S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   9970
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                                May 1, 2024
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. WOERNER -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Small Business
 
 AN ACT to amend the economic development law, in relation to  establish-
   ing the small business energy conservation ombudsman program
 
   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
 section 138-a to read as follows:
   §  138-A.  SMALL  BUSINESS  ENERGY  CONSERVATION OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM. 1.
 THERE IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE DIVISION FOR SMALL  BUSINESSES  A
 SMALL  BUSINESS  ENERGY  CONSERVATION  OMBUDSMAN  PROGRAM.  THE  PRIMARY
 PURPOSE OF SUCH PROGRAM IS  TO  REPRESENT  SMALL  BUSINESSES  ON  ISSUES
 RELATING  TO STATE ENERGY POLICY AND THE GOALS OF THE CLIMATE LEADERSHIP
 AND COMMUNITY PROTECTION ACT.
   2. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL, THROUGH THE SMALL BUSINESS  ENERGY  CONSERVA-
 TION OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM, PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:
   A.  SOLICITING  INPUT  FROM SMALL BUSINESSES ON CONSERVATION OF ENERGY
 AND THE PROMOTION OF  THE  STATE'S  CLEAN  ENERGY  AND  CLIMATE  AGENDA,
 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 STATE ENERGY LAW AND  OTHER  ASPECTS
 OF  THE  CLIMATE  LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY PROTECTION ACT, INCLUDING BUT
 NOT LIMITED TO RULES AND REGULATIONS RELATING TO  RETROFITTING  EXISTING
 COMMERCIAL  BUILDINGS AND MAKING NEW CONSTRUCTION COMPLIANT WITH SECTION
 11-104 OF THE ENERGY LAW AND TO THE ELECTRIFICATION OF  THE  TRANSPORTA-
 TION  SECTOR  PURSUANT  TO  ARTICLE  SEVENTY-FIVE  OF  THE ENVIRONMENTAL
 CONSERVATION LAW;
   C. PARTICIPATING IN AND SPONSORING MEETINGS WITH THE  NEW  YORK  STATE
 RESEARCH  AND  DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, STATE AND LOCAL ENERGY AND CLIMATE
 AGENCIES, INDUSTRY GROUPS AND SMALL BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVES;
   D. PROVIDING GUIDANCE  AND  RECOMMENDATIONS  TO  THE  NEW  YORK  STATE
 RESEARCH  AND  DEVELOPMENT  AUTHORITY  AND  OTHER  STATE AGENCIES ON THE
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD15377-01-4
 A. 9970                             2

 DEVELOPMENT, CONTENT AND OPERATION OF THE SMALL BUSINESS ENERGY  CONSER-
 VATION OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM;
   E.  DEVELOPING  AND  DISTRIBUTING  TO SMALL BUSINESSES INFORMATION AND
 MATERIALS ON ENERGY CONSERVATION AND THE REQUIREMENTS AND GOALS  OF  THE
 CLIMATE  LEADERSHIP  AND COMMUNITY PROTECTION ACT AS OUTLINED IN SECTION
 3-101 OF THE ENERGY LAW;
   F. AIDING IN THE INVESTIGATION AND RESOLUTION OF  ENERGY  CONSERVATION
 COMPLAINTS AND DISPUTES FROM SMALL BUSINESSES AGAINST STATE AGENCIES AND
 LOCAL AUTHORITIES;
   G. REVIEWING AND PROVIDING COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO STATE AGEN-
 CIES REGARDING THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF ENERGY CONSERVATION
 REGULATIONS THAT IMPACT SMALL BUSINESSES;
   H.  REFERRING  SMALL  BUSINESSES  TO  SPECIALISTS  FOR INFORMATION AND
 ASSISTANCE ON  AFFORDABLE  ALTERNATIVE  TECHNOLOGIES,  PROCESS  CHANGES,
 PRODUCTS AND OPERATIONAL METHODS TO HELP ACHIEVE ENERGY CONSERVATION AND
 THE GOALS OF THE CLIMATE LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY PROTECTION ACT;
   I.  PROVIDING  INFORMATION  TO  SMALL  BUSINESSES  ON  STATE-SPONSORED
 PROGRAMS OFFERING FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE,  AND  IN  LOCATING
 SOURCES OF FUNDING FOR ENERGY CONSERVATION; AND
   J.  ESTABLISHING PROCEDURES FOR ASSURING THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFOR-
 MATION RECEIVED FROM SMALL BUSINESSES.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the first of January next  succeed-
 ing the date on which it shall have become a law.