2018 -- S 2825

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LC005466

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO TAXATION - LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES

     

     Introduced By: Senators P Fogarty, and Ciccone

     Date Introduced: April 12, 2018

     Referred To: Senate Housing & Municipal Government

     (Lieutenant Governor)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 44-5-11.7 of the General Laws in Chapter 44-5 entitled "Levy and

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Assessment of Local Taxes" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     44-5-11.7. Permanent legislative oversight commission. Permanent joint property

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taxation oversight commission.

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     (a) (1) There is created a permanent legislative commission on property taxation. The

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commission consists of the following nineteen (19) members:

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     (i) Chairperson of the house finance committee, or designee;

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     (ii) Chairperson of the senate finance committee, or designee;

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     (iii) Chief budget analyst of the office of municipal affairs, or designee;

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     (1) The director of the department of revenue, or designee;

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     (iv) (2) The president director of the league of cities and towns, or designee;

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     (v) (3) The executive director of the Rhode Island public expenditures council, or

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designee; and

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     (vi) (4) Three (3) Four (4) members of the Rhode Island Assessors' Association. As

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selected by the association's board of directors;

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     (vii) (5) Director of the property valuation within the department of revenue. The

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secretary of commerce, or designee;

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     (6) Two (2) representatives selected by the governor with expertise in property valuation

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and tax policy;

 

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     (7) One representative selected by the lieutenant governor with expertise in property

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valuation and tax policy;

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     (8) Three (3) members of the house of representatives, not more than two (2) from the

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same political party, to be appointed by the speaker of the house;

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     (9) Three (3) members of the senate, not more than two (2) from the same political party,

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to be appointed by the president of the senate;

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     (10) An attorney with a background in Rhode Island municipal taxation; and

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     (11) The lieutenant governor, or designee.

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     (2) (b) The commission at its first meeting shall elect a chairperson from its membership.

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A quorum of the commission shall consist of seven (7) individual members.

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     (b) (c) The purpose of the commission is to work in conjunction with Rhode Island

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department of administration, department of revenue and the RIAAO representatives, to study

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and evaluate property tax related issues including, but not limited to:

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     (1) Revaluation process and statistical study after a revaluation;

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     (2) Exemptions and classifications;

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     (3) Uniform depreciation rates; and

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     (4) Use and impact of the tax classification system;

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     (5) Valuation appeals process including litigation; and

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     (4) (6) Any other issues which the commission determines are relevant to the issue of

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property taxation.

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     (c) (d) The members shall receive no compensation for their services. All departments

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and agencies of the state shall furnish advice and information, documentary or otherwise to the

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commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or desirable by the commission to facilitate the

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purposes of the commission.

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     (d) (e) The commission shall meet no less than three (3) two (2) times per year, or as

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necessary, and shall report its findings and recommendations, including legislative proposals, to

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the speaker of the house, the president of the senate, and the, general assembly on an annual basis

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chairpersons of the house and senate finance committees no later than January 15, 2019, and

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January 15 of each subsequent year thereafter.

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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 - LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES

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     This act would establish a nineteen (19) member permanent joint oversight commission

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to study and evaluate property tax related issues.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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