S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
3267
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
January 28, 2021
___________
Introduced by Sens. COMRIE, PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed,
and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Civil Service and
Pensions
AN ACT to amend the retirement and social security law, the state
finance law, the education law, and the workers' compensation law, in
relation to the use of MWBE investments for New York state funds
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The retirement and social security law is amended by adding
a new section 177-b to read as follows:
§ 177-B. USE OF MWBE ASSET MANAGEMENT AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS. 1.
IN ADDITION TO THE POWERS CONTAINED IN ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW,
INCLUDING THE PROVISIONS OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE OF THE CITY OF NEW
YORK, IT SHALL BE THE GOAL OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS WITH INVESTMENT MAKING
DISCRETION AND DUTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO ELECTED OFFICIALS
SUCH AS THE STATE COMPTROLLER AND THE COMPTROLLER OF THE CITY OF NEW
YORK, APPOINTED OFFICIALS, THE TRUSTEE OR TRUSTEES OF A FUND, AND STATE
AUTHORITY OFFICIALS THAT, TO THE GREATEST EXTENT FEASIBLE WITHIN THE
BOUNDS OF FINANCIAL AND FIDUCIARY PRUDENCE, SUCH PUBLIC OFFICIALS, TRUS-
TEE OR TRUSTEES SHALL ASPIRE TO UTILIZE MWBE ASSET MANAGERS, MWBE FINAN-
CIAL INSTITUTIONS, AND MWBE FINANCIAL OR PROFESSIONAL SERVICE FIRMS FOR
THE INVESTMENT OF NO LESS THAN TWENTY PERCENT OF THE TOTAL DOLLAR AMOUNT
OF SUCH FUND UNDER MANAGEMENT, WHICH SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED
TO, THE FOLLOWING:
(A) INVESTING ASSETS OF SUCH FUND WITH MWBE ASSET MANAGERS;
(B) SUBJECT TO BEST EXECUTION: (I) CONDUCTING TRADES OF PUBLIC EQUITY
SECURITIES WITH MWBE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS; AND (II) CONDUCTING TRADES
OF FIXED-INCOME SECURITIES THROUGH MWBE INSTITUTIONS;
(C) ALLOCATING INVESTMENTS OF ASSETS OF SUCH FUND EITHER THROUGH: (I)
DIRECT INVESTMENTS IN THE EQUITIES AND DEBT SECURITIES OF MWBES; OR (II)
INDIRECTLY THROUGH SPECIAL PROGRAMS INVOLVING MWBE ASSET MANAGERS; OR
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07592-01-1
S. 3267 2
(D) AWARDING CONTRACTS FOR ACCOUNTING, BANKING, FINANCIAL ADVISORY,
INSURANCE, LEGAL, RESEARCH, VALUATION, AND OTHER FINANCIAL AND PROFES-
SIONAL SERVICES TO MWBE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND OTHER MWBE PROFES-
SIONAL SERVICE FIRMS.
2. THE TRUSTEE OR TRUSTEES OF A FUND SHALL BE AUTHORIZED TO ESTABLISH
ADDITIONAL ASPIRATIONAL GOALS TO THE GOALS DIRECTED BY SUBDIVISION ONE
OF THIS SECTION.
