This week marked the end of another successful New York State legislative session. Despite the challenges caused by the pandemic, the legislature united under a common goal – helping families and small businesses recover from the effects of COVID-19. I was also personally proud that, since January, eleven bills I authored passed the Assembly, and nine of those also passed the Senate. 

The economic impact of this pandemic has taken a heavy toll on the local mom-and-pop shops that are the backbone of our communities. As chair of the Assembly Small Business Committee, I prioritized helping these businesses get back on their feet. I sponsored and passed legislation to create an easily accessible list of programs and resources available to small businesses on the Empire State Development website (A.983) and another bill that directed ESD to create a public awareness campaign promoting New York-based businesses that manufacture personal protective clothing and equipment (A.4384). Additionally, I helped extend the state disaster emergency loan program, which allows industrial development agencies (IDAs) to provide up to $25,000 loans to small businesses and not-for-profit organizations impacted by COVID-19 (A.7566). It’s critical that we allow this program to continue supporting small businesses, which not only provide meaningful jobs, but are an essential piece of our economy.

As a former small-business owner myself, I’ll always push for legislation that supports these hardworking individuals. To further assist these local entrepreneurs, I introduced and passed legislation that would require the Department of State to compile and publish a list of legal and regulatory changes to business law in plain English for use by small businesses (A.6503); require the Department of State to provide information on small business resources when new businesses file with New York (A.6508a); and extend the advisory panel on employee-owned enterprises for two years (A.7501).

My Assembly colleagues and I also passed significant legislation supporting New Yorkers whose livelihoods have been affected by the pandemic. This includes a bill I sponsored to replace the current system for determining eligibility for partial unemployment insurance benefits, which is based on days worked per week, with a system based on the claimant’s weekly earnings (A.2355a and A.7959). Currently, applicants who accept part-time work are disqualified from collecting their full unemployment insurance benefits, even if that leaves them with less money. After a year of significant hardship, we should not be discouraging New Yorkers from pursuing part-time work that will not only help them make ends meet, but also keep them connected to the workforce.

Earlier this year, I helped pass a state budget that included the $800 million COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program for small businesses and small for-profit independent arts and cultural organizations. The program is now accepting applications – visit nysmallbusinessrecovery.com to learn more.

As Central New York continues its recovery, I’ll continue to support our families and local businesses and fight to get them the resources they need. And remember, my door is always open. If you have questions about this or any other issue, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at 315-452-1115 or StirpeA@nyassembly.gov.