SB 473

This bill enacts the "Veterans Assistance for Livelihood, Opportunity, and Relief (VALOR) Act, "" which exempts certain disabled veterans from certain taxes and fees . FREE HUNTING AND FISHING LICENSE This bill authorize s t he wildlife resources director, through the county clerk s, to issue a free p ermanent sport combination hunting and fishing license to disabled veterans with 100% permanent and total disability from a service-connected cause, as determined by the United States department of veterans affairs. FULL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF Present law requires this state to provide from the general funds to certain disabled veterans the amount necessary to pay or reimburse such taxpayers for all or part of the local property t axes paid for a given tax year on that property that the disabled veteran owned and used as the disabled veteran's residence. Such reimbursement is paid on the first $175, 000 of the full market value of such property. T his bill requires this state to, in stead, pay or reimburse such taxpayers for all of the local property taxes paid for a given tax year on such property. Eligibility As used in this provision, a "" disabled veteran "" means a person who has served in the armed forces of the United States, a nd who has acquired any of the following:  A disability from paraplegia or permanent paralysis of both legs and lower part of the body resulting from traumatic injury or disease to the spinal cord or brain, or from legal blindness, or from loss or loss of use of two or more limbs from any service-connected cause.  100% permanent total disability, as determined by the department of veterans affairs, and such disability resulted from having served as a prisoner of war.  A service-connected permanent and total disability or disabilities, as determined by the department of veterans affairs. Ineligibility Present law prohibits property tax relief from being extended to any person who has been dishonorably discharged from any of the armed services. This bill do es not change this provision. Surviving Spouse Present law requires that property tax relief be extended to the surviving spouse of a disabled veteran who, at the time of the disabled veteran's death, was eligible for disabled veterans' property tax reli ef and certain other requirements are met. This bill does not change this provision. MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION FEE EXEMPTION This bill provides that if an owner or lessee of a motor vehicle is a resident of this state and is a disabled veteran with a 100% permanent and total disability from a service-connected cause, as determined by the department of veterans affairs, then such veteran is exempt from taxes and fees for the registration of one private passenger automobile, recreational vehicle, or tru ck of one-half or three-quarter - ton rating."