BUILDING & REAL ESTATE COMMITTEE

Support the development of a convention center on Long Island.

Support legislation to change the assessment classification system in Nassau County that results in highly inflated taxes and puts Nassau County at a competitive disadvantage.

Support a $25 million increase to the Affordable Home Ownership Program.

Work closely with New York State to facilitate development of the four large state owned properties at Pilgrim State, Long Island Development Center, Kings Park and Central Islip.

Support incentive programs that reward companies for remaining on Long Island and expand the types of companies which are eligible for those programs, especially companies which renovate existing buildings.

Support designation and zoning of parcels for commercial use to accommodate projected business development requirements.

Support state and county efforts to expand the recycling of building materials.

Support the development of world class facilities in downtown areas such as the Long Island Aquarium in Bay Shore.

EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Primary and Secondary Education

Support legislation to provide incentives to consolidation of administrative programs by school districts.

Support legislation to ensure that Long Island receives its fair share of state aid to education adjusted for regional differences to make state funding more equitable to the cost of education.

Support legislation to utilize available state funding to require all school districts to perform an administrative audit to determine what functions can be consolidated.

Provide state incentives to create business-educational coalitions to reduce administrative costs, provide basic skills and improve curriculum offering.

Support legislation to provide tax incentives for businesses to provide job skills training.

Amend the Taylor Law to allow for regional negotiations for teachers and administrators.

Support professional licensing standards for teachers with requisite changes in disciplinary procedures.

Support initiatives to reduce the cost of "special education" including restrictions on who can be placed upon the selection committee and a financial incentive to districts to "mainstream" students to the fullest extent practicable, excluding 4201 schools and their students.

Encourage the New York State Board of Regents to include as a requirement that every student must pass a Regents Comprehensive Examination in a foreign language.

Higher Education

Support an increase in the state's commitment to the independent sector of higher education through a restoration of statutory levels of Bundy funding and through increases in maximum award levels and middle income ceilings of the Tuition Assistance Program.

Support increases in financial aid formula for students at CUNY and SUNY so that access to public sector institutions remains a central tenet of state higher education policy and support legislation to provide additional flexibility in the governance structure for State University campuses.

Support the development of new incentives and financial aid policies to encourage students from Long Island to remain on Long Island for higher education.

Foster an internship program which would support the pairing of LIA members with student interns from the colleges and universities.

Support a proposal to allow for school districts to be given the option of extending the school year into the months of July/August.

Support an increase in the full time equivalent funding level for community colleges.

Support additional state incentives for career development and training for teachers.

Support incentives for new methods in reading.

Support tuition savings programs for public and private colleges and universities.

ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY COMMITTEE

Federal Legislation

Flow Control legislation should assure that business pays only its fair share of waste disposal costs.

Support federal legislation to allow ash residue to continue to be classified as a non hazardous waste and be disposed of or recycled, so that all municipalities would be required to enforce the same disposal rules.

Oppose legislation that would constrain the ability of New York State to export solid waste for disposal.

Support federal legislation and administrative action that maintains the traditional role of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in shore protection and beach nourishment projects.

State Legislation

Support a phase-out of the gross receipts tax on electric, gas and water utility sales or apply the tax on a physical-unit-of-use basis rather than a dollar use basis.

Support the phase-out of the petroleum business tax.

Support state legislation to assure that business pays only its fair share of local waste disposal costs.

Support the development of a competitive market for the generation of electricity.

Support legislation which would recycle previously used, often degraded and abandoned commercial and industrial sites, and allow cleaning standards to be based on the use of property.

Monitor pesticide notification legislation to ensure it does not place an onerous burden on the business and is in keeping with integrated pest management techniques.

Support regulations for home application of pesticides to promote more responsible usage.

Support legislation to provide a motor fuel tax exemption to commercial fishing vessels.

Support legislation or programs to test and regulate emissions from trucks.

Require NYS DEC to provide the opportunity for an administrative hearing before it suspends the review of pending permit applications because of alleged violations at a regulated facility.

