S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                 231--A

                       2009-2010 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                               (PREFILED)

                             January 7, 2009
                               ___________

Introduced  by M. of A. LATIMER -- read once and referred to the Commit-
  tee on Ways and Means -- recommitted to  the  Committee  on  Ways  and
  Means  in  accordance  with  Assembly  Rule  3,  sec.  2  -- committee
  discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
  to said committee

AN ACT to amend the tax law, in relation to the imposition of  an  occu-
  pancy tax in the Village of Rye Brook; and providing for the repeal of
  such provisions upon expiration thereof

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. The tax law is amended by adding a new section  1202-bb  to
read as follows:
  S  1202-BB.  OCCUPANCY  TAX  IN THE VILLAGE OF RYE BROOK. (1) NOTWITH-
STANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, THE VILLAGE OF  RYE
BROOK,  IN THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER, IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED AND EMPOWERED
TO ADOPT AND AMEND LOCAL LAWS IMPOSING IN SUCH VILLAGE A TAX,  IN  ADDI-
TION  TO  ANY OTHER TAX AUTHORIZED AND IMPOSED PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE,
SUCH AS THE LEGISLATURE HAS OR WOULD HAVE THE  POWER  AND  AUTHORITY  TO
IMPOSE  UPON  PERSONS OCCUPYING ANY ROOM FOR HIRE IN ANY HOTEL.  FOR THE
PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE TERM "HOTEL"  SHALL  MEAN  A  BUILDING  OR
PORTION  OF  IT  WHICH  IS  REGULARLY USED AND KEPT OPEN AS SUCH FOR THE
LODGING OF GUESTS. THE TERM "HOTEL" INCLUDES AN APARTMENT HOTEL, A MOTEL
OR A BOARDING HOUSE, WHETHER OR NOT MEALS ARE SERVED.  THE RATE OF  SUCH
TAX  SHALL NOT EXCEED THREE PERCENT OF THE PER DIEM RENTAL RATE FOR EACH
ROOM WHETHER SUCH ROOM IS RENTED ON A DAILY OR LONGER BASIS.
  (2) SUCH TAXES MAY BE COLLECTED AND ADMINISTERED BY THE  CHIEF  FISCAL
OFFICER  OF THE VILLAGE OF RYE BROOK BY SUCH MEANS AND IN SUCH MANNER AS
OTHER TAXES WHICH ARE NOW COLLECTED AND ADMINISTERED BY SUCH OFFICER  OR
AS OTHERWISE MAY BE PROVIDED BY SUCH LOCAL LAW.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD01127-02-0
              

