Bill Text: NY A01148 | 2013-2014 | General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: Creates the "Pennies for parks" program providing funds for capital expenditures at state parks and historic sites; imposes fee of five cents on single use carryout bags; establishes the pennies for parks fund to hold funds received by the fee on single use carryout bags.

Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 11-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-08 - referred to tourism, parks, arts and sports development [A01148 Detail]

Download: New_York-2013-A01148-Introduced.html
                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                         1148
                              2013-2014 Regular Sessions
                                 I N  A S S E M B L Y
                                      (PREFILED)
                                    January 9, 2013
                                      ___________
       Introduced  by  M.  of  A. CAHILL, ROBERTS, CYMBROWITZ, BOYLAND, JAFFEE,
         RIVERA, COOK, MILLMAN -- read once and referred to  the  Committee  on
         Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development
       AN  ACT to amend the parks, recreation and historic preservation law, in
         relation to creating the "Pennies for Parks" program  providing  funds
         for  capital  expenditures at state parks and historic sites; to amend
         the tax law, in relation to imposing a  fee  on  single  use  carryout
         bags;  and to amend the state finance law, in relation to establishing
         the pennies for parks fund
         THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
    1    Section  1. Legislative findings and intent. The legislature finds and
    2  declares that state parks and historic sites enhance the  character  and
    3  quality  of  life and enhance the economic vitality of local communities
    4  and provide healthy and affordable recreational and educational opportu-
    5  nities to New York state residents and visitors. If allowed to fall into
    6  disrepair, state parks and historic sites may  become  inaccessible  and
    7  uninviting  to the public. Once closed or sold, state parks and historic
    8  sites are difficult, if not  impossible,  to  recover  or  rehabilitate.
    9  Accordingly, state parks and historic sites should be provided necessary
   10  capital  funding  in a manner which is cognizant of their aforementioned
   11  intrinsic values.
   12    The legislature also finds and declares that the single  use  carryout
   13  bags  distributed  by  New  York retailers have a negative impact on the
   14  environment, littering our communities, parks and beaches;  filling  our
   15  landfills;  harming wildlife; and using millions of trees and gallons of
   16  oil to produce. An additional economic incentive should be put in  place
   17  to  encourage  the  use of reusable bags and reduce the stream of single
   18  use carryout bags.
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD04015-01-3
       A. 1148                             2
    1    It is hereby declared to be the public policy and in the public inter-
    2  est of this state to establish a  comprehensive  program  to  provide  a
    3  dedicated  funding stream for our state parks and historic sites. Such a
    4  dedicated funding stream should be devoted as supplemental to the exist-
    5  ing  budget  of  the office of parks, recreation, and historic preserva-
    6  tion. The funding stream should be created by imposing a five  cent  fee
    7  on each single use carryout bag distributed by retailers in New York, to
    8  be  collected and used to fund capital projects in state parks. In order
    9  to meet the aforementioned goals and  uphold  the  cultural  fabric  and
   10  integrity  of the system of state parks and historic sites, the "Pennies
   11  for Parks" program, a fee on single use carryout bags  and  pennies  for
   12  parks  fund are established and codified in sections 13.32 of the parks,
   13  recreation and historic preservation law, 1105-D of the tax law and 92-t
   14  of the state finance law.
   15    S 2. The parks, recreation and historic preservation law is amended by
   16  adding a new section 13.32 to read as follows:
   17    S 13.32 PENNIES FOR PARKS. THE COMMISSIONER IS AUTHORIZED  TO  UTILIZE
   18  THE  MONIES  IN  THE  PENNIES  FOR  PARKS  FUND, ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO
   19  SECTION NINETY-TWO-T OF THE STATE FINANCE LAW, FOR CAPITAL  EXPENDITURES
   20  AT  STATE  PARKS  AND HISTORIC SITES, PROVIDED HOWEVER, THAT THE COMMIS-
   21  SIONER MAY MAKE AVAILABLE UP TO TEN PERCENT OF THE MONIES  IN  THE  FUND
   22  FOR OPERATIONAL EXPENDITURES ANNUALLY.
   23    S  3. The tax law is amended by adding a new section 1105-D to read as
   24  follows:
   25    S 1105-D. FEE ON SINGLE USE CARRYOUT BAGS.  (A)  IN  ADDITION  TO  ANY
   26  OTHER  TAX  OR  FEE  IMPOSED  BY THIS ARTICLE OR ANY OTHER LAW, THERE IS
   27  HEREBY IMPOSED AND THERE SHALL BE PAID A FIVE CENT FEE  ON  EACH  SINGLE
   28  USE  CARRYOUT BAG PROVIDED TO A CUSTOMER BY A PERSON REQUIRED TO COLLECT
   29  TAX.
   30    (B) FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION:
