NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A964
SPONSOR: Kellner
 
TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the real property tax law, in relation
to creating tax abatements for certain commercial properties located
within the Second Avenue subway project
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: Offers a property tax abatement to
eligible property owners impacted by the MTA Second Avenue Subway
project if they are able to sign or re-negotiate a reduced lease to
current or prospective small business commercial tenants.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS: The real property law is amended to
add a new title 3AB.
§ 496 - Defines "abatement base," "abatement zone," aggregate floor
area," "applicant," benefit period," "billable assessed value," "depart-
ment of finance," "eligible building," "eligibility period," eligible
premises," fiscal year," "governmental agency," "landlord," lease
commencement date," mixed-use building," "person," "rent commencement
date," "tax liability," "tax liability per square foot," "tenant,"
"tenant's percentage share," and "renewal tenant" for the purposes of
this title.
§ 496-a - Describes the procedures for calculation of the tax abatement.
§ 496-b - Outlines the eligibility requirements to qualify for the tax
abatement.
§ 496-c - Procedure for filing an application for the tax abatement.
§ 496-d - Allows the local department of finance to administer the tax
abatement and enforce the provisions of this title.
§ 496-e - Establishes reporting requirements for the applicant during
the benefit period and details conditions dictating the revocation of
the benefit.
§ 496-f - Describes the calculation of tax liens, interest, and penal-
ties pursuant to this title.
§ 496-g - Establishes the rights of the applicant with respect to confi-
dentiality in regards to information submitted.
 
JUSTIFICATION: The long awaited Second Avenue Subway will bring great
benefits to the East Side of Manhattan as well as the entire Metropol-
itan area in the long run, both in terms of local and regional economic
stimulus and in easing mass transportation crowding. But during the
extended construction, which will last well over two and a half decades,
residents, businesses, and property owners within the affected area will
suffer.
These New Yorkers are making a sacrifice for the betterment of the rest
of the East Side and the entire region, and it is important that New
York State extend a helping hand. Due to the increased costs of the
project, the MTA recently announced that the first stage of the Second
Avenue Subway - from 96th Street to 63rd Street - will not be completed
until 2018. This extended timeline makes the hardships of these business
owners even more pronounced. Construction projects of a similar magni-
tude have left a wake of devastation which the East Side of Manhattan
cannot afford.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: A.6102 of 2011-12; A.3949 of 2009-10.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: Unknown.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
964
2013-2014 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY(Prefiled)
January 9, 2013
___________
Introduced by M. of A. KELLNER -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Real Property Taxation
AN ACT to amend the real property tax law, in relation to creating tax
abatements for certain commercial properties located within the Second
Avenue subway project
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Article 4 of the real property tax law is amended by adding
2 a new title 3-A to read as follows:
3 TITLE 3-A
4 TAX ABATEMENT FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL
5 PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN THE SECOND AVENUE SUBWAY PROJECT
6 Section 497. Definitions.
7 497-a. Real property tax abatement.
8 497-b. Eligibility requirements.
9 497-c. Application for certificate of abatement.
10 497-d. Enforcement and administration.
11 497-e. Reporting requirements; revocation of abatements.
12 497-f. Tax lien; interest and penalty.
13 497-g. Confidentiality.
14 § 497. Definitions. When used in this title, the following terms shall
15 mean or include:
16 1. "Abatement base." The lesser of: (a) two dollars and fifty cents
17 or (b) fifty per centum of the tax liability per square foot.
18 2. "Abatement zone." Any area located within the construction area of
19 the Second Avenue subway project as defined by the commissioner of the
20 metropolitan transportation authority, which has been located in such
21 area and continually been doing business in such area during the year
22 two thousand eight and during the current taxable year.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00466-01-3
A. 964 2
1 3. "Aggregate floor area." The sum of the gross areas of the several
2 floors of a building, measured from the exterior faces of exterior walls
3 or from the center lines of walls separating two buildings.
