It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 31-3-53 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-3 entitled "Registration of Vehicles" is hereby amended to read as follows:
{ADD 31-3-53. Veterans' plates. -- ADD} (a) The registrar of motor vehicles shall issue for any motor vehicle eligible for registration as an automobile or eligible for registration as a commercial vehicle and having a gross weight of six thousand-three hundred pounds (6,300 lbs) or less, plates designated as "War Veteran", "Purple Heart" and "Ex-POW" upon application on proper forms furnished by the registrar to veterans of world wars I and II, the Korean conflict and Vietnam conflict and any member of the armed forces of the United States who served at any time in the Persian Gulf beginning August 2, 1990 to present, in the Panama operations beginning December 20, 1989 to January 31, 1990, in the Lebanon operations beginning:
(1) July 1, 1958 to November 1, 1958
(2) August 20, 1982 to May 31, 1983
(3) June 1, 1983 to December 1987
{DEL and DEL} in the Grenada Operations beginning October 23, 1983 to November 21, 1983 {ADD or any veteran of any conflict or undeclared war who has earned a campaign ribbon or expeditionary medal for service in said conflict or undeclared war ADD} .
(b) The special plates shall be designed as follows:
(1) Left and right borders of two (2) inches;
(2) Left border shall be red with three (3) white stars within the border;
(3) Right border shall be blue and have five (5) stripes, three (3) red and two (2) white within the border;
(4) Letters shall be blue in a white background with the words "War Veteran" clearly visible at the top center of the plate.
(c) The applicant shall be required to pay a service charge of ten dollars ($10.00) and a transfer charge of five dollars ($5.00) for the plate.
(d) Any person issued a plate under this section prior to July 31, 1989 shall be entitled to a reimbursement in the amount of seven dollars ($7.00) upon application therefor.
(e) The owner of a motor vehicle eligible for registration as a commercial vehicle and having a gross weight of six thousand pounds (6,000 lbs.) or less that is issued war veteran plates shall continue to pay the appropriate commercial registration fee for such plates.
(f) For purposes of this section, a "veteran" shall be defined as any person who served in the military or naval service of the United States in world war I or who served in the military or naval service of the United States in world war II at any time during the period beginning December 7, 1941, and ending on December 31, 1946, or who served in the military or naval services of the United States in the Korean conflict at any time during the period beginning June 27, 1950 and ending January 31, 1955, or in the Vietnam conflict at any time during the period beginning August 5, 1964 and ending May 7, 1975 or in the Taiwan Straits expeditionary Force at any time from August 23, 1958 to January 1, 1959 or the Persian Gulf beginning August 2, 1990 to present, in the Panama Operations beginning December 20, 1989 to January 31, 1990, in the Lebanon Operations beginning:
(1) July 1, 1958 to November 1, 1958
(2) August 20, 1982 to May 31, 1983
(3) June 1, 1983 to December 1987
{DEL and DEL} in the Grenada Operations beginning October 23, 1983 to November 21, 1983 {ADD or any veteran of any conflict or undeclared war who has earned a campaign ribbon or expeditionary medal for service in said conflict or undeclared war ADD} . Upon the death of the holder of any war veteran plates, the plates shall be transferred to the spouse's surviving spouse for the spouse's lifetime until he or she remarries.
(g) Further, the "veteran" described in subsection (f) must have been honorably discharged from the armed forces of this nation in order to receive plates pursuant to this section and, for purposes of this section, a medical discharge shall be deemed an honorable discharge.
SECTION 2. Section 36-5-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 36-5 entitled "Military Service and Veterans" is hereby amended to read as follows:
{ADD 36-5-6. Veterans' point credits. -- ADD} {ADD (a) ADD} While the examinations shall be limited to honorably discharged veterans of all wars, regulations of the director of administration, as applied to disabled veterans, shall be applicable to this position, that is, disabled veterans will receive ten (10) point credits and nondisabled veterans five (5) point credits.
