Bill Text: NY A02293 | 2015-2016 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes a county real property tax abatement for residential real property owned by a person 65 years of age or older who is accepted to participate in volunteer programs.
Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 20-2)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-01-06 - referred to aging [A02293 Detail]
Download: New_York-2015-A02293-Introduced.html
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
2293
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 15, 2015
___________
Introduced by M. of A. ENGLEBRIGHT, ABBATE, BENEDETTO, SCHIMMINGER,
CUSICK, COLTON, HOOPER, BROOK-KRASNY, MAGNARELLI, LUPARDO, DINOWITZ,
JAFFEE, GALEF -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. CAMARA, COOK, CURRAN,
HIKIND, OAKS, ORTIZ, PAULIN, PEOPLES-STOKES, RAMOS, RIVERA, ROBINSON
-- read once and referred to the Committee on Aging
AN ACT to amend the real property tax law, in relation to establishing a
tax abatement for residential real property owned by a person who is
sixty-five years old or older and who participates in a volunteer
program
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
1 Section 1. The real property tax law is amended by adding a new
2 section 467-i to read as follows:
3 S 467-I. TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAM FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF VOLUNTEER
4 SERVICES BY PERSONS SIXTY-FIVE YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER. 1. FOR PURPOSES OF
5 THIS SECTION, THE TERMS "GOVERNING BOARD" AND "MUNICIPAL CORPORATION"
6 SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANINGS AS SET FORTH IN SECTION TWO OF THE GENERAL
7 MUNICIPAL LAW.
8 2. THE GOVERNING BODY OF ANY MUNICIPAL CORPORATION IS HEREBY AUTHOR-
9 IZED AND EMPOWERED TO ADOPT, AFTER PUBLIC HEARING, A LOCAL LAW, ORDI-
10 NANCE OR RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR THE ABATEMENT OF TAXES ON REAL PROPER-
11 TY IN WHICH THE OWNER OR ONE OF THE OWNERS IS SIXTY-FIVE YEARS OF AGE OR
12 OLDER AND IS PERFORMING VOLUNTEER SERVICES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
13 PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION.
14 3. NO ABATEMENT SHALL BE GRANTED UNLESS:
15 (A) THE REAL PROPERTY IS THE LEGAL RESIDENCE OF AND IS OCCUPIED IN
16 WHOLE OR IN PART BY THE OWNER OR OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY; AND
17 (B) THE INCOME OF THE OWNER OR THE COMBINED INCOME OF THE OWNERS OF
18 THE PROPERTY FOR THE INCOME TAX YEAR IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE DATE OF
19 MAKING APPLICATION FOR THE ABATEMENT DOES NOT EXCEED THE MEDIAN INCOME
20 FOR THE COUNTY IN WHICH THE PROPERTY IS OWNED; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06494-01-5
A. 2293 2
1 FOR MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS WITH A POPULATION OF ONE MILLION OR MORE, THE
2 INCOME OF THE OWNER OR THE COMBINED INCOME OF THE OWNERS OF THE REAL
3 PROPERTY FOR THE TAX YEAR IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE DATE OF MAKING
4 APPLICATION FOR THE ABATEMENT SHALL NOT EXCEED THE INCOME LIMITATIONS
5 FOR EXEMPTION GRANTED TO PERSONS SIXTY-FIVE YEARS OF AGE OR OVER PURSU-
6 ANT TO SECTION FOUR HUNDRED SIXTY-SEVEN OF THIS TITLE.
7 4. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL PRECLUDE INDIVIDUALS WITH HIGHER
