S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                    959
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 14, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of A. CROUCH, BRABENEC, FINCH, KOLB -- read once and
   referred to the Committee on Small Business
 
 AN ACT to amend the economic development law, in relation  to  directing
   the department of economic development to study the attrition of small
   retail  businesses  from  the state and create a pilot program to help
   maintain the existence of small businesses within  the  state  and  to
   train  and  counsel small business owners and potential small business
   owners; 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. Legislative findings. The legislature finds that the number
 of  small  businesses  located  within  the  boundaries  of the state is
 decreasing at a rapid pace. In today's market place, the small  business
 owner  struggles  to compete with the large corporate chain stores.  The
 legislature further finds that the existence of these  small  businesses
 within  the  state  is  crucial  toward the strengthening of the state's
 economy. Therefore, it is imperative that steps be taken to help  ensure
 the future existence and stability of these small businesses.
   §  2.  The  department  of  economic development is hereby directed to
 conduct a comprehensive study relating to the ability  to  retain  small
 retail  businesses  within  the  state  and  is further directed to make
 recommendations in  accordance  with  its  findings.  Such  study  shall
 include, but not be limited to:
   1. The economic feasibility to grant money to communities to establish
 small retail business retention and development plans.
   2.  The possibility of subsidizing, either in whole or in part, retail
 entrepreneur education programs for small business owners throughout the
 state.
   3. The use of tax credits, both income and property, for small  retail
 business  owners  to  lessen  their  financial  burden  and to help them
 compete with the highly funded corporation.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD02792-01-9

 A. 959                              2
 
   4. The possibility of implementing legislation guaranteeing  loans  to
 small retail business owners at a low, fixed interest rate.
   5.  The  economic  feasibility to grant money to small retail business
 owners for the upgrade of certain equipment.
   6. The ability to create a  small  business  incentive  program.  Such
 program would:
   a.  require  small retail business owners participating in the program
 to commit to a five year program consisting  of  entrepreneur  education
 classes, management training, and consultations with financial advisors.
   b.  be  devised so as to create incentives for banking institutions to
 participate in the growth and  production  of  new  and  existing  small
 retail businesses.
   §  3. A report of the findings of such study, recommendations, and any
 proposed legislation necessary to implement such  recommendations  shall
 be  filed  with the governor, the temporary president of the senate, and
 the speaker of the assembly within one year after the effective date  of
 this act.
   §  4.  The economic development law is amended by adding a new section
 139-a to read as follows:
   § 139-A. SMALL BUSINESS  OWNER  AND  POTENTIAL  SMALL  BUSINESS  OWNER
 TRAINING  PILOT  PROGRAM.  1.  THE COMMISSIONER IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED AND
 DIRECTED TO ESTABLISH A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AND POTENTIAL  SMALL  BUSI-
 NESS  OWNER  TRAINING  PROGRAM WITHIN NEW YORK STATE. THE PURPOSE OF THE
 PILOT PROGRAM IS TO PREVENT THE DEMISE OF SMALL RETAIL BUSINESSES WITHIN
 THE STATE. THIS PILOT PROGRAM SEEKS  TO  PROMOTE  THE  GROWTH  OF  SMALL
 RETAIL  BUSINESSES  BY  ENCOURAGING STATE AND LOCAL CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE
 AND OTHER LOCAL BUSINESS PROMOTING ENTITIES TO CREATE SMALL RETAIL BUSI-
 NESS TRAINING AND COUNSEL TO PROSPECTIVE BUSINESS OWNERS.
   THE COMMISSIONER SHALL PROMULGATE REGULATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR THE
 ESTABLISHMENT OF A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER  AND  POTENTIAL  SMALL  BUSINESS
 OWNER  TRAINING  PROGRAM. A CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OR ANY OTHER LOCAL BUSI-
 NESS PROMOTING ENTITY INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN THIS PILOT  PROGRAM
 SHALL   SUBMIT  A  PROPOSAL  FOR  APPROVAL  BY  THE  COMMISSIONER  WHICH
 DESCRIBES:
   A. THE SPECIFIC SMALL BUSINESS POPULATION TO BE SERVED;
   B. THE MANNER IN WHICH SUCH SMALL BUSINESSES WILL BE IDENTIFIED;
   C. THE SPECIFIC SMALL RETAIL BUSINESS TRAINING AND COUNSEL TO BUSINESS
 OWNERS AND PROSPECTIVE BUSINESS OWNERS TO BE PROVIDED;
   D. THE MANNER IN WHICH SUCH SMALL RETAIL BUSINESS TRAINING AND COUNSEL
 TO BUSINESS OWNERS AND PROSPECTIVE BUSINESS OWNERS SHALL BE PROVIDED;
   E. ALL ASSOCIATED COSTS;
   F. THE EXPECTED BENEFITS OF THE TRAINING PROGRAM;
   G. THE METHOD TO BE UTILIZED  TO  MEASURE  THE  EFFECTIVENESS  OF  THE
 TRAINING PROGRAM; AND
   H.  SUCH  OTHER  INFORMATION AS THE COMMISSIONER MAY DEEM NECESSARY TO
 ASSURE THE SUCCESS OF THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AND POTENTIAL SMALL BUSI-
 NESS OWNER TRAINING PILOT PROGRAM.
   2. APPROVAL AND TERMS OF SPONSORS AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AND  POTEN-
 TIAL  SMALL BUSINESS OWNER PROGRAMS. THE WRITTEN APPROVAL OF A SPONSOR'S
 APPLICATION BY THE COMMISSIONER  SHALL  CONSTITUTE  AUTHORIZATION  TO  A
 SPONSOR  TO COMMENCE A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AND POTENTIAL SMALL BUSINESS
 OWNER PROGRAM.
   SUCH AUTHORIZATION SHALL BE IN EFFECT FOR THREE YEARS, ABSENT  REVOCA-
 TION OR EXTENSION BY THE COMMISSIONER.
   3. REPORTING AND EVALUATION OF THE PROGRAM. ON OR BEFORE EACH ONE YEAR
 ANNIVERSARY  OF  THE  PILOT  PROGRAM'S INCEPTION, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL

 A. 959                              3
 
 SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE  GOVERNOR  AND  THE  LEGISLATURE  CONCERNING  THE
 PROGRAMS  ESTABLISHED IN THIS SECTION AND SHALL PROVIDE AN EVALUATION AS
 TO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PILOT PROGRAM IN MEETING  THE  PURPOSES  FOR
 WHICH  IT  WAS ESTABLISHED. SUCH REPORT SHALL ALSO RECOMMEND WHETHER THE
 PILOT PROGRAM SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS  IN  THE  STATE
 AND SHALL ESTIMATE THE FINANCIAL COST OF ANY SUCH EXPANSION.
   §  5.  The  sum  of two hundred ten thousand dollars ($210,000), or so
 much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to the  depart-
 ment  of  economic  development from any moneys in the state treasury in
 the general fund not otherwise appropriated for services  and  expenses;
 including  the  expenses  of the department of economic development, for
 the purposes of carrying out the provisions of this act. Such sum  shall
 be payable on the audit and warrant of the state comptroller on vouchers
 certified  or  approved  by the commissioner of economic development, or
 his duly designated representative in the manner provided  by  law.  Not
 more  than  fifteen  percent  of  the  monies hereby appropriated may be
 expended for the costs of the department of economic development.
   § 6. This act shall take effect immediately.