Source: https://ecode360.com/14955538
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 08:56:01+00:00

Document:
§ 779-3 Prohibited activities; required contract terms.
§ 779-5 Application procedure; information required; qualifications; issuance of license.
§ 779-6 Term of license; renewal and conditions; fees.
§ 779-7 Duplicate and supplementary licenses.
§ 779-8 Effect on validity of contracts.
§ 779-9 Fines; suspension or revocation of license.
§ 779-10 Penalties for offenses.
This Legislature hereby finds and determines that homeowners within the County of Suffolk may be victimized by individuals or businesses which offer, for a fee or other compensation, to assist homeowners in obtaining a reduction in the assessed valuation of their residences.
This Legislature further finds that these and other alleged improper activities by some tax assessment reduction services threaten the financial well-being of the residents of this County; impede the proper functioning of local government; and undermine the credibility and integrity of the majority of the members who conduct business in a lawful manner.
Therefore, the purpose of this chapter is to regulate the provision of tax assessment reduction services within the County of Suffolk so as to deter potential abuses in order to protect the general welfare of the residents of this County.
The owner, contract vendee or estate of the decedent owning real property.
The head of the Suffolk County Office of Citizen Affairs.
The Suffolk County Office of Citizen Affairs.
The last person in whose name the affected property appears in the records of the Suffolk County Clerk as certified by an abstract or title insurance company licensed by the State of New York. "Owner" shall include the authorized agent of an owner.
Any natural person, individual, firm, partnership, association, entity or corporation, other than an attorney.
Any residential property eligible for assessment review.
Any person, individual, partnership, corporation, joint venture or other entity who or which provides or offers to provide, for any compensation or consideration, whether direct or indirect, any service to assist the complainant or the authorized agent of the complainant of any property located within the County in obtaining a reduction in the assessed valuation of such premises from the Board of Assessment Review and the town assessing unit.
Claim or otherwise hold itself out, whether directly or indirectly, to be a governmental entity or a part thereof or to be affiliated with an entity of government.
Claim or imply, directly or indirectly, that a complainant is overpaying real property taxes, unless such service shall have supported such allegations by furnishing the complainant with detailed and specific information directly relating to the affected parcel of real estate.
Claim or imply, directly or indirectly, that the only effective method by which a complainant may receive a tax assessment reduction is through use of a tax assessment consulting service.
Charge a complainant a fee that exceeds, in the aggregate, 100% of the first-year reduction in actual property taxes to be paid by the complainant as a result of a successful challenge that reduces the assessed valuation of a complainant's premises. Any such fee shall be paid only from the first-year reduction. Any tax reduction service that charges a flat fee for services shall limit that fee to an amount not to exceed 100% of the first-year reduction in actual property taxes.
A schedule of the fees charged by such service.
A provision permitting the complainant, at any time within three days after having entered into such contract or agreement, to completely cancel such contract or agreement and receive a full and prompt refund of any fee or deposit already paid by such complainant to such tax assessment consulting service. Any provision in a contract or retainer that purports or attempts to nullify, vacate or in any manner restrict the right of cancellation described in this subsection shall be completely void and unenforceable.
A notification clearly distinguishing between assessments and actual taxes paid by a property complainant and clearly explaining that the challenge is related to the assessed value of the subject property and not the actual taxes paid on that assessment.
The amount of the refund or some aspect of the refund check is questionable or in error.
A notification that a complainant is not required to use a tax assessment consulting service in order to file for and/or receive a tax assessment reduction.
A statement as to the extent to which the tax assessment consulting service will proceed with an individual's claim to reduce a tax assessment.
Attorneys licensed to practice law by the State of New York.
All applications for licenses shall be submitted in writing on forms furnished by the Office.
The license application shall be signed under oath. Where a corporation is an applicant or a participant in an application, the application shall be signed under oath by an officer of such corporation.
All applications shall include the residence address of the individual who subscribes his name to the application.
The Director may require the names and residence addresses of any employees or officers of the applicant, in addition to any other information which he or she may deem advisable and proper.
An individual applicant must be at least 18 years of age and of good character.
The Director shall investigate such applicant as to good character before he or she shall issue the applicant a license.
Applicants shall meet such further qualifications as may be prescribed by this section and any other appropriate section of this chapter, including such licensing examination as may be established by the Director.
The Office shall issue a license or temporary license to each applicant who has submitted satisfactory evidence of his qualifications and who has complied with all of the requirements of this chapter.
