What's happening
This bill requires state agencies in New York to notify local elected officials before issuing project proposals over $10 million.
Why it matters
Enhances local oversight. By requiring state agencies to notify all relevant local elected officials before launching large projects, the bill ensures communities have a chance to prepare, respond, or raise concerns before significant developments begin.
Promotes transparency and accountability. The advance notification (at least 30 days prior) creates a formal process for state agencies to inform local governments, reducing the risk of surprise or uncoordinated projects that could impact local infrastructure, services, or residents.
Potential to improve project outcomes. Early notification gives local leaders an opportunity to provide input or flag potential issues, which could lead to better alignment between state-led projects and local needs, and possibly smoother project implementation.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Notify Officials on Big Projects
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 14
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to rules
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
9092
IN SENATE
November 16, 2020
Introduced by Sen. COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the state finance law, in relation to requiring state agencies that issue requests for proposals to provide notification to elected officials for requests for proposals for projects in excess of ten million dollars
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 136-d to read as follows:
§ 136-d. Requests for proposals; notification of elected officials. 1. For purposes of this section, the term "state agency" shall mean the office of general services, empire state development, and any other agency or instrumentality of the state authorized to issue requests for proposals.
2. Any state agency that issues a request for proposals for a project for the construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation or improvement of facilities with a total project cost of ten million dollars or more shall provide notification to elected officials of the issuance of such request for proposals as provided in this subdivision. Such notification shall be made to every elected official whose jurisdiction includes, in whole or in part, any territory located within the geographic area of the zip code or codes in which such project is located. Such notification shall be made by such state agency to such elected officials by email and regular mail and shall be made at least thirty days before such request for proposals is issued.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD17576-01-0
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the state finance law, in relation to requiring state agencies that issue requests for proposals to provide notification to elected officials for requests for proposals for projects in excess of ten million dollars
Purpose
This bill would requires state agencies and authorities that issue RFPs in excess of $10 Million Dollars to notify the elected officials who represent the affected zip codes.
Summary of provisions
This bill would requires state agencies and authorities that issue RFPs in excess of $10 Million Dollars to notify the elected officials who represent the affected zip codes.
Justification
Community participation in large developments is critical not only for economic success but for the holistic empowerment of the neighborhood wherein the project lies. While many notification requirements exist in law, such as newspaper advertisements, no actual notification of elected officials who represents the areas of a subject RFP is required by law- this is a gross and unwise oversight, particularly in this day and age when notification can be delivered instantaneously by virtual means.
Legislative history
New Bill.
Fiscal implications
Undetermined.
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.