S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   2710
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 26, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. ANGELINO, BRABENEC, DeSTEFANO, LEMONDES, MANKTE-
   LOW, McDONOUGH, MILLER, NORRIS  --  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.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD06592-01-3
 A. 2710                             2
 
              

   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.
   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.
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   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
 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.