Bill Text: NY S04751 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: Authorizes the town of Chester to establish community preservation funds; establishes a real estate transfer tax with revenues therefrom to be deposited in said community preservation fund.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed) 2024-01-03 - REFERRED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT [S04751 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-S04751-Introduced.html



                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          4751

                               2023-2024 Regular Sessions

                    IN SENATE

                                    February 14, 2023
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by  Sen. SKOUFIS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
          printed to be committed to the Committee on Local Government

        AN ACT to amend the town law, in relation to  authorizing  the  town  of
          Chester,  county  of Orange to establish community preservation funds;
          to amend the tax law, in relation to authorizing the town  of  Chester
          to  impose  a  real  estate transfer tax with revenues therefrom to be
          deposited in said community preservation fund; and providing  for  the
          repeal of certain provisions upon expiration thereof

          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:

     1    Section 1. The town law is amended by adding a  new  section  64-l  to
     2  read as follows:
     3    §  64-l.  Town  of  Chester  preservation  funds.  1.  As used in this
     4  section, the following words and terms shall have  the  following  mean-
     5  ings:
     6    (a) "Town" means the town of Chester.
     7    (b)  "Community  preservation"  shall  mean  and  include  any  of the
     8  purposes outlined in subdivision five of this section.
     9    (c) "Board" means the advisory board required pursuant to  subdivision
    10  six of this section.
    11    (d)  "Fund"  means the community preservation fund created pursuant to
    12  subdivision two of this section.
    13    (e) "Tax" shall mean the real estate transfer tax imposed pursuant  to
    14  section  fourteen  hundred  thirty-nine-bbb  of  the  tax law or, if the
    15  context clearly indicates, shall  mean  the  real  estate  transfer  tax
    16  imposed pursuant to article thirty-one of the tax law.
    17    2. The town board of the town of Chester is authorized to establish by
    18  local  law  a  community preservation fund pursuant to the provisions of
    19  this section. Deposits into the fund may include revenues of  the  local
    20  government  from  whatever  source  and shall include, at a minimum, all
    21  revenues from a tax imposed upon the transfer of real property interests

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD05765-01-3

        S. 4751                             2

     1  in such town pursuant to article thirty-one-A-four of the tax  law.  The
     2  fund  shall  also be authorized to accept gifts of any such interests in
     3  land or of funds. Interest accrued by monies  deposited  into  the  fund
     4  shall be credited to the fund. In no event shall monies deposited in the
     5  fund  be  transferred  to  any  other account. Nothing contained in this
     6  section shall be construed to prevent the financing in whole or in part,
     7  pursuant to the local finance law, of any acquisition authorized  pursu-
     8  ant  to  this section. Monies from the fund may be utilized to repay any
     9  indebtedness or obligations incurred pursuant to the local  finance  law
    10  consistent with effectuating the purposes of this section.
    11    3.  The  purposes of the fund shall be exclusively: (a) to implement a
    12  plan for the preservation of community character  as  required  by  this
    13  section,  (b)  to  acquire  interests or rights in real property for the
    14  preservation of community character within the town  including  villages
    15  therein  in  accordance  with  such plan and in cooperation with willing
    16  sellers, (c) to establish a bank pursuant to a transfer  of  development
    17  rights  program  consistent with section two hundred sixty-one-a of this
    18  chapter, and (d) to provide a management  and  stewardship  program  for
    19  such  interests  and  rights  consistent  with  subdivision  ten of this
    20  section and in accordance with such plan designed to preserve  community
    21  character.  Not  more than ten percent of the fund shall be utilized for
    22  the management and stewardship program.
    23    4. If the implementation of the community preservation  project  plan,
    24  adopted  by  the  town  board,  as provided in subdivision seven of this
    25  section, has been completed, and funds are  no  longer  needed  for  the
    26  purposes  outlined in this subdivision, then any remaining monies in the
    27  fund shall be applied to reduce any bonded indebtedness  or  obligations
    28  incurred to effectuate the purposes of this section.
    29    5.  Preservation  of  community character shall involve one or more of
    30  the following:
    31    (a) preservation of open space;
    32    (b) establishment of parks, nature preserves, or recreation areas;
    33    (c) preservation of land which is  predominantly  viable  agricultural
    34  land,  as  defined  in subdivision seven of section three hundred one of
    35  the agriculture and markets law, or unique  and  irreplaceable  agricul-
    36  tural  land,  as defined in subdivision six of section three hundred one
    37  of the agriculture and markets law;
    38    (d) preservation of lands of exceptional scenic value;
    39    (e) preservation of freshwater marshes or other wetlands;
    40    (f) preservation of aquifer recharge areas;
    41    (g) preservation of undeveloped beach-lands or shoreline;
    42    (h) establishment of wildlife refuges for the purpose  of  maintaining
    43  native  animal  species  diversity,  including the protection of habitat
    44  essential to the recovery of rare, threatened or endangered species;
    45    (i) preservation of unique or threatened ecological areas;
    46    (j) preservation of rivers and river areas in a natural,  free-flowing
    47  condition;
    48    (k) preservation of forested land;
    49    (l)  preservation  of  public access to lands for public use including
    50  stream rights and waterways;
    51    (m) preservation of historic places and properties listed on  the  New
    52  York  state register of historic places and/or protected under a munici-
    53  pal historic preservation ordinance or law; and
    54    (n) undertaking any of the purposes of this subdivision in furtherance
    55  of the establishment of a greenbelt.

