NY State Senate Bill 2023-S8483

Senate Bill S8483

2023-2024 Legislative Session

Authorizes the establishment of permanent Covid-19 memorials and establishes a Covid-19 permanent memorial fund

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Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Finance Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Feb 05, 2024	referred to finance

co-Sponsors

2023-S8483 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A9815
Current Committee:: Senate Finance
Law Section:: State Finance Law
Laws Affected:: Add §99-rr, St Fin L

2023-S8483 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Authorizes the establishment of permanent COVID-19 memorials; establishes a COVID-19 permanent memorial fund.

2023-S8483 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S8483

SPONSOR: BAILEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

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

 
PURPOSE:

The bill would authorize localities within New York State, in collab-
oration with local parks departments and under the guidance of the New
York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, to
designate and establish a permanent Covid-19 memorial within its juris-
diction.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 2: Establishes the COVID-19 permanent memorial fund.

EXISTING LAW:

None.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The Covid-19 pandemic has claimed the lives of more than 1.1 million
Americans, including over 82,021 New Yorkers and over 45,952 New York
City residents. More than 16,000 children in New York state alone have
lost a parent or caregiver to the pandemic. These are not just numbers
and statistics, but family members, relatives, friends, and loved ones
who meant the world to so many across the city and state.  During the
height of the pandemic, many were unable to be at their loved ones' side
or provide them with the comfort and support they deserved in their
final moments. New Yorkers were unable to conduct traditional homegoing
or burial services due to health restrictions, adding to the burden of
their grief. Despite being the nationwide epicenter of the pandemic, New
York State still does not have a permanent Covid-19 memorial. Similar
memorials have already been built across the nation and legislation has
been introduced to honor those lost to Covid-19 and recognize the sacri-
fices of healthcare professionals, first responders, and essential work-
ers who served selflessly during the pandemic.

These include the nation's first Covid-19 permanent memorial at Allaire
Community Farm in Walltownship, New Jersey, the "United We Stand,
Divided We Fall," Covid-19 Memorial in Capitol Monument Park, Kentucky,
and the Yellow Heart memorial in Jefferson County, Missouri. Locally,
the DSNY Forever Strongest memorial and TWU Local 100 Union Hall memo-
rials in New York City honors essential workers lost to Covid-19. As one
of the epicenters nationwide, it would only be fitting that New York has
a dedicated memorial of its own.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2023-S8483 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8483
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 5, 2024
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  BAILEY -- 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  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
 S. 8483                             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.

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Senate Bill S8483

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Sponsored By

Jamaal T. Bailey