Directs state university trustees to promulgate and enforce a sweat-free code of conduct for the licensing and purchase of apparel at colleges of state university

BILL NUMBER:S2248

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law, in relation to establishing a sweat-free code of conduct for apparel licensed by the colleges and universities of the state university; and to amend the labor law, in relation to the special task force for the apparel industry

Purpose

The Ethical Business Conduct in Higher Education Act. Directs state university trustees to promulgate and enforce a sweat-free code of conduct for the licensing and purchase of apparel at colleges of state university.

Summary of provisions

Section 1. The name of the act is The Ethical Business Conduct in Higher Education Act.

Section 2 provides for legislative intent.

Section 3 amends the education law by adding section 362 to require SUNY to issue rules prohibiting its campuses from affiliating with sweatshops, provides a time line for all campuses to comply, and requires campuses to include "null and void" clauses if their contractors are found to use sweatshops.

On or before January 31st, 2016 the chancellor must submit to the state university trustees a code of conduct to accomplish above. On or before September 1st, 2016, the chancellor must submit to the legislature and the governor a preliminary report of which institutions no longer affiliate with the sweatshops for apparel and which institutions have joined the Workers Rights Consortium and the Designated Supplier Program.

Justification

Presently 60 of the 64 state university campuses have failed to take the example or lead of the universities at Albany and Buffalo, which have adopted the Designated Supplier Program, and the colleges at New Paltz and Cortland, all four of which have affiliated with the Worker Rights Consortium to ensure sweat-free manufacturing.

For almost two decades labor, religious, and student groups have made some progress towards putting an end to sweatshop labor practices. However, it is time for the SUNY Central Administration to issue rules for all of its campuses which will bring an end to its relationships with sweatshops.

Rutgers University, the University of California and Washington State University are some of the state university systems around the nation that have aggressively moved to stop their campuses from signing contracts to produce campus apparel with manufacturers which use sweatshops.

Legislative history

2009-10: S.5609/A.7376 (P.Rivera) - Referred to Higher Education

Fiscal implications

Not applicable.

Effective date

This bill will take effect immediately.