on the prescription of a physician; water, including mineral bottled and carbonated waters and ice; dietary substitutes; candy and confections; and prepared food. :
A. Spirituous, malt or vinous liquors;
B. Medicines, tonics, vitamins and preparations in liquid, powdered, granular, tablet, capsule, lozenge or pill form, sold as dietary supplements or adjuncts, except when sold on the prescription of a physician;
C. Water, including mineral bottled and carbonated waters and ice;
D. Dietary substitutes;
E. Candy and confections, including but not limited to confectionery spreads. As used in this paragraph, "candy" means a preparation of sugar, honey or other natural or artificial sweeteners in combination with chocolate, fruits, nuts or other ingredients or flavorings in the form of bars, drops or pieces;
F. Prepared food; and
(1) Soft drinks and powdered and liquid drink mixes except powdered milk, infant formula, coffee and tea;
(3) Supplemental meal items such as corn chips, potato chips, crisped vegetable or fruit chips, potato sticks, pork rinds, pretzels, crackers, popped popcorn, cheese sticks, cheese puffs and dips;
(4) Fruit bars, granola bars, trail mix, breakfast bars, rice cakes, popcorn cakes, bread sticks and dried sugared fruit;
(5) Nuts and seeds that have been processed or treated by salting, spicing, smoking, roasting or other means;
(6) Desserts and bakery items, including but not limited to doughnuts, cookies, muffins, dessert breads, pastries, croissants, cakes, pies, ice cream cones, ice cream, ice milk, frozen confections, frozen yogurt, sherbet, ready-to-eat pudding, gelatins and dessert sauces; and
As used in this paragraph, "without further preparation" does not include combining an item with a liquid or toasting, microwaving or otherwise heating or thawing a product for palatability rather than for the purpose of cooking the product.
"Grocery staples" includes bread and bread products, jam, jelly, pickles, honey, condiments, maple syrup, spaghetti sauce or salad dressing when packaged as a separate item for retail sale.
Sec. QQQQ-3. 36 MRSA §1752, sub-§14-F is enacted to read:
14-F. Soft drinks. "Soft drinks" means nonalcoholic beverages that contain natural or artificial sweeteners. "Soft drinks" does not include beverages that contain milk or milk products; that contain soy, rice or similar milk substitutes; or that contain greater than 50% vegetable or fruit juice by volume.
Sec. QQQQ-4. 36 MRSA §1760, sub-§§98 and 99 are enacted to read:
Sec. QQQQ-5. 36 MRSA §1811, first ¶, as repealed and replaced by PL 2013, c. 588, Pt. E, §11, is amended to read:
A tax is imposed on the value of all tangible personal property, products transferred electronically and taxable services sold at retail in this State. The rate of tax is 7% on the value of liquor sold in licensed establishments as defined in Title 28-A, section 2, subsection 15, in accordance with Title 28-A, chapter 43; 7% on the value of rental of living quarters in any hotel, rooming house or tourist or trailer camp; 10% on the value of rental for a period of less than one year of an automobile, of a pickup truck or van with a gross vehicle weight of less than 26,000 pounds rented from a person primarily engaged in the business of renting automobiles or of a loaner vehicle that is provided other than to a motor vehicle dealer's service customers pursuant to a manufacturer’s or dealer’s warranty; 7% on the value of prepared food; and 5% on the value of all other tangible personal property and taxable services and products transferred electronically. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, from October 1, 2013 to June 30 December 31, 2015, the rate of tax is 8% on the value of rental of living quarters in any hotel, rooming house or tourist or trailer camp; 8% on the value of prepared food; 8% on the value of liquor sold in licensed establishments as defined in Title 28-A, section 2, subsection 15, in accordance with Title 28-A, chapter 43; and 5.5% on the value of all other tangible personal property and taxable services and products transferred electronically. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, beginning January 1, 2016, the rate of tax is 9% on the value of rental of living quarters in any hotel, rooming house or tourist or trailer camp; 8% on the value of prepared food; 8% on the value of liquor sold in licensed establishments as defined in Title 28-A, section 2, subsection 15, in accordance with Title 28-A, chapter 43; and 5.5% on the value of all other tangible personal property and taxable services and products transferred electronically. Value is measured by the sale price, except as otherwise provided. The value of rental for a period of less than one year of an automobile or of a pickup truck or van with a gross vehicle weight of less than 26,000 pounds rented from a person primarily engaged in the business of renting automobiles is the total rental charged to the lessee and includes, but is not limited to, maintenance and service contracts, drop-off or pick-up fees, airport surcharges, mileage fees and any separately itemized charges on the rental agreement to recover the owner’s estimated costs of the charges imposed by government authority for title fees, inspection fees, local excise tax and agent fees on all vehicles in its rental fleet registered in the State. All fees must be disclosed when an estimated quote is provided to the lessee.
