Bill Text: NY A03714 | 2009-2010 | General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: An act to amend the real property tax law, in relation to a partial real property tax abatement for owners in certain cities who charge rents below fair market rental value

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 14-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-06 - referred to real property taxation [A03714 Detail]

Download: New_York-2009-A03714-Introduced.html
                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                         3714
                              2009-2010 Regular Sessions
                                 I N  A S S E M B L Y
                                   January 28, 2009
                                      ___________
       Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  LENTOL,  AUBRY, P. RIVERA, WRIGHT, V. LOPEZ,
         ABBATE, ROBINSON, CYMBROWITZ, GORDON, ORTIZ, TOWNS --  Multi-Sponsored
         by  --  M. of A. BRENNAN, JACOBS, MILLMAN -- read once and referred to
         the Committee on Real Property Taxation
       AN ACT to amend the real property tax law, in relation to a partial real
         property tax abatement for owners in certain cities who  charge  rents
         below fair market rental value
         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-g to read as follows:
    3    S 467-G. PARTIAL TAX ABATEMENT FOR OWNERS IN CERTAIN CITIES WHO CHARGE
    4  RENTS BELOW FAIR MARKET VALUE. 1. AS USED IN THIS SECTION:
    5    A.  "ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLD" MEANS A HOUSEHOLD (I) WHOSE GROSS INCOME DOES
    6  NOT EXCEED EIGHTY PERCENT OF THE MEDIAN  INCOME  LEVEL  FOR  THE  CENSUS
    7  TRACT,  AS  SET  BY  THE  UNITED  STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN
    8  DEVELOPMENT, IN WHICH THE HOUSEHOLD RESIDES;
    9    (II) WHOSE LEASE FOR AN ELIGIBLE UNIT  PROVIDES  FOR  AN  ANNUAL  RENT
   10  WHICH  IS  AT LEAST THIRTY PERCENT OF THE HOUSEHOLD'S ANNUAL NET INCOME;
   11  AND
   12    (III) HAS LIVED IN THE SAME APARTMENT FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR.