All licenses, except temporary licenses, shall be for a period of two years from the date of issuance thereof at the discretion of the Office and shall expire on the last day of the 24th month after such issuance. Subsequent renewals shall be for periods of two years. Fees payable upon renewal shall be in the amount of $400. The initial application fee shall be $200. The fee for a tax grievance consultant license shall be $200 per annum. The biennial renewal fee shall be $400.
No license issued hereunder shall be assignable or transferable.
Failure to make application and pay the required annual fee for a license renewal prior to the expiration date of said license shall render the license null and void on the expiration date. Compliance with the provisions of this subsection shall entitle the licensee to the renewal of his or her license, provided that such license has not been suspended or revoked by the Director.
The death of an individual who holds a valid license issued pursuant to this chapter shall terminate such license.
A license issued in the name of an individual may be assigned or transferred for the remainder of the license period to a partnership, corporation or other entity, provided that the individual holding such license is a general partner of such partnership, the owner of not less than 25% of the outstanding voting shares of such corporation or the holder of not less than a twenty-five-percent interest in any other entity at the time of the assignment or transfer. The application for such transfer or assignment must be accompanied by evidence satisfactory to the Director that the requirements set forth above have been satisfied. No assignment or transfer shall become effective until proper endorsement evidencing said transfer or assignment has been made on the face of the license by the Director, and such license, so endorsed, has been returned to the assignee or transferee. All such endorsements shall be made by the payment of a fee of $25.
Each individual licensee shall, within 10 business days after a change of control of ownership or of management, apply for the assignment or transfer of a license specified in Subsection E, or such license shall terminate. Every other licensee shall, within 10 business days after a change of control in ownership or management, notify the Office, in writing, of such change.
No licensee shall authorize or permit the use of his or her license by or on behalf of any other person.
Each licensee shall, within 10 business days after a change of address, notify the Office in writing of such change.
A licensee who determines not to engage in the activity regulated herein may make application to the Office to deactivate temporarily his or her license issued pursuant to this section for a period not to exceed three years. The licensee will submit with the application for shelving said license a fee of $50 for each annual period of inactivity sought.
A duplicate license may be issued for a license which has been lost, destroyed or mutilated, upon application therefor on a form prescribed by the Director and the payment of a fee of $25. Each such duplicate license shall have the word "duplicate" stamped across the face thereof and shall bear the same number as the one it replaces.
A licensee shall attain a supplementary license for each additional place of business maintained by such licensee within the County of Suffolk upon application therefor, on a form prescribed by the Director, and the payment of a fee of $50 per annum. It may be renewed biennially for a fee of $100. Each such supplementary license shall have the word "supplementary" stamped across the face thereof, shall bear the same number as the original, and shall be conspicuously posted in each additional place of business.
Any agreement to provide tax assessment consulting services entered into subsequent to the effective date of this chapter by a person who provides such services and who, on the date of such agreement, does not possess a valid license to engage in such a service shall be unenforceable by him or her and shall be voidable at the option of any other party to the contract. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to prevent any other party to the contract from enforcing its terms.
Any agreement entered into in violation of § 779-3B of this chapter shall be null and void ab initio and of no force and effect.
Fraud, deceit, misrepresentation or bribery in securing a license.
The making of any false statement in an application for a license.
Violation of any provision of this chapter, any other appropriate law or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder.
Fraud, deceit or misrepresentation in securing any donation.
Violation of any provision of § 779-3 or 779-4 of this chapter.
No license shall be suspended or revoked nor a fine imposed until after a hearing has first been held before the Director upon at least seven business days' notice to the licensee. Such notice shall be served either personally or by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the last known address of the licensee and shall state the date and place of the hearing as well as enumerate the grounds constituting the allegations against such licensee. The licensee may be represented by counsel and may produce witnesses in his or her own behalf. A verbatim record of the hearing shall be taken and preserved. For purposes of such hearing, the Director may administer oaths, take testimony, subpoena witnesses and compel the production of books, paper, records or other documents deemed pertinent to the subject of the hearing.
Civil penalty. In addition to any other penalty, fine, right, cause of action or claim provided by this chapter or any other law, any third intentional violation (not arising out of a single incident) by a tax assessment consulting service of any of the provisions of § 779-3 or 779-4 of this chapter shall render such violator liable for the payment to the County of Suffolk of a civil penalty, recoverable in an action brought in a court of competent jurisdiction, in the sum of not more than $2,000 for each such violation.
Criminal penalty. A third, intentional separate violation (not arising out of a single incident) of § 779-3A or 779-4 of this chapter shall constitute an unclassified misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and/or up to six months' imprisonment.
This chapter shall apply to any agreements or contracts to render tax assessment consulting services entered into on or after six months subsequent to the effective date of this chapter.

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