What's happening
This bill allows Westchester County to require public works contractors to hire residents from high-unemployment or high-poverty communities.
Why it matters
Directs significant portions of public contract labor costs to residents of disadvantaged areas. , meaning local workers from communities with higher unemployment and poverty rates will have priority access to jobs on Westchester County public projects.
Creates a tiered system for local hiring requirements. , scaling from 10% to 30% of labor costs depending on how much a community’s poverty and unemployment rates exceed county averages, potentially channeling more resources to the most distressed neighborhoods.
Allows for targeted support of individuals facing barriers to employment. , such as formerly incarcerated persons enrolled in re-entry programs, thus integrating criminal justice reform aims with public employment opportunities.
Permits the county to require apprenticeship and training programs for local residents. , which could help build long-term job skills and career pathways within high-need communities, addressing root causes of unemployment and poverty.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Local Hires for Contracts
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Print number 3489b
- Amend and recommit to local government
- Print number 3489a
- Amend and recommit to local government
- Referred to local government
- Referred to local government
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.
Hire Locals for County Contracts
In Assembly Committee · Local Governments · Sponsor J. Gary Pretlow
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3489--B
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 23, 2017
Introduced by Sen. BAILEY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Local Government -- recommitted to the Committee on Local Government in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the general municipal law, in relation to allowing Westchester county 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 in Westchester county; targeted communities. 1. For the purposes of this section, a "targeted community" shall mean any city, town, or village or census tract within a municipality, 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, the county of Westchester 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 county may require that:
a. at least ten percent of the labor costs of construction contracts awarded by the county be spent to hire persons residing in the targeted communities within that county;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08618-05-8
S. 3489--B 2
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
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 county, in its sole discretion, may use the most recent United States census data in determining the unemployment rate and poverty rate of a targeted community or combined countywide unemployment rate and poverty rate instead of data published by the New York state bureau of labor statistics. 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. The county may require bidders to hire and retain persons who were previously incarcerated and who are participating in a re-entry program in such county.
6. The county may require the lowest responsible bidder to establish apprenticeship and training programs for workers residing within the targeted communities in certain construction trades specified in a resolution or local law passed by such county.
§ 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.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the general municipal law, in relation to allowing West- chester county to require bidders for public works, construction or purchase contracts to hire and retain persons residing in certain targeted communities
Purpose or general idea
This legislation will allow municipalities in Westchester County with disproportionately high rates of unemployment to obtain construction jobs.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1. Amends the General Municipal Law section 103-h regarding contracts for public works in Westchester county. Establishes a defi- nition for "targeted community," which includes any city, town, village or census tract. Gives Westchester county the ability to require the lowest responsible bidder for all public works, construction and purchase contracts to hire and retain persons residing certain targeted communities having the highest rates of unemployment within such county. Includes provisions establishing requirements the county may impose regarding labor costs of construction contracts. Provides that combined average unemployment and poverty rates shall be annually computed based on statistics from the New York State Bureau of Labor statistics; the unemployment and poverty rates of a targeted community could be calcu- lated using the most recent United States census data. It also provides for a formula to calculate the combined average. Establishes that the combined average unemployment and poverty rates shall be annually put forth either by a resolution or local law of the county. Gives the coun- ty the authority to require the lowest responsible bidder to establish apprenticeship and training programs for workers residing within the targeted communities.
Section 2. Establishes the effective date.
Justification
It is necessary to ensure that the unemployed members of the communities in Westchester county receive equitable employment opportunities. By allowing the county to require certain bidders for public works, construction or purchase contracts to hire and retain people residing in certain targeted communities, based on unemployment and poverty rates, residents of targeted communities have increased possibility of securing employment within their community.
Prior legislative history
2011-12: S.6402/A.8475-A (Pretlow) - Referred to Local Government 2013-14: S.3383/A.584 (Pretlow) - Referred to Local Government 2015-16: S.2028/A.2793 (Pretlow) - Referred to Local Government 2017-18: S.3489A/A.3887A (Pretlow) - Referred to Local Government
Fiscal implications
None to the State.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.