2013 -- H 5844

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LC01872

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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A N A C T

RELATING TO TAXATION - SALES AND USE TAXES - LIABILITY AND

COMPUTATION

     Introduced By: Representatives Walsh, Cimini, Lally, Tomasso, and Ferri

     Date Introduced: March 06, 2013

     Referred To: House Finance

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 44-18-30B. of the General Laws in Chapter 44-18 entitled "Sales

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and Use Taxes - Liability and Computation" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     44-18-30B. Exemption from sales tax for sales by writers, composers, artists --

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Findings. -- (a) The general assembly makes the following findings of facts:

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      (1) The downtown area of the city of Providence has been characterized by blighted

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areas, and dilapidated and abandoned structures;

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      (2) As a result, the downtown area has been designated an economic development zone

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in order to stop the deterioration and stimulate economic activity;

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      (3) The capitol center area of the city of Providence has become an attractive location,

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especially with the construction of the Providence Place Mall;

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      (4) In order to promote, revitalize and redevelop the "Old Downtown" area of the city of

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Providence it is necessary to provide tax exemptions to this area as it has been designated as an

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economic development zone;

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      (5) In order to promote, revitalize, and redevelop the "Downtown or other industrial or

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manufacturing buildings" located in the City of Pawtucket, it is necessary to provide tax

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exemptions to this area as it has been designated as an economic development zone;

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      (6) The development of an active artistic community, including "artists in residence", in

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this area would promote economic development, revitalization, tourism, employment

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opportunities, and encourage business development by providing alternative commercial

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enterprises while in Providence creating a link between the Old Downtown and the Capital Center

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Area;

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      (7) There is a separate artistic community in the town of Westerly which is important to

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preserve, promote, and revitalize, and which is distinct from that in the city of Providence;

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      (8) There is a separate artistic community in the city of Woonsocket which is important

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to promote and revitalize and which is distinct from that in the cities of Providence and Pawtucket

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and the town of Westerly;

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      (9) There is a separate artistic community in the city of Warwick which is important to

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preserve, promote, and revitalize and which is distinct from that in the cities of Providence,

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Pawtucket, Woonsocket and the town of Westerly;

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      (10) There are separate artistic communities in the city of Newport and in the town of

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Tiverton which are important to promote and revitalize and which are distinct from those in the

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cities of Providence, Pawtucket, Warwick and Woonsocket and the towns of Westerly and Little

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Compton;

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      (11) There is a separate artistic community in the town of Warren which is important to

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promote and revitalize and which is distinct from that in the cities of Providence, Pawtucket,

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Newport, Warwick and Woonsocket and the towns of Westerly and Tiverton.

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     (1) The arts and culture are a significant asset for Rhode Island, one which generates

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revenue through increased tourism and economic activity, creates jobs and economic

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opportunities, revitalizes communities adding to quality of life and property values, and fosters

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creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

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     (2) Since 1998 the establishment of arts districts where "one-of-a-kind limited

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production" works of art may be sold exempt from state sales tax has resulted in an increased

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presence for the arts in designated cities and towns, with benefits to those communities and to the

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state.

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     (3) Since the establishment of arts districts, many communities have sought legislation to

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expand the program to their city or town.

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     (4) There is value in expanding the arts district program statewide, providing incentives

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for the sale and purchase of art. This is a unique opportunity for Rhode Island to shape history,

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and gain an advantage over other states, by becoming the first and only state in the country to

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declare a statewide sales tax exemption on art. This will strengthen Rhode Island's identity as an

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arts-friendly destination and "State of the Arts".

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      (b) (1) This section only applies to sales by writers, composers and artists residing in and

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conducting a business within the state of Rhode Island. a section of the defined economic

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development zone in the cities of Providence or Pawtucket, or the defined economic development

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zone in the town of Westerly or the defined economic zone in the city of Woonsocket, or the

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defined economic zone in the city of Warwick, or in those areas within the city of Newport, and

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the town of Little Compton, which are zoned "general business," "waterfront business," or

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"limited business" or have been designated by the city of Newport as part of the arts district, or in

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those areas of the town of Warren which are zoned "waterfront district," "special district,"

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"village business district," "manufacturing district," "business district" or "Warren historic

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district," or in those areas of the town of Tiverton which are zoned "business commercial,"

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"business waterfront" or "village commercial." For the purposes of this section, a "work" means

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an original and creative work, whether written, composed or executed for "one-of-a-kind limited"

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production and which falls into one of the following categories:

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      (i) A book or other writing;

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      (ii) A play or the performance of said play;

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      (iii) A musical composition or the performance of said composition;

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      (iv) A painting, print, photograph or other like picture;

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      (v) A sculpture;

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      (vi) Traditional and fine crafts;

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      (vii) The creation of a film or the acting within the film;.

