S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
3212
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 23, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SANTABARBARA -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the
production of and the assessment of a surcharge for distinctive "Feel-
ing Rural Good" license plates; and to amend the state finance law, in
relation to establishing the feeling rural good health care fund
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new
section 404-ff to read as follows:
§ 404-FF. ISSUANCE OF DISTINCTIVE "FEELING RURAL GOOD" LICENSE PLATES.
1. ANY PERSON RESIDING IN THIS STATE SHALL, UPON REQUEST, BE ISSUED A
DISTINCTIVE "FEELING RURAL GOOD" LICENSE PLATE OF A DESIGN APPROVED BY
THE COMMISSIONER. APPLICATION FOR SAID LICENSE PLATE SHALL BE FILED WITH
THE COMMISSIONER IN SUCH FORM AND DETAIL AS THE COMMISSIONER SHALL
PRESCRIBE.
2. A DISTINCTIVE "FEELING RURAL GOOD" LICENSE PLATE ISSUED PURSUANT TO
THIS SECTION SHALL BE ISSUED IN THE SAME MANNER AS OTHER NUMBER PLATES
UPON THE PAYMENT OF THE REGULAR REGISTRATION FEES PRESCRIBED BY SECTION
FOUR HUNDRED ONE OF THIS ARTICLE; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT AN ADDITIONAL
ANNUAL SERVICE CHARGE OF TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS SHALL BE CHARGED FOR SUCH
PLATE. SUCH ANNUAL SERVICE CHARGE SHALL BE DEPOSITED PURSUANT TO THE
PROVISIONS OF SECTION FOUR HUNDRED FOUR-OO OF THIS ARTICLE, TO THE CRED-
IT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES DISTINCTIVE PLATE DEVELOPMENT
FUND ESTABLISHED BY SECTION NINETY-FIVE-G OF THE STATE FINANCE LAW, AND
SHALL BE USED FOR THE PRODUCTION, DESIGN, ADVERTISING AND MARKETING OF
DISTINCTIVE LICENSE PLATES PURSUANT TO SUCH SECTION NINETY-FIVE-G;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT ANNUAL SERVICE CHARGES COLLECTED IN EXCESS OF
SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS SHALL BE DEPOSITED TO THE CREDIT OF THE FEELING
RURAL GOOD HEALTH CARE FUND ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION NINETY-SEV-
EN-BBBBB OF THE STATE FINANCE LAW AND SHALL BE USED IN RURAL REGIONS OF
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06275-01-5
A. 3212 2
THE STATE TO EXPAND SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH PROGRAMS, IMPROVE ACCESS TO
HEALTH RESEARCH AND EDUCATION, AND EXPAND BROADBAND ACCESS FOR IMPROVED
ACCESS TO TELEHEALTH, ENHANCE ACCESS TO NEW YORK CENTER FOR AGRICULTURAL
MEDICINE AND HEALTH INITIATIVES IN FARM (AGRICULTURAL), FISHING AND
FORESTRY SAFETY, AND IMPROVE QUALITY OF CARE AND SERVICES OFFERED BY ANY
GENERAL HOSPITAL AS DEFINED IN SECTION TWENTY-EIGHT HUNDRED ONE OF THE
PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, ANY HOME CARE SERVICES AGENCY ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO
ARTICLE THIRTY-SIX OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, ANY HOSPICE AS DEFINED IN
SECTION FOUR THOUSAND TWO OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, OR ANY ADULT CARE
FACILITY AS DEFINED IN ARTICLE SEVEN OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES LAW INCLUD-
ING ASSISTED LIVING PROGRAMS AND ASSISTED LIVING RESIDENCES.
§ 2. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 97-bbbbb
to read as follows:
§ 97-BBBBB. FEELING RURAL GOOD HEALTH CARE FUND. 1. THERE IS HEREBY
ESTABLISHED IN THE JOINT CUSTODY OF THE COMMISSIONER OF TAXATION AND
FINANCE AND THE COMPTROLLER A SPECIAL FUND TO BE KNOWN AS THE "FEELING
RURAL GOOD HEALTH CARE FUND".
2. SUCH FUND SHALL CONSIST OF ALL REVENUES RECEIVED PURSUANT TO THE
PROVISIONS OF SECTION FOUR HUNDRED FOUR-FF OF THE VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC
LAW AND ALL OTHER MONIES APPROPRIATED, CREDITED, OR TRANSFERRED THERETO
FROM ANY OTHER FUND OR SOURCE PURSUANT TO LAW. NOTHING CONTAINED IN
THIS SECTION SHALL PREVENT THE STATE FROM RECEIVING GRANTS, GIFTS, OR
BEQUESTS FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE FUND, AS DEFINED IN THIS SECTION, AND
DEPOSITING THEM INTO THE FUND ACCORDING TO LAW.
3. ON OR BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF FEBRUARY EACH YEAR, THE COMPTROLLER
SHALL CERTIFY TO THE GOVERNOR, TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, SPEAK-
ER OF THE ASSEMBLY, CHAIR OF THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND CHAIR OF
THE ASSEMBLY WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY DEPOSITED IN
THE FEELING RURAL GOOD HEALTH CARE FUND DURING THE PRECEDING CALENDAR
YEAR AS A RESULT OF THE REVENUE DERIVED PURSUANT TO SECTION FOUR HUNDRED
FOUR-FF OF THE VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC LAW.
