S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   3212
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 23, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A. SANTABARBARA -- read once and referred 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
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD06275-01-5
              

 A. 3212                             2
 
 THE  STATE  TO  EXPAND  SCHOOL-BASED  HEALTH PROGRAMS, IMPROVE ACCESS TO
 HEALTH RESEARCH AND EDUCATION, AND EXPAND BROADBAND ACCESS FOR  IMPROVED
 ACCESS TO TELEHEALTH, ENHANCE ACCESS TO NEW YORK CENTER FOR AGRICULTURAL
 MEDICINE  AND  HEALTH  INITIATIVES  IN  FARM (AGRICULTURAL), FISHING AND
 FORESTRY SAFETY, 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 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  CARE
 FACILITY  AS DEFINED IN ARTICLE SEVEN OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES LAW INCLUD-
 ING 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,  IMPROVE  ACCESS TO HEALTH RESEARCH AND EDUCATION, AND
 EXPAND BROADBAND ACCESS  FOR  IMPROVED  ACCESS  TO  TELEHEALTH,  ENHANCE
 ACCESS  TO  NEW  YORK CENTER FOR AGRICULTURAL MEDICINE AND HEALTH INITI-
 A. 3212                             3

 ATIVES IN FARM (AGRICULTURAL), FISHING AND FORESTRY SAFETY, 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 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 ARTI-
 CLE  SEVEN OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES LAW INCLUDING 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, AT LEAST ONE MEMBER OF THE RURAL HEALTH CARE
 ADVISORY BOARD SHALL BE AN INDIVIDUAL RECOMMENDED BY 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.
   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 THAT 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.