S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                   5344
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              April 26, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  SEWARD -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Investigations and Govern-
   ment Operations
 
 AN ACT to amend the tax law, in relation to the imposition of  an  occu-
   pancy  tax  in  the  city of Cortland; and providing for the repeal of
   such provisions upon the 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-ff to
 read as follows:
   § 1202-FF. OCCUPANCY TAX IN THE CITY OF CORTLAND. (1)  NOTWITHSTANDING
 ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, THE CITY OF CORTLAND, IN THE
 COUNTY  OF  CORTLAND,  IS  HEREBY  AUTHORIZED AND EMPOWERED TO ADOPT AND
 AMEND LOCAL LAWS IMPOSING IN SUCH CITY A TAX, IN ADDITION TO  ANY  OTHER
 TAX  AUTHORIZED AND IMPOSED PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE, SUCH AS THE LEGIS-
 LATURE 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 CITY OF CORTLAND 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
 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
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD11173-01-9

 S. 5344                             2
 
 CHARGE 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 CITY OF CORTLAND 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 CITY,
 SPECIFIED 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 A 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 FOR TAXATION;
 OR
   C.  ANY CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION, OR TRUST, OR COMMUNITY CHEST, FUND
 OR FOUNDATION ORGANIZED AND OPERATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR RELIGIOUS, CHARITA-
 BLE OR EDUCATION PURPOSES, OR FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO  CHILDREN
 OR ANIMALS, AND NO PART OF THE NET EARNINGS OF WHICH INURES TO THE BENE-
 FIT  OF ANY PRIVATE SHAREHOLDER OR INDIVIDUAL AND NO SUBSTANTIAL PART OF
 THE ACTIVITIES OF WHICH IS CARRYING ON PROPAGANDA, OR OTHERWISE ATTEMPT-
 ING 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 PARA-
 GRAPH.
   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
 APPROVED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES OF THIS STATE AS TO
 SOLVENCY  AND RESPONSIBILITY, IN SUCH AMOUNT AS A JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME

 S. 5344                             3
 
 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 CITY OF  CORTLAND  AND
 SHALL  BE  CREDITED TO AND DEPOSITED IN THE HOSPITALITY TAX FUND OF SUCH
 CITY.  SUCH  REVENUES  MAY  BE  USED  FOR  INFRASTRUCTURE   DEVELOPMENT,
 CONSTRUCTION,  REHABILITATION AND PROMOTION OF DESIGNATION TOURISM AS SO
 DETERMINED BY THE CITY OF CORTLAND COMMON COUNCIL.
   (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 and shall expire and be
 deemed repealed on September 1, 2022.