BILL NUMBER: S8895
SPONSOR: CLEARE
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the economic development law, in relation to the author-
ization of the department of economic development to give a preference
to any tourist promotion agency that is promoting the sport of stickball
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill would require the Department of Economic Development to
promote the game of stickball within New York State. Authorizes the
department of economic development to give a preference to any tourist
promotion agency that is promoting the sport of stickball.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: amends subdivision (a) of section 161 of the economic devel-
opment law, as amended by chapter 86 of the laws of 2022. The department
shall give a preference to any tourist promotion agency that is promot-
ing the sport of cricket or the 'sport of stickball.
 
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE):
Click here to enter text.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The game of stickball has come a long way since the early 1950's. The
game of stickball is a street game that follows some of the rules of
baseball despite using different forms of equipment. A broom stick is
used in lieu of a baseball regulated bat and a lightweight ball in lieu
of a baseball which is comprised of rubber or cork centered wrapped in
yarn and covered with white natural synthetic composite leather. The
baseball is bound together by 108 handwoven stitches through the leath-
er. Stickball became an extremely popular game in New York City, Boston
and Philadelphia. The game picked up popularity when the iconic center-
fielder for the New York Giants Willie Mays, began playing the sport
outside his New York apartment with locals In 1985 The New York Emperors
Stickball League'was formed in the Bronx, consisting of eight teams of
adult stickball. Today, the league competes with players from across the
country and Puerto Rico.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A9556 2022
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become a law; provided, however, that if section 2 of chapter
86 of the laws of 2022 shall not have taken effect on or before such
date then this act shall take effect on the same date and in the same
manner as such chapter of the laws of 2023 takes effect.

Statutes affected:
S8895: 161 economic development law