Bill Text: NY A00964 | 2013-2014 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Creates real property tax abatement for certain commercial properties located within the Second Avenue Subway project.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-08 - referred to real property taxation [A00964 Detail]
Download: New_York-2013-A00964-Introduced.html
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 964 2013-2014 Regular Sessions I N A S S E M B L Y (PREFILED) January 9, 2013 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. KELLNER -- read once and referred to the Commit- tee on Real Property Taxation AN ACT to amend the real property tax law, in relation to creating tax abatements for certain commercial properties located within the Second Avenue subway project THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: 1 Section 1. Article 4 of the real property tax law is amended by adding 2 a new title 3-A to read as follows: 3 TITLE 3-A 4 TAX ABATEMENT FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL 5 PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN THE SECOND AVENUE SUBWAY PROJECT 6 SECTION 497. DEFINITIONS. 7 497-A. REAL PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT. 8 497-B. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. 9 497-C. APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF ABATEMENT. 10 497-D. ENFORCEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION. 11 497-E. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS; REVOCATION OF ABATEMENTS. 12 497-F. TAX LIEN; INTEREST AND PENALTY. 13 497-G. CONFIDENTIALITY. 14 S 497. DEFINITIONS. WHEN USED IN THIS TITLE, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL 15 MEAN OR INCLUDE: 16 1. "ABATEMENT BASE." THE LESSER OF: (A) TWO DOLLARS AND FIFTY CENTS 17 OR (B) FIFTY PER CENTUM OF THE TAX LIABILITY PER SQUARE FOOT. 18 2. "ABATEMENT ZONE." ANY AREA LOCATED WITHIN THE CONSTRUCTION AREA OF 19 THE SECOND AVENUE SUBWAY PROJECT AS DEFINED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF THE 20 METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY, WHICH HAS BEEN LOCATED IN SUCH 21 AREA AND CONTINUALLY BEEN DOING BUSINESS IN SUCH AREA DURING THE YEAR 22 TWO THOUSAND EIGHT AND DURING THE CURRENT TAXABLE YEAR. EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD00466-01-3 A. 964 2 1 3. "AGGREGATE FLOOR AREA." THE SUM OF THE GROSS AREAS OF THE SEVERAL 2 FLOORS OF A BUILDING, MEASURED FROM THE EXTERIOR FACES OF EXTERIOR WALLS 3 OR FROM THE CENTER LINES OF WALLS SEPARATING TWO BUILDINGS. 4 4. "APPLICANT." THE LANDLORD AND THE TENANT. 5 5. "BENEFIT PERIOD." THE PERIOD COMMENCING WITH THE FIRST DAY OF THE 6 MONTH IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE RENT COMMENCEMENT DATE AND TERMINATING 7 NO LATER THAN SIXTY MONTHS THEREAFTER. 8 6. "BILLABLE ASSESSED VALUE." THE LESSER OF THE TAXABLE TRANSITIONAL 9 OR THE TAXABLE ACTUAL ASSESSED VALUE OF THE ELIGIBLE BUILDING AND THE 10 LAND ON WHICH THE ELIGIBLE BUILDING IS LOCATED FOR THE FISCAL YEAR IN 11 WHICH THE BENEFIT PERIOD COMMENCES, AS COMPUTED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION 12 THREE OF SECTION EIGHTEEN HUNDRED FIVE OF THIS CHAPTER. 13 7. "DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE." THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE OF THE CITY OF 14 NEW YORK. 15 8. "ELIGIBLE BUILDING." A NON-RESIDENTIAL OR MIXED-USE BUILDING 16 LOCATED IN THE ABATEMENT ZONE. SUCH ELIGIBLE BUILDING SHALL NOT INCLUDE 17 ANY BUILDING OWNED BY A GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY. 18 9. "ELIGIBILITY PERIOD." THE PERIOD COMMENCING JANUARY FIRST, TWO 19 THOUSAND THIRTEEN AND TERMINATING JUNE FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-ONE. 20 10. "ELIGIBLE PREMISES." PREMISES LOCATED IN AN ELIGIBLE BUILDING 21 WHICH ARE OCCUPIED OR USED AS OFFICES (INCLUDING ANCILLARY USES) OR ARE 22 OCCUPIED OR USED AS RETAIL SPACE. 