§ 100. General powers of department. The commissioner acting by and through the department of economic development shall have power and it shall be his duty:

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1. to investigate, study and undertake ways and means of promoting and encouraging the prosperous development and protection of the legitimate interest and welfare of New York business, industry and commerce, within and outside the state;

2. to serve as a clearing house for industrial problems of the state;

3. to promote and encourage the expansion and development of markets for New York products;

4. to promote and encourage the location and development of new business in the state as well as the maintenance and expansion of existing business and for that purpose to cooperate with state and local agencies and individuals both within and outside the state;

5. to investigate and study conditions affecting New York business, industry and commerce, and to collect and disseminate information, and engage in technical studies, scientific investigations and statistical research and educational activities necessary or useful for the proper execution of the powers and duties of the department in promoting and developing New York business, industry and commerce both within and outside the state;

6. to plan and develop an effective business information service both for the direct assistance of industry of the state and for the encouragement of industries outside the state to use business facilities within the state;

7. to compile, collect and develop periodically, or otherwise make available, scientific indices and other information relating to current business conditions;

8. to encourage and develop commerce with other states and foreign countries, and to devise ways and means of removing trade barriers hampering the free flow of commerce between this state and other states, including such barriers as preferences and similar price distorting mechanisms and other forms of discrimination used in the procurement of goods and services by the public sector or influenced by the public sector;

9. to cooperate with interstate commissions engaged in formulating and promoting the adoption of interstate compacts and agreements helpful to business, industry and commerce;

10. to conduct or encourage research designed to further new and more extensive uses of the natural and other resources of the state, and designed to develop new products and industrial processes;

11. to study trends and developments in the industries of the state and to analyze the reasons underlying such trends; to study costs and other factors affecting successful operation of businesses within the state; and to make recommendations regarding circumstances promoting or hampering industrial development;

12. to compile periodically a census of business and industry in the state with the cooperation of other agencies; and to analyze and publish this information in such form as to be most valuable to the business and industry of the state;

13. to make to the governor and to the legislature, from time to time, recommendations for the study or improvement of any conditions, and for the elimination of any restrictions and burdens imposed by law, or otherwise existing, which adversely affect or retard the legitimate development and expansion of business, industry or commerce;

14. to publicize the material and economic advantages of the state which render it a desirable place for business and residence;

15. (a) to collect, compile and distribute information and literature as to the facilities, advantages and attractions of the state, the historical and scenic points and places of interest within the state and the transportation and highway facilities of the state;

(b) in the discharge of this power, the commissioner may enter into a contract for publication of a state travel guide to promote tourism. Such contract may provide for the sale of advertising by the contractor. A contract for publication of a state travel guide shall be awarded following consideration of factors which shall include, but not be limited to, the most favorable financial advantage for the state, the best representation of the state of New York and its services, and the greatest utility to the traveller. The commissioner shall promulgate regulations by the first day of November next succeeding the effective date of this paragraph to guide the preparation of bids and the deadlines for selection of a competent contractor and publication of the state travel guide. The regulations shall, at a minimum, limit advertising content to no more than thirty percent of the space available and establish responsibility for preparation and placement of appropriate editorial content and an equitable listing without charge or other consideration of attractions and activities available to the tourist in New York state. Such regulations shall provide for approval of the commissioner at critical stages of state travel guide development and advertising standards and rates. Furthermore, such regulations shall provide minimum financial terms and responsibilities of the state and the contractor, the allocation of any revenues derived from the production of the travel guide and securities which shall be required of the contractor.

16. to plan and conduct a program of information and publicity designed to attract tourists, visitors and other interested persons from outside the state to this state and also to encourage and coordinate the efforts of other public and private organizations or groups of citizens to publicize the facilities and attractions of the state for the same purposes;

16-a. to promote the growth of fruit growing, fruit processing, and winery businesses in cooperation with the commissioner of agriculture and markets and the urban development corporation. The commissioner in promoting such businesses may also help to promote tourist programs specified in subdivision sixteen of this section and encourage the retention of agricultural lands and preservation of open spaces.

16-b. to promote the expansion of animal and plant fiber production, fiber processing, and textile manufacturing from animal or plant fiber grown or produced predominantly in New York state in cooperation with the commissioner of agriculture and markets and the urban development corporation. The commissioner in promoting such businesses may also help to promote tourist programs specified in subdivision sixteen of this section and encourage the retention of agricultural lands and preservation of open spaces.