Sec. QQQQ-6. 36 MRSA §1812, sub-§1, ¶F is enacted to read:
F. If the tax rate is 9%:
Amount of Sale Price Amount of Tax
$0.01 to $0.05, inclusive 0¢
.06 to .11, inclusive 1¢
.12 to .22, inclusive 2¢
.23 to .33, inclusive 3¢
.34 to .44, inclusive 4¢
.45 to .56, inclusive 5¢
.57 to .67, inclusive 6¢
.68 to .78, inclusive 7¢
.79 to .89, inclusive 8¢
.90 to 1.00, inclusive 9¢
Sec. QQQQ-7. Application date. This Part applies to sales occurring on or after January 1, 2016 except that the section of this Part that amends the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 36, section 1811, first paragraph, applies to sales occurring on or after July, 2015 and the sections that enact Title 36, section 1760, subsections 98 and 99, apply to sales occurring on or after October 1, 2015.’
Amend the amendment by inserting after Part SSSS the following:
Sec. TTTT-1. 22 MRSA §3736, sub-§3 is enacted to read:
Sec. TTTT-2. 22 MRSA §3762, sub-§3, ¶B, as amended by PL 2013, c. 368, Pt. OO, §3 and Pt. UUU, §1 and affected by §2, is enacted to read:
Sec. TTTT-3. 22 MRSA §3762, sub-§8, ¶B, as amended by PL 2013, c. 97, §1, is further amended to read:
B. The department shall provide limited transitional transportation benefits to meet employment-related costs to ASPIRE-TANF program participants who lose eligibility for TANF assistance due to employment. The department may also make transitional transportation benefits available to families in which one or both adults are working and who, although they remain financially eligible for TANF benefits, request that their benefits be terminated. Benefits may be provided for up to 12 18 months following loss of TANF eligibility. The department may adopt rules that impose a weekly limit on available transitional transportation benefits and that require a contribution from each participant toward the cost of transportation.
Sec. TTTT-4. 22 MRSA §3769-D is enacted to read:
§ 3769-D. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant; family development accounts
In fiscal year 2016-17 and annually thereafter, the Department of Health and Human Services may use $500,000 in funds provided under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant to promote financial literacy and healthy savings habits of families with income less than 200% of the federal poverty guidelines through the placement of funds in family development accounts established pursuant to Title 10, chapter 110, subchapter 4-A.
PART UUUU
Sec. UUUU-1. 22 MRSA §4311, as amended by PL 2013, c. 368, Pt. OO, §§10 and 11, is further amended to read:
§ 4311. State reimbursement to municipalities; reports
1. Departmental reimbursement. When a municipality incurs net general assistance costs in any fiscal year prior to July 1, 2015 in excess of .0003 of that municipality's most recent state valuation relative to the state fiscal year for which reimbursement is being issued, as determined by the State Tax Assessor in the statement filed as provided in Title 36, section 381, the Department of Health and Human Services shall reimburse the municipality for 90% of the amount in excess of these expenditures when the department finds that the municipality has been in compliance with all requirements of this chapter. If a municipality elects to determine need without consideration of funds distributed from any municipally-controlled trust fund that must otherwise be considered for purposes of this chapter, the department shall reimburse the municipality for 66 2/3% of the amount in excess of such expenditures when the department finds that the municipality has otherwise been in compliance with all requirements of this chapter.
The department shall reimburse each municipality and each Indian tribe 70% of the direct costs incurred by that municipality or tribe on or after July 1, 2015 for the general assistance program granted by that municipality or tribe. For the purposes of this subsection, "Indian tribe" has the same meaning as in section 411, subsection 8-A.
1-A. Municipalities reimbursed. When a municipality pays for expenses approved pursuant to section 4313 for hospital inpatient or outpatient care at any hospital on behalf of any person who is otherwise eligible and who would have been entitled to receive payments for hospital care if that care had been rendered prior to May 1, 1984, for services under the Catastrophic Illness Program, section 3185, the department shall reimburse the municipality for 100% of those payments.
