Senate Bill S7610

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S7610

 TITLE OF BILL :

An act to amend the election law, in relation to the purchase or lease
of election equipment, supplies and ballots in the city of New York


 PURPOSE :

To allow the New York City Board of Elections to use its unique
knowledge and expertise to procure equipment, ballots and supplies,
but requiring it to do so in compliance with the City's procurement
rules and regulations.

 SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS :

Section 1: Amends election law section 4-136(3) to grant the New York
City Board of Elections the discretion to procure its equipment and
supplies itself, provided it does so in compliance with the rules and
regulations of the New York City procurement policy board and
applicable state law.

Section 2: The bill is effective immediately.

 JUSTIFICATION :
              

The personnel at the New York City Board of Elections has unique
knowledge, experience and expertise with respect to the equipment and
supplies that are necessary for the conduct of elections, such as
paper ballots and printer paper, which may results in cost savings to
taxpayers. The municipal procurement agency lacks such specialized
knowledge, which is especially important as New York transitions to
new paper ballot based optical scan voting systems in compliance with
the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). Giving the Board the discretion to
procure its own equipment and supplies will ensure what is acquired
meets the standards and quality levels required by the HAVA and state
law. The Board may still, if chooses to do so, use the municipal
procurement agency to acquire such equipment and supplies.

This legislation has been requested by the New York City Board of
Elections in its 2009 and 2010 legislative proposals.

 PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

None.

 FISCAL IMPLICATION :

None to the State. Possible cost savings to the city of New York.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect immediately.