Bill Text: NY A02516 | 2009-2010 | General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: An act to amend the real property tax law, in relation to the payment of delinquent taxes; and to repeal subdivision 2 of section 962 of the real property tax law relating to the qualifications of certain corporations or banking institutions to lend money pursuant to the provisions of title 4 of article 9 of the real property tax law and section 968 of the real property tax law relating to tax sale provisions under such title

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-05-04 - held for consideration in real property taxation [A02516 Detail]

Download: New_York-2009-A02516-Introduced.html
                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                         2516
                              2009-2010 Regular Sessions
                                 I N  A S S E M B L Y
                                   January 16, 2009
                                      ___________
       Introduced  by M. of A. PRETLOW -- read once and referred to the Commit-
         tee on Real Property Taxation
       AN ACT to amend the real property tax law, in relation to the payment of
         delinquent taxes; and to repeal subdivision 2 of section  962  of  the
         real property tax law relating to the qualifications of certain corpo-
         rations  or  banking  institutions  to  lend  money  pursuant  to  the
         provisions of title 4 of article 9 of the real property  tax  law  and
         section  968  of  the  real  property  tax  law  relating  to tax sale
         provisions under such title
         THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
    1    Section  1.  Legislative  findings.  The  legislature hereby finds and
    2  declares that many taxing jurisdictions are  owed  millions  of  dollars
    3  annually  in  unpaid  property taxes and that these taxing jurisdictions
    4  should be given the opportunity to utilize as many collection methods as
    5  possible in an effort to collect as much in unpaid  taxes  as  possible.
    6  Such uncollected taxes adversely impact the taxing jurisdictions' abili-
    7  ty  to meet their operating expenditures and provide for the delivery of
    8  necessary and essential local governmental services, amplifying the risk
    9  of future real property tax increases  and  negatively  impacting  those
   10  taxpayers  who  timely remit payment. It is hereby further declared that
   11  limited means exist for taxing jurisdictions to expedite the  collection
   12  of  such  delinquent  taxes  and  that  it  is in the public interest to
   13  increase the number of methods  available  to  taxing  jurisdictions  to
   14  expedite  such  collections  and  to  provide their constituents as many
   15  payment methods as possible. It is further declared that many delinquen-
   16  cies often remain unpaid, thereby creating a lien against  the  affected
   17  real property, and that the taxpayers should have alternative methods of
   18  making  payments  to taxing jurisdictions for the payment of their taxes
   19  which will in turn enable taxing jurisdictions to expedite  the  receipt
   20  of  anticipated revenues and provide a funding source, which will enable
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD00942-01-9
       A. 2516                             2
    1  taxing  jurisdictions  more  effectively  to  carry  out  their   public
    2  purposes,  especially  at  this time when many taxing jurisdictions have
    3  significant budgetary problems.
    4    S  2.  The  title heading of title 4 of article 9 of the real property
    5  tax law is amended to read as follows:
    6            ACCEPTANCE OF TAXES FROM CERTAIN [LOAN CORPORATIONS]
    7                                  ENTITIES
    8    S 3. Section 960 of the real property tax law is amended  to  read  as
    9  follows:
