S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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6541--A
Cal. No. 1012
I N S E N A T E
February 4, 2014
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Introduced by Sen. BALL -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Securi-
ty and Military Affairs -- reported favorably from said committee,
ordered to first report, amended on first report, ordered to a second
report and ordered reprinted, retaining its place in the order of
second report
AN ACT to amend the real property tax law, in relation to exempting
certain residential real property owned by a totally disabled veteran
from real property taxes
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The real property tax law is amended by adding a new
section 458-c to read as follows:
S 458-C. EXEMPTION FOR PERMANENTLY TOTALLY DISABLED VETERANS. 1. THE
FOLLOWING TERMS WHENEVER USED OR REFERRED TO IN THIS SECTION SHALL HAVE
THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS UNLESS A DIFFERENT MEANING CLEARLY APPEARS IN THE
CONTEXT:
(A) "VETERAN" MEANS A PERSON WHO SERVED ON ACTIVE DUTY IN THE ARMED
FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES, AND WAS DISCHARGED OR RELEASED THEREFROM
UNDER HONORABLE CONDITIONS.
(B) "SERVICE CONNECTED" MEANS, WITH RESPECT TO DISABILITY, THAT SUCH
DISABILITY WAS INCURRED OR AGGRAVATED IN THE LINE OF DUTY WHILE ON
ACTIVE DUTY IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES.
(C) "PERMANENTLY TOTALLY DISABLED" MEANS THAT THE UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OR THE BRANCH OF THE ARMED SERVICES FROM
WHICH A VETERAN WAS DISCHARGED OR RELEASED HAS RATED THE VETERAN'S
SERVICE CONNECTED DISABILITY AT ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OR HAS RATED THE
DISABILITY COMPENSATION PAYABLE TO A VETERAN AT ONE HUNDRED PERCENT BY
REASON OF BEING ABLE TO SECURE OR FOLLOW A SUBSTANTIALLY GAINFUL EMPLOY-
MENT. THE PERMANENT LOSS OR LOSS OF USE OF BOTH HANDS, OF BOTH FEET, OF
ONE HAND AND ONE FOOT, OF THE SIGHT OF BOTH EYES, OR BECOMING PERMANENT-
LY HELPLESS OR BEDRIDDEN ARE CONSIDERED PERMANENT TOTAL DISABILITIES.
BEING BLIND IN BOTH EYES MEANS HAVING A VISUAL ACUITY OF 5/200 OR LESS,
OR CONCENTRIC CONTRACTION OF THE VISUAL FIELD TO FIVE DEGREES OR LESS.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13333-04-4
S. 6541--A 2
LOSING THE USE OF A HAND OR FOOT MEANS THAT THE HAND OR FOOT HAS BEEN
AMPUTATED OR ITS USE HAS BEEN LOST BY REASON OF ANKYLOSIS, PROGRESSIVE
MUSCULAR DYSTROPHIES OR PARALYSIS.
(D) "QUALIFIED OWNER" MEANS A VETERAN WHO IS PERMANENTLY TOTALLY DISA-
BLED WITH A SERVICE CONNECTED DISABILITY, AS CERTIFIED BY THE GOVERNMENT
OF THE UNITED STATES OR THE UNREMARRIED SURVIVING SPOUSE OF SUCH A
VETERAN.
