BILL NUMBER:  S518A

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act to amend the highway law, in relation to
designating a portion of the state highway system as the "North
Country Craft Beer Trails"

 PURPOSE :

To designate specific craft beer trails in various craft beer regions
throughout the state.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Section 1 amends the Highway Law by adding a new subdivision. The
subdivision creates the "North Country Craft Beer Trails" in the
listing of craft beer trails. Section 2 authorizes the commissioner of
transportation to install and maintain ceremonial signs on the state
highway system pursuant to the designation of this act. Section 3
provides that this act shall take effect immediately.

 JUSTIFICATION :

With over 140 craft breweries in New York State, New York craft beer
is ranked third in the country with an economic impact of $2.2 billion
dollars. Craft brewery production in New York is increasing faster
than the national average and grew 26% from 2011 to 2012, while the
              

national craft beer segment grew only 15% during the same period. In
2012 New York State was the 6th largest beer producing state in
nation.

The popularity of craft breweries may be attributed to the
farm-to-table movement. In New York the movement has been fostered by
new legislation amending the alcoholic beverage control law to broaden
the licenses and permits relating to the manufacture of alcoholic
beverages. The law, enacted on November 13, 2014, removes and reduces
fees and regulations to the benefit of small brewers by providing them
with greater opportunities to market their products by expanding the
activities that they can conduct at their facilities, including
selling their product "by the bottle" and "by the glass."  The act
also successfully reduces costs for these small manufacturers by
permitting them to produce more of their product at lower fees and
making their wares more available to consumers.

Craft brewers want the public to see what they are doing, and
symbiotically, consumers want to observe the production process. The
liberalization of craft brewing will continue to strengthen the craft
beer industry in New York and result in more breweries. This in turn
will create a need for more local malt houses and hops farms to supply
area breweries as the industry continues to fill in. The craft beer
industry will certainly be strengthened but the local economies
housing these breweries will also thrive as residents and tourists
seek out the readily available assortment of locally produced beer.

As craft breweries gain notoriety the organization of these
destinations becomes increasingly important. While wine trails already
exist in many parts of the state, there currently are no craft beer
trails. Like wine trails, craft beer trails will serve as a conduit of
the farm-to-table movement and stimulate regional economies by
increasing tourism and promoting the sale of local products. By
designating specific craft beer trails in various craft beer districts
throughout New York State, this bill will continue to bolster New
York's craft beer industry and provide a mechanism for the
advertisement and sponsorship of these goods.

Specifically, the creation of the "North Country Craft Beer Trail"
will provide a unique attraction for residents and visitors to the
North Country. By highlighting the craft breweries in the North
Country attention will be drawn to the many other local products
available in this region. Visiting the craft breweries along the trail
will become another exciting activity the North Country has to offer.
Thus, the enactment of this bill will invigorate and strengthen the
craft brewing industry in this region and throughout New York State.
It is therefore imperative that the bill creating the "North Country
Craft Beer Trail" is ratified.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

New Bill.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

Minimal.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect immediately.