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The executive
Director of the Missouri Commission for the Deaf (MCD) submitted
written testimony in conditional support of SB 982 at the hearing
before the Senate Ways and Means Committee earlier this week
(Tuesday, February 19). SB 982 would enact a tax credit for
individuals with disabilities to help cover the costs of making
accessibility modifications to their homes.
The bill provides a tax credit of up to $2,500 for taxpayers who
incur expenses for making their homes accessible. The taxpayer must
have an adjusted gross income of less than $60,000. Those having
incomes between $30,000 and $60,000 could get a credit for up to 50
percent of their expenses. Persons with incomes of $30,000 or less
could receive a credit for up to 100 percent of their expenses.
Eligible costs for which the credit could be claimed include:
Constructing entrance or exit ramps; widening doorways, widening
hallways, installing handrails or grab bars; moving electrical
outlets and switches; installing stairway lifts; modifying fire
alarms, smoke detectors and other warning systems; and modifying
hardware on doors. The credit would be refundable, so even persons
who do not earn enough to have much tax liability could still claim
the credit.
MCD's support was offered conditional upon making it explicit in the
bill that the credit would apply to "installation or modification of
fire alarms, smoke detectors, and other signaling devices used by
people who are deaf and hard of hearing." After the committee
hearing was over, Senator Kennedy, the sponsor of the bill, agreed
to incorporate the suggested new language in the bill making it
absolutely clear that the tax credit would apply to deaf and hard of
hearing individuals who paid to make accessibility modifications in
their homes.
Advocates who wish to support this bill can do so by contacting the
members of the Senate Ways and Means Committee and asking them to
support SB 982 with the clarification that it would apply to deaf
and hard of hearing people making accessibility modifications in
their homes. The members of that committee are as follows:
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This report
is being posted by the Missouri Commission for the Deaf for your
information purposes. |
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