Bill Text: NY S07682 | 2013-2014 | General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: Enhances benefits for certain active or retired members of the New York state organized militia; enhances military pay, creates a property tax exemption, tuition award, and grants free vehicular access to any state park and recreational facility which charges fees for vehicular access.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-05-28 - REFERRED TO VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY AFFAIRS [S07682 Detail]

Download: New_York-2013-S07682-Introduced.html
                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                         7682
                                   I N  S E N A T E
                                     May 28, 2014
                                      ___________
       Introduced  by  Sen.  LARKIN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
         printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Securi-
         ty and Military Affairs
       AN ACT to amend the military law, the real property tax law, the  educa-
         tion  law, and the parks, recreation and historic preservation law, in
         relation to benefits for certain active duty and  retired  members  of
         the New York state organized militia
         THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
    1    Section 1. Subdivision 1 of  section  210  of  the  military  law,  as
    2  amended  by  chapter  418  of  the  laws  of 2004, is amended to read as
    3  follows:
    4    1. Each member of the militia ordered into the active service  of  the
    5  state  pursuant to sections six and seven of this chapter, shall receive
    6  for each day or part thereof of such duty the same pay and allowances as
    7  are received by members of the appropriate force of the armed forces  of
    8  the  United States of corresponding grade, rating and length of service,
    9  or one hundred [twenty-five] FIFTY dollars per day, whichever is  great-
   10  er.
   11    S  2.  The  real  property  tax law is amended by adding a new section
   12  458-c to read as follows:
   13    S 458-C. EXEMPTION FOR PROPERTY  OWNED  BY  ACTIVE  DUTY  AND  RETIRED
   14  MEMBERS  OF  THE  NEW  YORK  STATE ORGANIZED MILITIA. 1. AS USED IN THIS
   15  SECTION:
   16    (A) "QUALIFIED OWNER" MEANS AN ACTIVE DUTY OR RETIRED  MEMBER  OF  THE
   17  NEW  YORK  STATE  ARMY NATIONAL GUARD OR THE NEW YORK STATE AIR NATIONAL
   18  GUARD.
   19    (B) "QUALIFYING RESIDENTIAL REAL  PROPERTY"  MEANS  REAL  PROPERTY  AT
   20  LEAST FIFTY PERCENT OF WHICH IS OWNED BY A QUALIFIED OWNER WHICH IS USED
   21  EXCLUSIVELY  FOR  RESIDENTIAL  PURPOSES;  PROVIDED  HOWEVER, THAT IN THE
   22  EVENT ANY PORTION OF SUCH PROPERTY IS NOT SO USED EXCLUSIVELY FOR  RESI-
   23  DENTIAL  PURPOSES  BUT IS USED FOR OTHER PURPOSES, SUCH PORTION SHALL BE
   24  SUBJECT TO TAXATION AND THE REMAINING PORTION ONLY SHALL BE ENTITLED  TO
   25  THE EXEMPTION PROVIDED BY THIS SECTION. SUCH PROPERTY MUST BE THE PRIMA-
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD15017-01-4
       S. 7682                             2
    1  RY  RESIDENCE  OF  THE  QUALIFIED  OWNER,  UNLESS THE QUALIFIED OWNER IS
    2  ABSENT FROM THE PROPERTY DUE TO MEDICAL REASONS OR INSTITUTIONALIZATION.
    3    2.  EACH  COUNTY, CITY, TOWN OR VILLAGE MAY ADOPT A LOCAL LAW OR ORDI-
    4  NANCE PROVIDING THAT QUALIFYING RESIDENTIAL REAL PROPERTY BE EXEMPT FROM
    5  REAL PROPERTY TAXES, IN AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO TEN PERCENT OF  THE  ASSESSED
    6  VALUE  OF  SUCH PROPERTY. SUCH EXEMPTION SHALL NOT BE IN ADDITION TO ANY
    7  OTHER ORGANIZED MILITIA EXEMPTION OR ABATEMENT OF  TAXES  AUTHORIZED  BY
    8  LAW.
    9    3.  SUCH  EXEMPTION FROM TAXATION SHALL BE GRANTED UPON AN APPLICATION
   10  WHICH SHALL INCLUDE A STATEMENT THAT A QUALIFIED OWNER  RESIDES  AT  THE
   11  PROPERTY.  APPLICATION  SHALL BE MADE ANNUALLY UPON A FORM TO BE PROMUL-
   12  GATED BY THE COMMISSIONER AND SHALL INCLUDE A STATEMENT OF SERVICE  FROM
   13  THE UNIT IN WHICH THE QUALIFIED OWNER SERVES OR SERVED OR OTHER ADEQUATE
   14  PROOF  OF NEW YORK STATE ORGANIZED MILITIA SERVICE.  THE APPLICATION AND
   15  STATEMENT OF SERVICE SHALL BE FILED BY THE QUALIFIED OWNER TO THE ASSES-
   16  SOR OF SUCH MUNICIPALITY WHICH HAS THE POWER TO ASSESS THE PROPERTY  FOR
   17  TAXATION  ON OR BEFORE THE APPROPRIATE TAXABLE STATUS DATE OF SUCH MUNI-
   18  CIPALITY. IF THE ASSESSOR IS SATISFIED THAT THE  PROPERTY  IS  QUALIFIED
   19  FOR  AN  EXEMPTION  PURSUANT  TO  THIS  SECTION,  THEN  SUCH RESIDENTIAL
   20  IMPROVEMENTS SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM TAXATION AS  PROVIDED  IN  SUBDIVISION
   21  TWO OF THIS SECTION.
   22    S  3.  The  education  law is amended by adding a new section 669-c to
   23  read as follows:
   24    S 669-C. TUITION AWARDS PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN  NEW  YORK  ARMY  AND  AIR
   25  NATIONAL  GUARD  MEMBERS.  ANY  CURRENT OR FORMER MEMBER OF THE NEW YORK
   26  ARMY NATIONAL GUARD OR NEW YORK AIR  NATIONAL  GUARD  WHO  SERVED  IN  A
   27  COMBAT  OPERATION IN IRAQ OR AFGHANISTAN ANY TIME AFTER OCTOBER SEVENTH,
   28  TWO THOUSAND ONE, PROVIDED SUCH CURRENT OR FORMER MEMBER IS  A  RESIDENT
   29  OF  THIS  STATE, AND PROVIDED FURTHER THAT SUCH CURRENT OR FORMER MEMBER
   30  MEETS THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS IN SUBDIVISION THREE OF  SECTION  SIX
   31  HUNDRED SIXTY-NINE-A OF THIS SUBPART ON THE DATE HIS OR HER APPLICATION,
   32  SUBMITTED  PURSUANT  TO SECTION SIX HUNDRED SIXTY-SEVEN OF THIS SUBPART,
   33  IS RECEIVED BY THE CORPORATION, SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A GRANT  OF
   34  ONE  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  EACH SEMESTER WHILE HE OR SHE IS ENROLLED IN ANY
   35  STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK OR CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK SCHOOL.
   36    S 4. Section 13.18 of the parks, recreation and historic  preservation
   37  law,  as added by chapter 443 of the laws of 2012, is amended to read as
   38  follows:
   39    S 13.18 Three-year vehicular access fee. 1. Notwithstanding any  other
   40  provision  of  law  to  the  contrary,  the office or other state agency
   41  having jurisdiction of a  state  park  or  recreational  facility  shall
   42  establish  a  three-year vehicular access fee which shall run from April
   43  first of the year of issuance to March thirty-first of  the  third  year
   44  following  such  issuance,  entitling  the  holder thereof to a pass for
   45  vehicular admission without additional fee to any state park and  recre-
   46  ational  facility  which has a vehicular access fee. Such three-year fee
   47  shall be consistent  with  the  fee  schedule  established  pursuant  to
   48  section  13.15  of this article and shall be approved by the director of
   49  the budget.
   50    2. The pass for vehicular access shall be  known  as  the  "Three-Year
   51  Empire Passport". The pass shall be available at regional park headquar-
   52  ters  and  such  other  places as the office or other state agency shall
   53  designate. Such pass, having an emblem of the bluebird thereon, shall be
   54  available in a form prescribed by the office.
