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Committee refers relocated worker grant bill to finance; program capped at $5,000 per recipient
Summary
Committee reported S3275 to the finance committee without recommendation. The draft sets a $5,000 per‑recipient reimbursable grant and a fiscal estimate of at least $5 million; funding and program size remain subject to appropriation.
The Senate Standing Committee on Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business voted to refer S3275, a bill to amend Economic Development Law to establish a relocated worker grant program, to the Senate Finance Committee without recommendation.
The draft bill includes a $5,000 cap per recipient and would operate as a reimbursable grant requiring recipients to submit receipts for itemized expenses. The bill text does not set a statewide cap on the number of grants; sponsors and staff told the committee that the program would be subject to appropriation and that Empire State Development (ESD) would tailor program size to available funding. A fiscal estimate discussed in committee put preliminary costs at least $5,000,000.
Committee members questioned which municipalities and population ranges the program would target. Committee discussion referenced a population band of roughly 90,000 to 300,000 to "capture the big five cities of Upstate" as initial targets; committee members said further consideration could expand eligibility to smaller cities if the program proves successful.
A motion to refer the bill was moved and seconded on the record; the committee voted and the bill was referred to the Finance Committee without recommendation.
