Establishes the New York state business contract database containing names of persons who have contracts with the state for the procurement of goods, services or construction that are not awarded through a competitive bid process; prohibits candidates or political committees from receiving certain contributions.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
2358
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 16, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sen. GOUNARDES -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Elections
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to establishing the New
York state business contract database
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The election law is amended by adding a new section 14-125
2 to read as follows:
3 § 14-125. New York state business contract database. 1. a. As used in
4 this section:
5 (i) the term "business relationships with the state" shall mean any
6 contract for the procurement of goods, services or construction that is
7 entered into or in effect with the state of New York or any agency or
8 entity affiliated thereto within twenty-four months of any primary or
9 general election, excluding village elections, and is not awarded
10 through a competitive bid process pursuant to articles nine and eleven
11 of the state finance law. Business relationships with the state shall
12 not mean any person or entity rejected from participation in such a
13 contract or any person or entity not participating in such a contract
14 within twenty-four months of any primary or general election, excluding
15 village elections.
16 (ii) the term "New York state business contract database" shall mean a
17 database created, operated, maintained and updated by the state comp-
18 troller accessible to the public which contains the names of persons who
19 have business relationships with the state. Such database shall be
20 created, operated, maintained and updated by the state comptroller in a
21 manner so as to ensure its reasonable accuracy and completeness;
22 provided, however, that in no event shall such database be updated less
23 frequently than once a month in any general election year. Such database
24 shall enable members of the public to determine if a given person has a
25 business relationship with the state.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03800-02-5
S. 2358 2
1 (iii) the term "person" shall include any chief executive officer,
2 chief financial officer or chief operating officer of such entity or
3 persons serving in an equivalent capacity, any person employed in a
4 senior managerial capacity regarding such entity, or any person with an
5 interest in such entity which exceeds ten percent of the value of such
6 entity at fair market value.
7 (iv) the term "senior managerial capacity" shall mean a high level
8 supervisory capacity, either by virtue of title or duties, in which
9 substantial discretion and oversight is exercised over the solicitation,
10 letting or administration of business transactions with the state,
11 including contracts, franchises, concession, grants, economic develop-
12 ment agreements and application for land use approvals.
13 b. Any database maintained by the comptroller as of the effective date
14 of this section may serve as the New York state business contract data-
15 base upon certification by the comptroller to the state board of
16 elections that such database fulfills the requirements of this section.
17 Every state agency or authority of the state including any entity affil-
18 iated thereto shall provide the comptroller with such information as is
19 necessary to construct, modify and maintain such database in a timely
20 manner.
21 2. a. Neither a candidate nor a political committee of such candidate
22 shall accept contributions for any election for a public office or for
23 nomination to any such office which in the aggregate exceeds four
24 hundred dollars from a person or entity who has a business relationship
25 with the state.
26 b. If the compliance unit determines that any contribution to a candi-
27 date or to the political committee of such candidate violates the
28 provisions of this section, the compliance unit shall notify such candi-
29 date within twenty days of such determination and such candidate or
30 candidate's political committee shall make a reasonable attempt to
31 return such contribution to the contributor; provided, however, that if
32 such candidate or the political committee of such candidate is unable to
33 return such contribution, such monies shall be paid to the state board
34 of elections and shall be retained in the appropriate accounts as desig-
35 nated by the division of the budget for enforcement activities by the
36 board of elections.
37 c. The state board of elections, in conjunction with the state comp-
38 troller, shall promulgate such rules and regulations as may be deemed
39 necessary for the administration of this section.
40 § 2. This act shall take effect January 1, 2026.
