File #: Res 1896-2013    Version: * Name: Raising the senior citizen rent increase exemption (SCRIE) threshold and providing for increases per changes in the consumer price index. (A.2257)
Type: Resolution Status: Filed
Committee: Committee on Aging
On agenda: 8/22/2013
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling upon the New York State Assembly to pass, the New York State Senate to introduce and pass, and the Governor to sign A.2257, legislation raising the senior citizen rent increase exemption (SCRIE) threshold and providing for increases per changes in the consumer price index.
Sponsors: Karen Koslowitz, Maria Del Carmen Arroyo, Charles Barron, Gale A. Brewer, Margaret S. Chin, Leroy G. Comrie, Jr., Inez E. Dickens, Daniel Dromm , Lewis A. Fidler, Vincent J. Gentile, Letitia James, G. Oliver Koppell, Rosie Mendez, Annabel Palma, Donovan J. Richards, Deborah L. Rose, James Vacca, Ruben Wills, Mark S. Weprin, Peter A. Koo, Daniel R. Garodnick, James G. Van Bramer, Ydanis A. Rodriguez, Fernando Cabrera , Daniel J. Halloran III
Council Member Sponsors: 25
Res. No. 1896
 
 
Resolution calling upon the New York State Assembly to pass, the New York State Senate to introduce and pass, and the Governor to sign A.2257, legislation raising the senior citizen rent increase exemption (SCRIE) threshold and providing for increases per changes in the consumer price index.
 
 
By Council Members Koslowitz, Arroyo, Barron, Brewer, Chin, Comrie, Dickens, Dromm, Fidler, Gentile, James, Koppell, Mendez, Palma, Richards, Rose, Vacca, Wills, Weprin, Koo, Garodnick, Van Bramer, Rodriguez, Cabrera and Halloran
 
      Whereas, In 1970, New York City instituted the senior citizen rent increase exemption (SCRIE) program to help shield low-income seniors from rising housing costs; and
      Whereas, Under the SCRIE program, rent increases are limited for qualifying seniors and in return, participating landlords receive a property tax abatement equal to the amount of the rent forgiven; and
      Whereas, Tenants are eligible for the SCRIE program if they are at least 62 years old, have a total household income that does not exceed $29,000, reside in a rent controlled or rent stabilized apartment, or a rent regulated residential hotel, and if the maximum rent or legal regulated rent is increased to a level that exceeds one-third of their household's income; and
      Whereas, Cost of living adjustments to entitlement programs such as Social Security have caused some seniors to lose SCRIE benefits as their income levels rose above $29,000; and
Whereas, New York State Assembly Member Dan Quart introduced A.2257 in January 2013, legislation that would amend the SCRIE program requirements to increase the maximum allowable income for SCRIE program participants to $30,000; and
Whereas, A.2257 would require annual adjustments to the SCRIE household income limits based upon changes in the regional consumer price index and adjust the definition of income to exclude medical and prescription drug expenses which are not reimbursed or paid for by insurance; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Assembly to pass, the New York State Senate to introduce and pass, and the Governor to sign A.2257, legislation raising the senior citizen rent increase exemption (SCRIE) threshold and providing for increases per changes in the consumer price index.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LS# 4948
7/29/13 6:11PM
KET