§ 489-eeee. Application for certificate of eligibility. 1. Application for a certificate of eligibility pursuant to this title may be made immediately following the effective date of a local law enacted pursuant to this title and continuing until June thirtieth, two thousand eight; provided, however, that application for a certificate of eligibility for renovation construction work for property located in the renovation exemption area specified in subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (d) of subdivision five of section four hundred eighty-nine-cccc of this title may not be made after January thirty-first, nineteen hundred ninety-five; provided, further, however, that application for a certificate of eligibility for construction of a new building or structure that meets the requirements set forth in subdivision nine of section four hundred eighty-nine-dddd of this title in the new construction exemption area specified in paragraph (a) of subdivision six of section four hundred eighty-nine-cccc of this title may not be made after December thirty-first, nineteen hundred ninety-six; provided, further, however, that application for a certificate of eligibility for construction of a new building or structure that meets the requirements set forth in subdivision nine of section four hundred eighty-nine-dddd of this title in the new construction exemption area specified in paragraph (b) of subdivision six of section four hundred eighty-nine-cccc of this title may not be made after June thirtieth, two thousand three. Such application shall state whether it is for industrial, commercial or renovation construction work, and shall be filed with the department of finance. In addition to any other information required by such department, the application shall include cost estimates or bids for the proposed construction and an affidavit of a professional engineer or architect of the applicant's choice, certifying that detailed plans for the construction work have been submitted to the department of buildings. Such application shall also state that the applicant agrees to comply with and be subject to the rules issued from time to time by the department of finance to secure compliance with all applicable city, state and federal laws or which implement mayoral directives and executive orders designed to ensure equal employment opportunity. If required by local law or rule as described in section four hundred eighty-nine-llll of this title, such application shall also state that the applicant agrees to comply with the program established thereby to ensure meaningful participation of minority and women-owned business enterprises in construction work for which the applicant receives benefits. Such application shall also certify that all taxes currently due and owing on the property which is the subject of the application have been paid or are currently being paid in timely installments pursuant to written agreement with the department of finance.

2. The burden of proof shall be on the applicant to show by clear and convincing evidence that the requirements for granting an exemption from or abatement or deferral of payment of taxes pursuant to this title have been satisfied. The department of finance shall have the authority to require that statements in connection with the application be made under oath.

3. The department of finance shall issue a certificate of eligibility upon determining that the applicant satisfies the requirements for industrial, commercial or renovation construction work in an area where benefits are available for such work. Such certificate shall state whether such benefits are to be granted for industrial, commercial or renovation construction work, and in which class of area the property is located. The effective date of such certificate, except as provided in paragraph (b) or paragraph (d) of subdivision three of section four hundred eighty-nine-dddd of this title, shall be the earlier of (a) the date on which a building permit for the construction work is issued by the department of buildings, or (b) the last day before the effective date of any designation of boundaries by the commission which changes the class of area in which the property is located so as to reduce the level of benefits for commercial construction work on such property. Where the effective date of the certificate of eligibility is July first, nineteen hundred ninety-two or after, the benefits granted for industrial, commercial or renovation construction work pursuant to this title shall be in accordance with the provisions of this title as amended by chapter seven hundred eighty-one of the laws of nineteen hundred ninety-two, chapter seven hundred twenty-six of the laws of nineteen hundred ninety-four, chapter six hundred sixty-one of the laws of nineteen hundred ninety-five, chapter one hundred forty-three of the laws of nineteen hundred ninety-nine, chapter one hundred three of the laws of two thousand three and the chapter of the laws of two thousand seven which amended this subdivision. Where the effective date of the certificate is June thirtieth, nineteen hundred ninety-two or before, the benefits granted for industrial or commercial construction work pursuant to this title shall be in accordance with the provisions of this title as it was in effect until June thirtieth, nineteen hundred ninety-two immediately prior to its amendment by chapter seven hundred eighty-one of the laws of nineteen hundred ninety-two. No recipient whose property is the subject of a certificate of eligibility for commercial construction work in a deferral area shall be eligible to apply for a certificate of eligibility for renovation construction work on the same property, where the renovation construction work is the same as, or similar to, the commercial construction work for which the deferral area certificate was issued, until three years after the effective date of the deferral area certificate. No recipient shall receive a tax deferral and a tax exemption for the same expenditure on eligible construction work.

4. A copy of the certificate of eligibility shall be filed by the department of finance in the manner prescribed for recording a mortgage pursuant to section two hundred ninety-one-d of the real property law.

5. The department of finance may provide by rule for reasonable administrative charges or fees necessary to defray expenses in administering the benefit program provided by this title.