   31    (1) "SINGLE USE CARRYOUT BAG" MEANS A BAG PROVIDED TO  A  CUSTOMER  AT
   32  THE POINT OF SALE BY A PERSON REQUIRED TO COLLECT TAX AND INTENDED FOR A
   33  SINGLE USE FOR CARRYING TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY PURCHASED.
   34    (2) "SINGLE USE CARRYOUT BAG" DOES NOT INCLUDE:
   35    (A) BAGS USED BY CUSTOMERS INSIDE STORES TO CONTAIN OR WRAP:
   36    (I) BULK ITEMS SUCH AS FRUIT, VEGETABLES, NUTS, GRAINS, CANDY OR SMALL
   37  HARDWARE ITEMS;
   38    (II) FROZEN FOODS, MEAT, OR FISH, WHETHER PRE-PACKAGED OR NOT;
   39    (III)  FLOWERS,  POTTED  PLANTS OR OTHER ITEMS WHERE DAMPNESS MAY BE A
   40  PROBLEM; OR
   41    (IV) UNWRAPPED PREPARED FOODS, FOOD SLICED TO ORDER OR BAKERY GOODS;
   42    (B) BAGS PROVIDED BY PHARMACISTS TO CONTAIN PRESCRIPTION DRUGS;
   43    (C) NEWSPAPER BAGS, DOOR-HANGER BAGS, LAUNDRY  DRY-CLEANING  BAGS,  OR
   44  BAGS  SOLD  IN  PACKAGES  CONTAINING  MULTIPLE  BAGS INTENDED FOR USE AS
   45  GARBAGE, PET WASTE OR YARD WASTE BAGS; OR
   46    (D) REUSABLE BAGS AS DEFINED IN SECTION 27-2701 OF  THE  ENVIRONMENTAL
   47  CONSERVATION LAW.
   48    (C)  (1) EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION, THE FEE IMPOSED
