(a) For purposes of Section 2 of Article XIII A of the Constitution, the term “change in ownership” shall not include the acquisition of real property as a replacement for comparable property if the person acquiring the real property has been displaced from property in this state by eminent domain proceedings, by acquisition by a public entity, or by governmental action which has resulted in a judgment of inverse condemnation.
The adjusted base year value of the property acquired shall be the lower of the fair market value of the property acquired or the value which is the sum of the following:
(1) The adjusted base year value of the property from which the person was displaced.
(2) The amount, if any, by which the full cash value of the property acquired exceeds 120 percent of the amount received by the person for the property from which the person was displaced.
The provisions of this section shall apply to eminent domain proceedings, acquisitions, or judgments of inverse condemnation after March 1, 1975, and shall affect only those assessments of that property which occur after June 8, 1982.
(b) (1) A person acquiring replacement property shall request assessment under this section. A request made after four years following the date the property was acquired by eminent domain or purchase, or the date the judgment of inverse condemnation becomes final, shall be subject to subdivision (c).
(2) A change in the adjusted base year value of the replacement property acquired, resulting from the application of the provisions of this section, shall be deemed to be effective on the first day of the month following the month in which the property is acquired. The change in value shall be treated as a change in ownership for the purpose of placing supplemental assessments on the supplemental roll pursuant to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 75). The assessor shall, however, appraise the replacement property acquired in accordance with the provisions of this section rather than the provisions of Section 75.10. The provisions of Chapter 3.5 shall be liberally construed in order to provide the benefits of this section and Section 2 of Article XIII A of the California Constitution to affected property owners at the earliest possible date.
(c) A request for assessment under this section that is made after four years following the date the property was acquired by eminent domain or purchase, or the date the judgment of inverse condemnation becomes final, shall apply to the lien dates for the last four fiscal years with appropriate roll corrections, refunds, or cancellations. Under an assessment granted pursuant to that request, the assessor shall adjust the base year value of the replacement property acquired in accordance with this section and make adjustments for both of the following:
(1) Inflation, as annually determined in accordance with paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 51.
(2) Any subsequent new construction occurring with respect to the subject real property.
(Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 454, Sec. 3. (SB 803) Effective January 1, 2016.)