Bill to Repeal California's Rural Fire Tax Approved by Committee.

Friday, March 30, 2012

Bill to Repeal California's Rural Fire Tax Approved by Committee.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A bill to repeal California's Rural Fire Tax was approved by the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources with strong bipartisan support.

A press release was issued Thursday by the office of Northstate Assemblyman and Chief Republican Whip Dan Logue, who co-authored Assembly Bill 1506.

“It is encouraging to see Democrats and Republicans in agreement on this issue,” said Logue. “Rural homeowners should not have to suffer another oppressive tax.”

The bill, authored by Assemblyman Ken Jeffries, will repeal the State Responsibility Area fire prevention fee (aka the Fire Tax) that was passed last year.

According to Logue's office, the state Board of Forestry and Fire Protection enacted regulations in January for the collection of $150 for each “habitable structure” on a property owner’s land; As a result, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association announced that it would sue to stop the implementation of this fee because they believe it violates the California Constitution as an illegally-enacted tax. The bill enacting the Fire Tax was passed without the required two-thirds vote for new taxes and fees.

AB 1506 will have its next hearing before the Assembly Appropriations Committee in April.
Assemblyman Logue represents the 3rd Assembly District in the California Legislature, which includes the communities of Butte, Lassen, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sierra and Yuba.
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Friday, March 30, 2012