Provides that public contracts shall be open for use by municipalities not originally party to such agreements unless such agreements expressly state otherwise

BILL NUMBER:S1652

Title of bill

An act to amend the general municipal law, in relation to the letting of municipal contracts

Purpose or general idea of bill

This bill will allow municipalities to piggyback onto public contracts for goods and services unless such contract states otherwise.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1. Provides that public contracts shall be open for use by municipalities not originally party to such agreements unless such agreements expressly state otherwise

Section 2. Effective Date

Justification

Current General Municipal Law Section 103 (16) authorizes any county, municipality, school district or other municipal entity to purchase goods or contract services through the use of other competitively bid cooperative contracts or purchase agreements by other municipal entities. In order for municipalities to take advantage of this, the contract needs to include a specific provision which would allow the contract to be "open." Contracts are not open to cooperative purchasing unless explicitly written into the original contract. This bill will automatically require all municipal procurement contracts to be open to other municipalities to "piggyback" onto.

This legislation will ease the ability of municipalities to make joint purchases amongst various taxing jurisdictions. Towns seeking services or goods will be able to ask other neighboring municipal entities to join them in purchasing a "bulk" amount. Cooperative purchasing of products and services will ultimately lower the cost per item or service.

Prior legislative history

None.

Fiscal implications

To be determined.

Effective date

Immediately