   10    S  960.  Payment  of  taxes  by loan corporations.   1. Any [municipal
   11  corporation may] TAXING JURISDICTION OR ITS ASSIGNEE SHALL, as  provided
   12  in  this  title,  accept  payment of taxes, including special ad valorem
   13  levies and special assessments, on real property from  any  [corporation
   14  organized  under  the  laws  of the state of New York for the purpose of
   15  extending loans to taxpayers for the  payment  of  taxes]  ENTITY,  UPON
   16  RECEIPT  OF  AN  AFFIDAVIT  FROM A PROPERTY OWNER AUTHORIZING THE ENTITY
   17  MAKING THE LOAN TO PAY THE TAXES  OR  DELINQUENT  TAXES  AND  PENALTIES,
   18  INTEREST,  COURT COSTS OR OTHER FEES ON SUCH PROPERTY OWNER'S BEHALF AND
   19  CONTAINING A LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPERTY AND  THE  STREET  ADDRESS
   20  THEREOF,  IF  APPLICABLE. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS TITLE, "ENTITY" SHALL
   21  MEAN ANY CORPORATION, LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY  OR  PARTNERSHIP  REGIS-
   22  TERED TO DO BUSINESS IN THIS STATE.
   23    2.  Upon such a payment, a conditional tax receipt shall be issued and
   24  the amount thereof conditionally credited by the [municipal corporation]
   25  TAXING JURISDICTION against the taxes due  on  the  property  for  which
   26  payment  is  made,  but  such  payment shall not extinguish the tax lien
   27  existing against such property until  the  conditional  tax  receipt  is
   28  surrendered  for  cancellation  to  the  [municipal  corporation] TAXING
   29  JURISDICTION BY THE ENTITY LENDING THE MONEY TO THE TAXPAYER.  IN  ADDI-
   30  TION,  THE  AUTHORIZED  REPRESENTATIVE  OF THE TAXING JURISDICTION SHALL
   31  CERTIFY BY AFFIDAVIT THAT PAYMENT OF THE TAXES AND PENALTIES,  INTEREST,
   32  COURT COSTS OR OTHER FEES ON THE DESCRIBED PROPERTY HAS BEEN MADE BY THE
   33  LENDING ENTITY AND NOT THE PROPERTY OWNER RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PAYMENT OF
   34  SUCH TAXES AND THAT THE TAXING JURISDICTION'S TAX LIEN IS TRANSFERRED TO
   35  THE  LENDING  ENTITY  THAT PAID THE TAXES AND PENALTIES, INTEREST, COURT
   36  COSTS OR OTHER FEES.  THE TAXING JURISDICTION SHALL ATTACH TO THE  DOCU-
   37  MENT THE COLLECTOR'S SEAL OF OFFICE, IF THERE IS SUCH A SEAL, AND DELIV-
   38  ER THE DOCUMENT TO THE LENDING ENTITY THAT PAID THE TAXES AND PENALTIES,
   39  INTEREST,  COURT  COSTS  OR  OTHER FEES WITHIN THIRTY DAYS OF RECEIPT OF
   40  PAYMENT.  THE TAXING JURISDICTION SHALL KEEP A RECORD OF ALL  TAX  LIENS
   41  TRANSFERRED AS PROVIDED BY THIS SECTION.  A PROPERTY OWNER AUTHORIZING A
   42  LENDING ENTITY TO PAY THE TAXES IMPOSED BY A TAXING JURISDICTION ON SUCH
   43  PROPERTY OWNER'S REAL PROPERTY MUST FILE WITH THE TAXING JURISDICTION AN
   44  AFFIDAVIT  CONTAINING SUCH AUTHORIZATION, THE NAME OF THE ENTITY AUTHOR-
   45  IZED TO PAY THE TAXES AND PENALTIES,  INTEREST,  COURT  COSTS  OR  OTHER
   46  FEES,  A LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPERTY AND THE STREET ADDRESS THERE-
   47  OF, IF APPLICABLE.
   48    3. Payments made pursuant to this section BY THE LENDING ENTITY may be
   49  used by the [municipal corporation]  TAXING  JURISDICTION  in  the  same
   50  manner as if PAYMENT WERE made directly by the taxpayer.
   51    S  4.  Subdivision  1  of  section 962 of the real property tax law is
   52  amended to read as follows:
   53    1. [Municipal corporations may] TAXING JURISDICTIONS OR  THEIR  ASSIG-
   54  NEES SHALL accept [such] payments from [a corporation] AN ENTITY extend-
       A. 2516                             3
    1  ing loans for [such] THE purpose[, if the loan corporation has a paid-up
    2  capital  of  at least one million dollars and charges not more than four
    3  per centum interest on unpaid balances on moneys loaned, nor  more  than
    4  two  per  centum  of  the  amount  of  the  loan  as a service charge in
    5  connection therewith; provided, however, that in the event of a  default
    6  in  the  payment of such a loan, the loan corporation may charge six per
    7  centum interest per annum on all sums in default. The  loan  corporation
    8  shall,  within  three  days after receiving the same, deposit the condi-
    9  tional tax receipt with a  banking  institution,  trust  company,  state
   10  bank,  national  bank,  or federal reserve bank of the district in which
   11  the municipal corporation is located]  OF PAYING  TAXES  AND  DELINQUENT
   12  TAXES  AND  PENALTIES,  INTEREST,  COURT  COSTS OR OTHER FEES. AN ENTITY
   13  MAKING A LOAN SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHARGE  REASONABLE  AND  CUSTOMARY
   14  LOAN  FEES  AND INTEREST, AND SUCH INTEREST SHALL NOT EXCEED THE RATE OF
   15  ONE AND ONE-QUARTER PERCENT PER MONTH  OR  FRACTION  THEREOF.  THE  LOAN
   16  DOCUMENT  SHALL PROVIDE FOR THE NOTIFICATION OF PAYMENT DUE DATES AND AN
   17  ACKNOWLEDGMENT BY THE BORROWER OF THE INTEREST RATE TO BE PAID, AND SUCH
   18  ACKNOWLEDGMENT SHALL BE SWORN TO.   THE INTEREST RATE,  IRRESPECTIVE  OF
   19  ANY  STATE LAW, SHALL NOT EXCEED THE RATE OF ONE AND ONE-QUARTER PERCENT
   20  PER MONTH OR FRACTION THEREOF.   IN CALCULATING THE  EFFECTIVE  RATE  OF
   21  INTEREST, ONLY THOSE FEES IN EXCESS OF TEN PERCENT OF THE FACE AMOUNT OF
   22  THE LOAN SHALL BE INCLUDED FOR SUCH CALCULATION.
   23    S  5.  Subdivision  2  of  section 962 of the real property tax law is
   24  REPEALED and two new subdivisions 2 and 3 are added to read as follows:
   25    2. TO BE ENFORCEABLE, A TAX LIEN TRANSFERRED AS  PROVIDED  BY  SECTION
   26  NINE  HUNDRED  SIXTY OF THIS TITLE MUST BE RECORDED IN THE OFFICE OF THE
   27  CLERK OR REGISTER OF EACH COUNTY IN WHICH THE PROPERTY ENCUMBERED BY THE
   28  LIEN IS LOCATED.
   29    3. AN ENTITY HOLDING A TAX LIEN TRANSFERRED  AS  PROVIDED  BY  SECTION
   30  NINE  HUNDRED  SIXTY  OF  THIS TITLE MAY CHARGE REASONABLE AND CUSTOMARY
   31  LOAN FEES AND RECOVER THE  COSTS  OF  CLOSING  THE  LOAN  AND  RECORDING
   32  EXPENSES  PAID  TO  ACQUIRE AND RECORD THE LIEN BY ADDING THESE COSTS TO
   33  THE AMOUNT OF THE LIEN.
   34    S 6. Section 964 of the  real  property  tax  law,  subdivision  2  as
   35  amended  by  chapter  733  of  the  laws  of 1959, is amended to read as
   36  follows:
   37    S 964. Deposit and delivery of conditional  tax  receipts.  1.  [Imme-
   38  diately  upon]  WITHIN THIRTY DAYS OF the execution of the loan contract
   39  between the [taxpayer] PROPERTY OWNER and  the  [loan  corporation,  the
   40  loan  corporation]  ENTITY MAKING THE LOAN, SUCH ENTITY shall pay to the
   41  [municipal corporation] TAXING JURISDICTION, OR ITS ASSIGNEE, the moneys
   42  provided for therein. The [taxpayer] PROPERTY OWNER shall make  payments
   43  on  the  loan to the [banking institution with which the conditional tax
   44  receipt has been deposited for the account of  the  loan  corporation]
