S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8002
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               May 15, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. SKOUFIS -- 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  restricting  who
   may  sign  certain  checks issued by the state and what can be on such
   checks

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1.  Section 101 of the state finance law is amended to read as
 follows:
   § 101. Checks and accounts. 1. Checks may be signed by the commission-
 er  of  taxation and finance, and, if so authorized by such commissioner
 in writing filed with the comptroller, by the head of  the  division  of
 the treasury of the department of taxation and finance and by such other
 officers  or persons employed in such department as the commissioner may
 designate, which authorization may be revoked in like manner. [The comp-
 troller shall countersign and enter in the proper books of  his  depart-
 ment  all  checks so drawn and all receipts for money paid to the treas-
 ury.] NO CHECKS ISSUED  BY  THE  STATE  THAT  ARE  ASSOCIATED  WITH  THE
 INFLATION  REFUND  CREDIT  UNDER SUBSECTION (QQQ) OF SECTION SIX HUNDRED
 SIX OF THE TAX LAW, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO PHYSICAL CHECKS,  ELEC-
 TRONIC  CHECKS,  WARRANTS,  DIRECT DEPOSIT NOTIFICATIONS, OR CORRESPOND-
 ENCES, SHALL CONTAIN THE NAME, LIKENESS, IMAGE, FACSIMILE SIGNATURE,  OR
 ACTUAL SIGNATURE OF THE GOVERNOR.
   2.  Duplicate checks in lieu of issued checks lost or destroyed may be
 executed to persons entitled to payment thereof  upon  such  proofs  and
 conditions  as  the commissioner of taxation and finance and comptroller
 may in their discretion require to indemnify the state against loss.  No
 such receipt shall be evidence of payment unless so countersigned.
   3. The comptroller shall:
   A.  COUNTERSIGN  AND ENTER IN THE PROPER BOOKS OF THEIR DEPARTMENT ALL
 CHECKS SO DRAWN AND ALL RECEIPTS FOR MONEY PAID TO THE TREASURY.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD13002-03-5
              

 S. 8002                             2
 
   B. keep an account between the state and the commissioner of  taxation
 and  finance,  and  therein charge such commissioner with the balance in
 the treasury when [he] SUCH COMMISSIONER came into office, and with  all
 moneys  received  by  [him]  SUCH  COMMISSIONER,  and  credit [him] SUCH
 COMMISSIONER  with  all warrants drawn on and paid by [him] SUCH COMMIS-
 SIONER.  [He shall]
   C. draw, in favor of the commissioner of taxation and finance, on  all
 corporations  or  companies  in  which  the state may own stock, for the
 dividends on such stock as they become due. [He shall]
   D. procure from the books of the banks in which  the  commissioner  of
 taxation  and  finance makes [his] SUCH COMMISSIONER'S deposits, monthly
 statements of the moneys received and paid out of the same. [On]
   E. ON the first Tuesday of every month, or oftener if [he]  THE  COMP-
 TROLLER deems it necessary, [he shall] carefully examine the accounts of
 the  debits  and  credits  in the bank books kept by the commissioner of
 taxation and finance. If [he] THE COMPTROLLER discovers any irregularity
 or deficiency therein, [he] THE COMPTROLLER shall, unless  rectified  or
 explained  to [his] THE COMPTROLLER'S satisfaction, forthwith report the
 same to the governor.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.