3. WITHIN SIXTY DAYS OF THE END OF EACH FISCAL YEAR FOLLOWING THE
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION, THE TRUSTEE OR TRUSTEES OF A FUND SHALL
REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR, LEGISLATURE, AND CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICER OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK ON THE PARTICIPATION OF MWBE ASSET MANAGERS, MWBE
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, AND MWBE PROFESSIONAL SERVICE PROVIDERS IN
INVESTMENT AND BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS WITH OR AS PROVIDERS OF SERVICES
FOR SUCH FUND, INCLUDING A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF SUCH ACTIVITY RELA-
TIVE TO SUCH ACTIVITY WITH ALL ASSET MANAGERS, FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS,
AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICE PROVIDERS FOR THE RELEVANT PERIOD, AND ON THE
PROGRESS AND SUCCESS OF THE EFFORTS UNDERTAKEN DURING SUCH PERIOD TO
ACHIEVE THE ASPIRATIONAL GOALS UNDER SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION TO
THE GREATEST EXTENT FEASIBLE WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF FINANCIAL AND FIDUCI-
ARY PRUDENCE. EACH REPORT SHALL BE SIMULTANEOUSLY PUBLISHED ON THE
WEBSITE OF SUCH FUND FOR NOT LESS THAN SIXTY DAYS FOLLOWING ITS RELEASE
TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE OTHER RECIPIENTS NAMED IN THIS SUBDIVISION.
§ 2. The retirement and social security law is amended by adding a new
section 177-e to read as follows:
§ 177-E. REQUIRED DISCLOSURES FROM CONSULTANTS; MWBES AND BUSINESSES
OWNED BY PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. 1. AS USED IN THIS SECTION, THE TERM
"DISABILITY" SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS DEFINED BY SECTION TWO
HUNDRED TEN OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LAW.
2. NO LATER THAN JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-TWO, AND EACH
JANUARY FIRST THEREAFTER, EACH CONSULTANT RETAINED BY THE TRUSTEE OR
TRUSTEES OF A FUND SHALL DISCLOSE TO THE TRUSTEE OR TRUSTEES OF SUCH
FUND THE TOTAL NUMBER OF SEARCHES FOR INVESTMENT SERVICES MADE BY SUCH
CONSULTANT IN THE PREVIOUS CALENDAR YEAR INCLUDING ALL SUCH SEARCHES:
(A) THAT INCLUDED (I) MWBE ASSET MANAGERS, (II) MWBE FINANCIAL
INSTITUTIONS, (III) MWBE FINANCIAL OR PROFESSIONAL SERVICE FIRMS, OR
(IV) ANY BUSINESS ENTERPRISE AT LEAST FIFTY-ONE PERCENT OWNED BY INDI-
VIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES;
(B) IN WHICH THE CONSULTANT RECOMMENDED FOR SELECTION (I) MWBE ASSET
MANAGERS, (II) MWBE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, (III) MWBE FINANCIAL OR
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE FIRMS, OR (IV) ANY BUSINESS ENTERPRISE AT LEAST
FIFTY-ONE PERCENT OWNED BY INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES; AND
(C) THAT RESULTED IN THE SELECTION OF (I) MWBE ASSET MANAGERS, (II)
MWBE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, (III) MWBE FINANCIAL OR PROFESSIONAL
SERVICE FIRMS, OR (IV) ANY BUSINESS ENTERPRISE AT LEAST FIFTY-ONE
PERCENT OWNED BY INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, INCLUDING THE TOTAL
DOLLAR AMOUNTS INVESTED PURSUANT TO SUCH SELECTION.
3. BEGINNING JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-TWO, NO CONTRACT,
ORAL OR WRITTEN, FOR CONSULTING SERVICES SHALL BE AWARDED BY THE TRUSTEE
OR TRUSTEES OF A FUND WITHOUT FIRST REQUIRING THE CONSULTANT TO MAKE THE
DISCLOSURES REQUIRED UNDER SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION.
4. SUCH DISCLOSURE SHALL BE CONSIDERED BY THE TRUSTEE OR TRUSTEES OF A
FUND, WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF FINANCIAL AND FIDUCIARY PRUDENCE, PRIOR TO
THE AWARDING OF AN ORAL OR WRITTEN CONTRACT FOR CONSULTING SERVICES.
§ 3. The retirement and social security law is amended by adding a new
section 177-f to read as follows:
S. 3267 3
§ 177-F. REQUIRED DISCLOSURES FROM CONSULTANTS; COMPENSATION AND
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY RECEIVED. 1. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE
FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
(A) "COMPENSATION" MEANS ANY MONEY, THING OF VALUE, OR ECONOMIC BENE-
FIT CONFERRED ON, OR RECEIVED BY, A CONSULTANT IN RETURN FOR SERVICES
RENDERED, OR TO BE RENDERED.
