What's happening
This bill requires state and local authorities to report contract details and potential legislative conflicts of interest to the comptroller before awarding contracts.
Why it matters
Increases transparency by requiring detailed reporting. State and local authorities must disclose the contractor’s name, contract amount, purpose, and legislative sponsor to the comptroller, making it easier for the public and oversight bodies to track how public funds are awarded.
Targets potential conflicts of interest. Contractors must submit a sworn statement detailing any financial interests held by legislators or their relatives, aiming to prevent lawmakers from benefiting personally from contracts they helped fund.
Delays contract activation until compliance. Contracts cannot take effect until all required information and sworn statements are officially reported, adding a layer of accountability and potentially reducing rushed or improper awards.
Expands definition of “relative”. The law defines relatives broadly—covering anyone in the legislator’s household or direct descendants (and their spouses)—closing loopholes that might otherwise allow undisclosed familial conflicts of interest.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Disclose Contract Financial Interests
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
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.
Disclose Legislator Contract Interests
In Assembly Committee · Corporations, Authorities And Commissions · Sponsor Sandy Galef
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2721
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 29, 2019
Introduced by Sens. KRUEGER, SERRANO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to contract reports
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The public authorities law is amended by adding a new section 2882 to read as follows:
§ 2882. Reporting of contracts to the comptroller. Prior to awarding a contract requiring the payment of appropriated monies to any person, firm, partnership or corporation, every state authority, local authority, interstate or international authority or affiliate or subsidiary thereof shall report to the comptroller: (i) the name of the contractor; (ii) the amount of the contract; (iii) the purpose of the contract; (iv) the name of the member of the legislature who sponsored the appropriation of such monies or the allocation of a portion of such monies for such contract; and (v) a sworn statement signed under oath by the executive director or principal officer of the contractor, of any financial interest such member of the legislature, or a relative of such member of the legislature has in the person, firm, partnership or corporation to whom or to which such contract is awarded submitted on a form as determined by the comptroller. No such contract shall be effective until such report is filed with the comptroller. For the purposes of this section, "relative" of any individual shall mean any person living in the same household as the individual or any person who is a direct descendant of that individual's grandparents or the spouse of such descendant.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06562-01-9
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 authorities law, in relation to contract reports
Purpose or general idea of bill
To make the awarding of state monies more transparent.
Summary of specific provisions
This bill adds a new § 2882 to the Public Authorities Law which requires a report be made to the comptroller prior to the awarding of a contract to any person, firm, partnership or corporation, state authority, local authority, interstate or international authority, or any affiliate or subsidiary of them. The report shall include:
*Name of contractor. *Amount of contract. *Purpose of contract. *Name of member of legislature who sponsored the appropriation or the allocation of a portion of such appropriation. *Sworn statement by executive director or principal officer of contrac- tor of any financial interest the sponsoring member or a relative might have in the awarding of the contract.
Relative is defined as any person living in the same household or any person who is a direct descendant of the member's grandparents or the spouse of such descendant.
Justification
This bill will add transparency to the process of awarding grants from State funds. It does not change the current rules regarding eligibility for discretionary or capital grants. It does require disclosure to the comptroller's office by the organization receiving the funds of whether the sponsoring member or a relative might have a financial interest in the recipient.
Legislative history
2017-18 S3357/A 10062 Paulin - died in committee 2015-16 S2668/A3397 Brennan - died in committee 2013-14 83445/A5385 Brennan - died in committee 2011-12 S392/A3331 Brennan Notice of committee consideration requested - defeated in committee 2009-10 S4785/A5411 Brennan passed Senate - died in Assembly 2007-08 S5722/A8141 Brennan - died in committee
Fiscal implications to state and local government
None.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.