STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          5948

                               2023-2024 Regular Sessions

                    IN SENATE

                                     March 23, 2023
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by  Sen. SKOUFIS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
          printed to be committed to the Committee on Aging

        AN ACT to amend the real property tax law, in  relation  to  the  senior
          citizen and disabled property owner exemption

          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:

     1    Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 1 of section 467 of  the  real
     2  property  tax  law,  as amended by section 1 of part B of chapter 686 of
     3  the laws of 2022, is amended to read as follows:
     4    (b) (1) Any local law, ordinance or  resolution  adopted  pursuant  to
     5  paragraph  (a) of this subdivision may be amended, or a local law, ordi-
     6  nance or resolution may be adopted, to provide an  exemption  so  as  to
     7  increase  the  maximum income eligibility level of such municipal corpo-
     8  ration as provided in subdivision three of this section (represented  in
     9  the  hereinbelow schedule as M), to the extent provided in the following
    10  schedule:

    11      ANNUAL INCOME                         PERCENTAGE ASSESSED VALUATION
    12                                            EXEMPT FROM TAXATION OR PILOT

    13  More than (M) but
    14     [less than (M+ $1,000)                          45 per centum
    15  (M+ $1,000 or more) but
    16     less than (M+ $2,000)                           40 per centum
    17  (M+ $2,000 or more) but]
    18     less than (M+ [$3,000]                          35 per centum
    19                    $10,000)
    20  [(M+ $3,000 or more) but
    21     less than (M+ $3,900)                           30 per centum
    22  (M+ $3,900 or more) but

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD06648-01-3

        S. 5948                             2

     1     less than (M+ $4,800)                           25 per centum
     2  (M+ $4,800 or more) but
     3     less than (M+ $5,700)                          20 per centum]

     4    (2) Any local law, ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to subpar-
     5  agraph  one  of this paragraph may be amended, or a local law, ordinance
     6  or resolution may be adopted, to provide an exemption so as to  increase
     7  the  maximum  income  eligibility level of such municipal corporation as
     8  provided in subdivision three of this section (represented in the  here-
     9  inbelow schedule as M), and as increased as provided for in such subpar-
    10  agraph one to the extent provided in the following schedule:

    11      ANNUAL INCOME                         PERCENTAGE ASSESSED VALUATION
    12                                            EXEMPT FROM TAXATION OR PILOT

    13  (M+ [$5,700] $10,000 or more) but
    14     less than (M+ [$6,600]                           15 per centum
    15                    $25,000)
    16  [(M+ $6,600 or more) but
    17     less than (M+ $7,500)                           10 per centum]

    18    (3) Any local law, ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to subpar-
    19  agraphs  one  and  two of this paragraph may be amended, or a local law,
    20  ordinance or resolution may be adopted, to provide an exemption so as to
    21  increase the maximum income eligibility level of such  municipal  corpo-
    22  ration  as provided in subdivision three of this section (represented in
    23  the hereinbelow schedule as M), and as increased as provided for in such
    24  subparagraph one to the extent provided in the following schedule:

    25      ANNUAL INCOME                         PERCENTAGE ASSESSED VALUATION
    26                                            EXEMPT FROM TAXATION OR PILOT

    27  (M+ [$7,500] $25,000 or more)
    28     less than (M+ [$8,400]                            5 per centum
    29                    $35,000)

    30    § 2. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 3 of section 467 of the real proper-
    31  ty tax law, as separately amended by chapter 488 and section 1 of part B
    32  of chapter 686 of the laws of 2022, is amended to read as follows:
    33    (a) if the income of the owner or the combined income of the owners of
    34  the property for the income tax year immediately preceding the  date  of
    35  making  application  for  exemption  exceeds  the  sum of three thousand
    36  dollars, or such other sum not less than three thousand dollars nor more
    37  than twenty-six thousand dollars beginning July first, two thousand six,
    38  twenty-seven thousand dollars beginning July first, two thousand  seven,
    39  twenty-eight  thousand dollars beginning July first, two thousand eight,
    40  twenty-nine thousand dollars beginning July first,  two  thousand  nine,
    41  fifty  thousand  dollars  beginning July first, two thousand twenty-two,
    42  and [in a city with a population of one million or more] fifty  thousand
    43  dollars beginning July first, two thousand seventeen, as may be provided
    44  by  the  local  law,  ordinance  or  resolution adopted pursuant to this
    45  section. Where the taxable status date is on or before April fourteenth,
    46  income tax year shall mean the twelve-month period for which  the  owner
    47  or owners filed a federal personal income tax return for the year before
    48  the  income  tax  year immediately preceding the date of application and
    49  where the taxable status date is on or after April fifteenth, income tax

