Disaster Relief Bill Passed in House Ways and Means Committee.
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Disaster Relief Bill Passed in House Ways and Means Committee.

Date: September 8, 2011
By: Stacey Kafka
State Capitol Bureau

Intro: 
A House Committee passed legislation on Joplin relief, but left some decisions up to property assessors.
RunTime:  0:26
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: The bill provides tax relief for businesses destroyed by natural disasters this year.

Sponsor Bill White of Joplin says his bill only applies to properties that were completely destroyed, but does not tell property assessors what the definition of destroyed is. 

Actuality:  WHITE5.WAV
Run Time:  00:06
Description: "I'm not trying to tell the assessor how to do their job. My guess is that it probably varies across counties."

The bill passed in the committee 11-0. 

From the state Capitol, I'm Stacey Kafka.

Intro: 
A disaster relief bill puts tough penalties on those making fraudulent claims over destroyed property.
RunTime:  0:32
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: The bill would produce a commercial property tax break. 

Those who want to reap the benefits of tax breaks but are using the property for other business practices would be ineligible for this aid.

Sponsor Bill White of Joplin says he hopes this penalty will get rid of problems with fraud.

Actuality:  WHITE3.WAV
Run Time:  00:04
Description: "We try to not let them fudge the system, that's part of the double penalty."

Those making fraudulent claims over destroyed property would be charged double the assessed property value and face other penalties with the law.

From the state Capitol, I'm Stacey Kafka.