Government Affairs Council
Update
May 20, 2005
Assemblyman Brodsky to Appear at May 23 GAC Meeting
Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, Chairman of the Assembly Corporations, Authorities & Commissions Committee, will be the guest speaker at the May 23rd meeting of the Government Affairs Council. This is a re-scheduled appearance from a previous GAC meeting that was cancelled. The meeting runs from 10:00 a.m. to noon and is being held at The Business Council's offices at 152 Washington Avenue. Directions
Senate Hearing on Identity Theft / Breach of Computer Databases
The Senate Committees on Investigations & Government Operations, Chaired by Senator Nick Spano, and the Committee on Consumer Protection, Chaired by Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr. are holding a hearing on identity theft and breach of security databases. The hearing is Tuesday, May 24 at 1:00 p.m. in Hearing Room A of the Legislative Office Building in Albany. All individuals wishing to testify must notify John Turoski, Committee Director for Senator Spano. The phone number is (518)455-2231. The Business Council will be submitting testimony.
Health Information Technology Educational Conference on June 9
The Coalition
for Health
Information
Technology
in New York
State (The
Business
Council is
a member),
will be presenting
a free educational
conference
on June 9,
2005 at the
Empire State
Plaza. Registration
will be open
from 8:30
a.m. - 9:00
a.m., and
the Conference
will run
from 9:00
a.m. - 1:00
p.m. The
Coalition
for Health
Information
Technology
in New York
State is
comprised
of members
of the health
care community
including
health plans,
hospitals,
physicians,
business,
representatives
from state
government
and others
concerned
with improving
health care
quality and
affordability.
One of the highlight's of the agenda, from the business community standpoint, is the presentation from Francois de Brantes of General Electric. Francois is a national leader in this field and his topic is "Connecting Communities Health Care Information Exchange Interoperability".
Empire Zone Seminar
Staff Contact: Ken Pokalsky
The Empire State Development Corporation and NYS Department of Tax and Finance are holding a public seminar focusing on this year's Empire Zone program amendments. The session will be held at the Albany Marriott Hotel on Wednesday, June 15 from 10am to 1:30pm. There is a $45 registration fee.
Vehicle Emission Standards
Staff Contact: Ken Pokalsky
Following up on an initiative included in Governor Pataki’s 2004 State of the State address, the Department of Environment Conservation has proposed regulations that would implement California’s carbon dioxide vehicle emission standards. The proposal appeared in this week’s State Register. Copies of the proposed regulation and the regulatory impact statement are available on the DEC’s web site at: www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dar/air_regs.html
This proposal would impose new CO2 emission standards on new passenger cars, light duty trucks (up to 8,500 lbs. GVW), and medium duty passenger vehicles (up to 10,000 lb. GVW) sold or registered in New York, beginning with the 2009 model year. As is the case with the California rule, manufacturers can earn compliance credits through the sale of alternative fuel vehicles. DEC projects a short term cost impact of between $277 and $370 per vehicle, with initial costs expected to be offset by lower operating expenses (in effect, vehicles have to be made more fuel efficient in order to reduce CO2 emissions.)
New York first opted into the California vehicle emissions program in 1992, and has made several rule changes since then to keep pace with changes in the California car program. Under the Clean Air Act, states basically can elect to meet federal vehicle emission standards, or the California standards, for which that state has received a waiver from the EPA.
The rule is subject to a 45-day public comment period, and DEC will be holding four regional public hearings on the proposal.
State "Labor Neutrality" Law Overturned
Staff Contact: Tom Minnick
A federal appeals court in Syracuse has declared that New York State's two year old controversial, union-friendly "labor neutrality" law is pre-empted by the federal National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).
Click here for our news article.
Click here for the court decision.
Additional Taxation & Finance Topics Added to Tax Conference Program
Added to the Conference On State
Taxation program, to be held
at the Gideon Putnam, Saratoga
Springs on June 1 - 3, are:
- 21st Century Tax Administration - Collaborative Efforts and Fast-Track Guidance - This discussion will set out the different levels of administrative guidance that are considered by the Department. T&F panelists will walk us through the policy consideration process, highlighting the benefits of taxpayer and practitioner involvement at all levels. Examples of current issues that will be discussed include: Withholding Audit Guidelines, Regulations and Publications in the Pipeline, and Non-Resident Income and the Convenience Rule.
- The Lighter Side of Audit Sessions - Top Five Comments Heard During Tax Audits - Department panelists will come from both the Field and Desk Income & Franchise Tax Audit Bureaus, Sales and Use Tax Audit Bureau, and the Transaction and Transfer Tax Bureau.
- Department of Taxation Overview - Who Does What Where - The Department of Taxation & Finance has had a considerable number of retirements in the past several years. This discussion will outline the new managers and directors that you will be dealing with in the future.
