Bill Text: NY A10388 | 2011-2012 | General Assembly | Amended
Bill Title: Relates to participation by service-connected disabled veterans and veterans with respect to state contracts.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-06-18 - reported referred to ways and means [A10388 Detail]
Download: New_York-2011-A10388-Amended.html
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 10388--A I N A S S E M B L Y May 24, 2012 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. RAMOS, ENGLEBRIGHT, ORTIZ, McENENY, LAVINE -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. NOLAN -- read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations -- reported and referred to the Committee on Codes -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to participation by service-connected disabled veterans and veterans with respect to state contracts THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: 1 Section 1. The executive law is amended by adding a new article 17-A 2 to read as follows: 3 ARTICLE 17-A 4 PARTICIPATION BY SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABLED VETERANS AND 5 VETERANS WITH RESPECT TO STATE CONTRACTS 6 SECTION 369. DEFINITIONS. 7 369-A. OPPORTUNITIES FOR CERTIFIED SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABLED 8 VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES. 9 369-B. OPPORTUNITIES FOR CERTIFIED VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTER- 10 PRISES. 11 369-C. SEVERABILITY. 12 S 369. DEFINITIONS. AS USED IN THIS ARTICLE, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL 13 HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS: 14 1. "AGENCY" OR "AGENCIES" SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS DEFINED IN 15 SUBDIVISION NINE OF SECTION ONE HUNDRED SIXTY OF THE STATE FINANCE LAW. 16 2. "PERIOD OF WAR" MEANS THE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR; THE MEXICAN BORDER 17 PERIOD; WORLD WAR I; WORLD WAR II; THE HOSTILITIES KNOWN AS THE KOREAN 18 WAR, WHICH COMMENCED JUNE TWENTY-SEVENTH, NINETEEN HUNDRED FIFTY AND 19 TERMINATED ON JANUARY THIRTY-FIRST, NINETEEN HUNDRED FIFTY-FIVE; THE 20 HOSTILITIES KNOWN AS THE VIETNAM WAR, WHICH COMMENCED ON FEBRUARY TWEN- 21 TY-EIGHTH, NINETEEN HUNDRED SIXTY-ONE AND TERMINATED ON MAY SEVENTH, 22 NINETEEN HUNDRED SEVENTY-FIVE; AND THE HOSTILITIES KNOWN AS THE PERSIAN 23 GULF CONFLICT, WHICH COMMENCED AUGUST SECOND, NINETEEN HUNDRED NINETY TO 24 THE END OF SUCH CONFLICT INCLUDING MILITARY SERVICE IN OPERATION ENDUR- 25 ING FREEDOM, OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM OR OPERATION NEW DAWN AND WAS THE 26 RECIPIENT OF THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM EXPEDITIONARY MEDAL OR THE IRAQ 27 CAMPAIGN MEDAL OR THE AFGHANISTAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL. EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD15990-06-2 A. 10388--A 2 1 3. "SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABLED VETERAN" MEANS A VETERAN WHO RECEIVED A 2 COMPENSATION RATING FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' 3 AFFAIRS OR FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE BECAUSE OF A 4 SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY INCURRED IN THE LINE OF DUTY IN THE ACTIVE 5 MILITARY, NAVAL OR AIR SERVICE. 6 4. "CERTIFIED SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABLED VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTER- 7 PRISE" SHALL MEAN A BUSINESS ENTERPRISE, INCLUDING A SOLE PROPRIETOR- 8 SHIP, PARTNERSHIP, OR CORPORATION THAT IS: 9 (A) AT LEAST FIFTY-ONE PERCENT OWNED BY ONE OR MORE SERVICE-CONNECTED 10 DISABLED VETERANS; 11 (B) AN ENTERPRISE IN WHICH SUCH SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABLED VETERAN 12 OWNERSHIP IS REAL, SUBSTANTIAL, AND CONTINUING; 13 (C) AN ENTERPRISE IN WHICH SUCH SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABLED VETERAN 14 OWNERSHIP HAS AND EXERCISES THE AUTHORITY TO CONTROL INDEPENDENTLY THE 15 DAY-TO-DAY BUSINESS DECISIONS OF THE ENTERPRISE; 16 (D) AN ENTERPRISE AUTHORIZED TO DO BUSINESS IN THIS STATE AND IS INDE- 17 PENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED; 18 (E) AN ENTERPRISE OWNED BY AN INDIVIDUAL OR INDIVIDUALS, WHOSE OWNER- 19 SHIP, CONTROL AND OPERATION ARE RELIED UPON FOR CERTIFICATION, WITH A 20 PERSONAL NET WORTH THAT DOES NOT EXCEED THREE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOU- 21 SAND DOLLARS, AS ADJUSTED ANNUALLY ON THE FIRST OF JANUARY FOR INFLATION 22 ACCORDING TO THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR; 23 (F) AN ENTERPRISE THAT IS A SMALL BUSINESS PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION 24 FIVE OF THIS SECTION; AND 25 (G) IS CERTIFIED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION THREE OF SECTION THREE 26 HUNDRED SIXTY-NINE-A OF THIS ARTICLE. 27 5. "SMALL BUSINESS" SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS DEFINED IN SECTION 28 ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LAW. 29 6. "VETERAN" SHALL MEAN A PERSON WHO SERVED IN THE ACTIVE MILITARY, 30 NAVAL, OR AIR SERVICE DURING A PERIOD OF WAR, OR WAS A RECIPIENT OF THE 31 ARMED FORCES EXPEDITIONARY MEDAL, NAVY EXPEDITIONARY MEDAL, MARINE CORPS 32 EXPEDITIONARY MEDAL, OR GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM EXPEDITIONARY MEDAL, AND 33 WAS DISCHARGED OR RELEASED THEREFROM UNDER OTHER THAN DISHONORABLE 34 DISCHARGE. 35 7. "CERTIFIED VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES" SHALL MEAN A BUSI- 36 NESS ENTERPRISE, INCLUDING A SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP, PARTNERSHIP, OR CORPO- 37 RATION THAT IS: 38 (A) AT LEAST FIFTY-ONE PERCENT OWNED BY ONE OR MORE VETERAN; 39 (B) AN ENTERPRISE IN WHICH SUCH VETERAN OWNERSHIP IS REAL, SUBSTAN- 40 TIAL, AND CONTINUING; 41 (C) AN ENTERPRISE IN WHICH SUCH VETERAN OWNERSHIP HAS AND EXERCISES 42 THE AUTHORITY TO CONTROL INDEPENDENTLY THE DAY-TO-DAY BUSINESS DECISIONS 43 OF THE ENTERPRISE; 44 (D) AN ENTERPRISE AUTHORIZED TO DO BUSINESS IN THIS STATE AND INDE- 45 PENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED; 46 (E) AN ENTERPRISE OWNED BY AN INDIVIDUAL OR INDIVIDUALS, WHOSE OWNER- 47 SHIP, CONTROL AND OPERATION WERE RELIED UPON FOR CERTIFICATION, WITH A 48 PERSONAL NET WORTH THAT DOES NOT EXCEED THREE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOU- 49 SAND DOLLARS, AS ADJUSTED ANNUALLY ON THE FIRST OF JANUARY FOR INFLATION 50 ACCORDING TO THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR; 51 (F) AN ENTERPRISE THAT IS A SMALL BUSINESS PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION 52 FIVE OF THIS SECTION; AND 53 (G) IS CERTIFIED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION THREE OF SECTION THREE 54 HUNDRED SIXTY-NINE-B OF THIS ARTICLE. 55 S 369-A. OPPORTUNITIES FOR CERTIFIED SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABLED VETER- 56 AN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES. A. 10388--A 3 1 1. CONTRACT PREFERENCES. EACH AGENCY SHALL PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR 2 CERTIFIED SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABLED VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES 3 TO MAXIMIZE THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE PERFORMANCE OF STATE CONTRACTS. A 4 BID BY A SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABLED VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE 5 SHALL BE TREATED AS THE LOWEST BID IN A COMPETITIVE PROCESS FOR A 6 COMMODITY IF IT COST NO MORE THAN FIFTEEN PERCENT HIGHER THAN THE LOWEST 7 BID AND FOR SERVICES, IF THE COST COMPONENT IS NO MORE THAN FIFTEEN 8 PERCENT HIGHER THAN THE COST COMPONENT OF THE HIGHEST SCORING BID, THESE 9 COMPONENTS SHALL BE TREATED AS EQUAL FOR PURPOSES OF COMPETITIVE SCOR- 10 ING. 11 2. DUTIES OF AGENCIES. IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS AND POLICY 12 ESTABLISHED IN SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION, AGENCIES SHALL: 13 (A) DEVELOP A STRATEGY TO IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS AND POLICY ESTAB- 14 LISHED IN SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION; AND SHALL PUBLICLY PUBLISH 15 SUCH STRATEGY; 16 (B) MAKE THE AGENCY'S STRATEGY