S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   9649
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              March 28, 2022
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. WOERNER -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Economic Development
 
 AN ACT to amend the economic development law, the state finance law  and
   the  agriculture and markets law, in relation to enacting the New York
   textile act
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section  1.  Short  title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
 the "New York textile act".
   § 2. Legislative findings. The legislature hereby finds  and  declares
 that animal and plant fiber growing, fiber processing, and textile manu-
 facturing  in  New York has positive economic and environmental impacts.
 Textiles sustainably produced from animal and plant fibers are a growing
 sector of the global textile industry. New York's "Grown and  Certified"
 designation   identifies   local,  safely-handled,  and  environmentally
 responsible agricultural products, including  animal  and  plant  fiber.
 Animal  and  plant  fiber  farming complies with and supports New York's
 climate goals as, by its nature, fiber farming sequesters carbon.  Addi-
 tionally,  fiber  farming represents a positive economic opportunity for
 New York farmers, because it constitutes value-added agriculture and  is
 not  tied  to  commodity  pricing. New York is recognized as the fashion
 capital of the world, with over 900 fashion companies  headquartered  in
 the  state.  Historically, New York was also a leading textile producing
 state. Today, programs like the Hudson Valley Textile  Project  seek  to
 rebuild  New  York's role as a leading grower and producer of animal and
 plant fiber and fiber textiles.  Textile manufacturing is a strong  jobs
 producer.  The federal government estimates that for every textile manu-
 facturing industry job  in  this  country,  three  additional  jobs  are
 supported.  As  fiber  mill  production  capacity  has  grown in eastern
 upstate New York, the number of acres devoted to animal and plant  fiber
 farming  has grown along with the growth of commercial weavers and knit-
 ters. As these small businesses find new markets and  devoted  customers
 for  their  products,  several  New  York colleges and universities have
 begun to offer animal and plant fiber textile programs  that  produce  a
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD14968-02-2
 A. 9649                             2
 
 skilled  workforce.  The  legislature finds that the textile industry in
 New York is small but  growing,  and  it  produces  a  quality  product.
 Therefore,  the legislature seeks to accelerate the growth of the animal
 and  plant fiber growing, processing, and textile manufacturing industry
 in New York by supporting it through economic development programs.
   § 3. Section 2 of the economic development law is  amended  by  adding
 two new subdivisions 6 and 7 to read as follows:
   6.  "ANIMAL FIBER" MEANS NATURAL FIBERS THAT HAVE FORMED THE COVERING,
 OR FLEECE, OF SHEEP OR OTHER HAIRY ANIMALS SUCH  AS  GOATS  OR  ALPACAS,
 SHORN FOR THE PURPOSE OF CREATING TEXTILE PRODUCTS.
   7.  "PLANT  FIBER"  MEANS NATURAL FIBERS THAT ARE OBTAINED FROM PLANTS
 AND USED TO CREATE TEXTILE PRODUCTS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, HEMP.
   § 4. Subdivisions 18-c, 18-i and 21 of section  100  of  the  economic
 development  law,  subdivision 18-c as amended by chapter 92 of the laws
 of 2017, subdivision 18-i as added by chapter 381 of the laws  of  2014,
 subdivision  21  as  amended  by chapter 420 of the laws of 1968, and as
 renumbered by chapter 437 of the laws of 1983, are amended  to  read  as
 follows:
   18-c.  to  establish, in cooperation with the commissioner of agricul-
 ture and markets, procedures for proposing nominations, including proce-
 dures to coordinate with such commissioner to determine which department
 shall make nominations for awards in categories that may be  similar  to
 those  listed  in  subdivision nine of section three hundred nine of the
 agriculture and markets law to the governor  for  [three]  FOUR  annual,
 non-monetary  awards  to  be  known  as:  (a) New York State Direct Farm
 Marketing Award; (b) New York State Agri-Tourism Award;  [and]  (c)  New
 York  State  Specialty  Food  Product  Award; AND (D) NEW YORK ANIMAL OR
 PLANT FIBER AND TEXTILE AWARD. These awards shall be given  in  recogni-
 tion  of unusual efforts by farmers, food processors [and], food retail-
 ers, FIBER PROCESSORS, AND TEXTILE MANUFACTURERS AND RETAILERS  for  the
 marketing  of  New York state grown agricultural commodities [or], foods
 processed from or  primarily  containing  New  York  state  agricultural
 commodities,  OR  TEXTILES MANUFACTURED IN NEW YORK STATE FROM ANIMAL OR
 PLANT FIBER GROWN OR PRODUCED PREDOMINANTLY IN NEW YORK  STATE  and  for
 promoting New York state farms that are also tourist destinations.
