Establishes the office for small business; repealer

BILL NUMBER:S1260

Title of bill

An act to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing the office for small business; to amend the public authorities law, the environmental conservation law, the state finance law and the executive law, in relation to making technical amendments thereto; and to repeal article 4-B of the economic development law relating to the division for small-business

Purpose

The purpose of this legislation is to establish an office for small business within the Executive Law to consolidate all state offices, programs and employees to promote a better small business climate in the state.

Summary of specific provisions

* Allow the Director to have the power and duty to administer the program;

* Establish that the director of the Office shall be appointed by the Governor, and remaining members nominated by the speaker of the Assembly, Temporary President of the Senate, Minority Leaders of the Assembly and Senate;

* Create a 15 member advisory board of which 9 members are individuals who are currently involved in the ownership and! or operation of a small business;

* Establish annual awards to be known as "New York State Small Business Awards";

* Establish the director to provide the staff with assistance and support as necessary;

* Allow director to request assistance from other agencies;

* Provide a small business education program;

* Establish a small business stationary source ombudsman program;

* Transfer the powers from economic development to the division for small business;

* Transfer the assets and liabilities from economic development to the division for small-business as assumed by the office;

* Authorize the office to be deemed and held to constitute the continuation of the authority and not a different agency and authority;

* Authorize the division of small-business to complete any unfinished business established by economic development;

* Provide that any pending actions and proceedings shall not be affected by any of the provisions;

* Allow continuance of the rules and regulations established by economic development and;

* Allow the transfer of appropriations available for the use and expenditure by the offices for the same purposes for which originally appropriated.

Justification

The bill creates a state bonding guarantee assistance program to enable small businesses, and minority-owned and women-o~led business enterprises, certified as a minority-owned or women-owned business enterprise pursuant to article fifteen-A of the executive law, to meet payment and/or performance bonding requirements by providing additional financial backing needed to induce a surety company to issue a bond for construction projects, including but not limited to, Government sponsored, transportation related construction projects. Such programs shall give preference to minority-owned and women-owned business enterprises.

Prior history

S.2010 2012, Referred to Finance S.2010 2011, Referred to Finance S.5604A 2009, Referred to Finance A.3276A 2008, Reported and Referred to Ways & Means Committee A.3276A 2008, Referred to Small Business Committee A.4169 2005, Died in Small Business Committee

Fiscal implications

Additional administrative cost associated with the creation of the office for Small Business.

Effective date

Immediate, with provisions.