        S. 5948                             3

     1  year shall mean the twelve-month period for which the  owner  or  owners
     2  filed a federal personal income tax return for the income tax year imme-
     3  diately  preceding  the  date  of  application. Where title is vested in
     4  either  the  husband  or  the wife, their combined income may not exceed
     5  such sum, except where the husband or wife, or ex-husband or ex-wife  is
     6  absent  from  the property as provided in subparagraph (ii) of paragraph
     7  (d) of this subdivision, then only the income of the spouse or ex-spouse
     8  residing on the property shall be considered and  may  not  exceed  such
     9  sum.  Such income shall include social security and retirement benefits,
    10  interest, dividends, total gain from the sale or exchange of  a  capital
    11  asset which may be offset by a loss from the sale or exchange of a capi-
    12  tal  asset  in  the  same  income tax year, net rental income, salary or
    13  earnings, and net income from self-employment, but shall not  include  a
    14  return  of  capital,  gifts,  inheritances, payments made to individuals
    15  because of their status as victims of Nazi persecution,  as  defined  in
    16  P.L.  103-286  or monies earned through employment in the federal foster
    17  grandparent program and any such income shall be offset by  all  medical
    18  and  prescription  drug expenses actually paid which were not reimbursed
    19  or paid for by insurance, if the  governing  board  of  a  municipality,
    20  after  a  public  hearing,  adopts  a local law, ordinance or resolution
    21  providing therefor. In addition, an exchange of an annuity for an annui-
    22  ty contract, which  resulted  in  non-taxable  gain,  as  determined  in
    23  section  one thousand thirty-five of the internal revenue code, shall be
    24  excluded from such income. Provided that such exclusion shall  be  based
    25  on satisfactory proof that such an exchange was solely an exchange of an
    26  annuity  for an annuity contract that resulted in a non-taxable transfer
    27  determined by such section of the internal  revenue  code.  Furthermore,
    28  such  income  shall  not  include the proceeds of a reverse mortgage, as
    29  authorized by section six-h of the banking law, and sections two hundred
    30  eighty and two hundred eighty-a of  the  real  property  law;  provided,
    31  however,  that  monies  used  to  repay  a  reverse  mortgage may not be
    32  deducted from income, and provided additionally  that  any  interest  or
    33  dividends  realized  from  the  investment  of reverse mortgage proceeds
    34  shall be considered income. The provisions of  this  paragraph  notwith-
    35  standing,  such  income  shall  not  include veterans disability compen-
    36  sation, as defined in Title 38 of the United States  Code  provided  the
    37  governing  board  of  such  municipality, after public hearing, adopts a
    38  local law, ordinance or resolution providing therefor. In computing  net
    39  rental  income  and  net  income  from  self-employment  no depreciation
    40  deduction shall be allowed for the exhaustion, wear and tear of real  or
    41  personal property held for the production of income;
    42    § 3. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 1 of section 459-c of the real prop-
    43  erty  tax  law,  as amended by section 2 of part B of chapter 686 of the
    44  laws of 2022, is amended to read as follows:
    45    (b) Any local law or resolution adopted pursuant to paragraph  (a)  of
    46  this  subdivision  may  be  amended, or a local law or resolution may be
    47  adopted, to provide an exemption so as to increase  the  maximum  income
    48  eligibility  level of such municipal corporation as provided in subdivi-
    49  sion five of this section (represented in the  hereinbelow  schedule  as
    50  M), to the extent provided in the following schedule:
    51    ANNUAL INCOME                         PERCENTAGE ASSESSED VALUATION
    52                                          EXEMPT FROM TAXATION OR PILOT
    53  More than (M) but
    54       [less than (M+ $1,000)                  45 per centum
    55  (M+ $1,000 or more) but