18. to encourage and cooperate with other public and private organizations or groups in publicizing the attractions and industrial advantages of the state;

18-a. to establish, in cooperation with the commissioner of agriculture and markets and the state liquor authority, procedures for proposing to the governor nominations for annual awards to be known as "New York state wine retailers awards". These non-monetary awards shall be given in recognition of unusual efforts made by restaurants, and/or retailers licensed to sell alcoholic beverages for off-premises consumption, to inform consumers as to the availability, diversity and excellence of wines made in the state from grapes grown in the state, and to feature these wines. The governor shall, at his discretion, issue up to three awards annually.

18-b. to promote, in cooperation with the New York wine and grape foundation, state policies that will encourage the production and sale of New York labelled wines.

18-c. to establish, in cooperation with the commissioner of agriculture and markets, procedures for proposing nominations, including procedures to coordinate with such commissioner to determine which department shall make nominations for awards in categories that may be similar to those listed in subdivision nine of § 309 of the agriculture and markets law to the governor for four annual, non-monetary awards to be known as: (a) New York State Direct Farm Marketing Award; (b) New York State Agri-Tourism Award; (c) New York State Specialty Food Product Award; and (d) New York Animal or Plant Fiber and Textile Award. These awards shall be given in recognition of unusual efforts by farmers, food processors, food retailers, fiber processors, and textile manufacturers and retailers for the marketing of New York state grown agricultural commodities, foods processed from or primarily containing New York state agricultural commodities, or textiles manufactured in New York state from animal or plant fiber grown or produced predominantly in New York state and for promoting New York state farms that are also tourist destinations.

18-d. To establish, in consultation with the New York state tourism advisory council, a New York hall of fame passport permitting admission to recognized halls of fame situated within the state.

18-e. to establish, in cooperation with the urban development corporation and the commissioner of agriculture and markets and other economic development agencies a program to promote the agriculture industry and other related industries in the state in a manner consistent with the provisions of article five-D of this chapter.

18-f. to establish procedures, guidelines or regulations related to implementation of the "NY-USA Proud" employer of distinction award. These non-monetary awards shall be given in recognition of companies that show exceptional support for military personnel including military reservists and national guard members. To promote and market such award, the commissioner may design an appropriate symbol that may be registered as a trademark in the office of the secretary of state. Any such trademark shall be registered by the secretary of state without the exaction of any fee therefor. The commissioner may in his or her discretion register any such mark with the United States government and any other state or foreign country.

18-g. to establish procedures, guidelines or regulations related to implementation of the "Patriot Support and Discount Program". This voluntary program shall recognize those merchants, businesses or companies that provide exceptional support to their employees who serve in the military, including military reservists and national guard members, or agree to provide reduced price discounts for merchandise and services for military personnel including military reservists and national guard members. At the discretion of the commissioner, participating merchants, businesses or companies may become eligible for inclusion in the "NY-USA Proud" program.

18-h. to include in the "NY-USA Proud" program those companies who provide accident prevention courses approved by the commissioner of motor vehicles at a reduced rate to the servicemen and women who have returned from a combat theater or combat zone of operations.

18-i. To aid the department of agriculture and markets and office of general services in providing a training program once per year, in each economic development region, established in article eleven of this chapter, to encourage and increase participation in the procurement process, pursuant to Article 11 of the state finance law, by small businesses, as defined in section one hundred thirty-one of this chapter, including farms, selling food or food products grown, produced, harvested, or processed in New York state, or selling animal or plant fiber products grown, harvested and processed in New York state and textile products manufactured in New York state from animal or plant fiber grown or produced predominantly in New York state, and assist such businesses in identifying such food, food products, or animal or plant fiber products and textile products which may help to meet state agencies' needs.

18-j. to assist the urban development corporation to establish a searchable database pursuant to section fifty-eight of section one of chapter one hundred seventy-four of the laws of nineteen hundred sixty-eight, constituting the New York state urban development corporation act.

18-k. to promote, in cooperation with associations representing New York growers, fiber processors, and textile manufacturers, state policies that will encourage the production and sale of textile products manufactured in New York state from animal or plant fiber grown or produced predominantly in New York state.

