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The Business Council of New York State supports this bill, which modifies provisions of the state finance law related to procurement lobbying, and extends the expiration date of these modifications to July 31, 2014.
In 2005, the Procurement Lobbying Law was enacted by the State Legislature with the goals of bringing reform, consistency and transparency to the government procurement lobbying process in New York State. Provisions of the law have been subsequently extended for various duration periods. The current provisions have a sunset expiration date of March 10, 2010.
The enactment of the Procurement Lobbying Law has brought about greater transparency and structure to the procurement process. The statutory provisions continue to serve a valid public policy purpose through providing clarity to government agencies and vendors on their roles and responsibilities in the procurement process.
It is important for the provisions of this statute to maintain a level of flexibility that recognizes the advancements technology and communication methods can have on the overall procurement process. The amendments proposed within this bill offer clarity on what types of communications are not subject to the restricted contact provisions within the law, and provide a clearer definition of when the restricted contact period begins. These amendments will ensure the integrity of the procurement lobbying law is maintained, without compromising the ability of governmental agencies and vendors to engage in legitimate business communications.
For these reasons, The Business Council supports this bill and urges its passage.