23 11. "FISCAL YEAR." THE FISCAL YEAR OF ANY CITY HAVING A POPULATION OF 24 ONE MILLION OR MORE. 25 12. "GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY." THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OR ANY AGENCY 26 OR INSTRUMENTALITY THEREOF, THE STATE OF NEW YORK, THE CITY OF NEW YORK, 27 ANY PUBLIC CORPORATION (INCLUDING A BODY CORPORATE AND POLITIC CREATED 28 PURSUANT TO AGREEMENT OR COMPACT BETWEEN THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND ANY 29 OTHER STATE), PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION, PUBLIC AUTHORITY OR OTHER 30 POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE. 31 13. "LANDLORD." ANY PERSON WHO: (A) CONTROLS ALL NON-RESIDENTIAL 32 PORTIONS OF AN ELIGIBLE BUILDING, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE 33 RECORD OWNER, THE LESSEE UNDER A GROUND LEASE, ANY MORTGAGEE IN 34 POSSESSION OR ANY RECEIVER, AND 35 (B) WHO GRANTS THE RIGHT TO USE OR OCCUPY ELIGIBLE PREMISES TO ANY 36 TENANT, PROVIDED THAT LANDLORD SHALL NOT INCLUDE ANY LESSEE WHO AT ANY 37 TIME DURING THE LEASE TERM OCCUPIED OR USED OR OCCUPIES OR USES ANY PART 38 OF THE NON-RESIDENTIAL PORTIONS OF SUCH ELIGIBLE BUILDING, OTHER THAN 39 PREMISES OCCUPIED OR USED BY SUCH LESSEE TO PROVIDE RENTAL OR MANAGEMENT 40 SERVICES TO SUCH BUILDING. 41 14. "LEASE COMMENCEMENT DATE." THE DATE SET FORTH IN THE LEASE ON 42 WHICH THE TERM OF THE LEASE COMMENCES. 43 15. "MIXED-USE BUILDING." A BUILDING USED FOR BOTH RESIDENTIAL AND 44 COMMERCIAL PURPOSES, PROVIDED THAT MORE THAN TWENTY-FIVE PER CENTUM OF 45 THE AGGREGATE FLOOR AREA OF SUCH BUILDING IS USED OR HELD OUT FOR USE AS 46 COMMERCIAL, COMMUNITY FACILITY OR ACCESSORY USE SPACE. 47 16. "PERSON." AN INDIVIDUAL, CORPORATION, LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, 48 PARTNERSHIP, ASSOCIATION, AGENCY, TRUST, ESTATE, FOREIGN OR DOMESTIC 49 GOVERNMENT OR SUBDIVISION THEREOF, OR OTHER ENTITY. 50 17. "RENT COMMENCEMENT DATE." THE DATE SET FORTH IN THE LEASE ON WHICH 51 THE OBLIGATION TO PAY BASIC FIXED RENT SHALL COMMENCE. 52 18. "TAX LIABILITY." THE PRODUCT OBTAINED BY MULTIPLYING THE BILLABLE 53 ASSESSED VALUE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR IN WHICH THE BENEFIT PERIOD COMMENCES 54 BY THE TAX RATE APPLICABLE TO THE ELIGIBLE BUILDING FOR SUCH FISCAL YEAR 55 AS SET BY THE LOCAL LEGISLATIVE BODY OF ANY CITY HAVING A POPULATION OF 56 ONE MILLION OR MORE. A. 964 3 1 19. "TAX LIABILITY PER SQUARE FOOT." THE TAX LIABILITY DIVIDED BY THE 2 TOTAL NUMBER OF SQUARE FEET IN THE ELIGIBLE BUILDING, AS LISTED ON THE 3 RECORDS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. 4 20. "TENANT." A PERSON (INCLUDING ANY SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST) WHO 5 EXECUTES A LEASE WITH THE LANDLORD FOR THE RIGHT TO OCCUPY OR USE THE 6 ELIGIBLE PREMISES AND WHO OCCUPIES OR USES THE ELIGIBLE PREMISES PURSU- 7 ANT TO SUCH LEASE. TENANT SHALL NOT INCLUDE ANY SUBTENANT. 8 21. "TENANT'S PERCENTAGE SHARE." THE PERCENTAGE OF THE ELIGIBLE 9 BUILDING'S AGGREGATE FLOOR AREA ALLOCATED TO THE ELIGIBLE PREMISES, 10 WHICH SHALL BE PRESUMED TO BE SUCH PERCENTAGE AS SET FORTH IN THE LEASE 11 FOR THE ELIGIBLE PREMISES; PROVIDED THAT WHERE THE ELIGIBLE PREMISES 12 INCLUDES EXPANSION PREMISES, THE "TENANT'S PERCENTAGE SHARE" SHALL BE 13 CALCULATED ON THE BASIS OF THE PERCENTAGE OF THE ELIGIBLE BUILDING'S 14 AGGREGATE FLOOR AREA ALLOCATED SOLELY TO THE EXPANSION PREMISES. 15 22. "RENEWAL TENANT." A PERSON WHO HAS AN EXISTING LEASE WITH THE 16 LANDLORD AND RENEGOTIATES OR RENEWS SUCH LEASE WITH THE LANDLORD FOR THE 17 RIGHT TO OCCUPY OR USE THE ELIGIBLE PREMISES. 18 S 497-A. REAL PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT. 1. WITHIN A CITY HAVING A POPU- 19 LATION OF ONE MILLION OR MORE, ELIGIBLE BUILDINGS CONTAINING ELIGIBLE 20 PREMISES SHALL RECEIVE AN ABATEMENT OF REAL PROPERTY TAXES DURING THE 21 BENEFIT PERIOD AS FOLLOWS: 22 (A) FOR EACH OF THE FIRST THREE YEARS OF THE BENEFIT PERIOD, THE 23 ABATEMENT SHALL BE EQUAL TO THE PRODUCT OBTAINED BY: 24 (1) MULTIPLYING THE TENANT'S PERCENTAGE SHARE BY THE NUMBER OF SQUARE 25 FEET IN THE ELIGIBLE BUILDING, AS LISTED ON THE RECORDS OF THE DEPART- 26 MENT OF FINANCE AND 27 (2) MULTIPLYING THE PRODUCT OBTAINED IN SUBPARAGRAPH ONE OF THIS PARA- 28 GRAPH BY THE ABATEMENT BASE; 29 (B) FOR THE FOURTH YEAR OF THE BENEFIT PERIOD, THE ABATEMENT SHALL BE 30 EQUAL TO TWO-THIRDS OF THE ABATEMENT IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE BENEFIT 31 PERIOD; AND 32 (C) FOR THE FIFTH YEAR OF THE BENEFIT PERIOD, THE ABATEMENT SHALL BE 33 EQUAL TO ONE-THIRD OF THE ABATEMENT IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE BENEFIT 34 PERIOD. 