   55    3. Such pass for vehicular access shall not be available to the  owner
   56  or operator of an omnibus operated for a commercial purpose, unless such
       S. 7682                             3
    1  omnibus  is  operated  by  or  pursuant to an agreement with a public or
    2  private nonprofit agency for the purpose of transporting persons  to  or
    3  from state parks for a recreational experience.
    4    4.  If  demonstrated  that the use of the pass for vehicular access in
    5  particular parks or recreational facilities is contrary  to  the  public
    6  interest,  the office or such other state agency having jurisdiction may
    7  prohibit its use in such particular parks or recreational facilities  by
    8  rule or regulation.
    9    5.  SUCH  PASS  SHALL  BE ISSUED FREE OF CHARGE TO ALL ACTIVE NEW YORK
   10  STATE RESIDENT MEMBERS OF THE STATE  ORGANIZED  MILITIAS  AND  NEW  YORK
   11  STATE  DEFENSE  FORCES,  SPECIFICALLY, THE NEW YORK ARMY NATIONAL GUARD,
   12  THE NEW YORK AIR NATIONAL GUARD, THE NEW YORK GUARD  AND  THE  NEW  YORK
   13  NAVAL MILITIA.
   14    6.  The  office  or  other state agency having jurisdiction of a state
   15  park or recreational facility shall  promulgate  such  rules  and  regu-
   16  lations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.
   17    S  5. Section 13.20 of the parks, recreation and historic preservation
   18  law, as added by chapter 443 of the laws of 2012, is amended to read  as
   19  follows:
   20    S  13.20  Five-year vehicular access fee. 1. Notwithstanding any other
   21  provision of law to the contrary,  the  office  or  other  state  agency
   22  having  jurisdiction  of  a  state  park  or recreational facility shall
   23  establish a five-year access fee which shall run from April first of the
   24  year of issuance to March thirty-first of the fifth year following  such
   25  issuance, entitling the holder thereof to a pass for vehicular admission
   26  without additional fee to any state park and recreational facility which
   27  has  an  access fee. Such five-year fee shall be consistent with the fee
   28  schedule established pursuant to section 13.15 of this article and shall
   29  be approved by the director of the budget.
   30    2. The pass for vehicular access shall  be  known  as  the  "Five-Year
   31  Empire Passport". The pass shall be available at regional park headquar-
   32  ters  and  such  other  places  as the office or such other state agency
   33  shall designate. Such pass, having an emblem of the brook trout thereon,
   34  shall be available in a form prescribed by the office.
   35    3. Such pass for vehicular access shall not be available to the  owner
   36  or operator of an omnibus operated for a commercial purpose, unless such
   37  omnibus  is  operated  by  or  pursuant to an agreement with a public or
   38  private nonprofit agency for the purpose of transporting persons  to  or
   39  from state parks for a recreational experience.
   40    4.  If  demonstrated  that the use of the pass for vehicular access in
   41  particular parks or recreational facilities is contrary  to  the  public
   42  interest,  the office or such other state agency having jurisdiction may
   43  prohibit its use in such particular parks or recreational facilities  by
   44  rule or regulation.
   45    5.  SUCH  PASS  SHALL  BE ISSUED FREE OF CHARGE TO ALL ACTIVE NEW YORK
   46  STATE RESIDENT MEMBERS OF THE STATE  ORGANIZED  MILITIAS  AND  NEW  YORK
   47  STATE  DEFENSE  FORCES,  SPECIFICALLY, THE NEW YORK ARMY NATIONAL GUARD,
   48  THE NEW YORK AIR NATIONAL GUARD, THE NEW YORK GUARD  AND  THE  NEW  YORK
   49  NAVAL MILITIA.
   50    6.  The  office  or  other state agency having jurisdiction of a state
   51  park or recreational facility shall  promulgate  such  rules  and  regu-
   52  lations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.
   53    S  6.  This act shall take effect immediately; and section two of this
   54  act shall apply to assessment roles prepared on  the  basis  of  taxable
   55  status  dates occurring on or after the first of January next succeeding
   56  the date on which this act shall have become a law.
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