Assemblymember Harry B. Bronson (D-Rochester/Chili/Henrietta) announced that the Assembly passed legislation he authored to prohibit contractors who violate obligations to employees from bidding on or being awarded state public work contracts (A.5414).

“It’s time we have complete transparency and accountability when it comes to government contracts,” said Bronson. “Crooked contractors who have skirted their responsibilities to their employees should not be awarded jobs that are paid for with taxpayer dollars.”

Bronson’s legislation would close a loophole in New York law by ensuring contractors cannot bid on state public work contracts if they have been previously debarred on the federal level for wage payment violations under the Davis-Bacon Act. The ability to bid on a public contract is a privilege, not a right, and all contractors must abide by the law and treat their employees fairly, noted Bronson.