{ADD (b) "Veteran" is defined herein as any man or woman who has been engaged heretofore, is now or may hereafter be engaged in the active service of the armed forces of the United States with a minimum of ninety (90) days of active duty time served during any declared war, undeclared war, Korean campaign, conflict in Vietnam or any war, campaign or conflict which the armed forces of the United States of America actively engages in and for which service a campaign ribbon or expeditionary medal was earned. ADD}
SECTION 3. Section 44-3-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 44-3 entitled "Property Subject to Taxation" is hereby amended to read as follows:
{ADD 44-3-4. Veterans' exemptions. -- ADD} (a) The property of each person who served in the military or naval service of the United States in the war of the rebellion, the Spanish-American war, the insurrection in the Philippines, the China-relief expedition, or World War I, and the property of each person who served in the military or naval service of the United States in World War II at any time during the period beginning December 7, 1941, and ending on December 31, 1946, and the property of each person who served in the military or naval services of the United States in the Korean conflict at any time during the period beginning June 27, 1950 and ending January 31, 1955, or in the Vietnam conflict at any time during the period beginning December 22, 1961 and ending May 7, 1975, or who actually served in the Grenada or Lebanon conflicts of 1983-1984, or the Persian Gulf conflict at any time during ther period beginning August 2, 1990 and ending May 1, 1994 {ADD or in any conflict or undeclared war for which a campaign ribbon or expeditionary medal was earned, ADD} and who was honorably discharged therefrom, or who was discharged therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable, or who, if not discharged, served honorably, or of the unmarried widow or widower of the person, shall be exempted from taxation to the amount of one thousand dollars ($1,000) except in:
Burrillville, where the exemption shall be four thousand dollars ($4,000);
Cumberland, where the town council may, by ordinance, provide for an exemption of a maximum of seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500);
Cranston, where the exemption shall not exceed three thousand dollars ($3,000);
Jamestown, where the town council may, by ordinance, provide for an exemption not to exceed three thousand dollars ($3,000);
Lincoln, where the exemption shall not exceed three thousand dollars ($3,000), and where the town council may also provide for a real estate tax exemption not to exceed three thousand dollars ($3,000) for those honorably discharged active duty veterans who served in operation desert storm;
Newport, where the exemption shall be four thousand dollars ($4,000);
New Shoreham, where the town council may, by ordinance, provide for an exemption of a maximum of thirty-six thousand four hundred fifty dollars ($36,450);
North Kingstown, where the exemption shall be three thousand dollars ($3,000);
North Providence, where the town council may, by ordinance, provide for an exemption of a maximum of five thousand dollars ($5,000);
Smithfield, where the exemption shall be four thousand dollars ($4,000); and
Warren, where the exemption shall not exceed three thousand five hundred dollars ($3,500);
Which exemption shall be applied to the property in the municipality where the person resides and if there is not sufficient property to exhaust the exemption, the person may claim the balance in any other city or town where the person may own property; provided, however, that the exemption shall not be allowed in favor of any person who is not a legal resident of the state, or unless the person entitled to the exemption shall have presented to the assessors, on or before the last day on which sworn statements may be filed with the assessors for the year for which exemption is claimed, due evidence that he or she is so entitled which evidence shall stand so long as his or her legal residence remains unchanged; and, provided, further, that the exemption herein provided for to the extent that it shall apply in any city or town, shall be applied in full to the total value of the person's real and tangible personal property located in the city or town; and, provided, further, that there shall be an additional exemption from taxation in the amount of one thousand dollars ($1,000), except in:
Central Falls, where the city council may, by ordinance, provide for an exemption of a maximum of five thousand dollars ($5,000);
Cranston, where the exemption shall not exceed three thousand dollars ($3,000);
Cumberland, where the town council may, by ordinance, provide for an exemption of a maximum of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000);
Lincoln, where the exemption shall not exceed three thousand dollars ($3,000);
Newport, where the exemption shall be four thousand dollars ($4,000);
New Shoreham, where the town council may, by ordinance, provide for an exemption of a maximum of thirty-six thousand four hundred fifty dollars ($36,450);
North Providence, where the town council may, by ordinance, provide for an exemption of a maximum of five thousand dollars ($5,000);
Smithfield, where the exemption shall be four thousand dollars ($4,000); and
Warren, where the exemption shall not exceed seven thousand dollars ($7,000); of the property of every honorably discharged veteran of World War I or World War II, Korean or Vietnam, Grenada or Lebanon conflicts, or the Persian Gulf conflict at any time during the period beginning August 2, 1990 and ending May 1, 1994, {ADD or in any conflict or undeclared war for which a campaign ribbon or expeditionary medal was earned, ADD} who is determined by the veterans' administration of the United States of America to be totally disabled through service-connected disability and who presents to the assessors a certificate from the veterans administration that the person is so totally disabled, which certificate shall remain effectual so long as the total disability continues. Provided, however;
Burrillville may exempt real property of the above named persons in the amount of six thousand dollars ($6,000);
