(2) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this paragraph, prior to April 1, 1982, any person claiming an exemption under paragraph C who is receiving any form of pension or compensation from the Federal Government for total disability, service-connected or nonservice-connected, as a veteran, and any person claiming an exemption under paragraph C-1, D, D-1, D-2 or D-3 is not required to meet the standards specified in former subparagraphs (1) and (2). Any such person who received an exemption in 1980 is not required to reapply in 1981. Exemptions granted under this section that are reimbursable pursuant to section 661 are not considered eligible for reimbursement under paragraph H. Any person whose exemption is reimbursable under section 661 is, for 1981, entitled to an extension until May 1, 1981 for filing a written application and written proof of entitlement for exemption with the assessors of the place in which the person resides, notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph G. Exemptions initially granted under this subsection on or after April 1, 2002 require a 100% reimbursement to the municipality for the property tax revenues lost to that municipality.__Exemptions granted on or after April 1, 2002 under this section are not considered eligible for reimbursement under paragraph H.__ Municipal property tax revenues lost as a result of exemptions granted prior to April 1, 2002 are not 100% reimbursable but may be reimbursable under section 661.

Sec. 3. Notification. Maine Revenue Services within the Department of Administrative and Financial Services shall notify by regular mail each municipality of the provisions of this Act within 60 days after the effective date of this Act.

Sec. 4. Application. This Act applies to all property tax exemptions granted pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 36, section 653, subsection 1, paragraph C on or after April 1, 2002. The provisions of this Act governing 100% reimbursement to a municipality for property tax revenues lost to that municipality under Title 36, section 653, subsection 1, paragraph C do not apply to property tax exemptions initially granted prior to the effective date of this Act.

SUMMARY

This bill expands eligibility for the veterans' property tax exemption and removes from statute eligibility requirements related to federally recognized periods of war. The bill makes all honorably discharged veterans who are 62 years of age or older eligible for the veterans' property tax exemption. It also requires the State to reimburse municipalities for 100% of the property tax revenues lost as a result of the veterans' property tax exemption authorized by this bill. The bill also requires the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Maine Revenue Services to notify municipalities of this new exemption at least 60 days prior to its effective date. The exemption authorized by this bill is effective April 1, 2002.