BILL NUMBER:S5360

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend chapter 415 of the laws of 1913, relating to establishing a
state commission for the blind and visually handicapped, in relation to
the operation of vending facilities

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To make a technical amendment to
Chapter 532 of the laws of 2010 with regard to the Business
Enterprise Program.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
The bill amends Subparagraph (A) of
paragraph 3 of subdivision b of section 11-a of chapter 415 of the
laws of 1913, relating to establishing a state commission for the
blind and visually handicapped, as added by chapter 693 of the laws
of 1992, to remove "airports" as those locations that shall issue
permits for vending facilities to the department of social services.

JUSTIFICATION:
The Business Enterprise Program (BEP) was established
as a way to provide people who are visually impaired with jobs as
retail facility managers in various state buildings. Chapter 532 of
the laws of 2010 appropriately sought to expand opportunities for
              

vendors by going beyond state owned buildings to include properties
owned by the State University of New York and the New York State
Thruway Authority as viable sites for vending facilities.

This law included "any airport in the state of New York" as locations
for which such BEP permits would be issued.

Airports in the state, with few exceptions, are owned by
municipalities or are privately owned and therefore differ greatly
from other state buildings Or state-affiliated facilities such as
public authorities, where large numbers of state employees are
working during normal business hours:

This bill will correct this discrepancy that included non-state owned,
occupied or controlled facilities (airports) in the BEP program. This
bill would not prevent the establishment of such a vendor operation
at an airport where it is found mutually beneficial between the
commission, the airport owner and the vendor, with an expectation of
having a successful enterprise, to locate such operation there.

The bill will also make it easier for the agency to promulgate the
necessary regulations to implement Chapter 532 of the laws of 2010.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.