S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
6496
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
April 12, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. MAHER -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Economic Development
AN ACT to amend the economic development law, in relation to establish-
ing the sector partnership enhancement and reinforcement program; and
making an appropriation therefor
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 27 to read as follows:
ARTICLE 27
SECTOR PARTNERSHIP ENHANCEMENT AND REINFORCEMENT PROGRAM
SECTION 490. SHORT TITLE.
491. DEFINITIONS.
492. SECTOR PARTNERSHIP ENHANCEMENT AND REINFORCEMENT PROGRAM.
493. LOCAL SECTOR PARTNERSHIP DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
494. LOCAL SECTOR PARTNERSHIP FORMATION GRANT.
495. LOCAL SECTOR PARTNERSHIP ENHANCEMENT GRANT.
496. COMMUNITY COLLEGE SECTOR PARTNERSHIP EXPLORATION GRANT.
§ 490. SHORT TITLE. THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE KNOWN AND MAY BE CITED AS
THE "SECTOR PARTNERSHIP ENHANCEMENT AND REINFORCEMENT PROGRAM ACT".
§ 491. DEFINITIONS. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE:
1. "COMMUNITY COLLEGE" MEANS A COLLEGE ESTABLISHED AND OPERATED PURSU-
ANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-SIX OF THE EDUCATION
LAW WHICH PROVIDES TWO-YEAR POSTSECONDARY PROGRAMS IN GENERAL AND
RECEIVES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE STATE.
2. "LOCAL SECTOR PARTNERSHIP" MEANS A WORKFORCE COLLABORATIVE, WITHIN
AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REGION AS ESTABLISHED BY THE DEPARTMENT PURSUANT
TO ARTICLE ELEVEN OF THIS CHAPTER, FOCUSED ON ACHIEVING THE GOAL OF
MEETING SHARED HUMAN RESOURCES NEEDS AND CONSISTING OF MULTIPLE EMPLOY-
ERS WITHIN AN INDUSTRY SECTOR, IN COMBINATION WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF
ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING:
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10488-01-3
A. 6496 2
(A) A LABOR ORGANIZATION, WHERE APPROPRIATE;
(B) A LOCAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD;
(C) A POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION INSTITUTION;
(D) A COMMUNITY COLLEGE;
(E) AN ADULT BASIC EDUCATION PROVIDER;
(F) A SCHOOL DISTRICT;
(G) THE STATE OR A LOCAL GOVERNMENT;
(H) A CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OR OTHER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION;
(I) A COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATION OR OTHER NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZA-
TION; OR
(J) ANY OTHER ENTITY AS DETERMINED ELIGIBLE BY THE DEPARTMENT.
§ 492. SECTOR PARTNERSHIP ENHANCEMENT AND REINFORCEMENT PROGRAM. THE
DEPARTMENT, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, THE STATE
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, THE NEW YORK STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SERVICES
CORPORATION, THE NEW YORK STATE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD, AND REPRE-
SENTATIVES OF LOCAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARDS, SHALL ESTABLISH A
SECTOR PARTNERSHIP ENHANCEMENT AND REINFORCEMENT PROGRAM, THE PURPOSE OF
WHICH SHALL BE TO:
1. UPON REQUEST, ASSIST IN THE IDENTIFICATION OF TARGET INDUSTRY CLUS-
TERS AND EMPLOYERS FOR CREATION OF NEW LOCAL SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS
THROUGHOUT THE STATE;
2. SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE CONTACT AND COOPERATION BETWEEN LOCAL SECTOR
PARTNERSHIPS ALREADY IN EXISTENCE AND THOSE LOOKING TO CREATE A NEW
LOCAL SECTOR PARTNERSHIP;
3. SERVE AS A COORDINATOR OR CONVENER PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION ONE OF
SECTION FOUR HUNDRED NINETY-THREE OF THIS ARTICLE ON BEHALF OF EMPLOYERS
WITHIN AN INDUSTRY SECTOR AND THE APPROPRIATE STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES
OR NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO FACILITATE THE CREATION AND SUPPORT
OF LOCAL SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS;
4. PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, INCLUDING COUNSELING AND DIRECTION
FROM DEPARTMENT STAFF IN FORMING AND SUSTAINING A LOCAL SECTOR PARTNER-
SHIP, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBERS OF A LOCAL
SECTOR PARTNERSHIP, CUSTOMIZED LABOR MARKET AND ECONOMIC DATA UPON
REQUEST, AND SIMILAR ASSISTANCE AS TO BE DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO
LOCAL SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS; AND
5. PROVIDE AND ADMINISTER GRANTS PURSUANT TO SECTIONS FOUR HUNDRED
NINETY-FOUR, FOUR HUNDRED NINETY-FIVE AND FOUR HUNDRED NINETY-SIX OF
THIS ARTICLE TO NEW AND EXISTING LOCAL SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS.
