What's happening
This bill requires public disclosure of the identities and financial terms of agency agreements or settlements with employees or private parties.
Why it matters
Increases government transparency. by making the names of all parties and the financial terms in agency agreements and settlements publicly accessible, helping citizens understand how public funds are used in resolving disputes or claims.
Limits the use of confidentiality clauses. in settlements involving public agencies, meaning individuals and organizations can no longer rely on privacy to conceal the circumstances or amounts of public money involved.
Could deter misuse of taxpayer dollars. by subjecting settlements and agreements to public scrutiny, potentially reducing costly or inappropriate payouts, and holding government actors more accountable.
May have implications for privacy and negotiation. present and former employees, or private parties, will no longer have their identities protected in these agreements, which could impact willingness to settle or come forward with claims.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Reveal Public Settlement Details
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to investigations and government operations
- Referred to investigations and government operations
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.
Reveal Secret Settlement Deals
In Assembly Committee · Governmental Operations · Sponsor Fred Thiele
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
S. 4005 A. 4172
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
SENATE - ASSEMBLY
February 1, 2017
IN SENATE -- Introduced by Sen. LAVALLE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Investigations and Government Operations
IN ASSEMBLY -- Introduced by M. of A. THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the public officers law, in relation to the disclosure of confidentiality agreements between an agency and employees or contractors which authorize the disbursement of public monies by the agency
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 89 of the public officers law is amended by adding a new subdivision 2-b to read as follows:
2-b. The disclosure of the identities of the parties to an agreement or settlement between an agency and a present or former employee of an agency or an agreement or settlement between an agency and a private person or entity, as well as the financial terms of any such agreement or settlement, shall be available to the public and shall not be deemed an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05572-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public officers law, in relation to the disclosure of confidentiality agreements between an agency and employees or contractors which authorize the disbursement of public monies by the agency
Purpose
Relates to the disclosure of confidentiality agreements authorizing the disbursement of public money.
Summary of provisions
Amends Section 89 of the Public Officers Law by adding a new subdivision 2-b relating to the access to records
Justification
The general provisions of Section 89 of the Public Officers Law relating to access to records currently exempts disclosure which constitutes an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy under specific conditions. This legislation clarifies that the disclosure of the identities of the parties to an agreement or settlement between an agency and a present or former employee of an agency or an agreement or settlement between an agency and a private person or entity, as well as the financial terms of any such agreement or settlement, shall be available to the public and shall not be deemed an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.
Legislative history
2017: New Legislation
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.