Oppose broad based citizen suits for alleged violation of the Environmental Conservation Law and permits issued pursuant to the ECL.

Support alternative fuels as an available option for public and private fleet operations.

Support a credit for diesel tax for commercial fishing.

Support the use of civil fines, as opposed to criminal fines, whenever possible for environmental conservation violations.

Support legislation to exempt photovoltaic and other alternative energy generation purchases from sales tax.

Support legislation to allow immediate clean-up of hazardous waste dumped illegally on an innocent landowner's property.

Oppose the imposition of fees for monitoring and other procedures that are not clearly defined by NYS DEC administrative guidelines as they pertain to permit applications.

Support cost-effective energy conservation programs carried out pursuant to the requirements of regulatory agencies determined to be cost effective.

Support additional air quality monitoring on Long Island.

Support legislation to ensure that Long Island receives its fair share of proceeds from the Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act. Continue to monitor appropriations and expenditures under the Bond Act.

Support state participation in the Army Corps of Engineers shore protection and beach nourishment programs.

Support the use of immediate arbitration to facilitate the ability to settle environmental disputes.

Support legislation and regulations encouraging the development of environmentally safe, cost-effective landfill space for disposal of solid waste within New York State.

Support legislation requiring periodic independent review of the Department of Environmental Conservation's law enforcement policies and procedures.

Monitor rate structure issues and intervene as appropriate in LILCO rate cases as they relate to the impact on business ratepayers.

Support the taxation of utility property at the same rates and manner as other commercial and industrial property.

Support state legislation to establish a three year statute of limitations to commence an action to recover a fine or penalty.

Support legislation to credit LILCO for the assessment costs related to the Shoreham plant for the capital expenditures associated with the low level radioactive waste management facilities.

Support legislation to provide permanent funding to SUNY Stony Brook's Waste Reduction and Management Institute at a level of $350,000 per year.

LIA Administrative Action and Public Support Only

Support the proposed Stony Brook Environmental Compliance Project for Business and Industry which would provide for a one-stop environmental compliance program for commercial and industrial property owners and operators.

Develop and implement an Island-wide comprehensive environmental public education program.

Establish a "Long Island Environmental Assessment Council," a panel of scientists to identify and evaluate environmental problems, costs associated with those problems, and all available solutions.

Support marketing and zoning incentives for commercial recycling programs and encourage use of recycled materials by industry and government.

Support implementation of the Pine Barrens Statute to ensure that economic and environmental benefits can be accomplished.

Support a study to determine the viability of creating a Long Island Solid Waste Authority to relieve towns of the responsibility of solid waste management. Such a study to be prepared by the Waste Reduction & Management Institute of the University at Stony Brook.

Support creation of state/local task forces in areas of large state parcels to determine best use of the land, including economic development purposes.

Support re-zoning of parcels for corporate headquarters to alleviate the need for zoning changes.

Support development and siting of co-generation and independent power producers to help lower the cost of power supply and foster economic development and enhanced environmental protection on Long Island (provided additional costs are not incurred by any class of ratepayers).

HEALTH COMMITTEE

Federal Legislation

Propose responsible anti-trust reform so as to increase efficiency in coordination of efforts through existing health planning structures as well as through the development of direct provider networks.

State Legislation

Seek continued reform of the regulatory environment for all aspects of the health care industry and promote responsible regulation including consolidation of regulatory and inspection procedures, simplification of existing regulation and record keeping and elimination of regulations that add costs but do not otherwise materially benefit health care consumers.

Support regulatory reform as it relates to licensure and scope of practice issues for the "Allied Health Professions."

Allow insurers to offer premium incentives to small businesses (comparable to those for larger businesses) for documented participation in certified health improvement activities. Providers of the aforementioned activities would assume documentation responsibilities and be subject to periodic audits to ensure integrity of documentation. Standards for certified health promotion activities would be determined based on existing professional standards and collective community input.

Advocate malpractice and tort reform.

