Int. No. 834
By The Speaker (Council Member Vallone) and Council Members Berman, Boyland, Carrion Clarke, Cruz, Dear, DiBrienza, Malave-Dilan, Eisland, Espada, Fisher, Foster, Freed, Harrison, Henry, Leffler, Koslowitz, Lasher, Linares, Lopez, Marshall, McCaffrey, Michels, Miller, Moskowitz, Nelson, O'Donovan, Perkins, Pinkett, Povman, Provenzano, Quinn, Reed, Rivera, Robles, Robinson, Rodriguez, Sabini, Spigner, Warden, White, Wooten, The Public Advocate (Mr. Green), Abel, Fiala, Golden, Oddo, Stabile and Ognibene
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the real property tax exemption for persons with disabilities whose incomes are limited due to such disabilities.
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph b of subdivision 1 of section 11-245.4 of the administrative code of the city of New York, is amended to read as follows:
(b) For purposes of this section, a person with a disability is one who has a physical or mental impairment, not due to current use of alcohol or illegal drug use, which substantially limits such person's ability to engage in one or more major life activities, such as caring for one's self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and working, and who (i) is certified to receive social security disability insurance (SSDI) or supplemental security income (SSI) benefits under the federal social security act, or (ii) is certified to receive railroad retirement disability benefits under the federal railroad retirement act, or (iii) has received a certificate from the state commission for the blind and visually handicapped stating that such person is legally blind, or (iv) is certified to receive a United States postal service disability pension. An award letter from the social security administration or the railroad retirement board or a certificate from the state commission for the blind and visually handicapped or an award letter from the United States postal service shall be submitted as proof of disability.
§2. Paragraph a of subdivision 3 of section 11-245.4 of the administrative code of the city of New York, is amended to read as follows:
(a) if the income of the owner or the combined income of the owners of the property for the income tax year immediately preceding the date of making application for exemption exceeds the sum of [eighteen] twenty thousand five hundred dollars. Income tax year shall mean the twelve month period for which the owner or owners filed a federal personal income tax return, or if no such return is filed, the calendar year. Where title is vested in either the husband or the wife, their combined income may not exceed such sum, except where the husband or wife, or ex-husband or ex-wife is absent from the property due to divorce, legal separation or abandonment, then only the income of the spouse or ex-spouse residing on the property shall be considered and may not exceed such sum. Such income shall include social security and retirement benefits, interest, dividends, total gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset which may be offset by a loss from the sale or exchange of a capital asset in the same income tax year, net rental income, salary or earnings, and net income from self-employment, but shall not include a return of capital, gifts, inheritances or monies earned through employment in the federal foster grandparent program and any such income shall be offset by all medical and prescription drug expenses actually paid which were not reimbursed or paid for by insurance. In computing net rental income and net income from self-employment no depreciation deduction shall be allowed for the exhaustion, wear and tear of real or personal property held for the production of income;
§3. Subdivision 6 of section 11-245.4 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended to read as follows:
6. Notwithstanding the maximum income exemption eligibility level provided in subdivision three of this section, an exemption, subject to all other provisions of this section, shall be granted as indicated in the following schedule:
ANNUAL INCOME PERCENTAGE ASSESSED VALUATION
EXEMPT FROM TAXATION
More than [$18,500] $20,500
but less than [$19,500]
$21,500 45 per centum
[$19,500] $21,500 or more but
less than [$20,500] $22,500 40 per centum
[$20,500] $22,500 or more but
less than [$21,500] $23,500 35 per centum
[$21,500] $23,500 or more but
less than [$22,400] $24,400 30 per centum
[$22,400] $24,400 or more but
less than [$23,300] $25,300 25 per centum
[$23,300] $25,300 or more but
less than [$24,200] $26,200 20 per centum
[$24,200] $26,200 or more but
less than $[25,100] $27,100 15 per centum
[$25,100] $27,100 or more but
less than [$26,000] $28,000 10 per centum
[$26,000] $28,000 or more but
less than [$26,900] $28,900 5 per centum
§4. This local law shall take effect immediately and shall apply to assessment rolls prepared on the basis of a taxable status date occurring on or after January 1, 2001.