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      (viii) The creation of a dance or the performance of the dance.

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      (2) For the purposes of this section, a "work" includes any product generated as a result

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of any of the above categories.

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      (3) For the purposes of this section, a "work" does not apply to any piece or performance

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created or executed for industry oriented, commercial or related production.

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      (c) (1) This section applies to sales by any individual:

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      (i) Who is a resident of and has a principal place of business situated in the state of

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Rhode Island. section of the economic development zone designated as the arts and entertainment

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district in the downtown area of the city of Providence or in the city of Pawtucket, or the defined

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economic development zone in the town of Westerly or the defined economic zone in the city of

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Woonsocket, or the defined economic zone in the city of Warwick, or who is a resident of and has

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a principal place of business situated in those areas within the city of Newport or the town of

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Little Compton, which are zoned "general business," "waterfront business," or "limited business,"

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or have been designated by the city of Newport as part of the arts district, or who is a resident of

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and has a principal place of business situated in those areas within the town of Warren which are

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zoned "waterfront district," "special district," "village business district," "manufacturing district,"

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"business district" or "Warren historic district," or who is a resident or has a principal place of

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business situated in those areas within the town of Tiverton which are zoned "business

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commercial," "business waterfront" or "village commercial." For the purposes of this section, the

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Providence arts and entertainment district in Providence is defined as the area bounded by Pine

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Street to the southeast, Dorrance Street to the northeast, Sabin Street to the northwest and Empire

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Street to the southwest. Said Providence arts and entertainment district also includes the area

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beginning at the point of intersection of Acorn Street and Harris Avenue, then turning east onto

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Atwells Avenue to Service Road 7, then turning southerly onto Service Road 7 to Westminster

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Street, then turning westerly onto Westminster Street, continuing until Bridgham, then turning

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south onto Bridgham to Cranston Street, then turning southwesterly onto Cranston Street, then

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continuing to Messer Street, then turning north onto Messer Street to Westminster Street, turning

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west onto Westminster Street to US Hwy 6 off ramp, then heading west on US Hwy 6 to Sheridan

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Street, then heading northeast on Sheridan Street to Aleppo Street, then turning southeast along

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Aleppo Street to Pelham Street, then heading northeast on Pelham Street to Manton Avenue, then

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continuing southeast on Manton Avenue until Delaine Street, then heading northeast on Delaine

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Street until Appleton Street, then continuing northwesterly on Appleton Street until Bowdoin

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Street, then heading north on Bowdoin Street until Barstow Street, then heading east on Barstow

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until Valley Street, then heading northeast on Valley Street to Hemlock Street, then turning

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southeast on Hemlock Street until Promenade Street, then heading east on Promenade Street to

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Acorn Street, then heading south on Acorn Street to the intersection of Acorn Street and Harris

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Avenue. The named streets are included in the Providence district; and in Pawtucket is defined as

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the area beginning at the point of intersection of Dexter Street and the Central Falls line, then east

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along the Central Falls line to the Blackstone River, then north along the city boundary on the

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Blackstone River to the Cumberland line, then west along the Pawtucket city boundary line to I-

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95, then south along I-95 to Pine Street, then north on Pine Street to AMTRAK Right of Way,

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then northwest along the AMTRAK Right of Way to Dexter Street, then north on Dexter Street to

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the Central Falls line. The named streets are included in the district. The Westerly arts and

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entertainment district is defined as assessor's plat 56, lots 1 through 24, lot 48, lots 50 through 62,

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and lots 71 through 82, and assessors plat 66, lots 22 through 26, and lots 29 through 36 the

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Woonsocket arts and entertainment district is defined as the area beginning at a point of land on

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the southwest bank of the Blackstone River abutting the bridge for the Providence & Worcester

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Railroad and proceeding northerly to a point at the intersection of Worrall Street, Clinton Street

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and Harry S. Truman Drive, then proceeding northwesterly along Worrall Street to its intersection

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with Social Street, then turning westerly on Social Street proceeding to its intersection with Main

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Street, Blackstone Street and North Main Street, then turning northwesterly and proceeding along

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Blackstone Street to its intersection with River Street, then turning northerly and proceeding

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along River Street to its intersection with the north/east bank of Blackstone River, then following

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the riverbank southerly to the bridge at Bernon Street and turning easterly crossing the Blackstone

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River via Bernon Street and proceeding to its intersection with Front Street, then turning

