S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8474
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               May 16, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of A. BUTTENSCHON -- (at request of the Empire State
   Development) -- read once and referred to the Committee on Small Busi-
   ness
 
 AN ACT to amend the economic development law, in relation to  establish-
   ing  the  small  business  environmental support office; and to repeal
   certain provisions of such law relating thereto

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Section 138 of the economic development law is REPEALED and
 a new section 138 is added to read as follows:
   § 138. SMALL BUSINESS ENVIRONMENTAL SUPPORT OFFICE.  1. THERE IS HERE-
 BY  ESTABLISHED  WITHIN  THE  DEPARTMENT  A SMALL BUSINESS ENVIRONMENTAL
 SUPPORT OFFICE TO PROVIDE OMBUDSMAN  SERVICES  TO  SMALL  BUSINESSES  ON
 ISSUES RELATING TO POLLUTION PREVENTION AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE ENVIRON-
 MENTAL CONSERVATION LAW.
   2. SUCH OFFICE SHALL PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:
   A.   SOLICITING   INPUT  FROM  SMALL  BUSINESSES  REGARDING  POLLUTION
 PREVENTION AND  COMPLIANCE  WITH  THE  ENVIRONMENTAL  CONSERVATION  LAW,
 INCLUDING  INTERACTING  WITH ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTING SMALL BUSINESSES
 SUCH AS TRADE ASSOCIATIONS OR OTHER ENTITIES;
   B. PARTICIPATING IN, FACILITATING AND PROMOTING THE  PARTICIPATION  OF
 SMALL  BUSINESSES  IN  THE  DEVELOPMENT  AND IMPLEMENTATION OF RULES AND
 REGULATIONS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION LAW;
   C. PARTICIPATING IN AND SPONSORING MEETINGS  WITH  THE  DEPARTMENT  OF
 ENVIRONMENTAL   CONSERVATION,  LOCAL  ENVIRONMENTAL  AGENCIES,  INDUSTRY
 GROUPS AND SMALL BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVES;
   D. DISTRIBUTING TO  SMALL  BUSINESSES  INFORMATION  AND  MATERIALS  ON
 POLLUTION PREVENTION AND THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVA-
 TION LAW;

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD09946-02-5
 A. 8474                             2
 
              

   E.  AIDING  IN  THE  INVESTIGATION  AND  RESOLUTION  OF COMPLAINTS AND
 DISPUTES INVOLVING SMALL BUSINESSES AND THE DEPARTMENT OF  ENVIRONMENTAL
 CONSERVATION AND LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORITIES;
   F.  REVIEWING AND PROVIDING COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE UNITED
 STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY AND THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  ENVIRON-
 MENTAL  CONSERVATION  REGARDING  THE  DEVELOPMENT  AND IMPLEMENTATION OF
 REGULATIONS THAT IMPACT SMALL BUSINESSES;
   G. REFERRING SMALL  BUSINESSES  TO  SPECIALISTS  FOR  INFORMATION  AND
 ASSISTANCE  ON  AFFORDABLE  ALTERNATIVE  TECHNOLOGIES,  PROCESS CHANGES,
 PRODUCTS AND OPERATIONAL METHODS TO HELP ACHIEVE POLLUTION PREVENTION;
   H.  PROVIDING  INFORMATION  TO  SMALL  BUSINESSES  ON  STATE-SPONSORED
 PROGRAMS  OFFERING  FINANCIAL  AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND IN LOCATING
 SOURCES OF FUNDING FOR POLLUTION  PREVENTION  AND  COMPLIANCE  WITH  THE
 REQUIREMENTS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION LAW; AND
   I.  ESTABLISHING PROCEDURES FOR ASSURING THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFOR-
 MATION RECEIVED FROM SMALL BUSINESSES.
   3. THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE SIX OF THE PUBLIC OFFICERS LAW SHALL  NOT
 APPLY  TO  RECORDS  CONTAINING  INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY SMALL BUSINESSES
 SEEKING ASSISTANCE FROM THE OFFICE PURSUANT TO THE  PROVISIONS  OF  THIS
 SECTION.
   4.  THE  DEPARTMENT, BEGINNING ON JUNE FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-SIX,
 AND ANNUALLY  THEREAFTER,  PROVIDED  THE  SMALL  BUSINESS  ENVIRONMENTAL
 SUPPORT  OFFICE REMAINS OPERATIONAL, SHALL SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE GOVER-
 NOR, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE  SENATE,  AND  THE  SPEAKER  OF  THE
 ASSEMBLY.  SUCH REPORT SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
   A.  A  SUMMARY OF THE NUMBER OF BUSINESSES THAT SOUGHT ASSISTANCE FROM
 THE SMALL BUSINESS ENVIRONMENTAL  SUPPORT  OFFICE  DURING  THE  PREVIOUS
 STATE FISCAL YEAR; AND
   B. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF BUSINESSES THAT HAVE SOUGHT ASSISTANCE FROM THE
 SMALL  BUSINESS  ENVIRONMENTAL SUPPORT OFFICE SINCE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF
 SUCH OFFICE, INCLUDING A REGIONAL BREAKDOWN OF SUCH SMALL BUSINESSES.
   § 2. The act shall take effect immediately.