Bill Text: NY A06037 | 2017-2018 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relates to outreach, status and time limits relating to the tax abatement program for rent-controlled and rent-regulated property occupied by senior citizens or persons with disabilities.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 25-0)

Status: (Passed) 2018-12-28 - signed chap.464 [A06037 Detail]

Download: New_York-2017-A06037-Introduced.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
                                          6037
                               2017-2018 Regular Sessions
                   IN ASSEMBLY
                                    February 21, 2017
                                       ___________
        Introduced  by M. of A. LUPARDO -- read once and referred to the Commit-
          tee on Aging
        AN ACT to amend the real property tax  law,  in  relation  to  outreach,
          status and time limits relating to the tax abatement program for rent-
          controlled  and rent-regulated property occupied by senior citizens or
          persons with disabilities
          The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
     1    Section  1.  Section  467-b of the real property tax law is amended by
     2  adding three new subdivisions 11, 12 and 13 to read as follows:
     3    11. An entity that administers the tax abatement program  pursuant  to
     4  this  section  shall  implement  and  administer a program that develops
     5  outreach initiatives to identify individuals who  meet  the  eligibility
     6  criteria  for the tax abatement program who are not participating in the
     7  program and ensure that they have information regarding the  tax  abate-
     8  ment  program.    Such  outreach  program  may include, but shall not be
     9  limited to,  mailings,  advertisements,  public  service  announcements,
    10  literature  dissemination,  internet technology, social media, community
    11  outreach, and partnerships with other municipal entities  and  agencies.
    12  An  entity  that  administers the tax abatement program may consult with
    13  any other person or entity deemed  pertinent  to  develop  the  outreach
    14  initiative.
    15    12. Any municipality that adopts a local law, resolution, or ordinance
    16  pursuant  to  subdivision two of this section shall develop a program to
    17  allow applicants and participants to ascertain the  status  of  any  tax
    18  abatement  or  the status of any form that has been filed by such appli-
    19  cant or participant on the applicant or participant's behalf pursuant to
    20  this section. Such program  shall  include  provisions  to  ensure  that
    21  applicants  and  participants whose primary language is not English, who
    22  may have communication restrictions due to partial or  total  blindness,
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD06951-01-7
        A. 6037                             2
     1  deafness,  speech  impediment,  or cognitive impairment, and/or who lack
     2  access to the internet may ascertain such status.
     3    13. a. Within ten days of receiving any form for application, renewal,
     4  or  adjustment  of  abatement  for  the  tax abatement program, a letter
     5  acknowledging receipt of such form shall be sent to the applicant.  Such
     6  letter shall include the date the form was received.
     7    b.  Within  thirty  days  of  the receipt of an application or renewal
     8  application from an applicant,  the  entity  that  administers  the  tax
     9  abatement  program  shall approve the application or renewal application
    10  for the tax abatement program, deny the application or renewal  applica-
    11  tion  for  the  tax abatement program, or request further information or
    12  documentation from the applicant. If  a  request  is  made  for  further
    13  information or documentation, the entity that administers the tax abate-
    14  ment  program shall have fifteen days after such information or documen-
    15  tation requested is received by the entity to either approve or deny the
    16  application or renewal application.
    17    c. Within thirty days of the receipt of any form other than an  appli-
    18  cation  or  renewal  application form from an applicant, the entity that
    19  administers the program shall act on such form.
    20    d. Within ten days of approving or rejecting an application or renewal
    21  application pursuant to paragraph b of this subdivision or  acting  upon
    22  any  other  form  pursuant to paragraph c of this subdivision, a written
    23  notification shall be sent to the individual who made  such  application
    24  or  renewal  application  or  sent  such form. Such written notification
    25  shall include the action taken  by  the  entity  administering  the  tax
    26  abatement  program,  the  date  such  action was taken, what recourse is
    27  available should the individual be dissatisfied with  such  action,  and
    28  how to pursue the recourse available.
    29    §  2.  This act shall take effect immediately, provided, however, that
    30  the amendments to section 467-b of the real property  tax  law  made  by
    31  section  one of this act shall not affect the expiration of such section
    32  and shall be deemed to expire therewith.