   45  ENTITY  MAKING THE LOAN OR ITS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST DIRECTLY OR IN SUCH
   46  MANNER AS DIRECTED BY THE ENTITY. THE ENTITY MAKING THE LOAN SHALL  HAVE
   47  THE  RIGHT TO PAY SUBSEQUENT YEARS' DELINQUENT TAXES AND ADD THESE TAXES
   48  TO THE ORIGINAL CONDITIONAL TAX RECEIPT. ADVANCES MADE TO PAY SUBSEQUENT
   49  YEARS' DELINQUENT TAXES SHALL EARN INTEREST AT THE RATE SPECIFIED IN THE
   50  ORIGINAL CONTRACT BETWEEN THE ENTITY MAKING THE LOAN  AND  THE  PROPERTY
   51  OWNER.
   52    2.  [When made, such payments shall be entered and acknowledged by the
   53  banking institution upon the  conditional  tax  receipt,  which  receipt
   54  shall  remain  in the possession of the banking institution until either
   55  the loan is fully discharged or a default occurs thereon.] In the  event
   56  the  loan  is  fully  discharged,  the  conditional tax receipt shall be
       A. 2516                             4
    1  endorsed "paid" and TWO  COPIES  OF  THE  CONDITIONAL  RECEIPT  ENDORSED
    2  "PAID"  SHALL  BE  delivered,  ONE to the [taxpayer or person making the
    3  payment. In the event of default, the conditional tax receipt  shall  be
    4  returned  to  the loan corporation at its option] PROPERTY OWNER AND ONE
    5  TO THE TAXING JURISDICTION THAT ISSUED THE CONDITIONAL TAX RECEIPT.
    6    S 7. Subdivision 1 of section 966 of the  real  property  tax  law  is
    7  amended to read as follows:
    8    1.  Upon  the  surrender of the conditional tax receipt evidencing the
    9  discharge of the obligation created by the loan contract  in  connection
   10  with  which  it was issued, the [municipal corporation] TAXING JURISDIC-
   11  TION shall replace it with a receipted tax bill. Such receipted tax bill
   12  shall bear the date of the conditional tax receipt and  no  interest  or
   13  penalty  shall be charged to the [taxpayer] PROPERTY OWNER BY THE TAXING
   14  JURISDICTION for the period between the date  of  the  issuance  of  the
   15  conditional  tax  receipt  and the date of its surrender. All [penalties
   16  and interest imposed by the municipal corporation for tax default  shall
   17  be  added  to the tax lien until the discharge of the obligation created
   18  by the loan contract  in  connection  with  which  the  conditional  tax
   19  receipt  was  issued, and such penalties and interest shall be cancelled
   20  and be deemed satisfied upon the discharge of such  obligation  provided
   21  such  obligation  is discharged prior to the disposition of the tax lien
   22  as provided in section nine hundred sixty-eight of this  chapter]  LIENS
   23  CREATED  AND  TRANSFERRED SHALL STAY IN EFFECT UNTIL THE LOAN OBLIGATION
   24  IS FULLY SATISFIED AND DISCHARGED.
   25    S 8. The real property tax law is amended by adding two  new  sections
   26  965 and 967 to read as follows:
   27    S 965. DEFINITIONS; APPLICABILITY. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS TITLE, THE
   28  TERM  "TAXING  JURISDICTION" INCLUDES A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, A SPECIAL
   29  DISTRICT AND, WHERE  APPLICABLE,  A  COUNTY  TAX  COLLECTION  AGENCY  AS
   30  PROVIDED  FOR IN TITLE FOUR-A OF THIS ARTICLE. THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION
   31  NINE HUNDRED NINETY-SIX OF THIS ARTICLE SHALL NOT BE APPLICABLE FOR  THE
   32  PURPOSES OF THIS TITLE.
   33    S  967.  FORECLOSURE OF A CONDITIONAL TAX RECEIPT. 1. EXCEPT AS OTHER-
   34  WISE PROVIDED BY THIS SECTION, THE TRANSFEREE OF A TAX LIEN PURSUANT  TO
   35  SUBDIVISION  TWO  OF  SECTION  NINE HUNDRED SIXTY OF THIS TITLE, AND ANY
   36  SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST, IS SUBROGATED TO AND IS ENTITLED TO EXERCISE  ANY
   37  RIGHT OR REMEDY POSSESSED BY THE TRANSFERRING TAXING JURISDICTION AND IS
   38  ENTITLED  TO FORECLOSE THE LIEN IN THE EVENT OF A DEFAULT, AS DEFAULT IS
   39  DEFINED IN THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE PARTIES, IN THE MANNER PROVIDED  FOR
   40  IN  ARTICLE  THIRTEEN  OR  FOURTEEN  OF  THE  REAL  PROPERTY ACTIONS AND
   41  PROCEEDINGS LAW FOR THE FORECLOSURE OF A MORTGAGE.
   42    2. PRIOR TO THE INSTITUTION OF A SUIT TO FORECLOSE A TAX  LIEN  TRANS-
   43  FERRED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION TWO OF SECTION NINE HUNDRED SIXTY OF THIS
   44  TITLE, A LENDING ENTITY SHALL PROVIDE NOTICE, VIA CERTIFIED MAIL, TO THE
   45  PROPERTY  OWNER  THAT SUCH LENDING ENTITY INTENDS TO COMMENCE A FORECLO-
   46  SURE ACTION. SUCH NOTICE SHALL PROVIDE THE  PROPERTY  OWNER  SIXTY  DAYS
   47  FROM  RECEIPT  OF SUCH NOTICE TO CURE ANY DEFAULT, AS DEFAULT IS DEFINED
   48  IN THE LOAN AGREEMENT WITH THE LENDING ENTITY.
   49    3. IF A SUIT TO FORECLOSE A TAX LIEN SO  TRANSFERRED  RESULTS  IN  THE
   50  FORECLOSURE  OF SUCH LIEN, THE ENTITY FILING SUIT IS ENTITLED TO RECOVER
   51  ALL COSTS, DISBURSEMENTS, EXPENSES AND FEES AS PROVIDED FOR  IN  ARTICLE
   52  THIRTEEN  OR  FOURTEEN  OF THE REAL PROPERTY ACTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS LAW
   53  FOR THE FORECLOSURE OF A MORTGAGE, THE SAME AS PROVIDED FOR IN THE CIVIL
   54  PRACTICE LAW AND RULES INSOFAR AS  NOT  COVERED  BY  THE  REAL  PROPERTY
   55  ACTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS LAW, AND ANY ADDITIONAL ALLOWANCES AUTHORIZED BY
   56  SECTIONS  EIGHTY-THREE HUNDRED TWO AND EIGHTY-THREE HUNDRED THREE OF THE
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    1  CIVIL PRACTICE LAW AND RULES. ANY  SURPLUS  MONIES  REMAINING  SHALL  BE
    2  PAYABLE TO THE PROPERTY OWNER.
    3    4. SUBSEQUENT TO THE SALE OF THE PROPERTY AS PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION,
    4  THE  PROPERTY  OWNER IS ENTITLED TO REDEEM THE PROPERTY ON OR BEFORE THE
    5  (A) FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE DATE OF THE FORECLOSURE SALE BY PAYING  THE
    6  PURCHASER  OF THE FORECLOSED PROPERTY THE PURCHASE PRICE, PLUS COSTS AND
    7  INTEREST AT THE RATE OF EIGHTEEN PERCENT  PER  ANNUM,  TO  THE  DATE  OF
    8  REDEMPTION,  OR  ONE  HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THE PURCHASE PRICE,
    9  WHICHEVER IS LESS; OR (B) SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF THE DATE OF THE FORECLO-
   10  SURE SALE BY PAYING THE PURCHASER THE PURCHASE  PRICE,  PLUS  COSTS  AND
   11  INTEREST  AT  THE  RATE  OF  EIGHTEEN  PERCENT PER ANNUM, TO THE DATE OF
   12  REDEMPTION, OR ONE HUNDRED FIFTY PERCENT OF THE PURCHASE PRICE, WHICHEV-
   13  ER IS LESS.
   14    S 9. Section 968 of the real property tax law is REPEALED.
   15    S 10. Section 970 of the real property tax law is amended to  read  as
   16  follows:
   17    S  970.  Examination of books of [loan corporations] LENDING ENTITIES.
   18  1. Any [municipal corporation] TAXING JURISDICTION  issuing  conditional
   19  tax receipts shall keep a complete record thereof. Any [municipal corpo-
   20  ration] TAXING JURISDICTION shall have the right to examine from time to
   21  time  the  [books]  DOCUMENTS  RELATING TO ANY OF THE LOANS of any [loan
   22  corporation] ENTITY to which it  has  issued  conditional  tax  receipts
   23  [and].    ANY  COUNTY IN WHICH CONDITIONAL TAX RECEIPTS ARE RECORDED may
   24  [make], IN ITS DISCRETION, PROMULGATE regulations not inconsistent  with
   25  the  provisions  of  this  title  for  the  better accomplishment of the
   26  purpose thereof and for the protection of the borrowing [taxpayer] PROP-
   27  ERTY OWNER.
   28    2. Upon [proof to the municipal corporation of]  A  DETERMINATION  OF,
   29  AFTER  NOTICE AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD, any willful AND PERSISTENT
   30  violation of this title, or of the regulations [made] PROMULGATED pursu-
   31  ant thereto, by any [loan corporation] LENDING ENTITY to  which  [it]  A
   32  TAXING  JURISDICTION has issued conditional tax receipts, it shall cease
   33  the issuance of conditional tax  receipts  to  such  [loan  corporation]
   34  LENDING ENTITY.
   35    S  11.  This  act  shall  take effect on the one hundred eightieth day
   36  after it shall have become a law; provided that any and  all  rules  and
   37  regulations  and any other measures necessary to implement any provision
   38  of this act on its effective date may be promulgated and taken,  respec-
   39  tively, on or before the effective date of such provision.
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