S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8616
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              March 22, 2022
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  MAY  --  read  twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed 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
 THE  STATE  TO  EXPAND  SCHOOL-BASED  HEALTH PROGRAMS, ENHANCE PHYSICIAN
 RECRUITMENT, IMPROVE ACCESS TO HEALTH  RESEARCH  AND  EDUCATION,  EXPAND
 BROADBAND  ACCESS FOR IMPROVED ACCESS TO TELEHEALTH, AND IMPROVE QUALITY
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD15116-01-2
 S. 8616                             2

 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 FACILITY AS DEFINED IN ARTICLE SEVEN  OF
 THE  SOCIAL SERVICES LAW INCLUDING 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, ENHANCE PHYSICIAN RECRUITMENT, IMPROVE ACCESS TO HEALTH
 RESEARCH  AND  EDUCATION, EXPAND BROADBAND ACCESS FOR IMPROVED ACCESS TO
 TELEHEALTH, 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
 S. 8616                             3
 
 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.
   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,  THAT:    AT LEAST ONE MEMBER OF THE RURAL
 HEALTH CARE ADVISORY BOARD SHALL BE UPON THE  NOMINATION  OF  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; ONE
 MEMBER SHALL BE UPON THE NOMINATION OF THE IROQUOIS  HEALTHCARE  ASSOCI-
 ATION;  ONE  MEMBER SHALL BE UPON THE NOMINATION OF LEADINGAGE NEW YORK;
 AND ONE MEMBER SHALL BE UPON THE NOMINATION OF THE HOME CARE ASSOCIATION
 OF NEW YORK 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 SUCH 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.