H.J.R. 13

1

RESOLUTION SUPPORTING WORKING
2 FAMILIES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
3 INITIATIVE
4 2007 GENERAL SESSION
5 STATE OF UTAH
6 Chief Sponsor: Tim M. Cosgrove
7 Senate Sponsor: Dan R. Eastman
8
9 LONG TITLE
10 General Description:
11 This joint resolution of the Legislature supports increasing the utilization of the Federal
12 Earned Income Tax Credit and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance programs to
13 strengthen family economic stability and improve standards of living for low-income
14 working households.
15 Highlighted Provisions:
16 This resolution:
17 . encourages departments of Utah State Government to:
18 . identify and utilize existing and potential mechanisms to inform citizens about
19 the availability of the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Volunteer
20 Income Tax Assistance (VITA) programs;
21 . identify and utilize existing resources to support access to VITA; and
22 . utilize existing state infrastructure, where appropriate, to support EITC outreach
23 and statewide availability of the VITA program.
24 Special Clauses:
25 None
26
27 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:

28 WHEREAS, insufficient income contributes to many of the social and human service
29 needs in our state;
30 WHEREAS, the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) provides tax relief and
31 income support to low-income working families;
32 WHEREAS, the EITC lifts millions of individuals out of poverty each year in the
33 United States by supporting work and self-sufficiency while reducing the need for public
34 assistance;
35 WHEREAS, each year, the EITC helps approximately 130,000 households in Utah and
36 brings more than $220,000,000 into Utah's economy;
37 WHEREAS, increasing Utah's utilization of the EITC to the national average would
38 help approximately 40,000 eligible households and bring an additional $80,000,000 into Utah's
39 economy;
40 WHEREAS, each increase of 10,000 EITC claims produces $17,000,000 in direct EITC
41 payments and generates another $63,000,000 in state and local economic activity;
42 WHEREAS, 211 INFO BANK, a community services and referral system, provides
43 callers with tax credit help, including eligibility rules, and directs workers to nearby VITA sites
44 for needed tax forms and assistance; and
45 WHEREAS, increasing EITC utilization represents a highly cost-effective economic
46 development strategy:
47 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the State of Utah
48 encourages departments of Utah State Government to identify and utilize existing and potential
49 public/private partnerships to inform citizens about the availability of the Federal Earned
50 Income Tax Credit and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance programs.
51 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah encourages
52 each state entity to work in partnership with private outreach campaigns to identify and utilize
53 existing communications mechanisms to inform Utahns about the availability of the EITC and
54 VITA programs, which may include state publications, websites, human resource materials and
55 communications, correspondence and forms from the State Tax Commission, targeted printed
56 materials, caseworker and client interactions, and application materials for state assistance and
57 state licences.
58 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah encourages

59 each state entity to utilize existing state infrastructure, where appropriate, to support EITC
60 outreach and statewide availability of the VITA program, which may include utilizing
61 Department of Workforce Services Employment Centers and other appropriate locations as
62 VITA sites, staffed by trained VITA volunteers, between January and April, encouraging local
63 school districts to integrate EITC outreach and VITA services into their parent involvement
64 and community school efforts, and utilizing economic development tools and negotiations to
65 encourage and support EITC outreach and employment-based VITA sites where appropriate.
66 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be sent to each department
67 of Utah State Government.




Legislative Review Note
as of 2-5-07 8:11 AM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel