SECTION 1. Section 5 of chapter 59 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2014 Official Edition, is hereby amended in the first paragraph by insert after the word “Forty-third” the following words:-

“, Forty-third, Fifty-eighth, Fifty-eighth A,”

SECTION 2. Section 5 of Chapter 59 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2014 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following new sections:-

Fifty-eighth, Real property, to the amount of five thousand dollars of the taxable valuation of real property, or the sum of four hundred and thirty-seven dollars and fifty cents, whichever would result in an abatement of the greater amount of actual taxes due, of a person who is deaf, as defined in section 191 of chapter 6, and is a legal resident of the commonwealth, whether such property is owned by him separately or jointly or as a tenant in common; provided, that such property is occupied by such person as his domicile. No real property shall be so exempt which has been conveyed to such deaf person to evade taxation.

Four thousand dollars of this exemption or the sum of three hundred and fifty dollars, whichever basis is applicable, shall be borne by the city or town, the balance up to one thousand dollars of exemption or eighty-seven dollars and fifty cents, whichever basis is applicable, shall be borne by the commonwealth; and the state treasurer shall annually reimburse the city or town for the amount of the tax which otherwise would have been collected on account of this balance.

Fifty-eighth A, The sum of five hundred dollars of the actual taxes due, of a person who is deaf, as defined in section 191 of chapter 6, and is a legal resident of the commonwealth, whether such property is owned by him separately or jointly or as a tenant in common; provided, that such property is occupied by such person as his domicile. No real property shall be exempt which has been conveyed to such person who is deaf to evade taxation. This clause shall take effect upon its acceptance by any city or town. In those cities and towns which accept the provisions of this clause, the provisions of clause fifty-eighth shall not be applicable; provided, however, the sum of eighty-seven dollars and fifty cents of this exemption shall be borne by the commonwealth, and the state treasurer shall annually reimburse the city or town for the amount thereof.