50 NYS regulations rolled back to reduce bureaucracy, Hochul announces

The recent elimination of 50 state regulations would impact more than 1.5 million New Yorkers, from seniors living in assisted living communities to real estate salespeople, barbers, cosmetologists and others who need a state license to do their jobs.

Gov. Kathy Hochul struck down the regulations as part of a new initiative to reduce red tape and bureaucracy for businesses and individuals that must interact with state government.

"We're cutting red tape, making it easier to build housing and infrastructure, access healthcare and cut down on burdensome fees and paperwork — delivering a more efficient government for every New Yorker," she said in announcing the changes this week under her EXPRESS NY initiative (Expediting Processes and Regulations to Enable Streamlined Services).

Launched in February, the initiative comes as Hochul, a Democrat, seeks reelection in November to a second full term and faces criticism from Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman.

In recent weeks, Blakeman, the Nassau County executive, has stepped up his attacks, saying Hochul, along with the Democratic majorities in both houses of the State Legislature, have made New York State unaffordable for small businesses and individuals.

“Kathy Hochul has spent five years punishing small businesses with red tape, regulations, and the highest taxes and utility bills in the nation," Blakeman told Newsday. "As governor, I will end the damaging Hochul policies that have placed New York at the bottom of economic development.”

Government bureaucracy and red tape are a key challenge for small businesses.

Ten percent said regulations were the single most important problem they face, based on a nationwide survey released last week by the advocacy group National Federation of Independent Business.

Locally, companies of all sizes will benefit from fewer regulations from Albany, said Stacey Sikes, acting president and CEO of the Long Island Association business group.

"A more efficient government helps employers invest, grow and create jobs," she said. "We look forward to building on this progress to improve affordability and strengthen Long Island's workforce."

Hochul, who helped her late mother run a flower shop outside Buffalo in the early 1990s, said the regulatory rollbacks announced Monday are the first in a series and would reduce state fees and compliance costs by "tens of millions of dollars" for more than 7.5% of the state's population.

For example, rules have been clarified about when seniors in assisted living may access telehealth services, stating the calls can take place after an initial inpatient assessment by a physician.

In addition, the state has ended a labor law stipulating that restaurants get a special permit to allow women to work after midnight and shortened the time it takes for more than 800,000 licensed professionals to renew their licenses. The requirement that $25,000 in bonding be in place to move some manufactured homes also has been rolled back.

The Long Island Board of Realtors is interested in learning "more details about the reforms related to licensing renewal applications and making prefabricated manufactured homes more affordable," Doreen Spagnuolo, the board's CEO, said Wednesday. "We are hopeful that additional actions can be taken this year."

Among the other regulations that have been eliminated is the $100 application fee to use a commercial weighing or measuring device; and the requirement that nursing home owners contribute 25% equity to construction projects and that time sheets used by truck and bus operators be 5¼-by-7½ inches.

These and other changes were recommended by 22 state agencies. Future rollbacks will come from nearly 4,000 recommendations made by the public between February and April, according to Hochul.

By James T. Madore

james.madore@newsday.comJamesTMadore

James T. Madore writes about Long Island business news including the economy, development, and the relationship between government and business. He previously served as Albany bureau chief.