S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
9773
I N S E N A T E
May 29, 2024
___________
Introduced by Sen. HARCKHAM -- 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 an occupancy tax
in the town of Ossining
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-jj to
read as follows:
§ 1202-JJ. OCCUPANCY TAX IN THE TOWN OF OSSINING. (1) NOTWITHSTANDING
ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, THE TOWN OF OSSINING, IN THE
COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER, 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 LEGIS-
LATURE HAS OR WOULD HAVE THE POWER AND AUTHORITY TO IMPOSE UPON PERSONS
OCCUPYING ANY ROOM FOR HIRE IN ANY HOTEL. 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
THREE 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 OSSINING 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.
(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 OSSINING IMPOSING THE TAX AND THAT SUCH OWNER OR
PERSON ENTITLED TO BE PAID THE RENT OR CHARGE SHALL BE LIABLE FOR THE
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15732-01-4
S. 9773 2
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:
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 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
S. 9773 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 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 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 OSSINING 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.
