Senate Bill S9862

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   9862
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               April 9, 2026
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. SKOUFIS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Investigations and Govern-
   ment Operations
 
 AN ACT to amend the tax law, in relation  to  authorizing  the  town  of
   Minisink to impose a hotel and motel tax
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section 1. The tax law is amended by adding a new section 1202-uuu  to
 read as follows:
   §  1202-UUU.  HOTEL  OR  MOTEL  TAXES  IN THE TOWN OF MINISINK. (1) A.
 NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISIONS OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, THE TOWN OF
 MINISINK, IN THE COUNTY OF ORANGE, IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED AND EMPOWERED TO
 ADOPT AND AMEND LOCAL LAWS IMPOSING IN SUCH TOWN A TAX, IN  ADDITION  TO
 ANY  OTHER  TAX  AUTHORIZED AND IMPOSED PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE SUCH AS
 THE LEGISLATURE HAS OR WOULD HAVE THE POWER AND AUTHORITY TO IMPOSE UPON
 PERSONS OCCUPYING HOTEL OR MOTEL ROOMS IN SUCH TOWN. FOR THE PURPOSES OF
 THIS SECTION THE TERM "HOTEL" OR "MOTEL"  SHALL  MEAN  ANY  FACILITY  OR
 PORTION  THEREOF  WHERE  SINGLE  ROOMS  OR SUITES OF ROOMS ARE RENTED OR
 HIRED OUT TO BE OCCUPIED OR WHICH ARE OCCUPIED BY TRANSIENT  GUESTS  WHO
 ARE  LODGED  OVERNIGHT, WITH OR WITHOUT MEALS, FOR SLEEPING PURPOSES FOR
 COMPENSATION, WHETHER THE COMPENSATION BE PAID  DIRECTLY  OR  INDIRECTLY
 AND SHALL INCLUDE THOSE FACILITIES DESIGNATED AND COMMONLY KNOWN AS "BED
 AND BREAKFAST" AND "TOURIST" FACILITIES.
   B. THE RATES OF SUCH TAX SHALL NOT EXCEED FIVE PERCENT OF THE PER DIEM
 RENTAL  RATE FOR EACH ROOM, PROVIDED HOWEVER, THAT SUCH TAX SHALL NOT BE
 APPLICABLE TO A PERMANENT RESIDENT OF A HOTEL OR MOTEL. FOR THE PURPOSES
 OF THIS SECTION THE TERM "PERMANENT RESIDENT" SHALL MEAN A PERSON  OCCU-
 PYING  ANY ROOM OR ROOMS IN A HOTEL OR MOTEL FOR AT LEAST NINETY CONSEC-
 UTIVE DAYS.
   (2) SUCH TAX MAY BE COLLECTED AND ADMINISTERED  BY  THE  CHIEF  FISCAL
 OFFICER  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  MINISINK BY SUCH MEANS AND IN SUCH MANNER AS
 OTHER TAXES WHICH ARE NOW COLLECTED AND ADMINISTERED BY SUCH OFFICER  OR
 AS OTHERWISE MAY BE PROVIDED BY SUCH LOCAL LAW.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD15509-01-6
              

