Bill Text: NY A05981 | 2015-2016 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires contracts between professional design firms and municipal corporations, state and local authorities, or state departments contain language concerning indemnification.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-4)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-01-06 - referred to corporations, authorities and commissions [A05981 Detail]
Download: New_York-2015-A05981-Introduced.html
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
5981
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
March 9, 2015
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SCHIMMINGER, LUPARDO, BENEDETTO, JAFFEE, STIRPE,
LIFTON, RAIA, McDONALD, GARBARINO, CURRAN -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M.
of A. CROUCH -- read once and referred to the Committee on Corpo-
rations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the general municipal law, the public authorities law
and the state finance law, in relation to contracts with professional
design firms
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
1 Section 1. The general municipal law is amended by adding a new
2 section 103-h to read as follows:
3 S 103-H. INDEMNIFICATION LANGUAGE IN CONTRACTS. 1. DEFINITIONS. AS
4 USED IN THIS SECTION:
5 A. THE TERM "MUNICIPAL CORPORATION" SHALL MEAN A COUNTY, TOWN, CITY
6 AND VILLAGE.
7 B. THE TERM "PROFESSIONAL FIRM" SHALL BE DEFINED AS ANY INDIVIDUAL OR
8 SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP, PARTNERSHIP, CORPORATION, ASSOCIATION, OR OTHER
9 LEGAL ENTITY PERMITTED BY LAW TO PRACTICE THE PROFESSIONS OF ARCHITEC-
10 TURE, ENGINEERING OR SURVEYING.
11 2. ALL CONTRACTS SUBJECT TO THIS ARTICLE SHALL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING
12 LANGUAGE:
13 "TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE PROFESSIONAL FIRM AGREES
14 TO INDEMNIFY AND HOLD THE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS
15 AND EMPLOYEES HARMLESS FROM ALL THIRD PARTY CLAIMS, LIABILITIES, DAMAGES
16 AND COSTS (INCLUDING ALL REASONABLE ATTORNEY'S FEES AND COST OF DEFENSE)
17 TO WHICH THE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND EMPLOY-
18 EES MAY BE SUBJECT TO, ARISING OUT OF THE DEATH OR BODILY INJURY TO ANY
19 PERSON OR THE DESTRUCTION OR DAMAGE TO ANY PROPERTY TO THE EXTENT CAUSED
20 BY THE NEGLIGENT ACTS, ERRORS OR OMISSIONS, OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OF THE
21 PROFESSIONAL FIRM'S PERFORMANCE OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES PROVIDED UNDER
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09400-01-5
A. 5981 2
1 THIS AGREEMENT AND THOSE OF ITS SUB-CONSULTANTS OR ANYONE FOR WHOM THE
2 PROFESSIONAL FIRM IS LEGALLY LIABLE."
3 "TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION
4 AGREES TO INDEMNIFY AND HOLD THE PROFESSIONAL FIRM HARMLESS FROM ALL
5 THIRD PARTY CLAIMS, LIABILITIES, DAMAGES AND COSTS (INCLUDING ALL
6 REASONABLE ATTORNEY'S FEES AND COST OF DEFENSE) TO THE EXTENT CAUSED BY
7 THE NEGLIGENT ACTS, ERRORS OR OMISSIONS OF THE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION,
8 ITS CONTRACTORS, CONSULTANTS OR ANYONE FOR WHOM THE MUNICIPAL CORPO-
9 RATION IS LEGALLY LIABLE."
10 3. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE CONSTRUED AS REQUIRING A NOTICE OF
