S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
5490
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
May 2, 2019
___________
Introduced by Sens. COMRIE, ORTT -- read twice and ordered printed, and
when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
AN ACT to amend the state finance law and the executive law, in relation
to the comprehensive diversity in procurement and employment act of
2019
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "comprehen-
sive diversity in procurement and employment act of 2019".
§ 2. Subdivisions 1 and 9 of section 162 of the state finance law, as
added by chapter 83 of the laws of 1995, are amended to read as follows:
1. Purpose. To advance special social and economic goals, selected
providers shall have preferred source status for the purposes of
procurement in accordance with the provisions of this section. Procure-
ment from these providers shall be exempted from the competitive
procurement provisions of section one hundred sixty-three of this arti-
cle and other competitive procurement statutes. Such exemption shall
apply to commodities produced, manufactured or assembled, including
those repackaged to meet the form, function and utility required by
state agencies, PUBLIC AUTHORITIES, COMMISSIONS, PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPO-
RATIONS, POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS, OR MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS in New York
state and, where so designated, services provided by those sources in
accordance with this section.
9. PAYMENTS TO AGENCIES FOR THE BLIND, OTHER SEVERELY DISABLED AND
VETERANS' WORKSHOPS. THE REQUIRED PAYMENT DATE SHALL BE FIFTEEN CALENDAR
DAYS, EXCLUDING LEGAL HOLIDAYS, AFTER RECEIPT OF AN INVOICE FOR THE
AMOUNT OF THE CONTRACT PAYMENT DUE; EXCEPT WHEN:
(A) THE STATE COMPTROLLER IN THE COURSE OF HIS OR HER AUDIT DETERMINES
THAT THERE IS REASONABLE CAUSE TO BELIEVE THAT PAYMENT MAY NOT PROPERLY
BE DUE, IN WHOLE OR IN PART;
(B) IN ACCORDANCE WITH SPECIFIC STATUTORY OR CONTRACTUAL PROVISIONS,
PAYMENT MUST BE PRECEDED BY AN INSPECTION PERIOD OR BY AN AUDIT TO
DETERMINE THE RESOURCES APPLIED OR USED BY A CONTRACTOR IN FULFILLING
THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT;
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01312-01-9
S. 5490 2
(C) THE NECESSARY STATE GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATION REQUIRED TO AUTHORIZE
PAYMENT HAS YET TO BE ENACTED;
(D) THE CASH BALANCE OF THE FUND OR SUB-FUND FROM WHICH THE PAYMENT IS
TO BE MADE IS INSUFFICIENT TO FINANCE THE PAYMENT;
(E) A PROPER INVOICE MUST BE EXAMINED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PRIOR
TO PAYMENT; OR
(F) THE GOODS OR PROPERTY HAVE NOT BEEN DELIVERED OR THE SERVICES HAVE
NOT BEEN RENDERED BY THE CONTRACTOR IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE TERMS OR
CONDITIONS OF THE CONTRACT.
THE REQUIRED PAYMENT DATE SHALL BE FIFTEEN CALENDAR DAYS, EXCLUDING
LEGAL HOLIDAYS, AFTER SUCH CONDITIONS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPHS (A)
THROUGH (F) OF THIS SUBDIVISION HAVE BEEN SATISFIED OR RECTIFIED, AND
PROVIDED FURTHER THAT ALL REASONABLE AND PRACTICABLE EFFORTS SHALL BE
TAKEN TO SATISFY OR RECTIFY SUCH CONDITIONS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
10. The provisions of this section shall supersede inconsistent
provisions of any general, special or local law, or the provisions of
any charter.
