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Assembly passes bill aimed at increasing transparency for contracts awarded during emergencies
Summary
After a brief floor exchange, the Assembly passed a bill amending the state finance law to increase transparency around contracts awarded during states of emergency; Assemblymember Gandolfo cited past COVID-era no-bid contracts as rationale during an explanation of vote.
The Assembly passed a bill amending the state finance law that sponsors and proponents said will increase transparency for contracts awarded during states of emergency. The Clerk read the bill for the record and members proceeded to a recorded vote.
Assemblymember Gandolfo was recognized to explain his vote and urged fellow members to support the bill, citing concerns about past emergency no-bid contracts. "During the COVID state of emergency, governor Hochul had awarded a no bid contract for the purchase of COVID tests, to the tune of $637,000,000," Gandolfo said, adding that New York paid nearly double the market rate compared with other states and alleging the company's CEO was a major contributor to the governor's reelection campaign. No floor response disputing those assertions was recorded in the session transcript. The Clerk announced the result as "Ayes, 143; Noes, 0," and the bill was passed; the bill's implementing provisions will take effect on the 30th day as read on the floor.
The floor exchange was limited to the sponsor's explanation of vote; the transcript does not record additional debate or an on-the-record rebuttal to the factual claims made by Gandolfo.