Advocate legislative, tax and insurance reforms that encourage and/or offer incentives for participation in the range of recognized health promotion activities.

Support legislation to protect the confidentiality of records that may be used by health insurance and managed care companies.

Develop legislative proposals to facilitate the development of subacute care as a level of care in nursing facility, hospital and other settings.

Support proposals that facilitate the development of and provide regulatory flexibility for continuing care retirement communities and assisted living programs.

Support legislation to allow for the creation of Integrated Delivery Systems and Provider Service Networks to operate in New York State.

LIA Administrative Action and Public Support

Continue to support and develop OSHA, EPA and health promotion and disease prevention programs, including the development of educational materials and seminars so as to increase business community awareness and compliance.

Promote education about advanced directives such as living wills and health care proxies.

Improve the physical and mental health of the Long Island work force and dependents to develop a competitive advantage for the Long Island economy. At the same time, reduce the need for preventable medical utilization and hospitalizations through health promotion and prevention initiatives that are accessible across all categories of socioeconomic, age and health status.

Develop guidelines to assist businesses in improving the physical and mental health status of their work force. Increase the number of businesses facilitating access for employees, dependents and retirees to health promotion and preventative services. Such services would include programs addressing issues of physical activity, nutrition, mental health, substance abuse, tobacco use, prenatal and maternal care, family planning, violent and abusive behaviors, communicable diseases, speech, hearing vision and oral care.

Promote the concept of school health education (physical, mental and emotional), and promote its integration into the K-12 curriculum.

Educate the business community on environmental and occupational health regulations, and advocate reforms where appropriate.

Develop health promotion and education materials/publications for the business community.

Support the enhanced use of technology in Medicaid eligibility, claims processing and payment.

Encourage employers to offer Point of Service options to their employees.

Promote the efficient delivery of needed services at the appropriate level, including but not limited to: Support and expand the provision of long-term and continuing care services through managed care initiatives and provide opportunities to create continuums of care spanning primary, preventive, acute, long-term care, and home and community-based services. Promote the development of community-based services, such as home care, hospice, adult day care, appropriate housing, adult home, assisted living, and continuing care retirement communities through streamlining regulatory requirements, providing adequate financing, and eliminating redundant review and oversight.

Encourage appropriate in-state nursing facility placements for individuals with special care needs. Consolidate state agency functions regarding long-term care in one existing state agency to reduce bureaucracy, eliminate duplicate functions and funding streams, provide a unified state policy and parameters for long-term and continuing care.

NOT-FOR-PROFIT COMMITTEE

Change the New York State Labor Law that refuses to recognize workers in the performing arts as independent contractors, even those who otherwise meet the IRS definitions of the term.

Support legislation to require notification on second-hand clothing collection bins if clothing will be sold for a profit.

Support efforts to enable businesses to provide affordable child care including provisions such as compensation and salary enhancement. Require child care workers to have certain credentials to ensure quality of care.

Support efforts to ensure that businesses can still itemize their deductions. Oppose any policy or legislation to change this.

LIA Administrative and Public Support

Disabilities: Investigate the possibility of creating a job bank for people with disabilities, and link them to other not-for-profit organizations.

Transportation: Work with county transportation departments to ensure integration of programs across county lines for the disabled, such as Nassau County's Able Ride.

Postal: Investigate changing the recent ruling that states if a not-for- profit mailing has any piece of advertising in it, it is not eligible to use its bulk rate privilege.

Media Literacy: Develop a state-wide requirement in school curriculum to teach children the nature of broadcast/cable as it relates to democracy. It will help teach children how to distinguish between what is authentic, verifiable information, and what is not.

RETAIL COMMITTEE

Research the impact of catalog sales on Long Island. Research the effect on sales tax revenue if catalog sales were charged sales tax.

Support amendments to local laws to provide an exemption from item pricing where an establishment has successfully demonstrated that the price disclosed on the shelf is the same as the price charged at the checkout. Require adequate test scanners be available.

Support efforts to reform the unemployment compensation system.

Support efforts to reform the workers= compensation system.

