BILL NUMBER: S8233

SPONSOR: SANDERS
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the New York city charter, in relation to opportunities
for special veteran emerging business enterprises

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one of this bill would amend paragraphs 1 and 3 of subdivision i
of section 311 of the New York City Charter ("Charter") to authorize the
New York City Procurement Policy Board ("PPB") to adopt rules providing
for City agencies to make, without a formal competitive process,
procurements of goods, services, and construction not exceeding
$1,500,000 from special veteran emerging business enterprises, in addi-
tion to minority- and women-owned business enterprises, and requiring
the City to include in an annual report to the Governor and the Legisla-
ture information on such procurements from special veteran emerging
business enterprises.

Section two of this bill would amend subdivision i of section 311 of the
Charter by adding a new paragraph 4 to provide that, for purposes of
              

such subdivision i, the term "special veteran emerging business enter-
prise" means a business enterprise that is a certified service-disabled
veteran-owned business enterprise as defined in subdivision 1 of section
40 of the Veterans' Services Law and that is certified as an emerging
business enterprise pursuant to section 1304 of the Charter.

Section three provides that the act would take effect immediately.

 
REASONS FOR SUPPORT:

This bill would enable the City to leverage its significant purchasing
power in order to benefit veteran business owners, including owners of
businesses certified by New York State as Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned
Businesses ("SDVOB"). This is a significant way to honor service-disa-
bled veterans for their service to our country and to help reintegrate
them back into the economy. By authorizing PPB to promulgate rules for
noncompetitive procurements from SDVOBs that are also certified as
emerging business enterprises, the bill would ensure that City support
for veteran-owned businesses is primarily directed to veteran-owned
businesses that are most likely to face challenges in navigating the
City procurement process.

Veteran-owned businesses contribute significantly to the local economy,
and supporting these businesses through the procurement process fosters
economic growth, job creation, and community development. These busi-
nesses create jobs, enhance workforce diversity, and contribute to
stable communities. SDVOBs are concentrated primarily in three indus-
tries: professional services, construction services and maintenance and
repair. Thus, although there are relatively few veteran-owned businesses
as compared to all businesses in the City, such businesses are likely to
operate in industries most relevant to the City's procurement needs. By
providing them support in the procurement process, the City not only
addresses the historical challenges SDVOBs have faced navigating complex
contracting processes, but also promotes :sustainable employment oppor-
tunities and strengthens local neighborhoods. Enactment of this bill
would also align the City with similar national and state efforts to
support veteran businesses, ensuring consistency and maximizing the
impact of SDVOB support.

Accordingly, the Mayor urges the earliest possible favorable consider-
ation of this proposal by the Legislature.