1-B. Reimbursement for administrative expenses. The department shall reimburse each municipality for the costs of a portion of the direct costs of paying benefits incurred prior to July 1, 2015 through its general assistance program if the department finds that the municipality was in compliance with all requirements of this chapter during the fiscal year for which reimbursement is sought. The amount of reimbursement to each municipality must be an amount equal to:
A. Fifty percent of all general assistance granted by that municipality below the .0003% of all state valuation amount; or
B. Ten percent of all general assistance granted.
Each municipality shall elect to be reimbursed under paragraph A or B at the beginning of the fiscal year for which reimbursement is sought.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, this subsection takes effect on July 1, 1989.
1-C. Indian tribe reimbursement. The department shall reimburse each Indian tribe for the costs of a portion of the direct costs of paying benefits through its general assistance program if the department finds that the Indian tribe was in compliance with all requirements of this chapter during the fiscal year for which those benefits are sought.
The amount of reimbursement must be calculated for each fiscal year by adding 10% of all general assistance granted up to the threshold amount to 100% of all general assistance granted above the threshold amount.
For the purposes of this subsection, "Indian tribe" has the same meaning as in section 411, subsection 8-A. For purposes of this subsection, "threshold amount" means 0.0003 of the Indian tribe’s most recent state valuation, as determined by the State Tax Assessor in the statement filed as provided in Title 36, section 381, relative to the year for which reimbursement is being issued.
2. Submission of reports. Municipalities Each municipality shall submit reports as follows report on a schedule determined by the department through rulemaking the direct cost of paying benefits through the general assistance program on forms for reimbursement provided by the department.
A. For purposes of this section, those municipalities that received reimbursement at 90% during the previous fiscal year of the State and those municipalities that expect to receive reimbursement at 90% during the current fiscal year of the State must submit monthly reports on forms provided by the department.
B. Those municipalities that did not receive reimbursement at 90% during the previous fiscal year and do not expect to receive reimbursement at 90% for the current fiscal year must submit quarterly or semiannual reports on forms provided by the department.
Indian tribes must submit monthly reports on forms provided by the department.
3. Claims. The Department of Health and Human Services may refuse to accept and pay any claim for reimbursement that is not submitted by a municipality to the department within 90 days of the payment on which that claim is based or at the end of the reporting period for which reimbursement is sought unless just cause exists for failure to file a timely claim.
PART VVVV
Sec. VVVV-1. 36 MRSA §2551, sub-§1-I is enacted to read:
1-I. Business. "Business" means a commercial activity engaged in as a means of livelihood or profit or an entity that engages in such activities.
Sec. VVVV-2. 36 MRSA §2551, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2005, c. 12, Pt. TTT, §2 and affected by §4, is further amended to read:
2. Cable and satellite television or radio services. " Extended cable Cable and satellite television or radio services" means all cable and satellite television service that is in addition to the minimum service that can be purchased from a cable or satellite television supplier or radio services, including the installation or use of associated equipment , for which a charge is made. It does not include installation of the associated equipment for which a separate charge is levied.
Sec. VVVV-3. 36 MRSA §2552, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2013, c. 331, Pt. C, §14 and c. 368, Pt. OOOO, §§2 to 4, is further amended to read:
1. Rate. A Effective January 1, 2016, a tax at the rate of 5% 6% is imposed on the value of the following services sold in this State:
A. Extended cable Cable and satellite television or radio services;
B. Fabrication services;
C. Rental of video media and video equipment;
D. Rental of furniture, audio media and audio equipment pursuant to a rental-purchase agreement as defined in Title 9-A, section 11-105;
E. Telecommunications services;
F. The installation, maintenance or repair of telecommunications equipment;
G. Private nonmedical institution or personal home care services;
H. Community support services for persons with mental health diagnoses;
I. Community support services for persons with intellectual disabilities or autism;
J. Home support services;
L. Ancillary services; and
M. Group residential services for persons with brain injuries.
Sec. VVVV-4. 36 MRSA §2557, sub-§33, as amended by PL 2009, c. 434, §32, is further amended to read:
33. International telecommunications service. Sales of international telecommunications service to a business for use directly in that business;
Sec. VVVV-5. 36 MRSA §2557, sub-§34, as amended by PL 2009, c. 434, §33, is further amended to read:
34. Interstate telecommunications service. Sales of interstate telecommunications service to a business for use directly in that business;
Sec. VVVV-6. 36 MRSA §2557, sub-§35, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 434, §34, is amended to read:
Sec. VVVV-7. 36 MRSA §2557, sub-§36, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 434, §35, is amended to read:
36. Fuel used at a manufacturing facility. Ninety-five percent of the sale price of fabrication services for the production of fuel for use at a manufacturing facility as defined in section 1752, subsection 6-A . ;
Sec. VVVV-8. 36 MRSA §2557, sub-§§37 and 38 are enacted to read:
37. Certain veterans' support organizations. Sales to incorporated nonprofit organizations organized for the purpose of providing direct supportive services in the State to veterans and their families living with service-related post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury; and
38. Nonprofit library collaboratives. Sales to nonprofit collaboratives of academic, public, school and special libraries that provide support for library resource sharing, promote quality library information services and support the cultural, educational and economic development of the State.