PUBLICLY AVAILABLE, POST SUCH STRATEGY 17 UPON THE WEBSITE OF SUCH AGENCY, AND REPORT ANNUALLY TO THE GOVERNOR, 18 THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, AND THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, 19 ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGENCY'S STRATEGY; 20 (C) DESIGNATE A SENIOR-LEVEL OFFICIAL WITHIN SUCH AGENCY WHO SHALL BE 21 RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING THE AGENCY'S STRATEGY; AND 22 (D) INCLUDE IN THE AGENCY'S STRATEGY PLANS FOR: 23 (I) ENCOURAGING AND FACILITATING PARTICIPATION BY CERTIFIED 24 SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABLED VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES IN COMPE- 25 TITIONS FOR AWARD OF AGENCY CONTRACTS; 26 (II) ENCOURAGING AGENCY CONTRACTORS TO SUBCONTRACT WITH CERTIFIED 27 SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABLED VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES AND 28 ACTIVELY MONITORING AND EVALUATING AGENCY CONTRACTOR'S EFFORTS TO DO SO; 29 (III) TRAINING AGENCY PERSONNEL ON APPLICABLE LAW AND POLICIES RELAT- 30 ING TO PARTICIPATION OF CERTIFIED SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABLED 31 VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES IN STATE CONTRACTING; AND 32 (IV) DISSEMINATING INFORMATION TO CERTIFIED SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABLED 33 VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES THAT WOULD ASSIST THESE BUSINESSES IN 34 PARTICIPATING IN AWARDS OF AGENCY CONTRACTS. 35 3. CERTIFICATION. (A) THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER RESPONSIBLE FOR HEADING 36 THE DIVISION FOR SMALL BUSINESS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVEL- 37 OPMENT, AS ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-TWO OF THE 38 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LAW SHALL PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS PROVID- 39 ING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A STATEWIDE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM INCLUDING 40 RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE APPROVAL, DENIAL, OR REVOCATION OF 41 ANY SUCH CERTIFICATION. SUCH RULES AND REGULATIONS SHALL INCLUDE, BUT 42 NOT BE LIMITED TO, SUCH MATTERS AS MAY BE REQUIRED TO ENSURE THAT THE 43 ESTABLISHED PROCEDURES THEREUNDER SHALL AT LEAST BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH 44 THE CODE OF FAIR PROCEDURE SET FORTH IN SECTION SEVENTY-THREE OF THE 45 CIVIL RIGHTS LAW. 46 (B) THE DIVISION FOR SMALL BUSINESS SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR VERIFYING 47 BUSINESSES AS BEING OWNED, OPERATED, AND CONTROLLED BY A SERVICE-CON- 48 NECTED DISABLED VETERAN AND FOR CERTIFYING SUCH VERIFIED BUSINESSES. 49 STATUS AS A SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABLED VETERAN SHALL BE DOCUMENTED BY A 50 COPY OF THE VETERAN'S CERTIFICATE OF RELEASE OR DISCHARGE FROM ACTIVE 51 DUTY ALSO KNOWN AS A DD-214 FORM OR AN HONORABLE SERVICE CERTIFICATE 52 REPORT OF CAUSALITY FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, A LETTER OF CERTIF- 53 ICATION BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OR THE 54 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT 55 MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE DIVISION FOR SMALL BUSINESS. THE DEPUTY COMMIS- 56 SIONER OF THE DIVISION FOR SMALL BUSINESS SHALL PREPARE A DIRECTORY OF A. 10388--A 4 1 CERTIFIED SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABLED VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES 2 FOR USE BY AGENCIES IN CARRYING OUT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION. SUCH 3 DIRECTORY SHALL BE PUBLICLY POSTED ON THE EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT 4 CORPORATION WEBSITE. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF THE DIVISION FOR SMALL 5 BUSINESS SHALL PERIODICALLY UPDATE THE DIRECTORY. 