19. (a) to study changes in and to suggest policies for the economic development and conservation of the resources of the state and to develop an annual statewide economic development strategic plan. Such strategic plan, shall include but shall not be limited to, a statewide inventory of all industry associations and clusters; a list of industries that have a competitive advantage; and a list of industries that demonstrate the potential for growth. The department shall work in cooperation with the New York State Foundation for Science, Technology and Innovation in creating the strategic plan. The annual statewide economic development strategic plan shall be submitted to the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly on January first, two thousand eight and every year thereafter.

(b) to cause to be prepared program plans for the economic development financial assistance programs of the state, in cooperation with the agency or public benefit corporation or public authority, consistent with the legislative intent and statutory authorization for such programs. Program plans shall be derived from and shall be consistent with the annual economic development strategic plan and, accordingly, may be updated as necessary. Such plans shall be transmitted to the agency or public authority or public benefit corporation responsible for administering the program and to the speaker of the assembly and the temporary president of the senate within ninety days of the effective date of any statute authorizing such program. With respect to existing economic development financial assistance programs, the commissioner shall transmit program plans on or before July first, nineteen hundred eighty-eight.

Program plans shall describe the goals, objectives and priorities of each financial assistance program, shall guide the development of operating procedures and rules and regulations governing each financial assistance program, shall set forth the manner in which the financial assistance program shall be coordinated with other economic development programs and shall set forth a description of the operating relationships with relevant agencies and regional and local public and private organizations;

20. to cooperate with and assist other state departments, boards, commissions, agencies, public benefit corporations and public authorities in the preparation of policies for the economic development of the state and to assist in such entities' development of rules and regulations governing economic development financial assistance programs, and policies for the use and conservation of its resources;

21. to inquire into and report to the governor when requested by the governor, with respect to any program of public state improvements and the financing thereof; and to request and obtain information from the state department of transportation and other state departments or agencies such information and data as may be needed properly to report thereon;

22. to advise and cooperate with municipal, county, regional and other local agencies within the state for the purpose of promoting coordination between the state and the localities as to economic development;

23. to confer and cooperate with the authorities of the United States and neighboring states and of the counties and municipalities of such neighboring states, for the purpose of bringing about a coordination between the economic development of such neighboring states, counties and municipalities and the economic development of the state of New York;

24. to adopt such measures as may best be calculated to promote public interest in and understanding of the problems of economic development, and to that end may publish and distribute copies of any plan or any report and may employ such other means of publicity and education as shall give full effect to the provisions of this chapter;

25. To act as the agent of the state and its political subdivisions for the purpose of approving applicants for financial assistance from any federal agency for industrial development or redevelopment purposes, whenever the terms of any act of congress heretofore or hereafter enacted for such purposes require the state or any political subdivision thereof to approve applicants for such assistance, and to take any further action which may be required under the terms of such act.

26. To provide all necessary staff services, accounting, clerical and secretarial assistance, and office space and equipment requested by the New York job development authority.

27. To act as the agent of the state to administer, carry out and coordinate any federal law now or hereafter enacted by the congress to promote economic growth by supporting state and regional centers to place the findings of science usefully in the hands of American enterprise and, for such purposes, to receive federal funds for technical services programs and enter into any necessary contracts or compacts in connection therewith, to take any further action which may be required under the terms of any such federal act, including but not limited to the establishment and operation of state or regional technical information centers.

28. To provide all necessary staff services, accounting, clerical and secretarial assistance and office space and equipment requested by the New York state job incentive board.

29. to advise the governor, the legislature and other state agencies with regard to research and development and the establishment of state policies relating thereto, in connection with science oriented industry and applied research.

29-a. to advise the governor, the legislature and other state agencies with regard to research and development and the establishment of state policies relating thereto, in connection with the animal and plant fiber and fiber textile manufacturing industries and applied research.

30. to cooperate with all private persons and governmental entities concerned with science oriented industry and applied research.

30-a. to cooperate with all private persons and governmental entities concerned with the animal and plant fiber and fiber textile manufacturing industries and applied research.

31. to sponsor, foster and support research and to sponsor or conduct studies relating to science oriented industry and applied research.

31-a. to sponsor, foster and support research and to sponsor or conduct studies relating to the animal and plant fiber and fiber textile manufacturing industries and applied research.