        S. 4751                             3

     1    6. The town board which has established a community preservation  fund
     2  shall  create  an  advisory  board to review and make recommendations on
     3  proposed acquisitions of interests in real property  using  monies  from
     4  the  fund.  Such board shall consist of five or seven legal residents of
     5  the  municipality who shall serve without compensation. No member of the
     6  local legislative body shall serve on  the  board.  A  majority  of  the
     7  members  of  the board shall have demonstrated experience with conserva-
     8  tion or land preservation activities. The board shall act in an advisory
     9  capacity to the town board. At least one member of the board shall be an
    10  active farmer. Board members' terms shall be staggered.
    11    7. The town board which has established a community preservation  fund
    12  shall,  by  local law, adopt a community preservation project plan. Such
    13  plan shall list every project which the town plans to undertake pursuant
    14  to the community preservation fund.   Such  plan  shall  provide  for  a
    15  detailed  evaluation  of  all available land use alternatives to protect
    16  community character, including but not limited to: (a) fee simple acqui-
    17  sition, (b) zoning regulations, including  density  reductions,  cluster
    18  development,  and  site  plan  and  design requirements, (c) transfer of
    19  development rights, (d) the purchase  of  development  rights,  and  (e)
    20  scenic  and conservation easements. Said evaluation shall be as specific
    21  as practicable as to each parcel selected for inclusion  in  such  plan.
    22  Such  plan  shall  establish  the priorities for preservation, and shall
    23  include the preservation of farmland as its highest priority. Funds from
    24  the community preservation fund may only be expended for projects  which
    25  have  been  included  in  such plan. Such plan shall be updated not less
    26  than once every five years, but in no event until at least  three  years
    27  after  the  adoption  of the original plan. A copy of such plan shall be
    28  filed with the town clerk, the commissioner of  environmental  conserva-
    29  tion,  the  commissioner of agriculture and markets and the commissioner
    30  of the office of parks, recreation and historic preservation. Such  plan
    31  shall  be  completed  at  least  sixty days before the submission of the
    32  mandatory referendum required by section fourteen  hundred  thirty-nine-
    33  bbb of the tax law. If at the time of referendum, the town shall have in
    34  place  an  adopted open space plan, such plan shall be deemed sufficient
    35  to waive the preservation plan requirements  of  this  subdivision.  Any
    36  monies  expended  from the community preservation plan shall, however be
    37  consistent with the purposes outlined in subdivisions three and five  of
    38  this  section  and  with  the open space plan for a period not to exceed
    39  twelve months.
    40    8. The town board which has established a community preservation  fund
    41  pursuant  to this section may study and consider establishing a transfer
    42  of development rights program to protect community character as provided
    43  for by section two hundred sixty-one-a of this chapter.  All  provisions
    44  of  such  section  two hundred sixty-one-a shall be complied with. If at
    45  any time during the life of the community preservation fund  a  transfer
    46  of  development  rights  program  is  established,  the town may utilize
    47  monies from the community preservation fund in order to create and  fund
    48  a  central bank of the transfer of development rights program. If at any
    49  time during the life of the community preservation fund, a  transfer  of
    50  development  rights program is repealed by the town, all monies from the
    51  central bank shall be returned to the community preservation fund.
    52    9. No interests or rights in real property shall be acquired  pursuant
    53  to  this  section  until a public hearing is held as required by section
    54  two hundred forty-seven of the general municipal law; provided, however,
    55  that nothing herein shall prevent the town board from  entering  into  a
    56  conditional  purchase  agreement  before  a  public hearing is held. Any

        S. 4751                             4

     1  resolution of the town board  approving  an  acquisition  of  rights  or
     2  interest  in  real  property  pursuant  to this section, shall find that
     3  acquisition was the best alternative for  the  protection  of  community
     4  character of all the reasonable alternatives available to the town.
     5    10.  Rights  or  interest  in  real property acquired pursuant to this
     6  section shall be administered and managed in a manner which  (a)  allows
     7  public  use  and  enjoyment  in  a  manner  compatible with the natural,
     8  scenic, historic and open space character of such lands;  (b)  preserves
     9  the  native  biological diversity of such lands; (c) with regard to open
    10  spaces, limits improvements to enhancing access for passive use of  such
    11  lands  such  as nature trails, boardwalks, bicycle paths, and peripheral
    12  parking areas provided that such improvements do not degrade the ecolog-
    13  ical value of the land or threaten essential wildlife habitat;  and  (d)
    14  preserves  cultural  property  consistent  with  accepted  standards for
    15  historic preservation.  Notwithstanding  any  other  provision  of  this
    16  subdivision  there shall be no right to public use and enjoyment of land
    17  used in conjunction with a farm  operation  as  defined  by  subdivision
    18  eleven  of section three hundred one of the agriculture and markets law.
    19  In furthering the purposes of this section,  the  town  may  enter  into
    20  agreements  with  corporations organized under the not-for-profit corpo-
    21  ration law and engage in land trust activities to manage lands including
    22  less than fee interests acquired pursuant  to  the  provisions  of  this
    23  section, provided that any such agreement shall contain a provision that
    24  such  corporation  shall  keep the lands accessible to the public unless
    25  such corporation shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the town  that
    26  public  accessibility  would  be detrimental to the lands or any natural
    27  resources associated therewith.
    28    11. Rights or interests in real property  acquired  with  monies  from
    29  such  fund  shall  not be sold, leased, exchanged, donated, or otherwise
    30  disposed of or used for  other  than  the  purposes  permitted  by  this
    31  section  without  the  express authority of an act of the state legisla-
    32  ture, which shall provide for the substitution of other lands  of  equal
    33  environmental  value  and  fair  market  value and reasonably equivalent
    34  usefulness and location to those to be discontinued,  sold  or  disposed
    35  of, and such other requirements as shall be approved by the state legis-
    36  lature. Any conservation easements, created under title three of article
    37  forty-nine  of  the  environmental  conservation law, which are acquired
    38  with monies from such fund may  only  be  modified  or  extinguished  as
    39  provided  in section 49-0307 of such law.  Nothing in this section shall
    40  preclude  the  town,  by  local  law,   from   establishing   additional
    41  restrictions  to  the  alienation  of  lands  acquired  pursuant to this
    42  section. This subdivision shall not apply to  the  sale  of  development
    43  rights by the town acquired pursuant to this section, where said sale is
    44  made  by  a  central bank created by the town, pursuant to a transfer of
    45  development rights program established by the town pursuant  to  section
    46  two  hundred sixty-one-a of this chapter, provided, however that (a) the
    47  lands from which said development  rights  were  acquired  shall  remain
    48  preserved  in  perpetuity  by a permanent conservation easement or other
    49  instrument that similarly preserves the community  character  referenced
    50  in subdivision five of this section, and (b) the proceeds from such sale
    51  shall be deposited in the community preservation fund.
    52    §  2. The tax law is amended by adding a new article 31-A-4 to read as
    53  follows:
    54                               ARTICLE 31-A-4
    55             TAX ON REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS IN THE TOWN OF CHESTER
    56  Section 1439-aaa. Definitions.