A. 231--A                           2

  (3)  SUCH  LOCAL LAWS MAY PROVIDE THAT ANY TAXES IMPOSED SHALL BE PAID
BY THE PERSON LIABLE THEREFORE TO THE OWNER OF THE ROOM FOR HIRE IN  THE
TOURIST  HOME,  INN, CLUB, HOTEL, MOTEL OR OTHER SIMILAR PLACE OF PUBLIC
ACCOMMODATION OCCUPIED OR TO THE PERSON ENTITLED TO BE PAID THE RENT  OR
CHARGE  FOR  THE  ROOM  FOR  HIRE IN THE TOURIST HOME, INN, CLUB, HOTEL,
MOTEL OR OTHER SIMILAR PLACE OF PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION OCCUPIED FOR AND ON
ACCOUNT OF THE VILLAGE OF RYE BROOK IMPOSING THE TAX AND THAT SUCH OWNER
OR PERSON ENTITLED TO BE PAID THE RENT OR CHARGE SHALL BE LIABLE FOR THE
COLLECTION AND PAYMENT OF THE TAX; AND THAT SUCH OWNER OR  PERSON  ENTI-
TLED  TO BE PAID THE RENT OR CHARGE SHALL HAVE THE SAME RIGHT IN RESPECT
TO COLLECTING THE TAX FROM THE PERSON OCCUPYING THE ROOM FOR HIRE IN THE
TOURIST HOME, INN, CLUB, HOTEL, MOTEL OR OTHER SIMILAR PLACE  OF  PUBLIC
ACCOMMODATION,  OR  IN  RESPECT  TO  NONPAYMENT OF THE TAX BY THE PERSON
OCCUPYING THE ROOM FOR HIRE IN THE TOURIST HOME, INN, CLUB, HOTEL, MOTEL
OR SIMILAR PLACE OF PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION, AS IF THE TAXES WERE A PART OF
THE RENT OR CHARGE AND PAYABLE AT THE SAME TIME AS THE RENT  OR  CHARGE;
PROVIDED,  HOWEVER, THAT THE CHIEF FISCAL OFFICER OF THE VILLAGE, SPECI-
FIED IN SUCH LOCAL LAWS, SHALL BE JOINED AS A PARTY  IN  ANY  ACTION  OR
PROCEEDING  BROUGHT  TO  COLLECT  THE  TAX BY THE OWNER OR BY THE PERSON
ENTITLED TO BE PAID THE RENT OR CHARGE.
  (4) SUCH LOCAL LAWS MAY PROVIDE FOR THE  FILING  OF  RETURNS  AND  THE
PAYMENT OF THE TAXES ON A MONTHLY BASIS OR ON THE BASIS OF ANY LONGER OR
SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME.
  (5)  THIS  SECTION SHALL NOT AUTHORIZE THE IMPOSITION OF SUCH TAX UPON
ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:
  A. THE STATE OF NEW YORK,  OR  ANY  PUBLIC  CORPORATION  (INCLUDING  A
PUBLIC CORPORATION CREATED PURSUANT TO AGREEMENT OR COMPACT WITH ANOTHER
STATE  OR  THE  DOMINION OF CANADA), IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT OR OTHER POLI-
TICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE;
  B. THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, INSOFAR AS IT IS  IMMUNE  FROM  TAXA-
TION; OR
  C.  ANY CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION, OR TRUST, OR COMMUNITY CHEST, FUND
OR FOUNDATION ORGANIZED AND OPERATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR RELIGIOUS, CHARITA-
BLE OR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES, OR FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY  TO  CHIL-
DREN  OR ANIMALS, AND NO PART OF THE NET EARNINGS OF WHICH INURES TO THE
BENEFIT OF ANY PRIVATE SHAREHOLDER OR INDIVIDUAL AND NO SUBSTANTIAL PART
OF THE ACTIVITIES OF WHICH  IS  CARRYING  ON  PROPAGANDA,  OR  OTHERWISE
ATTEMPTING  TO INFLUENCE LEGISLATION; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT NOTHING IN
THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL INCLUDE AN ORGANIZATION OPERATED  FOR  THE  PRIMARY
PURPOSE  OF  CARRYING  ON A TRADE OR BUSINESS FOR PROFIT, WHETHER OR NOT
ALL OF ITS PROFITS ARE PAYABLE TO ONE OR MORE ORGANIZATIONS DESCRIBED IN
THIS PARAGRAPH.
  D. A PERMANENT RESIDENT OF A HOTEL OR MOTEL. FOR THE PURPOSES OF  THIS
SECTION, THE TERM "PERMANENT RESIDENT" SHALL MEAN A NATURAL PERSON OCCU-
PYING  ANY ROOM OR ROOMS IN A HOTEL OR MOTEL FOR AT LEAST THIRTY CONSEC-
UTIVE DAYS.
  (6) ANY FINAL DETERMINATION OF THE AMOUNT OF ANY TAX PAYABLE HEREUNDER
SHALL BE REVIEWABLE FOR ERROR, ILLEGALITY OR UNCONSTITUTIONALITY OR  ANY
OTHER  REASON  WHATSOEVER BY A PROCEEDING UNDER ARTICLE SEVENTY-EIGHT OF
THE CIVIL PRACTICE LAW AND RULES IF APPLICATION THEREFOR IS MADE TO  THE
SUPREME  COURT  WITHIN  THIRTY  DAYS  AFTER THE GIVING OF NOTICE OF SUCH
FINAL DETERMINATION, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT ANY SUCH  PROCEEDING  UNDER
ARTICLE  SEVENTY-EIGHT  OF THE CIVIL PRACTICE LAW AND RULES SHALL NOT BE
INSTITUTED UNLESS:
  A. THE AMOUNT OF ANY TAX SOUGHT TO BE REVIEWED, WITH SUCH INTEREST AND
PENALTIES THEREON AS MAY BE PROVIDED FOR BY LOCAL  LAWS  OR  REGULATIONS

