BILL NUMBER: S3187
SPONSOR: PERSAUD
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the economic development law, the New York state urban
development corporation act and the executive law, in relation to small
business crime prevention services
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill would improve New York's business climate by providing for a
program of small business crime prevention services and assistance.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 adds a new § 139 to the Economic Development Law establishing
a small business crime prevention services program within the Division
for Small Business. This includes information on financial assistance
and risk reduction services that can he offered to small businesses.
Section 2 amends chapter 298 of the laws of 2013 by addin,, a new para-
graph (o).
Section 3 amends section 837 of the executive law by adding subdivision
3, which provides advice and assistance to the division for small busi-
ness.
Section 4 provides the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The costs of crime are substantial and are not only paid by the victims.
Crimes against small businesses in New York's communities deprive the
State of millions of dollars in sales and income tax revenues, and can
cause small businesses to shut down, leading to a spiral of neighbor-
hood. decay. According to the New York Police Department, retail thefts
were about. 16$ higher in 2020 compared to 2019. Not only have crime
rates and the financial burden on retails stores increased, but employ-
ees increasingly feel unsafe given the higher rates of crime on small
businesses.
Unlike larger businesses, small businesses often lack the resources to
organize and implement an effective crime prevention strategy on their
own. There are effective measures, including Business Watch and Fleet
Watch programs (usually run jointly by Chambers of Commerce and police
agencies), lighting and other security enhancements, and training
programs that can be effective in reducing crime in New York's main
streets and other small commercial areas. However, often such initi-
atives require effective promotion and, in some cases, seed money. This
bill, which is modeled in part on successful similar programs in Austra-
lia, would provide the organizational and financial resources needed to
deliver cost-effective crime prevention programs to New York's small
businesses, to the benefit of the wider community.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023/2024 S1477 REFERRED TO COMMERCE,ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SMALL
BUSINESS
2021/2022 S9027 REFERRED TO COMMERCE,ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SMALL
BUSINESS
2019/2020: S7123 REFERRED TO COMMERCE,ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SMALL
BUSINESS
2017/2018: S8091 REFERRED TO COMMERCE,ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SMALL
BUSINESS
2013/2014: A.6931
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Any additional resources needed for the Division for Small Business are
expected to be offset by the economic benefits of crime prevention,
including the prevention of direct economic losses to the State through
lower sales tax and income tax collections and the higher costs criminal
activities create for law enforcement and courts. The funding of small
business crime prevention assistance would be through the Empire State
economic development fund (EDF), a multipurpose fund providing grants,
loans and other aid to meet various communities' needs. The funding
level provided for EDF' purposes varies from year to year and is deter-
mined as part of the budget process. Local governments would stand to
benefit directly, as recipients of small business crime prevention
assistance, as well as through the increased tax revenues resulting from
more effective crime prevention.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
First day of April after having become a law, with Provisions.

Statutes affected:
S3187: 837 executive law