SMALL BUSINESS COUNCIL

Support legislation to reform the unemployment insurance system. Address the issues of positive account balances, last employer, voluntary resignations and independent contractors. Support all efforts to reform unemployment insurance in order to make it more small business friendly.

Support federal legislation to define independent contractor for federal tax purposes.

Support legislation that would provide a "Bidder's Bill of Rights" to protect companies who bid on government contracts, including protection for minority businesses who are chosen as contractors and then not used.

Support legislation to permit the cost of health care to be deducted as a business expense for sole proprietors and partnerships. Support incentive programs for businesses who offer health care, especially those businesses that help individuals from welfare to work-fare.

Support efforts to enable small businesses to offer child care through flexible hours, on-site care, salary enhancement, or other measures so that they may have continued access to qualified employees. Support incentives and tax credits to make child care more accessible and affordable for employees.

Support efforts to continue to reform workers= compensation to make it more equitable to small businesses.

Support legislation that would allow for additional working capital for small businesses including a linked deposit program for Nassau County.

TAX POLICY COMMITTEE

State Legislation Support the elimination of the state's Gross Receipts Tax on utility companies.

Support amendments to the Unemployment Insurance laws to eliminate seasonal employees and to change the procedures regarding "last employer". Address the issue of an employee who voluntarily resigns receiving these unemployment benefits.

Support legislation to require all special district votes be held on the same day as school district votes.

Support the phase-out or elimination of the "temporary" MTA surcharge. Promote the use of the current MTA surplus to reduce the surcharge to provide relief for Long Islanders. In relation to the Nassau County assessment and taxation system: a) Support reassessment of residential (Class 1) property to make the system more equitable for homeowners and reduce refunds on successful appeals; b) Remove the limitation of 6% per year and 20% over five years on residential assessment increases, for all cases of county-wide re-evaluation, which practically prevents residential reassessment; c) Support commercial property reassessment; D)Change the formula in Article 18 of the Real Property Tax Law for adjusting property class shares to provide for reduction of effective tax rates of commercial properties in Nassau County, which are 2 to 3 times the effective tax rates of other suburban areas and are 1 2 times the effective tax rates of New York City.

Support repeal of New York City commuter tax or an increase in the exemption to $75,000.

Support legislation to amend Sec.2010(5) of the Tax Law to require the Tax Department to accept all determinations as collateral estoppel against the same taxpayer.

Support state legislation that would mandate reassessment every three years for both residential and commercial property in both counties.

Clarify the definition of income for eligibility under the STAR program to include only the adjusted gross income levels.

Support legislation to implement the 2+2 tax collection system in Suffolk County.

Support expanding current legislation regarding initiative and referendum in order to make it possible in both Suffolk and Nassau counties to vote on school consolidation. Petitions would still need to be circulated before such a vote could occur.

Support the elimination of the Wicks Law in relation to competitive bidding practices.

Support legislation or policy that would require school districts to periodically undergo management audits or operational review and to issue periodic reports analyzing expenditure patterns in order to receive state aid.

Oppose enactment of any proposal that would replace or supplement the real property tax with the income tax as a funding source for public education.

Support efforts to require assessors to testify in real property court proceedings.

Support efforts to extend the filing time for real property tax assessment review proceedings and to require notification of assessments to all property owners each year.

Support efforts to make small claims assessment review proceedings available to small businesses.

Amend the state tax law to enhance the enforcement of the taxes on motor fuel and diesel motor fuel, and to extend the seizure powers of the tax enforcing authorities to cover unlicensed suppliers, distributors and retailers.

Support efforts to reform the process of sales tax collection.

Support efforts to obtain an exemption from sales tax for security services for capital improvements.

Support tax incentives for employers who offer health insurance and training opportunities.

Support legislation that will make it easier for first-time buyers on Long Island to afford to purchase a home.

Oppose federal "flat tax" proposals which would be very detrimental to Long Island including a national retail sales tax.

Support an amendment to the Triboro Law statute to prohibit the payment of "step" salary increases after the expiration of a contract.

