S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   2805
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 23, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of A. THIELE, RIVERA, HYNDMAN, BICHOTTE -- read once
   and referred to the Committee on Small Business
 
 AN ACT to amend the economic development law, in relation to  establish-
   ing  entrepreneurship assistance centers; to amend the economic devel-
   opment law  and  the  labor  law,  in  relation  to  making  technical
   corrections  relating thereto; and to repeal article 9 of the economic
   development law relating thereto
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Article 9 of the economic development law is REPEALED and a
 new article 9 is added to read as follows:
                                 ARTICLE 9
                    ENTREPRENEURSHIP ASSISTANCE CENTERS
 SECTION 210. DEFINITIONS.
         211. ENTREPRENEURSHIP ASSISTANCE CENTERS.
         212. REPORTING.
   §  210.  DEFINITIONS.  AS  USED  IN  THIS ARTICLE THE FOLLOWING TERMS,
 UNLESS THE CONTEXT INDICATES OTHERWISE, SHALL HAVE THE  FOLLOWING  MEAN-
 INGS:
   1.  "ENTREPRENEURSHIP  ASSISTANCE  CENTERS"  SHALL  MEAN  THE BUSINESS
 DEVELOPMENT CENTERS WHICH PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO PRIMARILY MINORITY GROUP
 MEMBERS, WOMEN, INDIVIDUALS WITH A DISABILITY,  DISLOCATED  WORKERS  AND
 VETERANS  AS  ESTABLISHED  BY  THE  DEPARTMENT  PURSUANT  TO SECTION TWO
 HUNDRED ELEVEN OF THIS ARTICLE.
   2. "DISABILITY" SHALL MEAN, WITH RESPECT TO AN INDIVIDUAL:
   (A) A PHYSICAL OR MENTAL IMPAIRMENT THAT SUBSTANTIALLY LIMITS  ONE  OR
 MORE OF THE MAJOR LIFE ACTIVITIES OF SUCH INDIVIDUAL;
   (B) A RECORD OF SUCH AN IMPAIRMENT; OR
   (C) BEING REGARDED AS HAVING AN IMPAIRMENT.
   3.  "MINORITY  BUSINESS ENTERPRISE" SHALL MEAN ANY BUSINESS ENTERPRISE
 WHICH IS AT LEAST FIFTY-ONE PER CENTUM OWNED BY, OR IN  THE  CASE  OF  A
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD08418-01-7

