S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  2731--A
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 23, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. CROUCH, MORINELLO, BRABENEC -- Multi-Sponsored by
   --  M.  of  A.   ERRIGO, HAWLEY, OAKS -- read once and referred to the
   Committee on Real Property Taxation -- recommitted to the Committee on
   Real Property Taxation in accordance with Assembly Rule 3, sec.  2  --
   committee  discharged,  bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and
   recommitted to said committee
 
 AN ACT to amend the real property tax law, in relation to extending  the
   enhanced  STAR  exemption to the disabled surviving spouse of a previ-
   ously qualifying individual
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Subparagraph  (iii)  of paragraph (a) of subdivision 4 of
 section 425 of the real property tax law, as added by section 4 of  part
 A of chapter 405 of the laws of 1999, is amended to read as follows:
   (iii)  In  the case of property owned by husband and wife, one of whom
 is sixty-five years of age or over, the exemption, once  granted,  shall
 not be rescinded solely because of the death of the older spouse so long
 as  the  surviving spouse is at least sixty-two years of age OR IS PHYS-
 ICALLY DISABLED as of the date specified in this paragraph.  TO  QUALIFY
 AS  PHYSICALLY  DISABLED FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH, AN INDI-
 VIDUAL SHALL SUBMIT TO THE ASSESSOR A CERTIFIED STATEMENT FROM A  PHYSI-
 CIAN  LICENSED  TO  PRACTICE  IN THE STATE ON A FORM PRESCRIBED AND MADE
 AVAILABLE BY THE COMMISSIONER WHICH STATES THAT  THE  INDIVIDUAL  HAS  A
 PERMANENT  PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT WHICH SUBSTANTIALLY LIMITS ONE OR MORE OF
 SUCH INDIVIDUAL'S MAJOR LIFE ACTIVITIES, EXCEPT THAT AN  INDIVIDUAL  WHO
 HAS  OBTAINED  A  CERTIFICATE FROM THE STATE COMMISSION FOR THE VISUALLY
 HANDICAPPED STATING THAT SUCH INDIVIDUAL IS  LEGALLY  BLIND  MAY  SUBMIT
 SUCH CERTIFICATE IN LIEU OF A PHYSICIAN'S CERTIFIED STATEMENT. THE OTHER
 REQUIREMENTS  OF  THIS  SUBDIVISION  MUST  STILL BE MET FOR THE ENHANCED
 EXEMPTION TO BE GRANTED TO A SURVIVING SPOUSE UNDER THIS SUBPARAGRAPH.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately and  shall  apply  to  the
 administration  of  the  enhanced  STAR  exemption  beginning  with  the
 2018-2019 school year.
 
              

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD00336-03-8