Authorizes the commissioner of economic development together with the commissioner of agriculture and markets to devise a program to promote and distribute statewide and regional guides to farms, farmers markets and other agriculturally significant tourist destinations.

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S1030-2013 Actions

• Jan 9, 2013: REFERRED TO COMMERCE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SMALL BUSINESS

S1030-2013 Memo

BILL NUMBER:S1030

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the economic development law, in relation to authorizing the
commissioner of economic development
to develop certain regulations regarding the state travel
guide

PURPOSE:
To promote New York farms and farmers' markets as part of the "I Love
New York" tourism campaign:

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Adds a paragraph (c) to subdivision 15 of section 100 of the Economic
Development Law.
This law would authorize the Commissioner of Economic Development in
cooperation with the Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets to
develop a program to promote and distribute statewide and regional
guides to farms, farmers markets and other agriculturally significant
tourist destinations. These guides could be those already developed
by Agriculture and Markets as part of travel guides created by the
contractor.

JUSTIFICATION:
Farmers markets, farm stands, farm tours, hay rides, harvest
festivals and other agricultural enterprises are crucial to the
economic survival of farming in many areas of the State. The economic
benefits from agri-tourism and retail food sales are also important
to the communities where these activities take place, including urban
neighborhoods surrounding a successful farmers' market. Promotional
efforts are vital but often difficult for farm families and
not-for-profit sponsors of farmers' markets.

The tourists who discover these business usually become loyal
customers and actively seek out similar destinations. However, many
potential visitors to different regions of the State are not aware
of all our agricultural treasures. The Department of Agriculture and
Markets produces a guide to New York farm-fresh food but most tourist
contact the Department of Economic Developments "I Love New York"
program for information. This bill would ensure that when people call
for travel information they are provided with or informed of the
availability of agricultural guides for the regions of the state
where they live or are planning to visit.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
1997-1998: S.2846B/A.4833B
1999-2000: S.5294/A.5950
2001-2002: S.536/A.746
2003-2004: S.193/A.676
2005-2006: A.3718
2007-2008: S.8129 Serrano - Referred to Commerce, Economic
           Development and Small Business
2008-2009: S.1329 Serrano - Passed the Legislature, Vetoed
           by the Governor
2011-2012: S.2700


FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Increased requests for guides may require increased State printing
and mailing costs which could also occur under existing law.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become a law.

S1030-2013 Text

                      S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
  ________________________________________________________________________

                                    1030

                         2013-2014 Regular Sessions

                              I N  SENATE

                                 (PREFILED)

                               January 9, 2013
                                 ___________

  Introduced  by  Sens.  SERRANO,  ADAMS, BONACIC, DIAZ, MAZIARZ, PERKINS,
    VALESKY -- read twice and ordered printed,  and  when  printed  to  be
    committed to the Committee on Commerce, Economic Development and Small
    Business

  AN ACT to amend the economic development law, in relation to authorizing
    the  commissioner  of  economic  development  to develop certain regu-
    lations regarding the state travel guide

    THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
  BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


    Section  1.  Paragraph  (b)  of  subdivision  15 of section 100 of the
  economic development law, as amended by chapter 446 of the laws of 1990,
  is amended and a new paragraph (c) is added to read as follows:

    (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  dead-
  lines  for  selection  of  a competent contractor and publication of the
  state travel guide. The regulations shall, at a minimum, limit advertis-
  ing 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

   EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                        [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                             LBD00553-01-3

 S. 1030                             2

  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[.];
    (C)  IN  COOPERATION WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS,
  THE COMMISSIONER SHALL DEVELOP  A  PROGRAM  TO  PROMOTE  AND  DISTRIBUTE
  STATEWIDE  AND REGIONAL GUIDES TO FARMS, FARMERS MARKETS AND OTHER AGRI-
  CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT TOURIST DESTINATIONS. THESE GUIDES MAY BE  DEVEL-
  OPED BY THE DEPARTMENT IN COOPERATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
  AND MARKETS OR THE GUIDES MAY BE DEVELOPED EXCLUSIVELY BY THE DEPARTMENT
  OF AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS.
    S 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
  it shall have become a law.