February 20, 2021
Full list of Governor’s 30-day executive budget amendments linked below to include information we discussed last night that would establish a new account, the ‘COVID-19 Extraordinary Relief Fund’. As the note from our lobbyists states (below), while not stated directly, the fund is clearly a mechanism to limit or create disincentives for the establishment of new revenues or taxes here in NYS.
Subject: Governor Releases 30-Day Amendments to Executive Budget
Governor Releases 30-Day Amendments to Executive Budget
Governor Cuomo’s Division of the Budget released the 30-Day Amendments to the State Budget early this morning. The entire package of amendments can be found here: NYS 30 Day Amendments.
The amendments include a package of Nursing Home reforms, PART GG of the Health Budget Bills: Nursing Homes 30 Day Amendments. These amendments include significant additional fines for violations of the public health law.
Other significant amendments include the establishment of a COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund. Under Part UU of the Public Protection and General Government Article 7 legislation, state finance law would be amended to create the COVID-19 Extraordinary Relief Fund. The Fund would consist of all revenues generated by any chapter of law enacted between April1, 2021 and March 31, 2022 that would:
· Impose a new tax;
· Impose an increased rate of tax; and or
· Diminish or eliminate and tax deduction or credit in effect as of March 31, 2021.
Money in the Fund would be made as loans or grants to school districts, local governments, for profit and not-for-profit corporate entities, and/or public benefit corporations to support expenses related to resolving hardships of the COVID-19 public health emergency. The Comptroller may transfer funds to the General Fund in the case of an economic downturn in the state, the definition of which is detailed in the proposed amendment.
While not stated the fund is clearly a mechanism to limit or create disincentives for the establishment of new revenues or taxes.