   18-i.  To  aid the department of agriculture and markets and office of
 general services in providing a training program once per year, in  each
 economic development region, established in article eleven of this chap-
 ter, to encourage and increase participation in the procurement process,
 pursuant  to  article  eleven  of  the state finance law, by small busi-
 nesses, as defined in section one hundred thirty-one  of  this  chapter,
 including   farms,  selling  food  or  food  products  grown,  produced,
 harvested, or processed in New York state, OR SELLING  ANIMAL  OR  PLANT
 FIBER  PRODUCTS  GROWN,  HARVESTED  AND  PROCESSED IN NEW YORK STATE AND
 TEXTILE PRODUCTS MANUFACTURED IN NEW YORK STATE  FROM  ANIMAL  OR  PLANT
 FIBER GROWN OR PRODUCED PREDOMINANTLY IN NEW YORK STATE, and assist such
 businesses  in  identifying  such food [or], food products, OR ANIMAL OR
 PLANT FIBER PRODUCTS AND TEXTILE PRODUCTS which may help to  meet  state
 agencies' needs.
   21. to inquire into and report to the governor when requested by [him]
 THE  GOVERNOR,  with respect to any program of public state improvements
 and the financing thereof; and to request and  obtain  information  from
 the  state  department  of transportation and other state departments or
 agencies such information and data as may be needed properly  to  report
 thereon;
 A. 9649                             3
 
   §  5. Section 100 of the economic development law is amended by adding
 six new subdivisions 16-b, 18-j, 29-a, 30-a, 31-a and 32-a  to  read  as
 follows:
   16-B.  TO  PROMOTE THE EXPANSION OF ANIMAL AND PLANT FIBER PRODUCTION,
 FIBER PROCESSING, AND TEXTILE MANUFACTURING FROM ANIMAL OR  PLANT  FIBER
 GROWN  OR  PRODUCED  PREDOMINANTLY IN NEW YORK STATE IN COOPERATION WITH
 THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS AND  THE  URBAN  DEVELOPMENT
 CORPORATION. THE COMMISSIONER IN PROMOTING SUCH BUSINESSES MAY ALSO HELP
 TO  PROMOTE  TOURIST  PROGRAMS  SPECIFIED IN SUBDIVISION SIXTEEN OF THIS
 SECTION AND ENCOURAGE THE RETENTION OF AGRICULTURAL LANDS AND  PRESERVA-
 TION OF OPEN SPACES.
   18-J.  TO  PROMOTE,  IN COOPERATION WITH ASSOCIATIONS REPRESENTING NEW
 YORK GROWERS, FIBER PROCESSORS, AND TEXTILE MANUFACTURERS,  STATE  POLI-
 CIES  THAT  WILL  ENCOURAGE  THE PRODUCTION AND SALE OF TEXTILE PRODUCTS
 MANUFACTURED IN NEW YORK STATE FROM  ANIMAL  OR  PLANT  FIBER  GROWN  OR
 PRODUCED PREDOMINANTLY IN NEW YORK STATE.
   29-A. TO ADVISE THE GOVERNOR, THE LEGISLATURE AND OTHER STATE AGENCIES
 WITH  REGARD  TO RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF STATE
 POLICIES RELATING THERETO, IN CONNECTION WITH THE ANIMAL AND PLANT FIBER
 AND FIBER TEXTILE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES AND APPLIED RESEARCH.
   30-A. TO COOPERATE WITH ALL PRIVATE PERSONS AND GOVERNMENTAL  ENTITIES
 CONCERNED  WITH THE ANIMAL AND PLANT FIBER AND FIBER TEXTILE MANUFACTUR-
 ING INDUSTRIES AND APPLIED RESEARCH.
   31-A. TO SPONSOR, FOSTER  AND  SUPPORT  RESEARCH  AND  TO  SPONSOR  OR
 CONDUCT STUDIES RELATING TO THE ANIMAL AND PLANT FIBER AND FIBER TEXTILE
 MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES AND APPLIED RESEARCH.
