Senator Kemp Hannon announced additional property tax relief totaling $1.3 billion for New York families highlights a list of new laws effective since Jan. 1, 2008.

Senator Hannon said, "You ask any homeowner where our No. 1 priority should be _focused, and they will tell you it is reducing the crushing burden of high property taxes on Long Island. The Senate Majority has a strong record of fighting for lower property taxes, and new laws effective Jan. 1, 2008 continue that effort by providing an additional $1.3 billion in property tax relief in the form of direct rebate checks to homeowners across this state."

Senator Hannon added, "Even with this tax relief, property taxes are still an enormous problem and the Senate will work for even greater property tax relief next year."

The tax rebates for SFY 2008 represent the second year of a three-year expansion of the Senate-initiated property tax rebate program. This year, the state is expected to provide approximately $1 billion in rebate checks to homeowners. In the fall of 2008, the program is expected to provide rebates totaling $1.3 billion, with scheduled expansion for SFY 2009 set at $1.53 billion.

Because New York's Presidential Primary has been moved up to Feb. 5, the deadline to register to vote is also earlier than it has ever been if you are not already an enrolled voter. Those who are not registered to vote must have registered by Jan. 11, 2008 if they wanted to be able to vote Feb. 5.

In order to vote in the primary, you must be registered in either the Republican or Democratic Party, and you must vote in the party's primary in which you are enrolled. Those not enrolled in a party and those enrolled in a "third party" (Independence, Conservative or Working Families) are not eligible to vote in the Presidential Primary.

If you are already registered to vote in a particular party, you may not change your party registration to vote in a different party's primary Feb. 5. Any change made now to your registered political party would not take effect until after the November 2008 elections. __To register, you can download a voter registration form at the Nassau County Board of Elections website: http://www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/BOE/voter_registration.html. You can also call the Board at 571-2411 and have a form mailed to you. Moreover, many public libraries have voter registration forms available.

Senator Hannon said, "New York has traditionally had a later primary, with nominees all but certain in the Republican and Democratic parties by the time we voted. New York will exert a larger amount of influence over this year's major party nominees due to our earlier scheduled primary." It has never been more important for New Yorkers to make their voices heard at the ballot box._ _In order to be eligible, you must be an American citizen, having lived in Nassau County for at least 30 days, and be at least 18 years old by Feb. 5.

Those interested in registering can also call Senator Hannon's office at 739-1700 and ask that a form be sent to them.

Senator Kemp Hannon announced a proposal for college tuition relief for middle-income families. The proposal would provide state aid to help pay for college costs and ensure income-eligible families would not contribute more than 10 percent of their net taxable income toward tuition and fees.

Senator Hannon said, "Bogging families down with massive amounts of debt has an adverse affect on their ability to provide for their children. Often, it causes parents to live paycheck-to-paycheck and hope nothing goes wrong with their health, their home or their car."

Middle-income residents receive little, if any, state and federal college aid. As college costs continue to rise, more students and families are being forced to assume huge amounts of debt. Currently, students graduating from a New York State college will leave with approximately $18,000 of student loan debt for four years of undergraduate study. Their debt will increase if they choose to continue their education at the graduate level.

"For students who take on tuition debt, it makes it more difficult for them to get a mortgage or car loan at a reasonable interest rate," Senator Hannon added. "We are not doing young people any favors by starting them out thousands of dollars in debt."

This proposal would cap a family's contribution for tuition and fees at 10 percent of their net taxable income if that annual income is less than $150,000. Students would be able to use this benefit at any college, which agrees to limit annual tuition increases.

This program would provide a maximum of $12,500 in financial assistance. The state aid would be granted prior to the family's contribution, but after federal aid and other state aid programs were credited to a student's account.

While for the past 33 years, New York State's Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) has helped make a college education more accessible, many hardworking New Yorkers do not meet the eligibility guidelines. This proposal would supplement and complement TAP to make a college education more affordable for middle-income families.