Sec. 1. 36 MRSA §1483, sub-§12, as amended by PL 1995, c. 65, Pt. A, §138 and affected by §153 and Pt. C, §15, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:

12.__Certain veterans.__Automobiles owned by certain veterans, as specified in this subsection:

A.__Automobiles owned by veterans who are granted free registration of such vehicles by the Secretary of State under Title 29-A, section 523, subsection 1; and

B.__Automobiles owned by veterans who are ineligible for a property tax exemption under chapter 105, subchapter 4-B, but only to the amount of the exemption granted under section 683, subsection 1.__For purposes of this paragraph, "veteran" means a person who was in active service in the Armed Forces of the United States and who, if discharged, retired or separated from the Armed Forces, was discharged, retired or separated under other than dishonorable conditions.

A veteran who desires to secure exemption under this paragraph shall make written application and file written proof of entitlement with the municipal clerk of the place in which the veteran resides at the time of registration of the vehicle.__In no case may the amount of the exemption granted pursuant to this paragraph exceed the amount of the excise tax imposed pursuant to section 1482;

SUMMARY

This bill provides veterans of the United States Armed Forces a vehicle excise tax exemption up to the amount of the so-called "homestead" property tax exemption granted under the Maine resident property tax exemption law if the veteran is not eligible for a "homestead" property tax exemption.