S 1170 General Bill, By Hayes
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 12-37-220, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
 1976, RELATING TO PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS, SO AS TO ALLOW THE GOVERNING BODY
 OF A COUNTY BY ORDINANCE TO EXEMPT FROM PROPERTY TAX AN AMOUNT OF THE FAIR
 MARKET VALUE OF THE HOMESTEAD OF A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER UP TO AND INCLUDING
 ONE HUNDRED PERCENT AND TO PROVIDE THAT ONLY A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER
 REGISTERED WITH THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL AND WHO EARNED THE POINTS NECESSARY FOR
 A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER TO CLAIM THE INCOME TAX DEDUCTION ALLOWED VOLUNTEER
 FIREFIGHTERS IN THE MOST RECENTLY COMPLETED INCOME TAX YEAR.

   04/20/04  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-3
   04/20/04  Senate Referred to Committee on Finance SJ-3

TO AMEND SECTION 12-37-220, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS, SO AS TO ALLOW THE GOVERNING BODY OF A COUNTY BY ORDINANCE TO EXEMPT FROM PROPERTY TAX AN AMOUNT OF THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF THE HOMESTEAD OF A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER UP TO AND INCLUDING ONE HUNDRED PERCENT AND TO PROVIDE THAT ONLY A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER REGISTERED WITH THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL AND WHO EARNED THE POINTS NECESSARY FOR A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER TO CLAIM THE INCOME TAX DEDUCTION ALLOWED VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS IN THE MOST RECENTLY COMPLETED INCOME TAX YEAR.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    Section 12-37-220(B) of the 1976 Code is amended by adding an appropriately numbered item at the end to read:

"( )    A percentage of the fair market value subject to tax up to and including one hundred percent as determined by the governing body of a county by ordinance, of a residence of a volunteer firefighter classified for property tax purposes pursuant to Section 12-43-220(c). To be eligible for such an exemption, the volunteer firefighter must be registered with the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Chapter 80 of Title 40 and have earned at least the minimum points pursuant to Section 23-9-190 sufficient to claim the income tax deductions allowed volunteer firefighters for the income tax year most recently completed before the property tax year for which the property tax exemption authorized by this item applies."

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.