§ 3. Subdivisions 2 and 3 of section 179-f of the state finance law,
subdivision 2 as amended by chapter 36 of the laws of 2016, subdivision
3 as amended by chapter 568 of the laws of 2015, are amended, and three
new subdivisions 7, 8 and 9 are added to read as follows:
2. The required payment date shall be thirty calendar days, excluding
legal holidays, provided, however, that for a small business, PREFERRED
SOURCE, SERVICE DISABLED VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS, OR MINORITY AND WOMEN-
OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE the required payment date shall be fifteen
calendar days, excluding legal holidays, absent a showing by the
contracting agency of circumstances beyond its control, provided that
the small business submits its invoice electronically, in conformance
with the policies and procedures of the accounting and financial manage-
ment system of state government and identifies that it is seeking expe-
dited payment as a small business, or in the case of final payments on
highway construction contracts seventy-five calendar days, excluding
legal holidays, after receipt of an invoice for the amount of the
contract payment due; except when:
(a) the state comptroller in the course of his or her audit determines
that there is reasonable cause to believe that payment may not properly
be due, in whole or in part;
(b) in accordance with specific statutory or contractual provisions,
payment must be preceded by an inspection period or by an audit to
determine the resources applied or used by a contractor in fulfilling
the terms of the contract;
(c) the necessary state government appropriation required to authorize
payment has yet to be enacted;
(d) [a proper invoice must be examined by the federal government prior
to payment;
(e)] the goods or property have not been delivered or the services
have not been rendered by the contractor in compliance with the terms or
conditions of the contract;
[(f)] (E) the required payment date is modified in accordance with
subdivision three of this section; or
[(g)] (F) in the case of final payments on highway construction
contracts the commissioner of transportation determines that the
contractor has failed to properly submit the necessary documents and
other submissions prescribed by the contract specifications and require-
ments, by the provisions of subdivision eight of section thirty-eight of
the highway law, and by all other applicable state and federal laws in
S. 5490 3
order to enable the department of transportation to process the final
payment properly and expeditiously.
Any time taken to satisfy or rectify any of the types of conditions
described in paragraphs (a) through [(e)] (D) or [(g)] (F) of this
subdivision shall extend the required payment date by an equal period of
time, provided, however, that for small businesses, PREFERRED SOURCES,
SERVICE DISABLED VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESSES, OR MINORITY AND WOMEN-OWNED
BUSINESS ENTERPRISES, the required payment date shall be fifteen calen-
dar days, excluding legal holidays, after such conditions have been
satisfied or rectified, and provided further that all reasonable and
practicable efforts shall be taken to satisfy or rectify such conditions
as soon as possible.
3. Each state agency shall have fifteen calendar days after receipt of
an invoice by the state agency at its designated payment office, or in
the case of an invoice received from a small business, PREFERRED SOURCE,
SERVICE DISABLED VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS, OR MINORITY AND WOMEN-OWNED
BUSINESS ENTERPRISE, seven calendar days, to notify the contractor of
(a) defects in the delivered goods, property, or services, (b) defects
in the invoice, or (c) suspected improprieties of any kind; and the
existence of such defects or improprieties shall prevent the commence-
ment of the time period specified in subdivision two of this section.
When a state agency fails to notify a contractor of such defects or
suspected improprieties within fifteen calendar days, or seven calendar
days if such contractor is a small business, PREFERRED SOURCE, SERVICE
DISABLED VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS, OR MINORITY AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS
ENTERPRISE, of receiving the invoice, the number of days allowed for
payment of the corrected proper invoice will be reduced by the number of
days between the fifteenth day, or seventh day if payment of such proper
invoice is for a small business, PREFERRED SOURCE, SERVICE DISABLED
VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS, OR MINORITY AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE,
and the day that notification was transmitted to the contractor. If the
state agency, in such situations, fails to provide reasonable grounds
for its contention that a defect or impropriety exists, the required
payment date shall be calculated from the date of receipt of an invoice.
7. AS USED IN THIS SECTION, "PREFERRED SOURCE" SHALL MEAN A QUALIFIED
CHARITABLE NOT-FOR-PROFIT AGENCY FOR THE BLIND APPROVED FOR SUCH
PURPOSES BY THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY
SERVICES, ANY SPECIAL EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM SERVING MENTALLY ILL PERSONS
WHICH IS OPERATED BY FACILITIES WITHIN THE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH AND
IS APPROVED FOR SUCH PURPOSES BY THE COMMISSIONER OF MENTAL HEALTH, A
QUALIFIED CHARITABLE NOT-FOR-PROFIT AGENCY FOR OTHER SEVERELY DISABLED
PERSONS APPROVED FOR SUCH PURPOSES BY THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION OR
INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THIS STATE AND APPROVED FOR SUCH PURPOSES
BY THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION, OR A QUALIFIED CHARITABLE NOT-FOR-PRO-
FIT WORKSHOP FOR VETERANS APPROVED FOR SUCH PURPOSES BY THE COMMISSIONER
OF EDUCATION OR INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THIS STATE AND APPROVED
FOR SUCH PURPOSES BY THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION.
