Colton, Reyes, Taylor, Shimsky, Burdick, Woerner, Santabarbara, Cunningham, De Los Santos, Wallace,
Raga, Seawright, Sayegh
MLTSPNSR
Walsh
Amd §163, St Fin L
Relates to participation by individuals with disabilities with respect to state employment and state contracts; requires contractors to report to state agencies regarding the utilization and participation of work on both service and commodity contracts by a person with a disability; requires such state agencies to report to the office of general services and the office of general services to report to the state procurement council, governor, comptroller and the legislature.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A5815B
SPONSOR: Epstein TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the state finance law, in relation to participation by
individuals with disabilities with respect to state employment and state
contracts
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this bill is to require the Commissioner of General
Services to submit a report to legislative leaders summarizing data
related to State employment of individuals with. disabilities by Decem-
ber 1, 2025.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends section 163 of the State Finance Law by requiring that
the Commissioner of General Services submit a report to legislative
leaders summarizing data related to State employment of individuals with
disabilities by December 1, 2025, including:
the employment of individuals with disabilities, and their level of
participation on State contracts;
any policies and practices carried out by State contractors and subcon-
tractors to promote employment of individuals with disabilities within
their workforce; and,
the compliance of State contractors and subcontractors with other equal
opportunity requirements and anti-discrimination laws, in addition to
any. other required employment practices compliance with which is deemed
pertinent to be examined by the Commissioner of-General Services.
Section 2 provides that the effective date shall take effect on the
first of January next succeeding the date upon which it shall have
become a law and shall apply to all contracts with the State entered
into on or after such effective date; provided, however that the amend-
ments to section 163 of the State Finance Law made by section one of
this act shall not affect the repeal of such section and shall be deemed
repealed therewith.
JUSTIFICATION:
The COVID-19 pandemic caused high unemployment rates for individuals
with disabilities, which remain high. In 2022, unemployment of individ-
uals with disabilities across the United States reached 8.2 percent,
essentially returning to pre-pandemic. levels. However, the State's
unemployment rate for individuals with disabilities has struggled to
recover, going from 8.8 percent in 2019 to 11.9 percent in 2022.
The State's high unemployment rate of individuals with disabilities
highlights the need for more employment opportunities. The United States
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) publishes reports on the
employment of individuals with disabilities within the federal govern-
ment, with the most recent released in 2022. This report enables the
federal government to assess how many individuals with disabilities are
employed within its workforce, and where it can improve. EEOC data is
used to inform decisions on employment opportunities. The State does not
yet have similar data for use in ensuring sound disabilities and work-
force policy.
This bill would require the Commissioner of General Services to submit a
report to certain State officials summarizing data related to State
employment of individuals with disabilities by December 1, 2025. This
report would enable the State to make more informed policies that boost
employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. This would
establish a variety of new career pathways for thousands of individuals
with disabilities across the State.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the
date upon which it shall have become a law and shall apply to all
contracts with the State entered into on or after such effective date;
provided, however that the amendments to section 163 of the State
Finance Law made by section one of this act shall not affect the repeal
of such section and shall be deemed repealed therewith.
