S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
5763
2009-2010 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 19, 2009
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Introduced by M. of A. PRETLOW -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Veterans' Affairs
AN ACT to amend the real property tax law, in relation to granting an
exemption to members of the armed forces serving in hostile areas
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The real property tax law is amended by adding a new
section 458-c to read as follows:
S 458-C. MILITARY SERVICE IN HOSTILE AREAS. 1. FOR THE PURPOSES OF
THIS SECTION:
(A) "HAZARDOUS SERVICE" SHALL MEAN DUTY SUBJECT TO HOSTILE FIRE OR
IMMINENT DANGER AS DEFINED IN SECTION 310(A) OF TITLE 37 OF THE UNITED
STATES CODE, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT WAR HAS BEEN DECLARED BY
CONGRESS.
(B) "MEMBER OF THE MILITARY" SHALL MEAN A PERSON WHO IS ON "ACTIVE
DUTY" OR "IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES" AS DEFINED IN
SECTION ONE OF THE MILITARY LAW.
2. REAL PROPERTY OWNED BY A MEMBER OF THE MILITARY ENGAGED IN HAZARD-
OUS SERVICE, OR BY A MEMBER OF THE MILITARY ENGAGED IN HAZARDOUS SERVICE
AND HIS OR HER SPOUSE, AND CONSTITUTING THE PRIMARY RESIDENCE OF SUCH
PERSONS SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM ALL TAXES IMPOSED BY A MUNICIPAL CORPO-
RATION, EXCEPT THOSE IMPOSED BY A SCHOOL DISTRICT AND OTHER SPECIAL
ASSESSMENTS AND SPECIAL AD VALOREM LEVIES, AS PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION.
3. THE EXEMPTION ESTABLISHED BY THIS SECTION SHALL ANNUALLY BE GRANTED
UPON THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION, ON A FORM PRESCRIBED BY THE STATE
BOARD AND FURNISHED TO THE LOCAL ASSESSING UNIT, BY THE OWNER OR OWNERS
OF THE REAL PROPERTY TO THE LOCAL ASSESSING UNIT ON OR BEFORE THE APPRO-
PRIATE TAXABLE STATUS DATE. SUCH APPLICATION SHALL INCLUDE AN AFFIRMA-
TION THAT AN OWNER IS A MEMBER OF THE MILITARY ENGAGED IN HAZARDOUS
SERVICE OR WAS A MEMBER OF THE MILITARY ENGAGED IN HAZARDOUS SERVICE
DURING THE YEAR IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE APPROPRIATE TAXABLE STATUS
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07992-01-9
A. 5763 2
DATE. THE STATE BOARD SHALL ESTABLISH RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE
GRANTING OF EXEMPTIONS ON THE BASIS OF APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED PURSUANT
TO THIS SUBDIVISION.
4. THE EXEMPTION AUTHORIZED BY THIS SECTION SHALL HAVE THE EFFECT
SPECIFIED IN SECTION THIRTEEN HUNDRED SEVEN OF THIS CHAPTER.
S 2. The real property tax law is amended by adding a new section 1307
to read as follows:
S 1307. EFFECT OF MILITARY SERVICE IN HOSTILE AREAS UPON MUNICIPAL
CORPORATION TAXES; STATE AID. 1. THE AMOUNT OF REAL PROPERTY TAXES TO
BE LEVIED FOR ANY TAXABLE YEAR SHALL BE DETERMINED WITHOUT REGARD TO THE
FACT THAT STATE AID WILL BE PAYABLE PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION. IN ADDI-
TION, THE TAX RATE OF ANY TAXABLE YEAR SHALL BE DETERMINED AS IF NO
PARCELS ARE EXEMPT FROM TAXATION PURSUANT TO SECTION FOUR HUNDRED
FIFTY-EIGHT-C OF THIS CHAPTER.
2. (A) THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF TAXES DUE TO ANY MUNICIPAL CORPORATION FOR
ANY PARCEL EXEMPT FROM TAXATION PURSUANT TO SECTION FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY-
EIGHT-C OF THIS CHAPTER SHALL BE A STATE CHARGE, WHICH SHALL BE PAYABLE
AS PROVIDED IN THIS SUBDIVISION.
(B) A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION SEEKING STATE AID PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION
SHALL SUBMIT AN APPLICATION THEREFOR TO THE STATE BOARD. THE APPLICATION
SHALL INCLUDE SUCH INFORMATION AS THE STATE BOARD SHALL REQUIRE.
(C) UPON APPROVING AN APPLICATION FOR STATE AID PURSUANT TO THIS
SECTION, THE STATE BOARD SHALL COMPUTE AND CERTIFY TO THE COMPTROLLER
THE AMOUNTS PAYABLE TO THE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION. SUCH STATE AID SHALL
BE PAYABLE BY THE COMPTROLLER.
(D) THE STATE BOARD MAY AUDIT AN APPLICATION FOR STATE AID PURSUANT TO
THIS SECTION WITHIN ONE YEAR AFTER AUTHORIZING PAYMENT THEREON. IF THE
STATE BOARD SHOULD DISCOVER THAT A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION HAS RECEIVED A
GREATER OR LESSER AMOUNT OF SUCH AID THAN IT SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED, THE
STATE BOARD SHALL SO NOTIFY THE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, AND CAUSE THE
NEXT PAYMENT OF SUCH AID TO THE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION TO BE ADJUSTED
ACCORDINGLY.
S 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
it shall have become a law and shall apply to real property with a taxa-
ble status date on or before such date; provided, however, that effec-
tive immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or
regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective
date are authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before
such effective date.