S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
6007
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
March 25, 2021
___________
Introduced by Sen. SANDERS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
AN ACT to amend the state finance law, in relation to enacting the
COVID-19 essential workers appreciation act
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
the "COVID-19 essential workers appreciation act".
§ 2. COVID-19 essential workers appreciation awards. (a) Notwithstand-
ing any provision of law to the contrary, all businesses with profits
over $500,000 dollars that do business in the state that during the
state disaster emergency declared pursuant to executive order 202 have
seen an increase in profits by 20% over the same time period in 2019
shall deposit 5% of such business' gross profits into the COVID-19
essential workers appreciation fund established pursuant to section
99-ii of the state finance law.
(b) There is hereby established the COVID-19 essential workers appre-
ciation task force. Such task force shall be comprised of 7 members to
be appointed as follows:
(i) 2 members appointed by the temporary president of the senate;
(ii) 2 members appointed by the speaker of the assembly;
(iii) 1 member appointed by the governor;
(iv) 1 member appointed by the governor who is the representative of a
small business organization; and
(v) 1 member appointed by the governor who is the representative of a
retail union.
(c) The COVID-19 essential workers appreciation task force established
pursuant to subdivision (b) of this section shall develop eligibility
requirements and make awards utilizing the monies in the COVID-19 essen-
tial workers appreciation fund. Such awards shall be made to:
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06111-01-1
S. 6007 2
(i) eligible employees of essential businesses, including but not
limited to, grocery stores, liquor stores, convenience stores, delis and
grocery delivery personnel; and
(ii) eligible family members of any employee of an essential business
who died as a result of contracting novel coronavirus disease 2019
(COVID-19).
§ 2. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 99-ii to
read as follows:
§ 99-II. COVID-19 ESSENTIAL WORKERS APPRECIATION FUND. 1. THERE IS
HEREBY ESTABLISHED IN THE JOINT CUSTODY OF THE STATE COMPTROLLER AND THE
COMMISSIONER OF TAXATION AND FINANCE A FUND TO BE KNOWN AS THE COVID-19
ESSENTIAL WORKERS APPRECIATION FUND.
2. SUCH FUND SHALL CONSIST OF ALL MONIES DEPOSITED PURSUANT TO SUBDI-
VISION (A) OF SECTION TWO OF A CHAPTER OF THE LAWS OF TWO THOUSAND TWEN-
TY-ONE THAT ADDED THIS SECTION, AND ALL OTHER MONEYS CREDITED OR TRANS-
FERRED THERETO FROM ANY OTHER FUND OR SOURCE.
3. MONIES OF THE FUND, SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE AS AWARDS PURSUANT TO
THE PROVISIONS OF SUBDIVISION (C) OF SECTION TWO OF A CHAPTER OF THE
LAWS OF TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-ONE THAT ADDED THIS SECTION.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.