Bill Text: NY A07587 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Establishes the relocated worker grant program which requires the empire state development corporation to design and implement the relocated worker grant program which shall include a certification process to certify relocated workers and certify qualifying expenses for a reimbursement grant; defines terms; makes related provisions.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-03 - referred to economic development [A07587 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-A07587-Introduced.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          7587

                               2023-2024 Regular Sessions

                   IN ASSEMBLY

                                      May 25, 2023
                                       ___________

        Introduced by M. of A. ZINERMAN -- read once and referred to the Commit-
          tee on Economic Development

        AN  ACT to amend the economic development law, in relation to establish-
          ing the relocated worker grant program

          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 27 to read as follows:
     3                                  ARTICLE 27
     4                       RELOCATED WORKER GRANT PROGRAM
     5  Section 490. Definitions.
     6          491. Relocated worker grant program.
     7    § 490. Definitions. As used in this article, the following terms shall
     8  have the following meanings:
     9    1. "Relocated worker" means an individual who:
    10    (a) is a full-time employee of a business;
    11    (b) becomes a full-time resident of this state  on  or  after  January
    12  first, two thousand twenty-five; and
    13    (c) relocates to an eligible location designated under this article.
    14    2.  "Qualifying expenses" means actual costs a relocated worker incurs
    15  for one or more of the following that are  necessary  to  perform  their
    16  employment duties:
    17    (a) relocation to this State;
    18    (b) computer software and hardware;
    19    (c) broadband access or upgrade; and
    20    (d) membership in a co-working or similar space.
    21    3. "Eligible location" means every city with a population of more than
    22  ninety  thousand  but less than three hundred thousand, as of the effec-
    23  tive date of this subdivision.
    24    § 491. Relocated worker grant program. 1. The empire state development
    25  corporation shall  design  and  implement  the  relocated  worker  grant

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD02579-01-3
        A. 7587                             2

     1  program,  which  shall  include a certification process to certify relo-
     2  cated workers and certify qualifying expenses for a reimbursement  grant
     3  under this section including but not limited to requiring:
     4    (a) Proof of residence;
     5    (b) Proof of employment; and
     6    (c) Proof of purchases for qualifying expenses.
     7    2.  A relocated worker may be eligible for a reimbursement grant under
     8  the program for qualifying expenses in the amount of not more than  five
     9  thousand dollars.
    10    3.  The  department  shall  award grants under the program on a first-
    11  come, first-served basis, subject to available funding as may be  appro-
    12  priated for this purpose.
    13    4. The department shall:
    14    (a) adopt procedures for implementing the program;
    15    (b) promulgate a list of qualifying expenses including but not limited
    16  to:
    17    (i) hiring a moving company or renting moving equipment;
    18    (ii) a down payment or security deposit for a residence;
    19    (iii) software necessary to their employment;
    20    (iv)  computer  and  other  technological equipment necessary to their
    21  employment;
    22    (v) fees or subscription costs related to internet access; and
    23    (vi) fees related to securing a co-working space;
    24    (c) promote awareness of the program, including  through  coordination
    25  with  relevant  trade  groups  and  by integration into the department's
    26  economic development marketing campaigns; and
    27    (d) adopt measurable goals, performance measures, and an audit strate-
    28  gy to assess the utilization and performance of the program.
    29    5. No later than one hundred eighty days after the effective  date  of
    30  this  section, the department shall submit a report to the governor, the
    31  temporary president of the senate,  and  the  speaker  of  the  assembly
    32  concerning the implementation of this section, including but not limited
    33  to:
    34    (a) a description of the procedures adopted pursuant to this section;
    35    (b) the promotion and marketing of the program; and
    36    (c) any additional recommendations for qualifying expenses or qualify-
    37  ing workers that should be eligible under the program, and any recommen-
    38  dations for the maximum amount of the grant.
    39    § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.