Sec. 1. 36 MRSA §683, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 643, Pt. HHH, §3 and affected by §10, is amended to read:

1. Exemption amount. The estate up to the just value of $7,000 $3,000 of the homestead of a permanent resident of this State who has owned a homestead in this State for the preceding 12 months is exempt from taxation except for assessments for special benefits. In determining the local assessed value of the exemption, the assessor shall multiply the amount of the exemption by the ratio of current just value upon which the assessment is based as furnished in the assessor's annual return pursuant to section 383. If the title to a homestead is held by the applicant jointly or in common with others, the exemption may not exceed $7,000 $3,000 of the just value of the homestead, but may be apportioned among the owners who reside on the property to the extent of their respective interests. A municipality responsible for administering the homestead exemption has no obligation to create separate accounts for each partial interest in a homestead owned jointly or in common.

Sec. 2. 36 MRSA §6201, sub-§11-A, as amended by PL 1999, c. 401, Pt. R, §1 and affected by §2, is further amended to read:

11-A. Rent constituting property taxes accrued for nonelderly household. "Rent constituting property taxes accrued for nonelderly household" means 18% 20% of the gross rent actually paid in cash or its equivalent in any tax year by a claimant and the claimant's household solely for the right of occupancy of their Maine homestead in the tax year and which rent constitutes the basis, in the succeeding calendar year, of a claim for relief under this chapter by the claimant.

Sec. 3. 36 MRSA §6207, as amended by PL 1999, c. 494, §1, is further amended to read:

§6207. Benefits for nonelderly households

A claimant representing a nonelderly household qualifies for the following benefits subject to the following income limitations.

1. Benefit calculation. For claimants representing a nonelderly household, the benefit is calculated as follows:

A-1. Fifty Eighty percent of that portion of the benefit base that exceeds 4% but does not exceed 8% of income plus 100% of that portion of the benefit base that exceeds 8% of income to a maximum payment of $1,000 $3,000.