Requires the workers' compensation board and the department of labor to publish lists of debarred entities

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Jessica Ramos says this is needed

New York State has provisions to debar or find non-responsive persons or entities with labor or other violations to ensure that had actors are not able to get state contracts or grams. While Executive Order 192 of 2019 attempted to make lists of debarred entities available in a centralized location, the way information is currently shared does not meet best practices for transparency, such as publishing the lists in an open data format. Under Executive Order 192 or 2019, the Office of General Services is required to publish on its website the persons or entities that have been debarred or found to be non-responsive due to labor or other violations. Additionally, state entities such as the Workers Compen- sation Board and Department of Labor are required to maintain informa- tion on such entities that have been debarred or deemed non-responsible, and to submit a list of contractors to the Office of General Services. The Office of General Services maintains a website of debarred and non- responsive entities at hups://ogs.ny.govidebarred-and-non- responsible- entities, which links to the Department of Labor's website. which provides a database of debarred entities as determined by the Dept of Labor or Workers Compensation Board at https:llapps.labormy.goviEDList; searchPage.do. Currently, the OGS lists and Department of Labor database of debarred and non-responsive persons and entities are not available in open data format, as required by Executive Order 95 of 2013, and only entities that are currently debarred or deemed non-responsive appear on the websites. Additionally, there is no way to obtain a full list of enti- ties and persons currently debarred by the Workers Compensation Board. or understand which entities were previously debarred or found non-res- ponsive, and are now again eligible for contracts or grants. The lack of open data for debarred and non-responsive entities severely limits the usefulness of the lists maintained by state agencies, and risks entities with labor and other violations being awarded contracts or grants by the state, or other jurisdictions. Additionally, making the list of current and prior debarred and non-responsive entities more accessible will allow researchers. journalists and enforcement offi- cials to have more complete information about those who have done busi- ness with the state. Providing open data of current and prior had actors in the contracting sphere will help shine a light on these entities, and ensure that had actors don't slip through the cracks and benefit from contracts or grants paid for with public dollars.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.