BILL NUMBER:  S5856

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act to amend the real property tax law, in
relation to notifying certain tenants of the senior citizen rent
increase exemption program and the disability rent increase exemption
program

 PURPOSE :  To ensure that eligible tenants who qualify for the Senior
Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) and the Disability Rent
Increase Exemption (DRIE) programs are made aware of such benefits
with their annual lease.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Section one of this bill amends subdivision 3 of section 467-b of the
Real Property Tax Law by adding a new paragraph i which provides that
the entity that administers the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption
Program (SCRIE) and the Disability Rent Increase Exemption Program
(DRIE) has to develop informational material describing eligibility
for and benefits of both these programs, and how more information can
be obtained for these programs. This information must be provided to
landlords of housing accommodations subject to the local emergency
housing rent control act, the emergency tenant protection act of 1974,
the emergency housing rent control law and the rent stabilization law
of 1969.

              

This paragraph further provides that any landlord subject to these
specific housing accommodating provisions must at least once annually,
include with a new lease and all renewal leases delivered to any
occupant of those accommodations, provide the informational material
that describes eligibility for and the benefits of the SCRIE program
and the DRIE program.

Section two of this bill provides that this act shall take effect on
the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law, provided, however,
that the amendments to subdivision 3 of section 467-b of the Real
Property Tax Law made by section one of this act shall not affect the
expiration of such section and shall be deemed to expire therewith.

 JUSTIFICATION :  The Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE)
and Disability Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE) Programs are wildly
successful programs put in place to protect one of the most vulnerable
groups of tenants, the elderly and disabled. This program has kept
countless seniors in their homes as rent continues to increase
exponentially across the city. Yet, too often seniors and people with
disabilities are unaware of their options to apply for these programs.

This bill would require landlords to notify their rent-regulated
tenants with their annual lease of the existence of the SCRIE and DRIE
programs and to provide information on how to access information about
the programs.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY : New Bill

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS : None to the State

 EFFECTIVE DATE :  This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day
after it shall have become a law, provided, however, that the
amendments to subdivision 3 of section 467-b of the real property tax
law made by section one of this act shall not affect the expiration of
such subdivision and shall be deemed to expire therewith.