What's happening
This bill changes the definition of "probable aggregate annual income" for public and private housing by requiring that net, not gross, income (after income taxes) be used in eligibility and rent calculations.
Why it matters
Makes housing more accessible for low-income households. By switching from gross to net income (income after taxes) for eligibility and rent calculations, more people may qualify for public and private housing assistance, since their official income for these purposes will be lower.
Could lower rent obligations for current residents. Residents whose rents are calculated as a percentage of income may see reduced payments, as only post-tax income will count, potentially increasing disposable income for basic needs.
Aligns housing calculations with real take-home pay. Using net income gives a more accurate picture of what families actually have available to pay rent, which can make housing policy fairer and more responsive to differing tax burdens.
May impact funding and budgeting for housing programs. With more people eligible or paying lower rents, public and private housing providers may receive less rental income, possibly increasing dependence on government subsidies or altering the financial planning for housing developments.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Define Tenant Income for Housing
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to housing, construction and community development
- Referred to housing, construction and community development
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Update Tenant Income Definition
In Assembly Committee · Housing · Sponsor Jeffrey Dinowitz
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2378
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 13, 2017
Introduced by Sen. ALCANTARA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Housing, Construction and Community Development
AN ACT to amend the public housing law and the private housing finance law, in relation to defining probable aggregate annual income
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The closing paragraph of subdivision 1 of section 156 of the public housing law, as amended by chapter 893 of the laws of 1974, is amended to read as follows:
The "probable aggregate annual income" means the annual net income [of the chief wage earner of the family] after federal, state and municipal income taxes are deducted from the gross income of the chief wage earner plus all other income of other members of the family over the age of twenty-one years, plus a proportion of the income of members under the age of twenty-one years to be determined by the authority solely for the purpose of establishing rent to be paid except that the authority may exclude a proportion of the income of other members of the family over the age of twenty-one years for the purpose of determining eligibility for admission or continued occupancy, or for establishing rental of such family, or for all such purposes, subject to approval by the commissioner with respect to state projects.
§ 2. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 2 of section 31 of the private housing finance law, as amended by chapter 260 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows:
(a) The dwelling or non-housekeeping accommodations without board in a company project shall be available for persons or families of low income whose probable aggregate annual income at the time of admission and during the period of occupancy does not exceed, the greater of (i) the median income for such persons or families for the metropolitan statistical area in which the project is located, or if a project is located
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03184-01-7
S. 2378 2
outside a metropolitan statistical area, the median income for such persons or families for the county in which the project is located, as most recently determined by the United States department of housing and urban development, in which case any person or family becoming eligible for admission pursuant to this subparagraph shall pay, from the time of admission, a rental surcharge as provided for in subdivision three of this section, computed on the basis of the income limitations applicable to such persons or families in the absence of this subparagraph, or (ii) seven times the rental, including the value or cost to them of heat, light, water and cooking fuel, of the dwellings that may be furnished to such persons or families, except that in the case of families with three or more dependents, such ratio shall not exceed eight to one. The "probable aggregate annual income" in the case of dwelling accommodations means the annual net income [of the chief wage earner of the family] after federal, state and municipal income taxes are deducted from the gross income of the chief wage earner, plus all other income of other members of the family over the age of twenty-one years, plus a proportion of income of gainfully employed members under the age of twenty-one years, the proportion to be determined by the company as approved by the commissioner or the supervising agency, as the case may be, excluding therefrom a deduction of fifteen thousand dollars from the income of secondary wage earners of the family or a larger deduction if approved by the commissioner or the supervising agency, as the case may be, except that the company, as approved by the commissioner or the supervising agency, as the case may be, may exclude a proportion of the income of other members of the family over the age of twenty-one years for the purpose of determining eligibility for admission or continued occupancy, or for establishing the rental of such family, or for all such purposes; in the case of such non-housekeeping accommodations it means the annual income of the occupant, provided that the commissioner or supervising agency, as the case may be, may make rules and regulations relative to the allocation of the income of a family among the members thereof for the purpose of determining the income attributable to such occupant.
§ 3. Subdivision 5 of section 85-a of the private housing finance law, as amended by chapter 182 of the laws of 1997, is amended to read as follows:
5. The "probable aggregate annual income" means the annual net income [of the chief wage earner of the family] after federal, state and municipal income taxes are deducted from the gross income of the chief wage earner plus all other income of members of the family over the age of twenty-one years, plus a proportion of the income of members under the age of twenty-one years to be determined by the commissioner, excluding therefrom a deduction of fifteen thousand dollars from the income of secondary wage earners of the family or a larger deduction if approved by the commissioner or the supervising agency, as the case may be, except that the company, as approved by the commissioner, may exclude a proportion of the income of other members of the family over the age of twenty-one years for the purpose of determining eligibility for admission or continued occupancy, or for establishing the rental of such family, or for all such purposes.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public housing law and the private housing finance law, in relation to defining probable aggregate annual income
Purpose or general idea of bill
To use the net income of the chief wage earner to determine rent levels for limited-profit and limited-dividend housing companies.
Summary of specific provisions
The closing paragraph of subdivision one, Section 156 of the Public Housing Law is amended to exclude federal, state, and municipal taxes from the probable aggregate annual income of the chief wage earner, in determining eligibility for occupancy in limited-profit and limited-dividend housing.
Justification
In view of inflation and rising rent levels, a person's gross income is not reflective of his actual income. This bill will make rent levels proportionate to what an individual realistically makes. This legislation is necessary to eliminate certain hardships imposed upon tenants who are hardest bit in today's inflationary spiral.
Prior legislative history
2015-2016: Referred to housing, construction and community development 2009-10: A.833- Referred to Housing 2007-08: A.3103- Referred to Housing 2005-06: A.1431- Referred to Housing 2403-04: A.3028- Referred to Housing 2401-02: A.1164 - Referred to Housing 1999-00: A.2021- Referred to Housing
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.