   32-A.  TO  REVIEW AND EVALUATE THE STATUS AND TO ENCOURAGE AND PROMOTE
 THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ANIMAL AND PLANT FIBER AND FIBER TEXTILE MANUFAC-
 TURING INDUSTRIES AND APPLIED RESEARCH DESIGNED TO FURTHER NEW AND  MORE
 EXTENSIVE USE OF THE RESOURCES AND MANPOWER OF THE STATE.
   §  6.  Subdivisions 2 and 3 of section 178 of the economic development
 law, as added by chapter 550 of the laws of 1999, are amended to read as
 follows:
   2. that significant untapped agricultural resources  present  economic
 development  opportunities  that  could promote growth thereby enhancing
 the well being of employers and employees in food processing, ANIMAL AND
 PLANT FIBER PROCESSING and other  related  agricultural  businesses,  as
 well  as  promoting  the economic well being of farm families throughout
 the state through job creation and job retention; and
   3. that the state's agricultural interests will  be  enhanced  in  the
 event  opportunities  to  expand  the  market for agricultural crops and
 processed foods, AND ANIMAL AND PLANT  FIBER  TEXTILE  PRODUCTS  can  be
 developed in the state, nation and internationally.
   §  7. Subdivisions 1, 8-a and 22 of section 352 of the economic devel-
 opment law, subdivisions 1 and 22 as amended by section 1 of part  K  of
 chapter  59 of the laws of 2017, and subdivision 8-a as added by section
 1 of part L of chapter 59 of the laws of 2020, are amended  to  read  as
 follows:
   1.  "Agriculture"  means  both agricultural production (establishments
 performing the complete farm or ranch operation, such as farm  owner-op-
 erators,  tenant  farm  operators,  and  sharecroppers) and agricultural
 support (establishments that perform one or more  activities  associated
 with  farm  operation,  such  as soil preparation, planting, harvesting,
 SHEARING, ANIMAL AND  PLANT  FIBER  PROCESSING,  and  management,  on  a
 contract or fee basis).
 A. 9649                             4
 
   8-a.  "Green  project"  means  a project deemed by the commissioner to
 make products or develop technologies that are primarily aimed at reduc-
 ing greenhouse gas emissions or supporting the use of  clean  energy  in
 accordance  with  goals described in chapter one hundred six of the laws
 of  two  thousand  nineteen.  "Green  project" shall include, but not be
 limited to, the manufacture or development of products  or  technologies
 or  supply  chain  components  primarily for renewable energy systems as
 defined in section sixty-six-p of the public service law, vehicles  that
 use  non-hydrocarbon fuels and produce zero or near zero emissions, heat
 pumps, energy efficiency, clean energy storage and other  products  that
 significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by minimizing the utiliza-
 tion  of depletable resources or by improving industrial OR AGRICULTURAL
 efficiency. "Green  project"  shall  not  include  a  project  primarily
 composed  of  (i)  necessarily local activities such as retail, building
 construction, or the installation, deployment or  adoption  of  a  clean
 energy  product  or  technology  at  an  end  user's  site,  or (ii) the
 production of products or development of technologies that would produce
 only marginal and incremental energy savings or  environmental  benefits
 ancillary to the core function of the product or technology.
   22.  "Scientific  research  and development" means conducting research
 and experimental development in  the  physical,  engineering,  and  life
 sciences,  including but not limited to agriculture, ANIMAL FIBER, elec-
 tronics, environmental, biology, botany, biotechnology, computers, chem-
 istry, food, fisheries, forests, geology, health, mathematics, medicine,
 oceanography, pharmacy, physics,  PLANT  FIBER,  veterinary,  and  other
 allied  subjects.  For the purposes of this article, scientific research
 and development does not include medical or veterinary laboratory  test-
 ing facilities.
   §  8. Section 352 of the economic development law is amended by adding
 two new subdivisions 1-a and 7-a to read as follows:
   1-A. "ANIMAL AND PLANT FIBER TEXTILE MANUFACTURING"  MEANS  THE  PROC-
 ESSES  OF  HARVESTING, CLEANING, SPINNING, KNITTING, WEAVING, DYEING AND
 FINISHING TEXTILES CONTAINING ANIMAL AND PLANT FIBER GROWN  OR  PRODUCED
 PREDOMINANTLY IN NEW YORK STATE.
   7-A. "FIBER WAREHOUSE" MEANS A FACILITY INVOLVING GRADING AND/OR MOVE-
 MENT OF ANIMAL FIBER TO PROCESSING LOCATIONS.
