A 8880: Regulates the use of cooperative purchasing agreements for public works projects by political subdivisions of the state by implementing certain advertisement requirements.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 8880 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN ASSEMBLY June 9, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. JONES -- read once and referred to the Committee on Local Governments AN ACT to amend the general municipal law, in relation to regulating the use of cooperative purchasing agreements for public works projects by political subdivisions of the state The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Legislative findings and purpose. The Legislature finds and 2 declares that subdivision 16 of section 103 of the general municipal law 3 was enacted to enhance procurement efficiency by permitting New York 4 political subdivisions to use cooperative purchasing agreements, includ- 5 ing piggybacking competitively awarded contracts from other jurisdic- 6 tions. However, the increasing use of national cooperative contracts and 7 those from other states with divergent procurement standards has led to 8 diminished oversight, lower worker protections, and a departure from New 9 York's public bidding laws. 10 This act affirms that cooperative purchasing for public works must be 11 subject to New York's public procurement laws and safeguards. It seeks 12 to clarify allowable uses of cooperative purchasing, improve transparen- 13 cy and accountability, and strengthen prevailing wage enforcement mech- 14 anisms to protect workers and ensure fair competition. 15 § 2. The general municipal law is amended by adding a new section 16 109-e to read as follows: 17 § 109-e. Cooperative purchasing agreements for public works. 1. Poli- 18 tical subdivisions may utilize cooperative purchasing agreements for 19 goods and services, including services related to public works 20 construction, provided any associated contracts were competitively bid 21 by political subdivisions either within or outside the state. 22 2. Cooperative purchasing agreements for public works construction 23 shall only be permitted when associated contracts are competitively bid, 24 advertised, and awarded by a New York political subdivision in full EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD13261-01-5 
 A. 8880 2 1 compliance with public procurement laws, including but not limited to 2 the provisions of this article. 3 3. All cooperative contracts for public works shall be locally adver- 4 tised to ensure fair and open competition. Notices shall include 5 detailed procedures for issuing and adding purchase orders. 6 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.