S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  8702

                       2009-2010 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                              June 4, 2009
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  ENGLEBRIGHT -- read once and referred to the
  Committee on Ways and Means

AN ACT to amend the tax law, in relation to creating  the  middle  class
  circuit breaker tax credit and creating a tax reform study commission

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Section 606 of the tax law  is  amended  by  adding  a  new
subsection (qq) to read as follows:
  (QQ)  MIDDLE  CLASS  CIRCUIT  BREAKER CREDIT. (1) DEFINITIONS. FOR THE
PURPOSES OF THIS SUBSECTION:
  (A) "QUALIFIED TAXPAYER" MEANS A RESIDENT INDIVIDUAL OF THE STATE  WHO
OWNS  OR RENTS THE RESIDENTIAL REAL PROPERTY IN WHICH HE OR SHE RESIDES,
AND HAS RESIDED IN SUCH RESIDENTIAL REAL PROPERTY FOR NOT LESS THAN FIVE
YEARS.
  (B) "HOUSEHOLD" OR  "MEMBERS  OF  THE  HOUSEHOLD"  MEANS  A  QUALIFIED
TAXPAYER  OR  QUALIFIED TAXPAYERS AND ALL OTHER PERSONS, NOT NECESSARILY
RELATED, WHO ALL RESIDE IN THE RESIDENTIAL REAL PROPERTY  OWNED  BY  THE
TAXPAYER  OR TAXPAYERS, AND SHARE ITS FURNISHINGS, FACILITIES AND ACCOM-
MODATIONS; PROVIDED THAT NO PERSON MAY BE A  MEMBER  OF  MORE  THAN  ONE
HOUSEHOLD AT ONE TIME.
  (C) "HOUSEHOLD GROSS INCOME" MEANS THE AGGREGATE ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME
OF  ALL  MEMBERS  OF  THE HOUSEHOLD FOR THE TAXABLE YEAR AS REPORTED FOR
FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES, OR WHICH  WOULD  BE  REPORTED  AS  ADJUSTED
GROSS  INCOME  IF A FEDERAL INCOME TAX RETURN WERE REQUIRED TO BE FILED,
WITH THE MODIFICATIONS IN SUBSECTION (B) OF SECTION SIX  HUNDRED  TWELVE
OF  THIS ARTICLE BUT WITHOUT THE MODIFICATIONS IN SUBSECTION (C) OF SUCH
SECTION, PLUS ANY PORTION OF THE GAIN FROM THE SALE OR EXCHANGE OF PROP-
ERTY OTHERWISE EXCLUDED FROM SUCH AMOUNT;  EARNED  INCOME  FROM  SOURCES
WITHOUT  THE  UNITED  STATES  EXCLUDABLE  FROM  FEDERAL  GROSS INCOME BY
SECTION NINE HUNDRED ELEVEN OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE; SUPPORT  MONEY
NOT  INCLUDED  IN  ADJUSTED  GROSS  INCOME;  NONTAXABLE STRIKE BENEFITS;

