H.J.R. 23 Enrolled

1

RESOLUTION SUPPORTING WORKING
2 FAMILIES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
3 INITIATIVE
4 2006 GENERAL SESSION
5 STATE OF UTAH
6 Chief Sponsor: Tim M. Cosgrove
7 Senate Sponsor: Carlene M. Walker
8 Cosponsor:Peggy Wallace 9
10 LONG TITLE
11 General Description:
12 This joint resolution of the Legislature supports increasing the utilization of the Federal
13 Earned Income Tax Credit and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance programs to
14 strengthen family economic stability and improve standards of living for low-income
15 working households.
16 Highlighted Provisions:
17 This resolution:
18 . encourages departments of Utah State Government to:
19 . identify and utilize existing and potential mechanisms to inform citizens about
20 the availability of the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Volunteer
21 Income Tax Assistance (VITA) programs;
22 . identify and utilize existing resources to support access to Volunteer Income
23 Tax Assistance; and
24 . utilize existing state infrastructure, where appropriate, to support EITC outreach
25 and statewide availability of the VITA program.
26 Special Clauses:
27 None
28
29 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:

30 WHEREAS, insufficient income contributes to many of the social and human service
31 needs in our state;
32 WHEREAS, the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) provides tax relief and
33 income support to low-income working families;
34 WHEREAS, the EITC lifts millions of individuals out of poverty each year in the
35 United States by supporting work and self-sufficiency while reducing the need for public
36 assistance;
37 WHEREAS, each year, the EITC helps approximately 130,000 households in Utah and
38 brings more than $220,000,000 into Utah's economy;
39 WHEREAS, increasing Utah's utilization of the EITC to the national average would
40 help approximately 40,000 eligible households and bring an additional $80,000,000 into Utah's
41 economy;
42 WHEREAS, an increase of $80,000,000 each year in EITC benefits would generate
43 over $300,000,000 per year in state and local economic activity;
44 WHEREAS, 211 INFO BANK, a community services and referral system, provides
45 callers with tax credit help, including eligibility rules, and directs workers to nearby VITA sites
46 for needed tax forms and assistance; and
47 WHEREAS, increasing EITC utilization represents a highly cost-effective economic
48 development strategy:
49 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the State of Utah
50 encourages departments of Utah State Government to identify and utilize existing and potential
51 public/private partnerships to inform citizens about the availability of the Federal Earned
52 Income Tax Credit and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance programs.
53 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah encourages
54 each state entity to work in partnership with private outreach campaigns to identify and utilize
55 existing communications mechanisms to inform Utahns about the availability of the EITC and
56 VITA programs, which may include state publications, websites, human resource materials and
57 communications, correspondence and forms from the State Tax Commission, targeted printed

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