11 CLAIM OR OTHER CONDITION PRECEDENT IN LITIGATION FOR ANY PARTY NOT
12 OTHERWISE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE ONE, NOR SHALL IT REQUIRE ANY ACTION TO BE
13 BROUGHT BY OR AGAINST ANY PARTY IN THE COURT OF CLAIMS UNLESS SUCH A
14 REQUIREMENT PREVIOUSLY EXISTED AS TO THAT PARTY.
15 S 2. The public authorities law is amended by adding a new section
16 2879-d to read as follows:
17 S 2879-D. INDEMNIFICATION LANGUAGE IN CONTRACTS. 1. DEFINITIONS. AS
18 USED IN THIS SECTION:
19 A. THE TERM "STATE AUTHORITY" SHALL MEAN A PUBLIC AUTHORITY OR PUBLIC
20 BENEFIT CORPORATION CREATED BY OR EXISTING UNDER THIS CHAPTER OR ANY
21 OTHER LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITH ONE OR MORE OF ITS MEMBERS
22 APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR OR WHO SERVE AS MEMBERS BY VIRTUE OF HOLDING A
23 CIVIL OFFICE OF THE STATE, OTHER THAN AN INTERSTATE OR INTERNATIONAL
24 AUTHORITY OR PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION, INCLUDING SUBSIDIARIES OF SUCH
25 PUBLIC AUTHORITY OR PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION.
26 B. THE TERM "LOCAL AUTHORITY" SHALL MEAN: (A) A PUBLIC AUTHORITY OR
27 PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION CREATED BY OR EXISTING UNDER THIS CHAPTER OR
28 ANY OTHER LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WHOSE MEMBERS DO NOT HOLD A CIVIL
29 OFFICE OF THE STATE, ARE NOT APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR OR ARE APPOINTED
30 BY THE GOVERNOR SPECIFICALLY UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE LOCAL
31 GOVERNMENT OR GOVERNMENTS; (B) A NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION AFFILIATED
32 WITH, SPONSORED BY, OR CREATED BY A COUNTY, CITY, TOWN OR VILLAGE
33 GOVERNMENT; (C) A LOCAL INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENTAL AGENCY OR AUTHORITY OR
34 OTHER LOCAL PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION; (D) AN AFFILIATE OF SUCH LOCAL
35 AUTHORITY; OR (E) A LAND BANK CORPORATION CREATED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE
36 SIXTEEN OF THE NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION LAW.
37 C. THE TERM "PROFESSIONAL FIRM" SHALL MEAN ANY INDIVIDUAL OR SOLE
38 PROPRIETORSHIP, PARTNERSHIP, CORPORATION, ASSOCIATION, OR OTHER LEGAL
39 ENTITY PERMITTED BY LAW TO PRACTICE THE PROFESSIONS OF ARCHITECTURE,
40 ENGINEERING OR SURVEYING.
41 2. ALL CONTRACTS SUBJECT TO THIS ARTICLE SHALL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING
42 LANGUAGE:
43 "TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE PROFESSIONAL FIRM AGREES
44 TO INDEMNIFY AND HOLD THE STATE AND LOCAL AUTHORITY, ITS OFFICERS,
45 DIRECTORS AND EMPLOYEES HARMLESS FROM ALL THIRD PARTY CLAIMS, LIABIL-
46 ITIES, DAMAGES AND COSTS (INCLUDING ALL REASONABLE ATTORNEY'S FEES AND
47 COST OF DEFENSE) TO WHICH THE STATE AND LOCAL AUTHORITY, ITS OFFICERS,
48 DIRECTORS AND EMPLOYEES MAY BE SUBJECT TO, ARISING OUT OF THE DEATH OR
49 BODILY INJURY TO ANY PERSON OR THE DESTRUCTION OR DAMAGE TO ANY PROPERTY
50 TO THE EXTENT CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENT ACTS, ERRORS OR OMISSIONS, OR
51 WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OF THE PROFESSIONAL FIRM'S PERFORMANCE OF PROFES-
52 SIONAL SERVICES PROVIDED UNDER THIS AGREEMENT AND THOSE OF ITS SUB-CON-
53 SULTANTS OR ANYONE FOR WHOM THE PROFESSIONAL FIRM IS LEGALLY LIABLE."
54 "TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE STATE AND LOCAL AUTHORITY