4 4. "Applicant." The landlord and the tenant.
5 5. "Benefit period." The period commencing with the first day of the
6 month immediately following the rent commencement date and terminating
7 no later than sixty months thereafter.
8 6. "Billable assessed value." The lesser of the taxable transitional
9 or the taxable actual assessed value of the eligible building and the
10 land on which the eligible building is located for the fiscal year in
11 which the benefit period commences, as computed pursuant to subdivision
12 three of section eighteen hundred five of this chapter.
13 7. "Department of finance." The department of finance of the city of
14 New York.
15 8. "Eligible building." A non-residential or mixed-use building
16 located in the abatement zone. Such eligible building shall not include
17 any building owned by a governmental agency.
18 9. "Eligibility period." The period commencing January first, two
19 thousand thirteen and terminating June first, two thousand twenty-one.
20 10. "Eligible premises." Premises located in an eligible building
21 which are occupied or used as offices (including ancillary uses) or are
22 occupied or used as retail space.
23 11. "Fiscal year." The fiscal year of any city having a population of
24 one million or more.
25 12. "Governmental agency." The United States of America or any agency
26 or instrumentality thereof, the state of New York, the city of New York,
27 any public corporation (including a body corporate and politic created
28 pursuant to agreement or compact between the state of New York and any
29 other state), public benefit corporation, public authority or other
30 political subdivision of the state.
31 13. "Landlord." Any person who: (a) controls all non-residential
32 portions of an eligible building, including, without limitation, the
33 record owner, the lessee under a ground lease, any mortgagee in
34 possession or any receiver, and
35 (b) who grants the right to use or occupy eligible premises to any
36 tenant, provided that landlord shall not include any lessee who at any
37 time during the lease term occupied or used or occupies or uses any part
38 of the non-residential portions of such eligible building, other than
39 premises occupied or used by such lessee to provide rental or management
40 services to such building.
41 14. "Lease commencement date." The date set forth in the lease on
42 which the term of the lease commences.
43 15. "Mixed-use building." A building used for both residential and
44 commercial purposes, provided that more than twenty-five per centum of
45 the aggregate floor area of such building is used or held out for use as
46 commercial, community facility or accessory use space.
47 16. "Person." An individual, corporation, limited liability company,
48 partnership, association, agency, trust, estate, foreign or domestic
49 government or subdivision thereof, or other entity.
50 17. "Rent commencement date." The date set forth in the lease on which
51 the obligation to pay basic fixed rent shall commence.
52 18. "Tax liability." The product obtained by multiplying the billable
53 assessed value for the fiscal year in which the benefit period commences
54 by the tax rate applicable to the eligible building for such fiscal year
55 as set by the local legislative body of any city having a population of
56 one million or more.
A. 964 3
1 19. "Tax liability per square foot." The tax liability divided by the
2 total number of square feet in the eligible building, as listed on the
3 records of the department of finance.
4 20. "Tenant." A person (including any successors in interest) who
5 executes a lease with the landlord for the right to occupy or use the
6 eligible premises and who occupies or uses the eligible premises pursu-
7 ant to such lease. Tenant shall not include any subtenant.
8 21. "Tenant's percentage share." The percentage of the eligible
9 building's aggregate floor area allocated to the eligible premises,
10 which shall be presumed to be such percentage as set forth in the lease
11 for the eligible premises; provided that where the eligible premises
12 includes expansion premises, the "tenant's percentage share" shall be
13 calculated on the basis of the percentage of the eligible building's
14 aggregate floor area allocated solely to the expansion premises.
15 22. "Renewal tenant." A person who has an existing lease with the
16 landlord and renegotiates or renews such lease with the landlord for the
17 right to occupy or use the eligible premises.
