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History
- Referred to governmental operations
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 55–6
- Amended on third reading 6378a
- Ordered to third reading cal.9
- Referred to rules
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Relates to purchasing restrictions
In Assembly Committee · Governmental Operations · Sponsor Helene Weinstein
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the state finance law and the retirement and social security law, in relation to purchasing restrictions
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill would prohibit state contracting with, and state investment in, persons and businesses that promote or engage in activities to boycott American allied nations.
Summary of specific provisions
Presently, section 139 - H of the state finance law prohibits the state of New York from participating in an international boycott against American allied nations. Section 6-114 of the Administrative code for the City of New York, provides a similar restriction from New York City.
This bill would extend these provisions, by adding a new section 165-b of the state finance law, and a new section 423-d of the retirement and social security law, to prohibit state contracting with, and state investment in, persons and businesses that promote or engage in activities to boycott American allied nations.
More specifically, this bill would also expressly define the terms "Allied nation", "Boycott" and "Person". Allied nations under this bill (as specified by the United States Department of State) would include all NATO countries, Ireland, Israel, Japan, the Republic of Korea (South Korea), and all signatory countries of the Southeast Asia (1954) and Rio (1947) Treaties.
Justification
Current law recognizes that boycott behavior can seriously harm the state, its interests and its citizens. Such is why the state and City of New York are presently expressly prohibited from engaging in international boycotts.
Recent events have highlighted the need to extend current law to include state contractors and investment. Since the original law was enacted, a new movement has arisen, commonly known as BDS (Boycott, Divest and Sanctions), whereby questionably motivated extremists, engage in, and promote, discriminatory policy against American allied nations. This behavior not only hurts the state, its interests and its citizens, but seeks to advance anti-semitisic, anti-freedom and anti-capitalism principles.
Several other states, including Illinois, New Jersey and South Carolina, have also taken action to address this harmful activity. Like New York, they have extended their laws to prevent their states from becoming unwilling participants in these unseemly activities through the misguided actions of their state contractors and investees. Accordingly, like those other states, this bill would not abridge any element of free speech, but would merely prevent the state of New York from being dragged into a discriminatory agenda directed by those who seek to advance principles that are antithetical to our state, its constitution and its citizens.
Prior legislative history
This is a new bill.
Fiscal implications
None noted.
Effective date
This act would take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.