A forest landowner who has entered into an undue hardship agreement with the Controller for the payment of inheritance taxes pursuant to Section 14143.5 of the Revenue and Taxation Code may apply annually to the director for a grant in the amount of 50 percent of the interest due on the annual installment paid in the current calendar year. To be eligible for such a grant the forest landowner must show that his or her forest land is subject to either:
(a) The provisions of a timberland production zone, pursuant to Chapter 6.7 (commencing with Section 51100) of Part 1 of Division 1 of Title 5 of the Government Code; provided, that no petition is under consideration while the grant is being administered for rezoning pursuant to Section 51120 of the Government Code or immediate rezoning pursuant to Section 51130 of the Government Code.
(b) A contract pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (e) of Section 4797.
The annual installment must be paid on or before the anniversary date of the first installment payment, or the eligible landowner shall be disqualified from receiving a grant pursuant to this section. The eligible landowner shall apply to the director subsequent to the current calendar year, in such form as the director may prescribe, and shall include proof of agreement with the Controller pursuant to Section 14143.5 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, proof of payment of the current calendar year’s annual installment of inheritance taxes, and the amount of the installment payment which constituted interest. An eligible landowner who meets the requirements of this subdivision shall be deemed as having submitted an approved application. Within 60 days after receipt of an approved application, the director shall send to the eligible landowner by certified mail a check in the appropriate amount.
(Amended by Stats. 1982, Ch. 1489, Sec. 34.)