S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 9245 I N A S S E M B L Y April 2, 2014 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. RYAN -- read once and referred to the Committee on Real Property Taxation AN ACT relating to final judgment in foreclosures by in rem proceedings in the city of Buffalo THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: 1 Section 1. Final judgment; proceedings in the city of Buffalo. 2 Notwithstanding the provisions of section 1136 of the real property tax 3 law, the following provisions shall apply to final judgments in in rem 4 proceedings taken in the city of Buffalo. 1. Generally. The court shall 5 have full power to determine and enforce in all respects the priorities, 6 rights, claims and demands of the several parties to the proceeding, as 7 the same exist according to law, including the priorities, rights, 8 claims and demands of the respondents as between themselves. The court 9 shall further determine upon proof and shall make findings upon such 10 proof whether there has been due compliance by the tax district with the 11 provisions of article 11 of the real property tax law. 12 2. When an answer has been interposed. (a) When an answer has been 13 interposed by a party other than a tax district as to any parcel of real 14 property included in the petition described in section 1123 of the real 15 property tax law and the court determines that the answer is meritori- 16 ous, the court shall dismiss the petition of foreclosure, with or with- 17 out prejudice, as to the affected parcel or parcels, unless an agreement 18 is executed pursuant to subdivision 2 of section 1150 of the real prop- 19 erty tax law. If the court determines that the answer is not meritori- 20 ous, the court shall make a final judgment awarding to such tax district 21 the right to convey title to the affected parcel or parcels in the same 22 manner as provided by subdivision three of this section. 23 (b) When an answer has been interposed by another tax district as to 24 any parcel and the court shall determine that such other tax district 25 has an interest in such parcel, then and in that event the tax districts 26 having an interest in such parcel may by agreement between themselves 27 pursuant to subdivision 1 of section 1150 of the real property tax law 28 provide (i) for a conveyance without sale of any such parcel to one of EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD14129-01-4 A. 9245 2 1 such tax districts free and clear of any right, title or interest in or 2 lien upon such parcel or such other tax district or districts or (ii) 3 for a conveyance without sale of any such parcel to one of such tax 4 districts subject to any right, title or interest in or lien upon such 5 parcel of such other tax district or districts. In either of such 6 events, the court shall in its judgment expressly dispense with the sale 7 and direct the making and execution of a conveyance by the enforcing 8 officer in accordance with such agreement. In the absence of such an 9 agreement, the court shall make a final judgment directing the sale of 10 such parcel in the same manner as provided by subdivision four of this 11 section, except that the conveyance may expressly be made subject to tax 12 liens of a tax district as provided herein. 13 3. When no answer has been interposed. The court shall make a final 14 judgment awarding to such tax district the right to convey title to any 15 parcel of real property described in the petition of foreclosure not 16 redeemed as provided in article 11 of the real property tax law and as 17 to which no answer is interposed as provided herein. In addition there- 18 to, where the enforcing officer has requested that such a parcel be sold 19 pursuant to subdivision four of this section without the tax district 20 taking title thereto, the judgment shall so direct. Otherwise such judg- 21 ment shall contain a direction to the enforcing officer of the tax 22 district to prepare, execute and cause to be recorded a deed conveying 23 to such tax district full and complete title to such parcel. Upon the 24 execution of such deed, the tax district shall be seized of an estate in 25 fee simple absolute in such parcel and all persons, including the state, 26 infants, incompetents, absentees and non-residents who may have had any 27 right, title, interest, claim, lien or equity of redemption in or upon 28 such parcel shall be barred and forever foreclosed of all such right, 29 title, interest, claim, lien or equity of redemption. The tax district 30 may sell any parcel so acquired in the manner provided by section 1166 31 of the real property tax law if it does not choose to retain the parcel 32 for a public use. 33 4. Court-ordered sales. Where the enforcing officer requests that a 34 parcel be sold without the tax district taking title thereto, the judg- 35 ment shall direct that a public auction shall be conducted by or under 36 the direction of the enforcing officer. Public notice of such sale shall 37 be given once a week for at least three successive weeks in a newspaper 38 published in the county in which such tax district is situated. The 39 terms and conditions of such sale shall be as prescribed by court order, 40 provided that all proceeds including any surplus, shall be paid to the 41 enforcing officer for the benefit of the Buffalo urban renewal agency to 42 support the agency's weatherization and community development projects. 43 At the conclusion of such sale the enforcing officer shall prepare and 44 execute a deed conveying to the purchaser or its designee full and 45 complete title to such parcel. Upon the delivery and acceptance of such 46 deed, the grantee shall be seized of an estate in fee simple absolute in 47 such parcel and all persons, including the state, infants, incompetents, 48 absentees and non-residents who may have had any right, title, interest, 49 claim, lien or equity of redemption in or upon such parcel shall be 50 barred and forever foreclosed of all such right, title, interest, claim, 51 lien or equity of redemption. 52 S 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to any 53 surplus funds from the proceeds of a tax lien foreclosure sale in the 54 city of Buffalo paid into court on or after such effective date.