35 2. IF, AS A RESULT OF APPLICATION TO THE TAX COMMISSION OR A COURT 36 ORDER OR ACTION BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, THE BILLABLE ASSESSED 37 VALUE IS REDUCED, THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE SHALL RECALCULATE THE ABATE- 38 MENT UTILIZING SUCH REDUCED BILLABLE ASSESSED VALUE. THE AMOUNT EQUAL TO 39 THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ABATEMENT ORIGINALLY GRANTED AND THE ABATE- 40 MENT AS SO RECALCULATED SHALL BE DEDUCTED FROM ANY REFUND OTHERWISE 41 PAYABLE OR REMISSION OTHERWISE DUE AS A RESULT OF SUCH REDUCTION IN 42 BILLABLE ASSESSED VALUE, AND ANY BALANCE OF SUCH AMOUNT REMAINING UNPAID 43 AFTER MAKING ANY SUCH DEDUCTION SHALL BE PAID TO THE DEPARTMENT OF 44 FINANCE WITHIN THIRTY DAYS FROM THE DATE OF MAILING BY THE DEPARTMENT OF 45 FINANCE OF A NOTICE OF THE AMOUNT PAYABLE. SUCH AMOUNT PAYABLE SHALL 46 CONSTITUTE A TAX LIEN ON THE ELIGIBLE BUILDING AS OF THE DATE OF SUCH 47 NOTICE AND, IF NOT PAID WITHIN SUCH THIRTY-DAY PERIOD, PENALTY AND 48 INTEREST AT THE RATE APPLICABLE TO DELINQUENT TAXES ON SUCH ELIGIBLE 49 BUILDING SHALL BE CHARGED AND COLLECTED ON SUCH AMOUNT FROM THE DATE OF 50 SUCH NOTICE TO THE DATE OF PAYMENT. 51 3. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE ABATEMENT FOR THE ELIGIBLE PREMISES GRANTED 52 PURSUANT TO THIS TITLE EXCEED THE TAX LIABILITY ALLOCABLE TO THE ELIGI- 53 BLE PREMISES. 54 4. NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF ANY LEASE FOR OCCUPANCY OF 55 NON-ELIGIBLE PREMISES IN AN ELIGIBLE BUILDING OR FOR OCCUPANCY OF ELIGI- 56 BLE PREMISES FOR WHICH NO CERTIFICATE OF ABATEMENT HAS BEEN ISSUED A. 964 4 1 PURSUANT TO THIS TITLE, A LESSEE OF NON-ELIGIBLE PREMISES OR OF ELIGIBLE 2 PREMISES FOR WHICH NO CERTIFICATE OF ABATEMENT HAS BEEN ISSUED PURSUANT 3 TO THIS TITLE SHALL NOT BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY A 4 REDUCTION IN EITHER THE REAL PROPERTY TAXES OR ANY RENT (INCLUDING ADDI- 5 TIONAL RENT) PAYABLE PURSUANT TO SUCH LEASE WHERE SUCH REDUCTION WOULD 6 RESULT FROM AN ABATEMENT OF REAL PROPERTY TAXES GRANTED PURSUANT TO THIS 7 TITLE. A LANDLORD OF AN ELIGIBLE BUILDING SHALL NOT ALLOCATE, CREDIT, 8 ASSIGN OR DISBURSE ANY PORTION OF AN ABATEMENT GRANTED PURSUANT TO THIS 9 TITLE TO A LESSEE OF NON-ELIGIBLE PREMISES OR OF ELIGIBLE PREMISES FOR 10 WHICH NO CERTIFICATE OF ABATEMENT HAS BEEN ISSUED PURSUANT TO THIS 11 TITLE. A LANDLORD SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED TO REDUCE THE REAL PROPERTY 12 TAXES OR ANY RENT (INCLUDING ADDITIONAL RENT) PAYABLE BY EXPANSION 13 TENANTS, NEW TENANTS AND RENEWAL TENANTS BY AN AMOUNT THAT EXCEEDS THE 14 FULL AMOUNT OF THE ABATEMENT GRANTED PURSUANT TO THIS TITLE, BUT A LAND- 15 LORD SHALL BE REQUIRED TO REDUCE THE REAL PROPERTY TAXES OR ANY RENT 16 (INCLUDING ADDITIONAL RENT) PAYABLE BY EXPANSION TENANTS, NEW TENANTS 17 AND RENEWAL TENANTS BY AN AMOUNT THAT, IN THE AGGREGATE, EQUALS THE FULL 18 AMOUNT OF THE ABATEMENT GRANTED PURSUANT TO THIS TITLE. SUCH REDUCTION 19 SHALL BE ALLOCATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ABATEMENT GRANTED FOR THE 20 ELIGIBLE PREMISES OCCUPIED BY EACH SUCH TENANT. 21 S 497-B. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. 1. NO ABATEMENT SHALL BE GRANTED 22 PURSUANT TO THIS TITLE UNLESS THE LANDLORD ENTERS INTO A LEASE FOR 23 ELIGIBLE PREMISES WITH A TENANT OR RENEWAL TENANT AND: 24 (A) THE LEASE COMMENCEMENT DATE IS WITHIN THE ELIGIBILITY PERIOD; 25 (B) (1) IF, BY THE SIXTIETH DAY FOLLOWING THE RENT COMMENCEMENT DATE, 26 SUCH TENANT OR RENEWAL TENANT EMPLOYS ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE OR FEWER 27 EMPLOYEES IN THE ELIGIBLE PREMISES, THE INITIAL LEASE TERM IS FOR A 28 PERIOD OF AT LEAST FIVE YEARS OR 29 (2) IF, BY THE SIXTIETH DAY FOLLOWING THE RENT COMMENCEMENT DATE, SUCH 30 TENANT OR RENEWAL TENANT EMPLOYS MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE 31 EMPLOYEES IN THE ELIGIBLE PREMISES, THE INITIAL LEASE TERM IS FOR A 32 PERIOD OF AT LEAST TEN YEARS. 33 2. NO ABATEMENT SHALL BE GRANTED PURSUANT TO THIS TITLE IF AN APPLI- 34 CANT SHALL FAIL TO MEET ANY OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS TITLE WITHIN 35 SIXTY DAYS OF THE RENT COMMENCEMENT DATE. 36 3. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS TITLE, THE EXPIRATION DATE OF A LEASE SHALL BE 37 DETERMINED BY THE EXPIRATION DATE SET FORTH IN SUCH LEASE, WITHOUT 38 GIVING EFFECT TO ANY RIGHTS OF THE LANDLORD OR THE TENANT TO TERMINATE 39 SUCH LEASE PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE SET FORTH IN SUCH LEASE. 