A. 231--A                           3

SHALL BE FIRST DEPOSITED AND THERE SHALL BE FILED AN UNDERTAKING, ISSUED
BY  A  SURETY  COMPANY AUTHORIZED TO TRANSACT BUSINESS IN THIS STATE AND
APPROVED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT OF INSURANCE OF THIS STATE AS TO SOLVENCY
AND  RESPONSIBILITY,  IN  SUCH  AMOUNT AS A JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT
SHALL APPROVE TO THE EFFECT THAT IF SUCH PROCEEDING BE DISMISSED OR  THE
TAX  CONFIRMED  THE  PETITIONER WILL PAY ALL COSTS AND CHARGES WHICH MAY
ACCRUE IN THE PROSECUTION OF SUCH PROCEEDING; OR
  B. AT THE OPTION OF THE PETITIONER, SUCH UNDERTAKING MAY BE IN  A  SUM
SUFFICIENT  TO  COVER  THE TAXES, INTERESTS AND PENALTIES STATED IN SUCH
DETERMINATION PLUS THE COSTS AND CHARGES WHICH MAY ACCRUE AGAINST IT  IN
THE  PROSECUTION  OF THE PROCEEDING, IN WHICH EVENT THE PETITIONER SHALL
NOT BE REQUIRED TO PAY SUCH TAXES, INTEREST OR PENALTIES AS A  CONDITION
PRECEDENT TO THE APPLICATION.
  (7)  WHERE  ANY  TAXES  IMPOSED HEREUNDER SHALL HAVE BEEN ERRONEOUSLY,
ILLEGALLY OR UNCONSTITUTIONALLY COLLECTED AND APPLICATION FOR THE REFUND
THEREFOR DULY MADE TO THE PROPER FISCAL OFFICER OR  OFFICERS,  AND  SUCH
OFFICER OR OFFICERS SHALL HAVE MADE A DETERMINATION DENYING SUCH REFUND,
SUCH  DETERMINATION  SHALL  BE  REVIEWABLE BY A PROCEEDING UNDER ARTICLE
SEVENTY-EIGHT OF THE CIVIL PRACTICE LAW AND  RULES,  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,
THAT  SUCH  PROCEEDING IS INSTITUTED WITHIN THIRTY DAYS AFTER THE GIVING
OF THE NOTICE OF SUCH DENIAL, THAT A FINAL DETERMINATION OF TAX DUE  WAS
NOT  PREVIOUSLY  MADE,  AND THAT AN UNDERTAKING IS FILED WITH THE PROPER
FISCAL OFFICER OR OFFICERS IN SUCH AMOUNT AND WITH SUCH  SURETIES  AS  A
JUSTICE  OF  THE  SUPREME COURT SHALL APPROVE TO THE EFFECT THAT IF SUCH
PROCEEDING BE DISMISSED OR THE TAXES CONFIRMED, THE PETITIONER WILL  PAY
ALL  COSTS  AND  CHARGES  WHICH  MAY  ACCRUE  IN THE PROSECUTION OF SUCH
PROCEEDING.
  (8) EXCEPT IN THE CASE OF A WILLFULLY FALSE OR FRAUDULENT RETURN  WITH
INTENT  TO  EVADE THE TAX, NO ASSESSMENT OF ADDITIONAL TAX SHALL BE MADE
AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF MORE THAN THREE  YEARS  FROM  THE  DATE  OF  THE
FILING  OF  A  RETURN,  PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT WHERE NO RETURN HAS BEEN
FILED AS PROVIDED BY LAW THE TAX MAY BE ASSESSED AT ANY TIME.
  (9) ALL REVENUES RESULTING FROM THE IMPOSITION OF THE  TAX  UNDER  THE
LOCAL  LAWS  SHALL BE PAID INTO THE TREASURY OF THE VILLAGE OF RYE BROOK
AND SHALL BE CREDITED TO AND  DEPOSITED  IN  THE  GENERAL  FUND  OF  THE
VILLAGE. SUCH REVENUES MAY BE USED FOR ANY LAWFUL PURPOSE.
  (10) EACH ENACTMENT OF SUCH A LOCAL LAW MAY PROVIDE FOR THE IMPOSITION
OF  A HOTEL OR MOTEL TAX FOR A PERIOD OF TIME NO LONGER THAN THREE YEARS
FROM THE DATE OF ITS ENACTMENT. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION  SHALL  PROHIBIT
THE  ADOPTION AND ENACTMENT OF LOCAL LAWS, PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF
THIS SECTION, UPON THE EXPIRATION OF ANY OTHER LOCAL LAW ADOPTED  PURSU-
ANT TO THIS SECTION.
  (11)  IF  ANY  PROVISION OF THIS SECTION OR THE APPLICATION THEREOF TO
ANY PERSON OR CIRCUMSTANCE SHALL BE HELD INVALID, THE REMAINDER OF  THIS
SECTION  AND  THE  APPLICATION  OF  SUCH  PROVISION  TO OTHER PERSONS OR
CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL NOT BE AFFECTED THEREBY.
  S 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall  expire  and  be
deemed repealed three years after such date.