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northeasterly on Front Street and proceeding to its intersection with Hamlet Avenue, and to

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include the former courthouse on the southerly side of Front Street at its intersection with Hamlet

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Avenue, then turning easterly on Hamlet Avenue and proceeding to its intersection with Manville

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Road, then turning southeasterly on Manville Road and proceeding to its intersection with

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Davison Avenue, then turning northeasterly on Davison Avenue and proceeding to a point on the

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south/west bank of the Blackstone River, then turning northerly, following the southerly

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riverbank to the point of beginning. The abovementioned streets are included in the district. The

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Warwick arts district is defined as that area known as Pontiac Village, beginning on Route 5 at

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the Warwick/Cranston municipal boundary, then south to the intersection of Route 5 and the

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Pawtuxet River, then following the Pawtuxet River in an easterly and northerly direction to the

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municipal boundary in the vicinity of Knight Street, then from the intersection of Knight Street

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and the municipal boundary westerly along the Warwick/Cranston municipal boundary to the

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intersection of Route 5 and Greenwich Avenue. The above named streets are included in the

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district.

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      (ii) Who is determined by the tax administrator in consultation with the Rhode Island

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council on the arts, after consideration of any evidence he or she deems necessary or which is

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submitted to him or her by the individual, to have written, composed, or executed, either solely or

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jointly, a work or works which would fall into one of the categories listed in subsection (b)(1).

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      (2) This section also applies to sales by any other gallery located in the state of Rhode

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Island. arts and entertainment district described in subsection (c)(1)(i) as well as any other arts

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and entertainment district designated by the general assembly, as well as to sales by any other

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gallery located in those areas within the city of Newport, or the town of Little Compton, which

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are zoned "general business," "waterfront business," or "limited business" or have been

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designated by the city of Newport as part of the arts district, as well as to sales by any other

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gallery located in those areas within the town of Warren which are zoned "waterfront district,"

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"special district," "village business district," "manufacturing district," "business district" or

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"Warren historic district," as well as to sales by any other gallery located in those areas within the

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town of Tiverton which are zoned "business commercial," "business waterfront" or "village

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commercial."

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      (3) The tax administrator shall not make a determination unless:

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      (i) The individual(s) concerned duly make(s) an application to the tax administrator for

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the sales tax exemption which applies to the works defined in this section; and

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      (ii) The individual has complied and continues to comply with any and all requests made

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by the tax administrator.

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      (d) Any individual to whom this section applies and who makes an application to the tax

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administrator is entitled to a sales tax exemption for the sale of a work or works sold from the

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individual's business located in the economic development zone State of Rhode Island which

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would, apart from this section, be subject to the tax rate imposed by the state of Rhode Island.

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      (e) When an individual makes a request for the exemption, the tax administrator is

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entitled to all books, documents, or other evidence relating to the publication, production or

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creation of the works that may be deemed necessary by the tax administrator for the purposes of

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the exemption. The time period in which to provide this information is in the sole discretion of

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the tax administrator and specified in the notice.

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      (f) In addition to the information required in subsection (e), the tax administrator may

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require the individual(s) to submit an annual certified accounting of the numbers of works sold,

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the type of work sold, and the date of the sale. Failure to file this report may, in the sole discretion

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of the tax administrator, terminate the individual's eligibility for the exemption.

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      (g) Any person storing, using, or otherwise consuming in this state any work or works

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which is deemed to be exempt from the sales tax pursuant to this section is not liable for the use

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tax on the work or works.

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      (h) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, any individual to whom this section

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may apply shall comply with all the administration, collection, and other provisions of chapters

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18 and 19 of this title.

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     (4) The Rhode Island council on the arts will oversee the transition to a statewide arts

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district program and work with the state tourism agencies, local chambers of commerce, and

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advertising/marketing agencies to promote this program, and will coordinate its efforts with the

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city and town governments. The Rhode Island council on the arts may request and shall receive

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from any department, division, board, bureau, commission, or agency of the state any data,

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assistance, and resources, including additional personnel, that will enable it to properly carry out

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this program.

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     (5) The tax administrator, in cooperation with the Rhode Island council on the arts, will

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gather data to assess the overall impact of the statewide arts district program, and issue an annual

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report, including, but not be limited to, the impact of the tax exemption on employment, tourism,

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sales and spending within the arts sector and adjacent businesses, and any other factors that

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describe the impact of the program.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC01872

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO TAXATION - SALES AND USE TAXES - LIABILITY AND

COMPUTATION

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     This act would expand the tax exemption on art to create a statewide sales tax exemption

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with respect to the purchase and sale of art.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC01872

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