4. ON OR BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF FEBRUARY EACH YEAR, THE COMMISSIONER
OF HEALTH SHALL PROVIDE A WRITTEN REPORT TO THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF
THE SENATE, SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, CHAIR OF THE SENATE FINANCE COMMIT-
TEE, CHAIR OF THE ASSEMBLY WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, CHAIR OF THE SENATE
COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, CHAIR OF THE ASSEMBLY HEALTH COMMITTEE, THE STATE
COMPTROLLER AND THE PUBLIC. SUCH REPORT SHALL INCLUDE HOW THE MONIES OF
THE FUND WERE UTILIZED DURING THE PRECEDING CALENDAR YEAR, AND SHALL
INCLUDE:
(A) THE AMOUNT OF MONEY DISBURSED FROM THE FUND AND THE AWARD PROCESS
USED FOR SUCH DISBURSEMENTS;
(B) RECIPIENTS OF AWARDS FROM THE FUND;
(C) THE AMOUNT AWARDED TO EACH;
(D) THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH SUCH AWARDS WERE GRANTED; AND
(E) A SUMMARY FINANCIAL PLAN FOR SUCH MONIES WHICH SHALL INCLUDE ESTI-
MATES OF ALL RECEIPTS AND ALL DISBURSEMENTS FOR THE CURRENT AND SUCCEED-
ING FISCAL YEARS, ALONG WITH THE ACTUAL RESULTS FROM THE PRIOR FISCAL
YEAR.
5. MONIES OF THE FUND SHALL BE EXPENDED ONLY FOR RURAL HEALTH CARE
PROJECTS APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH UPON THE RECOMMENDATIONS
OF THE RURAL HEALTH CARE ADVISORY BOARD ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO THIS
SECTION. AS USED IN THIS SECTION, THE TERM "RURAL HEALTH CARE PROJECT"
MEANS INITIATIVES IN RURAL REGIONS OF THE STATE THAT EXPAND SCHOOL-BASED
HEALTH PROGRAMS, IMPROVE ACCESS TO HEALTH RESEARCH AND EDUCATION, AND
EXPAND BROADBAND ACCESS FOR IMPROVED ACCESS TO TELEHEALTH, ENHANCE
ACCESS TO NEW YORK CENTER FOR AGRICULTURAL MEDICINE AND HEALTH INITI-
A. 3212 3
ATIVES IN FARM (AGRICULTURAL), FISHING AND FORESTRY SAFETY, AND IMPROVE
QUALITY OF CARE AND SERVICES OFFERED BY ANY GENERAL HOSPITAL AS DEFINED
IN SECTION TWENTY-EIGHT HUNDRED ONE OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW; ANY NOT-
FOR-PROFIT AGING SERVICES PROVIDERS INCLUDING NURSING HOMES AS DEFINED
IN SECTION TWENTY-EIGHT HUNDRED ONE OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW; ANY HOME
CARE SERVICES AGENCY ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE THIRTY-SIX OF THE
PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, ANY HOSPICE AS DEFINED IN SECTION FOUR THOUSAND TWO
OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, OR ANY ADULT CARE FACILITY AS DEFINED IN ARTI-
CLE SEVEN OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES LAW INCLUDING ASSISTED LIVING PROGRAMS
AND ASSISTED LIVING RESIDENCES.
6. THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH SHALL APPOINT A FIVE MEMBER RURAL HEALTH
CARE ADVISORY BOARD WHICH SHALL PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO SUCH COMMIS-
SIONER FOR THE FUNDING OF RURAL HEALTH CARE PROJECTS PURSUANT TO THIS
SECTION; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, AT LEAST ONE MEMBER OF THE RURAL HEALTH CARE
ADVISORY BOARD SHALL BE AN INDIVIDUAL RECOMMENDED BY A GENERAL HOSPITAL,
AS DEFINED IN SECTION TWENTY-EIGHT HUNDRED ONE OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW,
WHICH, DIRECTLY OR THROUGH AN AFFILIATE, OPERATES AT LEAST ONE SCHOOL-
BASED HEALTH PROGRAM IN A RURAL REGION OF THE STATE.
7. MONIES SHALL BE PAYABLE FROM THE FUND ON THE AUDIT AND WARRANT OF
THE COMPTROLLER, ON VOUCHERS APPROVED AND CERTIFIED BY THE COMMISSIONER
OF HEALTH.
8. TO THE EXTENT PRACTICABLE, THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH SHALL ENSURE
THAT ALL MONIES RECEIVED DURING A FISCAL YEAR ARE EXPENDED PRIOR TO THE
END OF THAT FISCAL YEAR.
§ 3. 1. A distinctive plate established pursuant to section 404-ff of
the vehicle and traffic law as added by section one of this act shall
only be designed, produced and issued upon the delivery to the depart-
ment of motor vehicles of a surety bond in the amount of six thousand
dollars, which shall be executed by a surety company authorized by the
department of financial services to transact business in this state.
Provided, however, that if the commissioner shall have received prior to
the plate design, production and issuance at least two hundred orders
for such distinctive plate together with the additional annual service
charge applicable to each such order, which shall be non-refundable, no
such surety bond shall be required. All such service charges shall be
deposited pursuant to the provisions of section 404-oo of the vehicle
and traffic law to the credit of the feeling rural good health care fund
established by section 97-bbbbb of the state finance law and shall be
used for the design, production, advertising and distribution of
distinctive license plates in accordance with such section 97-bbbbb.
2. If, upon the expiration of two years following the date upon which
distinctive plates in the series are first available for sale two
hundred or more sets of such plates are sold, a bond delivered pursuant
to this section shall be discontinued. If fewer than two hundred sets of
such plates are sold by such time, the department shall be entitled to
recover against the bond in an amount proportionate to such shortfall.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
it shall have become a law; provided, however, that section three of
this act shall take effect immediately. Effective immediately, the addi-
tion, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for
the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to
be made and completed on or before such effective date.