S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8001
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               May 25, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. THIELE, WOERNER -- read once and referred to the
   Committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development
 
 AN ACT to amend the economic development law, in  relation  to  creating
   the New York State bicycle tourism promotion act
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The economic development law is amended  by  adding  a  new
 article 23 to read as follows:
                                ARTICLE 23
               NEW YORK STATE BICYCLE TOURISM PROMOTION ACT
 SECTION 460. SHORT TITLE.
         461. STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT.
         462. DEFINITIONS.
         463. ADMINISTRATION.
         464. GRANTS FOR LOCAL BICYCLE TOURISM KIOSK.
         465. PROGRAM REVIEW.
   § 460. SHORT  TITLE.  THIS  ACT SHALL BE KNOWN AND MAY BE CITED AS THE
 NEW YORK STATE BICYCLE TOURISM PROMOTION ACT.
   § 461. STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT. THE LEGISLATURE HEREBY  RECOG-
 NIZES  THE ROLE THAT CYCLING PLAYS IN LOCAL TOURISM. INCREASINGLY, BICY-
 CLES ARE UTILIZED BY TRAVELERS TO EXPLORE LOCAL  COMMUNITIES,  OR  AS  A
 METHOD  OF  TRAVEL  THROUGH  THE  STATE.  AS BICYCLES HELP EXPAND TRAVEL
 DESTINATIONS, AND ADD TO EXPERIENCE BASED TOURISM, THE STATE SHOULD  ACT
 TO SUPPORT THE GROWTH IN THIS SECTOR. IT IS THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS LEGIS-
 LATION  TO  ESTABLISH  A  WORKING  FLEET  OF  RENTAL BIKES AT CONVENTION
 BUREAUS, VISITOR CENTERS AND POINTS OF INTEREST THAT ARE HEAVILY VISITED
 BY TOURISTS AND PROFESSIONALS. ADDITIONALLY, THE LEGISLATURE  WISHES  TO
 PROVIDE A MECHANISM TO CONNECT VISITING PROFESSIONALS AND TRAVELERS WITH
 INFORMATION AND MAPS OF BICYCLING ROUTES AND DESTINATION POINTS.
   § 462. DEFINITIONS. AS USED IN THIS ACT, "BICYCLE TOURISM KIOSK" SHALL
 MEAN  A  CENTRAL  LOCATION EASILY ACCESSIBLE BY TOURISTS WHERE BICYCLES,
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD08498-01-7

 A. 8001                             2
 
 BICYCLING SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND A LOCAL BICYCLE ROUTE  MAP  ARE  PROVIDED
 FOR RENTAL AND USE.
   § 463. ADMINISTRATION.  1.  THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADOPT GUIDELINES FOR,
 AND ADMINISTER A PROGRAM TO PROMOTE BICYCLE TOURISM  IN  LOCAL  COMMUNI-
 TIES. IN DOING SO, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL:
   (A)  SOLICIT  AND  ACCEPT PROPOSALS FROM LOCAL TOURISM PROMOTION AGEN-
 CIES, CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAUS AND CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE TO  IDEN-
 TIFY POTENTIAL BICYCLE ROUTES AND HOST A BICYCLE TOURISM KIOSK;
   (B)  EVALUATE  THOSE  PROPOSALS TO ENSURE THAT PROPOSED BICYCLE ROUTES
 WILL PROVIDE TRAVELERS WITH AN ADEQUATE EXPERIENCE BASED ON THE PROXIMI-
 TY OF POINTS OF INTEREST AND TOURISM  ATTRACTIONS  TO  PROPOSED  BICYCLE
 ROUTES; AND
   (C)  PROVIDE THAT NO BICYCLES SHALL BE RENTED WITHOUT ALSO PROVIDING A
 BICYCLE HELMET, OR HAVING BEEN PROVIDED  THAT  THE  PERSON  RENTING  THE
 BICYCLE HAS IN HIS OR HER POSSESSION A HELMET TO BE USED WHILE OPERATING
 SUCH BICYCLE.
   2.  THE  DEPARTMENT  MAY  APPROVE  UP TO FIFTEEN PROPOSALS TO CREATE A
 LOCAL BICYCLE TOURISM KIOSK.
   3. NOTHING SHALL PROHIBIT  THE  DEPARTMENT  FROM  CONTRACTING  WITH  A
 STATEWIDE  BICYCLING ORGANIZATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF IDENTIFYING POTEN-
 TIAL AREAS FOR A BICYCLE TOURISM PROGRAM, EVALUATING PROPOSALS SUBMITTED
 TO THE DEPARTMENT AND LOCALLY ADMINISTERING GRANTS PROVIDED  UNDER  THIS
 ARTICLE.
   §  464.  GRANTS  FOR  LOCAL  BICYCLE  TOURISM  KIOSK. 1. FROM EXISTING
 AMOUNTS APPROPRIATED FOR TOURISM PROMOTION, AND ANY OTHER AMOUNTS APPRO-
 PRIATED FOR THE PROGRAM, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE GRANTS TO  TOURISM
 PROMOTION  AGENCIES,  CONVENTIONS  AND  VISITORS  BUREAUS,  CHAMBERS  OF
 COMMERCE, OR A LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOR THE PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT AND OPERA-
 TION OF A BICYCLE TOURISM KIOSK.
   2. THE DEPARTMENT MAY CONTRACT WITH A STATEWIDE BICYCLING ORGANIZATION
 TO ADMINISTER GRANTS PROVIDED UNDER THIS ARTICLE.
   3. NO SINGLE GRANT MAY EXCEED TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS.
   4. ELIGIBLE USES  FOR  GRANTS  PROVIDED  UNDER  THIS  SECTION  ARE  AS
 FOLLOWS:
   (A)  FOR  THE  PURCHASE  OF  BICYCLES,  HELMETS, LOCKS, BICYCLE TOOLS,
 STATIONARY BICYCLE RACKS, AND ANY OTHER EQUIPMENT NECESSARY TO  MAINTAIN
 AND PROVIDE SAFE BICYCLE RENTALS;
   (B)  FOR  PERSONAL  SERVICE COSTS, PROVIDED HOWEVER THAT SUCH PERSONAL
 SERVICE COSTS SHALL NOT EXCEED NINE THOUSAND DOLLARS PER GRANT;
   (C) FOR ANY OTHER COSTS NECESSARY TO LEASE OR PURCHASE SPACE TO  OPER-
 ATE A BICYCLE TOURISM KIOSK; AND
   (D)  FOR  REASONABLE  NON-PERSONAL  SERVICE  COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE
 OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF A BICYCLE TOURISM KIOSK.
   § 465. PROGRAM REVIEW. THE DEPARTMENT  SHALL,  SIX  MONTHS  AFTER  THE
 AWARDING  OF GRANTS UNDER THIS ARTICLE, CAUSE TO BE PRODUCED A REVIEW OF
 THE PROGRAM. A REPORT ON THE EFFECTIVENESS  OF  THIS  PROGRAM  SHALL  BE
 SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNOR, TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, AND SPEAK-
 ER OF THE ASSEMBLY.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.