Bill Text: NY A07507 | 2015-2016 | General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: Establishes a state small business commercial fishing industry advocate and creates a commercial fishing economic development program to promote small businesses in the state's small business commercial fishing industry; defines terms; provides for an annual report.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-06-16 - substituted by s5444 [A07507 Detail]

Download: New_York-2015-A07507-Introduced.html
                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                         7507
                              2015-2016 Regular Sessions
                                 I N  A S S E M B L Y
                                     May 13, 2015
                                      ___________
       Introduced by M. of A. THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee
         on Small Business
       AN  ACT to amend the economic development law, in relation to the estab-
         lishment of a state small business commercial fishing  industry  advo-
         cate  and the creation of a small business commercial fishing economic
         development program to promote small businesses in the state's commer-
         cial fishing industry
         THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
    1    Section  1.  The  economic  development law is amended by adding a new
    2  article 23 to read as follows:
    3                                 ARTICLE 23
    4   SMALL BUSINESS COMMERCIAL FISHING INDUSTRY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
    5  SECTION 450. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT.
    6          451. DEFINITIONS.
    7          452. NEW YORK STATE SMALL BUSINESS COMMERCIAL  FISHING  ADVOCATE
    8                 ESTABLISHED.
    9          453. POWERS OF THE ADVOCATE.
   10          454. SMALL  BUSINESS  COMMERCIAL  FISHING  ECONOMIC  DEVELOPMENT
   11                 PROGRAM CREATED.
   12          455. REPORTS.
   13          456. ASSISTANCE OF OTHER STATE AGENCIES.
   14          457. FUNCTIONS, POWERS AND DUTIES OF OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND STATE