 S. 9862                             2
 
   (3)  SUCH LOCAL LAWS MAY PROVIDE THAT ANY TAX IMPOSED SHALL BE PAID BY
 THE PERSON LIABLE THEREFOR TO THE OWNER OF THE HOTEL OR MOTEL ROOM OCCU-
 PIED OR TO THE PERSON ENTITLED TO BE PAID THE RENT  OR  CHARGE  FOR  THE
 HOTEL  OR MOTEL ROOM OCCUPIED FOR AND ON ACCOUNT OF THE TOWN OF MINISINK
 IMPOSING  THE  TAX AND THAT SUCH OWNER OR PERSON ENTITLED TO BE PAID THE
 RENT OR CHARGE SHALL BE LIABLE FOR THE COLLECTION  AND  PAYMENT  OF  THE
 TAX;  AND  THAT  SUCH  OWNER  OR  PERSON ENTITLED TO BE PAID THE RENT OR
 CHARGE SHALL HAVE THE SAME RIGHT IN RESPECT TO COLLECTING THE  TAX  FROM
 THE  PERSON  OCCUPYING THE HOTEL OR MOTEL ROOM, OR IN RESPECT TO NONPAY-
 MENT OF THE TAX BY THE PERSON OCCUPYING THE HOTEL OR MOTEL ROOM,  AS  IF
 THE  TAX  WERE A PART OF THE RENT OR CHARGE AND PAYABLE AT THE SAME TIME
 AS THE RENT OR CHARGE; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THE CHIEF FISCAL  OFFICER
 OF  THE TOWN, SPECIFIED IN SUCH LOCAL LAW, SHALL BE JOINED AS A PARTY IN
 ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT TO COLLECT THE TAX BY THE OWNER  OR  BY
 THE PERSON ENTITLED TO BE PAID THE RENT OR CHARGE.
   (4)  SUCH  LOCAL  LAWS  MAY  PROVIDE FOR THE FILING OF RETURNS AND THE
 PAYMENT OF THE TAX ON A MONTHLY BASIS OR ON THE BASIS OF ANY  LONGER  OR
 SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME.
   (5)  THIS  SECTION SHALL NOT AUTHORIZE THE IMPOSITION OF SUCH TAX UPON
 ANY TRANSACTION, BY OR WITH ANY OF  THE  FOLLOWING  IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH
 SECTION TWELVE HUNDRED THIRTY OF THIS ARTICLE:
   A.  THE  STATE  OF  NEW  YORK,  OR ANY PUBLIC CORPORATION (INCLUDING A
 PUBLIC CORPORATION CREATED PURSUANT TO AGREEMENT OR COMPACT WITH ANOTHER
 STATE OR THE DOMINION OF CANADA), IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT  OR  OTHER  POLI-
 TICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE;
   B.  THE  UNITED  STATES OF AMERICA, INSOFAR AS IT IS IMMUNE FROM TAXA-
 TION;
   C. ANY CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION, OR TRUST, OR COMMUNITY CHEST,  FUND
 OR FOUNDATION ORGANIZED AND OPERATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR RELIGIOUS, CHARITA-
 BLE  OR  EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES, OR FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO CHIL-
 DREN OR ANIMALS, AND NO PART OF THE NET EARNINGS OF WHICH INURES TO  THE
 BENEFIT OF ANY PRIVATE SHAREHOLDER OR INDIVIDUAL AND NO SUBSTANTIAL PART
 OF  THE  ACTIVITIES  OF  WHICH  IS  CARRYING ON PROPAGANDA, OR OTHERWISE
 ATTEMPTING TO INFLUENCE LEGISLATION; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT NOTHING  IN
 THIS  PARAGRAPH  SHALL  INCLUDE AN ORGANIZATION OPERATED FOR THE PRIMARY
 PURPOSE OF CARRYING ON A TRADE OR BUSINESS FOR PROFIT,  WHETHER  OR  NOT
 ALL OF ITS PROFITS ARE PAYABLE TO ONE OR MORE ORGANIZATIONS DESCRIBED IN
 THIS PARAGRAPH.
   (6) ANY FINAL DETERMINATION OF THE AMOUNT OF ANY TAX PAYABLE HEREUNDER
 SHALL  BE REVIEWABLE FOR ERROR, ILLEGALITY OR UNCONSTITUTIONALITY OR ANY
 OTHER REASON WHATSOEVER BY A PROCEEDING UNDER ARTICLE  SEVENTY-EIGHT  OF
 THE  CIVIL PRACTICE LAW AND RULES IF APPLICATION THEREFOR IS MADE TO THE
 SUPREME COURT WITHIN THIRTY DAYS AFTER THE GIVING OF THE NOTICE OF  SUCH
 FINAL  DETERMINATION,  PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT ANY SUCH PROCEEDING UNDER
 ARTICLE SEVENTY-EIGHT OF THE CIVIL PRACTICE LAW AND RULES SHALL  NOT  BE
 INSTITUTED UNLESS:
   A. THE AMOUNT OF ANY TAX SOUGHT TO BE REVIEWED, WITH SUCH INTEREST AND
 PENALTIES  THEREON  AS  MAY  BE PROVIDED FOR BY LOCAL LAW SHALL BE FIRST
 DEPOSITED AND THERE IS FILED AN UNDERTAKING, ISSUED BY A SURETY  COMPANY
 AUTHORIZED TO TRANSACT BUSINESS IN THIS STATE AND APPROVED BY THE SUPER-
 INTENDENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES OF THIS STATE AS TO SOLVENCY AND RESPON-
 SIBILITY, IN SUCH AMOUNT AS A JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT SHALL APPROVE
 TO  THE EFFECT THAT IF SUCH PROCEEDING BE DISMISSED OR THE TAX CONFIRMED
 THE PETITIONER WILL PAY ALL COSTS AND CHARGES WHICH MAY  ACCRUE  IN  THE
 PROSECUTION OF SUCH PROCEEDING; OR
 S. 9862                             3
 