40 4. THE LEASE FOR THE ELIGIBLE PREMISES SHALL CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING 41 PROVISIONS: 42 (A) A STATEMENT OF THE TENANT'S PERCENTAGE SHARE; 43 (B) A STATEMENT INFORMING THE TENANT IN AT LEAST TWELVE-POINT TYPE 44 THAT: 45 (1) AN APPLICATION FOR ABATEMENT OF REAL PROPERTY TAXES PURSUANT TO 46 THIS TITLE WILL BE MADE FOR THE PREMISES; 47 (2) THE RENT, INCLUDING AMOUNTS PAYABLE BY THE TENANT OR RENEWAL 48 TENANT FOR REAL PROPERTY TAXES, WILL ACCURATELY REFLECT ANY ABATEMENT OF 49 REAL PROPERTY TAXES GRANTED PURSUANT TO THIS TITLE FOR THE PREMISES; AND 50 (3) ALL ABATEMENTS GRANTED WITH RESPECT TO A BUILDING PURSUANT TO THIS 51 TITLE WILL BE REVOKED IF, DURING THE BENEFIT PERIOD, REAL ESTATE TAXES 52 OR WATER OR SEWER CHARGES OR OTHER LIENABLE CHARGES ARE UNPAID FOR MORE 53 THAN ONE YEAR, UNLESS SUCH DELINQUENT AMOUNTS ARE PAID AS PROVIDED IN 54 SUBDIVISION FOUR OF SECTION FOUR HUNDRED NINETY-SEVEN-E OF THIS TITLE. 55 5. NO ABATEMENT SHALL BE GRANTED PURSUANT TO THIS TITLE IF: A. 964 5 1 (A) THE LEASE FOR THE ELIGIBLE PREMISES PROVIDES THAT DURING THE 2 INITIAL LEASE TERM REQUIRED BY SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION EITHER 3 THE LANDLORD OR THE TENANT OR RENEWAL TENANT MAY TERMINATE SUCH LEASE 4 PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE OF SUCH REQUIRED INITIAL LEASE TERM; 5 PROVIDED THAT SUCH LEASE MAY PROVIDE THAT EITHER THE LANDLORD OR THE 6 TENANT MAY TERMINATE SUCH LEASE IF: 7 (1) THE OTHER PARTY IS IN DEFAULT OF ANY OF SUCH PARTY'S OBLIGATIONS 8 UNDER THE LEASE, 9 (2) THE ELIGIBLE PREMISES ARE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED BY FIRE OR OTHER 10 CASUALTY, 11 (3) THE ELIGIBLE PREMISES ARE RENDERED UNUSABLE FOR ANY REASON NOT 12 ATTRIBUTABLE TO ANY ACT OR FAILURE TO ACT OF EITHER TENANT OR LANDLORD, 13 OR 14 (4) THE ELIGIBLE PREMISES ARE ACQUIRED BY EMINENT DOMAIN; AND 15 (B) THERE ARE REAL PROPERTY TAXES, WATER OR SEWER CHARGES OR OTHER 16 LIENABLE CHARGES CURRENTLY DUE AND OWING ON THE ELIGIBLE BUILDING WHICH 17 IS THE SUBJECT OF AN APPLICATION FOR ABATEMENT PURSUANT TO THIS TITLE, 18 UNLESS SUCH REAL PROPERTY TAXES OR CHARGES ARE CURRENTLY BEING PAID IN 19 TIMELY INSTALLMENTS PURSUANT TO A WRITTEN AGREEMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT 20 OF FINANCE OR OTHER APPROPRIATE AGENCY. 21 6. NO ABATEMENT SHALL BE GRANTED PURSUANT TO THIS TITLE UNLESS THE 22 APPLICANT SHALL FILE, TOGETHER WITH THE APPLICATION, AN AFFIDAVIT 23 SETTING FORTH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: 24 (A) A STATEMENT THAT WITHIN THE SEVEN YEARS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE 25 DATE OF APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF ABATEMENT, NEITHER THE APPLI- 26 CANT NOR ANY PERSON OWNING A SUBSTANTIAL INTEREST IN THE ELIGIBLE BUILD- 27 ING AS DEFINED IN PARAGRAPH (C) OF THIS SUBDIVISION, NOR ANY OFFICER, 28 DIRECTOR OR GENERAL PARTNER OF THE APPLICANT OR SUCH PERSON WAS FINALLY 29 ADJUDICATED BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION TO HAVE VIOLATED 30 SECTION TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-FIVE OF THE REAL PROPERTY LAW OR ANY SECTION 31 OF ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED FIFTY OF THE PENAL LAW OR ANY SIMILAR ARSON LAW 32 OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WITH RESPECT TO ANY BUILDING, OR WAS AN OFFICER, 33 DIRECTOR OR GENERAL PARTNER OF A PERSON AT THE TIME SUCH PERSON WAS 34 FINALLY ADJUDICATED TO HAVE VIOLATED ANY SUCH LAW; AND 35 (B) A STATEMENT SETTING FORTH ANY PENDING CHARGES ALLEGING VIOLATION 36 OF SECTION TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-FIVE OF THE REAL PROPERTY LAW OR ANY 37 SECTION OF ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED FIFTY OF THE PENAL LAW OR ANY SIMILAR 38 ARSON LAW OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WITH RESPECT TO ANY BUILDING BY THE 39 APPLICANT OR ANY PERSON OWNING A SUBSTANTIAL INTEREST IN THE ELIGIBLE 40 BUILDING AS DEFINED IN PARAGRAPH (C) OF THIS SUBDIVISION, OR ANY OFFI- 41 CER, DIRECTOR OR GENERAL PARTNER OF THE APPLICANT OR SUCH PERSON, OR ANY 42 PERSON FOR WHOM THE APPLICANT OR PERSON OWNING A SUBSTANTIAL INTEREST IN 43 THE ELIGIBLE BUILDING IS AN OFFICER, DIRECTOR OR GENERAL PARTNER. 44 (C) FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SUBDIVISION AND SUBDIVISION SEVEN OF SECTION 45 FOUR HUNDRED NINETY-SEVEN-E OF THIS TITLE, "SUBSTANTIAL INTEREST" SHALL 46 MEAN OWNERSHIP AND CONTROL OF AN INTEREST OF TEN PER CENTUM OR MORE IN 47 THE ELIGIBLE BUILDING OR IN ANY PERSON OWNING THE ELIGIBLE BUILDING. 