BILL NUMBER: S2685
SPONSOR: SKOUFIS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the state finance law, in relation to permitting the
state and local municipalities to purchase from sources other than the
correctional industries program of the department of corrections and
community supervision
 
PURPOSE:
To remove the mandate and provide procurement flexibility to state and
local entities, they purchase certain commodities from the Department of
Corrections and Community Supervision's Correctional Industries Program
("Corcraft").
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Amends Section 162 of the State Finance Law, removing the
requirement that state agencies, public authorities, commissions, public
benefit corporations, and political subdivisions must purchase certain
commodities from Corcraft.
Section 2: Sets Effective Date
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Given its priority status amongst preferred sources for state and local
procurement purposes, Corcraft has experienced tremendous control over
the public market that must buy the commodities it produces as long an
entity's needs for form, function, and utility are met. While purchasing
efficiencies may exist due to buyers not having to follow the compet-
itive bid process, the overall finances, benefits, success, and value of
the Correctional Industries Program remain dubious, to say the least
(especially regarding the interests of incarcerated laborers and taxpay-
ers). Eliminating the mandate requiring state agencies, public benefit
corporations, and political subdivisions to purchase commodities exclu-
sively from Corcraft would grant these entities greater flexibility and
authority to secure the most advantageous deals for many everyday items
currently procured through the Correctional Industries Program. Nonethe-
less, if these entities continue sourcing directly from Corcraft, the
expedited purchasing option would be preserved.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
Senate
2023: N/A
2024: S9577, Referred to Procurement and Contracts Assembly
2023: No Assembly Same-As 2024: No Assembly Same-As
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
TBD
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S2685: 162 state finance law, 162(4) state finance law