A 4945: 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.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 4945 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN ASSEMBLY February 10, 2025 ___________ 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 28 to read as follows: 3 ARTICLE 28 4 RELOCATED WORKER GRANT PROGRAM 5 Section 500. Definitions. 6 501. Relocated worker grant program. 7 § 500. 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-seven; 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 § 501. 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. LBD00921-01-5 
 A. 4945 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.