S 3275: 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 ________________________________________________________________________ 3275 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN SENATE January 24, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sen. COONEY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Commerce, Economic Devel- opment and Small Business 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. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD00921-01-5 
 S. 3275 2 1 § 501. Relocated worker grant program. 1. The empire state development 2 corporation shall design and implement the relocated worker grant 3 program, which shall include a certification process to certify relo- 4 cated workers and certify qualifying expenses for a reimbursement grant 5 under this section including but not limited to requiring: 6 (a) Proof of residence; 7 (b) Proof of employment; and 8 (c) Proof of purchases for qualifying expenses. 9 2. A relocated worker may be eligible for a reimbursement grant under 10 the program for qualifying expenses in the amount of not more than five 11 thousand dollars. 12 3. The department shall award grants under the program on a first- 13 come, first-served basis, subject to available funding as may be appro- 14 priated for this purpose. 15 4. The department shall: 16 (a) adopt procedures for implementing the program; 17 (b) promulgate a list of qualifying expenses including but not limited 18 to: 19 (i) hiring a moving company or renting moving equipment; 20 (ii) a down payment or security deposit for a residence; 21 (iii) software necessary to their employment; 22 (iv) computer and other technological equipment necessary to their 23 employment; 24 (v) fees or subscription costs related to internet access; and 25 (vi) fees related to securing a co-working space; 26 (c) promote awareness of the program, including through coordination 27 with relevant trade groups and by integration into the department's 28 economic development marketing campaigns; and 29 (d) adopt measurable goals, performance measures, and an audit strate- 30 gy to assess the utilization and performance of the program. 31 5. No later than one hundred eighty days after the effective date of 32 this section, the department shall submit a report to the governor, the 33 temporary president of the senate, and the speaker of the assembly 34 concerning the implementation of this section, including but not limited 35 to: 36 (a) a description of the procedures adopted pursuant to this section; 37 (b) the promotion and marketing of the program; and 38 (c) any additional recommendations for qualifying expenses or qualify- 39 ing workers that should be eligible under the program, and any recommen- 40 dations for the maximum amount of the grant. 41 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.