18 § 497-a. Real property tax abatement. 1. Within a city having a popu-
19 lation of one million or more, eligible buildings containing eligible
20 premises shall receive an abatement of real property taxes during the
21 benefit period as follows:
22 (a) for each of the first three years of the benefit period, the
23 abatement shall be equal to the product obtained by:
24 (1) multiplying the tenant's percentage share by the number of square
25 feet in the eligible building, as listed on the records of the depart-
26 ment of finance and
27 (2) multiplying the product obtained in subparagraph one of this para-
28 graph by the abatement base;
29 (b) for the fourth year of the benefit period, the abatement shall be
30 equal to two-thirds of the abatement in the first year of the benefit
31 period; and
32 (c) for the fifth year of the benefit period, the abatement shall be
33 equal to one-third of the abatement in the first year of the benefit
34 period.
35 2. If, as a result of application to the tax commission or a court
36 order or action by the department of finance, the billable assessed
37 value is reduced, the department of finance shall recalculate the abate-
38 ment utilizing such reduced billable assessed value. The amount equal to
39 the difference between the abatement originally granted and the abate-
40 ment as so recalculated shall be deducted from any refund otherwise
41 payable or remission otherwise due as a result of such reduction in
42 billable assessed value, and any balance of such amount remaining unpaid
43 after making any such deduction shall be paid to the department of
44 finance within thirty days from the date of mailing by the department of
45 finance of a notice of the amount payable. Such amount payable shall
46 constitute a tax lien on the eligible building as of the date of such
47 notice and, if not paid within such thirty-day period, penalty and
48 interest at the rate applicable to delinquent taxes on such eligible
49 building shall be charged and collected on such amount from the date of
50 such notice to the date of payment.
51 3. In no event shall the abatement for the eligible premises granted
52 pursuant to this title exceed the tax liability allocable to the eligi-
53 ble premises.
54 4. Notwithstanding the provisions of any lease for occupancy of non-
55 eligible premises in an eligible building or for occupancy of eligible
56 premises for which no certificate of abatement has been issued pursuant
A. 964 4
1 to this title, a lessee of non-eligible premises or of eligible premises
2 for which no certificate of abatement has been issued pursuant to this
3 title shall not be entitled to receive directly or indirectly a
4 reduction in either the real property taxes or any rent (including addi-
5 tional rent) payable pursuant to such lease where such reduction would
6 result from an abatement of real property taxes granted pursuant to this
7 title. A landlord of an eligible building shall not allocate, credit,
8 assign or disburse any portion of an abatement granted pursuant to this
9 title to a lessee of non-eligible premises or of eligible premises for
10 which no certificate of abatement has been issued pursuant to this
11 title. A landlord shall not be required to reduce the real property
12 taxes or any rent (including additional rent) payable by expansion
13 tenants, new tenants and renewal tenants by an amount that exceeds the
14 full amount of the abatement granted pursuant to this title, but a land-
15 lord shall be required to reduce the real property taxes or any rent
16 (including additional rent) payable by expansion tenants, new tenants
17 and renewal tenants by an amount that, in the aggregate, equals the full
18 amount of the abatement granted pursuant to this title. Such reduction
19 shall be allocated in accordance with the abatement granted for the
20 eligible premises occupied by each such tenant.
21 § 497-b. Eligibility requirements. 1. No abatement shall be granted
22 pursuant to this title unless the landlord enters into a lease for
23 eligible premises with a tenant or renewal tenant and:
24 (a) the lease commencement date is within the eligibility period;
25 (b) (1) if, by the sixtieth day following the rent commencement date,
26 such tenant or renewal tenant employs one hundred twenty-five or fewer
27 employees in the eligible premises, the initial lease term is for a
28 period of at least five years or
29 (2) if, by the sixtieth day following the rent commencement date, such
30 tenant or renewal tenant employs more than one hundred twenty-five
31 employees in the eligible premises, the initial lease term is for a
32 period of at least ten years.
33 2. No abatement shall be granted pursuant to this title if an appli-
34 cant shall fail to meet any of the requirements of this title within
35 sixty days of the rent commencement date.
