S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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4671
2011-2012 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
April 14, 2011
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Introduced by Sen. FLANAGAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
AN ACT to amend the state finance law, in relation to the disqualifica-
tion of tax delinquent bidders and certain exceptions
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section
169 to read as follows:
S 169. DISQUALIFICATION OF TAX DELINQUENT BIDDERS. 1. SUBSEQUENT TO
RECEIVING BIDS AND PRIOR TO ENTERING INTO A CONTRACT WITH A BIDDER,
WHERE THAT BIDDER HAS OR WILL CONDUCT BUSINESS IN NEW YORK STATE, OR
PRIOR TO FORMALLY APPROVING A CONTRACT BETWEEN A BIDDER AND A SUBCON-
TRACTOR, EACH AGENCY, AS DEFINED IN SECTION NINETY-TWO OF THE PUBLIC
OFFICERS LAW, SHALL REVIEW THE LIST OF WARRANTS TRANSMITTED TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF STATE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE PURSUANT
TO SECTION SIX OF THE TAX LAW TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE BIDDER OR SUBCON-
TRACTOR HAS AN UNSATISFIED TAX WARRANT FILED AGAINST HIM OR HER WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF STATE. NO AGENCY, AS DEFINED IN SECTION NINETY-TWO OF THE
PUBLIC OFFICERS LAW, SHALL BE PERMITTED TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH,
OR FORMALLY APPROVE A SUBCONTRACT TO, A BIDDER OR SUBCONTRACTOR WHO HAS
AN UNSATISFIED TAX WARRANT FILED AGAINST HIM OR HER PURSUANT TO SECTION
SIX OF THE TAX LAW.
2. NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION,
A CONTRACT MAY BE ENTERED INTO WITH A BIDDER WHO HAS AN OUTSTANDING TAX
WARRANT IF:
A. THE AGENCY DETERMINES THAT AN EMERGENCY CONDITION EXISTS INVOLVING
DANGER TO THE LIFE, HEALTH, OR SAFETY OF ANY PERSON OR THE SAFETY OF ANY
STRUCTURE THAT REQUIRES IMMEDIATE ACTION AND THE NATURE OF THE WORK IS
SUCH THAT IT WOULD BE IMPRACTICAL AND AGAINST THE PUBLIC INTEREST TO
HAVE PUBLIC LETTING OF THE CONTRACT, OR THE ITEM TO BE PURCHASED IS
ESSENTIAL TO THE EFFICIENT OPERATION OR THE ADEQUATE PROVISION OF
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01013-01-1
S. 4671 2
SERVICE AND AS A CONSEQUENCE OF AN EMERGENCY CONDITION SUCH PURCHASE
CANNOT AWAIT COMPETITIVE BIDDING; OR
B. THE ITEM TO BE PURCHASED IS AVAILABLE ONLY FROM A SINGLE SOURCE AND
THAT SOURCE IS THE BIDDER WITH THE OUTSTANDING TAX WARRANT; OR
C. THE BIDDER HAS DISCLOSED THE EXISTENCE OF THE TAX WARRANT PRIOR TO
OFFERING HIS OR HER BID, HAS PROVIDED THE AGENCY WITH PROOF SUFFICIENT
TO THE COMPTROLLER THAT THE BIDDER IS, IN GOOD FAITH, ATTEMPTING TO
SATISFY THE TAX WARRANT, AND/OR THE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE
HAS DECLARED THE OUTSTANDING TAX WARRANT TO BE DE MINIMIS IN NATURE AND
THUS DOES NOT WARRANT THE DISQUALIFICATION OF THE BIDDER.
3. FOR THE PURPOSES OF PARAGRAPH A OF SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION,
THE TERM "EMERGENCY CONDITION" SHALL MEAN A CONDITION CAUSED BY A
NATURAL DISASTER, FIRE, OR OTHER CASUALTY, OR ANOTHER UNANTICIPATED,
SUDDEN, AND UNEXPECTED OCCURRENCE THAT REQUIRES THE IMMEDIATE ATTENTION
AND ACTION OF THE AGENCY.
4. PRIOR TO AWARDING A CONTRACT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF PARAGRAPH A OF
SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION, THE AGENCY SHALL NOTIFY THE COMPTROLLER
OF ITS INTENT TO AWARD THE CONTRACT AND SHALL SPECIFY THE REASONS USED
BY THE AGENCY TO MAKE THE REQUIRED DETERMINATIONS. THE COMPTROLLER
SHALL REVIEW THE DETERMINATIONS OF THE AGENCY AND IF, IN THE DETERMI-
NATION OF THE COMPTROLLER, THE REASONS SPECIFIED BY THE AGENCY DO NOT
SATISFY THE REQUIREMENTS OF PARAGRAPH A OF SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS
SECTION, THE COMPTROLLER SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DEEM THE AWARDED
CONTRACT NULL AND VOID AND UNENFORCEABLE AND TO REQUIRE THE AGENCY TO
USE THE COMPETITIVE BIDDING PROCESS FOR THE CONTRACT.
5. FOR PURPOSES OF PARAGRAPH C OF SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION, THE
COMPTROLLER SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE A DETERMINATION OF WHETHER
PROOF SUFFICIENT EXISTS TO SATISFY THE TAX WARRANT.
S 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
it shall have become a law; provided that all state agencies, as defined
in paragraph (g) of subdivision 1 of section 73 of the public officers
law, are authorized to promulgate any and all rules and regulations and
take any other measures necessary to implement this act on its effective
date on or before such date.