S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  5735--A
     Cal. No. 922
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              March 15, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  MAY  --  read  twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Investigations and Govern-
   ment Operations -- reported favorably from said committee, ordered  to
   first  and  second  report,  ordered  to  a third reading, amended and
   ordered reprinted, retaining its place in the order of third reading
 
 AN ACT to amend the tax law, in relation to authorizing an occupancy tax
   in the town of Skaneateles; 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-hhh  to
 read as follows:
   § 1202-HHH. OCCUPANCY  TAX  IN  THE  TOWN OF SKANEATELES. (1) NOTWITH-
 STANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, THE TOWN OF SKANEA-
 TELES, IN THE COUNTY OF ONONDAGA, 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  ANY  ROOM  FOR HIRE IN ANY HOTEL; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
 THAT IF THE VILLAGE OF SKANEATELES WITHIN THE TOWN OF SKANEATELES  SHALL
 HAVE OTHERWISE IMPOSED A TAX UNDER THIS ARTICLE, SUCH TAX IMPOSED BY THE
 TOWN  OF SKANEATELES PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION SHALL NOT APPLY WITHIN THE
 VILLAGE OF SKANEATELES. FOR THE  PURPOSES  OF  THIS  SECTION,  THE  TERM
 "HOTEL"  SHALL  MEAN A BUILDING OR PORTION OF IT WHICH IS REGULARLY USED
 AND KEPT OPEN AS SUCH FOR  THE  LODGING  OF  GUESTS.  THE  TERM  "HOTEL"
 INCLUDES AN APARTMENT HOTEL, A MOTEL OR A BOARDING HOUSE, WHETHER OR NOT
 MEALS  ARE SERVED. THE RATE OF SUCH TAX SHALL NOT EXCEED FIVE PERCENT OF
 THE PER DIEM RENTAL RATE FOR EACH ROOM WHETHER SUCH ROOM IS RENTED ON  A
 DAILY OR LONGER BASIS.
   (2)  SUCH  TAXES MAY BE COLLECTED AND ADMINISTERED BY THE CHIEF FISCAL
 OFFICER OF THE TOWN OF SKANEATELES BY SUCH MEANS AND IN SUCH  MANNER  AS
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD10134-02-3
 S. 5735--A                          2
 
 OTHER  TAXES WHICH ARE NOW COLLECTED AND ADMINISTERED BY SUCH OFFICER OR
 AS OTHERWISE MAY BE PROVIDED BY SUCH LOCAL LAW.
   (3)  SUCH  LOCAL LAWS MAY PROVIDE THAT ANY TAXES IMPOSED SHALL BE PAID
 BY THE PERSON LIABLE THEREFOR TO THE OWNER OF THE ROOM FOR HIRE  IN  THE
 TOURIST  HOME,  INN, CLUB, HOTEL, MOTEL OR OTHER SIMILAR PLACE OF PUBLIC
 ACCOMMODATION OCCUPIED OR TO THE PERSON ENTITLED TO BE PAID THE RENT  OR
 CHARGE  FOR  THE  ROOM  FOR  HIRE IN THE TOURIST HOME, INN, CLUB, HOTEL,
 MOTEL OR OTHER SIMILAR PLACE OF PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION OCCUPIED FOR AND ON
 ACCOUNT OF THE TOWN OF SKANEATELES 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 ENTI-
 TLED TO BE PAID THE RENT OR CHARGE SHALL HAVE THE SAME RIGHT IN  RESPECT
 TO COLLECTING THE TAX FROM THE PERSON OCCUPYING THE ROOM FOR HIRE IN THE
 TOURIST  HOME,  INN, CLUB, HOTEL, MOTEL OR OTHER SIMILAR PLACE OF PUBLIC
 ACCOMMODATION, OR IN RESPECT TO NONPAYMENT OF  THE  TAX  BY  THE  PERSON
 OCCUPYING THE ROOM FOR HIRE IN THE TOURIST HOME, INN, CLUB, HOTEL, MOTEL
 OR SIMILAR PLACE OF PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION, AS IF THE TAXES 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 PROCEED-
 ING 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 TAXES 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 OF THE FOLLOWING:
   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; OR
   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.
   D.  A PERMANENT RESIDENT OF A HOTEL OR MOTEL. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS
 SECTION, THE TERM "PERMANENT RESIDENT" SHALL MEAN A NATURAL PERSON OCCU-
 PYING ANY ROOM OR ROOMS IN A HOTEL OR MOTEL FOR AT LEAST THIRTY  CONSEC-
 UTIVE DAYS.
   (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  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:
 S. 5735--A                          3

   A. THE AMOUNT OF ANY TAX SOUGHT TO BE REVIEWED, WITH SUCH INTEREST AND
 PENALTIES  THEREON  AS  MAY BE PROVIDED FOR BY LOCAL LAWS OR REGULATIONS
 SHALL BE FIRST DEPOSITED AND THERE SHALL BE FILED AN UNDERTAKING, ISSUED
 BY A SURETY COMPANY AUTHORIZED TO TRANSACT BUSINESS IN  THIS  STATE  AND
 APPROVED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES OF THIS STATE AS TO
 SOLVENCY  AND RESPONSIBILITY, 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
   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 TAXES IMPOSED HEREUNDER  SHALL  HAVE  BEEN  ERRONEOUSLY,
 ILLEGALLY OR UNCONSTITUTIONALLY COLLECTED AND APPLICATION FOR THE REFUND
 THEREFOR  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 TAXES 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 TWO 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  SKANEATELES
 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  TWO  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 apply to
 contracts entered into on or after such date;  provided,  however,  that
 the  provisions  of  this  act shall expire December 31, 2025, when upon
 such date the provisions of this act shall be deemed repealed.