(E) "QUALIFIED RESIDENTIAL REAL PROPERTY" MEANS PROPERTY OWNED BY A
QUALIFIED OWNER WHICH IS USED EXCLUSIVELY FOR RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES AND
WHICH WAS DONATED TO THE QUALIFIED OWNER BY A CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION AT
NO COST; PROVIDED HOWEVER, THAT IN THE EVENT ANY PORTION OF SUCH PROPER-
TY IS NOT SO USED EXCLUSIVELY FOR RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES BUT IS USED FOR
OTHER PURPOSES, SUCH PORTION SHALL BE SUBJECT TO TAXATION AND THE
REMAINING PORTION ONLY SHALL BE ENTITLED TO THE EXEMPTION PROVIDED BY
THIS SECTION. SUCH PROPERTY MUST BE THE PRIMARY RESIDENCE OF THE QUALI-
FIED OWNER OR UNREMARRIED SURVIVING SPOUSE OF THE QUALIFIED OWNER,
UNLESS THE QUALIFIED OWNER OR UNREMARRIED SURVIVING SPOUSE IS ABSENT
FROM THE PROPERTY DUE TO MEDICAL REASONS OR INSTITUTIONALIZATION. IN THE
EVENT THE QUALIFIED OWNER DIES AND THERE IS NO UNREMARRIED SURVIVING
SPOUSE, "QUALIFIED RESIDENTIAL REAL PROPERTY" SHALL MEAN THE PRIMARY
RESIDENCE OWNED BY A QUALIFIED OWNER PRIOR TO DEATH, PROVIDED THAT THE
TITLE TO THE PROPERTY BECOMES VESTED IN THE DEPENDENT FATHER OR MOTHER
OR DEPENDENT CHILD OR CHILDREN UNDER TWENTY-ONE YEARS OF AGE OF A QUALI-
FIED OWNER BY VIRTUE OF DEVISE BY OR DESCENT FROM THE DECEASED QUALIFIED
OWNER, PROVIDED THAT THE PROPERTY IS THE PRIMARY RESIDENCE OF ONE OR ALL
OF THE DEVISEES.
2. (A) QUALIFIED RESIDENTIAL REAL PROPERTY SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM TAXA-
TION.
(B) THE EXEMPTION FROM TAXATION PROVIDED BY THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL BE
APPLICABLE TO COUNTY, CITY, TOWN, VILLAGE AND SCHOOL DISTRICT TAXATION
IF THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN WHICH THE PROPERTY IS
LOCATED, AFTER PUBLIC HEARINGS, ADOPTS A RESOLUTION PROVIDING SUCH
EXEMPTION, THE PROCEDURE FOR SUCH HEARING AND RESOLUTION SHALL BE
CONDUCTED SEPARATELY FROM THE PROCEDURE FOR ANY HEARING AND LOCAL LAW OR
RESOLUTION CONDUCTED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION FOUR AND PARAGRAPH (D) OF
SUBDIVISION SIX OF THIS SECTION.
3. APPLICATION FOR EXEMPTION MUST BE MADE BY THE OWNER, OR ALL OF THE
OWNERS, OF THE PROPERTY ON A FORM PRESCRIBED BY THE COMMISSIONER. THE
OWNER OR OWNERS SHALL FILE THE COMPLETED FORM IN THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE
ON OR BEFORE THE APPROPRIATE TAXABLE STATUS DATE. THE EXEMPTION SHALL
CONTINUE IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT FOR ALL APPROPRIATE SUBSEQUENT TAX
YEARS AND THE OWNER OR OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED TO
REFILE EACH YEAR. APPLICANTS SHALL BE REQUIRED TO REFILE ON OR BEFORE
THE APPROPRIATE TAXABLE STATUS DATE IF THE PERCENTAGE OF DISABILITY
PERCENTAGE DECREASES OR THE PERMANENCY OF THE DISABILITY CEASES. ANY
APPLICANT CONVICTED OF MAKING ANY WILLFUL FALSE STATEMENT IN THE APPLI-
CATION FOR SUCH EXEMPTION SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE PENALTIES PRESCRIBED
IN THE PENAL LAW.
3-A. NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION OR ANY OTHER
PROVISION OF LAW, IN A CITY HAVING A POPULATION OF ONE MILLION OR MORE,
APPLICATIONS FOR THE EXEMPTION AUTHORIZED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION SHALL
BE CONSIDERED TIMELY FILED IF THEY ARE FILED ON OR BEFORE THE FIFTEENTH
DAY OF MARCH OF THE APPROPRIATE YEAR.
