State Senator Brad Hoylman and Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz hold a round table in the Legislative Office Building in Albany on January 23, 2020. Hoylman sponsors a bill that would create a tax deduction up to $5,000 for health care professionals, certified first responders and emergency medical technicians for personal protective equipment (PPE) and transportation expenses related to the COVID-19 emergency.
Senator Brad Hoylman, D-Manhattan, announced legislation that would help New York’s frontline medical workers by granting them a tax deduction for both equipment they purchase and transportation expenses related to the virus pandemic.
The legislation was introduced on April 15, which is traditionally the deadline for filing income taxes. But due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the deadline had been extended to July 15, 2020.
The legislation, S.8195, would create a tax deduction up to $5,000 for healthcare professionals, certified first responders and emergency medical technicians for personal protective equipment (PPE) and transportation expenses related to the COVID-19 emergency. Such personal protective equipment includes gloves, masks, foot, and eye protection, protective hearing devices, respirators, and full bodysuits.
“New York owes frontline medical workers an enormous debt, one we will never be able to fully repay,” Hoylman said. “Medical personnel serving our state during the COVID-19 pandemic deserve all the help our state can give them – and this tax deduction is a crucial first step to accomplishing those goals.”
This is not Hoylman’s first attempt at trying to help those who are affected by the coronavirus. Hoylman introduced S.8166, which would establish a tax credit for recovered COVID-19 patients who donate their blood plasma for treatment and research of the virus. He also introduced S.8189 which deals with price gouging during a state of emergency.