36 3. For purposes of this title, the expiration date of a lease shall be
37 determined by the expiration date set forth in such lease, without
38 giving effect to any rights of the landlord or the tenant to terminate
39 such lease prior to the expiration date set forth in such lease.
40 4. The lease for the eligible premises shall contain the following
41 provisions:
42 (a) a statement of the tenant's percentage share;
43 (b) a statement informing the tenant in at least twelve-point type
44 that:
45 (1) an application for abatement of real property taxes pursuant to
46 this title will be made for the premises;
47 (2) the rent, including amounts payable by the tenant or renewal
48 tenant for real property taxes, will accurately reflect any abatement of
49 real property taxes granted pursuant to this title for the premises; and
50 (3) all abatements granted with respect to a building pursuant to this
51 title will be revoked if, during the benefit period, real estate taxes
52 or water or sewer charges or other lienable charges are unpaid for more
53 than one year, unless such delinquent amounts are paid as provided in
54 subdivision four of section four hundred ninety-seven-e of this title.
55 5. No abatement shall be granted pursuant to this title if:
A. 964 5
1 (a) the lease for the eligible premises provides that during the
2 initial lease term required by subdivision one of this section either
3 the landlord or the tenant or renewal tenant may terminate such lease
4 prior to the expiration date of such required initial lease term;
5 provided that such lease may provide that either the landlord or the
6 tenant may terminate such lease if:
7 (1) the other party is in default of any of such party's obligations
8 under the lease,
9 (2) the eligible premises are damaged or destroyed by fire or other
10 casualty,
11 (3) the eligible premises are rendered unusable for any reason not
12 attributable to any act or failure to act of either tenant or landlord,
13 or
14 (4) the eligible premises are acquired by eminent domain; and
15 (b) there are real property taxes, water or sewer charges or other
16 lienable charges currently due and owing on the eligible building which
17 is the subject of an application for abatement pursuant to this title,
18 unless such real property taxes or charges are currently being paid in
19 timely installments pursuant to a written agreement with the department
20 of finance or other appropriate agency.
21 6. No abatement shall be granted pursuant to this title unless the
22 applicant shall file, together with the application, an affidavit
23 setting forth the following information:
24 (a) a statement that within the seven years immediately preceding the
25 date of application for a certificate of abatement, neither the appli-
26 cant nor any person owning a substantial interest in the eligible build-
27 ing as defined in paragraph (c) of this subdivision, nor any officer,
28 director or general partner of the applicant or such person was finally
29 adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to have violated
30 section two hundred thirty-five of the real property law or any section
31 of article one hundred fifty of the penal law or any similar arson law
32 of another jurisdiction with respect to any building, or was an officer,
33 director or general partner of a person at the time such person was
34 finally adjudicated to have violated any such law; and
35 (b) a statement setting forth any pending charges alleging violation
36 of section two hundred thirty-five of the real property law or any
37 section of article one hundred fifty of the penal law or any similar
38 arson law of another jurisdiction with respect to any building by the
39 applicant or any person owning a substantial interest in the eligible
40 building as defined in paragraph (c) of this subdivision, or any offi-
41 cer, director or general partner of the applicant or such person, or any
42 person for whom the applicant or person owning a substantial interest in
43 the eligible building is an officer, director or general partner.
44 (c) for purposes of this subdivision and subdivision seven of section
45 four hundred ninety-seven-e of this title, "substantial interest" shall
46 mean ownership and control of an interest of ten per centum or more in
47 the eligible building or in any person owning the eligible building.
48 § 497-c. Application for certificate of abatement. 1. Application for
49 a certificate of abatement may be made on or after January first, two
50 thousand thirteen and until sixty days after the end of the eligibility
51 period, and shall be filed with the department of finance. No applica-
52 tion may be filed prior to the date on which the lease for the eligible
53 premises is executed by the landlord and tenant.
