(a) An individual taxpayer, whose legal residence is located in an Alabama Insurance Underwriting Association zone pursuant to Section 27-1-17, shall be allowed a deduction from taxable income, regardless of whether the taxpayer itemizes his or her income tax deductions, in calculating the income tax imposed pursuant to Section 40-18-5, for certain retrofit costs as described in this section. The deduction shall be allowed for the costs incurred to retrofit, as specified in Section 27-31D-2, a structure qualifying as the legal residence of a taxpayer to make the residence more resistant to loss due to a hurricane, tornado, or other catastrophic windstorm event.

(b) In order to qualify for the state income tax deduction allowed pursuant to this section, the costs may not include ordinary repair or replacement of existing items, and shall be associated with those fortification measures defined in Chapter 31D of Title 27, designed to increase the resistance of the residence to hurricane, tornado, or catastrophic windstorm event damage. A taxpayer claiming the deduction shall receive certification, as prescribed by Chapter 31D of Title 27, that the fortification measures were implemented and costs were incurred, and shall provide the certification upon request of the Department of Revenue to prove the taxpayer is entitled to the deduction.

(c) The aggregate tax deduction allowed pursuant to this section for all taxable years beginning with the 2011 tax year shall not exceed the lesser of the following:

(1) Fifty percent of the retrofitting cost incurred.

(2) Three thousand dollars ($3,000).

(d) The cost of items that otherwise qualify for the deduction that are purchased with any available grant funds are not eligible for this deduction if the grants are not included in the income of the taxpayer.

(e) Costs incurred by the taxpayer and used as the basis for a deduction under Section 40-18-15.5 may not be used as the basis for a deduction under this section. The deductions under Section 40-18-15.5 and this section combined may not exceed three thousand dollars ($3,000).