   §  9.  Subdivisions 1, 3 and 4 of section 353 of the economic develop-
 ment law, subdivision 1 as amended by section 2 of part L of chapter  59
 of the laws of 2020, paragraphs (k) and (l) as amended and paragraph (m)
 of  subdivision  1  as added by section 2 of part D of chapter 59 of the
 laws of 2021, subdivision 3 as separately amended by section 2 of part K
 and section 2 of part ZZ of chapter 59 of the laws of 2017, and subdivi-
 sion 4 as separately amended by section 3 of part K  and  section  2  of
 part  ZZ  of  chapter  59  of  the  laws of 2017, are amended to read as
 follows:
   1. To be a participant in the excelsior jobs program, a business enti-
 ty shall operate in New York state predominantly:
   (a) as a financial services data center or a financial  services  back
 office operation;
   (b)  in  manufacturing,  INCLUDING  IN  ANIMAL AND PLANT FIBER TEXTILE
 MANUFACTURING;
   (c) in software development and new media;
   (d) in scientific research and development;
   (e) in agriculture;
   (f) in the creation or expansion of  back  office  operations  in  the
 state;
 A. 9649                             5
 
   (g) in a distribution center;
   (h) IN A FIBER WAREHOUSE;
   (I)  in  an  industry  with  significant  potential for private-sector
 economic growth and development in this  state  as  established  by  the
 commissioner  in  regulations  promulgated  pursuant to this article. In
 promulgating such regulations the commissioner  shall  include  job  and
 investment criteria;
   [(i)] (J) as an entertainment company;
   [(j)] (K) in music production;
   [(k)] (L) as a life sciences company;
   [(l)]  (M)  as  a company operating in one of the industries listed in
 paragraphs (b) through (e) of this subdivision and engaging in  a  green
 project  as  defined in section three hundred fifty-two of this article;
 or
   [(m)] (N) as a participant operating in one of the  industries  listed
 in paragraphs (a) through [(k)] (L) of this subdivision and operating or
 sponsoring  child  care  services to its employees as defined in section
 three hundred fifty-two of this article.
   3. For the purposes of this article, in order to  participate  in  the
 excelsior  jobs  program,  a  business entity operating predominantly in
 manufacturing must create at least five net new jobs; a business  entity
 operating predominately in agriculture must create at least five net new
 jobs;  A  BUSINESS  ENTITY  OPERATING PREDOMINANTLY AS A FIBER WAREHOUSE
 MUST CREATE AT LEAST FIVE NET NEW  JOBS;  a  business  entity  operating
 predominantly  as  a financial service data center or financial services
 customer back office operation must create at least twenty-five net  new
 jobs;  a  business entity operating predominantly in scientific research
 and development must create at least five net new jobs; a business enti-
 ty operating predominantly in software development must create at  least
 five  net  new jobs; a business entity creating or expanding back office
 operations must create at least twenty-five net  new  jobs;  a  business
 entity  operating predominately in music production must create at least
 five net new jobs; a  business  entity  operating  predominantly  as  an
 entertainment company must create or obtain at least one hundred net new
 jobs;  or  a  business  entity operating predominantly as a distribution
 center in the state must create at least fifty net  new  jobs,  notwith-
 standing  subdivision five of this section; or a business entity operat-
 ing predominately as a life sciences company must create at  least  five
 net  new  jobs;  or  a  business entity must be a regionally significant
 project as defined in this article; or
   4. A business entity operating predominantly in one of the  industries
 referenced in paragraphs (a) through [(h)] (I) or in paragraph [(k)] (L)
 of  subdivision  one  of  this  section  but which does not meet the job
 requirements of subdivision three of this section  must  have  at  least
 twenty-five full-time job equivalents unless such business is a business
 entity operating predominantly in (A) manufacturing then it must have at
 least five full-time job equivalents and must demonstrate that its bene-
 fit-cost  ratio is at least ten to one, OR (B) AS A FIBER WAREHOUSE THEN
 IT MUST HAVE AT LEAST FIVE FULL-TIME JOB  EQUIVALENTS  AND  MUST  DEMON-
 STRATE THAT ITS BENEFIT-COST RATIO IS AT LEAST FIVE TO ONE.