   49  BY THIS SECTION WILL BE SIMILAR TO, AND ADMINISTERED AND COLLECTED IN  A
   50  LIKE  MANNER AS THE TAXES IMPOSED BY SECTION ELEVEN HUNDRED FIVE OF THIS
   51  ARTICLE. ALL THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE,  INCLUDING  THE  DEFINITION
   52  AND  EXEMPTION  PROVISIONS  AND THE PROVISIONS RELATING OR APPLICABLE TO
   53  THE ADMINISTRATION, COLLECTION AND DISPOSITION OF THE TAXES  IMPOSED  BY
   54  THAT  SECTION  WILL  APPLY  TO THE FEE IMPOSED BY THIS SECTION SO FAR AS
   55  THOSE PROVISIONS CAN BE MADE APPLICABLE  TO  THE  FEE  IMPOSED  BY  THIS
   56  SECTION,  WITH  SUCH MODIFICATIONS AS MAY BE NECESSARY IN ORDER TO ADAPT
       A. 1148                             3
    1  THE LANGUAGE OF THOSE PROVISIONS TO THE FEE  IMPOSED  BY  THIS  SECTION.
    2  THOSE  PROVISIONS  WILL  APPLY  WITH THE SAME FORCE AND EFFECT AS IF THE
    3  LANGUAGE OF THOSE PROVISIONS HAD BEEN SET FORTH IN FULL IN THIS SECTION,
    4  EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT ANY OF THOSE PROVISIONS IS EITHER INCONSISTENT
    5  WITH  A  PROVISION OF THIS SECTION OR IS NOT RELEVANT TO THE FEE IMPOSED
    6  BY THIS SECTION. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION,  ANY  REFERENCE  IN  THIS
    7  CHAPTER  TO A TAX OR THE TAXES IMPOSED BY SECTION ELEVEN HUNDRED FIVE OF
    8  THIS ARTICLE WILL BE DEEMED TO ALSO REFER TO THE  FEE  IMPOSED  BY  THIS
    9  SECTION UNLESS A DIFFERENT MEANING IS CLEARLY REQUIRED.
   10    (2)  NOTWITHSTANDING  THE PROVISIONS OF PARAGRAPH ONE OF THIS SUBDIVI-
   11  SION, THE EXEMPTIONS PROVIDED FOR IN SECTION ELEVEN HUNDRED  SIXTEEN  OF
   12  THIS  ARTICLE, OTHER THAN EXEMPTIONS IN PARAGRAPHS ONE, TWO AND THREE OF
   13  SUBDIVISION (A) OF SUCH SECTION, SHALL NOT APPLY TO THE FEE  IMPOSED  BY
   14  THIS SECTION.
   15    (D)  EVERY  PERSON REQUIRED TO COLLECT THE FEE IMPOSED BY THIS SECTION
   16  SHALL COLLECT THE FEE FROM THE CUSTOMER  AT  THE  TIME  THE  SINGLE  USE
   17  CARRYOUT  BAG  IS  PROVIDED.    IF THE CUSTOMER IS GIVEN ANY SALES SLIP,
   18  INVOICE, RECEIPT OR OTHER STATEMENT OR MEMORANDUM OF THE PRICE OR CHARGE
   19  OF THE PURCHASE, IT SHALL STATE THE NUMBER OF SINGLE USE  CARRYOUT  BAGS
   20  PROVIDED  TO  THE  CUSTOMER  AND  THE  AMOUNT OF THE FEE IMPOSED BY THIS
   21  SECTION SHOWN SEPARATELY FROM THE PRICE OR CHARGE, AND  SEPARATELY  FROM
   22  ANY OTHER FEE OR TAX IMPOSED BY THIS ARTICLE OR ANY OTHER LAW.
   23    (E)  EVERY PERSON REQUIRED TO COLLECT THE FEE IMPOSED BY THIS SECTION,
   24  MAY RETAIN ONE CENT FROM EACH FIVE CENT FEE  COLLECTED  AS  COMPENSATION
   25  FOR  THE  ADMINISTRATION  OF  THIS  PROGRAM,  AND  SHALL KEEP RECORDS TO
   26  PROVIDE A FULL AND ACCURATE ACCOUNTING OF ALL SUCH FUNDS RETAINED PURSU-
   27  ANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION IN THE FORM AND MANNER  PRESCRIBED  BY  THE  TAX
   28  COMMISSION PURSUANT TO RULES AND REGULATIONS.
   29    (F)  NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY  PROVISION  OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, THE FEES
   30  IMPOSED BY THIS SECTION AND RECEIVED BY THE COMMISSIONER, AFTER  DEDUCT-
   31  ING  THE  AMOUNT  WHICH THE COMMISSIONER SHALL DETERMINE TO BE NECESSARY
   32  FOR REASONABLE COSTS TO ADMINISTER, COLLECT AND  DISTRIBUTE  SUCH  FEES,
   33  SHALL  BE  DEPOSITED BY THE COMMISSIONER INTO THE PENNIES FOR PARKS FUND
   34  ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION NINETY-TWO-T OF THE  STATE  FINANCE  LAW
   35  WITHIN  THIRTY  DAYS  OF  THE  END OF EACH SALES TAX QUARTERLY PERIOD AS
   36  DESCRIBED IN SUBDIVISION (B) OF SECTION  ELEVEN  HUNDRED  THIRTY-SIX  OF
   37  THIS ARTICLE.
   38    S  4. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 92-t to
   39  read as follows:
   40    S 92-T. PENNIES FOR PARKS FUND. 1. THERE IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED IN  THE
   41  JOINT  CUSTODY  OF  THE COMPTROLLER AND THE COMMISSIONER OF TAXATION AND
   42  FINANCE A SPECIAL FUND TO BE KNOWN AS THE "PENNIES FOR PARKS FUND".
   43    2. (A) ALL MONIES RECEIVED BY THE COMPTROLLER OR THE  COMMISSIONER  OF
   44  TAXATION  AND  FINANCE  FOR  THE PURPOSE OF THIS FUND SHALL BE DEPOSITED
   45  HEREIN. NO MONIES MAY BE TRANSFERRED FROM  THIS  ACCOUNT  TO  ANY  OTHER
   46  ACCOUNT  EXCEPT BY AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE OF PARKS,
   47  RECREATION AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
   48    (B) SUCH FUND SHALL CONSIST  OF  THE  REVENUE  COLLECTED  PURSUANT  TO
   49  SECTION  ELEVEN  HUNDRED  FIVE-D  OF  THE TAX LAW AND ANY OTHER REVENUES
   50  COLLECTED BY OR APPROPRIATED TO THE FUND PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER LAW.
   51    3. MONIES OF THE FUND, FOLLOWING  APPROPRIATION  BY  THE  LEGISLATURE,
   52  SHALL BE UTILIZED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE OF PARKS, RECREATION
   53  AND  HISTORIC  PRESERVATION  FOR CAPITAL EXPENDITURES AT STATE PARKS AND
   54  HISTORIC SITES PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 13.32 OF THE PARKS,
   55  RECREATION AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION LAW. THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE
   56  OF PARKS, RECREATION AND  HISTORIC  PRESERVATION  MAY,  AT  HIS  OR  HER
       A. 1148                             4
    1  DISCRETION,  MAKE  AVAILABLE UP TO TEN PERCENT OF THE MONIES IN THE FUND
    2  FOR OPERATIONAL EXPENDITURES ANNUALLY.
    3    4. ALL PAYMENTS OF MONIES FROM THE FUND SHALL BE MADE ON THE AUDIT AND
    4  WARRANT OF THE COMPTROLLER.
    5    S  5. This act shall take effect on the first day of a quarterly sales
    6  tax period, as set forth in subdivision (b) of section 1136 of  the  tax
    7  law,  next  succeeding the ninetieth day after it shall have become law,
    8  and  shall  apply  in  accordance  with  the   applicable   transitional
    9  provisions  of  section 1106 of the tax law. Provided, however, that the
   10  commissioner of parks, recreation and historic preservation, in conjunc-
   11  tion with the commissioner of  taxation  and  finance,  shall  take  any
   12  action  necessary for the timely implementation of this act on or before
   13  the date on which it shall have become a law.
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