   B.  AT  THE  OPTION OF THE PETITIONER SUCH UNDERTAKING MAY BE IN A SUM
 SUFFICIENT TO COVER THE TAXES, INTERESTS AND PENALTIES  STATED  IN  SUCH
 DETERMINATION  PLUS THE COSTS AND CHARGES WHICH MAY ACCRUE AGAINST IT IN
 THE PROSECUTION OF THE PROCEEDING, IN WHICH EVENT THE  PETITIONER  SHALL
 NOT  BE REQUIRED TO PAY SUCH TAXES, INTEREST OR PENALTIES AS A CONDITION
 PRECEDENT TO THE APPLICATION.
   (7) WHERE ANY TAX IMPOSED HEREUNDER SHALL HAVE BEEN ERRONEOUSLY, ILLE-
 GALLY OR UNCONSTITUTIONALLY COLLECTED AND  APPLICATION  FOR  THE  REFUND
 THEREOF  DULY  MADE  TO  THE PROPER FISCAL OFFICER OR OFFICERS, AND SUCH
 OFFICER OR OFFICERS SHALL HAVE MADE A DETERMINATION DENYING SUCH REFUND,
 SUCH DETERMINATION SHALL BE REVIEWABLE BY  A  PROCEEDING  UNDER  ARTICLE
 SEVENTY-EIGHT  OF  THE  CIVIL PRACTICE LAW AND RULES, PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
 THAT SUCH PROCEEDING IS INSTITUTED WITHIN THIRTY DAYS AFTER  THE  GIVING
 OF  THE NOTICE OF SUCH DENIAL, THAT A FINAL DETERMINATION OF TAX DUE WAS
 NOT PREVIOUSLY MADE, AND THAT AN UNDERTAKING IS FILED  WITH  THE  PROPER
 FISCAL  OFFICER  OR  OFFICERS IN SUCH AMOUNT AND WITH SUCH SURETIES AS A
 JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT SHALL APPROVE TO THE EFFECT  THAT  IF  SUCH
 PROCEEDING  BE  DISMISSED  OR THE TAX CONFIRMED, THE PETITIONER WILL PAY
 ALL COSTS AND CHARGES WHICH  MAY  ACCRUE  IN  THE  PROSECUTION  OF  SUCH
 PROCEEDING.
   (8)  EXCEPT IN THE CASE OF A WILLFULLY FALSE OR FRAUDULENT RETURN WITH
 INTENT TO EVADE THE TAX, NO ASSESSMENT OF ADDITIONAL TAX SHALL  BE  MADE
 AFTER  THE  EXPIRATION  OF  MORE  THAN  THREE YEARS FROM THE DATE OF THE
 FILING OF A RETURN, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT WHERE  NO  RETURN  HAS  BEEN
 FILED AS PROVIDED BY LAW THE TAX MAY BE ASSESSED AT ANY TIME.
   (9)  ALL  REVENUES  RESULTING FROM THE IMPOSITION OF THE TAX UNDER THE
 LOCAL LAWS SHALL BE PAID INTO THE TREASURY OF THE TOWN OF  MINISINK  AND
 SHALL BE CREDITED TO AND DEPOSITED IN THE GENERAL FUND OF THE TOWN. SUCH
 REVENUES  MAY BE USED TO SUPPORT MUNICIPAL SERVICES, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND
 OTHER ESSENTIAL EXPENDITURES AS DETERMINED BY THE TOWN BOARD.
   (10) IF ANY PROVISION OF THIS SECTION OR THE  APPLICATION  THEREOF  TO
 ANY  PERSON OR CIRCUMSTANCE SHALL BE HELD INVALID, THE REMAINDER OF THIS
 SECTION AND THE APPLICATION  OF  SUCH  PROVISION  TO  OTHER  PERSONS  OR
 CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL NOT BE AFFECTED THEREBY.
   (11)  EACH  ENACTMENT OF SUCH LOCAL LAW MAY PROVIDE FOR THE IMPOSITION
 OF A HOTEL OR MOTEL TAX FOR A PERIOD OF TIME NO LONGER THAN THREE  YEARS
 FROM  THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF ITS ENACTMENT. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL
 PROHIBIT THE ADOPTION AND ENACTMENT  OF  LOCAL  LAWS,  PURSUANT  TO  THE
 PROVISIONS  OF  THIS SECTION, UPON THE EXPIRATION OF ANY OTHER LOCAL LAW
 ADOPTED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.