What's happening
This bill amends the public authorities law to clarify and expand the state comptroller’s authority over reviewing and approving certain public authority contracts over $1 million.
Why it matters
Expanding Oversight. By clarifying that the comptroller can require review of any public authority contract over $1 million—regardless of procurement method—the bill broadens oversight, potentially catching problematic contracts that previously bypassed scrutiny due to competitive bidding exceptions.
Increased Accountability. The bill gives the comptroller explicit authority to set rules and standards for which large contracts must be reviewed, making it harder for public authorities to avoid independent oversight and potentially reducing the risk of waste, fraud, or abuse.
Greater Transparency. Public authorities will now face clearer and more consistent requirements for submitting high-value contracts for approval, leading to more transparent use of public funds and making it easier for the public and policymakers to track major financial decisions.
Potential for Delays. While increased oversight can improve integrity, it may also result in longer approval times for some large contracts, which could slow down important public projects unless processes are carefully managed.
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Who cares
Headline styles
State Reviews Big Contracts
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
714
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL, HYNDMAN, SEAWRIGHT -- read once and referred to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to the approval of certain public authorities contracts by the state comptroller
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 2879-a of the public authorities law, as added by chapter 506 of the laws of 2009, is amended to read as follows:
1. Except as set forth in subdivision three of this section, where the comptroller determines pursuant to [his or her] such comptroller's authority to supervise the accounts of public corporations, that contracts or categories of contracts in excess of one million dollars [(a)] to be awarded by a state authority [to a single source, a sole source or pursuant to any other method of procurement that is not competitive, or (b) which are to be paid in whole or in part from monies appropriated by the state to a state authority for such contractual expenditure], require supervision in the form of prior review and approval of such contracts, and the comptroller so notifies such authority of such determination, then any such contract entered into subsequent to such notification shall be submitted to the comptroller for [his or her] such comptroller's approval and shall not be a valid enforceable contract unless it shall first have been approved by the comptroller. Such notification shall identify the process for submission, the categories of contracts at issue and the time period for which such submission is to take place. The comptroller shall promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out [his or her] such comptroller's responsibilities under this section, including but not limited to the standards for determining which contracts will be
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02628-01-5
subject to [his or her] such comptroller's review and for approving such contracts.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth 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.