Sec. VVVV-9. Effective date. This Part takes effect January 1, 2016, except that the section that enacts the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 36, section 2557, subsections 37 and 38 takes effect October 1, 2015.
PART WWWW
Sec. WWWW-1. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
Initiative: Provides funding to increase the resident homestead property tax exemption by $5,000 in property tax year 2016 and by $10,000 beginning in property tax year 2017.
$0 $10,338,750
GENERAL FUND TOTAL $0 $10,338,750
Initiative: Establishes 2 Tax Examiner positions beginning January 2017 to assist in the implementation of tax changes and provides funding for associated All Other costs. All Other costs include funding for outreach efforts to publicize the new Sales Tax Fairness Credit and other tax changes.
$0 $64,412
$0 $233,894
GENERAL FUND TOTAL $0 $298,306
$0 $10,637,056
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS $0 $10,637,056
Initiative: Allocates funds to reflect the additional revenue due to the increase in the meals and lodging tax rate.
$0 $1,866,521
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL $0 $1,866,521
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS $0 $1,866,521
Initiative: Provides funding to reduce the waiting list for community-based services provided under the MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapters II and III, Section 21: Home and Community Benefits for Members with Intellectual Disabilities or Autistic Disorder.
$2,323,614 $2,327,665
GENERAL FUND TOTAL $2,323,614 $2,327,665
$357,150 $359,986
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL $357,150 $359,986
Initiative: Provides funding to reduce the waiting list for community-based services provided under the MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapters II and III, Section 18: Home and Community-Based Services for Adults with Brain Injury.
$115,278 $115,991
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL $115,278 $115,991
Medicaid Waiver for Brain Injury Residential /Community Serv Z160
Initiative: Provides funding to eliminate the waiting list for community-based services provided under the MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapters II and III, Section 18: Home and Community-Based Services for Adults with Brain Injury.
$3,073,614 $3,077,665
$472,428 $475,977
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS $3,546,042 $3,553,642
$4,462,233 $4,512,064
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND TOTAL $4,462,233 $4,512,064
$1,440,286 $1,453,837
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND TOTAL $1,440,286 $1,453,837
Initiative: Provides additional funding to increase the reimbursement increase provided in Part A for adult family care services at residential care facilities from 3% to 4% beginning July 1, 2015.
$20,747 $20,747
GENERAL FUND TOTAL $20,747 $20,747
$27,331 $27,331
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND TOTAL $27,331 $27,331
Initiative: Provides additional funding to increase the reimbursement increase provided in Part A for private non-medical institutions from 3% to 4% beginning July 1, 2015.
$905,639 $901,588
GENERAL FUND TOTAL $905,639 $901,588
$1,296,283 $1,300,334
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND TOTAL $1,296,283 $1,300,334
Initiative: Provides additional funding for nursing home reimbursements.
$1,981,288 $2,000,319
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND TOTAL $1,981,288 $2,000,319
$190,295 $191,510
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL $190,295 $191,510
Initiative: Provides funding to families with income less than 200% of the federal poverty guidelines by placing funds in family development accounts.
FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND TOTAL $500,000 $500,000
Initiative: Provides funding to increase the number of months eligible individuals may receive transitional transportation benefits from 12 months to 18 months.
$775,878 $775,878
FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND TOTAL $775,878 $775,878
$1,926,386 $1,922,335
$9,207,421 $9,293,885
$1,275,878 $1,275,878
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS $12,599,980 $12,683,608
$5,000,000 $15,637,056
$662,723 $2,534,008
SECTION TOTAL - ALL FUNDS $16,146,022 $28,740,827
This amendment removes the interfund advance of funds for one day at the end of fiscal year 2015-16.
This amendment strikes Part J of the committee amendment and instead indexes the Maine exclusion amount for decedents dying on or after January 1, 2016 to the federal exclusion amount. It also amends the section of the estate tax law that applies to the tax on resident estates to apply the tax rates to each $3,000,000 increment above the yearly exclusion amount.
This amendment increases the homestead property tax exemption by $5,000 to $15,000 for property tax years beginning on April 1, 2016 and by $10,000 to $20,000 for property tax years beginning on or after April 1, 2017. This amendment also increases state reimbursement to 50% for the additional exemption amount for property tax years beginning April 1, 2016 and to 75% for property tax years beginning on or after April 1, 2017.