(B) "ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY" MEANS ANY PURCHASE, SALE, LEASE, CONTRACT,
OPTION, OR OTHER TRANSACTION OR ARRANGEMENT INVOLVING PROPERTY OR
SERVICES WHEREIN A CONSULTANT MAY GAIN AN ECONOMIC BENEFIT.
2. NO LATER THAN JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-TWO, AND EACH
JANUARY FIRST SUCCEEDING SUCH DATE, A CONSULTANT RETAINED BY THE TRUSTEE
OR TRUSTEES OF A FUND SHALL DISCLOSE TO THE TRUSTEE OR TRUSTEES OF SUCH
FUND ALL COMPENSATION AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY RECEIVED IN THE PRIOR
TWENTY-FOUR MONTHS FROM INVESTMENT ADVISORS RETAINED BY SUCH TRUSTEE OR
TRUSTEES.
3. BEGINNING JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-TWO, A CONSULTANT
SHALL DISCLOSE TO THE TRUSTEE OR TRUSTEES OF A FUND ANY COMPENSATION OR
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY RECEIVED IN THE PRIOR TWENTY-FOUR MONTHS FROM AN
INVESTMENT ADVISOR THAT IS RECOMMENDED FOR SELECTION BY SUCH CONSULTANT.
A CONSULTANT SHALL MAKE THIS DISCLOSURE PRIOR TO THE TRUSTEE OR TRUSTEES
OF A FUND SELECTING AN INVESTMENT ADVISOR FOR APPOINTMENT.
4. BEGINNING JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-TWO, NO CONTRACT, ORAL
OR WRITTEN, FOR CONSULTING SERVICES SHALL BE AWARDED BY A TRUSTEE OR
TRUSTEES OF A FUND WITHOUT FIRST REQUIRING THE CONSULTANT TO MAKE THE
DISCLOSURES REQUIRED BY SUBDIVISION THREE OF THIS SECTION.
§ 4. Section 8 of the state finance law is amended by adding two new
subdivisions 21 and 22 to read as follows:
21. A. WHEN PROCURING OR AUTHORIZING THE PROCUREMENT OF ANY GOODS AND
SERVICES, WHETHER THROUGH A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL OR OTHERWISE, BE
AUTHORIZED TO INCORPORATE PREFERENCES IN THE SCORING PROCESS FOR BUSI-
NESSES THAT:
(1) ARE A MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISE OR A WOMAN-OWNED BUSINESS
ENTERPRISE, AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED BY SECTION TWO HUNDRED TEN OF THE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LAW;
(2) ARE AT LEAST FIFTY-ONE PERCENT OWNED BY A VETERAN OR VETERANS OR A
PERSON OR PERSONS WITH A DISABILITY, AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED BY
SECTION TWO HUNDRED TEN OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LAW; OR
(3) HAVE A RECORD OF SUPPORT FOR INCREASING DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN
BOARD MEMBERSHIP, MANAGEMENT, EMPLOYMENT, PHILANTHROPY, AND SUPPLIER
DIVERSITY, INCLUDING INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS AND INVESTMENT SOURCING.
B. BEGINNING WITH THE FISCAL YEAR TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-TWO, AND AT
LEAST ANNUALLY THEREAFTER, REPORT ON HIS OR HER UTILIZATION OF THE BUSI-
NESSES DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH A OF THIS SUBDIVISION. SUCH REPORT SHALL
BE PUBLISHED ON THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE COMPTROLLER.
