Pursuant to the provisions of § 459
of the Real Property Tax Law and as therein provided, improvements
to residential real property used solely as a one-, two- or three-family
residence shall be exempt from taxation to the extent of any increase
in value attributable to such improvements that serve to facilitate
the use and accessibility of such real property for:
A. A resident owner of real property who is physically
disabled; or
B. A member of the resident owner's household who is
physically disabled if such member resides in the real property.
If the applicant is qualified and is entitled
to an exemption and the Assessor is satisfied that the improvement
is necessary to facilitate and accommodate the use and accessibility
by a physically disabled resident, the Assessor shall approve the
application and enter the taxable assessed value of the parcel for
which an exemption has been granted on the assessment roll with the
taxable property with the amount of the exemption as determined in
a separate column.
Once granted, the exemption shall continue until
the improvement ceases to be necessary to facilitate and accommodate
the use and accessibility of the property by the resident who is physically
disabled.
The exemption may be granted for improvements
constructed prior to the effective date of this Article which otherwise
meet all requirements.
The exemption shall not be applicable to special
ad valorem levies and special assessments, and the property owner
shall remain liable for the same.
This article shall take effect immediately upon
its filing with the Secretary of State and shall apply to assessment
rolls prepared on the basis of taxable status dates occurring on or
after such date.