Section 241 - Advisory council on economic information and research1. The commissioner is authorized and directed to appoint the advisory council on economic information and research, to advise and assist him in an ongoing review of the state's economic information and research needs.2. The advisory council on economic information and research shall advise the commissioner and make recommendations concerning information available on the economy of the state, its regions and localities, and the information and research needs of state and local government, business planners, academic researchers, and others concerned with economic development in the state. Specifically, the council shall review and submit recommendations on: (a) currently available data concerning the economy of New York state and the demand for such data from both public and private users at the state and local levels with respect to their scope, quality, detail, timeliness and accessibility;(b) state policies and procedures concerning the collection, maintenance and dissemination of economic data and economic development data and the assignment of responsibility for such tasks;(c) the cooperation and collaboration among different agencies and offices of state government in the collection, analysis and dissemination of economic data and economic information including, but not limited to, the nature of consultation about the information to be collected and the extent to which standardized data and compatible information systems have been and should be introduced;(d) the relationship between the state's economic information collection and maintenance and other public and private information sources within the state, including especially the capacity of the state to incorporate data and information provided by other systems;(e) the capabilities of the state's existing economic information system in light of the objectives of economic development, changing federal policies and support for economic information, and changes in the state's economic structure;(f) the design, location and maintenance of the statewide economic information system established pursuant to this article, including the content and organization of the data, the means for incorporating data from and providing access to academic, municipal and private sector data producers within the state, and the means for providing access to data users within the state;(g) critical areas of unmet economic research needs and how such needs can be met, including the need for an economic early-warning system and of timely and accurate forecasts of occupational supply and demand, analysis of sub-state regional economies, and analysis of important industrial sectors in the state;(h) the need for a state clearinghouse for economic research to maintain and disseminate research on the economy of the state, its regions and localities and on economic development programs; and(i) state policy on charges for economic data and information provided to the public.3.(a) The advisory council shall submit an annual report on its findings and recommendations on or before October first, nineteen hundred eighty-eight and on or before each October first thereafter to the governor, the president pro tem and minority leader of the senate, and the speaker and minority leader of the assembly.(b)(i) The department shall submit to the director of the budget, the chairperson of the senate finance committee and the chairperson of the assembly ways and means committee an evaluation of this program prepared by an entity independent of the department. Such evaluation shall be submitted on or before September first, two thousand five and on or before September first every four years thereafter.(ii) Between evaluation due dates, the department shall maintain the necessary records and data required to satisfy such evaluation requirements and to satisfy information requests received from the director of the budget, the chairperson of the senate finance committee and the chairperson of the assembly ways and means committee between such evaluation due dates.4. The advisory council shall consist of the commissioner, who shall serve as chair, the commissioner of labor, and the commissioner of education, or their designees, one representative designated by the temporary president of the senate and one representative designated by the speaker of the assembly and eight members appointed by the commissioner, who shall have an expertise in economic analysis, planning or data collection, maintenance and distribution, one representing the state university of New York, one representing the city university of New York, one representing independent universities, one representing the state association of regional planning and development organizations, one representative of local government interests, one representative of business and industry interests, one representative of labor interests, and one representative of private economic research and forecasting entities. The members shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be allowed actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.5. The council shall coordinate its activities with research being undertaken by the New York state occupational information coordinating committee and the legislative commission on skills development and career education.6. The commissioner and the commissioner of labor may each appoint professional staff to assist the council with its duties.7. The commissioner may request and shall receive from any public authority, public benefit corporation, department, division, board, bureau, commission or agency of the state or any political subdivision thereof, such assistance as will enable the council to properly carry out its duties hereunder.N.Y. Economic Development Law § 241