S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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2408
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
January 17, 2025
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Introduced by Sen. SEPULVEDA -- 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 creating the Puer-
to Rican relief account; and providing for the repeal of such
provisions upon expiration thereof
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section
96-a to read as follows:
§ 96-A. PUERTO RICAN RELIEF ACCOUNT. 1. THERE IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED
AT THE REQUEST OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF PUERTO RICO AND IN THE CUSTODY OF
THE COMPTROLLER A SPECIAL ACCOUNT TO BE KNOWN AS THE "PUERTO RICAN
RELIEF ACCOUNT".
2. THE SOURCES OF FUNDS SHALL CONSIST OF ALL RECOVERY AND RELIEF FUNDS
PROVIDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO THE COMMONWEALTH OF PUERTO RICO
UNDER THE BIPARTISAN BUDGET ACT OF 2018.
3. (A) THE COMPTROLLER SHALL INVEST SUCH FUNDS IN SECURITIES IN WHICH
SUCH COMPTROLLER IS AUTHORIZED BY LAW TO INVEST THE FUNDS OF THE STATE,
EXCEPT THAT SUCH COMPTROLLER MAY INVEST IN OBLIGATIONS CONSISTING OF
NOTES, BONDS, DEBENTURES, OR EQUIPMENT TRUST CERTIFICATES ISSUED UNDER
AN INDENTURE, WHICH ARE THE DIRECT OBLIGATIONS OF, OR IN THE CASE OF
EQUIPMENT TRUST CERTIFICATES ARE SECURED BY DIRECT OBLIGATIONS OF, A
RAILROAD OR INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION, OR A CORPORATION ENGAGED DIRECTLY
AND PRIMARILY IN THE PRODUCTION, TRANSPORTATION, DISTRIBUTION, OR SALE
OF ELECTRICITY OR GAS, OR THE OPERATION OF TELEPHONE OR TELEGRAPH
SYSTEMS OR WATERWORKS, OR IN SOME COMBINATION OF THEM; PROVIDED THE
OBLIGOR CORPORATION IS ONE WHICH IS INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE
UNITED STATES, OR ANY STATE THEREOF, OR OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND
SAID OBLIGATIONS SHALL BE RATED AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE WITHIN THE THREE
HIGHEST CLASSIFICATIONS ESTABLISHED BY AT LEAST TWO STANDARD RATING
SERVICES. THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT THAT THE COMPTROLLER MAY INVEST IN SUCH
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06390-01-5
S. 2408 2
OBLIGATIONS SHALL NOT EXCEED THIRTY PER CENTUM OF THE ASSETS OF SUCH
ACCOUNT; AND PROVIDED FURTHER THAT NOT MORE THAN TWO AND ONE-HALF PER
CENTUM OF THE ASSETS OF SUCH ACCOUNT SHALL BE INVESTED IN THE OBLI-
GATIONS OF ANY ONE CORPORATION OF THE HIGHEST CLASSIFICATION AND SUBSID-
IARY OR SUBSIDIARIES THEREOF, THAT NOT MORE THAN TWO PER CENTUM OF THE
ASSETS OF SUCH ACCOUNT SHALL BE INVESTED IN THE OBLIGATIONS OF ANY ONE
CORPORATION OF THE SECOND HIGHEST CLASSIFICATION AND SUBSIDIARY OR
SUBSIDIARIES THEREOF, THAT NOT MORE THAN ONE AND ONE-HALF PER CENTUM OF
SUCH ACCOUNT SHALL BE INVESTED IN THE OBLIGATIONS OF ANY ONE CORPORATION
OF THE THIRD HIGHEST CLASSIFICATION AND SUBSIDIARY OR SUBSIDIARIES THER-
EOF. THE COMPTROLLER SHALL, HOWEVER, BE SUBJECT TO ALL TERMS, CONDI-
TIONS, LIMITATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY LAW UPON THE MAKING OF
SUCH INVESTMENTS. THE COMPTROLLER SHALL HAVE FULL POWER:
(I) TO HOLD, PURCHASE, SELL, ASSIGN, TRANSFER OR DISPOSE OF ANY OF THE
SECURITIES OR INVESTMENTS, IN WHICH ANY ASSETS OF SUCH ACCOUNT SHALL BE
INVESTED, INCLUDING THE PROCEEDS OF SUCH INVESTMENTS AND ANY MONIES
BELONGING TO SUCH ACCOUNT, AND
(II) IN SUCH COMPTROLLER'S NAME AS TRUSTEE, TO FORECLOSE MORTGAGES
UPON DEFAULT OR TO TAKE TITLE TO REAL PROPERTY IN SUCH PROCEEDINGS IN
LIEU THEREOF AND TO LEASE AND SELL REAL PROPERTY SO ACQUIRED.
(B) ALL RETURNS ON ANY INVESTMENTS MADE BY THE COMPTROLLER OF ANY
FUNDS FROM SUCH ACCOUNT SHALL BE DEPOSITED WITHIN SUCH ACCOUNT FOR THE
SOLE BENEFIT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF PUERTO RICO.
(C) THE COMPTROLLER ANNUALLY SHALL CREDIT TO SUCH ACCOUNT REGULAR
INTEREST ON THE MEAN AMOUNT THEREIN FOR THE PRECEDING YEAR.
(D) THE COMPTROLLER IS AUTHORIZED TO DEDUCT ANY NECESSARY ADMINIS-
TRATION FEES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF SUCH ACCOUNT.
4. THE COMMONWEALTH OF PUERTO RICO SHALL NOTIFY THE COMPTROLLER OF
THEIR INTENTION TO TERMINATE SUCH ACCOUNT NO LATER THAN THE ONE HUNDRED
EIGHTIETH DAY PRIOR TO THE DATE SUCH COMMONWEALTH REQUIRES THE RETURN OF
ALL FUNDS FROM SUCH ACCOUNT.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
deemed repealed 5 years after such date.