Support efforts to ensure a timely New York State budget with a provision that enacts the Governor's budget if the Legislature has not passed one by the April 1st deadline.

TOURISM COMMITTEE

Support increased funding for the "I Love NY" Promotion campaign.

Support redistribution of Tourism Matching Funds Program to more closely reflect the amount of visitors in each state region.

Support implementation of the state Visitor Information Center legislation and a change in federal legislation to allow direct access from the LIE.

Support a unified attractions sign program for tourism promotion efforts by NYS DOT and local governments.

Support a continuous sign program for visitor directions after exiting the highway.

Support Tourism Industry Funding Act to create a dedicated fund for tourism promotion.

Support construction and/or redevelopment of world class tourism facilities including the Nassau Coliseum, Cradle of Aviation, Suffolk County baseball stadium , LIMSAT and others. Support construction of additional municipal golf courses on Long Island.

Support the development of a foreign language sequence to include travel and tourism courses.

Oppose legislation which mandates a flexible school calendar.

TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

Support the completion of the construction of the fourth lane of the Long Island Expressway from Exit 64 to Exit 30 as a high occupancy vehicle lane and other high priority projects.

Support amendments to federal law for direct access to visitor centers and tourist information signs along Long Island highways. Encourage development of visitor centers along Long Island highways to promote public education, tourism and improved motorist support services.

With the implementation of the recent rail freight privatization program, support efforts to increase rail freight operations on Long Island by endorsing the plan of NYS DOT to increase competitive access to the region.

Support additional capital plans for both the passenger and freight operations of the Long Island Rail Road and additional parking facilities at appropriate LIRR stations which must be open to all commuters.

Support additional ferry services to and from Long Island including a new route from Shoreham to New Haven.

Support the construction of the Port Authority "transit option" to NYC airports which must include a connection to the LIRR at Jamaica and seamless transportation amenities. Support East Side Access for LIRR to Grand Central Station.

Support the expansion of Metrocard to allow commuters to ride all MTA operations by paying one fare and support the use of E-Z Pass at toll facilities.

Support the continuation of expanded operations at both MacArthur and Republic Airports but ensure that Republic remains a general aviation airport.

Support the utilization of the National Aviation and Transportation Center as a transportation resource for Long Island, including transportation planning and simulation techniques.

Support legislation to protect employers from liability and workers' compensation claims in the implementation of employee commute assistance programs.

Support high occupancy vehicle lanes and other transportation demand management techniques on Long Island.

Support the development of a master plan for inter-modal transportation mechanisms for Long Island as presented in Vision 20/20.

Support and encourage the development of improved bicycle routes and storage facilities as an alternative to single occupancy vehicles for increased commuting and recreational use.

Support of user-friendly and better technology of ticket machines at LIRR stations. (The present machines cannot handle giving change over + $9, they give only coins, they're often broken and difficult to use, etc.)

Encourage development of a LI Regional Master Plan for transportation signage on limited access highways and arterials to assist motorists, educate drivers, improve safety, increase aesthetics and promote tourism, including signs for speed ("maintain speed up grade"), courtesy ("keep to the right except to pass"), safety ("no trucks in left lane"), cross-streets, other information (e.g., park-and-ride lots), major community facilities and directions/destinations.

Support solutions to provide Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and information signage for improved transportation system management to reduce congestion and assist incident management.

Develop satellite transportation centers (Lake Success, Brentwood, Ronkonkoma, etc.) with convenient interconnect services to JFK and LaGuardia Airports.

Develop public service announcements to increase awareness of transportation issues and initiatives through newspapers, media coverage and education programs.

Provide for long-term design, planting and maintenance along roadways to improve aesthetics, reduce noise and increase safety. Expand the "Adopt- a-Highway" program to encourage private support for the clean-up of litter along roadways.

Support federal and state funding for high speed rail facilities and urge the building of such a manufacturing facility on Long Island.

Support alternative fuels as an available option for public and private fleet operations.