        S. 5948                             4

     1       less than (M+ $2,000)                   40 per centum
     2  (M+ $2,000 or more) but]
     3       less than (M+ [$3,000] $10,000)         35 per centum
     4  [(M+ $3,000 or more) but
     5       less than (M+ $3,900)                   30 per centum
     6  (M+ $3,900 or more) but
     7       less than (M+ $4,800)                   25 per centum
     8  (M+ $4,800 or more) but
     9       less than (M+ $5,700)                   20 per centum]
    10  (M+ [$5,700] $10,000 or more) but
    11       less than (M+ [$6,600] $25,000)         15 per centum
    12  [(M+ $6,600 or more) but
    13       less than (M+ $7,500)                   10 per centum]
    14  (M + [$7,500] $25,000 or more) but
    15       less than (M+ [$8,400] $35,000)         5 per centum
    16    § 4. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 5 of section 459-c of the real prop-
    17  erty tax law, as separately amended by chapter 488 and section 2 of part
    18  B of chapter 686 of the laws of 2022, is amended to read as follows:
    19    (a) if the income of the owner or the combined income of the owners of
    20  the  property  for the income tax year immediately preceding the date of
    21  making application for exemption  exceeds  the  sum  of  three  thousand
    22  dollars, or such other sum not less than three thousand dollars nor more
    23  than twenty-six thousand dollars beginning July first, two thousand six,
    24  twenty-seven  thousand dollars beginning July first, two thousand seven,
    25  twenty-eight thousand dollars beginning July first, two thousand  eight,
    26  twenty-nine  thousand  dollars  beginning July first, two thousand nine,
    27  and fifty thousand dollars beginning July first,  two  thousand  twenty-
    28  two,  and  [in  a  city  with a population of one million or more] fifty
    29  thousand dollars beginning July first, two thousand seventeen, as may be
    30  provided by the  local  law  or  resolution  adopted  pursuant  to  this
    31  section.  Income  tax  year shall mean the twelve month period for which
    32  the owner or owners filed a federal personal income tax return, or if no
    33  such return is filed, the calendar year. Where title is vested in either
    34  the husband or the wife, their combined income may not exceed such  sum,
    35  except  where  the  husband  or wife, or ex-husband or ex-wife is absent
    36  from the property due to divorce, legal separation or abandonment,  then
    37  only  the  income  of  the  spouse or ex-spouse residing on the property
    38  shall be considered and may not  exceed  such  sum.  Such  income  shall
    39  include  social  security  and retirement benefits, interest, dividends,
    40  total gain from the sale or exchange of a capital  asset  which  may  be
    41  offset  by  a  loss  from the sale or exchange of a capital asset in the
    42  same income tax year, net rental income, salary  or  earnings,  and  net
    43  income  from self-employment, but shall not include a return of capital,
    44  gifts, inheritances or monies earned through employment in  the  federal
    45  foster  grandparent  program  and any such income shall be offset by all
    46  medical and prescription drug expenses  actually  paid  which  were  not
    47  reimbursed or paid for by insurance, if the governing board of a munici-
    48  pality, after a public hearing, adopts a local law or resolution provid-
    49  ing  therefor.  In computing net rental income and net income from self-
    50  employment  no  depreciation  deduction  shall  be   allowed   for   the
    51  exhaustion,  wear  and  tear  of  real or personal property held for the
    52  production of income;
    53    § 5. The state shall, within an appropriation made available therefor,
    54  reimburse municipal corporations for the difference between  the  amount
    55  of  real property tax revenue abated for the fiscal year of such munici-
    56  pality that occurs after April 1, 2023 pursuant to the income thresholds

        S. 5948                             5

     1  established pursuant to the provisions  of this act, and the  amount  of
     2  real  property  tax  revenue that would have been abated for such period
     3  pursuant to the income thresholds that were in effect immediately  prior
     4  to the effective date of this act.
     5    §  6.  This  act  shall take effect immediately and shall apply to any
     6  local law, resolution or ordinance amended or adopted on and  after  the
     7  effective date of this act.