S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4176
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 1, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A. KOLB, PALMESANO, RAIA, HAWLEY, BARCLAY, STEC,
   GIGLIO -- 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.
   §  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
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD04185-01-9

 A. 4176                             2
 
 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:
   (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.
   § 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.