This amendment provides that for fiscal years 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19 the amount transferred for state-municipal revenue sharing is 2% of revenue from the income tax, the sales tax and a portion of the service provider tax.
This amendment makes the following changes to the individual income tax.
1. This amendment repeals the provision of law requiring the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Maine Revenue Services to provide for the assignment of income tax refunds on income tax returns to the Maine College Savings Program administered by the Finance Authority of Maine.
2. This amendment reduces the individual income tax rates and establishes new tax bracket amounts for tax years beginning after 2015. The proposed rate structure for tax years beginning after December 31, 2015 consists of 5.8%, 6.75% and 7.15% taxable income brackets.
3. This amendment repeals the income subtraction modifications for long-term care premiums paid and for contributions of up to $250 per beneficiary to 529 college tuition plans for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2016.
4. This amendment eliminates the jobs and investment tax credit, the credit for employer-assisted day care, the credit for employer-provided long-term care benefits, the high-technology investment tax credit, the credit for dependent health benefits, the quality child care investment credit and the credit for biofuel commercial production but retains the carry-forward of unused credit amounts for tax years beginning after December 31, 2015.
5. This amendment also eliminates the credit for contributions to family development account reserve funds, the retirement and disability credit and the forest management planning income tax credit and removes refundability of the Maine child care credit refundable for nonresident taxpayers.
6. This amendment also amends the law governing the cost-of-living adjustment of individual income tax rate brackets and the maximum itemized deduction amount and the benefit base amounts in the sales tax fairness credits in order to reflect amendments to the individual income tax rate schedules, enactment of the sales tax fairness credit and phase-out of the standard and itemized deduction deductions for individuals with income exceeding certain levels.
7. This amendment phases out the value of the standard deduction amount or itemized deduction amount, whichever applies, for taxpayers whose Maine adjusted gross income exceeds $70,000 for single individuals and married persons filing separate returns; $105,000 for individuals filing as heads of households; and $140,000 for individuals filing married joint returns or as a surviving spouse.
8. This amendment provides an income tax exemption for all military retirement plan benefits.
9. This amendment establishes, for tax years beginning after 2015, separate Maine standard deduction amounts that previously were equal to the federal standard deduction amounts.
10. This amendment repeals the exception to the itemized deductions limitation applicable to charitable contributions that had applied to tax years beginning after December 31, 2015.
11. This amendment enacts an income tax credit to provide sales tax relief for low-income and middle-income families by providing a base credit that is based on the number of persons claimed as dependents on an income tax return and phased out as family income increases.
12. This amendment makes the earned income credit refundable for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2016.
This amendment provides that the sales tax rate on prepared food and liquor and continues at 8%, that the sales tax on lodging continues at 8% until January 1, 2016, when it increases to 9% and the sales tax rate on other tangible personal property and taxable services continues at 5.5% after June 30, 2015. This amendment also expands the list of food products that are not exempt as grocery staples and are thus subject to sales tax. This Part also provides an exemption from sales tax for certain nonprofit library collaboratives and veterans' support organizations.
This amendment makes the following changes to the laws governing public assistance, which are intended to reward work performed by families receiving public assistance.
1. Child care assistance begins on the date of application if the applicant is eligible.
2. It eliminates the "gross income test" for working TANF recipients.
3. It increases the number of months eligible individuals may receive transitional transportation benefits from 12 months to 18 months.
4. It authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services, beginning in fiscal year 2016-17, to use $500,000 from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant to promote financial literacy and healthy savings habits of families with income less than 200% of the federal poverty guidelines by placing funds in family development accounts.
This amendment changes the reimbursement rates paid by the State for municipal general assistance to 70% of the direct costs incurred by a municipality or Indian tribe beginning with costs incurred on or after July 1, 2015.
This amendment also removes the state reimbursement for administrative costs of a municipality or Indian tribe and changes the reimbursement reporting to a monthly basis for all municipalities and Indian tribes.
This amendment extends the service provider tax to basic cable and satellite television and radio and interstate and international telecommunication services sold to a business. It also enacts service provider tax exemptions for sales to certain nonprofit library collaboratives and certain veterans' support organizations.
This amendment adds funding for:
1. The increase in the homestead property tax exemption amount;
2. The reduction of the waiting list for community-based services for MaineCare members with intellectual disabilities or autistic disorder and adults with brain injury;
3. Nursing home reimbursements; and
4. An increase from 12 to 18 in the number of months an individual may receive transitional transportation benefits under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.