Senate Bill S4451

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
     S. 4451                                                  A. 6537
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                       S E N A T E - A S S E M B L Y
 
                              March 11, 2019
                                ___________
 
 IN  SENATE -- Introduced by Sen. ORTT -- read twice and ordered printed,
   and when printed to be committed to the  Committee  on  Investigations
   and Government Operations
 
 IN  ASSEMBLY  --  Introduced by M. of A. NORRIS, HAWLEY -- read once and
   referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

 AN ACT to amend the tax law, in relation to authorizing an occupancy tax
   in the village of Medina
 
   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-z-4 to
 read as follows:
   § 1202-Z-4. OCCUPANCY TAX IN THE VILLAGE OF MEDINA. (1)  NOTWITHSTAND-
 ING  ANY  OTHER PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, THE VILLAGE OF MEDINA,
 IN THE COUNTY OF ORLEANS, IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED AND  EMPOWERED  TO  ADOPT
 AND  AMEND LOCAL LAWS IMPOSING IN SUCH VILLAGE A TAX, IN ADDITION 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 TWO 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 MEDINA 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.
   (3) SUCH LOCAL LAWS MAY PROVIDE THAT ANY TAXES IMPOSED SHALL  BE  PAID
 BY  THE  PERSON LIABLE THEREFOR TO THE OWNER OF THE ROOM FOR HIRE IN THE
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD10301-01-9

 S. 4451                             2                            A. 6537
 
 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 MEDINA 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
 SHALL BE FIRST DEPOSITED AND THERE SHALL BE FILED AN UNDERTAKING, ISSUED
 BY  A  SURETY  COMPANY AUTHORIZED TO TRANSACT BUSINESS IN THIS STATE AND

 S. 4451                             3                            A. 6537

 APPROVED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES 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, INTEREST 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 MEDINA  AND
 SHALL  BE CREDITED TO AND DEPOSITED IN THE GENERAL FUND OF SUCH 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.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.