8 INCOMES FROM VOLUNTEERING IN ACTIVITIES AS DESCRIBED IN SUBDIVISION
9 EIGHT OF THIS SECTION, BUT SUCH INDIVIDUALS SHALL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR
10 THE TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAM UNDER THIS SECTION.
11 5. THE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION SHALL DEVELOP AN APPLICATION PROCESS FOR
12 PERSONS WISHING TO PROVIDE VOLUNTEER SERVICES PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION,
13 PROVIDED THAT A PREFERENCE SHALL BE GIVEN TO THOSE APPLICANTS WHO SPEND
14 AT LEAST SEVEN AND ONE-HALF PERCENT OF THEIR INCOME FOR THE PAYMENT OF
15 REAL PROPERTY TAXES.
16 6. THE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION SHALL APPOINT A PROGRAM COORDINATOR TO
17 IMPLEMENT AND ADMINISTER THE TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAM UNDER THIS SECTION.
18 THE PROGRAM COORDINATOR SHALL SEEK THE ASSISTANCE OF THE ADVISORY
19 COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED UNDER SUBDIVISION SEVEN OF THIS SECTION IN
20 PERFORMING HIS OR HER OFFICIAL DUTIES.
21 7. THE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION SHALL APPOINT AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO
22 ADVISE THE PROGRAM COORDINATOR AND THE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION IN THE
23 DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE TAX ABATEMENT
24 PROGRAM UNDER THIS SECTION. THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE SHALL CONSIST OF AT
25 LEAST FOUR MEMBERS. FIFTY PERCENT OF THE MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY COMMIT-
26 TEE SHALL BE REPRESENTATIVES OF GOVERNMENT ENTITIES AND FIFTY PERCENT OF
27 THE MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE SHALL BE MEMBERS OF PRIVATE OR
28 NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS OR CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS. THE ADVISORY COMMIT-
29 TEE SHALL DISSOLVE ONE YEAR AFTER THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUCH PROGRAM.
30 THE MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE SHALL SERVE WITHOUT A SALARY, BUT
31 EACH MEMBER SHALL BE ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR HIS OR HER ACTUAL AND
32 NECESSARY EXPENSES INCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF HIS OR HER OFFICIAL
33 DUTIES.
34 8. THE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION AFTER RECEIVING RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE
35 ADVISORY COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED UNDER SUBDIVISION SEVEN OF THIS SECTION
36 SHALL ESTABLISH SUITABLE VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES FOR THE PERSONS SELECTED
37 TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAM UNDER THIS SECTION WHICH MAY
38 INCLUDE:
39 (A) PARTICIPATION IN ANY OF THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ADMINISTERED BY
40 A NOT-FOR-PROFIT, PRIVATE, OR CIVIC ENTITY OPERATING UNDER THE AUSPICES
41 OF THE STATE OFFICE FOR THE AGING AND ITS DESIGNATED AREA AGENCIES ON
42 AGING;
43 (B) PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY SPONSORED AFTER SCHOOL, WEEKEND AND
44 SUMMER PROGRAMS THAT ARE NOT PROVIDED BY EMPLOYEES OF THE SCHOOL; AND
45 (C) ANY OTHER ACTIVITY THAT IS APPROVED BY THE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION
46 AS A SUITABLE VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY PROVIDED THAT SUCH VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY
47 SHALL NOT INCLUDE ANY DUTIES, SERVICES OR ACTIVITIES NORMALLY PERFORMED
48 BY EMPLOYEES OF THE STATE, MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS OR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
49 9. THE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, AFTER RECEIVING RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE
50 ADVISORY COMMITTEE, SHALL ESTABLISH PROCEDURES TO BE USED BY ORGANIZA-
51 TIONS OFFERING VOLUNTEER PLACEMENTS SO THAT SUCH ORGANIZATIONS MAY TRAIN
52 VOLUNTEERS, MONITOR AND ENSURE PARTICIPATION IN THE ASSIGNED VOLUNTEER
53 ACTIVITIES, AND PROVIDE A MECHANISM FOR CERTIFICATION THAT VOLUNTEER
54 HOURS WERE COMPLETED. PRIOR TO ASSIGNING ANY PERSON TO PERFORM ANY
55 VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY, THE ORGANIZATION ACCEPTING VOLUNTEERS SHALL PROVIDE
A. 2293 3
1 SUCH PERSON WITH ANY AND ALL TRAINING THAT IS NECESSARY FOR THE PERFORM-
2 ANCE OF SUCH VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY.
3 10. THE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION SHALL DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF PARTIC-
4 IPANTS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAM UNDER THIS SECTION.
5 EACH PARTICIPANT MAY BE ASSIGNED UP TO SEVENTY-FIVE HOURS OF VOLUNTEER
6 SERVICES PER YEAR, PROVIDED HOWEVER, THAT THE ANNUAL TAX ABATEMENT
7 AWARDED TO EACH PARTICIPANT SHALL NOT EXCEED SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY
8 DOLLARS. EACH HOUR ASSIGNED PER VOLUNTEER MUST BE DOCUMENTED BY THE
9 ORGANIZATION ACCEPTING VOLUNTEERS AND SIGNED BY A SUPERVISOR AND EACH
10 HOUR OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE SHALL BE EQUIVALENT TO AN ABATEMENT OF TEN
11 DOLLARS. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL VOLUNTEERS BE USED TO:
12 (A) REPLACE ANY EXISTING PAID EMPLOYEES WITHIN THE MUNICIPAL CORPO-
13 RATION, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION OR CIVIC
14 ASSOCIATION IN SUCH PROGRAM; OR
15 (B) PROVIDE ANY DUTIES, SERVICES OR ACTIVITIES PROVIDED BY THE STATE,
16 A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION OR A SCHOOL DISTRICT.
17 11. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL THE TAX ABATEMENT GRANTED PURSUANT TO
18 THIS SECTION EXCEED THE TOTAL ASSESSED VALUE OF THE REAL PROPERTY WHEN
19 SUCH ABATEMENT IS ADDED TO ALL OTHER EXEMPTIONS AND ABATEMENTS THE PROP-
20 ERTY OWNER OR OWNERS ARE ENTITLED TO PURSUANT TO ANY PROVISION OF LAW.
21 12. NO PERSON SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A TAX ABATEMENT PURSUANT TO THIS
22 SECTION UNLESS HE OR SHE HAS PARTICIPATED IN VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES FOR AT
23 LEAST SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO THE DATE WHEN REAL PROPERTY TAXES ARE DUE.
24 S 2. The real property tax law is amended by adding a new section
25 1306-b to read as follows:
26 S 1306-B. EFFECT OF TAX ABATEMENT FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF VOLUNTEER
27 SERVICES BY PERSONS SIXTY-FIVE YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER. 1. LEVY OF TAXES;
28 DETERMINATION OF TAXES DUE. THE TAX RATE ON REAL PROPERTY FOR ANY TAXA-
29 BLE YEAR SHALL BE DETERMINED AS IF NO PARCELS WERE SUBJECT TO A TAX
30 ABATEMENT UNDER SECTION FOUR HUNDRED SIXTY-SEVEN-I OF THIS CHAPTER.
31 HOWEVER, THE TAX RATE SO DETERMINED SHALL BE APPLIED TO THE TAXABLE
32 ASSESSED VALUE OF EACH PARCEL AFTER ACCOUNTING FOR ALL APPLICABLE
33 EXEMPTIONS, INCLUDING THE TAX ABATEMENT AUTHORIZED BY SECTION FOUR
34 HUNDRED SIXTY-SEVEN-I OF THIS CHAPTER.
35 2. TAX SAVINGS. THE TAX SAVINGS FOR EACH PARCEL RECEIVING THE TAX
36 ABATEMENT AUTHORIZED BY SECTION FOUR HUNDRED SIXTY-SEVEN-I OF THIS CHAP-
37 TER SHALL BE COMPUTED BY SUBTRACTING THE AMOUNT ACTUALLY LEVIED AGAINST
38 THE PARCEL FROM THE AMOUNT THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN LEVIED IF NOT FOR THE
39 TAX ABATEMENT. A STATEMENT SHALL THEN BE PLACED ON THE TAX BILL FOR THE
40 PARCEL IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE FOLLOWING FORM: "YOUR TAX SAVINGS THIS YEAR
41 RESULTING FROM THE TAX ABATEMENT ON REAL PROPERTY FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF
42 VOLUNTEER SERVICES IS $___."
43 S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