54 2. No abatement pursuant to this title shall be granted unless the
55 applicant files an application for a certificate of abatement within
A. 964 6
1 sixty days following the lease commencement date or within sixty days
2 following the effective date of this title, whichever is later.
3 3. In addition to any other information required by the department of
4 finance, the application for a certificate of abatement shall include an
5 abstract of the lease for the eligible premises for which an abatement
6 is being sought which abstract is signed by the landlord and the tenant.
7 Such abstract shall include the tenant's percentage share, the lease
8 commencement date, the rent commencement date, the expiration date for
9 such lease and a description of the improvements to be made to the
10 eligible premises and the common areas of the eligible building, includ-
11 ing the estimated value of such improvements. Such application shall
12 also include:
13 (a) a statement of the number of persons who will, on the rent
14 commencement date, be employed in the eligible premises,
15 (b) a statement of the location of all office or retail space in the
16 city of New York occupied by the tenant prior to the execution of the
17 lease for the eligible premises,
18 (c) the commencement and expiration dates of all leases for premises
19 in the abatement zone used or occupied as office or retail space, and
20 (d) the aggregate floor area of the eligible building. Such applica-
21 tion shall also state that the applicant agrees to comply with and be
22 subject to the rules issued from time to time by the department of
23 finance.
24 4. Within sixty days following the rent commencement date, the appli-
25 cant shall provide, in addition to any other information required by the
26 department of finance, evidence acceptable to the department of finance
27 regarding the number of employees in the eligible premises. The depart-
28 ment of finance shall issue a certificate of abatement upon determining
29 that the applicant has submitted proof acceptable to the department of
30 finance that the applicant has met the requirements set forth in this
31 title.
32 5. The burden of proof shall be on the applicant to show by clear and
33 convincing evidence that the requirements for granting a certificate of
34 abatement have been satisfied. The department of finance shall have the
35 authority to require that statements in connection with such application
36 be made under oath.
37 6. The department of finance may provide by rule for reasonable admin-
38 istrative charges or fees necessary to defray expenses in administering
39 the abatement program provided by this title.
40 § 497-d. Enforcement and administration. The department of finance
41 shall have, in addition to any other functions, powers and duties which
42 have been or may be conferred on it by law, the following functions,
43 powers and duties:
44 1. To receive and review applications for certificates of abatement
45 under this title and issue such certificates where authorized pursuant
46 to this title.
47 2. To receive evidence of premises and building eligibility.
48 3. To receive all certificates of continuing eligibility required by
49 section four hundred ninety-seven-e of this title.
50 4. To collect all real property taxes, with interest and penalty, due
51 and owing as a result of reduction, termination or revocation of any
52 abatement granted pursuant to this title.
53 5. To make and promulgate rules to carry out the purposes of this
54 title.
55 § 497-e. Reporting requirements; revocation of abatements. 1. For the
56 duration of the applicant's benefit period, the applicant shall file
A. 964 7
1 annually with the department of finance, on or before July first of each
2 year, a certificate of continuing eligibility confirming that the eligi-
3 ble premises are occupied by the tenant who originally executed the
4 lease and that the eligible premises are being used for the purposes
5 described in the application. Such certificate of continuing eligibility
6 shall be on a form prescribed by the department of finance and shall
7 contain such additional information as the department of finance shall
8 require. The department of finance shall have the authority to determine
9 the abatements granted pursuant to this title upon failure of an appli-
10 cant to file such certificate by such date. The burden of proof shall be
11 on the applicant to establish continuing eligibility for benefits and
12 the department of finance shall have the authority to require that
13 statements made in such certificate shall be made under oath.
14 2. The department of finance shall revoke any abatement granted pursu-
15 ant to this title when the tenant who originally executed the lease is
16 no longer occupying the eligible premises. Such revocation shall be
17 retroactive to the date that such tenant vacated the eligible premises
18 and the department of finance shall require the landlord to pay, with
19 interest, any taxes which become payable as a result of such revocation.