Cumberland town council may, by ordinance, provide for an exemption of a maximum of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000);
Little Compton may, by ordinance, exempt real property of each of the above named persons in the amount of six thousand dollars ($6,000);
Middletown may exempt the real property of each of the above named persons in the amount of five thousand dollars ($5,000);
New Shoreham town council may, by ordinance, provide for an exemption of a maximum of thirty-six thousand four hundred fifty dollars ($36,450);
North Providence town council may, by ordinance, provide for an exemption of a maximum of five thousand dollars ($5,000);
Tiverton town council may, by ordinance, exempt real property of each of the above named persons in the amount of five thousand dollars ($5,000), subject to voters' approval at the financial town meeting; and
West Warwick town council may exempt the real property of each of the above named persons in an amount of ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
There shall be an additional exemption from taxation in the town of Warren where the town council of the town of Warren may by ordinance provide for an exemption not to exceed five thousand two hundred fifty dollars ($5,250), of the property of every honorably discharged veteran of World War I or World War II, or Vietnam, Grenada or Lebanon conflicts, or the Persian Gulf conflict at any time during the period beginning August 2, 1990 and ending May 1, 1994, {ADD or in any conflict or undeclared war for which a campaign ribbon or expeditionary medal was earned, ADD} who is determined by the veterans' administration of the United States of America to be partially disabled through a service connected disability and who presents to the assessors a certificate that he is so partially disabled, which certificate shall remain effectual so long as the partial disability continues. Provided, however, that the:
Barrington town council may exempt real property of each of the above named persons in the amount of three thousand dollars ($3,000);
Warwick city council may, by ordinance, exempt real property of each of the above named persons in the amount of two thousand dollars ($2,000).
There shall be an additional exemption from taxation in the town of Lincoln for the property of each person who actually served in the military or naval service of the United States in the Persian Gulf conflict and who was honorably discharged therefrom, or who was discharged therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable, or who, if not discharged, served honorably, or of the unmarried widow or widower of such person, shall be exempted from taxation to the amount of three thousand dollars ($3,000).
(b) In addition to the exemption provided heretofore, there shall be a ten thousand dollar ($10,000) exemption from local taxation on real property for any veteran and the unmarried widow or widower of a deceased veteran of the military or naval service of the U.S.A. who shall be determined, under applicable federal law by the veterans administration of the U.S.A., to be totally disabled through service connected disability and who by reason of the disability has received assistance in acquiring "specially adopted housing" under laws administered by the veterans' administration provided, that the real estate is occupied as his or her domicile, by the person and provided further that if the property be designed for occupancy by more than one family then only that value of so much of the house as is occupied by the person as his or her domicile shall be exempted, and provided, further, that satisfactory evidence of receipt of the assistance is furnished to the assessors except in:
Cranston, where the exemption shall not exceed thirty thousand dollars ($30,000);
Cumberland town council may provide for an exemption not to exceed seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500);
Newport, where the exemption shall be ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or ten percent (10%) of assessed valuation, whichever is greater;
New Shoreham, where the town council may, by ordinance, provide for an exemption of a maximum of thirty-six thousand four hundred fifty dollars ($36,450); and
North Providence town council may, by ordinance, provide for an exemption not to exceed twelve thousand five hundred dollars ($12,500).
(c) In addition to the exemptions provided heretofore, any veteran of the military or naval service of the U.S.A. who shall be determined, under applicable federal law by the veterans administration of the U.S.A. to be totally disabled through service connected disability may by ordinance passed in the city or town where the veteran's property is assessed receive a ten thousand dollar ($10,000) exemption from local taxation on his or her property whether real or personal and if the veteran owns real property may be exempt from taxation by any fire and/or lighting district.
(d) In determining whether or not a person is the widow or widower of a veteran for the purposes of this section, the remarriage of the widow or widower shall not bar the furnishing of the benefits of the section if the remarriage is void, has been terminated by death, or has been annulled or dissolved by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(e) In addition to the exemptions provided heretofore, there may by ordinance passed in the city or town where the person's property is assessed be an additional fifteen thousand dollar ($15,000) exemption from local taxation on real and personal property for any veteran of military or naval service of the U.S.A. or the unmarried widow or widower of such person who has been or who shall be classified as, or determined to be, a prisoner-of-war by the veterans' administration of the United States.
(f) Cities and towns granting exemptions under this section shall use the eligibility dates specified in this section.
(g) The several cities and towns not previously authorized to provide an exemption for those veterans who actually served in the Persian Gulf Conflict may provide such an exemption in the amount authorized in this section for veterans of other recognized conflicts.
SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon passage.