        S. 4751                             5

     1          1439-bbb. Imposition of tax.
     2          1439-ccc. Payment of tax.
     3          1439-ddd. Liability for tax.
     4          1439-eee. Exemptions.
     5          1439-fff. Credit.
     6          1439-ggg. Cooperative housing corporation transfers.
     7          1439-hhh. Designation of agents.
     8          1439-iii. Liability of recording officer.
     9          1439-jjj. Refunds.
    10          1439-kkk. Deposit and disposition of revenue.
    11          1439-lll. Judicial review.
    12          1439-mmm. Apportionment.
    13          1439-nnn. Miscellaneous.
    14          1439-ooo. Returns to be secret.
    15          1439-ppp. Foreclosure proceedings.
    16    §  1439-aaa.  Definitions. When used in this article, unless otherwise
    17  expressly stated, the following words and terms shall have the following
    18  meanings:
    19    1. "Person" means an individual, partnership, limited liability compa-
    20  ny, society, association,  joint  stock  company,  corporation,  estate,
    21  receiver,  trustee,  assignee,  referee  or any other person acting in a
    22  fiduciary or representative capacity, whether appointed by  a  court  or
    23  otherwise,  any  combination of individuals, and any other form of unin-
    24  corporated enterprise owned or conducted by two or more persons.
    25    2. "Controlling interest" means (a) in  the  case  of  a  corporation,
    26  either  fifty  percent or more of the total combined voting power of all
    27  classes of stock of such corporation, or fifty percent or  more  of  the
    28  capital,  profits  or  beneficial  interest in such voting stock of such
    29  corporation, and (b) in the case of a partnership, association, trust or
    30  other entity, fifty percent or more of the capital, profits  or  benefi-
    31  cial interest in such partnership, association, trust or other entity.
    32    3.  "Real  property"  means every estate or right, legal or equitable,
    33  present or future, vested or contingent, in lands, tenements or  heredi-
    34  taments, including buildings, structures and other improvements thereon,
    35  which  are  located  in  whole or in part within the town of Chester. It
    36  shall not include rights to sepulture.
    37    4. "Consideration" means the price actually paid  or  required  to  be
    38  paid for the real property or interest therein, including payment for an
    39  option  or  contract to purchase real property, whether or not expressed
    40  in the deed and whether paid or required to be paid by money,  property,
    41  or  any  other  thing  of  value.  It  shall include the cancellation or
    42  discharge of an indebtedness or obligation. It shall  also  include  the
    43  amount  of  any  mortgage, purchase money mortgage, lien or other encum-
    44  brance, whether or not the underlying indebtedness is assumed  or  taken
    45  subject to.
    46    (a)  In the case of a creation of a leasehold interest or the granting
    47  of an option with use and  occupancy  of  real  property,  consideration
    48  shall  include, but not be limited to, the value of the rental and other
    49  payments attributable to the use and occupancy of the real  property  or
    50  interest therein, the value of any amount paid for an option to purchase
    51  or  renew  and the value of rental or other payments attributable to the
    52  exercise of any option to renew.
    53    (b) In the case of a creation of a  subleasehold  interest,  consider-
    54  ation  shall  include,  but not be limited to, the value of the sublease
    55  rental payments attributable to the use and occupancy of the real  prop-
    56  erty,  the value of any amount paid for an option to renew and the value

