BILL NUMBER: S8002
SPONSOR: SKOUFIS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the state finance law, in relation to restricting who
may sign certain checks issued by the state and what can be on such
checks
 
PURPOSE:
To prohibit the governor from including their name or signature on
inflation refund checks
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Amends Section 101 of the state finance law to clarify that
the checks issued by the state that are associated with the inflation
refund credit under subsection (qqq) of section six hundred six of the
tax law, shall not contain the name or signature of the governor.
Section 2: Sets effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The FY 26 New York State Budget included Governor Hochul's $2 billion
proposal to send "inflation rebate checks" to more than 8 million New
Yorkers, with checks of up to $400 per family. While the Governor claims
to be combating inflation and making a real difference for families,
these checks are far from meaningful policy, delivering one-time small
amounts of money to recipients, prominently featuring the Governor's
name.
This legislation will eliminate the Governor's ability to use taxpayer
refund checks as a vehicle for political self-promotion by prohibiting
the appearance of her name on such checks.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately

Statutes affected:
S8002: 101 state finance law