   §  10.  Subparagraph  (vii) of paragraph b of subdivision 3 of section
 163 of the state finance law, as amended by chapter 381 of the  laws  of
 2014,  is  amended  and  a  new  subparagraph (xiii) is added to read as
 follows:
   (vii) assist the department of agriculture and markets and the depart-
 ment of economic development in providing a training  program  once  per
 A. 9649                             6
 
 year, in each economic development region, established in article eleven
 of the economic development law, to encourage and increase participation
 in  the  procurement  process,  pursuant to this article, by small busi-
 nesses,  as  defined  in  section one hundred thirty-one of the economic
 development law, including farms, selling food or food products,  ANIMAL
 OR  PLANT FIBER PRODUCTS grown, produced, harvested, or processed in New
 York state OR TEXTILE PRODUCTS MANUFACTURED FROM ANIMAL OR  PLANT  FIBER
 GROWN  OR PRODUCED PREDOMINANTLY IN NEW YORK STATE and assist such busi-
 nesses in identifying such food [or], food products, OR ANIMAL OR  PLANT
 FIBER  PRODUCTS  AND TEXTILE PRODUCTS which may help to meet state agen-
 cies' needs.
   (XIII) MAINTAIN A LIST OF NEW YORK-BASED FIRMS WHICH PRODUCE OR  MANU-
 FACTURE  OR  OFFER  FOR  SALE  ANIMAL  OR  PLANT  FIBER TEXTILE PRODUCTS
 CONTAINING ANIMAL OR PLANT FIBER GROWN OR PRODUCED PREDOMINANTLY IN  NEW
 YORK STATE IN THE FORM, FUNCTION AND UTILITY GENERALLY PURCHASED FOR USE
 BY STATE AGENCIES.
   §  11. Subdivisions 6 and 6-c of section 163 of the state finance law,
 subdivision 6 as amended by chapter 257 of the laws of 2021, and  subdi-
 vision  6-c as added by section 2 of part P of chapter 55 of the laws of
 2013, are amended to read as follows:
   6. Discretionary buying thresholds. Pursuant to guidelines established
 by the state procurement council: the commissioner may purchase services
 and commodities for the office of general services or its customer agen-
 cies serviced by the office of general services business services center
 in an amount not exceeding eighty-five thousand dollars without a formal
 competitive process; state agencies may purchase  services  and  commod-
 ities in an amount not exceeding fifty thousand dollars without a formal
 competitive  process;  and  state  agencies  may purchase commodities or
 services from small business concerns or  those  certified  pursuant  to
 articles  fifteen-A and seventeen-B of the executive law, or commodities
 or technology that are recycled or  remanufacturing  in  an  amount  not
 exceeding  five  hundred  thousand  dollars without a formal competitive
 process and for commodities that  are  food,  including  milk  and  milk
 products,  OR  ANIMAL  OR  PLANT  FIBER  PRODUCTS, grown, produced [or],
 harvested, OR PROCESSED in New York state OR TEXTILE  PRODUCTS  MANUFAC-
 TURED  FROM ANIMAL OR PLANT FIBER GROWN OR PRODUCED PREDOMINANTLY IN NEW
 YORK STATE in an amount not to  exceed  two  hundred  thousand  dollars,
 without a formal competitive process.
   6-c.  Pursuant  to  the  authority provided in subdivision six of this
 section, for the purchase of commodities that are food,  including  milk
 and  milk  products,  OR ANIMAL OR PLANT FIBER PRODUCTS, grown, produced
 [or], harvested, OR PROCESSED in New  York  state  OR  TEXTILE  PRODUCTS
 MANUFACTURED  FROM ANIMAL OR PLANT FIBER GROWN OR PRODUCED PREDOMINANTLY
 IN NEW YORK STATE, where such commodities exceed fifty thousand  dollars
 in  value,  state  agencies must advertise the discretionary purchase on
 the state agency website for a reasonable period of time  and  make  the
 discretionary  purchase  based  on the lowest price that meets the state
 agency's form, function and utility.