        S. 4751                             6

     1  of rental or other payments attributable to the exercise of  any  option
     2  to  renew  less  the  value of the remaining prime lease rental payments
     3  required to be made.
     4    (c) In the case of a controlling interest in any entity that owns real
     5  property,  consideration  shall  mean  the fair market value of the real
     6  property or interest therein, apportioned based on the percentage of the
     7  ownership interest transferred or acquired in the entity.
     8    (d) In the case of an assignment or surrender of a leasehold  interest
     9  or the assignment or surrender of an option or contract to purchase real
    10  property,  consideration  shall  not  include the value of the remaining
    11  rental payments required to be made pursuant to the terms of such  lease
    12  or  the amount to be paid for the real property pursuant to the terms of
    13  the option or contract being assigned or surrendered.
    14    (e) In the case of (1) the original conveyance of shares of stock in a
    15  cooperative housing corporation in connection with the grant or transfer
    16  of a proprietary leasehold by the cooperative corporation or cooperative
    17  plan sponsor, and (2) the subsequent conveyance by the owner thereof  of
    18  such  stock  in a cooperative housing corporation in connection with the
    19  grant or transfer of a proprietary  leasehold  for  a  cooperative  unit
    20  other than an individual residential unit, consideration shall include a
    21  proportionate  share of the unpaid principal of any mortgage on the real
    22  property of the cooperative housing corporation comprising  the  cooper-
    23  ative  dwelling  or dwellings.  Such share shall be determined by multi-
    24  plying the total unpaid principal of the mortgage  by  a  fraction,  the
    25  numerator of which shall be the number of shares of stock being conveyed
    26  in  the  cooperative housing corporation in connection with the grant or
    27  transfer of a proprietary leasehold and the denominator of  which  shall
    28  be the total number of shares of stock in the cooperative housing corpo-
    29  ration.
    30    5.  "Conveyance"  means  the  transfer or transfers of any interest in
    31  real property by  any  method,  including  but  not  limited  to,  sale,
    32  exchange,  assignment, surrender, mortgage foreclosure, transfer in lieu
    33  of foreclosure, option,  trust  indenture,  taking  by  eminent  domain,
    34  conveyance upon liquidation or by a receiver, or transfer or acquisition
    35  of a controlling interest in any entity with an interest in real proper-
    36  ty.  Transfer of an interest in real property shall include the creation
    37  of a leasehold or sublease only where (a) the sum of  the  term  of  the
    38  lease  or sublease and any options for renewal exceeds forty-nine years,
    39  (b) substantial capital improvements are or may be made by  or  for  the
    40  benefit of the lessee or sublessee, and (c) the lease or sublease is for
    41  substantially  all  of  the  premises  constituting  the  real property.
    42  Notwithstanding the foregoing, conveyance of  real  property  shall  not
    43  include  a  conveyance  made pursuant to devise, bequest or inheritance;
    44  the creation, modification,  extension,  spreading,  severance,  consol-
    45  idation,  assignment, transfer, release or satisfaction of a mortgage; a
    46  mortgage subordination agreement, a  mortgage  severance  agreement,  an
    47  instrument given to perfect or correct a recorded mortgage; or a release
    48  of lien of tax pursuant to this chapter or the internal revenue code.
    49    6.  "Interest in the real property" includes title in fee, a leasehold
    50  interest, a beneficial interest, an encumbrance, development rights, air
    51  space and air rights, or any other interest with the  right  to  use  or
    52  occupancy  of  real  property  or the right to receive rents, profits or
    53  other income derived from real property. It shall also include an option
    54  or contract to purchase real property. It shall not include a  right  of
    55  first refusal to purchase real property.

        S. 4751                             7

     1    7.  "Grantor"  means the person making the conveyance of real property
     2  or interest therein. Where the conveyance consists of a transfer  or  an
     3  acquisition  of  a controlling interest in an entity with an interest in
     4  real property, "grantor" means the entity with an interest in real prop-
     5  erty  or  a  shareholder  or  partner  transferring stock or partnership
     6  interest, respectively.
     7    8. "Grantee" means the person who obtains real  property  or  interest
     8  therein as a result of a conveyance.
     9    9.  "Fund"  means  a  community  preservation fund created pursuant to
    10  section sixty-four-l of the town law.
    11    10. "Recording officer" means  the  county  clerk  of  the  county  of
    12  Orange.
    13    11. "Town" means the town of Chester, county of Orange.
    14    12. "Treasurer" means the treasurer of the county of Orange.
    15    13.  "Town  supervisor" means the town supervisor of the town of Ches-
    16  ter.
    17    14. "Tax" shall mean the real estate transfer tax imposed pursuant  to
    18  section  fourteen  hundred  thirty-nine-bbb  of  this article or, if the
    19  context clearly indicates, shall  mean  the  real  estate  transfer  tax
    20  imposed pursuant to article thirty-one of this chapter.
    21    15.  "Residential  real  property"  means  property which satisfies at
    22  least one of the following conditions:
    23    (a) the property classification code assigned to the property  on  the
    24  latest  final  assessment roll, as reported on the transfer report form,
    25  indicates that the property is a one, two or  three  family  home  or  a
    26  rural residence; or
    27    (b)  the  transfer report indicates that the property is a one, two or
    28  three family residential property that has  been  newly  constructed  on
    29  vacant land; or
    30    (c) the transfer report form indicates that the property is a residen-
    31  tial condominium.
    32    § 1439-bbb. Imposition of tax. Notwithstanding any other provisions of
    33  law to the contrary, the town of Chester, acting through its town board,
    34  is hereby authorized and empowered to adopt a local law imposing in such
    35  town  a  tax on each conveyance of real property or interest therein not
    36  to exceed a maximum of three-quarters of one percent  of  the  consider-
    37  ation  for  such  conveyance,  subject  to  the  exemptions set forth in
    38  section fourteen hundred thirty-nine-eee of this article; any such local
    39  law shall fix the rate of such tax. Provided, however,  any  such  local
    40  law  imposing,  repealing  or  reimposing such tax shall be subject to a
    41  mandatory referendum pursuant to section twenty-three of  the  municipal
    42  home  rule law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to adoption of such
    43  local law, the town must establish a community preservation fund  pursu-
    44  ant  to  section  sixty-four-l  of  the town law. Revenues from such tax
    45  shall be deposited in such fund and may be used solely for the  purposes
    46  of  such fund. Such local law shall apply to any conveyance occurring on
    47  or after the first day of a month to be designated by such  town  board,
    48  which is not less than sixty days after the enactment of such local law,
    49  but  shall  not apply to conveyances made on or after such date pursuant
    50  to binding written contracts entered into prior to such  date,  provided
    51  that  the date of execution of such contract is confirmed by independent
    52  evidence such as the recording of the contract, payment of a deposit  or
    53  other facts and circumstances as determined by the treasurer.
    54    §  1439-ccc.  Payment  of tax. 1. The real estate transfer tax imposed
    55  pursuant to this article shall be paid to the treasurer or the recording
    56  officer acting as the agent of the treasurer upon  designation  as  such