   13    ANY HOUSEHOLD CONTAINING A MEMBER OF THE UNIT OWNER'S IMMEDIATE FAMILY
   14  SHALL NOT QUALIFY AS AN ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLD NOTWITHSTANDING THE FACT THAT
   15  THE OTHER CRITERIA ARE MET.
   16    B. "ELIGIBLE UNIT" MEANS A RENTAL UNIT IN A MULTIPLE DWELLING CONTAIN-
   17  ING NOT MORE THAN FIVE RENTAL UNITS WHICH  IS  SUBJECT  NEITHER  TO  THE
   18  EMERGENCY  HOUSING  RENT CONTROL LAW, NOR TO THE RENT AND REHABILITATION
   19  LAW OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK ENACTED  PURSUANT  TO  THE  LOCAL  EMERGENCY
   20  HOUSING  RENT  CONTROL  LAW,  NOR THE EMERGENCY TENANT PROTECTION ACT OF
   21  NINETEEN SEVENTY-FOUR.
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD05908-01-9
       A. 3714                             2
    1    C. "FAIR MARKET RENTAL VALUE" MEANS THE FAIR MARKET RENT SET  FOR  THE
    2  CITY  BY  THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT;
    3  SUCH RENT MAY BE ADJUSTED, AT THE DISCRETION OF THE SUPERVISING  AGENCY,
    4  BY,  AMONG OTHER THINGS, EXAMINING REAL PROPERTY TAX ROLLS TO MORE ACCU-
    5  RATELY REFLECT THE FAIR MARKET RENTS IN PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOODS.
    6    D.  "GROSS  INCOME"  MEANS INCOME FROM ALL SOURCES AND INCLUDES SOCIAL
    7  SECURITY AND RETIREMENT BENEFITS, SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME AND ADDI-
    8  TIONAL STATE PAYMENTS, PUBLIC ASSISTANCE BENEFITS, INTEREST,  DIVIDENDS,
    9  NET  RENTAL INCOME, SALARY OR EARNINGS, AND NET INCOME FROM SELF-EMPLOY-
   10  MENT, BUT SHALL NOT INCLUDE INCOME FROM GIFTS, ALIMONY, ANNUITIES, CHILD
   11  SUPPORT, INHERITANCES, PAYMENTS MADE TO  INDIVIDUALS  BECAUSE  OF  THEIR
   12  STATUS  AS  VICTIMS  OF NAZI PERSECUTION, AS DEFINED IN P.L. 103-286, OR
   13  INCREASES IN BENEFITS ACCORDED PURSUANT TO THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT OR  A
   14  PUBLIC OR PRIVATE PENSION PAID TO ANY MEMBER  OF  THE  HOUSEHOLD,  WHICH
   15  INCREASE,  IN  ANY  GIVEN YEAR, DOES NOT EXCEED THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX
   16  (ALL ITEMS UNITED STATES CITY AVERAGE) FOR SUCH YEAR WHICH TAKES  EFFECT
   17  AFTER  THE  DATE  OF  ELIGIBILITY OF THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD RECEIVING
   18  BENEFITS HEREUNDER, WHETHER RECEIVED BY THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD OR ANY
   19  OTHER MEMBER OF THE HOUSEHOLD.
   20    E. "HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD" MEANS A  PERSON  WHO  IS  ENTITLED  TO  THE
   21  POSSESSION OR THE USE OR OCCUPANCY OF A DWELLING UNIT.
   22    F.  "HOUSEHOLD"  MEANS THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD AND ANY PERSON, OTHER
