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Senate Bill No. 105

Public Act No. 12-69

AN ACT CONCERNING THE RENTAL REBATE APPLICATION PERIOD.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Subsection (a) of section 12-170f of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2012):

(a) Any renter, believing himself or herself to be entitled to a grant under section 12-170d for any calendar year, shall make application for such grant to the assessor of the municipality in which the renter resides or to the duly authorized agent of such assessor or municipality on or after [May fifteenth] April first and not later than [September fifteenth] October first of each year with respect to such grant for the calendar year preceding each such year, on a form prescribed and furnished by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management to the assessor. A renter may make application to the secretary prior to December fifteenth of the claim year for an extension of the application period. The secretary may grant such extension in the case of extenuating circumstance due to illness or incapacitation as evidenced by a physician's certificate to that extent, or if the secretary determines there is good cause for doing so. A renter making such application shall present to such assessor or agent, in substantiation of the renter's application, a copy of the renter's federal income tax return, and if not required to file a federal income tax return, such other evidence of qualifying income, receipts for money received, or cancelled checks, or copies thereof, and any other evidence the assessor or such agent may require. When the assessor or agent is satisfied that the applying renter is entitled to a grant, such assessor or agent shall issue a certificate of grant, in triplicate, in such form as the secretary may prescribe and supply showing the amount of the grant due. The assessor or agent shall forward the original copy and attached application to the secretary not later than the last day of the month following the month in which the renter has made application. On or after December 1, 1989, any municipality which neglects to transmit to the secretary the claim and supporting applications as required by this section shall forfeit two hundred fifty dollars to the state, provided said secretary may waive such forfeiture in accordance with procedures and standards adopted by regulation in accordance with chapter 54. A duplicate of such certificate with a copy of the application attached shall be delivered to the renter and the assessor or agent shall keep the third copy of such certificate and a copy of the application. After the secretary's review of each claim, pursuant to section 12-120b, and verification of the amount of the grant the secretary shall, not later than September thirtieth of each year prepare a list of certificates approved for payment, and shall thereafter supplement such list monthly. Such list and any supplements thereto shall be approved for payment by the secretary and shall be forwarded by the secretary to the Comptroller, not later than ninety days after receipt of such applications and certificates of grant from the assessor or agent, and the Comptroller shall draw an order on the Treasurer, not later than fifteen days following, in favor of each person on such list and on supplements to such list in the amount of such person's claim and the Treasurer shall pay such amount to such person, not later than fifteen days following. Any claimant aggrieved by the results of the secretary's review shall have the rights of appeal as set forth in section 12-120b. Applications filed under this section shall not be open for public inspection. Any person who, for the purpose of obtaining a grant under section 12-170d, wilfully fails to disclose all matters related thereto or with intent to defraud makes false statement shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars.