2021 -- S 0575

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO TAXATION -- PERSONAL INCOME TAX

     Introduced By: Senators Lawson, Coyne, and Mendes

     Date Introduced: March 11, 2021

     Referred To: Senate Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 44-30-1.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 44-30 entitled "Personal

Income Tax" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     44-30-1.1. Exemption from tax for writers, composers and artists.

     (a) This section shall only apply to writers, composers and artists residing within a section

of the defined economic development zone within the city of Providence, Pawtucket, Woonsocket

or Warwick or East Providence, or the economic development zone within the town of Westerly as

defined in § 44-18-30B(c)(1)(i), or within the city of Newport or within the town of Tiverton or the

town of Little Compton, or within those areas of the town of Warren which are zoned "waterfront

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

or "Warren historic district", or a tax pass-through entity wholly owned by one or more such

individuals and who create such work while residing in the zone, or in the case of Newport or the

town of Little Compton, within those areas of the city or town which are zoned "general business,"

"waterfront business" or "limited business" or have been designated by the city of Newport as part

of the arts district, or in the case of Warren, within those areas of the town which are zoned

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

"business district" or "Warren historic district," or in the case of Tiverton with those areas of the

town which are zoned "business commercial," "business waterfront" or "village commercial." For

the purposes of this section, a "work" means an original and creative work, whether written,

composed, created or executed for "one-of-a-kind, limited" production, before or after the passing

of this section, which falls into one of the following categories: (1) a book or other writing; (2) a

play or the performance of said play; (3) a musical composition or the performance of said

composition; (4) a painting or other like picture; (5) a sculpture; (6) traditional and fine crafts; (7)

the creation of a film or the acting of said film; (8) the creation of a dance or the performance of

said dance. For purposes of this section, a "work" does not apply to any piece or performance

created or executed for industry oriented or related production.

     (b)(1) This section shall apply to any individual:

     (i) Who is a resident within the section of the economic development zone designated as

the arts and entertainment district in the downtown areas of the cities of Providence, Woonsocket,

or Pawtucket or East Providence, and deriving the income exempted from within said district while

a resident of said zone, or who is a resident within the section of the arts and entertainment district

in the town of Westerly, as defined in § 44-18-30B(c)(1)(i) and who derives the income exempted

from within said district while a resident of said zone. For the purposes of this section, the

"Providence arts and entertainment district" is defined as the area bounded by Pine Street to the

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

southwest. Said Providence arts and entertainment district also includes the area beginning at the

point of intersection of Acorn Street and Harris Avenue, then turning east onto Atwells Avenue to

Service Road 7, then turning southerly onto Service Road 7 to Westminster Street, then turning

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

Cranston Street, then turning southwesterly onto Cranston Street, then continuing to Messer Street,

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

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

on Sheridan Street to Aleppo Street, then turning southeast along Aleppo Street to Pelham Street,

then heading northeast on Pelham Street to Manton Avenue, then continuing southeast on Manton

Avenue until Delaine Street, then heading northeast on Delaine Street until Appleton Street, then

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

Street until Barstow Street, then heading east on Barstow until Valley Street, then heading northeast

on Valley Street to Hemlock Street, then turning southeast on Hemlock Street until Promenade

Street, then heading east on Promenade Street to Acorn Street, then heading south on Acorn Street

to the intersection of Acorn Street and Harris Avenue. The abovementioned streets shall be included

in the district. The "Westerly arts and entertainment district" is defined in § 44-18-30B(c)(1)(i).