48 S 497-C. APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF ABATEMENT. 1. APPLICATION FOR 49 A CERTIFICATE OF ABATEMENT MAY BE MADE ON OR AFTER JANUARY FIRST, TWO 50 THOUSAND THIRTEEN AND UNTIL SIXTY DAYS AFTER THE END OF THE ELIGIBILITY 51 PERIOD, AND SHALL BE FILED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. NO APPLICA- 52 TION MAY BE FILED PRIOR TO THE DATE ON WHICH THE LEASE FOR THE ELIGIBLE 53 PREMISES IS EXECUTED BY THE LANDLORD AND TENANT. 54 2. NO ABATEMENT PURSUANT TO THIS TITLE SHALL BE GRANTED UNLESS THE 55 APPLICANT FILES AN APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF ABATEMENT WITHIN A. 964 6 1 SIXTY DAYS FOLLOWING THE LEASE COMMENCEMENT DATE OR WITHIN SIXTY DAYS 2 FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS TITLE, WHICHEVER IS LATER. 3 3. IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF 4 FINANCE, THE APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF ABATEMENT SHALL INCLUDE AN 5 ABSTRACT OF THE LEASE FOR THE ELIGIBLE PREMISES FOR WHICH AN ABATEMENT 6 IS BEING SOUGHT WHICH ABSTRACT IS SIGNED BY THE LANDLORD AND THE TENANT. 7 SUCH ABSTRACT SHALL INCLUDE THE TENANT'S PERCENTAGE SHARE, THE LEASE 8 COMMENCEMENT DATE, THE RENT COMMENCEMENT DATE, THE EXPIRATION DATE FOR 9 SUCH LEASE AND A DESCRIPTION OF THE IMPROVEMENTS TO BE MADE TO THE 10 ELIGIBLE PREMISES AND THE COMMON AREAS OF THE ELIGIBLE BUILDING, INCLUD- 11 ING THE ESTIMATED VALUE OF SUCH IMPROVEMENTS. SUCH APPLICATION SHALL 12 ALSO INCLUDE: 13 (A) A STATEMENT OF THE NUMBER OF PERSONS WHO WILL, ON THE RENT 14 COMMENCEMENT DATE, BE EMPLOYED IN THE ELIGIBLE PREMISES, 15 (B) A STATEMENT OF THE LOCATION OF ALL OFFICE OR RETAIL SPACE IN THE 16 CITY OF NEW YORK OCCUPIED BY THE TENANT PRIOR TO THE EXECUTION OF THE 17 LEASE FOR THE ELIGIBLE PREMISES, 18 (C) THE COMMENCEMENT AND EXPIRATION DATES OF ALL LEASES FOR PREMISES 19 IN THE ABATEMENT ZONE USED OR OCCUPIED AS OFFICE OR RETAIL SPACE, AND 20 (D) THE AGGREGATE FLOOR AREA OF THE ELIGIBLE BUILDING. SUCH APPLICA- 21 TION SHALL ALSO STATE THAT THE APPLICANT AGREES TO COMPLY WITH AND BE 22 SUBJECT TO THE RULES ISSUED FROM TIME TO TIME BY THE DEPARTMENT OF 23 FINANCE. 24 4. WITHIN SIXTY DAYS FOLLOWING THE RENT COMMENCEMENT DATE, THE APPLI- 25 CANT SHALL PROVIDE, IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE 26 DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, EVIDENCE ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE 27 REGARDING THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES IN THE ELIGIBLE PREMISES. THE DEPART- 28 MENT OF FINANCE SHALL ISSUE A CERTIFICATE OF ABATEMENT UPON DETERMINING 29 THAT THE APPLICANT HAS SUBMITTED PROOF ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF 30 FINANCE THAT THE APPLICANT HAS MET THE REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN THIS 31 TITLE. 32 5. THE BURDEN OF PROOF SHALL BE ON THE APPLICANT TO SHOW BY CLEAR AND 33 CONVINCING EVIDENCE THAT THE REQUIREMENTS FOR GRANTING A CERTIFICATE OF 34 ABATEMENT HAVE BEEN SATISFIED. THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE SHALL HAVE THE 35 AUTHORITY TO REQUIRE THAT STATEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH APPLICATION 36 BE MADE UNDER OATH. 37 6. THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE MAY PROVIDE BY RULE FOR REASONABLE ADMIN- 38 ISTRATIVE CHARGES OR FEES NECESSARY TO DEFRAY EXPENSES IN ADMINISTERING 39 THE ABATEMENT PROGRAM PROVIDED BY THIS TITLE. 40 S 497-D. ENFORCEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION. THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE 41 SHALL HAVE, IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER FUNCTIONS, POWERS AND DUTIES WHICH 42 HAVE BEEN OR MAY BE CONFERRED ON IT BY LAW, THE FOLLOWING FUNCTIONS, 43 POWERS AND DUTIES: 44 1. TO RECEIVE AND REVIEW APPLICATIONS FOR CERTIFICATES OF ABATEMENT 45 UNDER THIS TITLE AND ISSUE SUCH CERTIFICATES WHERE AUTHORIZED PURSUANT 46 TO THIS TITLE. 47 2. TO RECEIVE EVIDENCE OF PREMISES AND BUILDING ELIGIBILITY. 48 3. TO RECEIVE ALL CERTIFICATES OF CONTINUING ELIGIBILITY REQUIRED BY 49 SECTION FOUR HUNDRED NINETY-SEVEN-E OF THIS TITLE. 50 4. TO COLLECT ALL REAL PROPERTY TAXES, WITH INTEREST AND PENALTY, DUE 51 AND OWING AS A RESULT OF REDUCTION, TERMINATION OR REVOCATION OF ANY 52 ABATEMENT GRANTED PURSUANT TO THIS TITLE. 