S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                   4654
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              March 19, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. METZGER -- 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
   Wallkill  to adopt a hotel or motel tax of up to 5%; 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 tax law is amended by adding a new section 1202-ff to
 read as follows:
   § 1202-FF. HOTEL OR MOTEL TAXES IN THE TOWN OF WALLKILL. (1)  NOTWITH-
 STANDING  ANY  OTHER PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, THE TOWN OF WALL-
 KILL, 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 AND INCLUDE ANY
 FACILITY CONSISTING OF RENTABLE UNITS AND PROVIDING LODGING ON AN  OVER-
 NIGHT  BASIS  AND SHALL INCLUDE THOSE FACILITIES DESIGNATED AND COMMONLY
 KNOWN AS "BED AND BREAKFAST" AND "TOURIST" FACILITIES. 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 OCCUPYING ANY ROOM  OR
 ROOMS IN A HOTEL OR MOTEL FOR AT LEAST NINETY CONSECUTIVE DAYS.
   (2)  SUCH  TAX  MAY  BE COLLECTED AND ADMINISTERED BY THE CHIEF FISCAL
 OFFICER OF THE TOWN OF WALLKILL 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 LAWS.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD01774-01-9
              

 S. 4654                             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  WALLKILL
 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 LAWS, 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  UNDER
 THIS  SECTION  SHALL  BE REVIEWABLE FOR ERROR, ILLEGALITY OR UNCONSTITU-
 TIONALITY OR ANY OTHER REASON WHATSOEVER BY A PROCEEDING  UNDER  ARTICLE
 SEVENTY-EIGHT  OF THE CIVIL PRACTICE LAW AND RULES IF APPLICATION THERE-
 FOR 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. 4654                             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 UNDER THIS SECTION  SHALL  HAVE  BEEN  ERRO-
 NEOUSLY,  ILLEGALLY  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  DETERMI-
 NATION  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 PROSE-
 CUTION OF SUCH PROCEEDING.
   (8) EXCEPT IN THE CASE OF A WILFULLY 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 WALLKILL AND
 SHALL BE CREDITED TO AND DEPOSITED IN THE GENERAL FUND OF THE TOWN. SUCH
 REVENUES MAY BE USED FOR ANY LAWFUL PURPOSE.
   (10) EACH ENACTMENT OF SUCH A 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  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 PURSU-
 ANT TO THIS SECTION.
   (11) 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.
   §  2.  This  act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
 deemed repealed September 1, 2022.