2879-A - Comptroller approval of contracts.
§ 2879-a. Comptroller approval of contracts. 1. Except as set forth in subdivision three of this section, where the comptroller determines pursuant to his or her authority to supervise the accounts of public corporations, that contracts or categories of contracts in excess of one million dollars (a) to be awarded by a state authority to a single source, a sole source or pursuant to any other method of procurement that is not competitive, or (b) which are to be paid in whole or in part from monies appropriated by the state to a state authority for such contractual expenditure, require supervision in the form of prior review and approval of such contracts, and the comptroller so notifies such authority of such determination, then any such contract entered into subsequent to such notification shall be submitted to the comptroller for his or her approval and shall not be a valid enforceable contract unless it shall first have been approved by the comptroller. Such notification shall identify the process for submission, the categories of contracts at issue and the time period for which such submission is to take place. The comptroller shall promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out his or her responsibilities under this section, including but not limited to the standards for determining which contracts will be subject to his or her review and for approving such contracts. 2. Where the comptroller, pursuant to subdivision one of this section, has notified a state authority that any contract or category of contracts shall be subject to his or her approval, such authority shall include or cause to be included in each such contract a provision informing the other party that such contract is subject to the comptroller's approval pursuant to the comptroller's authority to supervise the accounts of public corporations. If the comptroller has not approved or disapproved any contract subject to his or her approval within ninety days of submission to his or her office, such contract shall become valid and enforceable without such approval. 3. This section shall not apply to: (a) contracts entered into for the issuance of commercial paper or bonded indebtedness, other than contracts with the state providing for the payment of debt service subject to an appropriation; (b) contracts entered into by an entity established under article ten-c of the public authorities law that are for: (i) projects approved by the department of health or the public health council in accordance with articles twenty-eight, thirty-six or forty of the public health law or article seven of the social services law; (ii) projects approved by the office of mental health, the office of mental retardation and developmental disabilities, or the office of alcoholism and substance abuse services in accordance with articles sixteen, thirty-one, or thirty-two of the mental hygiene law; (iii) services, affiliations or joint ventures for the provision or administration of health care services or scientific research; (iv) payment for direct health care services or goods used in the provision of health care services; or (v) participation in group purchasing arrangements; (c) contracts entered into for the procurement of goods, services or both goods and services made to meet emergencies arising from unforeseen causes or to effect repairs to critical infrastructure that are necessary to avoid a delay in the delivery of critical services that could compromise the public welfare; (d) contracts of purchase or sale of energy, electricity or ancillary services made by an authority on a recognized market for goods, services, or commodities in question in accordance with standard terms and conditions of purchase or sale at a market price; (e) contracts for the purchase, sale or delivery of power or energy, fuel, costs and services ancillary thereto, or financial products related thereto, with a term of less than five years;and (f) contracts for the sale or delivery of power or energy and costs and services ancillary thereto for economic development purposes pursuant to title one of article five of this chapter or article six of the economic development law, provided, however, that the authority shall file copies of any such contract with the comptroller within sixty days after the execution of such contract. 4. The provisions of this section do not grant or diminish any power or right to review contracts beyond or from that which the comptroller may have pursuant to his or her authority to supervise the accounts of public authorities. If any provisions of this section or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid by a court of last resort, then this section shall be deemed to be invalid in its entirety.