   23  THAN A BONA FIDE ROOMER, BOARDER, OR SUBTENANT WHO IS NOT RELATED TO THE
   24  HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD, PERMANENTLY RESIDING IN THE DWELLING UNIT.
   25    G. "MULTIPLE DWELLING" MEANS MULTIPLE DWELLING AS DEFINED IN  SUBDIVI-
   26  SION SEVEN OF SECTION FOUR OF THE MULTIPLE DWELLING LAW.
   27    H.  "OWNER'S  IMMEDIATE  FAMILY"  MEANS  ANY  OR  ALL OF THE FOLLOWING
   28  RELATIONS TO THE OWNER OF AN ELIGIBLE UNIT: HUSBAND, WIFE,  SON,  DAUGH-
   29  TER,    STEPSON,    STEPDAUGHTER,    FATHER,    MOTHER,   FATHER-IN-LAW,
   30  MOTHER-IN-LAW, GRANDMOTHER, OR GRANDFATHER.
   31    I. "NET INCOME" MEANS GROSS INCOME MINUS ALL INCOME AND SOCIAL SECURI-
   32  TY TAXES PAID.
   33    J. "REAL PROPERTY TAX YEAR" MEANS THE TWELVE-MONTH  PERIOD  FOR  WHICH
   34  REAL  PROPERTY TAXES ARE CHARGED; IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK THE REAL PROP-
   35  ERTY TAX YEAR IS JULY FIRST THROUGH JUNE THIRTIETH OF THE NEXT  CALENDAR
   36  YEAR.
   37    K. "SUPERVISING AGENCY" MEANS THE COMPTROLLER IN A MUNICIPALITY HAVING
   38  A COMPTROLLER; IN A MUNICIPALITY HAVING NO COMPTROLLER, THE CHIEF FISCAL
   39  OFFICER  OF  SUCH  MUNICIPALITY;  EXCEPT THAT IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK IT
   40  SHALL BE THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT.
   41    2. THE GOVERNING BODY OF A CITY WITH A POPULATION OF  ONE  MILLION  OR
   42  MORE  IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED AND EMPOWERED TO ADOPT, AFTER PUBLIC HEARING,
   43  IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION, A  LOCAL  LAW,  ORDI-
   44  NANCE,  OR  RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR THE ABATEMENT OF TAXES OF SAID CITY
   45  IMPOSED ON REAL PROPERTY. THE ABATEMENT SHALL WORK AS FOLLOWS: AN  OWNER
   46  SHALL  BE ENTITLED TO A PARTIAL TAX ABATEMENT OF THE REAL PROPERTY TAXES
   47  ASSESSED AGAINST THE MULTIPLE DWELLING CONTAINING THE ELIGIBLE UNIT WHEN
   48  SUCH OWNER RENTS THE ELIGIBLE UNIT, FOR AT LEAST ONE ADDITIONAL YEAR, TO
   49  AN ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLD AT LESS THAN THE FAIR MARKET RENTAL VALUE FOR  THE
   50  UNIT. THE OWNER OF A MULTIPLE DWELLING DEFINED AS CLASS ONE REAL PROPER-
   51  TY  IN  SECTION  EIGHTEEN  HUNDRED  TWO  OF THIS CHAPTER SHALL RECEIVE A
   52  RETROACTIVE PARTIAL ABATEMENT EQUAL TO THE LESSER OF: (I) THE REAL PROP-
   53  ERTY TAXES ASSESSED AGAINST THE MULTIPLE DWELLING CONTAINING THE  ELIGI-
   54  BLE  UNIT  IN  THE  APPLICABLE  REAL  PROPERTY  TAX YEAR, AND (II) FIFTY
   55  PERCENT OF THE DIFFERENCE OF THE FAIR MARKET RENTAL VALUE FOR THE ELIGI-
