Sec. 1. 36 MRSA §6203-A is enacted to read:

§6203-A.__Payment by joint check

A municipality may request that a check issued in payment of a claim under this chapter be issued payable jointly to the claimant and to the municipality if a tax lien has been filed by the municipality in the registry of deeds on the property that is the basis of the claim for payment under this chapter.__A municipality requesting joint payment under this section shall provide the bureau annually, by the date established by the bureau, with a list of all homestead property against which a lien has been filed in the registry of deeds.__The list must contain any other information required by the bureau to match the names of persons on the list with claimants for benefits under this chapter.__The bureau shall compare the list with the names of persons entitled to benefits under this chapter and, if the bureau determines that tax liens have been filed against homestead property owned by any person entitled to benefits under this chapter, the bureau shall issue the payment jointly to the claimant and the municipality.__Any information received by a municipal official or municipal employee under this section must be considered confidential in the same manner as provided in section 191.

Sec. 2. Application. This Act applies to claims submitted under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 36, chapter 907 beginning August 1, 2000.

SUMMARY

This bill provides that a municipality may request that a check issued in payment of a claim under the Maine Residents Property Tax Program be issued payable jointly to the claimant and to the municipality if a tax lien has been filed by the municipality in the registry of deeds on the property that is the basis of the claim. A municipality that requests a joint check must provide annually a list of all liens against homestead property to the Bureau of Revenue Services.