 A. 2805                             2
 
 PUBLICLY  OWNED  BUSINESS  AT LEAST FIFTY-ONE PER CENTUM OF THE STOCK OF
 WHICH IS OWNED BY, CITIZENS OR PERMANENT RESIDENT ALIENS WHO ARE  BLACK,
 HISPANIC,  ASIAN  OR AMERICAN INDIAN, PACIFIC ISLANDER OR ALASKAN NATIVE
 WHERE  SUCH  OWNERSHIP  INTEREST IS REAL, SUBSTANTIAL AND CONTINUING AND
 WHERE SUCH PERSONS HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO INDEPENDENTLY CONTROL THE  DAY-
 TO-DAY BUSINESS DECISIONS OF THE ENTITY.
   4.  "MINORITY  GROUP  MEMBER"  SHALL  MEAN  A UNITED STATES CITIZEN OR
 PERMANENT RESIDENT ALIEN WHO IS AND CAN DEMONSTRATE MEMBERSHIP IN ONE OF
 THE FOLLOWING GROUPS:
   (A) BLACK PERSONS HAVING ORIGINS IN ANY OF THE  BLACK  AFRICAN  RACIAL
 GROUPS NOT OF HISPANIC ORIGIN;
   (B)  HISPANIC  PERSONS  OF  MEXICAN,  PUERTO  RICAN, DOMINICAN, CUBAN,
 CENTRAL OR SOUTH AMERICAN DESCENT OF EITHER INDIAN OR  HISPANIC  ORIGIN,
 REGARDLESS OF RACE;
   (C) ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER PERSONS HAVING ORIGINS IN THE FAR EAST,
 SOUTHEAST ASIA, THE INDIAN SUB-CONTINENT OR THE PACIFIC ISLANDS; OR
   (D) AMERICAN INDIAN OR ALASKAN NATIVE PERSONS HAVING ORIGINS IN ANY OF
 THE ORIGINAL PEOPLES OF NORTH AMERICA.
   5.  "WOMEN-OWNED  BUSINESS  ENTERPRISE" SHALL MEAN ANY BUSINESS ENTER-
 PRISE WHICH IS AT LEAST FIFTY-ONE PER CENTUM OWNED BY, OR IN THE CASE OF
 A PUBLICLY OWNED BUSINESS AT LEAST FIFTY-ONE PER CENTUM OF THE STOCK  OF
 WHICH  IS  OWNED BY, CITIZENS OR PERMANENT RESIDENT ALIENS WHO ARE WOMEN
 WHERE SUCH OWNERSHIP INTEREST IS REAL, SUBSTANTIAL  AND  CONTINUING  AND
 WHERE  SUCH PERSONS HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO INDEPENDENTLY CONTROL THE DAY-
 TO-DAY BUSINESS DECISIONS OF THE ENTITY.
   6. "VETERAN" SHALL MEAN A PERSON WHO SERVED IN AND WHO HAS RECEIVED AN
 HONORABLE OR GENERAL DISCHARGE FROM, THE UNITED STATES ARMY,  NAVY,  AIR
 FORCE, MARINES, COAST GUARD, AND/OR RESERVES THEREOF, AND/OR IN THE ARMY
 NATIONAL GUARD, AIR NATIONAL GUARD, NEW YORK GUARD AND/OR NEW YORK NAVAL
 MILITIA.
   §  211.  ENTREPRENEURSHIP  ASSISTANCE CENTERS. 1. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL
 ESTABLISH AND SUPPORT, WITHIN AVAILABLE APPROPRIATIONS, ENTREPRENEURSHIP
 ASSISTANCE CENTERS  AT  CAREER  EDUCATION  AGENCIES  AND  NOT-FOR-PROFIT
 CORPORATIONS  INCLUDING,  BUT   NOT LIMITED TO, LOCAL DEVELOPMENT CORPO-
 RATIONS, CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE, COMMUNITY-BASED BUSINESS OUTREACH CENTERS
 AND OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS.   THE PURPOSE OF  SUCH  CENTERS
 SHALL  BE  TO  TRAIN  MINORITY  GROUP MEMBERS, WOMEN, INDIVIDUALS WITH A
 DISABILITY, DISLOCATED WORKERS AND VETERANS IN THE PRINCIPLES AND  PRAC-
 TICE  OF  ENTREPRENEURSHIP  IN  ORDER  TO PREPARE SUCH PERSONS TO PURSUE
 SELF-EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND TO PURSUE A MINORITY  BUSINESS  ENTER-
 PRISE  OR  A WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE. SUCH CENTERS SHALL PROVIDE
 FOR TRAINING IN ALL ASPECTS OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND  SMALL  BUSINESS
 MANAGEMENT AS DEFINED BY THE COMMISSIONER. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION,
 "CAREER  EDUCATION  AGENCY"  SHALL  MEAN A COMMUNITY COLLEGE OR BOARD OF
 COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES OPERATING WITHIN THE STATE.
   2. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTABLISH CRITERIA FOR  SELECTION  AND  DESIG-
 NATION OF SUCH CENTERS WHICH SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
   (A)  THE  LEVEL  OF  SUPPORT  FOR THE CENTER FROM LOCAL POST-SECONDARY
 EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS, BUSINESSES, AND GOVERNMENT;
   (B) THE LEVEL OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDED AT THE LOCAL AND FEDER-
 AL LEVEL TO SUPPORT THE OPERATIONS OF THE CENTER;
   (C) THE APPLICANT'S UNDERSTANDING  OF  PROGRAM  GOALS  AND  OBJECTIVES
 ARTICULATED BY THE DEPARTMENT;
   (D)  THE  PLANS  OF  THE  CENTER TO SUPPLEMENT STATE AND LOCAL FUNDING
 THROUGH FEES FOR SERVICES WHICH MAY BE BASED ON A SLIDING SCALE BASED ON
 ABILITY TO PAY;

