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

                                  10445

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                              May 29, 2012
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M. of A. KOLB -- read once and referred to the Committee
  on Governmental Operations

AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to creating  the  innova-
  tors  corps  within the executive department to identify and encourage
  the growth of technology businesses in New York state

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

  Section  1.  The executive law is amended by adding a new article 44-A
to read as follows:
                               ARTICLE 44-A
                            INNOVATORS CORPS
SECTION 945. INNOVATORS CORPS; CREATION.
  S 945. INNOVATORS CORPS; CREATION. 1. THERE IS HEREBY  CREATED  WITHIN
THE  EXECUTIVE  DEPARTMENT  A  DIVISION  TO  BE KNOWN AS THE "INNOVATORS
CORPS".  SUCH DIVISION SHALL BE A  RESEARCH  GROUP  CONSISTING  OF  FOUR
PRIMARY MEMBERS, APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, WHO SHALL SERVE AS TRAVELING
REPRESENTATIVES,  AND  ADDITIONAL  STAFF AS THE GOVERNOR AND THE PRIMARY
MEMBERS MAY DEEM NECESSARY.
  2. THE FOUR PRIMARY MEMBERS  SHALL  HAVE  SIGNIFICANT  EXPERIENCE  AND
EDUCATION  IN  VARIOUS AREAS OF BUSINESS PRACTICE, AS WELL AS FLUENCY IN
FOREIGN LANGUAGES. SUCH MEMBERS SHALL  SERVE  AT  THE  PLEASURE  OF  THE
GOVERNOR.
  3.  THE  PURPOSE OF THE DIVISION SHALL BE TO IDENTIFY HIGH-TECH INDUS-
TRIES WHICH ARE WELL SUITED TO PARTICULAR REGIONS OF THE  STATE  AND  TO
IDENTIFY  AND  TARGET SPECIFIC BUSINESS ENTITIES WITHIN THOSE INDUSTRIES
WHICH ARE READY AND POISED FOR EXPANSION. THE  DIVISION  WILL  FOCUS  ON
WAYS  TO  ATTRACT  HIGH-TECHNOLOGY DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESSES
AND JOBS TO NEW YORK STATE. THE MEMBERS  OF  THE  DIVISION  SHOULD  ALSO
ESTABLISH  AND MAINTAIN CONTACTS AND COMMUNICATIONS WITH HIGH-TECH BUSI-
NESSES CURRENTLY OPERATING IN THIS STATE FOR THE PURPOSE OF  ENCOURAGING
AND  SUPPORTING THOSE BUSINESSES WHICH ARE LOOKING TO EXPAND TO DO SO IN
NEW YORK.
  4. THE DIVISION SHALL DEVELOP A LIST OF BUSINESS RESOURCES WITHIN  NEW
YORK STATE INCLUDING:

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

                                                           LBD16003-01-2

A. 10445                            2

  (A) "SHOVEL READY" SITES;
  (B) NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY;
  (C) COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES;
  (D) TAX INCENTIVES; AND
  (E) WORKFORCE.
  5.  THE DIVISION SHALL ATTEMPT TO CONDUCT INTERVIEWS AND GATHER INFOR-
MATION FROM BUSINESSES WHICH ARE DOWN-SIZING, CLOSING, CEASING FUNCTIONS
OR OPERATIONS OR RELOCATING OUTSIDE OF NEW  YORK,  TO  IDENTIFY  ISSUES,
CAUSES  AND  OBSTACLES TO SUCCESS, INCLUDING STATE LAWS, REGULATIONS AND
DISINCENTIVES TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THIS STATE.
  6. THE DIVISION SHALL RECEIVE APPROPRIATIONS SUFFICIENT TO  ENABLE  IT
TO CARRY OUT ITS PURPOSES AND DUTIES UNDER THIS ARTICLE, INCLUDING TRAV-
EL  EXPENSES  NECESSARY  TO  PROVIDE  MEMBERS  WITH  THE OPPORTUNITY FOR
PERSONAL INTERACTION WITH FOREIGN BUSINESS OWNERS, IN ORDER  TO  PROMOTE
THE BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO BUSINESSES IN NEW YORK STATE.
  7.  THE  DIVISION SHALL PREPARE MONTHLY REPORTS TO THE GOVERNOR AND AN
ANNUAL REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE. EACH REPORT SHALL INCLUDE:  BUSINESSES
AND INDUSTRIES THAT IT HAS TARGETED; SPECIFIC  BUSINESS  DEVELOPMENT  OR
EXPANSION  OPPORTUNITIES;  JOB GROWTH INFORMATION; ANALYSIS AND INFORMA-
TION ELICITED FROM BUSINESSES TERMINATING  OR  LEAVING  THE  STATE;  AND
AREAS IDENTIFIED WHERE NEW YORK CAN IMPROVE ITS BUSINESS CLIMATE.
  S 2. This act shall take effect immediately; provided that the members
of  the  innovators  corps  created  pursuant to section one of this act
shall be appointed no later than ninety days after such effective date.