20 The landlord shall notify the department of finance within thirty days
21 following the date on which such tenant vacated the eligible premises
22 and, for failure to comply with this notification requirement, shall be
23 liable for penalty calculated for the same period as interest is calcu-
24 lated pursuant to the preceding sentence.
25 3. If any portion of the premises for which an abatement has been
26 granted pursuant to this title ceases to be occupied or used as eligible
27 premises or is occupied by a subtenant, the department of finance shall
28 reduce the abatement granted pursuant to this title by an amount equal
29 to the percentage of such eligible premises which has ceased to be occu-
30 pied or used as eligible premises or is occupied by a subtenant. Such
31 reduction shall be retroactive to the date that such premises ceased to
32 be occupied or used as eligible premises or was occupied by a subtenant,
33 and the department of finance shall require the landlord to pay, with
34 interest, any taxes which become payable as a result of such reduction.
35 The landlord shall notify the department of finance within thirty days
36 following the date on which the premises ceased to be occupied or used
37 as eligible premises or was occupied by a subtenant and, for failure to
38 comply with this notification requirement, shall be liable for penalty
39 calculated for the same period as interest is calculated pursuant to
40 this subdivision.
41 4. If, during the benefit period, any real property tax or water or
42 sewer charge or other lienable charge due and payable with respect to an
43 eligible building shall remain unpaid for at least one year following
44 the date upon which such tax or charge became due and payable, all
45 abatements granted pursuant to this title with respect to such building
46 shall be revoked, unless within thirty days from the mailing of a notice
47 of revocation by the department of finance satisfactory proof is
48 presented to the department of finance that any and all delinquent taxes
49 and charges owing with respect to such building as of the date of such
50 notice have been paid in full or are currently being paid in timely
51 installments pursuant to a written agreement with the department of
52 finance or other appropriate agency. Any revocation pursuant to this
53 subdivision shall be effective with respect to real property taxes which
54 become due and payable following the date of such revocation.
55 5. The department of finance may deny, reduce, suspend, terminate or
56 revoke any abatement granted pursuant to this title whenever:
A. 964 8
1 (a) the landlord or the tenant receiving abatement pursuant to this
2 title fails to comply with the requirements of this title or the rules
3 promulgated hereunder; or
4 (b) an application, certificate, report or other document submitted by
5 the applicant contains a false or misleading statement as to a material
6 fact or omits to state any material fact necessary in order to make the
7 statement therein not false or misleading, and may declare any applicant
8 who makes such false or misleading statement or omission to be ineligi-
9 ble for future abatement pursuant to this title for the same or other
10 property. In addition, the department of finance shall require the
11 applicant to pay, with penalty and interest, any abatement received
12 pursuant to this title as a result of such false or misleading statement
13 or omission of a material fact.
14 6. Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, the department
15 of finance shall deny, terminate or revoke any abatement applied for or
16 granted pursuant to this title upon a determination that the lease
17 between the landlord and the tenant was entered into primarily for the
18 purpose of receiving an abatement under this title. In making such
19 determination, the department of finance may consider, among other
20 factors, the relationship, if any, between the landlord and the tenant
21 and whether the business terms of such lease are consistent with the
22 business terms generally found in leases for comparable space.
23 7. (a) If any person described in the statement required by paragraph
24 (b) of subdivision six of section four hundred ninety-seven-b of this
25 title is finally adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to be
26 guilty of any charge listed in such statement, the department of finance
27 shall revoke the abatement granted pursuant to this title and shall
28 require the payment, with interest, of any abatement received pursuant
29 to this title.