 A. 2805                             3
 
   (E) THE NEED FOR AND ANTICIPATED IMPACT OF THE CENTER ON THE COMMUNITY
 IN WHICH IT WILL FUNCTION;
   (F) THE QUALITY OF THE PROPOSED WORK PLAN AND STAFF OF THE CENTER; AND
   (G) THE EXTENT OF ECONOMIC DISTRESS IN THE AREA TO BE SERVED.
   3.  APPLICATION FOR GRANTS MADE PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION SHALL BE MADE
 IN THE MANNER AND ON FORMS PRESCRIBED BY THE DEPARTMENT.  SUCH  APPLICA-
 TION SHALL INCLUDE, BUT SHALL NOT BE LIMITED TO:
   (A)  A  DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  TRAINING  PROGRAMS  AVAILABLE WITHIN THE
 GEOGRAPHIC AREA TO BE SERVED BY THE CENTER TO WHICH ELIGIBLE CLIENTS MAY
 BE REFERRED;
   (B) DESIGNATION OF A PROGRAM DIRECTOR;
   (C) PLANS FOR PROVIDING ONGOING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO PROGRAM GRADU-
 ATES, INCLUDING LINKAGES WITH PROVIDERS OF OTHER ENTREPRENEURIAL ASSIST-
 ANCE PROGRAMS AND WITH PROVIDERS OF SMALL BUSINESS TECHNICAL  ASSISTANCE
 AND SERVICES;
   (D) A PROGRAM BUDGET, INCLUDING MATCHING FUNDS, IN-KIND AND OTHERWISE,
 TO BE PROVIDED BY THE APPLICANT; AND
   (E) SUCH OTHER REQUIREMENTS AS DEEMED NECESSARY BY THE DEPARTMENT.
   4. EACH CENTER SHALL:
   (A) BE OPERATED BY A BOARD OF DIRECTORS REPRESENTING COMMUNITY LEADERS
 IN BUSINESS, EDUCATION, FINANCE AND GOVERNMENT;
   (B) BE INCORPORATED AS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION;
   (C) BE LOCATED IN AN AREA ACCESSIBLE TO ELIGIBLE CLIENTS;
   (D)  ESTABLISH  AN  ADVISORY  GROUP  OF COMMUNITY BUSINESS EXPERTS, AT
 LEAST ONE-HALF OF WHOM SHALL BE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE  CLIENTELE  TO  BE
 SERVED  BY  THE  CENTER,  WHICH  SHALL  CONSTITUTE  A SUPPORT NETWORK TO
 PROVIDE COUNSELING AND MENTORING SERVICES  TO  MINORITY  GROUP  MEMBERS,
 WOMEN,  INDIVIDUALS  WITH  A DISABILITY, DISLOCATED WORKERS AND VETERANS
 FROM THE CONCEPT STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE FIRST ONE TO TWO YEARS
 OF EXISTENCE ON A REGULAR BASIS AND AS NEEDED THEREAFTER; AND
   (E) ESTABLISH A REFERRAL SYSTEM AND LINKAGES TO  EXISTING  AREA  SMALL
 BUSINESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AND FINANCING SOURCES.
   5.  EACH  ENTREPRENEURSHIP  ASSISTANCE  CENTER  SHALL  PROVIDE  NEEDED
 SERVICES TO ELIGIBLE CLIENTS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
   (A) ORIENTATION AND SCREENING OF PROSPECTIVE ENTREPRENEURS;
   (B) ANALYSIS OF BUSINESS CONCEPTS AND TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY;
   (C) MARKET ANALYSIS;
   (D) MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS AND COUNSELING;
   (E) BUSINESS PLANNING AND FINANCIAL PLANNING ASSISTANCE;
   (F) REFERRALS TO FINANCIAL RESOURCES;
   (G) REFERRAL TO EXISTING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS  FOR  TRAINING  IN  SUCH
 AREAS  AS  MARKETING, ACCOUNTING AND OTHER SUCH TRAINING PROGRAMS AS MAY
 BE NECESSARY AND AVAILABLE; AND
   (H) REFERRAL TO BUSINESS INCUBATOR FACILITIES, WHERE APPROPRIATE,  FOR
 THE  PURPOSE  OF  ENTERING  INTO  AGREEMENTS  TO  ACCESS  SHARED SUPPORT
 SERVICES.
   6. GRANTS MADE PURSUANT TO  THIS  SECTION  SHALL  BE  SUBJECT  TO  THE
 FOLLOWING LIMITATIONS:
   (A)  NO  GRANT  SHALL  BE  MADE TO ANY ONE OR ANY CONSORTIUM OF CAREER
 EDUCATION AGENCIES AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATIONS IN EXCESS  OF  SEVEN-
 TY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS; AND
   (B)  EACH GRANT SHALL BE DISBURSED FOR PAYMENT OF THE COST OF SERVICES
 AND EXPENSES OF THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR, THE INSTRUCTORS OF THE PARTICIPAT-
 ING CAREER EDUCATION AGENCY OR NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION,  THE  FACULTY
 AND  SUPPORT  PERSONNEL  THEREOF  AND ANY OTHER PERSON IN THE SERVICE OF
 PROVIDING INSTRUCTION AND COUNSELING IN FURTHERANCE OF THE PROGRAM.

