BILL NUMBER: S7570
SPONSOR: CLEARE
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the real property tax law, in relation to requiring
municipal corporations to adopt senior citizen rent increase exemption
programs and disability rent increase exemption programs
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To mandate the adoption of SCRIE and DRIE programs statewide.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends the real property tax law to state that within one
year, municipal corporations shall adopt programs for abatement of taxes
imposed on real property containing dwelling unit(s). Section 2 provides
for an immediate effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The Senior Citizen Rent. Increase Exemption (SCRIE) and the Disability
Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE) programs are crucially important for
low-income New Yorkers. These programs freeze rent for qualified indi-
viduals in these groups and exempt them from future increases. Property
owners receive tax credits that cover the difference. In 2019, 75,000
people benefitted from the rent freeze program. Currently, these
programs are available only within New York City and in parts of West-
chester and Nassau Counties. These programs should be required statewide
to protect New Yorkers on fixed incomes such as senior citizens and
individuals with disabilities, and allow them to remain in their homes.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.

Statutes affected:
S7570: 467-b real property tax law, 467-b(2) real property tax law