BILL NUMBER: S5967
SPONSOR: HARCKHAM
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the real property tax law, in relation to clarifying the
definition of veteran to include career members of the armed forces for
purposes of the veterans alternative tax exemption
 
PURPOSE:
Clarifies the definition of veteran to include career members of the
armed forces for purposes of the veterans alternative tax exemption.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends section 458-a of the real property tax law to expand on
the term "veterans" to include that despite the fact that no uncondi-
tional discharge may have been issued, an individual shall be considered
to have been unconditionally discharged or released from active mili-
tary, naval or air force when the following conditions are met:
(1) for the period of time such individual was obligated to serve at the
time of entry into service
(2) the individual was not discharged or released from such service at
the time of completing that period of obligation due to an intervening
enlistment or reenlistment
(3) the individual would have been eligible for a discharge or release
under conditions other than dishonorable at that time except for the
intervening enlistment or reenlistment.
(4) the individual served in the active military, naval, or air service
for a period of at least ten years, provided that such individual meets
all the other qualifications under the provisions of this section.
Section 2 states the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The American Academy of Nursing's (AAN) Military and Veterans Expert
Panel has recognized that war wounds can go undetected, this is partial-
ly due to the specific terminology used when applying for veteran bene-
fits. This bill seeks to ensure that every veteran has access to the
benefits that they are entitled to regardless of what terminology is
used during the paperwork process.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2021-2022: S4365A/A6055A - Died in Veterans, Homeland Security and Mili-
tary Affairs/Passed Assembly
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the State.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.