 A. 2805                             4
 
   § 212. REPORTING. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL:
   1.  MONITOR  THE PERFORMANCE OF EACH ENTREPRENEURIAL ASSISTANCE CENTER
 AND REQUIRE QUARTERLY  AND  ANNUAL  REPORTS  FROM  EACH  ENTREPRENEURIAL
 ASSISTANCE CENTER AT SUCH TIME AND IN SUCH A MANNER AS PRESCRIBED BY THE
 COMMISSIONER.
   2.  EVALUATE  THE ENTREPRENEURIAL ASSISTANCE CENTERS ESTABLISHED UNDER
 THIS ARTICLE AND REPORT QUARTERLY AND ANNUALLY,  ON  OR  BEFORE  JANUARY
 FIRST, TWO THOUSAND EIGHTEEN, AND ON OR BEFORE EACH JANUARY FIRST THERE-
 AFTER, AND SUBMIT THE RESULTS OF SUCH EVALUATION TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE
 LEGISLATURE.  SUCH  REPORT SHALL DISCUSS THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE CENTERS
 SERVE MINORITY GROUP MEMBERS,  WOMEN,  INDIVIDUALS  WITH  A  DISABILITY,
 DISLOCATED  WORKERS  AND  VETERANS;  THE  EXTENT  TO  WHICH THE TRAINING
 PROGRAM IS COORDINATED WITH OTHER ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS TARGETED TO  SMALL
 AND NEW BUSINESSES; THE ABILITY OF SUCH PROGRAM TO LEVERAGE OTHER SOURC-
 ES  OF  FUNDING  AND  SUPPORT;  AND THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM IN AIDING
 ENTREPRENEURS TO START UP NEW BUSINESSES, INCLUDING THE  NUMBER  OF  NEW
 BUSINESS  START-UPS RESULTING FROM THE PROGRAM. SUCH REPORT SHALL RECOM-
 MEND CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TRAINING PROGRAM AND IN THE QUALITY
 OF SUPPLEMENTAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE OFFERED TO GRADUATES OF THE  TRAIN-
 ING  PROGRAMS. SUCH REPORTS SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC ON THE
 DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE.
   3. SUBMIT TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE DIVISION OF THE  BUDGET,  THE  CHAIR-
 PERSON OF THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE ASSEM-
 BLY  WAYS  AND MEANS COMMITTEE AN EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE
 PROGRAMS ESTABLISHED UNDER THIS ARTICLE PREPARED BY AN ENTITY  INDEPEND-
 ENT  OF  THE  DEPARTMENT.  SUCH EVALUATION SHALL BE SUBMITTED BY JANUARY
 FIRST, TWO THOUSAND NINETEEN AND BY JANUARY FIRST EVERY YEAR THEREAFTER.
   4. BETWEEN EVALUATION DUE DATES, MAINTAIN THE  NECESSARY  RECORDS  AND
 DATA  REQUIRED  TO  SATISFY  SUCH EVALUATION REQUIREMENTS AND TO SATISFY
 INFORMATION REQUESTS RECEIVED FROM  THE  DIRECTOR  OF  THE  BUDGET,  THE
 CHAIRPERSON  OF  THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE
 ASSEMBLY WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE BETWEEN SUCH EVALUATION DUE DATES.
   § 2. Paragraph (c) of subdivision 37-b of section 100 of the  economic
 development law, as added by chapter 524 of the laws of 2005, is amended
 to read as follows:
   (c)  Subdivision  two of section two hundred [thirteen] TWELVE OF THIS
 CHAPTER, submitting the results of the annual evaluation of  the  entre-
 preneurial  assistance  programs  established under article nine OF THIS
 CHAPTER.
   § 3. Subparagraph (iii) of paragraph (c) of subdivision 2  of  section
 591-a  of the labor law, as amended by section 1 of part Z of chapter 57
 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows:
   (iii)  are  participating  in  self-employment  assistance  activities
 approved by the department and by the department of economic development
 which include but need not be limited to entrepreneurial training, busi-
 ness  counseling,  and technical assistance, including financing assist-
 ance for qualified individuals as appropriate, offered by  entrepreneur-
 ship  [support]  ASSISTANCE  centers established pursuant to section two
 hundred [twelve] ELEVEN of the economic development law, state universi-
 ty of New York small business development centers, programs  offered  by
 community-based   organizations,  local  development  corporations,  and
 boards of cooperative educational services (BOCES) as established pursu-
 ant to section one thousand nine hundred fifty  of  the  education  law;
 and, unless otherwise required by federal law or regulation, no individ-
 ual  shall  be  prohibited from or disqualified from eligibility for the
 program if prior to applying for the program, an individual has  printed

 A. 2805                             5
 
 business  cards  or  has  a website that is designed but not active, and
 neither are being used to solicit or conduct business;
   §  4. This act shall take effect immediately; provided that the amend-
 ments to subparagraph (iii) of paragraph (c) of subdivision 2 of section
 591-a of the labor law made by section  three  of  this  act  shall  not
 affect  the  repeal of such section and shall be deemed to repeal there-
 with.