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Empire State Marine |
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One of the Association's primary objectives is to actively advocate on behalf of the marine trades industry in New York. This involves ongoing bill monitoring, advancing legislative initiatives that would be favorable to the industry, and responding to legislation and regulations that would harm the industry.
The Association retains professional lobbyists, the Capitol Group, LLC, to assist with these activities.
Legislature Rejects Luxury Tax, Apprentices allowed to Bottom Paint
ESMTA and its members get major 2009-10 budget victories
Luxury tax rejected
The Empire State Marine Trades Association (ESMTA) is pleased to report that the Legislature rejected the Governor’s proposed Luxury Tax on boats. This tax would have imposed an additional sales and use tax at the rate of 5% on the retail sale or use within the State of vessels to the extent the sale price exceeds $200,000 and would have been detrimental to our industry.
Thanks to the grassroots effort of the ESMTA, our members and our lobbying firm in Albany, Capitol Group, we were able to stop the luxury tax on boats.
Apprentices allowed to bottom paint
On the apprentice front, we were successful in getting the legislature and the Governor to include in this year’s state budget a provision that allows pesticide apprentices to continue to apply antifouling paints. This was a major victory for ESMTA and the industry. In the 2008 – 09 there was a bill passed with the purpose to extend the authorization for the application of aquatic antifouling paints. This year’s budget language ensures that the marine industry is treated similarly to all the other industries that apply pesticides in New York. Most importantly, it removes the uncertainty that accompanied the need for ESMTA to fight each year for the right to continue to use apprentices to paint boats.
The new budget language allows for marinas to continue to paint boats without any significant changes in oversight and regulation. While the minimum age requirement for an apprentice who applies aquatic antifouling paints was increased from 16 to 17 years old and only general use pesticides are now permitted to be applied by apprentices who wear the appropriate protective clothing and gear, this represents little if any change in the way marinas and boat dealers have been applying paints for years.
Governor Signs Important Bill July 2008
The Empire State Marine Trades Association has just enjoyed another good legislative session as Governor Patterson has signed two of our bills into law. Summaries are listed below, and the complete bill language is attached. As always, if you have any questions, The Capitol Group would be happy to hear from you. Their contact information is listed below.
Chapter345 of 2008 with Approval memo.19
A 11278 Sweeney (Same as S 8536 MARCELLINO)
Environmental Conservation Law
TITLE....Eliminates expiration of provisions authorizing commercial application of aquatic antifouling paints by a commercial pesticide apprentice The purpose of this bill is to extend the existing authorization for the application of aquatic antifouling paints.
Aquatic Antifouling Paints (.pdf)
Chapter 336 with Approval memo15
A 9667-A Magnarelli (MS) Same as S 6668-A DEFRANCISCO
Environmental Conservation Law
Amd SS73-0101, 73-0105 & 73-0107, En Con L; amd S2, Chap 456 of 2007
Relates to the New York state canal flood mitigation task force; adds the chairman of the power authority of the state of New York as a member of such task force; establishes a citizen advisory board; authorizes the task force to solicit the view of persons who reside adjacent to the canal system or major bodies within the Oswego River basin; provides that members shall receive no compensation; authorizes the task force to contract for professional and technical assistance and advice; makes related provisions.
- Section 1 adds language to include the Oswego River Basin in the bodies of water studied by the Canal Flood Mitigation Task Force.
- Section 2 amends section 73-0105 of the environmental conservation law to include the Oswego River Basin in the bodies of water studied by the Canal Flood Mitigation Task Force as well as establish a Citizen Advisory Board for the project.
Canal flood mitigation task force (.pdf)
ESMTA Claims Victory!
Governor Signs Vessel Dealer Agreement Bill
On November 3, 2004, Governor Pataki signed S6610C Skelos/A10358A Tonko, the Vessel Dealer Agreement Bill, into law (Chapter 686 of 2004). The enactment of this important legislation is an enormous legislative victory for the members of the Empire State Marine Trades Association and the marine industry in New York State.
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