        S. 4751                             8

     1  agent  by  the treasurer. Such tax shall be paid at the same time as the
     2  real estate transfer tax imposed by article thirty-one of  this  chapter
     3  is  required  to  be  paid.  Such  treasurer  or recording officer shall
     4  endorse  upon  each  deed or instrument effecting a conveyance a receipt
     5  for the amount of the tax so paid.
     6    2. A return shall be required to  be  filed  with  such  treasurer  or
     7  recording  officer  for purposes of the real estate transfer tax imposed
     8  pursuant to this article at the same time as a return is required to  be
     9  filed  for  purposes  of the real estate transfer tax imposed by article
    10  thirty-one of this chapter. The treasurer shall prescribe  the  form  of
    11  return,  the  information  which it shall contain, and the documentation
    12  that shall accompany the return. Said form shall  be  identical  to  the
    13  real estate transfer tax return required to be filed pursuant to section
    14  fourteen  hundred  nine of this chapter, except that the treasurer shall
    15  adapt said form to reflect the  provisions  in  this  chapter  that  are
    16  inconsistent,  different,  or  in  addition to the provisions of article
    17  thirty-one of this chapter.    The  real  estate  transfer  tax  returns
    18  required  to  be  filed  pursuant to this section shall be preserved for
    19  three years and thereafter until such  treasurer  or  recording  officer
    20  orders them to be destroyed.
    21    3.  The  recording  officer shall not record an instrument effecting a
    22  conveyance unless the return required by this section has been filed and
    23  the tax imposed pursuant  to  this  article  shall  have  been  paid  as
    24  required in this section.
    25    §  1439-ddd.  Liability for tax. 1. The real estate transfer tax shall
    26  be paid by the grantee. If the grantee has failed to pay the tax imposed
    27  pursuant to this article or if the grantee is exempt from such tax,  the
    28  grantor  shall  have  the duty to pay the tax. Where the grantor has the
    29  duty to pay the tax because the grantee has failed to pay the tax,  such
    30  tax  shall  be  the  joint  and several liability of the grantee and the
    31  grantor.
    32    2. For the purpose of the proper administration of this article and to
    33  prevent evasion of the tax hereby imposed, it shall be presumed that all
    34  conveyances are subject to the tax.  Where  the  consideration  includes
    35  property  other  than money, it shall be presumed that the consideration
    36  is the fair market value of the real property or interest therein. These
    37  presumptions shall prevail until the contrary is proven, and the  burden
    38  of proving the contrary shall be on the person liable for payment of the
    39  tax.
    40    §  1439-eee.  Exemptions.  1.  The  following shall be exempt from the
    41  payment of the real estate transfer tax imposed by this article:
    42    (a) The state of New York, or any of its agencies,  instrumentalities,
    43  political  subdivisions,  or  public  corporations  (including  a public
    44  corporation created pursuant to an agreement  or  compact  with  another
    45  state or the Dominion of Canada); and
    46    (b)  The  United  Nations,  the United States of America or any of its
    47  agencies or instrumentalities.
    48    2. The tax shall not apply to any of the following conveyances:
    49    (a) Conveyances to the United Nations, the United States  of  America,
    50  the  state  of  New York, or any of their instrumentalities, agencies or
    51  political subdivisions (or any public corporation,  including  a  public
    52  corporation  created pursuant to agreement or compact with another state
    53  or the Dominion of Canada);
    54    (b) Conveyances which are or were used to secure a debt or other obli-
    55  gation;

