BILL NUMBER: S10398A
SPONSOR: MARTINEZ
 
TITLE OF BILL:
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
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To decrease building permit fees for veterans who need to modify their
residence to accommodate disabilities.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: states that this act shall be known and may be cited as the
"Disabled Veteran Home Modification Act."
Section 2: amends the General Municipal Law by adding a new section 95-b
to authorize cities, towns and villages to provide reduced or free
permits to service -connected disabled veterans.
Section 3: establishes the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Veterans returning from service with life-altering injuries or permanent
disabilities should be able to modify their homes and residences to
accommodate these service-connected disabilities without any undue
financial burdens. Unfortunately, the cost of retrofitting a home or
residence often escalates exponentially because of numerous local fees
for permits, plan reviews, inspections, re-inspections and a host of
other fees associated with residential building modifications. These
fees can add thousands of dollars to already expensive accessibility
projects such as wheelchair ramps and mobility accommodations that are
essential to ensuring safety and comfort in the veteran's place of resi-
dence.
Accordingly, this bill seeks to provide our heroes with critical finan-
cial relief by authorizing municipalities to exempt or provide reduced
fees for disabled veterans from local building department fees associ-
ated with residential improvements or alterations required to accommo-
date a disability of the veteran.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the state.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on December 1st following enactment;
provided, however, that no fees paid to a city, town or village prior to
such effective date shall be required to be refunded.