Provides for corporate franchise and personal income tax check-offs for taxpayer gifts for colon cancer education; sets up colon cancer education fund

BILL NUMBER:A4601A

Title of bill

An act to amend the public health law, the tax law and the state finance law, in relation to providing for taxpayer gifts for colon cancer education and establishing the colon cancer education fund

Purpose or general idea of bill

This bill provides for corporate fran- chise and personal income tax check-off for taxpayer gifts for colon cancer education.

Summary or specific provisions

Section two amends the bill by adding a new section 209-G to enable corporate taxpayers to make a contribution to the colon cancer education fund effective in any taxable year. This contribution can be made in any whole dollar amount, and shall not reduce the amount of state tax owed by the taxpayer. This section mandates that all revenues collected be credited to the colon cancer education fund, as enumerated in section 97-ffff of the state finance law.

Section Three amends the law by adding a new section 630-gggg to enable an individual in any taxable year to make a contribution to the colon cancer education fund. Such contribution shall be in any whole dollar amount and shall not reduce the amount of state tax owed by such indi- vidual. The commissioner shall include spoors on the personal income tax return to enable a taxpayer to make such contribution. All revenues collected shall be credited to the colon cancer education fund.

Section Four amends the state finance law by establishing a "colon cancer education fund" in the joint custody of the commissioner of taxa- tion and finance and the comptroller. Such fund, consisting of revenues received by the department of taxation and finance pursuant to the provisions of section two hundred nine-G and section six hundred thirty of the tax law and all other monies appropriated, credited or trans- ferred thereto from any other fund or source pursuant to law. Nothing contained herein shall prevent the state from receiving grants, gifts or bequests for the purposes of the fund as defined in this section and depositing them into fund according to law.

Monies of this fund shall be for colon cancer educational projects mean- ing educational projects, including grants for colon cancer education which, pursuant to section twenty-seven hundred forty-six of the public health law are approved by the department of health. Monies shall be payable from the fund on the audit end warrant of the comptroller on vouchers approved and certified by the commissioner of health. The commissioner of health shall ensure that all monies received during a fiscal year are expended prior to the end of that fiscal year.

Justification

Millions of New Yorkers are affected by colon cancer, and there is no established cure. This bill would help increase funds for important educational programs by simply making a donation on either personal or corporate tax returns.

Prior legislative history

2001-02 A.7553-b Passed Assembly No Senate

2003-04 A.4314-a Passed Assembly S.6390 Health

2005-06 A.131-a Ways & Means No Senate

2007-08 A.4535 Health No Senate

Fiscal implications

Would result in additional administrative expenses to Department of Taxation and Finance, but has the potential revenues for the state's Colon Cancer Education Fund.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law and shall apply to taxable years beginning on and after such effective date.