22. REVIEW A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION'S FEDERAL COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT
ACT RATING, RECORD, AND CURRENT LEVEL OF FINANCIAL COMMITMENT TO THE
COMMUNITY WHEN DETERMINING THE ELIGIBILITY OF SUCH FINANCIAL INSTITUTION
TO PARTICIPATE IN A BANKING CONTRACT, INVESTMENT CONTRACT, INVESTMENT
ACTIVITY, OR OTHER FINANCIAL PROGRAM UNDER THE CONTROL OR SUPERVISION OF
THE COMPTROLLER.
§ 5. Subdivision 1 of section 423-c of the retirement and social secu-
rity law, as added by chapter 171 of the laws of 2010, is amended to
read as follows:
1. Within the discretion of the state comptroller and in accordance
with and subject to his or her fiduciary duties and obligations as trus-
tee of the common retirement fund and to the members, retirees and bene-
S. 3267 4
ficiaries of such fund and such other investment limitations as may be
prescribed by this chapter, the comptroller is authorized to establish
an MWBE asset management and financial institution strategy [including]
CONSISTENT WITH AND IN ADDITION TO HIS OR HER OBLIGATIONS UNDER SECTION
ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY-SEVEN-B OF THIS CHAPTER, WHICH SHALL INCLUDE reason-
able goals for utilization of MWBE asset managers, MWBE financial insti-
tutions and MWBE financial and professional service firms, which strate-
gy shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following objectives:
(a) investing assets of the common retirement fund with MWBE asset
managers;
(b) subject to best execution: (i) conducting trades of public equity
securities with MWBE financial institutions; and (ii) conducting trades
of fixed-income securities through MWBE financial institutions;
(c) allocating investments of assets of the common retirement fund
either through: (i) direct investments in the equities and debt securi-
ties of MWBEs; or (ii) indirectly through special programs involving
MWBE asset managers; and
(d) awarding contracts for accounting, banking, financial advisory,
insurance, legal, research, valuation and other financial and profes-
sional services to MWBE financial institutions and other MWBE profes-
sional service firms.
§ 6. Subdivision 1 of section 508-a of the education law, as added by
chapter 171 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
1. Within the discretion of the retirement board and in accordance
with and subject to its fiduciary duties and obligations as trustees of
the [teachers] TEACHERS' retirement system and to the members, retirees
and beneficiaries of such system and such other investment limitations
as may be prescribed by this chapter, the retirement board is authorized
to establish [on] AN MWBE asset management and financial institution
strategy pursuant to section four hundred twenty-three-c of the retire-
ment and social security law [including] CONSISTENT WITH AND IN ADDITION
TO HIS OR HER OBLIGATIONS UNDER SECTION ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY-SEVEN-B OF
THE RETIREMENT AND SOCIAL SECURITY LAW, WHICH SHALL INCLUDE reasonable
goals for utilization of MWBE asset managers, MWBE financial insti-
tutions and MWBE financial and professional services firms, as such
terms are defined in section one hundred seventy-six of the retirement
and social security law which strategy shall include, but shall not be
limited to, the following objectives:
a. investing assets of the teachers' retirement system with MWBE asset
managers;
b. subject to best execution, (1) conducting trades of public equity
securities with MWBE financial institutions and (2) conducting trades of
fixed-income securities through MWBE financial institutions;
c. allocating investments of assets of the [teacher's] TEACHERS'
retirement system either through (1) direct investments in the equities
and debt securities of MWBEs or (2) indirectly through special programs
involving MWBE asset managers; and
d. awarding contracts for accounting, banking, financial advisory,
insurance, legal, research, valuation and other financial and profes-
sional services to MWBE financial institutions and other MWBE profes-
sional services firms.
As used in this section, the terms "MWBE asset manager", "MWBE finan-
cial institutions", "MWBE", "[fidiuciary-controlled] FIDUCIARY-CONT-
ROLLED entities", and "best execution" shall have the meanings specified
in section one hundred seventy-six of the retirement and social security
law, and shall be certified in a manner consistent with the provisions
S. 3267 5
of subdivision three of section four hundred twenty-three-c of the
retirement and social security law.
