S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
5571
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 19, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. FITZPATRICK, BRABENEC, BYRNES, DeSTEFANO,
J. M. GIGLIO, DiPIETRO, HAWLEY, SALKA, TAGUE -- Multi-Sponsored by --
M. of A. BLANKENBUSH, MANKTELOW -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs
AN ACT to amend the real property tax law, in relation to veterans
alternative exemption
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Paragraph (e) of subdivision 1 of section 458-a of the real
property tax law, as amended by chapter 490 of the laws of 2019, is
amended to read as follows:
(e) "Veteran" means a person (i) who served in the active military,
naval, or air service during a period of war, or who was a recipient of
the armed forces expeditionary medal, navy expeditionary medal, marine
corps expeditionary medal, or global war on terrorism expeditionary
medal, and who (1) was discharged or released therefrom under honorable
conditions, or (2) has a qualifying condition, as defined in section
three hundred fifty of the executive law, and has received a discharge
other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or (3) is a
discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section three hundred fifty of
the executive law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct
or dishonorable from such service, (ii) who was employed by the War
Shipping Administration or Office of Defense Transportation or their
agents as a merchant seaman documented by the United States Coast Guard
or Department of Commerce, or as a civil servant employed by the United
States Army Transport Service (later redesignated as the United States
Army Transportation Corps, Water Division) or the Naval Transportation
Service; and who served satisfactorily as a crew member during the peri-
od of armed conflict, December seventh, nineteen hundred forty-one, to
August fifteenth, nineteen hundred forty-five, aboard merchant vessels
in oceangoing, i.e., foreign, intercoastal, or coastwise service as such
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08117-01-1
A. 5571 2
terms are defined under federal law (46 USCA 10301 & 10501) and further
to include "near foreign" voyages between the United States and Canada,
Mexico, or the West Indies via ocean routes, or public vessels in ocean-
going service or foreign waters and who has received a Certificate of
Release or Discharge from Active Duty and a discharge certificate, or an
Honorable Service Certificate/Report of Casualty, from the department of
defense, (iii) who served as a United States civilian employed by the
American Field Service and served overseas under United States Armies
and United States Army Groups in world war II during the period of armed
conflict, December seventh, nineteen hundred forty-one through May
eighth, nineteen hundred forty-five, and who (1) was discharged or
released therefrom under honorable conditions, or (2) has a qualifying
condition, as defined in section three hundred fifty of the executive
law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable
from such service, or (3) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in
section three hundred fifty of the executive law, and has received a
discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, (iv)
who served as a United States civilian Flight Crew and Aviation Ground
Support Employee of Pan American World Airways or one of its subsid-
iaries or its affiliates and served overseas as a result of Pan Ameri-
can's contract with Air Transport Command or Naval Air Transport Service
during the period of armed conflict, December fourteenth, nineteen
hundred forty-one through August fourteenth, nineteen hundred forty-
five, and who (1) was discharged or released therefrom under honorable
conditions, or (2) has a qualifying condition, as defined in section
three hundred fifty of the executive law, and has received a discharge
other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or (3) is a
discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section three hundred fifty of
the executive law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct
or dishonorable from such service, [or] (v) notwithstanding any other
provision of law to the contrary, who are members of the reserve compo-
nents of the armed forces of the United States who (1) received an
honorable discharge or release therefrom under honorable conditions, or
(2) has a qualifying condition, as defined in section three hundred
fifty of the executive law, and has received a discharge other than bad
conduct or dishonorable from such service, or (3) is a discharged LGBT
veteran, as defined in section three hundred fifty of the executive law,
and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from
such service, but are still members of the reserve components of the
armed forces of the United States provided that such members meet all
other qualifications under the provisions of this section, OR (VI) WHO
SERVED IN THE ACTIVE MILITARY, NAVAL, OR AIR SERVICE FOR A PERIOD OF
MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY-FIVE DAYS AND RECEIVED A COMPENSATION
RATING OF SIXTY PERCENT OR GREATER, FROM THE UNITED STATES VETERANS
ADMINISTRATION OR FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE BECAUSE
OF A SERVICE CONNECTED DISABILITY.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately; provided that the real
property tax exemptions authorized by section 458-a of the real property
tax law, as amended by section one of this act, shall first apply to
assessment rolls prepared on the basis of taxable status dates occurring
on or after August 30, 2008.