S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   6025
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               March 4, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. ANGELINO -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Real Property Taxation
 
 AN  ACT to amend the real property tax law, in relation to extending the
   enhanced STAR exemption to the disabled surviving spouse of  a  previ-
   ously qualifying individual
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Subparagraph (iii) of paragraph (a)  of  subdivision  4  of
 section  425 of the real property tax law, as added by section 4 of part
 A of chapter 405 of the laws of 1999, is amended to read as follows:
   (iii) In the case of property owned by husband and wife, one  of  whom
 is  sixty-five  years of age or over, the exemption, once granted, shall
 not be rescinded solely because of the death of the older spouse so long
 as the surviving spouse is at least sixty-two years of age OR  IS  PHYS-
 ICALLY  DISABLED as of the date specified in this paragraph.  TO QUALIFY
 AS PHYSICALLY DISABLED FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH,  AN  INDI-
 VIDUAL  SHALL  SUBMIT  TO  THE  DEPARTMENT  A CERTIFIED STATEMENT FROM A
 PHYSICIAN LICENSED TO PRACTICE IN THE STATE ON  A  FORM  PRESCRIBED  AND
 MADE  AVAILABLE BY THE COMMISSIONER WHICH STATES THAT THE INDIVIDUAL HAS
 A PERMANENT PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT WHICH SUBSTANTIALLY LIMITS ONE  OR  MORE
 OF  SUCH  INDIVIDUAL'S  MAJOR LIFE ACTIVITIES, EXCEPT THAT AN INDIVIDUAL
 WHO HAS OBTAINED A CERTIFICATE FROM THE STATE COMMISSION FOR THE VISUAL-
 LY HANDICAPPED STATING THAT SUCH INDIVIDUAL IS LEGALLY BLIND MAY  SUBMIT
 SUCH CERTIFICATE IN LIEU OF A PHYSICIAN'S CERTIFIED STATEMENT. THE OTHER
 REQUIREMENTS  OF  THIS  SUBDIVISION  MUST  STILL BE MET FOR THE ENHANCED
 EXEMPTION TO BE GRANTED TO A SURVIVING SPOUSE UNDER THIS SUBPARAGRAPH.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately and  shall  apply  to  the
 administration  of  the  enhanced  STAR  exemption  beginning  with  the
 2021-2022 school year.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD09141-02-1