        S. 4751                             9

     1    (c) Conveyances  which,  without  additional  consideration,  confirm,
     2  correct, modify or supplement a deed previously recorded;
     3    (d)  Conveyances  of real property without consideration and otherwise
     4  than in connection with a sale, including deeds conveying realty as bona
     5  fide gifts;
     6    (e) Conveyances given in connection with a tax sale;
     7    (f) Conveyances to effectuate a mere change of  identity  or  form  of
     8  ownership  or organization where there is no change in beneficial owner-
     9  ship, other than conveyances to a cooperative housing corporation of the
    10  real property comprising the cooperative dwelling or dwellings;
    11    (g) Conveyances which consist of a deed of partition;
    12    (h) Conveyances given pursuant to the federal bankruptcy act;
    13    (i) Conveyances of real property which consist of the execution  of  a
    14  contract  to  sell  real  property  without the use or occupancy of such
    15  property or the granting of an option to purchase real property  without
    16  the use or occupancy of such property;
    17    (j)  Conveyances  of  real  property  or a portion or portions of real
    18  property that are the subject of one or more of the  following  develop-
    19  ment restrictions:
    20    (1) agricultural, conservation, scenic, or an open space easement,
    21    (2)  covenants or restrictions prohibiting development where the prop-
    22  erty or portion of property  being  conveyed  has  had  its  development
    23  rights permanently removed,
    24    (3)  a  purchase of development rights agreement where the property or
    25  portion of property being conveyed has had its development rights perma-
    26  nently removed,
    27    (4) a transfer of development rights  agreement,  where  the  property
    28  being conveyed has had its development rights removed,
    29    (5)  real  property  subject  to any locally adopted land preservation
    30  agreement, provided said exemption is included in the local law imposing
    31  the tax authorized by this article;
    32    (k) Conveyances of real property, where the property is  viable  agri-
    33  cultural  land  as defined in subdivision seven of section three hundred
    34  one of the agriculture and markets law and the  entire  property  to  be
    35  conveyed  is  to  be made subject to one of the development restrictions
    36  provided for in subparagraph two of paragraph (j)  of  this  subdivision
    37  provided  that  said development restriction precludes the conversion of
    38  the property to a non-agricultural use for at least eight years from the
    39  date of transfer, and said development restriction is  evidenced  by  an
    40  easement,  agreement,  or  other  suitable  instrument  which  is  to be
    41  conveyed to the town simultaneously with  the  conveyance  of  the  real
    42  property; or
    43    (l)  Conveyances  of  real property for open space, parks, or historic
    44  preservation purposes to any not-for-profit tax exempt corporation oper-
    45  ated for conservation, environmental, or historic preservation purposes.
    46    3. An exemption of one hundred thousand dollars shall  be  allowed  on
    47  the  consideration  of  the  conveyance  of improved real property or an
    48  interest therein, and an exemption of fifty thousand  dollars  shall  be
    49  allowed  on the consideration of the conveyance of unimproved real prop-
    50  erty.
    51    § 1439-fff. Credit. A grantee shall be allowed a  credit  against  the
    52  tax  due  on a conveyance of real property to the extent tax was paid by
    53  such grantee on a prior creation of a leasehold of all or a  portion  of
    54  the  same  real  property or on the granting of an option or contract to
    55  purchase all or a portion of the same real  property  by  such  grantee.
    56  Such  credit  shall  be  computed  by  multiplying  the  tax paid on the

        S. 4751                            10

     1  creation of the leasehold or on the granting of the option  or  contract
     2  by  a fraction, the numerator of which is the value of the consideration
     3  used to compute such tax paid which is not yet due to  such  grantor  on
     4  the  date  of the subsequent conveyance (and which such grantor will not
     5  be entitled to receive after such date), and the denominator of which is
     6  the total value of the consideration used to compute such tax paid.
     7    § 1439-ggg. Cooperative housing corporation transfers.  1.    Notwith-
     8  standing  the definition of "controlling interest" contained in subdivi-
     9  sion two of section fourteen hundred thirty-nine-aaa of this article  or
    10  anything  to the contrary contained in subdivision five of section four-
    11  teen hundred thirty-nine-aaa of this article, the tax  imposed  pursuant
    12  to  this article shall apply to (a) the original conveyance of shares of
    13  stock in a cooperative housing corporation in connection with the  grant
    14  or transfer of a proprietary leasehold by the cooperative corporation or
    15  cooperative  plan  sponsor,  and  (b)  the subsequent conveyance of such
    16  stock in a cooperative housing corporation in connection with the  grant
    17  or  transfer  of  a  proprietary  leasehold  by  the owner thereof. With
    18  respect to any such subsequent conveyance where the property is an indi-
    19  vidual residential unit, the consideration  for  the  interest  conveyed
    20  shall  exclude  the value of any liens on certificates of stock or other
    21  evidences of an ownership interest in and a  proprietary  lease  from  a
    22  corporation  or partnership formed for the purpose of cooperative owner-
    23  ship of residential interest in real estate  remaining  thereon  at  the
    24  time  of conveyance. In determining the tax on a conveyance described in
    25  paragraph (a) of this subdivision, a  credit  shall  be  allowed  for  a
    26  proportionate  part of the amount of any tax paid upon the conveyance to
    27  the cooperative housing corporation of the real property comprising  the
    28  cooperative  dwelling  or  dwellings  to the extent that such conveyance
    29  effectuated a mere change of identity or form of ownership of such prop-
    30  erty and not a change in the beneficial ownership of such property.  The
    31  amount  of  the  credit shall be determined by multiplying the amount of
    32  tax paid upon the conveyance to the cooperative housing corporation by a
    33  percentage representing the extent to which such conveyance  effectuated
    34  a  mere  change of identity or form of ownership and not a change in the
    35  beneficial ownership of such property, and then multiplying the  result-
    36  ing product by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of
    37  shares  of stock conveyed in a transaction described in paragraph (a) of
    38  this subdivision, and the denominator of which shall be the total number
    39  of shares of stock of the cooperative housing corporation (including any
    40  stock held by the corporation). In no event, however, shall such  credit
    41  reduce  the  tax,  on  a  conveyance  described in paragraph (a) of this
    42  subdivision, below zero, nor shall any such credit be allowed for a  tax
    43  paid  more than twenty-four months prior to the date on which occurs the
    44  first in a series of conveyances of shares of stock in  an  offering  of
    45  cooperative  housing  corporation  shares  described in paragraph (a) of
    46  this subdivision.
    47    2. Every cooperative housing corporation shall be required to file  an
    48  information  return  with  the  treasurer by July fifteenth of each year
    49  covering the preceding period of January first  through  June  thirtieth
    50  and  by  January fifteenth of each year covering the preceding period of
    51  July first through December thirty-first. The return shall contain  such
    52  information  regarding  the conveyance of shares of stock in the cooper-
    53  ative housing corporation as the treasurer may deem  necessary,  includ-
    54  ing,  but  not limited to, the names, addresses and employee identifica-
    55  tion numbers or social security numbers of the grantor and the  grantee,

