Disaster Relief Legislation for Victims of Santa Barbara County´s Tea Fire
California Political Desk
November 17, 2008
Sacramento, CA – Assemblymember Pedro Nava, Chair of the Joint Committee on Emergency Services and Homeland Security and member of the Governor´s Emergency Council announced that disaster relief legislation is being drafted for victims of the Santa Barbara County Tea Fire.
My measure will bring much needed assistance to those who suffer losses and devastation as a result of the Tea Fire currently being fought in Santa Barbara County," said Nava. "Property owners should not be penalized when a natural disaster strikes. The state owes it to its residents and local governments to provide much needed relief when a disaster occurs."
This legislation will provide disaster relief for the victims of Santa Barbara County´s Tea Fire. Specifically, it will allow the victims whose homes are damaged to receive a homeowner´s property tax exemption while their home is being repaired or rebuilt even if they can not live in the property during that time. Additionally, it will allow taxpayers to deduct excess disaster losses not compensated for by insurance, for up to five years on income tax returns. It will also provide much needed state reimbursements of local property tax losses to the counties resulting from the downward property tax assessments of properties damaged by the fire.
Assemblymember Nava sent a letter asking Governor Schwarzenegger to declare a state of emergency for the Santa Barbara County Tea Fire. The Governor responded to the request by issuing a proclamation of a state of emergency this morning for the Tea Fire. The proclamation and the disaster relief legislation will bring vital federal and state aid to those impacted by the fire, as well as resources to those local, state and federal agencies in the ongoing firefighting efforts.
My measure will bring much needed assistance to those who suffer losses and devastation as a result of the Tea Fire currently being fought in Santa Barbara County," said Nava. "Property owners should not be penalized when a natural disaster strikes. The state owes it to its residents and local governments to provide much needed relief when a disaster occurs."
This legislation will provide disaster relief for the victims of Santa Barbara County´s Tea Fire. Specifically, it will allow the victims whose homes are damaged to receive a homeowner´s property tax exemption while their home is being repaired or rebuilt even if they can not live in the property during that time. Additionally, it will allow taxpayers to deduct excess disaster losses not compensated for by insurance, for up to five years on income tax returns. It will also provide much needed state reimbursements of local property tax losses to the counties resulting from the downward property tax assessments of properties damaged by the fire.
Assemblymember Nava sent a letter asking Governor Schwarzenegger to declare a state of emergency for the Santa Barbara County Tea Fire. The Governor responded to the request by issuing a proclamation of a state of emergency this morning for the Tea Fire. The proclamation and the disaster relief legislation will bring vital federal and state aid to those impacted by the fire, as well as resources to those local, state and federal agencies in the ongoing firefighting efforts.
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