Assembly Bill A2201

                            
                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                 2201--A
                                                        Cal. No. 436

                       2009-2010 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            January 15, 2009
                               ___________

Introduced by M. of A. MORELLE, HOYT, P. RIVERA, CANESTRARI, MAGNARELLI,
  ESPAILLAT, CARROZZA, COLTON -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. AMEDORE,
  BENJAMIN,  CLARK,  DelMONTE,  DESTITO,  FARRELL, GALEF, KOON, LUPARDO,
  MAGEE, PERRY, PHEFFER, SCARBOROUGH, SWEENEY -- read once and  referred
  to  the  Committee on Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and
  Industry -- reported from committee,  advanced  to  a  third  reading,
  amended  and  ordered  reprinted,  retaining its place on the order of
  third reading

AN ACT to amend the economic development law, in relation to authorizing
  regional offices not only to provide information on regional  economic
  development, but also provide assistance with regulatory compliance

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 231 of  the  economic  development
law, as amended by chapter 98 of the laws of 2008, is amended to read as
follows:
  1. The department, through its regional offices, is authorized: (a) to
serve  as  a  center  for  information  regarding  economic  development
resources available from state,  federal  and  local  agencies;  (b)  to
provide outreach to businesses, with attention to SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED
BUSINESSES, INCLUDING minority and women-owned business enterprises, for
financial and technical assistance offered by state economic development
agencies,  AUTHORITIES,  OR  OTHER  ECONOMIC ENTITIES; (c) to serve as a
regional center to accept applications for  state  economic  development
programs; (d) to coordinate the economic development programs and activ-
ities  of  state  agencies and authorities within each region including,
but  not  limited  to,  outreach  to  businesses,  technical  assistance
services,  skills training assistance, sharing of information, strategic
economic development plans and  programs,  TO  PROVIDE  OR  ARRANGE  FOR
ASSISTANCE  IN  COMPLIANCE  WITH  FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL RULES, REGU-
LATIONS, PERMITS, AND LICENSES, and other measures to  enhance  regional

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                           LBD04923-02-9

A. 2201--A                          2

economic  development  and  eliminate  duplication  of  services; (e) to
provide or arrange for assistance to persons, firms, agencies,  partner-
ships or corporations, either public or private, in applying for assist-
ance  from state economic development programs OR FOR NECESSARY LICENSES
AND PERMITS OR SEEKING TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL RULES AND
REGULATIONS; (f) to review  and  comment,  within  their  knowledge  and
expertise,  with  respect  to  applications for state assistance[,] in a
TIMELY manner and form prescribed by the commissioner; (g) to distribute
literature and marketing material describing the facilities,  advantages
and  attractions  of  the  region  for business; (h) to provide economic
development information, planning services and technical  assistance  to
counties  and  municipalities within the region; (i) to provide informa-
tion and assistance in the certification  of  minority  and  women-owned
business  enterprises;  (j)  to  provide  or  arrange  for assistance to
private sector employers,  whether  operating  for  profit  or  not  for
profit,  and  to  organizations  and  associations  of such employers in
developing and implementing innovative  and  flexible  employee  compen-
sation,  assistance  and benefit programs to enhance competitiveness and
meet emerging demographic and market  conditions;  and  (k)  to  provide
information  and assistance to small businesses on environmental compli-
ance requirements of federal and  state  law  and  pollution  prevention
opportunities  in  furtherance  of  policies and programs established in
article twenty-eight of the environmental conservation law and in  coor-
dination  with  the  pollution  prevention  and environmental compliance
coordinating council established in article twenty-eight of the environ-
mental conservation law, including programs operated by the  department,
the  department  of  environmental  conservation or other state or local
agencies from which technical assistance,  or  loans,  grants  or  other
financial  assistance  for  compliance  and  pollution prevention may be
obtained; and in providing such information and assistance,  to  promote
pollution prevention approaches.
  S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.