   § 12. Subdivision 2-d of section 16 of  the  agriculture  and  markets
 law,  as added by chapter 381 of the laws of 2014, is amended to read as
 follows:
   2-d. Coordinate with the office of general services and the department
 of economic development to provide a training program once per year,  in
 each  economic  development region, established in article eleven of the
 economic development law, to encourage and increase participation in the
 procurement process, pursuant to article eleven  of  the  state  finance
 A. 9649                             7
 
 law,  by  small businesses, as defined in section one hundred thirty-one
 of the economic development law, including farms, selling food  or  food
 products,  OR ANIMAL OR PLANT FIBER PRODUCTS grown, produced, harvested,
 or  processed  in  New  York state OR TEXTILE PRODUCTS MANUFACTURED FROM
 ANIMAL OR PLANT FIBER GROWN OR PRODUCED PREDOMINANTLY IN NEW YORK  STATE
 and assist such businesses in identifying such food or food products, OR
 ANIMAL  OR  PLANT  FIBER  TEXTILE PRODUCTS, which may help to meet state
 agencies' needs. The departments and  office  may  also  invite  to  the
 regional training programs representatives of local governments, includ-
 ing  school  districts,  that  may  be interested in purchasing New York
 state food products OR ANIMAL OR PLANT FIBER TEXTILE PRODUCTS.
   § 13. Paragraphs a and b of subdivision 9 of section 309 of the  agri-
 culture and markets law, as added by chapter 92 of the laws of 2017, are
 amended to read as follows:
   a.  The  advisory council on agriculture shall advise the commissioner
 in establishing procedures for making annual awards recognizing New York
 farms, agricultural [and], food, AND ANIMAL OR PLANT FIBER TEXTILE busi-
 nesses, and institutions that are successful in  producing,  processing,
 marketing,  and/or  promoting  New  York farm [and], food, AND ANIMAL OR
 PLANT FIBER TEXTILE products. The commissioner shall coordinate with the
 commissioner of economic development to determine which department shall
 make awards in categories that may be similar to those listed in  subdi-
 vision  eighteen-c  of  section  one hundred of the economic development
 law. These awards shall be given in recognition of exceptional  perform-
 ance  and  support for New York agriculture by persons, firms and organ-
 izations that are principally located within the state of New  York  and
 engaged  in the operation of New York state farms, businesses and insti-
 tutions.
   b. The council may annually nominate and forward such nominations  for
 awards to the commissioner for [his or her] THE COMMISSIONER'S consider-
 ation in the following categories:
   (i) innovative and unique farm products developed for food, beverages,
 ANIMAL OR PLANT FIBER TEXTILES, or horticulture;
   (ii) agri-tourism;
   (iii)  foods or beverages processed or manufactured from New York farm
 products;
   (iv) retail food stores;
   (v) restaurants and other food service businesses; [and]
   (vi) education, health care and  residential  institutions  including,
 but  not limited to, food service in schools, colleges, hospitals, nurs-
 ing homes, day care and senior centers; AND
   (VII) ANIMAL OR PLANT FIBER TEXTILES PROCESSED  OR  MANUFACTURED  FROM
 ANIMAL  AND  PLANT  FIBERS  GROWN  OR PRODUCED PREDOMINANTLY IN NEW YORK
 STATE.
   § 14. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new arti-
 cle 18-A to read as follows:
                               ARTICLE 18-A
                     NATURAL FIBER TEXTILE DEVELOPMENT
 SECTION 226. NATURAL FIBER TEXTILE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL.
   § 226. NATURAL FIBER TEXTILE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL. 1. THERE  IS  HEREBY
 ESTABLISHED  WITHIN  THE  DEPARTMENT A NATURAL FIBER TEXTILE DEVELOPMENT
 COUNCIL.  SUCH COUNCIL SHALL CONSIST OF THE  COMMISSIONER,  THE  COMMIS-
 SIONER  OF  ECONOMIC  DEVELOPMENT,  OR  THEIR  DESIGNEES,  AND TEN OTHER
 PERSONS TO BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, INCLUDING TWO  MEMBERS  ON  THE
