S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  4688--A
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 8, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by Sens. HARCKHAM, SKOUFIS -- read twice and ordered printed,
   and  when  printed  to  be committed to the Committee on Corporations,
   Authorities and Commissions --  committee  discharged,  bill  amended,
   ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
 
 AN ACT to amend the New York state urban development corporation act, in
   relation to establishing a small business grant program
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Section 1 of chapter 174 of the laws of 1968,  constituting
 the  New  York  state  urban  development corporation act, is amended by
 adding a new section 16-bb to read as follows:
   § 16-BB. NEW YORK SMALL BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM.  1.  THERE  IS  HEREBY
 ESTABLISHED  A  NEW  YORK  STATE  SMALL BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM UNDER THE
 PURVIEW OF THE EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. SUCH PROGRAM  SHALL
 NOT EXPEND MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS AND SHALL PROVIDE SMALL
 BUSINESSES,  AS  DEFINED IN SECTION 131 OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LAW,
 WITH GRANTS IN ORDER TO  ASSIST  SUCH  BUSINESSES  RECOVERING  FROM  THE
 COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
   2.  THE  ASSISTANCE PROVIDED UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL BE FUNDED BY ANY
 AVAILABLE FEDERAL RELIEF FUNDS AVAILABLE TO THE STATE UP TO ONE  HUNDRED
 MILLION DOLLARS.
   3.  GRANTS MADE PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION SHALL, AS FAR AS PRACTICABLE,
 BE EQUITABLY DISTRIBUTED AMONG ALL REGIONS OF THE STATE,  REFLECTIVE  OF
 THE  ECONOMIC  IMPACT ON EACH REGION DUE TO THE CLOSURE OR LIMITATION OF
 BUSINESS OPERATIONS DUE TO ANY EXECUTIVE ORDER ISSUED  BY  THE  GOVERNOR
 RELATED  TO  THE STATE DISASTER EMERGENCY DECLARED PURSUANT TO EXECUTIVE
 ORDER 202 OF 2020.
   4. THE EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION SHALL CREATE  AN  APPLICA-
 TION PROCESS FOR SUCH GRANTS, AND SHALL PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS
 FOR AWARDING AND DISTRIBUTING GRANTS PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION; PROVIDED,
 HOWEVER,  THAT  PREFERENCE IS GIVEN TO SMALL BUSINESSES THAT WERE FORCED
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD09516-04-1

 S. 4688--A                          2
 
 TO CLOSE DURING PHASE THREE OR PHASE FOUR OF THE STATE'S REOPENING  PLAN
 IN THE COUNTY OR REGION IN WHICH THE BUSINESS IS LOCATED.
   §  2.  This  act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
 have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or
 repeal of any rule or regulation necessary  for  the  implementation  of
 this  act  on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
 on or before such effective date.