SUMMARY:

            This bill would amend Part 1 of Article 2 of Chapter 5 of Title 48 of the O.C.G.A. to grant a new exemption for any veteran with a total or partial service connected to permanent disability.  The percent exemption would equal the percentage of disability.  It would also continue the exemption for un-remarried surviving spouse or minor children; protect current exemptions; and provide for a referendum for approval before it became effective.  It includes an automatic repeal provision if the referendum fails.

REQUIREMENTS:

• It would remove the provision of “wartime” veteran and opens it to any veteran who is totally disabled and would add partially disability to the eligibility.
• It would remove all the previous definitions of what physical conditions constitute eligible disability and changes the percentage of exemption to the percentage of the disability.
• The only requirement would be for the veteran to present his/her discharge to the tax commissioner of the county, and the exemption would be automatically renewed each year.
• It would make this exemption an additional one to whatever already applies.
• It would call for a state-wide referendum on the Act, and if a majority voted yes, it would become effective on January1, 2011. 
• If it should fail in the referendum, it would automatically be repealed the following January 1.