55 AGREES TO INDEMNIFY AND HOLD THE PROFESSIONAL FIRM HARMLESS FROM ALL
56 THIRD PARTY CLAIMS, LIABILITIES, DAMAGES AND COSTS (INCLUDING ALL
A. 5981 3
1 REASONABLE ATTORNEY'S FEES AND COST OF DEFENSE) TO THE EXTENT CAUSED BY
2 THE NEGLIGENT ACTS, ERRORS OR OMISSIONS OF THE STATE AND LOCAL AUTHORI-
3 TY, ITS CONTRACTORS, CONSULTANTS OR ANYONE FOR WHOM THE STATE AND LOCAL
4 AUTHORITY IS LEGALLY LIABLE."
5 3. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE CONSTRUED AS REQUIRING A NOTICE OF
6 CLAIM OR OTHER CONDITION PRECEDENT IN LITIGATION FOR ANY PARTY NOT
7 OTHERWISE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE ONE, NOR SHALL IT REQUIRE ANY ACTION TO BE
8 BROUGHT BY OR AGAINST ANY PARTY IN THE COURT OF CLAIMS UNLESS SUCH A
9 REQUIREMENT PREVIOUSLY EXISTED AS TO THAT PARTY.
10 S 3. Section 136-a of the state finance law is amended by adding a new
11 subdivision 6 to read as follows:
12 6. (A) DEFINITIONS. AS USED IN THIS SUBDIVISION:
13 (I) THE TERM "STATE DEPARTMENT" SHALL MEAN THOSE STATE GOVERNMENT
14 DEPARTMENTS, DIVISIONS OR COMMISSIONS EMPOWERED BY THE STATE TO ENTER
15 INTO CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
16 (II) THE TERM "PROFESSIONAL FIRM" SHALL BE DEFINED AS ANY INDIVIDUAL
17 OR SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP, PARTNERSHIP, CORPORATION, ASSOCIATION, OR OTHER
18 LEGAL ENTITY PERMITTED BY LAW TO PRACTICE THE PROFESSIONS OF ARCHITEC-
19 TURE, ENGINEERING OR SURVEYING.
20 (B) ALL CONTRACTS SUBJECT TO THIS ARTICLE SHALL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING
21 LANGUAGE:
22 "TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE PROFESSIONAL FIRM AGREES
23 TO INDEMNIFY AND HOLD THE STATE DEPARTMENT, ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND
24 EMPLOYEES HARMLESS FROM ALL THIRD PARTY CLAIMS, LIABILITIES, DAMAGES AND
25 COSTS (INCLUDING ALL REASONABLE ATTORNEY'S FEES AND COST OF DEFENSE) TO
26 WHICH THE STATE DEPARTMENT, ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND EMPLOYEES MAY BE
27 SUBJECT TO, ARISING OUT OF THE DEATH OR BODILY INJURY TO ANY PERSON OR
28 THE DESTRUCTION OR DAMAGE TO ANY PROPERTY TO THE EXTENT CAUSED BY THE
29 NEGLIGENT ACTS, ERRORS OR OMISSIONS, OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OF THE
30 PROFESSIONAL FIRM'S PERFORMANCE OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES PROVIDED UNDER
31 THIS AGREEMENT AND THOSE OF ITS SUB-CONSULTANTS OR ANY ONE FOR WHOM THE
32 DESIGN CONSULTANT IS LEGALLY LIABLE."
33 "TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE STATE DEPARTMENT AGREES
34 TO INDEMNIFY AND HOLD THE PROFESSIONAL FIRM HARMLESS FROM ALL THIRD
35 PARTY CLAIMS, LIABILITIES, DAMAGES AND COSTS (INCLUDING ALL REASONABLE
36 ATTORNEY'S FEES AND COST OF DEFENSE) TO THE EXTENT CAUSED BY THE NEGLI-
37 GENT ACTS, ERRORS OR OMISSIONS OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT, ITS CONTRACTORS,
38 CONSULTANTS OR ANYONE FOR WHOM THE STATE DEPARTMENT IS LEGALLY LIABLE."
39 (C) NOTHING IN THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL BE CONSTRUED AS REQUIRING A
40 NOTICE OF CLAIM OR OTHER CONDITION PRECEDENT IN LITIGATION FOR ANY PARTY
41 NOT OTHERWISE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE ONE, NOR SHALL IT REQUIRE ANY ACTION
42 TO BE BROUGHT BY OR AGAINST ANY PARTY IN THE COURT OF CLAIMS UNLESS SUCH
43 A REQUIREMENT PREVIOUSLY EXISTED AS TO THAT PARTY.
44 S 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
