SENIOR ASSEMBLY FEDERAL PROPOSAL NO. 10

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER LOPES

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AFP 10: PERSONAL INCOME TAXES: SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS.

UNDER EXISTING FEDERAL LAW, A PORTION OF A PERSON’S SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS MAY BE TAXED AS GROSS INCOME.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD EXEMPT SENIOR CITIZENS 65 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER FROM PAYING INCOME TAXES ON SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

AFP 10: RELATING TO TAXATION

WHEREAS, MORE THAN 50 MILLION PEOPLE RECEIVE SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS; AND

WHEREAS, MANY SENIOR CITIZENS LIVE ON FIXED INCOMES; AND

WHEREAS, COSTS FOR HEALTH CARE, HOUSING, HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE, AND TRANSPORTATION FOR SENIOR CITIZENS HAVE RISEN DRAMATICALLY; AND

WHEREAS, SENIOR CITIZENS HAVE LOST THEIR PURCHASING POWER BY AT LEAST 20 PERCENT DURING THE LAST DECADE; AND

WHEREAS, COST-OF-LIVING INCREASES MAY NOT OCCUR FOR SEVERAL YEARS; AND

WHEREAS, COST-OF-LIVING INCREASES HAVE HELPED PRESERVE THE PURCHASING POWER OF MANY SENIOR CITIZENS; AND

WHEREAS, DECREASING THE INCOME TAXES PAID BY SENIOR CITIZENS WOULD BE AN ENORMOUS FINANCIAL BENEFIT TO MANY SENIOR CITIZENS; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY AND THE SENIOR SENATE, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2011 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT SENIOR CITIZENS 65 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER SHOULD BE EXEMPT FROM PAYING INCOME TAXES ON THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SET FORTH IN THIS MEASURE; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT, THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE CHAIRPERSONS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE COMMITTEES ON AGING, AND TO EACH SENATOR AND REPRESENTATIVE FROM CALIFORNIA IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES.

- 0 -

RN 11 17668