Senate Passes Bills to Spur Small Business Innovation and Help Make New York More Business Friendly

The New York State Senate passed several measures - including four headed to the Governor’s desk – that will help create a more business-friendly environment in the state. The legislation boosts investment in technology to help small entrepreneurs, reduce burdensome regulations, and create significant tax savings to spur job growth, among other measures.

Final passage was given to the following bills, which will be sent to the Governor in coming weeks:

• Helping Small Businesses Innovate and Grow: Bill S817A, sponsored by Senator Rich Funke (R-C-I, Fairport)
• Creating a State Innovative Energy and Environmental Technology Program: Bill S1120, sponsored by Senator Funke
• Requiring State Agencies to Consider the Impact of New Regulations on Small Businesses and Local Governments: Bill S5719, sponsored by Senator Chris Jacobs (60th District)
• Creating the Strategic Investment in Workforce Development Program: Bill S6536, sponsored by Senator Ortt, would create the Strategic Investment in Workforce Development Program to increase collaboration with the Department of Labor, Department of Economic Development, State University of New York (SUNY), City University of New York (CUNY), and state Education Department. The program would identify the training needs of employers, employees, and prospective employees; identify areas of the state or specific industries where a shortage of a skilled workforce is impacting the ability of those areas of the state or industries to remain competitive and innovative; identify methods and models to train and employ youth workers; and identify ways to serve prospective employees that are currently unemployed or underemployed. The program would help fund classroom training, on the job training, curriculum development, and training materials associated with on the job training, skills upgrading, skills retraining, and basic skills training that leads to obtaining appropriate certifications or degrees from accredited institutions, among other uses. Eligible recipients could include not-for-profits, educational entities, or programs that provide training and skill development.

Senator Ortt, Co-Chair of the Senate’s Task Force on Workforce Development, said, “Developing a skilled workforce in today’s changing economy is a challenge many employers across all communities in New York State face. This program fosters collaboration with leaders in education, business and workforce training. Ultimately, those unique relationships will help to fill the void for in-demand jobs while creating a friendlier, stronger business climate.”

Additional bills passed by the Senate this week to help support New York’s businesses include:

• Saving Hundreds of Millions in Taxes for Small Businesses and Farms: Bill S2120, sponsored by Senator Tom O’Mara (R-C-I, Big Flats) 
• Repealing New York’s Estate Tax: Bill S2884, sponsored by Senator Jim Tedisco (R-C-I, Glenville)
• Reducing Regulatory Fines on Small Businesses: Bill S4120A, sponsored by Senator Fred Akshar (R-C-I-Ref, Colesville)
• Reducing Regulatory Paperwork for Small Businesses: Bill S6362A, sponsored by Senator John DeFrancisco (R-C-I, Syracuse)
• Authorizing Small Business Savings Accounts to Help in Emergencies: Bill S3557, sponsored by Senator Phil Boyle (R-C-I, Suffolk County)

The Senate is also expected to take up two bills later tonight:

• Establishing a Small Business Liaison Position in State Agencies: Bill S6706, sponsored by Senator Akshar
• Preventing the Abuse of “Emergency” Rulemaking by State Agencies: Bill S5912B, sponsored by Senator Jacobs

The Senate recently amended and again passed the following bill:

• Creating an Innovation Center for the State to Test Emerging Technology: Bill S1121A, sponsored by Senator Funke

The bills have been sent to the Assembly, except for S817A, S1120, S5719, and S6536, which will be sent to the Governor for review.