Assembly Bill A10921A

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                 10921--A
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               April 8, 2026
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. STERN -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Local Governments -- committee discharged,  bill  amended,  ordered
   reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the  general municipal law, in relation to exempting
   disabled veterans from certain fees relating to physical  modification
   of a residence to accommodate a disability

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as  the  "disabled
 veteran home modification act".
   § 2. The general municipal law is amended by adding a new section 95-b
 to read as follows:
   §  95-B.  FEE EXEMPTIONS FOR DISABLED VETERANS. 1. FOR THE PURPOSES OF
 THIS SECTION:
   (A) "VETERAN" SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS SET FORTH IN SECTION  ONE
 OF THE VETERANS' SERVICES LAW AND SHALL ALSO INCLUDE A PERSON WHO SERVED
 IN  THE  ACTIVE  MILITARY,  NAVAL,  AIR, OR SPACE SERVICE, AS DEFINED IN
 SECTION 101 OF TITLE 38 OF THE UNITED STATES CODE AND (I) HAS A QUALIFY-
 ING CONDITION, AS DEFINED IN SECTION ONE OF THE VETERANS' SERVICES  LAW,
 AND HAS RECEIVED A DISCHARGE OTHER THAN BAD CONDUCT OR DISHONORABLE FROM
 SUCH  SERVICE,  OR  (II)  IS  A  DISCHARGED  LGBT VETERAN, AS DEFINED IN
 SECTION ONE OF THE VETERANS' SERVICES LAW, AND HAS RECEIVED A  DISCHARGE
 OTHER THAN BAD CONDUCT OR DISHONORABLE FROM SUCH SERVICE.
   (B)  "SERVICE-CONNECTED"  MEANS WITH RESPECT TO DISABILITY, A DETERMI-
 NATION BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OR THE UNITED
 STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE,  THAT  SUCH  DISABILITY  WAS  INCURRED  OR
 AGGRAVATED  IN LINE OF DUTY IN THE ACTIVE MILITARY, NAVAL, AIR, OR SPACE
 SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES.
   2. (A) THE GOVERNING BODY OF A CITY, TOWN OR VILLAGE MAY ADOPT A LOCAL
 LAW, RULE OR ORDINANCE TO WAIVE OR REDUCE ANY BUILDING DEPARTMENT  FEES,
 INCLUDING  PERMIT FEES, PLAN REVIEW OR PLAN EXAMINATION FEES, INSPECTION
 FEES, REINSPECTION FEES,  OR  OTHER  FEES  REQUIRED  IN  ORDER  TO  MAKE
 IMPROVEMENTS OR ALTERATIONS TO THE PRIMARY RESIDENCE OF A VETERAN WITH A
 SERVICE-CONNECTED  DISABILITY IF THE IMPROVEMENTS ARE REQUIRED TO ACCOM-
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD15132-04-6
 A. 10921--A                         2
 
 MODATE A SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY OF SUCH VETERAN. NOTHING  IN  THIS
 SECTION RELIEVES THE OBLIGATION OF ANY PERSON TO SUBMIT TO THE APPROPRI-
 ATE  CITY,  TOWN  OR VILLAGE ANY APPLICATIONS, FORMS, OR OTHER PAPERWORK
 REQUIRED  TO  OBTAIN  A  BUILDING  PERMIT.    IN  ORDER TO RECEIVE A FEE
 REDUCTION OR WAIVER, A VETERAN MUST PROVIDE  PROOF  OF  VETERAN  STATUS,
 DOCUMENTATION  REQUIRED  BY THE GOVERNING BODY PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (B)
 OF THIS SUBDIVISION, AND ATTEST TO THE FACT THAT THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE
 RESIDENCE ARE REQUIRED TO ACCOMMODATE THE VETERAN'S DISABILITY.
   (B) THE GOVERNING BODY OF A CITY, TOWN OR  VILLAGE  SHALL  SPECIFY  BY
 LOCAL  LAW, RULE OR ORDINANCE, THE DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED TO QUALIFY FOR
 A REDUCTION OF OR  WAIVER  FROM  FEES  UNDER  THIS  SECTION,  WHICH  MAY
 INCLUDE, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, A RATING DECISION LETTER FROM THE UNITED
 STATES  DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OR SIMILAR DOCUMENTATION FROM THE
 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, AND ANY OTHER INFORMATION THAT SUCH
 CITY, TOWN OR VILLAGE MAY REQUIRE.
   § 3. This act shall take effect on the first of December next succeed-
 ing the date on which it shall have become  a  law;  provided,  however,
 that  no  fees  paid  to a city, town or village prior to such effective
 date shall be required to be refunded.