   15                 AGENCIES.
   16    S 450. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND  INTENT.  THE  LEGISLATURE  FINDS  AND
   17  DETERMINES:
   18    1.  THAT  THE STATE'S COMMERCIAL FISHING INDUSTRY CONSISTS OF HUNDREDS
   19  OF SMALL FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESSES ACROSS THE STATE THAT COLLECTIVELY PLAY
   20  A KEY ROLE IN THE CONTINUING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND VITALITY OF THE STATE;
   21    2. THAT THE COMMERCIAL FISHING INDUSTRY PRESENTS ECONOMIC  DEVELOPMENT
   22  OPPORTUNITIES THAT COULD PROMOTE GROWTH THEREBY ENHANCING THE WELL-BEING
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD10608-04-5
       A. 7507                             2
    1  OF  THESE  SMALL  BUSINESS  EMPLOYERS  AND EMPLOYEES IN FISH PROCESSING,
    2  RETAIL MARKETS, RESTAURANTS, AND OTHER COMMERCIAL FISHING RELATED  BUSI-
    3  NESSES, AS WELL AS PROMOTING THE ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF FISHING FAMILIES
    4  THROUGHOUT THE STATE THROUGH JOB CREATION AND JOB RETENTION;
    5    3.  THAT  THE  COMMERCIAL FISHING INDUSTRY NEEDS ASSISTANCE TO PROMOTE
    6  THE INTERESTS OF THE SMALL BUSINESSES IN THIS INDUSTRY AND TO HELP NAVI-
    7  GATE THE FEDERAL AND STATE  REGULATORY  REQUIREMENTS  THAT  OVERSEE  THE
    8  INDUSTRY; AND
    9    4.  THAT  THE STATE SMALL BUSINESS COMMERCIAL FISHING INDUSTRY WILL BE
   10  ENHANCED BY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR THE
   11  SMALL BUSINESS  COMMERCIAL  FISHING  INDUSTRY  THAT  PROMOTES  LONG-TERM
   12  HEALTH AND ABUNDANCE OF FISHERIES RESOURCES AND HABITATS.
   13    S  451.  DEFINITIONS.  FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE, THE FOLLOWING
   14  TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
   15    1. "STATE SMALL BUSINESS COMMERCIAL FISHING ADVOCATE" SHALL  MEAN  THE
   16  STATE SMALL BUSINESS COMMERCIAL FISHING ADVOCATE ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO
   17  THIS ARTICLE.
   18    2.  "PROGRAM"  SHALL  MEAN THE COMMERCIAL FISHING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
   19  PROGRAM ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE.
   20    3. "SMALL BUSINESS COMMERCIAL FISHING INDUSTRY" SHALL MEAN THOSE BUSI-
   21  NESSES, AS DEFINED IN SECTION ONE HUNDRED  THIRTY-ONE  OF  THIS  CHAPTER
   22  INVOLVED  IN  THE HARVESTING, MARKETING, RESEARCH, PROCESSING OF FISH OR
   23  SHELLFISH OR PROVIDING ESSENTIAL INPUTS FOR OR SERVICES  TO  SUCH  SMALL
   24  BUSINESSES  AND  SHALL  INCLUDE  JOB  TRAINING  AND  PUBLIC  INFORMATION
   25  PROGRAMS ASSOCIATED  WITH  SUCH  PRODUCTS.  FOR  THE  PURPOSES  OF  THIS
   26  SECTION,  THE  SMALL  BUSINESS  COMMERCIAL  FISHING INDUSTRY SHALL FOCUS
   27  PRIMARILY ON FAMILY-OWNED AND OPERATED BUSINESSES.
   28    S 452. NEW YORK  STATE  SMALL  BUSINESS  COMMERCIAL  FISHING  ADVOCATE
   29  ESTABLISHED.  THERE  IS  HEREBY ESTABLISHED IN THE DEPARTMENT, THE STATE
   30  SMALL BUSINESS COMMERCIAL FISHING ADVOCATE TO REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF
   31  THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMERCIAL FISHING  INDUSTRY.    THE  SMALL  BUSINESS
   32  COMMERCIAL  FISHING  ADVOCATE  SHALL POSSESS KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE IN
   33  MATTERS  AFFECTING  THE  SMALL  BUSINESS  COMMERCIAL  FISHING  INDUSTRY,
   34  INCLUDING THE IMPORTANCE OF MARINE FISHERIES MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION
   35  ROLES  IN THE LONG-TERM VITALITY OF THE INDUSTRY, AND SHALL BE RESPONSI-
   36  BLE FOR EXERCISING ALL THE POWERS GRANTED  BY  THIS  ARTICLE,  INCLUDING
   37  ADVISING  THE  COMMISSIONER  ON  MATTERS  RELATING TO THE SMALL BUSINESS
   38  COMMERCIAL FISHING INDUSTRY, INCLUDING THE DIRECTION, CONTROL, AND OPER-
