Larkin Helps Pass Legislation To Cut Taxes For Veterans With Disabilities And Addresses Issues Facing Aging Veterans

            Senator Larkin (R-C, 39^th District) this week helped pass two bills to assist veterans with disabilities afford their homes and also guide the state in developing services for aging veterans. The measures provide property tax exemptions for certain veterans classified as 100 percent disabled and create a new advisory panel to help formulate effective policies and programs that address aging veterans’ issues.

            “The property tax exemption for disabled veterans, combined with the advisory panel, are important measures to provide veterans and their families needed support while giving the state the ability to address  challenges facing our veterans in a more flexible and time efficient manner,” said Senator Larkin.  “The men and women of our armed forces have given much to defend our nation and rightly deserve our gratitude and support for their service to our country.”

            Christian Farrell,  Director of the Orange County Veterans Service Agency said:  “Orange County is home to 23,000 veterans, a number of them who are disabled, elderly, or both.  State legislation targeted at benefiting this particular group of veterans is actually more than welcome – it’s much needed because these are some of the veterans who now face the greatest challenges.  Thankfully, State Senator Larkin continues to recognize the sacrifices of the men and women who have served our country … some who did it quite a long time ago.”

            The legislation that Senator Larkin helped pass includes:

• (S4627B)  allows municipalities to offer a full property tax exemption for a veteran classified as 100 percent disabled or their unmarried surviving spouse when the veteran’s injuries were sustained as a result of military service. Veterans would be eligible for the exemption by having served in a combat theater or combat zone of operations documented with a United States campaign ribbon or service medal, armed forces expeditionary medal, navy expeditionary medal, marine corps expeditionary medal, or global war on terrorism expeditionary medal.

• (S877) to create a Veterans Gerontological Advisory Committee. The Committee, at no cost to the taxpayers, would advise the Director of the State Office of the Aging on policies, programs, services and trends affecting New York's aging veteran population. Members would include experts on aging, senior, and veteran issues including medical researchers, practitioners, academia, and veteran’s organizations.

            Senator Larkin noted that New York has the second highest veteran population in the United States, and older veterans represent a population whose needs and problems pervade multiple geriatrics and gerontology disciplines.

            The bills have been sent to the Assembly for consideration.