The "Pawtucket arts and entertainment district" shall be defined as the area beginning at the point

of intersection of Dexter Street and the Central Falls line, then east along the Central Falls Line to

the Blackstone River, then north along the city boundary on the Blackstone River to the

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Cumberland line, then west along the Pawtucket city boundary line to I-95, then south along I-95

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

AMTRAK Right of Way to Dexter Street, then north on Dexter Street to the Central Falls line. The

abovementioned streets shall be included in the district. The "Woonsocket arts and entertainment

district" shall be defined as the area beginning at a point of land on the southwest bank of the

Blackstone River abutting the bridge for the Providence & Worcester Railroad and proceeding

northerly to a point at the intersection of Worrall Street, Clinton Street and Harry S. Truman Drive,

then proceeding northwesterly along Worrall Street to its intersection with Social Street, then

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

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

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

intersection with the northeast bank of Blackstone River, then following the riverbank southerly to

the bridge at Bernon Street and turning easterly crossing the Blackstone River via Bernon Street

and proceeding to its intersection with Front Street, then turning northeasterly on Front Street and

proceeding to its intersection with Hamlet Avenue, and to include the former Courthouse on the

southerly side of Front Street at its intersection with Hamlet Avenue, then turning easterly on

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

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

northeasterly on Davison Avenue and proceeding to a point on the southwest bank of the

Blackstone River, then turning northerly, following the southerly riverbank to the point of

beginning. The abovementioned streets are included in the district. The Warwick arts district is

defined as that area known as Pontiac Village, beginning on Route 5 at the Warwick/Cranston

municipal boundary, then south to the intersection of Route 5 and the Pawtuxet River, then

following the Pawtuxet River in an easterly and northerly direction to the municipal boundary in

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

westerly along the Warwick/Cranston municipal boundary to the intersection of Route 5 and

Greenwich Avenue. The above named streets are included in the district. The "East Providence art

district" shall be defined at a point of land on the northeast bank of the Seekonk River abutting the

Henderson Bridge and proceeding easterly along Wilmarth Avenue to a point at the intersection of

North Broadway, then proceeding southerly to South Broadway and continuing to the intersection

of Warren Avenue, then proceeding westerly on the southerly side of Warren Avenue to the

intersection with Burgess Avenue, then proceeding southerly to the intersection at Veterans

Memorial Parkway, then proceeding westerly to the intersection at Waterfront Drive, including the

area known as Bold Point Park, then northerly along the southeast bank of the Seekonk River back

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to the point of the beginning.

     This section shall also apply to any individual who is a resident of the city of Newport or

the town of Tiverton or the town of Little Compton and whose income otherwise qualifies for an

exemption as provided for in this section.

     This section shall also apply to any individual who is a resident of the town of Warren and

whose income otherwise qualifies for an exemption as provided for in this section.

     (ii) Who is determined by the tax administrator, after consideration of any evidence in

relation to the matter which the individual submits to him or her and after such consultation as may

seem to him or her to be necessary with such person or body of persons as in his or her opinion

may be of assistance to him or her, to have written, composed or executed either solely or jointly

with another individual, a work or works that would fall into one of the categories listed in

subsection (a) of this section.

     (c)(1) An individual to whom this section applies and who duly makes a claim to the tax

administrator in that behalf shall, subject to subdivision (2) of this subsection, be entitled to have

the profits or gains arising to him or her from the publication, production or sale of a work or works

in relation to which the tax administrator has made a determination under paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of

this section to be taken as a modification reducing federal adjusted gross income.

     (2) The modification authorized by this section shall apply to the year in which the profit

or gain from the publication, production or sale of a work is realized.

     (d) The tax administrator may serve on an individual who makes a claim under this

subsection a notice or notices, in writing, requiring him or her to make available within any time

that may be specified in the notice of all such books, accounts and documents in his or her

possession or power as may be requested, being books, accounts and documents relating to the

publication, production or sale of the work in respect of the profits or gains of which exemption is

claimed.

     (e) For the purpose of determining the amount of profits or gains subject to modification

under this section, the tax administrator may make any apportionment of receipts and expenses that

may be necessary.

     (f) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, any individual seeking relief under

this section shall file a Rhode Island personal income tax return listing the modification reducing

federal adjusted gross income relating to profits or gains realized from the works as defined in this

section.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO TAXATION -- PERSONAL INCOME TAX

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     This act would grant an exemption from the personal income tax to writers, composers and

artists residing within the East Providence arts zone.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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