30 (b) The applicant shall, on the certificate of continuing eligibility,
31 state whether any charges alleging violation by the applicant or any
32 person owning a substantial interest in the eligible building, or any
33 officer, director or general partner of the applicant or person owning a
34 substantial interest in the eligible building, or any person for whom
35 the applicant or person owning a substantial interest in the eligible
36 building is an officer, director or general partner, of section two
37 hundred thirty-five of the real property law or any section of article
38 one hundred fifty of the penal law or any similar arson law of another
39 jurisdiction, are pending. For purposes of this paragraph, "substantial
40 interest" shall have the same meaning as set forth in paragraph (c) of
41 subdivision six of section four hundred ninety-seven-b of this title.
42 § 497-f. Tax lien; interest and penalty. All taxes, with interest,
43 required to be paid retroactively pursuant to this title shall consti-
44 tute a tax lien as of the date it is determined such taxes and interest
45 are owed. All interest shall be calculated from the date the taxes would
46 have been due but for the abatement granted pursuant to this title at
47 the applicable rate or rates of interest imposed by such city generally
48 for non-payment of real property tax with respect to the eligible build-
49 ing for the period in question. When a provision of this title requires
50 the payment of a penalty in addition to interest, the amount of such
51 penalty shall be equal to the amount of interest that would have been
52 payable pursuant to such provision had such interest been calculated at
53 the rate of three percent per annum.
54 § 497-g. Confidentiality. 1. Except in accordance with a proper judi-
55 cial order or as otherwise provided by law, it shall be unlawful for the
56 commissioner of finance, any officer or employee of the department of
A. 964 9
1 finance, the president or a commissioner or employee of the tax commis-
2 sion, any person engaged or retained by such department or such commis-
3 sion on an independent contract basis, or any person who, pursuant to
4 this title, is permitted to inspect any information submitted by an
5 applicant to the department of finance pursuant to this title or to whom
6 a copy, an abstract or a portion of any such information is furnished,
7 to divulge or make known in any manner any such information to any
8 person not authorized pursuant to this title to inspect such informa-
9 tion. The officers charged with custody of such information shall not be
10 required to produce any of it or evidence of anything contained in it in
11 any action or proceeding in any court except on behalf of the commis-
12 sioner of finance in an action or proceeding under the provisions of
13 this title, or on behalf of any party to any action or proceeding under
14 the provisions of this title when such information or facts shown there-
15 by are directly involved in such action or proceeding, in either of
16 which events the court may require the production of, and may admit in
17 evidence so much of such information or of the facts shown thereby, as
18 are pertinent to the action or proceeding and no more. Nothing herein
19 shall be construed to prohibit the inspection by the legal represen-
20 tatives of the department of finance or the tax commission of such
21 information submitted by any applicant who shall bring an action to
22 correct an assessment. Nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit
23 the delivery to an applicant or the applicant's duly authorized repre-
24 sentative of a certified copy of any information submitted by an appli-
25 cant to the department of finance pursuant to this title; or to any
26 agency or any department of any city having a population of one million
27 or more provided the same is requested for official business; nor to
28 prohibit the inspection for official business of such information by the
29 corporation counsel or other legal representatives of a city having a
30 population of one million or more or by the district attorney of any
31 county within such city; nor to prohibit the publication of statistics
32 so classified as to prevent the identification of such information or
33 particular items thereof. Information submitted by an applicant to the
34 department of finance pursuant to this title shall not be subject to
35 disclosure pursuant to article six of the public officers law.
36 2. Any violation of the provisions of subdivision one of this section
37 shall be punished by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars or by
38 imprisonment not exceeding one year, or both, at the discretion of the
39 court, and if the offender be an officer or employee of the department
40 of finance or of the tax commission, the offender shall be dismissed
41 from office.
42 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately, provided that this act
43 shall be deemed to have been in full force and effect on and after Janu-
44 ary 1, 2013. Any actions, including the promulgation of rules, necessary
45 to carry out the purposes of this act may be taken before the date this
46 act shall have become a law, provided that such rules shall not take
47 effect before the effective date of this act, and provided further that
48 such rules, if necessary to carry out the purposes of this act, may be
49 made retroactive to and deemed to have been in full force and effect on
50 and after January 1, 2013.