        S. 4751                            11

     1  the  number  of  shares  conveyed,  the  date  of the conveyance and the
     2  consideration paid for such conveyance.
     3    §  1439-hhh.  Designation  of  agents.  The treasurer is authorized to
     4  designate the recording officer to act as his or her agent for  purposes
     5  of  collecting  the  tax authorized by this article. The treasurer shall
     6  provide for the manner in which such person may be designated as his  or
     7  her  agent  subject  to such terms and conditions as the treasurer shall
     8  prescribe.  The real estate transfer tax shall be paid to such agent  as
     9  provided in section fourteen hundred thirty-nine-ccc of this article.
    10    §  1439-iii. Liability of recording officer. A recording officer shall
    11  not be liable for any inaccuracy in the amount of tax  imposed  pursuant
    12  to  this article that he or she shall collect so long as he or she shall
    13  compute and collect such tax on the amount of consideration or the value
    14  of the interest conveyed as such amounts are provided to him or  her  by
    15  the person paying the tax.
    16    §  1439-jjj.  Refunds. Whenever the treasurer shall determine that any
    17  moneys received under the provisions of the local law  enacted  pursuant
    18  to  this  article were paid in error, he or she may cause such moneys to
    19  be refunded pursuant to such requirements as he or  she  may  prescribe,
    20  provided that any application for such refund is filed with the treasur-
    21  er within two years from the date the erroneous payment was made.
    22    §  1439-kkk.  Deposit and disposition of revenue. 1. All taxes, penal-
    23  ties and interest imposed by the town under  the  authority  of  section
    24  fourteen hundred thirty-nine-bbb of this article, which are collected by
    25  the treasurer or his or her agents, shall be deposited in a single trust
    26  fund for the town and shall be kept in trust and separate and apart from
    27  all  other  monies  in  possession of the treasurer. Moneys in such fund
    28  shall be deposited and secured in the manner provided by section ten  of
    29  the  general  municipal law.  Pending expenditure from such fund, moneys
    30  therein may be invested in the manner provided in section eleven of  the
    31  general  municipal  law. Any interest earned or capital gain realized on
    32  the moneys so deposited or invested shall accrue to and become  part  of
    33  such fund.
    34    2.  The  treasurer shall retain such amount as he or she may determine
    35  to be necessary for refunds with respect to the tax imposed by the town,
    36  under the authority of section fourteen hundred thirty-nine-bbb of  this
    37  article,  out of which the treasurer shall pay any refunds of such taxes
    38  to those taxpayers entitled to a refund pursuant to  the  provisions  of
    39  this article.
    40    3. The treasurer, after reserving such refunds, shall on or before the
    41  twelfth  day  of each month pay to the town supervisor the taxes, penal-
    42  ties and interest imposed by the town under  the  authority  of  section
    43  fourteen hundred thirty-nine-bbb of this article, collected by the trea-
    44  surer,  pursuant  to  this  article  during  the next preceding calendar
    45  month. The amount so payable shall be certified to the  town  supervisor
    46  by  the  treasurer,  who  shall not be held liable for any inaccuracy in
    47  such certification. Provided, however, any  such  certification  may  be
    48  based  on  such  information as may be available to the treasurer at the
    49  time such certification must be made under  this  section.    Where  the
    50  amount so paid over to the town in any such distribution is more or less
    51  than the amount due to the town, the amount of the overpayment or under-
    52  payment  shall be certified to the town supervisor by the treasurer, who
    53  shall not be held liable for any inaccuracy in such  certification.  The
    54  amount  of  the overpayment or underpayment shall be so certified to the
    55  town supervisor as soon after the discovery of the overpayment or under-
    56  payment as reasonably possible and subsequent payments and distributions

