What's happening
This bill allows state entities to require public works contractors to hire residents from high-unemployment, high-poverty communities.
Why it matters
Targets persistent unemployment and poverty. by directing public works investments to residents of communities with significantly higher unemployment and poverty rates than the county average, aiming to address economic inequality at the local level.
Creates tiered hiring requirements. for contractors based on the severity of local need: contractors must allocate a minimum percentage (10%, 20%, or 30%) of labor costs to hiring residents from targeted communities, with higher requirements in areas of greatest disadvantage.
Provides flexibility and enforcement mechanisms. for state entities, allowing them to set hiring thresholds, require apprenticeship and training programs, and use annually-updated local data to identify which communities qualify and to adjust requirements over time.
May influence local job markets and contractor practices. by making public contracts a tool for workforce development and economic opportunity, potentially increasing skills training and employment among historically marginalized populations.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Hire Locals for State Projects
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to local governments
- Referred to local governments
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4023
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 30, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. PRETLOW -- read once and referred to the Committee on Local Governments
AN ACT to amend the general municipal law, in relation to allowing state entities to require bidders for public works, construction or purchase contracts to hire and retain persons residing in certain targeted communities
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The general municipal law is amended by adding a new section 103-h to read as follows:
§ 103-h. Contracts for public works; targeted communities. 1. For the purposes of this section, a "targeted community" shall mean any city, town, or village within a county where the combined average of the unemployment rate and the poverty rate of such community is greater than the combined countywide average of unemployment and poverty rate by ten percent.
2. Notwithstanding any provision of law, any state entity may require the lowest responsible bidder for all public works, construction or purchase contracts to hire and retain persons residing in certain targeted communities having the highest rates of unemployment within such county.
3. The state entity may require that:
a. at least ten percent of the labor costs of construction contracts awarded by the state entity be spent to hire persons residing in the targeted communities within the county in which the majority of the work will be completed;
b. at least twenty percent of the labor costs of construction contracts be spent to hire persons residing in the targeted communities, if the combined average unemployment and poverty rate for a targeted community is greater than twenty percent of the combined countywide average of unemployment rate and the poverty rate; and
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08696-01-7
A. 4023 2
c. at least thirty percent of the labor costs of construction contracts cost be spent to hire persons residing in the targeted communities if the combined average community unemployment and poverty rate is greater than thirty percent of the combined countywide average of unemployment rate and the poverty rate.
4. The combined average unemployment rate and poverty rate shall be computed annually based on statistics published by the New York state bureau of labor statistics or similar government agencies for the period ending December thirty-first of the year preceding the year in which the contract is awarded. The combined average shall be the sum of the preceding year end unemployment rate plus the preceding year end poverty rate divided by two.
5. The combined average unemployment rate and poverty rate shall be established annually by resolution or local law of the county.
6. The state entity may require the lowest responsible bidder to establish apprenticeship and training programs for workers residing within the targeted communities in certain construction trades.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.