2024 -- H 7546

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LC004125

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Morales, Chippendale, Biah, Perez, Batista, Sanchez,
Potter, Cruz, DeSimone, and J. Lombardi

     Date Introduced: February 07, 2024

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 44-3 of the General Laws entitled "Property Subject to Taxation" is

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hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     44-3-68. Imposition of tax on higher education private institution endowments.

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     (a) There is hereby imposed a tax upon the endowment of a private institution of higher

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education with an endowment in excess of one billion dollars ($1,000,000,000). This tax shall be

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in an amount equal to two percent (2%) upon each dollar or dollar value within the endowment in

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excess of one billion dollars ($1,000,000,000).

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     (b) All tax revenues collected pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be deposited

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into a restricted receipt account.

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     (c) The funds in the restricted receipt account shall be disbursed to the municipality where

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the private institution of higher education is situated. These funds shall be used expressly to hire,

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retain, and support behavioral health staff within the public schools of the municipality, which staff

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shall include, but not be limited to, social workers, school psychologists, and behavioral health

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specialists.

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     (d) As used in this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

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     (1) “Endowment” means a fund or source of funds, much of which consists of donations

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of money or property to the private institution of higher education, which uses the resulting

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investment income for a purpose, or to be used for operations or programs of the private institution.

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     (2) “Situated” means the municipality where the private institution is predominantly

 

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located or maintains a majority of its physical buildings, including, but not limited to, a campus.

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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 -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION

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     This act would provide for a tax upon the endowment of a private institution of higher

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education equal to two percent (2%) upon each dollar or dollar value within the endowment in

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excess of one billion dollars ($1,000,000,000). These funds would be used to hire, retain, and

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support behavioral health staff within the public schools of the municipality where the private

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institution is predominantly located.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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