        S. 4751                            12

     1  by the treasurer to the town shall be adjusted by subtracting the amount
     2  of any such overpayment from or by adding the amount of any such  under-
     3  payment  to  such number of subsequent payments and distributions as the
     4  treasurer  and  town supervisor shall consider reasonable in view of the
     5  overpayment or underpayment and all other facts and circumstances.
     6    4. All monies received from the treasurer shall be  deposited  in  the
     7  fund of the town, pursuant to section sixty-four-l of the town law.
     8    §  1439-lll. Judicial review. 1. Any final determination of the amount
     9  of any tax payable under section  fourteen  hundred  thirty-nine-ccc  of
    10  this  article  shall  be reviewable for error, illegality or unconstitu-
    11  tionality or any other reason whatsoever by a proceeding  under  article
    12  seventy-eight  of the civil practice law and rules if application there-
    13  for is made to the supreme court within four months after the giving  of
    14  the notice of such final determination, provided, however, that any such
    15  proceeding  under  article  seventy-eight  of the civil practice law and
    16  rules shall not be instituted unless (a) the amount of any tax sought to
    17  be reviewed, with such interest and penalties thereon as may be provided
    18  for by local law shall be first deposited and there is filed  an  under-
    19  taking,  issued  by  a surety company authorized to transact business in
    20  this state  and  approved  by  the  state  superintendent  of  financial
    21  services  as to solvency and responsibility, in such amount as a justice
    22  of the supreme court shall approve to the effect that if such proceeding
    23  be dismissed or the tax confirmed the petitioner will pay all costs  and
    24  charges which may accrue in the prosecution of such proceeding or (b) at
    25  the  option  of  the petitioner, such undertaking may be in a sum suffi-
    26  cient to cover the taxes, interest and penalties stated in such determi-
    27  nation, plus the costs and charges which may accrue against  it  in  the
    28  prosecution  of  the proceeding, in which event the petitioner shall not
    29  be required to pay such taxes, interest  or  penalties  as  a  condition
    30  precedent to the application.
    31    2.  Where any tax imposed hereunder shall have been erroneously, ille-
    32  gally or unconstitutionally assessed or collected  and  application  for
    33  the refund or revision thereof duly made to the proper fiscal officer or
    34  officers,  and  such officer or officers shall have made a determination
    35  denying such refund or revision, such determination shall be  reviewable
    36  by  a  proceeding  under article seventy-eight of the civil practice law
    37  and rules; provided, however, that (a)  such  proceeding  is  instituted
    38  within  four months after the giving of the notice of such denial, (b) a
    39  final determination of tax due was  not  previously  made,  and  (c)  an
    40  undertaking  is filed with the proper fiscal officer or officers in such
    41  amount and with such sureties as a justice of the  supreme  court  shall
    42  approve  to  the  effect that if such proceeding be dismissed or the tax
    43  confirmed, the petitioner will pay  all  costs  and  charges  which  may
    44  accrue in the prosecution of such proceeding.
    45    § 1439-mmm. Apportionment. A local law adopted by the town of Chester,
    46  pursuant  to  this  article, shall provide for a method of apportionment
    47  for determining the amount of tax due  whenever  the  real  property  or
    48  interest therein is situated within and without the town.
    49    § 1439-nnn. Miscellaneous. A local law adopted by the town of Chester,
    50  pursuant  to this article, may contain such other provisions as the town
    51  deems necessary for the proper administration of the tax imposed  pursu-
    52  ant  to  this article, including provisions concerning the determination
    53  of tax, the imposition of interest on underpayments and overpayments and
    54  the imposition of civil penalties. Such provisions shall be identical to
    55  the corresponding provisions of the real estate transfer tax imposed  by

        S. 4751                            13

     1  article  thirty-one  of  this  chapter, so far as such provisions can be
     2  made applicable to the tax imposed pursuant to this article.
     3    §  1439-ooo. Returns to be secret. 1. Except in accordance with proper
     4  judicial order or as otherwise provided by law, it shall be unlawful for
     5  the treasurer or any officer or employee of the county or town,  includ-
     6  ing  any person engaged or retained on an independent contract basis, to
     7  divulge or make known  in  any  manner  the  particulars  set  forth  or
     8  disclosed  in  any return required under a local law enacted pursuant to
     9  this article. However, that nothing in this section shall  prohibit  the
    10  recording  officer  from  making a notation on an instrument effecting a
    11  conveyance indicating the amount of tax  paid.  No  recorded  instrument
    12  effecting a conveyance shall be considered a return for purposes of this
    13  section.
    14    2.  The officers charged with the custody of such returns shall not be
    15  required to produce any of them or evidence  of  anything  contained  in
    16  them  in  any action or proceeding in any court, except on behalf of the
    17  county or town in any action or proceeding involving the collection of a
    18  tax due under a local law enacted pursuant to this article to which such
    19  county or town is a party, or a claimant, or on behalf of any  party  to
    20  any  action  or  proceeding  under the provisions of a local law enacted
    21  pursuant to this article when the returns or  facts  shown  thereby  are
    22  directly  involved  in such action or proceeding, in any of which events
    23  the court may require the production of, and may admit in  evidence,  so
    24  much  of said returns or of the facts shown thereby, as are pertinent to
    25  the action or proceeding and no more.
    26    3. Nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit  the  delivery  to  a
    27  grantor  or  grantee of an instrument effecting a conveyance or the duly
    28  authorized representative of a grantor or grantee of a certified copy of
    29  any return filed in connection with such instrument or to  prohibit  the
    30  publication of statistics so classified as to prevent the identification
    31  of  particular  returns  and the items thereof, or the inspection by the
    32  legal representatives of such county  or  town  of  the  return  of  any
    33  taxpayer  who  shall  bring  action to set aside or review the tax based
    34  thereon.
    35    4. Any officer or employee  of  such  county  or  town  who  willfully
    36  violates  the  provisions of this section shall be dismissed from office
    37  and be incapable of holding any public office in this state for a period
    38  of five years thereafter.
    39    § 1439-ppp. Foreclosure proceedings. Where the conveyance consists  of
    40  a  transfer  of  property made as a result of an order of the court in a
    41  foreclosure proceeding ordering the sale of such property,  the  referee
    42  or sheriff effectuating such transfer shall not be liable for any inter-
    43  est or penalties that are authorized pursuant to this article or article
    44  thirty-seven of this chapter.
    45    §  3.  Severability.  If  any provision of this act or the application
    46  thereof shall for any reason be  adjudged  by  any  court  of  competent
    47  jurisdiction  to  be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair, or
    48  invalidate the remainder of this act, but shall be confined in its oper-
    49  ation to the provision thereof directly involved in the  controversy  in
    50  which such judgment shall have been rendered.
    51    §  4.  This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that
    52  section two of this act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after  it
    53  shall  have  become  a  law and shall expire December 31, 2041 when upon
    54  such date the provisions of such section shall be deemed repealed.
feedback