NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A2952
SPONSOR: Gallahan
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
selectively cutting timber
 
PURPOSE:
Subdivision 4 of section 24-0701 of the environmental conservation law
is amended to allow the construction and use, without the requirement of
a permit, of temporary skidder trails and machinery, using current best
management practices as outlined by USDA Forest Service, when selective-
ly harvesting timber within regulated wetlands.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 Subdivision 4 of section 24-0701 of the environmental conser-
vation law, and amended by chapter 697 of the laws of 1979, is amended.
Section 2 identifies the effective date
 
JUSTIFICATION:
This bill would ensure New York state thruway authority adopt best prac-
tice procurement procedures to ensure purchases and expenditures on
contracts are ' adhering to state programs and metrics set forth by
various goals the stale has sought to achieve across a range of disci-
plines.
At present, State authorities generally follow their own guidelines for
procurement. These guidelines vary from authority to authority and
usually are approved only by the authority's board of directors.
Requiring NYSTA to report quarterly procurement to the executive chamber
and both houses of the legislature would help ensure transparency in the
procurement process and benefit the vendor. community by providing a
more fair approach to awarding State contracts.
State law prescribes best practice processes for procurement, including:
requiring open competition when practicable: ensuring a level playing
field for bidders with standard advertising and evaluation criteria; the
opportunity for losing vendors to be debriefed on awards; ensuring
vendors comply with appropriate worker protections such as prevailing
wage, workers' compensation and disability insurance, and equal
employment/nondiscrimination requirements; and confirming that vendors
are responsible, responsive and merit participation in state contract-
ing. Quarterly updates will help ensure adherence.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2021-22: A.8527
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.