S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
977
2009-2010 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
(PREFILED)
January 7, 2009
___________
Introduced by M. of A. GUNTHER, LIFTON -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A.
JOHN -- read once and referred to the Committee on Corporations,
Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the New York state urban development corporation act, in
relation to creating rural New York smart sites within the rural revi-
talization program
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Statement of legislative intent. The legislature hereby
finds that many changes are shaping the economy of rural New York.
Traditionally, this state's rural economy has been heavily dependent on
farming and manufacturing which, in terms of employment, has steadily
continued to decline. Recognizing this trend and the need for state
industries to be competitive in the global market place, the legislature
finds that rural New York must have greater access to information tech-
nologies thereby making it more competitive in the global marketplace
and emerging industries. Rural areas of the state have had many barriers
preventing sustainable economic growth. However, with information tech-
nologies and infrastructure slowly developing in the rural landscape,
the digital divide that now exists shall be bridged, thereby bringing
high paying jobs and growth to rural regions of the state. Therefore the
legislature declares that to improve traditional industries and promote
the development of new industry, increased penetration of information
technology business into rural regions of the state is imperative and
that rural New York smart sites are a necessary economic development
tool to encourage such growth and job development.
S 2. Section 16-l of section 1 of chapter 174 of the laws of 1968,
constituting the New York state urban development corporation act, is
amended by adding a new subdivision 9 to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02178-01-9
A. 977 2
9. RURAL NEW YORK SMART SITES. (A) THE CORPORATION SHALL, WITHIN
AVAILABLE APPROPRIATIONS IN THE EMPIRE STATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND,
DEVELOP RURAL NEW YORK SMART SITES IN COOPERATION WITH STATE AND LOCAL
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES, THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, THE
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AND OTHER APPRO-
PRIATE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AGENCIES. RURAL NEW YORK SMART SITES SHALL BE
TECHNOLOGY BASED SERVICE FACILITIES THAT SHALL EMPLOY TRAINED WORKERS
WHO USE COMPUTERS AND THE INTERNET TO PERFORM BUSINESS TASKS FOR THE
GLOBAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
(B) THE CORPORATION, IN COOPERATION WITH STATE AND LOCAL ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES, SHALL DEVELOP A STRATEGY TO IDENTIFY SMART SITES
IN RURAL COMMUNITIES THAT ARE READY TO PARTNER WITH FIRMS USING COMPUT-
ERS AND THE INTERNET TO PERFORM INFORMATION-TECHNOLOGY RELATED FUNC-
TIONS. RURAL SMART SITES SHALL OFFER A SINGLE PACKAGE OF TRAINED WORK-
ERS, COMPUTER EQUIPMENT, A FACILITY WITH HIGH-SPEED BANDWIDTH, AND
ACCESS TO A VARIETY OF STATE AND LOCAL INCENTIVES FOR ALL BUSINESS
TENANTS AND INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS:
(I) BE COMMUNITY DRIVEN AND DIRECTED BY A LOCAL SMART SITE TEAM. EACH
SMART SITE TEAM SHALL HAVE AS MEMBERS LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STAFF,
ELECTED OFFICIALS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE TECHNOLOGY TRAINING PARTNERS,
HIGH-SPEED INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE DEPART-
MENT OF LABOR, SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS, LOCAL COLLEGES AND
TECHNOLOGY-BASED BUSINESS PARTNERS;
(II) WITHIN ONE YEAR AFTER DESIGNATION BY THE CORPORATION, SHALL HAVE
ACCESS TO AT LEAST TEN WORKERS WHO DEMONSTRATE BASIC TECHNOLOGY SKILLS
IN A VARIETY OF WIDELY USED APPLICATION PROGRAMS, SOFT SKILL TRAINING
SUCH AS CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WORK HABITS, BASIC INTERNET NAVIGATION AND
ADDITIONAL TRAINING TAILORED TO THE NEEDS OF THE FIRMS LOCATING IN THE
SMART SITE;
(III) HAVE IDENTIFIED AT LEAST ONE FACILITY FOR SALE OR LEASE WITHIN
THE COMMUNITY, WITH A CAPACITY FOR AT LEAST TEN WORKERS, PUBLICLY OR
PRIVATELY OWNED, SERVED WITH HIGH SPEED INTERNET ACCESS (T-1 OR GREATER)
WORK STATIONS AND COMPUTER EQUIPMENT. A PLAN AND STRATEGY SHALL BE IN
PLACE TO DELIVER THESE COMPONENTS WITHIN SIXTY DAYS OF A BUSINESS'S
DECISION TO LOCATE IN THE SMART SITE;
(IV) BUSINESSES LOCATED IN THE SMART SITE SHALL BE MEMBERS OF THE
COMPUTER, DATA PROCESSING OR TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY. THROUGH USE OF
THE INTERNET, BUSINESSES MAY PERFORM ACTIVITIES FOR A PARENT COMPANY OR
CONTRACT FOR SERVICES WITH OTHER COMPANIES OR AGENCIES; AND
(V) OUTSOURCING MAY INCLUDE WEB SITE DEVELOPMENT, DATABASE DEVELOP-
MENT, DATA ENTRY, HELP DESK SUPPORT, SOFTWARE TESTING AND COMPUTER
PROGRAMMING. SUCH BUSINESSES SHALL BE RECRUITED FROM OUTSIDE THE COMMU-
NITY OR AS A LOCAL EXPANSION OR STARTUP.
(C) THE CORPORATION SHALL ASSIST IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SMART SITE
RESOURCES INCLUDING COMPUTER EQUIPMENT LEASES, CUSTOM FIT TRAINING,
STATE JOB TAX AND INVESTMENT TAX CREDITS, ACCESSING STATE AND FEDERAL
CONTRACTS, MARKETING AND TRADE SHOW PROMOTION EFFORTS.
S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.