HEA 1234 Summary

• Amends property tax statement requirements effective July 1, 2014, to include comparisons of assessed valuations and tax liabilities year-over-year, with percentage change calculations for each taxing unit.

• Allows county treasurers to transmit property tax statements and related documents by electronic mail instead of regular mail if a county adopts an authorizing ordinance and the taxpayer requests it at least 30 days before the mailing date.

• Permits school corporations in "covered counties" to transfer up to 20% of their 2014 certified debt service fund budget to their rainy day fund before September 1, 2014, provided it does not endanger bondholders' or lessors' interests.

• Creates new standards of conduct for township assessors, county assessors, appraisers, and tax representatives, establishing prohibitions on misleading assessments, fraud, predetermined conclusions, and bias, with certification revocation authority for violations.

• Establishes a certification appeal board composed of 7 members to hear appeals from assessors and appraisers whose certifications are revoked by the department for gross incompetence or violations of professional standards.