The purpose of this article is to exempt from
real property taxes property owned by certain physically disabled
persons, as authorized by § 459 of the Real Property Tax
Law.
An improvement to any real property used solely
for residential purposes as a one- , two- or three-family residence
shall be exempt from taxation to the extent of any increase in value
attributable to such improvement if such improvement is used for the
purpose of facilitating and accommodating the use and accessibility
of such real property by a resident owner of the real property who
is physically disabled, or a member of the resident owner's household
who is physically disabled, if such member resides on the real property.
Any such real property tax exemption will apply
to improvements constructed on or after January 1, 1999, which date
may be prior or subsequent to the effective date of this article.