53 5. TO MAKE AND PROMULGATE RULES TO CARRY OUT THE PURPOSES OF THIS 54 TITLE. 55 S 497-E. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS; REVOCATION OF ABATEMENTS. 1. FOR THE 56 DURATION OF THE APPLICANT'S BENEFIT PERIOD, THE APPLICANT SHALL FILE A. 964 7 1 ANNUALLY WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, ON OR BEFORE JULY FIRST OF EACH 2 YEAR, A CERTIFICATE OF CONTINUING ELIGIBILITY CONFIRMING THAT THE ELIGI- 3 BLE PREMISES ARE OCCUPIED BY THE TENANT WHO ORIGINALLY EXECUTED THE 4 LEASE AND THAT THE ELIGIBLE PREMISES ARE BEING USED FOR THE PURPOSES 5 DESCRIBED IN THE APPLICATION. SUCH CERTIFICATE OF CONTINUING ELIGIBILITY 6 SHALL BE ON A FORM PRESCRIBED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND SHALL 7 CONTAIN SUCH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AS THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE SHALL 8 REQUIRE. THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DETERMINE 9 THE ABATEMENTS GRANTED PURSUANT TO THIS TITLE UPON FAILURE OF AN APPLI- 10 CANT TO FILE SUCH CERTIFICATE BY SUCH DATE. THE BURDEN OF PROOF SHALL BE 11 ON THE APPLICANT TO ESTABLISH CONTINUING ELIGIBILITY FOR BENEFITS AND 12 THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO REQUIRE THAT 13 STATEMENTS MADE IN SUCH CERTIFICATE SHALL BE MADE UNDER OATH. 14 2. THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE SHALL REVOKE ANY ABATEMENT GRANTED PURSU- 15 ANT TO THIS TITLE WHEN THE TENANT WHO ORIGINALLY EXECUTED THE LEASE IS 16 NO LONGER OCCUPYING THE ELIGIBLE PREMISES. SUCH REVOCATION SHALL BE 17 RETROACTIVE TO THE DATE THAT SUCH TENANT VACATED THE ELIGIBLE PREMISES 18 AND THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE SHALL REQUIRE THE LANDLORD TO PAY, WITH 19 INTEREST, ANY TAXES WHICH BECOME PAYABLE AS A RESULT OF SUCH REVOCATION. 20 THE LANDLORD SHALL NOTIFY THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE WITHIN THIRTY DAYS 21 FOLLOWING THE DATE ON WHICH SUCH TENANT VACATED THE ELIGIBLE PREMISES 22 AND, FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENT, SHALL BE 23 LIABLE FOR PENALTY CALCULATED FOR THE SAME PERIOD AS INTEREST IS CALCU- 24 LATED PURSUANT TO THE PRECEDING SENTENCE. 25 3. IF ANY PORTION OF THE PREMISES FOR WHICH AN ABATEMENT HAS BEEN 26 GRANTED PURSUANT TO THIS TITLE CEASES TO BE OCCUPIED OR USED AS ELIGIBLE 27 PREMISES OR IS OCCUPIED BY A SUBTENANT, THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE SHALL 28 REDUCE THE ABATEMENT GRANTED PURSUANT TO THIS TITLE BY AN AMOUNT EQUAL 29 TO THE PERCENTAGE OF SUCH ELIGIBLE PREMISES WHICH HAS CEASED TO BE OCCU- 30 PIED OR USED AS ELIGIBLE PREMISES OR IS OCCUPIED BY A SUBTENANT. SUCH 31 REDUCTION SHALL BE RETROACTIVE TO THE DATE THAT SUCH PREMISES CEASED TO 32 BE OCCUPIED OR USED AS ELIGIBLE PREMISES OR WAS OCCUPIED BY A SUBTENANT, 33 AND THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE SHALL REQUIRE THE LANDLORD TO PAY, WITH 34 INTEREST, ANY TAXES WHICH BECOME PAYABLE AS A RESULT OF SUCH REDUCTION. 35 THE LANDLORD SHALL NOTIFY THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE WITHIN THIRTY DAYS 36 FOLLOWING THE DATE ON WHICH THE PREMISES CEASED TO BE OCCUPIED OR USED 37 AS ELIGIBLE PREMISES OR WAS OCCUPIED BY A SUBTENANT AND, FOR FAILURE TO 38 COMPLY WITH THIS NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENT, SHALL BE LIABLE FOR PENALTY 39 CALCULATED FOR THE SAME PERIOD AS INTEREST IS CALCULATED PURSUANT TO 40 THIS SUBDIVISION. 41 4. IF, DURING THE BENEFIT PERIOD, ANY REAL PROPERTY TAX OR WATER OR 42 SEWER CHARGE OR OTHER LIENABLE CHARGE DUE AND PAYABLE WITH RESPECT TO AN 43 ELIGIBLE BUILDING SHALL REMAIN UNPAID FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR FOLLOWING 44 THE DATE UPON WHICH SUCH TAX OR CHARGE BECAME DUE AND PAYABLE, ALL 45 ABATEMENTS GRANTED PURSUANT TO THIS TITLE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH BUILDING 46 SHALL BE REVOKED, UNLESS WITHIN THIRTY DAYS FROM THE MAILING OF A NOTICE 47 OF REVOCATION BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE SATISFACTORY PROOF IS 48 PRESENTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE THAT ANY AND ALL DELINQUENT TAXES 49 AND CHARGES OWING WITH RESPECT TO SUCH BUILDING AS OF THE DATE OF SUCH 50 NOTICE HAVE BEEN PAID IN FULL OR ARE CURRENTLY BEING PAID IN TIMELY 51 INSTALLMENTS PURSUANT TO A WRITTEN AGREEMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF 52 FINANCE OR OTHER APPROPRIATE AGENCY. ANY REVOCATION PURSUANT TO THIS 53 SUBDIVISION SHALL BE EFFECTIVE WITH RESPECT TO REAL PROPERTY TAXES WHICH 54 BECOME DUE AND PAYABLE FOLLOWING THE DATE OF SUCH REVOCATION. 