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD14131-01-9
              

A. 8702                             2

SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME PAYMENTS; THE GROSS AMOUNT OF  ANY  PENSION
OR  ANNUITY  BENEFITS  TO THE EXTENT NOT INCLUDED IN SUCH ADJUSTED GROSS
INCOME (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, RAILROAD RETIREMENT BENEFITS  AND
ALL  PAYMENTS  RECEIVED UNDER THE FEDERAL SOCIAL SECURITY ACT AND VETER-
ANS' DISABILITY PENSIONS); NONTAXABLE INTEREST RECEIVED FROM  THE  STATE
OF  NEW  YORK,  ITS AGENCIES, INSTRUMENTALITIES, PUBLIC CORPORATIONS, OR
POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS (INCLUDING A PUBLIC CORPORATION CREATED  PURSUANT
TO  AGREEMENT OR COMPACT WITH ANOTHER STATE OR CANADA); WORKERS' COMPEN-
SATION; THE GROSS AMOUNT OF "LOSS-OF-TIME" INSURANCE; AND THE AMOUNT  OF
CASH PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND RELIEF, OTHER THAN MEDICAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE
NEEDY,  PAID  TO OR FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE QUALIFIED TAXPAYER OR MEMBERS
OF HIS OR HER HOUSEHOLD. HOUSEHOLD  GROSS  INCOME  SHALL    NOT  INCLUDE
SURPLUS  FOODS  OR  OTHER RELIEF IN KIND OR PAYMENTS MADE TO INDIVIDUALS
BECAUSE OF THEIR STATUS AS VICTIMS OF NAZI  PERSECUTION  AS  DEFINED  IN
PUBLIC  LAW  103-286 OR ANY DISABILITY COMPENSATION RECEIVED BY VETERANS
ON ACCOUNT OF INJURY OR ILLNESS INCURRED OR AGGRAVATED  DURING  MILITARY
SERVICE  IN  THE  WARS IN AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ SINCE SEPTEMBER ELEVENTH,
TWO THOUSAND ONE.  PROVIDED, FURTHER, HOUSEHOLD GROSS INCOME SHALL  ONLY
INCLUDE  ALL  SUCH INCOME RECEIVED BY ALL MEMBERS OF THE HOUSEHOLD WHILE
MEMBERS OF SUCH HOUSEHOLD.
  (D) "ADJUSTED RENT" MEANS RENT PAID FOR THE RIGHT OF  OCCUPANCY  OF  A
RESIDENCE.
  (E)  "REAL PROPERTY TAX EQUIVALENT" MEANS (1) FOR TAXABLE YEARS BEGIN-
NING IN TWO THOUSAND TEN, FIFTEEN PERCENT OF THE ADJUSTED RENT  ACTUALLY
PAID IN THE TAXABLE YEAR BY A HOUSEHOLD SOLELY FOR THE RIGHT OF OCCUPAN-
CY OF ITS NEW YORK RESIDENCE FOR THE TAXABLE YEAR. IF (I) A RESIDENCE IS
RENTED  TO  TWO  OR  MORE  INDIVIDUALS AS COTENANTS, OR SUCH INDIVIDUALS
SHARE IN THE PAYMENT OF A SINGLE RENT FOR THE RIGHT OF OCCUPANCY OF SUCH
RESIDENCE, AND (II) EACH OF SUCH INDIVIDUALS  IS A MEMBER OF  A  DIFFER-
ENT  HOUSEHOLD,  ONE OR MORE OF WHICH INDIVIDUALS SHARES SUCH RESIDENCE,
REAL PROPERTY TAX EQUIVALENT IS THAT PORTION OF FIFTEEN PERCENT  OF  THE
ADJUSTED  RENT  PAID  IN THE TAXABLE YEAR WHICH REFLECTS THAT PORTION OF
THE RENT ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE QUALIFIED TAXPAYER AND THE MEMBERS  OF  HIS
OR  HER  HOUSEHOLD;  AND (2) FOR TAXABLE YEARS BEGINNING IN TWO THOUSAND
ELEVEN AND THEREAFTER, TWENTY PERCENT OF THE ADJUSTED RENT ACTUALLY PAID
IN THE TAXABLE YEAR  BY A HOUSEHOLD SOLELY FOR THE RIGHT OF OCCUPANCY OF
ITS NEW YORK RESIDENCE FOR THE TAXABLE YEAR. IF (I) A RESIDENCE IS RENT-
ED TO TWO OR MORE INDIVIDUALS AS COTENANTS, OR SUCH INDIVIDUALS SHARE IN
THE PAYMENT OF A SINGLE RENT FOR THE RIGHT OF OCCUPANCY  OF  SUCH  RESI-
DENCE,  AND  (II)  EACH  OF  SUCH INDIVIDUALS IS A MEMBER OF A DIFFERENT
HOUSEHOLD, ONE OR MORE OF WHICH INDIVIDUALS SHARES SUCH RESIDENCE,  REAL
PROPERTY  TAX  EQUIVALENT  IS  THAT  PORTION  OF  TWENTY  PERCENT OF THE
ADJUSTED RENT PAID IN THE TAXABLE YEAR WHICH REFLECTS  THAT  PORTION  OF
THE  RENT  ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE QUALIFIED TAXPAYER AND THE MEMBERS OF HIS
OR HER HOUSEHOLD.
  (F) "NET REAL PROPERTY TAX" MEANS THE REAL PROPERTY TAXES ASSESSED  ON
THE  RESIDENTIAL  REAL  PROPERTY  OWNED  AND OCCUPIED BY THE TAXPAYER OR
TAXPAYERS AFTER ANY EXEMPTION OR ABATEMENT RECEIVED PURSUANT TO THE REAL
PROPERTY TAX LAW.
  (2) CREDIT. A QUALIFIED TAXPAYER SHALL BE ALLOWED A CREDIT AGAINST THE
TAXES IMPOSED BY THIS ARTICLE, EQUAL TO SEVENTY PERCENT OF THE AMOUNT BY
WHICH THE TAXPAYER'S NET REAL PROPERTY TAX OR THE TAXPAYER'S REAL  PROP-
ERTY TAX EQUIVALENT EXCEEDS THE TAXPAYER'S MAXIMUM REAL PROPERTY TAX, AS
DETERMINED BY PARAGRAPH THREE OF THIS SUBSECTION. IF SUCH CREDIT EXCEEDS
THE TAX FOR SUCH TAXABLE YEAR, AS REDUCED BY THE OTHER CREDITS PERMITTED
BY  THIS  ARTICLE,  THE  QUALIFIED  TAXPAYER  MAY RECEIVE, AND THE COMP-