8. AS USED IN THIS SECTION, "CERTIFIED SERVICE DISABLED VETERAN-OWNED
BUSINESS ENTERPRISE" SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS SET FORTH IN ARTICLE
SEVENTEEN-B OF THE EXECUTIVE LAW.
9. AS USED IN THIS SECTION, "MINORITY AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTER-
PRISE" SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS SET FORTH IN ARTICLE FIFTEEN-A OF
THE EXECUTIVE LAW.
§ 4. Section 4-a of the executive law, as added by chapter 175 of the
laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
S. 5490 4
§ 4-a. Chief diversity officer. A chief diversity officer for the
state shall be appointed by the governor and shall receive a salary to
be fixed by the governor within the amount appropriated therefor. The
chief diversity officer's responsibilities shall include the following:
1. Advise and assist the governor in formulating policies relating to
workforce diversity INCLUDING THE USE OF PREFERRED SOURCES, SERVICE
DISABLED VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES and minority and [women's]
WOMEN-OWNED business enterprises;
2. Work with the director of the division of minority and women's
business development AND THE DIVISION SERVICE DISABLED VETERAN'S BUSI-
NESS DEVELOPMENT to prepare an annual plan for ensuring full compliance
with [article fifteen-a] ARTICLES FIFTEEN-A AND SEVENTEEN-B of [the
executive law] THIS CHAPTER AND ARTICLE ELEVEN OF THE STATE FINANCE LAW
by state agencies and the use of diversity practices AND PREFERRED
SOURCES by such agencies AND PUBLIC AUTHORITIES;
3. WORK WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY
SERVICES TO PREPARE AN ANNUAL PLAN FOR ENSURING FULL COMPLIANCE WITH
SECTION ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-TWO OF THE STATE FINANCE LAW BY STATE AGEN-
CIES;
4. WORK WITH THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF GENERAL SERVICES AND THE
DIVISION OF SERVICE DISABLED VETERANS' BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TO PREPARE
AN ANNUAL PLAN FOR ENSURING FULL COMPLIANCE WITH THE SERVICE-DISABLED
VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS ACT BY STATE AGENCIES;
5. Advise the governor and the agencies regarding any measures neces-
sary to ensure full compliance with [article fifteen-a] ARTICLES
FIFTEEN-A AND SEVENTEEN-B of this chapter and ARTICLE ELEVEN OF THE
STATE FINANCE LAW IN CONNECTION WITH THE use of diversity AND SERVICE
DISABLED VETERANS practices AND PREFERRED SOURCE PLANS BY SUCH AGENCIES
AND by state public authorities;
[4.] 6. Serve as a member of the state procurement council established
under section one hundred sixty-one of the state finance law;
[5.] 7. Serve as the governor's liaison with organizations represent-
ing minority and women-owned business enterprises, PREFERRED SOURCES AND
SERVICE DISABLED VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES and other organiza-
tions related to diversity in the state workforce and in state contract-
ing;
[6.] 8. Serve as the governor's liaison to the small business advisory
council for issues related to the creation of a diverse workforce and
state procurement practices relating to minority and women-owned busi-
ness enterprises, PREFERRED SOURCES AND SERVICE DISABLED VETERAN-OWNED
BUSINESS ENTERPRISES;
[7.] 9. Review and consult with the director of minority and women's
business development [regarding policies], THE DIRECTOR OF THE DIVISION
OF SERVICE DISABLED VETERANS' BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND THE COMMISSIONER
OF THE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES relating to minority and
women-owned business [enterprise] ENTERPRISES, SERVICE DISABLED VETER-
AN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES AND PREFERRED SOURCES contract specialists
at state agencies; and
[8.] 10. Engage in other actions assigned to him or her by the gover-
nor relating to diversity in hiring or promotion of the state workforce
and in encouraging diversity practices and compliance with [article
fifteen-a] ARTICLES FIFTEEN-A AND SEVENTEEN-B of this chapter AND ARTI-
CLE ELEVEN OF THE STATE FINANCE LAW in procurement.
§ 5. This act shall take effect immediately.