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An Act To Implement Recommendations of the Study Commission Regarding Liveable Wages Concerning the Circuit Breaker Program
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 36 MRSA §6201, sub-§11-A,  as amended by PL 2005, c. 2, Pt. E, §2 and affected by §§7 and 8, is further amended to read:
 
11-A.  Rent constituting property taxes accrued for nonelderly household.   “Rent constituting property taxes accrued for nonelderly household” means 20%22% 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. 2. 36 MRSA §6207, sub-§1, ¶A-1,  as amended by PL 2005, c. 2, Pt. E, §4 and affected by §§7 and 8, is further amended to read:
 
A-1.  Fifty 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 $2,000$5,000.
 
SUMMARY
This bill is a recommendation of the Study Commission Regarding Liveable Wages. The bill increases the maximum refund amount for homeowners under the Maine Residents Property Tax Program, the so-called “circuit breaker program,” from $2,000 to $5,000 and increases the renter’s benefit from 20% to 22%.