Whereas, fair administration of the Maine Residents Property Tax Program requires that additional information be submitted with each claim; and

Whereas, claims may be filed beginning August 1, 1999; and

Whereas, a change in law to require the filing of additional information must be made to coincide with the filing period; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 36 MRSA §6210, first ¶, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 516, §§3 and 6, is amended to read:

The State Tax Assessor assessor shall make available suitable forms with instructions for claimants. The claim shall must be in the form the State Tax Assessor assessor may prescribe and shall must be signed by the claimant. The assessor shall prescribe methods for a claimant to provide proof of payment of property taxes accrued or rent constituting property taxes accrued that are to be included in the calculation of the benefit base pertaining to the claim.

Sec. 2. 36 MRSA §6214, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 516, §§3 and 6, is amended to read:

§6214. Disallowance of certain claims

A claim shall must be disallowed, if the State Tax Assessor assessor finds that the claimant received title to his the homestead primarily for the purpose of receiving benefits under this chapter or if the claimant fails to provide proof of payment as described in section 6210.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.