32. to review and evaluate the status and to encourage and promote the development of science oriented industry and applied research designed to further new and more extensive use of the resources and manpower of the state.

32-a. to review and evaluate the status and to encourage and promote the development of the animal and plant fiber and fiber textile manufacturing industries and applied research designed to further new and more extensive use of the resources and manpower of the state.

33. the department shall adopt, amend or rescind, in accordance with the state administrative procedure act, such rules, regulations and orders as may be necessary or convenient to the performance of its functions, powers and duties under this chapter. Such rules and regulations shall be consistent with any program plans required by subdivision nineteen of section one hundred of this chapter.

34. the department may enter into contracts with any person, firm, corporation or governmental agency, and do all things necessary or convenient to carry out the functions, powers and duties expressly set forth in this article.

35. to promote, publish, and disseminate the rules and regulations promulgated by the industrial commissioner pursuant to Article 26 of the labor law.

36. (a) The commissioner shall solicit research firms to evaluate the promotional effectiveness and economic impact of the department's tourism advertising campaigns. The commissioner shall cause said research firms to submit to the department and the legislative fiscal committees, at least six weeks prior to the conducting of their research, a research design indicating the techniques planned to measure such promotional effectiveness and economic impact; provided, however, that no firm selected shall do both the promotional effectiveness and economic impact studies nor shall have participated in the development of marketing the tourism campaign.

(b) The commissioner shall submit all preliminary reports of such firms to the legislative fiscal committees within two weeks of receipt of such reports; the final reports shall be submitted by the commissioner to the legislative fiscal committees and the tourism advisory council no later than December first of each year.

37. to review and evaluate the economic impact of the downhill ski industry on the state's economy and to advise the governor, legislature, and other state agencies of the results of such review and evaluation.

37-a. The commissioner shall make an annual report to the governor and legislature on or before the fifteenth day of May for the preceding calendar year. It shall include a summary of all contacts received from business entities by the department, including the department's district offices. The report shall set forth the types of contacts, the purposes of such contacts and include a summary of the results of all such contacts by business entities. The report shall also indicate which contacts were made by small business concerns as defined by § 135-a of the state finance law. No provision of this subdivision shall be deemed to require or authorize the disclosure of confidential information or trade secrets.

37-b. The requirements to report contained in the following provisions of this chapter shall be satisfied, notwithstanding any inconsistent provision appearing therein, by the commissioner who shall consolidate into one combined annual report all of the information required to be submitted in separate reports by the following provisions of this chapter. This consolidated annual report of the commissioner shall be submitted to the governor and the legislature on or before October first of each year and shall replace the requirements for separate reports contained in the following provisions of this chapter. In order to fulfill his or her responsibility under this subdivision, the commissioner may require the submission to him or her a sufficient period of time in advance of October first of each year by any advisory committee or other body required to submit a report pursuant to the following provisions of this chapter of all information which would otherwise be required to be included in the report of such advisory committee or other body. The following provisions of this chapter containing requirements to submit recurring reports shall be subject to the requirements of this subdivision:

(a) Section one hundred ninety-five, on the operation and accomplishments of the industrial effectiveness program.

(b) Paragraph (a) of subdivision seven of section two hundred two, regarding the current status of the skills development assistance program.

(c) Subdivision two of section two hundred twelve of this chapter, submitting the results of the annual evaluation of the entrepreneurial assistance programs established under article nine of this chapter.

(d) Subdivision two of section two hundred twenty-three, reporting the results of the annual evaluation of the effectiveness of the export trade development projects and other technical assistance programs authorized under article ten.

(e) Paragraph (a) of subdivision three of section two hundred forty-one, submitting the annual findings and recommendations of the advisory council on economic information and research.

(f) Subdivision eight of section two hundred fifty, regarding the current status of the industrial infrastructure development program.

38. to contract for and to accept any gifts or grants or loans of funds or property of financial or other aid in any form from the federal government or any agency or instrumentality thereof, or from the state or any agency or instrumentality thereof, or from any other source, for any or all of the purposes specified in this chapter, with the terms and conditions thereof; and

39. (a) To assist the superintendent of financial services to solicit, evaluate, develop and provide information to banking corporations, principally engaged in doing business within the state, about various methods used by banking corporations to provide financing for businesses engaged in the export of products and services to foreign countries.

