S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   9815
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               April 9, 2024
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M. of A. CRUZ -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Governmental Operations
 
 AN ACT to amend the state finance law, in relation  to  authorizing  the
   establishment  of  permanent  COVID-19  memorials  and  establishing a
   COVID-19 permanent memorial fund
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section  1.  The  state  of  New York and any municipality therein are
 authorized to, in collaboration with  municipal  parks  departments  and
 under  the  guidance  of  the  office of parks, recreation, and historic
 preservation, designate and  establish  a  permanent  COVID-19  memorial
 within  its  jurisdiction. Municipalities seeking to establish and main-
 tain such a memorial may apply for funding under section  99-rr  of  the
 state  finance  law  as  well  as from other public and private sources,
 including but not limited to grants, donations,  and  partnerships.  The
 final  designs and locations of such memorials shall be selected through
 a community-driven process overseen by municipal parks departments, with
 specific guidance from the office of  parks,  recreation,  and  historic
 preservation,  and  with  financial  oversight  from  the  comptroller's
 office.  The final designs and locations of such memorials shall  prior-
 itize input from those most impacted, including but not limited to fami-
 ly members and loved ones of victims of COVID-19.
   § 2. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 99-rr to
 read as follows:
   §  99-RR.  COVID-19 PERMANENT MEMORIAL FUND. 1. THERE IS HEREBY ESTAB-
 LISHED IN THE JOINT CUSTODY OF THE STATE COMPTROLLER AND THE COMMISSION-
 ER OF PARKS, RECREATION AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION A FUND TO BE KNOWN  AS
 THE "COVID-19 PERMANENT MEMORIAL FUND".
   2. THE FUND SHALL CONSIST OF ALL MONEYS APPROPRIATED THEREFOR, GRANTS,
 GIFTS  OR  BEQUESTS  RECEIVED BY THE STATE FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE FUND,
 AND ALL OTHER MONEYS CREDITED OR TRANSFERRED THERETO FROM ANY OTHER FUND
 OR SOURCE. MONEYS OF SUCH FUND SHALL BE EXPENDED ONLY FOR THE ESTABLISH-
 MENT AND MAINTENANCE OF PERMANENT COVID-19 MEMORIALS.  NOTHING  IN  THIS
 SECTION  SHALL  PREVENT  THE STATE FROM SOLICITING AND RECEIVING GRANTS,
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD14406-01-4
 A. 9815                             2
 
 GIFTS OR BEQUESTS FOR THE PURPOSES OF SUCH FUND AND DEPOSITING THEM INTO
 THE FUND ACCORDING TO LAW.
   3.  MONEYS  IN  SUCH FUND SHALL BE KEPT SEPARATE FROM AND SHALL NOT BE
 COMMINGLED WITH ANY OTHER MONEYS IN THE CUSTODY OF  THE  COMPTROLLER  OR
 THE  COMMISSIONER  OF  PARKS,  RECREATION AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION. ANY
 MONEYS OF THE FUND NOT REQUIRED FOR IMMEDIATE USE MAY, AT THE DISCRETION
 OF THE COMPTROLLER, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DIRECTOR OF THE BUDGET,  BE
 INVESTED  BY  THE COMPTROLLER IN OBLIGATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES OR THE
 STATE, OR IN OBLIGATIONS THE PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST ON WHICH ARE GUARAN-
 TEED BY THE UNITED STATES OR BY THE STATE.  ANY  INCOME  EARNED  BY  THE
 INVESTMENT  OF  SUCH  MONEYS SHALL BE ADDED TO AND BECOME A PART OF, AND
 SHALL BE USED FOR THE PURPOSES OF SUCH FUND.
   4. MONEYS FROM SUCH FUND SHALL BE DISBURSED FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT  AND
 MAINTENANCE  OF  PERMANENT  COVID-19 MEMORIALS BY WAY OF A GRANT PROGRAM
 ESTABLISHED BY THE COMPTROLLER IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE OFFICE OF  PARKS,
 RECREATION AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.