§ 493. LOCAL SECTOR PARTNERSHIP DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. A LOCAL
SECTOR PARTNERSHIP SHALL:
1. DESIGNATE ONE OF THE MEMBER ENTITIES OR A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE
DEPARTMENT AS THE CONVENER OF THE LOCAL PARTNERSHIP. THE CONVENER SHALL
ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR RECRUITING MEMBERSHIP TO A LOCAL SECTOR PART-
NERSHIP, ORGANIZING MEETINGS, FULFILLING REQUIRED REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION, AND FOR DESIGNATING A
FISCAL AGENT TO OVERSEE GRANT FUNDS RECEIVED PURSUANT TO SECTIONS FOUR
HUNDRED NINETY-FOUR, FOUR HUNDRED NINETY-FIVE AND FOUR HUNDRED NINETY-
SIX OF THIS ARTICLE. THE CONVENER MAY PERFORM ADDITIONAL DUTIES AS
DETERMINED BY THE LOCAL SECTOR PARTNERSHIP;
2. REPORT PERFORMANCE INFORMATION AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT,
INCLUDING AN ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT PREPARED ACCORDING TO GENERALLY
ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES, TO THE DEPARTMENT BY DECEMBER FIRST OF
EACH YEAR;
3. DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR ADDRESSING ANY IDENTIFIED SKILLS
GAP IN THE SECTOR IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR A GRANT PURSUANT TO
A. 6496 3
SECTION FOUR HUNDRED NINETY-FOUR, SECTION FOUR HUNDRED NINETY-FIVE, OR
SECTION FOUR HUNDRED NINETY-SIX OF THIS ARTICLE; AND
4. PERFORM ADDITIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS DETERMINED BY THE
DEPARTMENT.
§ 494. LOCAL SECTOR PARTNERSHIP FORMATION GRANT. 1. THE DEPARTMENT
SHALL AWARD GRANTS TO EMERGING LOCAL SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS, OR LOCAL
SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS CREATED WITHIN THE LAST FIVE YEARS OF THE EFFECTIVE
DATE OF THIS ARTICLE, TO FUND PLANNING ACTIVITIES INCLUDING, BUT NOT
LIMITED TO, BUILDING AND PROMOTING MEMBERSHIP IN A LOCAL SECTOR PARTNER-
SHIP, INITIAL COSTS RELATED TO RESEARCH IDENTIFYING SECTOR SKILL GAPS
AND FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO SUCH GAPS, AND DEVELOPING A PLAN TO CLOSE
ANY EXISTING SKILLS GAP AS IDENTIFIED BY THE LOCAL SECTOR PARTNERSHIP.
2. LOCAL SECTOR PARTNERSHIP FORMATION GRANTS SHALL NOT BE LESS THAN
FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS AND SHALL NOT EXCEED ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND
DOLLARS.
3. THE FIRST FIFTY PERCENT OF THE TOTAL GRANT AMOUNT SHALL BE MADE
AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY UPON NOTIFICATION OF SUCH GRANT AWARD. THE REMAIN-
ING FIFTY PERCENT OF THE GRANT SHALL BE AVAILABLE TO A LOCAL SECTOR
PARTNERSHIP AS A TWO-TO-ONE MATCH FOR FUNDS RAISED.
4. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS GRANT, MATCHING FUNDS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT
LIMITED TO: CASH FUNDS RAISED; EQUIPMENT COSTS, INCLUDING COMPUTERS,
TRAINING EQUIPMENT, SOFTWARE, SUBSCRIPTIONS, AND OTHER ITEMS DIRECTLY
RELATED TO PARTNERSHIP OPERATIONS; AND FACILITY COSTS, INCLUDING ACQUI-
SITION, RENT, UTILITIES, AND OTHER COSTS INCURRED DIRECTLY RELATED TO
PARTNERSHIP OPERATIONS.
5. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS GRANT, MATCHING FUNDS SHALL NOT INCLUDE:
SALARIES AND FRINGE BENEFITS PROVIDED IN-KIND BY THE LEAD APPLICANT,
FISCAL AGENT, OR PARTNERSHIP MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS; SALARIES AND FRINGE
BENEFITS PAID BY THE LEAD APPLICANT, FISCAL AGENT, OR PARTNERSHIP MEMBER
ORGANIZATIONS TO TRAINING OR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS; AND FUND-
ING GRANTED THROUGH OTHER PROGRAMS ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
§ 495. LOCAL SECTOR PARTNERSHIP ENHANCEMENT GRANT. 1. THE DEPARTMENT
SHALL AWARD GRANTS TO LOCAL SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS WHICH HAVE ALREADY
COMPLETED PLANNING ACTIVITIES AS IDENTIFIED BY THE DEPARTMENT FOR IMPLE-
MENTATION ACTIVITIES INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO: SKILLS TRAINING;
ESTABLISHING A SECONDARY TO POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION WORKFORCE PIPELINE;
ESTABLISHING CAREER PATHWAYS FOR ADULTS; CREATING INDUSTRY-BASED CERTIF-
ICATION PROGRAMS; DEVELOPING CURRICULUM; PROMOTING PARTICIPATION IN ANY
WORKFORCE TRAINING OR EDUCATION PROGRAM; AND OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT
PREPARE OR ASSIST IN PROVIDING WORKERS FOR THE INDUSTRY SECTOR.
2. LOCAL SECTOR PARTNERSHIP ENHANCEMENT GRANTS SHALL NOT BE LESS THAN
FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS AND SHALL NOT EXCEED TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND
DOLLARS.
3. GRANTS PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION SHALL BE AVAILABLE TO A LOCAL
SECTOR PARTNERSHIP AS A TWO-TO-ONE MATCH FOR FUNDS RAISED BY THE LOCAL
SECTOR PARTNERSHIP.
4. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS GRANT, MATCHING FUNDS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT
LIMITED TO: CASH FUNDS RAISED; EQUIPMENT COSTS, INCLUDING COMPUTERS,
TRAINING EQUIPMENT, SOFTWARE, SUBSCRIPTIONS, AND OTHER ITEMS DIRECTLY
RELATED TO PARTNERSHIP OPERATIONS; AND FACILITY COSTS, INCLUDING ACQUI-
SITION, RENT, UTILITIES, AND OTHER COSTS INCURRED DIRECTLY RELATED TO
PARTNERSHIP OPERATIONS.
5. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS GRANT, MATCHING FUNDS SHALL NOT INCLUDE:
SALARIES AND FRINGE BENEFITS PROVIDED IN-KIND BY THE LEAD APPLICANT,
FISCAL AGENT, OR PARTNERSHIP MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS; SALARIES AND FRINGE
BENEFITS PAID BY THE LEAD APPLICANT, FISCAL AGENT, OR PARTNERSHIP MEMBER
A. 6496 4
ORGANIZATIONS TO TRAINING OR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS; AND FUND-
ING GRANTED THROUGH OTHER PROGRAMS ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
§ 496. COMMUNITY COLLEGE SECTOR PARTNERSHIP EXPLORATION GRANT. 1. THE
DEPARTMENT SHALL AWARD GRANTS TO COMMUNITY COLLEGES SEEKING TO ESTABLISH
LOCAL SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS FOR RECRUITMENT ACTIVITIES INCLUDING, BUT NOT
LIMITED TO: DEVELOPING A PLAN FOR CREATING AND CONVENING A LOCAL SECTOR
PARTNERSHIP WITH EMPLOYERS IN TARGETED INDUSTRY CLUSTERS; RELATED
MARKETING COSTS FOR ADVERTISING THE POTENTIAL CREATION OF SECTOR PART-
NERSHIPS; FINANCIAL INCENTIVES FOR RECRUITING EMPLOYERS IN TARGETED
INDUSTRY CLUSTERS TO JOIN A NEW LOCAL SECTOR PARTNERSHIP; AND OTHER
ACTIVITIES THAT ASSIST IN THE CREATION OF A NEW LOCAL SECTOR PARTNER-
SHIP.
2. COMMUNITY COLLEGE SECTOR PARTNERSHIP EXPLORATION GRANTS SHALL NOT
BE LESS THAN FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS AND SHALL NOT EXCEED FIVE HUNDRED
THOUSAND DOLLARS.
3. GRANTS PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY
UPON NOTIFICATION OF SUCH GRANT AWARD.
§ 2. The sum of up to fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000), is hereby
appropriated to the department of economic development for the purpose
of carrying out the provisions of this act to be funded by grants under
the workforce investment act, federal Public Law 105-220, and the work-
force innovation and opportunity act, federal Public Law 113-128. Such
moneys shall be payable on the audit and warrant of the comptroller on
vouchers certified or approved by the commissioner of the department of
economic development in the manner prescribed by law.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.