 RECOMMENDATION  OF THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE; TWO MEMBERS ON
 THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY;  ONE  MEMBER  ON  THE
 A. 9649                             8
 
 RECOMMENDATION  OF  THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE; AND ONE MEMBER ON
 THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE  MINORITY  LEADER  OF  THE  ASSEMBLY.  OF  THE
 MEMBERS  SO  APPOINTED,  AT  LEAST  ONE  MEMBER  SHALL  BE A PRODUCER OF
 ANIMAL-BASED  FIBERS, ONE SHALL BE A PRODUCER OF PLANT-BASED FIBERS, ONE
 SHALL BE A REPRESENTATIVE OF A STATEWIDE AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATION,  ONE
 SHALL  BE  A  REPRESENTATIVE  OF A REGIONAL OR STATEWIDE ORGANIZATION OF
 ANIMAL OR PLANT FIBER PRODUCERS, TWO SHALL BE REPRESENTATIVES  OF  FIBER
 AND TEXTILE MANUFACTURERS WHICH IS DEFINED AS A FIBER PROCESSOR OR SPIN-
 NING  MILL, A KNITTING MILL, A WEAVING STUDIO, OR WET FINISHING (DYEING,
 PRINTING OR FABRIC FINISHING), TWO  SHALL  BE  FROM  DESIGNERS/PRODUCERS
 WHICH IS DEFINED AS INCLUDING APPAREL, HOME TEXTILE PRODUCTS, INDUSTRIAL
 TEXTILES  AND  HEALTHCARE  PRODUCTS, ONE SHALL BE A REPRESENTATIVE OF AN
 ACADEMIC INSTITUTION OFFERING TEXTILE OR DESIGN EDUCATION, AND ONE SHALL
 BE A REPRESENTATIVE OF AN ACADEMIC INSTITUTION OFFERING  FIBER-PRODUCING
 LIVESTOCK  EDUCATION.  MEMBERS  SHALL  BE  APPOINTED FOR A TERM OF THREE
 YEARS AND MAY SERVE UNTIL THEIR SUCCESSORS ARE CHOSEN, PROVIDED,  HOWEV-
 ER, THAT OF THE MEMBERS FIRST APPOINTED, THREE SHALL SERVE FOR A TERM OF
 ONE  YEAR,  THREE  SHALL  SERVE  FOR A TERM OF TWO YEARS, AND FOUR SHALL
 SERVE FOR A TERM OF THREE YEARS. THE GOVERNOR SHALL SELECT A  MEMBER  OF
 THE  COUNCIL  TO SERVE AS CHAIRPERSON. COUNCIL MEMBERS SHALL NOT RECEIVE
 COMPENSATION FOR THEIR SERVICES, BUT MAY BE PAID THEIR ACTUAL AND NECES-
 SARY EXPENSES INCURRED IN SERVING UPON THE COUNCIL.
   2. THE COUNCIL SHALL WORK WITH NATURAL  FIBER  PRODUCERS  AND  TEXTILE
 MANUFACTURERS  TO  INCREASE  THE  ECONOMIC  CONTRIBUTIONS AND EMPLOYMENT
 OPPORTUNITIES RELATED TO ANIMAL AND PLANT FIBER AGRICULTURE AND  TEXTILE
 MANUFACTURING  IN  NEW  YORK  STATE.  THE COUNCIL SHALL GIVE PRIORITY TO
 INCREASING PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN, AND UTILIZATION  OF,  NEW  YORK  STATE
 PRODUCED AND PROCESSED NATURAL FIBERS IN ALL CATEGORIES OF TEXTILE MANU-
 FACTURING INCLUDING APPAREL, HOME TEXTILE PRODUCTS, INDUSTRIAL TEXTILES,
 AND HEALTH CARE PRODUCTS. THE COUNCIL SHALL ALSO PRIORITIZE COORDINATING
 POLICY  WITH STATE AGENCIES, ACADEMIA AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR; WORKING TO
 IMPROVE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING  OF  AND  APPRECIATION  FOR  NATURAL  FIBER
 TEXTILES;  AND  INCREASING  EXPORT AND MARKET OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEW YORK
 PRODUCED NATURAL FIBER TEXTILES. THE COUNCIL  SHALL  DELIVER  AN  ANNUAL
 REPORT  OUTLINING  ITS  WORK  AND  MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS WITH REGARD TO
 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND MARKETING INITIATIVES AND RESEARCH AND DEVELOP-
 MENT INITIATIVES CONSISTENT WITH THE PURPOSES OF THE COUNCIL. THE REPORT
 SHALL BE DELIVERED TO THE GOVERNOR, THE SPEAKER  OF  THE  ASSEMBLY,  THE
 TEMPORARY  PRESIDENT  OF THE SENATE, THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE ASSEMBLY
 AND THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE.
   3. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE  NECESSARY  SUPPORT  SERVICES  TO  THE
 COUNCIL, INCLUDING, WITHIN FUNDS AVAILABLE, THE APPOINTMENT OF AN EXECU-
 TIVE DIRECTOR TO COORDINATE THE WORK OF THE COUNCIL.
   § 15. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed-
 ing  the date on which it shall have become a law; provided however that
 the amendments to section 163 of the state finance law made by  sections
 ten  and  eleven of this act shall not affect the repeal of such section
 and shall be deemed to repeal therewith.