(a) The Franchise Tax Board, pursuant to the provisions of Article 3 (commencing with Section 20561), of this chapter, shall provide assistance to the claimant based on a percentage of the property tax accrued and paid by the claimant on the residential dwelling as provided in Section 20543 or the statutory property tax equivalent pursuant to Section 20544. In case of an owner-claimant, the assistance shall be equal to the applicable percentage of property taxes paid on the full value of the residential dwelling up to, and including, thirty-four thousand dollars ($34,000). No assistance shall be allowed for property taxes paid on that portion of full value of a residential dwelling exceeding thirty-four thousand dollars ($34,000). No assistance shall be provided if the amount of the assistance claim is five dollars ($5) or less.

(b) For purposes of allowing assistance provided for by this section:

(1) (A) Only one owner-claimant from one household each year shall be entitled to assistance under this chapter. When two or more individuals of a household are able to meet the qualifications for an owner-claimant, they may determine who the owner-claimant shall be. If they are unable to agree, the matter shall be referred to the Franchise Tax Board and its decision shall be final.

(B) When two or more individuals pay rent for the same premises and each individual meets the qualifications for a renter-claimant, each qualified individual shall be entitled to assistance under this part.

For the purposes of this subparagraph, spouses residing in the same premises shall be presumed to be one renter.

(2) Except as provided in paragraph (3), the right to file a claim shall be personal to the claimant and shall not survive his or her death; however, when a claimant dies after having filed a timely claim, the amount thereof may be disbursed to the surviving spouse and, if no surviving spouse, to any other member of the household who is a qualified claimant. If there is no surviving spouse or otherwise qualified claimant, the claim shall be disbursed to any other member of the household. In the event two or more individuals qualify for payment as either an otherwise qualified claimant or a member of the household, they may determine which of them will be paid. If they are unable to agree, the matter shall be referred to the Franchise Tax Board and its decision shall be final.

(3) If, after January 1 of the property tax fiscal year for which a claim may be filed, a claimant dies without filing a timely claim, a claim on behalf of such claimant may be filed by the surviving spouse within the filing period prescribed in subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 20563.

(4) If an individual postponed taxes for any given property tax fiscal year under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 20581), Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 20625), Chapter 3.3 (commencing with Section 20639), or Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 20640), then any claim for assistance under this chapter for the same property tax fiscal year shall be filed by such individual (assuming all other eligibility requirements in this chapter are satisfied) and not an otherwise qualified member of the individual’s household.

(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 50, Sec. 112. (SB 1005) Effective January 1, 2017.)