(b) The commissioner shall evaluate such information as may be available to the department and help identify local regional banking corporations currently serving the state exporters and shall assist the superintendent of financial services in determining the status of local and regional banking corporations in export financing so that in cooperation with the department of financial services, a program shall be developed by which new banking corporations may be brought into the export financing sector and potential and current state exporters may be given a wider choice of available financing sources for medium and small export transactions.

(c) The commissioner shall further inform the superintendent of financial services of any changes which the department projects may occur in the international business community about which the commissioner may become aware so that the superintendent of financial services may provide the most timely and accurate information to the state banking community.

(d) The commissioner shall promote, publish and disseminate information concerning the current export trade engaged in by corporations doing business in the state, in particularly identifying those areas, fields of endeavor and under-utilized industrial resources which could be exported in greater volume creating an increased need for financing by local and regional banks.

40. to assist the secretary of state to promote and make information available regarding technical and financial assistance for waterfront revitalization programs for economically distressed and severely economically distressed municipalities on inland waterways, as provided by § 915-a of the executive law.

40-a. to develop a plan to maximize the use of telecommuting to conserve energy otherwise used by the personnel of the department in commuting to their assigned workplace. Within one year of the effective date of this subdivision, the department shall submit a report to the governor and the legislature on the impact of such plan to include, but not be limited to, energy conservation, air quality, workforce acceptance, office costs and potential cost savings.

* 41. To investigate innovative approaches to private sector work and employee compensation arrangements, such as flexible hours and job sharing, flexible compensation and benefit plans including employee assistance programs, employer-supported dependent care and family leave, which will benefit both employers and employees by improving productivity and morale, lowering rates of absenteeism, tardiness and turnover, and enhancing a company's image.

* NB There are 2 sb 41's

* 41. to administer and operate a linked deposit program pursuant to Article 15 of the state finance law.

* NB There are 2 sb 41's

42. To promote the advantages of such flexible work arrangements and benefit plans to business organizations and associations and to individual firms and to assist such groups or firms with instituting such arrangements and benefit plans.

43. To work with the New York job development authority, the New York state urban development corporation and other economic development agencies in promoting the inclusion of dependent care facilities as part of business expansion, industrial park, multi-tenant building or other projects assisted by the authority, the corporation or other agencies.

44. to foster and promote, and to enlist the New York job development authority, the New York urban development corporation and other public authorities, public benefit corporations and state agencies to foster and promote, the re-use and rehabilitation of existing buildings or sites, or both, as part of business expansion, industrial park, multi-tenant building or other projects assisted by a public authority, a public benefit corporation and/or a state agency.

45. to license, maintain and lease where appropriate an official brand, "I Love NY". Such brand shall be maintained, leased and applied pursuant to section one hundred fifty-two of this chapter.

46. to prepare an annual summary for the small business community of the key legislative, budgetary and regulatory changes impacting small businesses. Agencies shall cooperate with the department in developing the annual summary. The annual summary shall be written in plain language and shall provide specific contact information within the appropriate agency for inquiries regarding implementation and compliance. The annual summary shall be posted on the department website on or before September first of each year.

47. to, with funds appropriated for this purpose, post on the department's website information related to New York state programs providing assistance to small businesses or minority and women-owned business enterprises. The commissioner shall determine which programs to feature on the department's website, in consultation with the urban development corporation, which may include, but not be limited to, programs offered by state and federal agencies or other entities, to provide financial and technical assistance to minority and women-owned business enterprises and small businesses, provided that the website shall provide information on any department or urban development corporation programs relating to obtaining bonding or bridge loans. Posted information may include, but not necessarily be limited to, a program description, the type of assistance offered, application information, and contact information or website address for the entity offering such assistance. The department shall post the information described herein so as to allow individuals to: (a) search for featured minority and women-owned business enterprises and small businesses assistance programs pursuant to article nine of this chapter; (b) complete applications for assistance in obtaining bonding, as well as applications to any other programs providing financial assistance that the department deems feasible; and (c) obtain access to census data from the most recent United States census.

48. to cooperate with and provide assistance to the commissioners of environmental conservation and transportation to implement the provisions of title five of Article 49 of the environmental conservation law.

49. to exercise all other powers and functions necessary or appropriate to carry out the duties and purposes set forth in this chapter.