A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4104 AS INTRODUCED 1-31-01

The bill would amend the Income Tax Act to allow one additional exemption of $1,500 to a taxpayer providing primary care for a family member older than 60 years of age, if the primary care was preventing the institutionalization of the family member, as determined by the Family Independence Agency. (An exemption reduces taxable income when calculating tax liability.) As introduced, the bill would apply to tax years beginning after December 31, 2000.

The term "family member" would be defined to mean the taxpayer's present or former spouse, natural or adoptive parent, natural or adopted child, sibling, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, first cousin, stepparent, stepbrother, or stepsister, or a person defined as a dependent under Section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code. The definition would also include an individual who would be included in the above categories except that he or she was a half-blood relative, a relative of an adoptive parent, or a relative from the preceding generation as denoted by the prefixes "grand", "great", or "great-great".

"Primary care" would be defined to mean acts that met the physical or mental requirements of a family member who could not meet those requirements without assistance or supervision. This could include those relating to health, safety, nutrition, hygiene, homemaking, or other activities of daily living.

MCL 206.30

Analyst: C. Couch

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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.