BILL NUMBER:  S3243

 TITLE OF BILL :

An act to amend the economic development law, in relation to
establishing an enhanced statewide business information and referral
system call center


 PURPOSE :

This legislation provides for the Department of Economic Development
to plan and implement, together with other economic development
service providers an enhanced call center capability that includes but
is not limited to operationalizing the use of a three digit easily
recognized telephone number, providing extended service hours, and
developing extensive referral capabilities to economic development
providers and agencies involved in providing employee development
services like skills training, and those agencies involved in
licensing, regulation and taxation of the State's businesses.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Section one includes provisions that require the State's major
economic development providers, permitting and technology service
agencies to work together to develop and implement plans that will
              

enhance and build upon the department's existing call center functions
and capabilities. Also, in this section the department and any
agencies involved in providing economic development services are
authorized to publicize the three digit call center capabilities to
the general public.

Section two includes provisions indicating the types of services that
will be offered through the three digit call center which will include
links as well as provide extended service hours and appropriate
technical capabilities required to carry out these functions.

Section three provides for the department of economic development to
work with the public service commission to assign a three digits phone
number.

Section four provides for sharing information originating at the call
center to enhance the services and functions of other remotely
accessed economic development resources such as the New York State
business development website.

 JUSTIFICATION :

Legislators, in their conversations with their business constituents
hear that it is difficult to access available economic development
assistance. For the State's businesses large and small to remain
competitive in today's fast paced global environment they need to be
able to access information rapidly and efficiently at times and from
places that are convenient to those that operate businesses. This
legislation is designed to match the State's services to the
availability and needs of its "customer", the busy business manager or
entrepreneur.

People that run businesses and particularly those that are starting or
expanding their businesses are working longer hours, often during
evenings and weekends. These are people on the move, highly involved
in their operations and often connected to their customers, employees
and suppliers by mobile phone. Because of the importance of the mobile
phone in today's business environment a call center would in many
circumstances be the ideal portal for business professionals to
connect with the State's business development service providers.
Although the State currently provides some limited assistance to
businesses at their existing call center, the call center's current
hours are limited and the existence of these services is not widely
publicized and thus not widely known in the business community. This
legislation provides for expanding the hours of operation and scope of
services provides by the call center to enable businesses to face less
red tape and access more services.

This legislation provides for the enhancement and expansion of scope
of services improve New York State's capabilities to provide links
between entrepreneurs, business owners and managers seeking business
development services and the wide array of State funded agencies
authorities and not-for-profits economic development providers. In
addition, the State with this easily recognizable three digit number
will have a tool to build on to improve its ability to market its
capabilities to serve businesses within the state, entrepreneurs that
wish to start a business, and those that may consider relocating
businesses from other areas.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

Undetermined.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

2005-06: Passed Senate/Delivered to Assembly Economic Development
Cmte.
2007: Passed Senate/Died in Assembly
2008: Passed Senate/Assembly Ways and Means Committee

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after is
shall become a law; provided however, effective immediately, the
addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary
for the implementation of this act on its effective date are
authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such
effective date.