| Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: |
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| | Sec. 1. 36 MRSA c. 105, sub-c. 11 is enacted to read: |
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| LONG-TERM OWNERSHIP TAX LAW |
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| §1131.__Program established; definitions |
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| | 1.__Program established.__The Maine Land Bank and Community | Preservation Program is established to provide an alternative | means of calculating assessed values for purposes of levying | property taxes for land held by owners who intend to maintain | long-term ownership, family ownership or make a designated | bequest. |
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| | 2.__Definitions.__As used in this subchapter, unless the | context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the | following meanings. |
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| A.__"Direct relative" means parent, aunt, uncle, sibling, | first cousin, niece, nephew or grandchild, by birth or | adoption. |
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| B.__"Program" means the Maine Land Bank and Community | Preservation Program established in this subsection. |
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| C.__"Classified land" means land for which an application | under section 1132 has been accepted or for which | classification has been certified.__"Classified land" does | not include any building or structure on the land or any | other thing affixed to the land that would be considered | real estate under section 551. |
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| §1132.__Application by owner |
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| | The owner of any land may apply for taxation under this | subchapter subject to the provisions of this section. |
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| | 1.__Filing application.__The owner shall file a written | application with the assessor and a copy for recordation with | the register of deeds for the jurisdiction in which the land | potentially subject to taxation under the program exists.__The | application must be filed on or before March 1st for the land | to be a classified land for the tax year beginning April 1st | of the same year. |
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| | 2.__Content.__The application must be on a form prescribed | by the State Tax Assessor, must clearly identify the land |
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