Add S629-a, Tax L; add S95-h, St Fin L; add S7.45, Ment Hyg L
Establishes a gift for eliminating the stigma relating to mental illness on personal income tax returns; establishes the mental illness anti-stigma fund into which such gifts shall be deposited; directs the monies in such fund be used by the office of mental health to provide grants to organizations dedicated to eliminating the stigma attached to mental illness and those with mental health needs.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A5953A
SPONSOR: Gunther TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the tax law, in relation to establish-
ing a gift for eliminating the stigma relating to mental illness on
personal income tax returns; to amend the state finance law, in relation
to establishing a mental illness anti-stigma fund; and to amend the
mental hygiene law, in relation to directing the office of mental health
to provide grants to organizations dedicated to eliminating the stigma
attached to mental illness and persons with mental health needs
PURPOSE: Establishes a gift for eliminating the stigma relating to
mental illness on personal income tax returns.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends tax law by adding a new section 629-a as follows: it
allows for people to gift on their income tax returns any amount of
money to a Mental Health Anti-Stigma Fund. Such monies would not reduce
a citizens tax burden and must be used exclusively for the fund.
Section 2 amends the finance law by adding a new section 95-h estab-
lishes the fund in the joint custody of the commissioner of taxation and
finance and the state comptroller. The monies from the fund shall be
made available to the office of mental health for the purpose of provid-
ing grants to organizations dedicated to eliminating the stigma of
mental illness.
Section 3 amends the mental hygiene law by adding anew section 7.44.
This section calls on the office of mental health to develop and imple-
ment a program to provide these grants to organizations to eliminate the
stigma associated with mental illness.
JUSTIFICATION: The stigma relating to mental illness can have a very
serious effect on a person. This stigma can cause many individuals to
not seek the services and help that they may need. By providing for an
income tax check-off, we will provide an easy way for New Yorkers to
help prevent this unnecessary burden for persons with mental illness.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 2009-2010- S.5166- Referred to Investigations and
Government Operations 2008 S.8662/Referred to Rules 2005-2006
S.4879A/Referred to Investigations and Government Operations
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: To be determined
EFFECTIVE DATE: Immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
5953--A
Cal. No. 277
2013-2014 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 11, 2013
___________
Introduced by M. of A. GUNTHER, MOSLEY, McDONALD -- Multi-Sponsored by
-- M. of A. COLTON, COOK, DUPREY, PERRY, RIVERA, SWEENEY -- read once
and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means -- advanced to a third
reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place on the
order of third reading
AN ACT to amend the tax law, in relation to establishing a gift for
eliminating the stigma relating to mental illness on personal income
tax returns; to amend the state finance law, in relation to establish-
ing a mental illness anti-stigma fund; and to amend the mental hygiene
law, in relation to directing the office of mental health to provide
grants to organizations dedicated to eliminating the stigma attached
to mental illness and persons with mental health needs
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The tax law is amended by adding a new section 629-a to
2 read as follows:
3 § 629-a. Gift for eliminating the stigma relating to mental illness.
4 Effective for any tax year commencing on or after January first, two
5 thousand fourteen, an individual in any taxable year may elect to
6 contribute to the mental illness anti-stigma fund. Such contribution
7 shall be in any whole dollar amount and shall not reduce the amount of
8 state tax owed by such individual. The commissioner shall include space
9 on the personal income tax return to enable a taxpayer to make such
10 contribution. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all revenue
11 collected pursuant to this section shall be credited to the mental
12 illness anti-stigma fund and used only for those purposes enumerated in
13 section ninety-five-h of the state finance law.
14 § 2. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 95-h to
15 read as follows:
16 § 95-h. Mental illness anti-stigma fund. 1. There is hereby estab-
17 lished in the joint custody of the commissioner of taxation and finance
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09216-02-4
A. 5953--A 2
1 and the state comptroller, a special fund to be known as the "mental
2 illness anti-stigma fund".
3 2. Such fund shall consist of all revenues received pursuant to the
4 provisions of section six hundred twenty-nine-a of the tax law, all
5 revenues received pursuant to appropriations by the legislature, and all
6 moneys appropriated, credited or transferred thereto from any other fund
7 or source pursuant to law. No moneys credited to such fund pursuant to
8 section six hundred twenty-nine-a of the tax law shall be deemed to
9 authorize the reduction of the amount of monies otherwise appropriated
10 by the state for the purpose of eliminating the stigma attached to
11 mental illness.
12 3. The monies of the fund shall be made available to the office of
13 mental health for the purpose of providing grants to organizations dedi-
14 cated to eliminating the stigma attached to mental illness and persons
15 with mental health needs pursuant to section 7.45 of the mental hygiene
16 law.
17 4. The monies of the fund shall be paid out on the audit and warrant
18 of the state comptroller on vouchers certified or approved by the
19 commissioner of mental health, or by an officer or employee of the
20 office of mental health designated by such commissioner.
21 § 3. The mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new section 7.45 to
22 read as follows:
23 § 7.45 Mental illness anti-stigma grants.
24 The office shall develop and implement a program which provides grants
25 to organizations engaged in activities which eliminate the stigma
26 attached to mental illness and those with mental health needs.
27 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
