HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 5453 FILED ON: 11/30/2020
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 5176
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf and Michael O. Moore
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act to give the Town of Leicester authority to grant full annual property tax exemptions to the surviving spouse of Rutland Police Detective and Leicester resident John D. Songy pursuant to MGL Chapter 59, Section 5, Clause 42.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: | Date Added: |
David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf | 17th Worcester | 11/30/2020 |
Michael O. Moore | Second Worcester | 11/30/2020 |
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 5453 FILED ON: 11/30/2020
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 5176
By Representative LeBoeuf of Worcester and Senator Moore, a joint petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 5176) of David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf and Michael O. Moore (by vote of the town) that the town of Leicester be authorized to grant full annual property tax exemptions to the surviving spouse of Rutland Police Detective and Leicester resident John D. Songy. Revenue. [Local Approval Received.] |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)
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An Act to give the Town of Leicester authority to grant full annual property tax exemptions to the surviving spouse of Rutland Police Detective and Leicester resident John D. Songy pursuant to MGL Chapter 59, Section 5, Clause 42.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
Section 1. Whereas Rutland Police Detective John D. Songy of Leicester, died after contracting COVID-19 on May 29, 2020.
Section 2. Whereas, MGL 59, Section 5, Clause 42 allows for the full exemption from property taxes for surviving spouses of police officers killed in the line of duty.
Section 3. Whereas, the U.S. Department of Justice determined that Detective Songy perished in the line of duty though contraction of COVID-19 at the workplace.
Section 4. Whereas, the definition of “Killed in the line of duty” according to the Massachusetts Division of Local Services is: “Death as a result of some violent act, or occurrence of violent external physical force to the body, while in the line of duty.”
Section 5. Whereas, the Town has been prohibited by the Division of Local Services from granting a property tax exemption pursuant to MGL 59, Section 5, Clause 42 to Detective Songy’s surviving spouse because death from the coronavirus does not meet the Division of Local Service’s definition.
Section 6. Whereas, the Town, through this petition, respectfully requests the authority to grant such exemption, pursuant to and under the terms of MGL 59, Section 5, Clause 42, retroactive to fiscal year 2020, and forward; or take any other action in relation thereon.