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RELATING TO TAXATION

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 44-3-13 of the General Laws in Chapter 44-3 entitled "Property Subject to Taxation" is hereby amended to read as follows:

44-3-13. Exemption of persons over the age of 65 years -- (a) The finance director of the city of Warwick may provide to exempt from taxation real or personal property located within the city of any person sixty-five (65) years or over, which exemption is in an amount not exceeding six thousand dollars ($6,000) of valuation and which exemption is in addition to any and all other exemptions from taxation and tax credits to which the person may be entitled by this chapter or any other provision of law.

(b) The city council of the city of Cranston may by ordinance exempt from valuation for taxation the real property situated in the city and owned and occupied by any person over the age of 65 years, which exemption is in an amount not exceeding nine thousand dollars ($9,000) and which exemption is in addition to any and all other exemptions from taxation to which the person may be otherwise entitled. The exemption shall be applied uniformly and without regard to ability to pay.

(c) The city council of the city of Cranston may by ordinance exempt from valuation for taxation the property subject to the excise tax situated in the city and owned by any person over the age of sixty-five (65) years, not owning real property, which exemption is in an amount not exceeding three thousand dollars ($3,000) and which exemption is in addition to any and all other exemptions from taxation to which the person may be otherwise entitled. The exemption shall be applied uniformly and without regard to ability to pay.

(d) The city of Central Falls may by ordinance exempt from taxation, real or personal property located within the city of any person sixty-five (65) years or over, which exemption shall be in an amount not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000) of valuation and which exemption is in addition to any and all other exemptions from taxation and tax credits to which the person may be entitled by this chapter or any other provision of law.

(e) The town council of the town of North Providence may by ordinance exempt from valuation for taxation the real property located within the town of any person sixty-five (65) years or over, which exemption is in amount not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000) of valuation and which exemption shall be in addition to any and all other exemptions from taxation and tax credits to which the person may be entitled by this chapter or any other provision of law.

(f) The town council of the town of Warren may by ordinance exempt from taxation the real property situated in the town owned and occupied by any person over the age of sixty-five (65) years, and which exemption is in amount not exceeding sixteen thousand five hundred dollars ($16,500) of valuation and which exemption is in addition to any and all other exemptions from taxation to which the person may be otherwise entitled. The exemption shall be applied uniformly and without regard to ability to pay; provided, that only one exemption shall be granted to cotenants, joint tenants, and tenants by the entirety, even though all of the cotenants, joint tenants, and tenants by the entirety are sixty-five (65) years of age or over. The exemption applies to a life tenant who has the obligation for the payment of the tax on the real property.

(g) The town council of the town of Tiverton may by ordinance exempt from taxation the real property situated in the town owned and occupied by any person over the age of sixty-five (65) years, and which exemption is in an amount not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000) of valuation, and which exemption is in addition to any and all other exemptions from taxation to which the person may be otherwise entitled. The exemption shall be applied uniformly and without regard to ability to pay; provided, that only one exemption shall be granted to cotenants, joint tenants, and tenants by the entirety, even though all of the cotenants, joint tenants, and tenants by the entirety are sixty-five (65) years of age or over. The exemption applies to a life tenant who has the obligation for the payment of the tax on real property.

(h) The town council of the town of Westerly may by ordinance exempt from taxation the real property situated in the town owned and occupied by any person over the age of sixty-five (65) years, and which exemption is in an amount and pursuant to any income limitations that the council may prescribe in the ordinance from time to time, and which exemption is in addition to any and all other exemptions from taxation to which the person may be otherwise entitled. The exemption shall be applied uniformly and without regard to ability to pay; provided, however, that only one exemption shall be granted to cotenants, joint tenants, and tenants by the entirety, even though all of the cotenants, joint tenants, and tenants by the entirety are sixty-five (65) years of age or over. The exemption applies to a life tenant who has the obligation for the payment of the tax on real property.

(i) The town of Bristol may exempt from taxation the real estate situated in the town owned and occupied by any resident over the age of sixty-five (65) years, as of the preceding December 31st; or, over the age of seventy (70) years, as of the preceding December 31st; or, over the age of seventy-five (75) years, as of the preceding December 31st, and which exemption is in addition to any and all other exemptions from taxation to which the resident may otherwise be entitled. The exemption shall be applied uniformly and without regard to ability to pay; provided, that only one exemption shall be granted to cotenants, joint tenants, and tenants by the entirety, even though all the cotenants, joint tenants and tenants by the entirety are sixty-five (65) years of age or over as of the preceding December 31st. The exemption applies to a life tenant who has the obligation for payment of the tax on real estate. The town council of the town of Bristol shall, by ordinance, establish the value of this exemption.

(j) The town council of the town of Lincoln may, by ordinance, exempt from taxation the real property, situated in said town, owned and occupied for a period of five (5) years by any person over the age of sixty-five (65) years, which exemption shall be in an amount not exceeding $15,000 twenty-four thousand four hundred and forty dollars ($24,440) of valuation, and which exemption shall be in addition to any and all other exemptions from taxation to which said person may be otherwise entitled. Said exemption shall be applied uniformly and without regard to ability to pay.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.