4. (A) NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION, NO
LATER THAN NINETY DAYS BEFORE THE TAXABLE STATUS DATE NEXT OCCURRING ON
OR AFTER THE THIRTY-FIRST DAY OF DECEMBER TWO THOUSAND FIFTEEN, THE
S. 6541--A 3
GOVERNING BOARD OF ANY COUNTY, CITY, TOWN OR VILLAGE MAY ADOPT A LOCAL
LAW TO PROVIDE THAT NO EXEMPTION SHALL BE GRANTED PURSUANT TO THIS
SECTION FOR THE PURPOSES OF TAXES LEVIED FOR SUCH COUNTY, CITY, TOWN OR
VILLAGE. FOR THE PURPOSES OF A COUNTY WHICH IS NOT AN ASSESSING UNIT,
THE TAXABLE STATUS DATE NEXT OCCURRING ON OR AFTER DECEMBER
THIRTY-FIRST, TWO THOUSAND FIFTEEN SHALL MEAN THE FIRST SUCH TAXABLE
STATUS DATE OF ANY CITY OR TOWN WITHIN SUCH COUNTY UPON THE ASSESSMENT
ROLL OF WHICH THE COUNTY LEVIES TAXES. A LOCAL LAW ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
THIS PARAGRAPH MAY BE REPEALED BY THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THE APPLICABLE
COUNTY, CITY, TOWN OR VILLAGE. SUCH REPEAL MUST OCCUR AT LEAST NINETY
DAYS PRIOR TO THE TAXABLE STATUS DATE OF SUCH COUNTY, CITY, TOWN OR
VILLAGE.
5. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, THE
PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL APPLY TO ANY REAL PROPERTY HELD IN
TRUST SOLELY FOR THE BENEFIT OF A PERSON OR PERSONS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE
BE ELIGIBLE FOR A REAL PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION, PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION,
WERE SUCH PERSON OR PERSONS THE OWNER OR OWNERS OF SUCH REAL PROPERTY.
6. (A) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, TITLE TO THAT PORTION OF REAL
PROPERTY OWNED BY A COOPERATIVE APARTMENT CORPORATION IN WHICH A
TENANT-STOCKHOLDER OF SUCH CORPORATION RESIDES AND WHICH IS REPRESENTED
BY HIS OR HER SHARE OR SHARES OF STOCK IN SUCH CORPORATION AS DETERMINED
BY ITS OR THEIR PROPORTIONAL RELATIONSHIP TO THE TOTAL OUTSTANDING STOCK
OF THE CORPORATION, INCLUDING THAT OWNED BY THE CORPORATION, SHALL BE
DEEMED TO BE VESTED IN SUCH TENANT-STOCKHOLDER.
(B) PROVIDED THAT ALL OTHER ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA OF THIS SECTION ARE
MET, THAT PROPORTION OF THE ASSESSMENT OF SUCH REAL PROPERTY OWNED BY A
COOPERATIVE APARTMENT CORPORATION DETERMINED BY THE RELATIONSHIP OF SUCH
REAL PROPERTY VESTED IN SUCH TENANT-STOCKHOLDER TO SUCH REAL PROPERTY
OWNED BY SUCH COOPERATIVE APARTMENT CORPORATION IN WHICH SUCH
TENANT-STOCKHOLDER RESIDES SHALL BE SUBJECT TO EXEMPTION FROM TAXATION
PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION AND ANY EXEMPTION SO GRANTED SHALL BE CREDITED
BY THE APPROPRIATE TAXING AUTHORITY AGAINST THE ASSESSED VALUATION OF
SUCH REAL PROPERTY; THE REDUCTION IN REAL PROPERTY TAXES REALIZED THERE-
BY SHALL BE CREDITED BY THE COOPERATIVE APARTMENT CORPORATION AGAINST
THE AMOUNT OF SUCH TAXES OTHERWISE PAYABLE BY OR CHARGEABLE TO SUCH
TENANT-STOCKHOLDER.
(C) NOTWITHSTANDING PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SUBDIVISION, A TENANT-STOCK-
HOLDER WHO RESIDES IN A DWELLING THAT IS SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF
EITHER ARTICLE TWO, FOUR, FIVE OR ELEVEN OF THE PRIVATE HOUSING FINANCE
LAW SHALL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR AN EXEMPTION PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
(D) NOTWITHSTANDING PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SUBDIVISION, REAL PROPERTY
OWNED BY A COOPERATIVE CORPORATION MAY BE EXEMPT FROM TAXATION PURSUANT
TO THIS SECTION BY A MUNICIPALITY IN WHICH SUCH PROPERTY IS LOCATED ONLY
IF THE GOVERNING BODY OF SUCH MUNICIPALITY, AFTER PUBLIC HEARING, ADOPTS
A LOCAL LAW, ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION PROVIDING THEREFOR.
S 2. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed-
ing the date on which it shall have become a law; provided that, effec-
tive immediately, any actions necessary to implement the provisions of
this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be
completed on or before such date.