Whereas, unemployment benefits are currently subject to Maine income tax; and

Whereas, unemployment benefits are usually less than the amount the unemployed person was earning; and

Whereas, income tax on unemployment benefits further reduces the amount of income to those persons who are unemployed, thereby adding further pecuniary injury; 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 §5122, sub-§2, ¶Q, as corrected by RR 2003, c. 1, §38, is amended to read:

Q. A fraction of any amount previously added back by the taxpayer to federal adjusted gross income pursuant to subsection 1, paragraph N.

(1) With respect to property first placed in service during taxable years beginning in 2002, the adjustment under this paragraph is available for each year during the recovery period, beginning 2 years after the beginning of the taxable year during which the property was first placed in service. The fraction is equal to the amount added back under subsection 1, paragraph N with respect to the property, divided by the number of years in the recovery period minus 2.

(2) With respect to all other property, for the taxable year immediately following the taxable year during which the property was first placed in service, the fraction allowed by this paragraph is equal to 5% of the amount added back under subsection 1, paragraph N with respect to the property. For each subsequent taxable year during the recovery period, the fraction is equal to 95% of the amount added back under subsection 1, paragraph N with respect to the property, divided by the number of years in the recovery period minus 2.