A. 8702                             3

TROLLER, SUBJECT TO A CERTIFICATE OF THE DEPARTMENT,  SHALL  PAY  AS  AN
OVERPAYMENT, WITHOUT INTEREST, ANY EXCESS BETWEEN SUCH TAX AS SO REDUCED
AND THE AMOUNT OF THE CREDIT. IF A QUALIFIED TAXPAYER IS NOT REQUIRED TO
FILE A RETURN PURSUANT TO SECTION SIX HUNDRED FIFTY-ONE OF THIS ARTICLE,
A  QUALIFIED  TAXPAYER  MAY  NEVERTHELESS  RECEIVE  AND THE COMPTROLLER,
SUBJECT TO A CERTIFICATE OF THE DEPARTMENT, SHALL PAY AS AN  OVERPAYMENT
THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE CREDIT, WITHOUT INTEREST.
  (3) MAXIMUM REAL PROPERTY TAX. (A) A QUALIFIED TAXPAYER'S MAXIMUM REAL
PROPERTY TAX SHALL BE DETERMINED AS FOLLOWS:
  (I) FOR TAX YEARS BEGINNING IN TWO THOUSAND NINE:
HOUSEHOLD GROSS INCOME               MAXIMUM REAL PROPERTY TAX
ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND                 NINE PERCENT OF THE
DOLLARS OR LESS                      HOUSEHOLD GROSS INCOME
MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED                NO LIMITATION.
THOUSAND DOLLARS

  (II) FOR TAX YEARS BEGINNING IN TWO THOUSAND TEN:
HOUSEHOLD GROSS INCOME               MAXIMUM REAL PROPERTY TAX
ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND                 EIGHT AND ONE-HALF PERCENT OF THE
DOLLARS OR LESS                      HOUSEHOLD GROSS INCOME
MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED                NO LIMITATION.
THOUSAND DOLLARS

  (III) FOR TAX YEARS BEGINNING IN TWO THOUSAND ELEVEN:
HOUSEHOLD GROSS INCOME               MAXIMUM REAL PROPERTY TAX
ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS         SEVEN AND ONE-HALF PERCENT OF
OR LESS                              HOUSEHOLD GROSS INCOME
MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND       SEVEN AND ONE-HALF PERCENT OF
DOLLARS, BUT LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO   ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS
ONE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS   PLUS EIGHT AND ONE-HALF PERCENT OF
                                     HOUSEHOLD GROSS INCOME ABOVE
                                     ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS
MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED FIFTY          NO LIMITATION.
THOUSAND DOLLARS

  (IV) FOR TAX YEARS BEGINNING IN TWO THOUSAND TWELVE AND THEREAFTER:
HOUSEHOLD GROSS INCOME               MAXIMUM REAL PROPERTY TAX
ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND                 SIX PERCENT OF HOUSEHOLD GROSS
DOLLARS OR LESS                      INCOME
MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND       SIX PERCENT OF ONE HUNDRED
DOLLARS, BUT LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO   THOUSAND DOLLARS PLUS SEVEN
ONE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS   PERCENT OF HOUSEHOLD GROSS INCOME
                                     ABOVE ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS
MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED FIFTY          SIX PERCENT OF ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND
THOUSAND DOLLARS, BUT LESS THAN      DOLLARS PLUS SEVEN
OR EQUAL TO TWO HUNDRED FIFTY        PERCENT OF FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS
THOUSAND DOLLARS                     PLUS EIGHT AND ONE-HALF PERCENT OF
                                     HOUSEHOLD GROSS INCOME ABOVE ONE
                                     HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS
MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED FIFTY          NO LIMITATION.
THOUSAND DOLLARS
  (B)  THE  THRESHOLDS  OF  HOUSEHOLD GROSS INCOME ESTABLISHED BY CLAUSE
(IV) OF  SUBPARAGRAPH  (A)  OF  THIS  PARAGRAPH  SHALL  BE  INDEXED  FOR
INFLATION FOR TAX YEARS BEGINNING IN TWO THOUSAND THIRTEEN AND THEREAFT-
ER.

A. 8702                             4

  (4) EXCLUSIONS FROM ELIGIBILITY. NO CREDIT SHALL BE GRANTED UNDER THIS
SUBSECTION  IF  THE  QUALIFIED  TAXPAYER  CLAIMS  THE  REAL PROPERTY TAX
CIRCUIT BREAKER CREDIT, PURSUANT TO  SUBSECTION  (E)  OF  THIS  SECTION,
DURING THE TAXABLE YEAR.
  S  2.  There  is  hereby  established a tax reform study commission to
provide the governor and the  legislature  with  a  long  run  plan  for
reforming  the state and local tax systems. The tax reform study commis-
sion shall consist of five  members  appointed  by  the  governor,  four
members  each appointed by the speaker of the assembly and the temporary
president of the senate, and one member each appointed by  the  minority
leader  of  the senate and the minority leader of the assembly. In addi-
tion, on or before the first day of January, two  thousand  eleven,  the
tax  reform study commission shall provide the governor and the legisla-
ture with recommendations on any changes that  should  be  made  in  the
definitions  of  income used in the various property tax relief programs
authorized by the laws of the state of New  York.  Such  recommendations
shall  be based on an examination of such laws and of such laws in other
states. In preparing such recommendations, the tax reform study  commis-
sion  shall  review  the  distributional  impact  of the items of income
included in the definition of  household  income  for  purposes  of  the
circuit  breaker  and  other property tax relief programs established by
state law and make recommendations to the governor and  the  legislature
for  any  changes  in any of these definitions that the tax reform study
commission deems appropriate. The commissioner of taxation  and  finance
and  the  director of the office of real property services shall provide
the tax reform study commission with such data and analysis  as  it  may
require.
  S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.