   56  BLE UNIT AND THE ACTUAL RENT  WHICH  WAS  COLLECTED  FROM  THE  ELIGIBLE
       A. 3714                             3
    1  HOUSEHOLD  FOR  THE  UNIT  IN THE APPLICABLE REAL PROPERTY TAX YEAR. THE
    2  OWNER OF A MULTIPLE DWELLING DEFINED AS  CLASS  TWO  REAL  PROPERTY,  AS
    3  DEFINED  IN SECTION EIGHTEEN HUNDRED TWO OF THIS CHAPTER SHALL RECEIVE A
    4  RETROACTIVE PARTIAL ABATEMENT EQUAL TO THE LESSER OF: (I) THE REAL PROP-
    5  ERTY  TAXES ASSESSED AGAINST THE MULTIPLE DWELLING CONTAINING THE ELIGI-
    6  BLE UNIT IN THE APPLICABLE  REAL  PROPERTY  TAX  YEAR,  AND  (II)  SIXTY
    7  PERCENT OF THE DIFFERENCE OF THE FAIR MARKET RENTAL VALUE FOR THE ELIGI-
    8  BLE  UNIT  AND  THE  ACTUAL  RENT  WHICH WAS COLLECTED FROM THE ELIGIBLE
    9  HOUSEHOLD FOR THE UNIT IN THE APPLICABLE REAL  PROPERTY  TAX  YEAR.  THE
   10  AMOUNT  OF  THE ABATEMENT SHALL BE DEDUCTED FROM THE REAL PROPERTY TAXES
   11  LEVIED IN THE FOLLOWING REAL PROPERTY TAX YEAR ON THE MULTIPLE  DWELLING
   12  CONTAINING  THE  ELIGIBLE  UNIT.  AFTER THE FIRST YEAR IN WHICH AN OWNER
   13  RECEIVES A TAX ABATEMENT UNDER THIS SECTION, IF THE OWNER AGREES TO RENT
   14  THE SAME UNIT TO THE SAME HOUSEHOLD FOR AN ADDITIONAL YEAR WITH A  WRIT-
   15  TEN  LEASE,  AT  LESS  THAN  THE  FAIR MARKET RENTAL VALUE FOR THE UNIT,
   16  ASSUMING SUCH UNIT REMAINS AN ELIGIBLE UNIT AND SUCH  HOUSEHOLD  REMAINS
   17  AN ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLD, THE AMOUNT OF THE ABATEMENT WILL BE INCREASED FOR
   18  EACH  SUCH  ADDITIONAL  YEAR BY THREE PERCENT OF THE ANNUAL RENT FOR THE
   19  ELIGIBLE UNIT.
   20    3. A. AN APPLICATION FOR ABATEMENT PURSUANT TO THIS  SECTION  FOR  ANY
   21  REAL  PROPERTY  TAX YEAR SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO THE SUPERVISING AGENCY BY
   22  THE OWNER OF THE ELIGIBLE UNIT FOR EACH REAL PROPERTY TAX YEAR FOR WHICH
   23  THE ABATEMENT IS SOUGHT.
   24    B. THE SUPERVISING AGENCY SHALL DETERMINE THE FORM AND CONTENT OF  THE
   25  APPLICATION  AND THE INFORMATION IT WILL CONTAIN. SUCH APPLICATION SHALL
   26  REQUIRE AT A MINIMUM THAT ANY OWNER SEEKING  AN  ABATEMENT  PURSUANT  TO
   27  THIS  SECTION  MUST  CERTIFY  THAT,  FOR THE YEAR THE ABATEMENT IS BEING
   28  SOUGHT, THE UNIT WAS AN ELIGIBLE UNIT AND THE HOUSEHOLD RESIDING IN  THE
   29  ELIGIBLE  UNIT  WAS  AN ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLD. IN ADDITION, THE SUPERVISING
   30  AGENCY IS AUTHORIZED TO AND SHALL COLLECT THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION FROM
   31  UNITS FOR WHICH AN ABATEMENT IS SOUGHT, WITHOUT LIMITATION:
   32    (I) THE NAMES AND SOCIAL SECURITY OR TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS OF ALL