§ 7. Paragraph c of subdivision 2 of section 5 of the state finance
law, as added by chapter 171 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as
follows:
c. Within the discretion of the deferred compensation board and in
accordance with and subject to its fiduciary duty and obligations to the
deferred compensation plan for state employees and to the members and
beneficiaries of such plan and such other investment limitations as may
be prescribed by this chapter, the deferred compensation board is
authorized to establish an MWBE asset management and financial institu-
tion strategy [including] CONSISTENT WITH AND IN ADDITION TO HIS OR HER
OBLIGATIONS UNDER SECTION ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY-SEVEN-B OF THE RETIREMENT
AND SOCIAL SECURITY LAW, WHICH SHALL INCLUDE reasonable goals for utili-
zation of MWBE asset managers, MWBE financial institutions and MWBE
professional service firms, which shall include, but shall not be limit-
ed to, the following objectives:
(i) conducting procurement procedures in a manner that will assure the
inclusion of MWBE asset managers in any request for proposal or search
process for asset management services undertaken in accordance with the
rules and regulations and of the board;
(ii) subject to best execution policies, developing a strategy to (1)
conduct trades of public equity securities with MWBE financial insti-
tutions and (2) conduct trades of fixed-income securities through MWBE
financial institutions;
(iii) conducting procurement procedures in a manner that will assure
the inclusion of MWBE financial institutions and other MWBE professional
service firms in procurements for services that include accounting,
banking, financial advisory, insurance, legal, research, valuation and
other financial and professional services that are undertaken in accord-
ance with the rules and regulations of the board;
(iv) cooperating with other fiduciary controlled entities and state
agencies and offices to identify MWBE asset managers, MWBE financial
institutions and MWBE professional service firms.
As used in this section, the terms "MWBE asset manager", "MWBE finan-
cial institutions", "MWBE", "fiduciary-controlled entities" and "best
execution" shall have the meanings specified in section one hundred
seventy-six of the retirement and social security law.
§ 8. Subdivision 1 of section 87-i of the workers' compensation law,
as added by chapter 171 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as
follows:
1. Within the discretion of the commissioners of the state insurance
fund and in accordance with and subject to their fiduciary duty and
obligations as trustees of the state insurance fund and to the benefici-
aries of such fund and such other investment limitations as may be
prescribed by this chapter, the commissioners are authorized to estab-
lish an MWBE asset management and financial institution strategy
[including] CONSISTENT WITH AND IN ADDITION TO THEIR OBLIGATIONS UNDER
SECTION ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY-SEVEN-B OF THE RETIREMENT AND SOCIAL SECURI-
TY LAW, WHICH SHALL INCLUDE reasonable goals for utilization of MWBE
asset managers, MWBE financial institutions and MWBE financial and
professional service firms, which strategy shall include, but shall not
be limited to, the following objectives:
(a) investing assets of the state insurance fund with MWBE asset
managers;
S. 3267 6
(b) subject to best execution, (1) conducting trades of public equity
securities with MWBE financial institutions; and (2) conducting trades
of fixed-income securities through MWBE financial institutions;
(c) allocating investments of assets of the state insurance fund
either through (1) direct investments in the equities and debt securi-
ties of MWBEs; or (2) indirectly through special programs involving MWBE
asset managers; and
(d) awarding contracts for accounting, banking, financial advisory,
insurance, legal, research, valuation and other financial and profes-
sional services to MWBE financial institutions and other MWBE profes-
sional service firms.
As used in this section, the terms "MWBE asset manager", "MWBE finan-
cial institutions", "MWBE", "fiduciary-controlled entities" and "best
execution" shall have the meanings specified in section one hundred
seventy-six of the retirement and social security law and shall be
certified in a manner consistent with the provisions of subdivision
three of section four hundred twenty-three-c of the retirement and
social security law.
§ 9. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed-
ing the date on which it shall have become a law.