   39  ATION OF THE SMALL  BUSINESS  COMMERCIAL  FISHING  ECONOMIC  DEVELOPMENT
   40  PROGRAM.
   41    S  453.  POWERS  OF  THE  ADVOCATE.  1.  THE ADVOCATE SHALL ADVISE THE
   42  COMMISSIONER ON MATTERS CONCERNING SMALL BUSINESS COMMERCIAL FISHING AND
   43  TO SERVE AS LIAISON BETWEEN THE STATE'S SMALL BUSINESS COMMERCIAL  FISH-
   44  ING  INDUSTRY AND THE COMMISSIONER WITH RESPECT TO THE DESIGN AND IMPLE-
   45  MENTATION OF THE STATE'S POLICIES AND PROGRAMS  RELATING  TO  COMMERCIAL
   46  FISHING  IN A MANNER THAT SUPPORTS THE LONG-TERM HEALTH AND ABUNDANCE OF
   47  FISHERIES RESOURCES AND MANAGEMENT.
   48    2. IN ADDITION, THE ADVOCATE SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING POWERS:
   49    (A) TO IDENTIFY AND  REVIEW  COMMERCIAL  FISHING  RELATED  ISSUES  AND
   50  CURRENT  STATE  POLICIES  AND  PROGRAMS  WHICH AFFECT THE SMALL BUSINESS
   51  COMMERCIAL FISHING INDUSTRY IN THE STATE;
   52    (B) TO ADVISE THE DEPARTMENT  IN  ITS  PROMOTION  AND  DEVELOPMENT  OF
   53  ALTERNATIVE  USES FOR SMALL BUSINESS COMMERCIAL FISHING VESSELS, SUCH AS
   54  TOURISM AND OTHER USES AND SERVICES IN THE STATE;
   55    (C) TO ADVISE THE DEPARTMENT IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION  OF
   56  THE  STATE'S  MARKETING  AND  BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR THE SMALL
       A. 7507                             3
    1  BUSINESS COMMERCIAL FISHING INDUSTRY,  INCLUDING  LONG-RANGE  STRATEGIES
    2  FOR  PROMOTING  THE INDUSTRY IN AN ECONOMICALLY SUSTAINABLE AND ENVIRON-
    3  MENTALLY SOUND MANNER THAT SUPPORTS LONG-TERM VITALITY OF THE INDUSTRY;
    4    (D)  TO  ADVISE  THE  DEPARTMENT,  THE  GOVERNOR  AND  THE LEGISLATURE
    5  CONCERNING RECOMMENDED LEGISLATION NECESSARY TO FOSTER AND  PROMOTE  THE
    6  LONG-TERM  VITALITY  AND  DEVELOPMENT  OF  THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMERCIAL
    7  FISHING INDUSTRY WITHIN THE STATE;
    8    (E) TO  ADVISE  THE  DEPARTMENT,  THE  GOVERNOR  AND  THE  LEGISLATURE
    9  CONCERNING   EXISTING  LAWS,  RULES,  AND  REGULATIONS  RELATED  TO  THE
   10  LONG-TERM VITALITY AND DEVELOPMENT  OF  THE  SMALL  BUSINESS  COMMERCIAL
   11  FISHING INDUSTRY WITHIN THE STATE;
   12    (F) TO PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTER-GOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION AMONG
   13  AGENCIES  OF THE FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND FOSTER COOPER-
   14  ATION BETWEEN PRIVATE INDUSTRY AND GOVERNMENT SO AS TO ASSURE THE  LONG-
   15  TERM VITALITY OF THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMERCIAL FISHING INDUSTRY;
   16    (G)  TO  ASSIST  THE DEPARTMENT IN OBTAINING INFORMATION NECESSARY FOR
   17  THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVEMENT OF STATE POLICIES AND PROGRAMS AFFECTING
   18  THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMERCIAL FISHING INDUSTRY IN THE STATE;
   19    (H) TO ADMINISTER THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM CREATED PURSUANT TO
   20  SECTION FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY-FOUR OF THIS ARTICLE; AND,
   21    3. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE NECESSARY TECHNICAL AND STAFF  ASSIST-
   22  ANCE TO THE STATE SMALL BUSINESS COMMERCIAL FISHING ADVOCATE.
   23    S  454. SMALL BUSINESS COMMERCIAL FISHING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
   24  CREATED. THERE IS HEREBY CREATED A  SMALL  BUSINESS  COMMERCIAL  FISHING
   25  ECONOMIC  DEVELOPMENT  PROGRAM  UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE DEPARTMENT
   26  AND ADMINISTERED BY THE ADVOCATE, THE  PURPOSE  OF  WHICH  SHALL  BE  TO
   27  TARGET AND PROMOTE:
   28    1.  MARINE  RESOURCES  DEVELOPMENT  IN  WAYS  WHICH  ARE  ECONOMICALLY
