S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
S. 1797--A A. 4768--A
2009-2010 Regular Sessions
S E N A T E - A S S E M B L Y
February 6, 2009
___________
IN SENATE -- Introduced by Sen. LITTLE -- read twice and ordered print-
ed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Investi-
gations and Government Operations -- committee discharged, bill
amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said commit-
tee
IN ASSEMBLY -- Introduced by M. of A. JORDAN -- read once and referred
to the Committee on Ways and Means -- committee discharged, bill
amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said commit-
tee
AN ACT to amend the tax law, in relation to authorizing the county of
Washington to impose hotel or motel taxes
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-aa to
read as follows:
S 1202-AA. HOTEL AND MOTEL TAX IN WASHINGTON COUNTY. (1) NOTWITHSTAND-
ING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, THE COUNTY OF WASHINGTON
IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED AND EMPOWERED TO ADOPT AND AMEND LOCAL LAWS IMPOS-
ING IN SUCH COUNTY A TAX, IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER TAX AUTHORIZED AND
IMPOSED PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE AS THE LEGISLATURE HAS OR WOULD HAVE
THE POWER AND AUTHORITY TO IMPOSE UPON PERSONS OCCUPYING HOTEL OR MOTEL
ROOMS IN SUCH COUNTY. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE TERM "HOTEL
OR MOTEL" SHALL MEAN AND INCLUDE ANY FACILITY PROVIDING LODGING ON AN
OVERNIGHT BASIS AND SHALL INCLUDE THOSE FACILITIES DESIGNATED AND
COMMONLY KNOWN AS "BED AND BREAKFAST", "INN", "HOUSEKEEPING COTTAGES
WITH FOUR OR MORE UNITS", AND "TOURIST FACILITIES".
THE RATES OF SUCH TAX SHALL BE ONE-HALF OF ONE PERCENT, ANY WHOLE
PERCENT OR ANY COMBINATION OF A WHOLE PERCENT AND ONE-HALF OF ONE
PERCENT; PROVIDED THAT SUCH RATES SHALL NOT EXCEED FOUR PERCENT;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT SUCH TAX SHALL NOT BE APPLICABLE TO A PERMANENT
RESIDENT OF A HOTEL OR MOTEL. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE TERM
"PERMANENT RESIDENT" SHALL MEAN A PERSON OCCUPYING ANY ROOM OR ROOMS IN
A HOTEL OR MOTEL FOR AT LEAST THIRTY CONSECUTIVE DAYS.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07068-02-9
S. 1797--A 2 A. 4768--A
(2) SUCH TAX MAY BE COLLECTED AND ADMINISTERED BY THE COUNTY TREASURER
OR OTHER FISCAL OFFICERS OF THE COUNTY OF WASHINGTON BY SUCH MEANS AND
IN SUCH MANNER AS OTHER TAXES WHICH ARE NOW COLLECTED AND ADMINISTERED
BY SUCH OFFICERS OR AS OTHERWISE MAY BE PROVIDED BY SUCH LOCAL LAW.
(3) SUCH LOCAL LAWS MAY PROVIDE THAT ANY TAX IMPOSED SHALL BE PAID BY
THE PERSON LIABLE THEREFOR TO THE OWNER OF THE HOTEL OR MOTEL ROOM OCCU-
PIED OR TO THE PERSON ENTITLED TO BE PAID THE RENT OR CHARGE FOR THE
HOTEL OR MOTEL ROOM OCCUPIED FOR AND ON ACCOUNT OF THE COUNTY OF WASH-
INGTON 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 ENTITLED TO BE PAID THE RENT
OR CHARGE SHALL HAVE THE SAME RIGHT IN RESPECT TO COLLECTING THE TAX
FROM THE PERSON OCCUPYING THE HOTEL OR MOTEL ROOM, OR IN RESPECT TO
NONPAYMENT OF THE TAX BY THE PERSON OCCUPYING THE HOTEL OR MOTEL ROOM,
AS IF THE TAX WERE A PART OF THE RENT OR CHARGE AND PAYABLE AT THE SAME
TIME AS THE RENT OR CHARGE; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THE COUNTY TREASURER
OR OTHER FISCAL OFFICERS OF THE COUNTY, SPECIFIED IN SUCH LOCAL LAW,
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 TAX 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 TRANSACTION, BY OR WITH ANY OF THE FOLLOWING IN ACCORDANCE WITH
SECTION TWELVE HUNDRED THIRTY OF THIS ARTICLE:
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;
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.
(6) ANY FINAL DETERMINATION OF THE AMOUNT OF ANY TAX PAYABLE PURSUANT
TO THIS SECTION SHALL BE REVIEWABLE FOR ERROR, ILLEGALITY OR UNCONSTITU-
TIONALITY OR ANY OTHER REASON WHATSOEVER BY A PROCEEDING UNDER ARTICLE
SEVENTY-EIGHT OF THE CIVIL PRACTICE LAW AND RULES IF APPLICATION THERE-
FOR IS MADE TO THE SUPREME COURT WITHIN THIRTY DAYS AFTER THE GIVING OF
THE 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 LAW OR REGULATION
SHALL BE FIRST DEPOSITED AND THERE IS 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
S. 1797--A 3 A. 4768--A
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 TAX IMPOSED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION SHALL HAVE BEEN
ERRONEOUSLY, ILLEGALLY OR UNCONSTITUTIONALLY COLLECTED AND APPLICATION
FOR THE REFUND THEREOF DULY MADE TO THE PROPER FISCAL OFFICER OR OFFI-
CERS, AND SUCH OFFICER OR OFFICERS SHALL HAVE MADE A DETERMINATION DENY-
ING 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 DETERMI-
NATION 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 TAX CONFIRMED, THE
PETITIONER WILL PAY ALL COSTS AND CHARGES WHICH ACCRUE IN THE PROSE-
CUTION OF SUCH PROCEEDING.
(8) EXCEPT IN THE CASE OF A WILFULLY 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 COUNTY OF WASHINGTON
AND SHALL BE CREDITED TO AND DEPOSITED IN THE GENERAL FUND OF THE COUN-
TY, THEREAFTER TO BE ALLOCATED FOR TOURISM PROMOTION AND TOURIST AND
CONVENTION DEVELOPMENT; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT SUCH LOCAL LAWS SHALL
PROVIDE THAT THE COUNTY OF WASHINGTON SHALL BE AUTHORIZED TO RETAIN UP
TO A MAXIMUM OF FIFTEEN PERCENT OF SUCH REVENUES TO DEFER THE NECESSARY
EXPENSES OF SUCH COUNTY IN ADMINISTERING SUCH TAX. THE REVENUES DERIVED
FROM SUCH TAX, AFTER DEDUCTING THE AMOUNT PROVIDED FOR ADMINISTERING THE
TAX, AS PROVIDED BY LOCAL LAW, SHALL BE ALLOCATED TO PROMOTE TOURISM IN,
PRESERVE THE HERITAGE OF, AND CELEBRATE THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY IN
THE COUNTY OF WASHINGTON THROUGH THE PROMOTION OF TOURIST ACTIVITIES,
CONVENTIONS, TRADE SHOWS, SPECIAL EVENTS, AND OTHER DIRECTLY RELATED AND
SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES.
(10) EACH ENACTMENT OF SUCH LOCAL LAW MAY PROVIDE FOR 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 PURSUANT 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.