   33  HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS IN THE UNIT EIGHTEEN YEARS OR OLDER;
   34    (II) FOR EACH HOUSEHOLD MEMBER IN THE UNIT EIGHTEEN  YEARS  OR  OLDER,
   35  THE  TOTAL  ANNUAL  GROSS  AND  NET  INCOME  OF SUCH HOUSEHOLD MEMBER AS
   36  REPORTED ON THE HOUSEHOLD MEMBER'S MOST RECENT INCOME TAX RETURN;
   37    (III) THE AMOUNT OF MONTHLY RENT CHARGED FOR THE UNIT AND  THE  AMOUNT
   38  OF RENT ACTUALLY PAID FOR ONE YEAR PRECEDING THE APPLICATION; AND
   39    (IV)  THE  NUMBER  OF  RENTAL  UNITS  IN THE MULTIPLE DWELLING AND THE
   40  MONTHLY RENT CHARGED IN EACH UNIT, WHETHER OR NOT AN ELIGIBLE  UNIT,  IN
   41  THE YEAR PRECEDING THE YEAR OF THE APPLICATION.
   42    IN  COLLECTING  THE INFORMATION DESCRIBED IN SUBPARAGRAPHS (I) THROUGH
   43  (IV) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, AND ANY OTHER INFORMATION RELATING  TO  THE  TAX
   44  ABATEMENT  DESCRIBED  IN  THIS  SECTION, THE SUPERVISING AGENCY SHALL BE
   45  PERMITTED, WHERE RECORDS ARE NOT AVAILABLE, TO ACCEPT  SWORN  AFFIDAVITS
   46  AND OTHER CERTIFICATIONS THAT THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IS CORRECT.
   47    C.  THE  SUPERVISING  AGENCY  SHALL  INFORM  IN  WRITING ANY OWNER WHO
   48  APPLIES FOR THE ABATEMENT PROVIDED FOR IN THIS SECTION OF THE AMOUNT  OF
   49  SUCH ABATEMENT NO LATER THAN THREE MONTHS AFTER RECEIVING A SUFFICIENTLY
   50  COMPLETED APPLICATION.
   51    4.  THE  SUPERVISING  AGENCY  IS AUTHORIZED AND DIRECTED TO PROMULGATE
   52  RULES AND REGULATIONS NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE  THE  PROVISIONS  OF  THIS
   53  SECTION.
   54    5.  NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF THIS SECTION, THE SUPERVIS-
   55  ING AGENCY SHALL DENY, TERMINATE OR REVOKE ANY ABATEMENT APPLIED FOR  OR
   56  GRANTED  PURSUANT  TO  THIS  SECTION  UPON A DETERMINATION THAT THE RENT
       A. 3714                             4
    1  CERTIFIED BY THE OWNER AS THE RENT PAID BY AN ELIGIBLE  UNIT  WAS  MATE-
    2  RIALLY  DIFFERENT  THAN THE RENT ACTUALLY PAID BY THE ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLD
    3  FOR SUCH UNIT AND THAT THE OWNER OF THE UNIT WHO CERTIFIED THE INCORRECT
    4  RENT  DID  SO  PRIMARILY FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECEIVING AN ABATEMENT UNDER
    5  THIS SECTION. IN MAKING SUCH DETERMINATION, THE SUPERVISING  AGENCY  MAY
    6  CONSIDER,  AMONG  OTHER FACTORS, WHETHER THE RENT CERTIFIED BY THE OWNER
    7  AS THE RENT CHARGED IS CONSISTENT WITH THE RENT  CHARGED  IN  COMPARABLE
    8  DWELLING UNITS.
    9    6.  EXCEPT  IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH PROPER JUDICIAL ORDER OR AS OTHERWISE
   10  PROVIDED BY LAW, NEITHER THE SUPERVISING AGENCY NOR AN EMPLOYEE THEREOF,
   11  NOR ANY PERSON WHO, PURSUANT  TO  THIS  SUBDIVISION,  IS  AUTHORIZED  TO
   12  INSPECT  THE  APPLICATION OR STATEMENTS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH REQUIRED
   13  BY THIS SECTION, SHALL DISCLOSE OR MAKE KNOWN THE CONTENTS OF  ANY  SUCH
   14  APPLICATION  OR  STATEMENTS.  EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN THIS SUBDIVISION THE
   15  OFFICERS CHARGED WITH THE CUSTODY OF ANY SUCH APPLICATION OR  STATEMENTS
   16  SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED TO PRODUCE THEM IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY
   17  COURT OR BEFORE ANY ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL, BUT ANY SUCH APPLICATION OR
   18  STATEMENTS  MAY  BE  PRODUCED  ON  BEHALF  OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE.
   19  NOTHING IN THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO PROHIBIT THE  DELIVERY
   20  OF  A CERTIFIED COPY OF ANY SUCH APPLICATION OR STATEMENTS TO THE UNITED
   21  STATES OF AMERICA OR ANY DEPARTMENT THEREOF, THE STATE OF  NEW  YORK  OR
   22  ANY  DEPARTMENT THEREOF, OR A CITY HAVING A POPULATION OF ONE MILLION OR
   23  MORE OR ANY DEPARTMENT THEREOF, PROVIDED ANY SUCH APPLICATION OR  STATE-
   24  MENTS ARE REQUIRED FOR OFFICIAL BUSINESS; NOR TO PROHIBIT THE INSPECTION
   25  FOR  OFFICIAL  BUSINESS OF ANY SUCH APPLICATION OR STATEMENTS BY THE TAX
   26  COMMISSION OF A CITY HAVING A POPULATION OF ONE MILLION OR MORE,  OR  BY
   27  THE CORPORATION COUNSEL OR OTHER LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE OF A CITY HAVING A
   28  POPULATION  OF ONE MILLION OR MORE, OR BY ANY PERSON ENGAGED OR RETAINED
   29  BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE ON AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACT  BASIS;  NOR  TO
   30  PROHIBIT  THE  PUBLICATION OF STATISTICS SO CLASSIFIED AS TO PREVENT THE
   31  IDENTIFICATION OF ANY PARTICULAR APPLICATION OR STATEMENTS.
   32    7.  THE  INFORMATION  CONTAINED  IN  APPLICATIONS  OR  STATEMENTS   IN
   33  CONNECTION  THEREWITH,  FILED  WITH  THE  SUPERVISING AGENCY PURSUANT TO
   34  SUBDIVISION THREE OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT  BE  SUBJECT  TO  DISCLOSURE
   35  UNDER ARTICLE SIX OF THE PUBLIC OFFICERS LAW.
   36    S  2. The abatement provided for in this act shall first apply to real
   37  property taxes for the real property tax year which follows  immediately
   38  after the year that this act is passed, and shall apply every year ther-
   39  eafter.
   40    S  3. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed-
   41  ing the date on which it shall have become a  law  and  shall  apply  to
   42  assessment rolls prepared on the basis of taxable status dates occurring
   43  on or after such effective date.
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