55 5. THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE MAY DENY, REDUCE, SUSPEND, TERMINATE OR 56 REVOKE ANY ABATEMENT GRANTED PURSUANT TO THIS TITLE WHENEVER: A. 964 8 1 (A) THE LANDLORD OR THE TENANT RECEIVING ABATEMENT PURSUANT TO THIS 2 TITLE FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS TITLE OR THE RULES 3 PROMULGATED HEREUNDER; OR 4 (B) AN APPLICATION, CERTIFICATE, REPORT OR OTHER DOCUMENT SUBMITTED BY 5 THE APPLICANT CONTAINS A FALSE OR MISLEADING STATEMENT AS TO A MATERIAL 6 FACT OR OMITS TO STATE ANY MATERIAL FACT NECESSARY IN ORDER TO MAKE THE 7 STATEMENT THEREIN NOT FALSE OR MISLEADING, AND MAY DECLARE ANY APPLICANT 8 WHO MAKES SUCH FALSE OR MISLEADING STATEMENT OR OMISSION TO BE INELIGI- 9 BLE FOR FUTURE ABATEMENT PURSUANT TO THIS TITLE FOR THE SAME OR OTHER 10 PROPERTY. IN ADDITION, THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE SHALL REQUIRE THE 11 APPLICANT TO PAY, WITH PENALTY AND INTEREST, ANY ABATEMENT RECEIVED 12 PURSUANT TO THIS TITLE AS A RESULT OF SUCH FALSE OR MISLEADING STATEMENT 13 OR OMISSION OF A MATERIAL FACT. 14 6. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF THIS TITLE, THE DEPARTMENT 15 OF FINANCE SHALL DENY, TERMINATE OR REVOKE ANY ABATEMENT APPLIED FOR OR 16 GRANTED PURSUANT TO THIS TITLE UPON A DETERMINATION THAT THE LEASE 17 BETWEEN THE LANDLORD AND THE TENANT WAS ENTERED INTO PRIMARILY FOR THE 18 PURPOSE OF RECEIVING AN ABATEMENT UNDER THIS TITLE. IN MAKING SUCH 19 DETERMINATION, THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE MAY CONSIDER, AMONG OTHER 20 FACTORS, THE RELATIONSHIP, IF ANY, BETWEEN THE LANDLORD AND THE TENANT 21 AND WHETHER THE BUSINESS TERMS OF SUCH LEASE ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE 22 BUSINESS TERMS GENERALLY FOUND IN LEASES FOR COMPARABLE SPACE. 23 7. (A) IF ANY PERSON DESCRIBED IN THE STATEMENT REQUIRED BY PARAGRAPH 24 (B) OF SUBDIVISION SIX OF SECTION FOUR HUNDRED NINETY-SEVEN-B OF THIS 25 TITLE IS FINALLY ADJUDICATED BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION TO BE 26 GUILTY OF ANY CHARGE LISTED IN SUCH STATEMENT, THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE 27 SHALL REVOKE THE ABATEMENT GRANTED PURSUANT TO THIS TITLE AND SHALL 28 REQUIRE THE PAYMENT, WITH INTEREST, OF ANY ABATEMENT RECEIVED PURSUANT 29 TO THIS TITLE. 30 (B) THE APPLICANT SHALL, ON THE CERTIFICATE OF CONTINUING ELIGIBILITY, 31 STATE WHETHER ANY CHARGES ALLEGING VIOLATION BY THE APPLICANT OR ANY 32 PERSON OWNING A SUBSTANTIAL INTEREST IN THE ELIGIBLE BUILDING, OR ANY 33 OFFICER, DIRECTOR OR GENERAL PARTNER OF THE APPLICANT OR PERSON OWNING A 34 SUBSTANTIAL INTEREST IN THE ELIGIBLE BUILDING, OR ANY PERSON FOR WHOM 35 THE APPLICANT OR PERSON OWNING A SUBSTANTIAL INTEREST IN THE ELIGIBLE 36 BUILDING IS AN OFFICER, DIRECTOR OR GENERAL PARTNER, OF SECTION TWO 37 HUNDRED THIRTY-FIVE OF THE REAL PROPERTY LAW OR ANY SECTION OF ARTICLE 38 ONE HUNDRED FIFTY OF THE PENAL LAW OR ANY SIMILAR ARSON LAW OF ANOTHER 39 JURISDICTION, ARE PENDING. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS PARAGRAPH, "SUBSTANTIAL 40 INTEREST" SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS SET FORTH IN PARAGRAPH (C) OF 41 SUBDIVISION SIX OF SECTION FOUR HUNDRED NINETY-SEVEN-B OF THIS TITLE. 42 S 497-F. TAX LIEN; INTEREST AND PENALTY. ALL TAXES, WITH INTEREST, 43 REQUIRED TO BE PAID RETROACTIVELY PURSUANT TO THIS TITLE SHALL CONSTI- 44 TUTE A TAX LIEN AS OF THE DATE IT IS DETERMINED SUCH TAXES AND INTEREST 45 ARE OWED. ALL INTEREST SHALL BE CALCULATED FROM THE DATE THE TAXES WOULD 46 HAVE BEEN DUE BUT FOR THE ABATEMENT GRANTED PURSUANT TO THIS TITLE AT 47 THE APPLICABLE RATE OR RATES OF INTEREST IMPOSED BY SUCH CITY GENERALLY 48 FOR NON-PAYMENT OF REAL PROPERTY TAX WITH RESPECT TO THE ELIGIBLE BUILD- 49 ING FOR THE PERIOD IN QUESTION. WHEN A PROVISION OF THIS TITLE REQUIRES 50 THE PAYMENT OF A PENALTY IN ADDITION TO INTEREST, THE AMOUNT OF SUCH 51 PENALTY SHALL BE EQUAL TO THE AMOUNT OF INTEREST THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN 52 PAYABLE PURSUANT TO SUCH PROVISION HAD SUCH INTEREST BEEN CALCULATED AT 53 THE RATE OF THREE PERCENT PER ANNUM. 54 S 497-G. CONFIDENTIALITY. 1. EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH A PROPER JUDI- 55 CIAL ORDER OR AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED BY LAW, IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL FOR THE 56 COMMISSIONER OF FINANCE, ANY OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF A. 964 9 1 FINANCE, THE PRESIDENT OR A COMMISSIONER OR EMPLOYEE OF THE TAX COMMIS- 2 SION, ANY PERSON ENGAGED OR RETAINED BY SUCH DEPARTMENT OR SUCH COMMIS- 3 SION ON AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACT BASIS, OR ANY PERSON WHO, PURSUANT TO 4 THIS TITLE, IS PERMITTED TO INSPECT ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY AN 5 APPLICANT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE PURSUANT TO THIS TITLE OR TO WHOM 6 A COPY, AN ABSTRACT OR A PORTION OF ANY SUCH INFORMATION IS FURNISHED, 7 TO DIVULGE OR MAKE KNOWN IN ANY MANNER ANY SUCH INFORMATION TO ANY 8 PERSON NOT AUTHORIZED PURSUANT TO THIS TITLE TO INSPECT SUCH INFORMA- 9 TION. THE OFFICERS CHARGED WITH CUSTODY OF SUCH INFORMATION SHALL NOT BE 10 REQUIRED TO PRODUCE ANY OF IT OR EVIDENCE OF ANYTHING CONTAINED IN IT IN 11 ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY COURT EXCEPT ON BEHALF OF THE COMMIS- 12 SIONER OF FINANCE IN AN ACTION OR PROCEEDING UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 13 THIS TITLE, OR ON BEHALF OF ANY PARTY TO ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING UNDER 14 THE PROVISIONS OF THIS TITLE WHEN SUCH INFORMATION OR FACTS SHOWN THERE- 15 BY ARE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING, IN EITHER OF 16 WHICH EVENTS THE COURT MAY REQUIRE THE PRODUCTION OF, AND MAY ADMIT IN 17 EVIDENCE SO MUCH OF SUCH INFORMATION OR OF THE FACTS SHOWN THEREBY, AS 18 ARE PERTINENT TO THE ACTION OR PROCEEDING AND NO MORE. NOTHING HEREIN 19 SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO PROHIBIT THE INSPECTION BY THE LEGAL REPRESEN- 20 TATIVES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE OR THE TAX COMMISSION OF SUCH 21 INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY ANY APPLICANT WHO SHALL BRING AN ACTION TO 22 CORRECT AN ASSESSMENT. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO PROHIBIT 23 THE DELIVERY TO AN APPLICANT OR THE APPLICANT'S DULY AUTHORIZED REPRE- 24 SENTATIVE OF A CERTIFIED COPY OF ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY AN APPLI- 25 CANT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE PURSUANT TO THIS TITLE; OR TO ANY 26 AGENCY OR ANY DEPARTMENT OF ANY CITY HAVING A POPULATION OF ONE MILLION 27 OR MORE PROVIDED THE SAME IS REQUESTED FOR OFFICIAL BUSINESS; NOR TO 28 PROHIBIT THE INSPECTION FOR OFFICIAL BUSINESS OF SUCH INFORMATION BY THE 29 CORPORATION COUNSEL OR OTHER LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES OF A CITY HAVING A 30 POPULATION OF ONE MILLION OR MORE OR BY THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF ANY 31 COUNTY WITHIN SUCH CITY; NOR TO PROHIBIT THE PUBLICATION OF STATISTICS 32 SO CLASSIFIED AS TO PREVENT THE IDENTIFICATION OF SUCH INFORMATION OR 33 PARTICULAR ITEMS THEREOF. INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY AN APPLICANT TO THE 34 DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE PURSUANT TO THIS TITLE SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO 35 DISCLOSURE PURSUANT TO ARTICLE SIX OF THE PUBLIC OFFICERS LAW. 36 2. ANY VIOLATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION 37 SHALL BE PUNISHED BY A FINE NOT EXCEEDING ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS OR BY 38 IMPRISONMENT NOT EXCEEDING ONE YEAR, OR BOTH, AT THE DISCRETION OF THE 39 COURT, AND IF THE OFFENDER BE AN OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE OF THE DEPARTMENT 40 OF FINANCE OR OF THE TAX COMMISSION, THE OFFENDER SHALL BE DISMISSED 41 FROM OFFICE. 42 S 2. This act shall take effect immediately, provided that this act 43 shall be deemed to have been in full force and effect on and after Janu- 44 ary 1, 2013. Any actions, including the promulgation of rules, necessary 45 to carry out the purposes of this act may be taken before the date this 46 act shall have become a law, provided that such rules shall not take 47 effect before the effective date of this act, and provided further that 48 such rules, if necessary to carry out the purposes of this act, may be 49 made retroactive to and deemed to have been in full force and effect on 50 and after January 1, 2013.