   29  SUSTAINABLE, ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND, AND PROMOTES THE LONG-TERM HEALTH OF
   30  FISHERIES RESOURCES AND HABITAT;
   31    2. PUBLIC AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE  ECONOMIC,  CULTURAL  AND
   32  ENVIRONMENTAL IMPORTANCE OF NEW YORK'S SMALL BUSINESS COMMERCIAL FISHING
   33  INDUSTRY;
   34    3.  THE DEVELOPMENT, RETENTION, DIVERSIFICATION AND LONG-TERM VITALITY
   35  OF THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMERCIAL FISHING RESOURCES INDUSTRY IN WAYS THAT
   36  WILL ENHANCE RELATED EFFORTS  OF  FEDERAL,  STATE  AND  LOCAL  AGENCIES,
   37  COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES, ASSOCIATIONS, TRADE GROUPS AND MANUFACTURERS;
   38    4.  ELECTRONIC AND OTHER INFORMATION SHARED RELATED TO THE SMALL BUSI-
   39  NESS COMMERCIAL FISHING INDUSTRY;
   40    5. THE DEVELOPMENT OF  FINANCING  MECHANISMS  FOR  THE  ESTABLISHMENT,
   41  RETENTION,  DIVERSIFICATION AND LONG-TERM VITALITY OF THE SMALL BUSINESS
   42  COMMERCIAL FISHING INDUSTRY;
   43    6. INCREASED CONSUMER AWARENESS OF THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMERCIAL FISH-
   44  ING INDUSTRY, ITS PRODUCTS AND SERVICES. FURTHER, TO ACT  AS  A  LIAISON
   45  BETWEEN  CONSUMERS,  INDUSTRY,  STATE  AND  FEDERAL  AGENCIES, AND OTHER
   46  STAKEHOLDERS;
   47    7. DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS WHICH WOULD IMPROVE  BUSINESS  PROFITABILITY
   48  AND LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY; AND,
   49    8. THE REVIEW OF ANY REGULATORY BARRIERS WHICH MAY IMPEDE THE DEVELOP-
   50  MENT,  RETENTION,  DIVERSIFICATION  OR  LONG-TERM  VITALITY OF THE SMALL
   51  BUSINESS COMMERCIAL FISHING INDUSTRY.
   52    S 455. REPORTS. THE ADVOCATE SHALL MAKE AN ANNUAL REPORT ON OR  BEFORE
   53  JULY  FIRST, TWO THOUSAND SIXTEEN AND EACH YEAR THEREAFTER TO THE GOVER-
   54  NOR, THE DEPARTMENT, AND THE LEGISLATURE SETTING  FORTH  THE  ACTIVITIES
   55  UNDERTAKEN  BY  THE  ADVOCATE.    SUCH  REPORT SHALL BE AVAILABLE TO THE
   56  PUBLIC FREE OF CHARGE ON A PUBLICLY AVAILABLE WEBSITE.
       A. 7507                             4
    1    S 456. ASSISTANCE OF OTHER STATE AGENCIES. TO EFFECTUATE THE  PURPOSES
    2  OF  THIS  ARTICLE,  THE  ADVOCATE  MAY  REQUEST AND SHALL BE ENTITLED TO
    3  RECEIVE FROM ANY STATE AGENCY, AND THE SAME ARE  AUTHORIZED  TO  PROVIDE
    4  SUCH  ASSISTANCE,  SERVICE, FACILITIES AND DATA AS WILL ENABLE THE ADVO-
    5  CATE  TO  CARRY  OUT  THE  FUNCTIONS, POWERS AND DUTIES PROVIDED BY THIS
    6  ARTICLE. THE ADVOCATE MAY ENTER INTO COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS  WITH  OTHER
    7  GOVERNMENT OFFICES TO EFFICIENTLY CARRY OUT ITS WORK.
    8    S  457.  FUNCTIONS,  POWERS  AND DUTIES OF OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND STATE
    9  AGENCIES. NOTHING CONTAINED IN THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE DEEMED  TO  DETRACT
   10  IN ANY WAY FROM THE FUNCTIONS, POWERS OR DUTIES PRESCRIBED BY LAW OF ANY
   11  DEPARTMENT OF THE STATE OR TO INTERRUPT OR PRECLUDE THE DIRECT RELATION-
   12  SHIP  OF  ANY SUCH DEPARTMENT OR AGENCY WITH OTHER AGENCIES, INDIVIDUALS
   13  OR CORPORATIONS FOR THE  CARRYING  OUT  OF  ITS  FUNCTIONS,  POWERS  AND
   14  DUTIES.
   15    S  2.  Severability.  If  any provision of this act or the application
   16  thereof shall for any reason be  adjudged  by  any  court  of  competent
   17  jurisdiction  to  be  invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair or
   18  invalidate the remainder of this act, but shall be confined in its oper-
   19  ation to the provision thereof directly involved in the  controversy  in
   20  which the judgment shall have been rendered.
   21    S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
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