6 (C) FOLLOWING APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION, 7 THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF THE DIVISION FOR SMALL BUSINESS SHALL PROVIDE 8 THE APPLICANT WITH WRITTEN NOTICE OF THE STATUS OF THE APPLICATION, 9 INCLUDING NOTICE OF ANY OUTSTANDING DEFICIENCIES, WITHIN THIRTY DAYS. 10 WITHIN SIXTY DAYS OF SUBMISSION OF A FINAL COMPLETED APPLICATION, THE 11 DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF THE DIVISION FOR SMALL BUSINESS SHALL PROVIDE THE 12 APPLICANT WITH WRITTEN NOTICE OF A DETERMINATION BY THE DEPUTY COMMIS- 13 SIONER OF THE DIVISION FOR SMALL BUSINESS APPROVING OR DENYING SUCH 14 CERTIFICATION AND, IN THE EVENT OF A DENIAL, A STATEMENT SETTING FORTH 15 THE REASONS FOR SUCH DENIAL. UPON A DETERMINATION DENYING OR REVOKING 16 CERTIFICATION, THE BUSINESS ENTERPRISE FOR WHICH CERTIFICATION HAS BEEN 17 SO DENIED OR REVOKED SHALL, UPON WRITTEN REQUEST MADE WITHIN THIRTY DAYS 18 FROM RECEIPT OF NOTICE OF SUCH DETERMINATION, BE ENTITLED TO A HEARING 19 BEFORE AN INDEPENDENT HEARING OFFICER DESIGNATED FOR SUCH PURPOSE BY THE 20 DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF THE DIVISION FOR SMALL BUSINESS. IN THE EVENT 21 THAT A REQUEST FOR A HEARING IS NOT MADE WITHIN SUCH THIRTY DAY PERIOD, 22 SUCH DETERMINATION SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE FINAL. THE INDEPENDENT HEARING 23 OFFICER SHALL CONDUCT A HEARING AND UPON THE CONCLUSION OF SUCH HEARING, 24 ISSUE A WRITTEN RECOMMENDATION TO THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF THE DIVI- 25 SION FOR SMALL BUSINESS TO AFFIRM, REVERSE, OR MODIFY SUCH DETERMINATION 26 OF THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF THE DIVISION FOR SMALL BUSINESS. SUCH 27 WRITTEN RECOMMENDATION SHALL BE ISSUED TO THE PARTIES. THE DEPUTY 28 COMMISSIONER OF THE DIVISION FOR SMALL BUSINESS, WITHIN THIRTY DAYS, BY 29 ORDER, MUST ACCEPT, REJECT OR MODIFY SUCH RECOMMENDATION OF THE HEARING 30 OFFICER AND SET FORTH IN WRITING THE REASON THEREFOR. THE DEPUTY COMMIS- 31 SIONER OF THE DIVISION FOR SMALL BUSINESS SHALL SERVE A COPY OF SUCH 32 ORDER AND REASONS THEREFOR UPON THE BUSINESS ENTERPRISE BY PERSONAL 33 SERVICE OR BY CERTIFIED MAIL RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED. THE ORDER OF THE 34 DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF THE DIVISION FOR SMALL BUSINESS SHALL BE SUBJECT 35 TO REVIEW PURSUANT TO ARTICLE SEVENTY-EIGHT OF THE CIVIL PRACTICE LAW 36 AND RULES. 37 (D) ALL CERTIFICATIONS SHALL BE VALID FOR A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS. 38 4. DUTIES OF DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF THE DIVISION FOR SMALL BUSINESS. 39 THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF THE DIVISION FOR SMALL BUSINESS SHALL: 40 (A) DESIGNATE AN APPROPRIATE ENTITY WITHIN THE DIVISION FOR SMALL 41 BUSINESS THAT SHALL, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DIVISION OF VETERANS 42 AFFAIRS, PROVIDE TO CERTIFIED SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABLED VETERAN-OWNED 43 BUSINESS ENTERPRISES INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE CONCERNING PARTICIPATION 44 IN STATE CONTRACTING; 45 (B) ADVISE AND ASSIST AGENCIES IN THEIR IMPLEMENTATION OF SUBDIVISION 46 ONE OF THIS SECTION; AND 47 (C) MAKE AVAILABLE TO CERTIFIED SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABLED 48 VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES TRAINING IN STATE CONTRACTING LAW, 49 PROCEDURES, AND PRACTICES THAT WOULD ASSIST SUCH BUSINESSES IN PARTIC- 50 IPATING IN STATE CONTRACTING AND MAKE THIS TRAINING AVAILABLE ONLINE 51 THROUGH A CONTINUOUS LEARNING PROGRAM. 52 S 369-B. OPPORTUNITIES FOR CERTIFIED VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTER- 53 PRISES. 1. CONTRACT PREFERENCES. EACH AGENCY SHALL PROVIDE THE OPPORTU- 54 NITY FOR CERTIFIED VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES TO MAXIMIZE THEIR 55 PARTICIPATION IN THE PERFORMANCE OF STATE CONTRACTS. A BID BY A VETER- 56 AN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE SHALL BE TREATED AS THE LOWEST BID IN A A. 10388--A 5 1 COMPETITIVE PROCESS FOR A COMMODITY IF IT COST NO MORE THAN TEN PERCENT 2 HIGHER THAN THE LOWEST BID AND FOR SERVICES, IF THE COST COMPONENT IS NO 3 MORE THAN TEN PERCENT HIGHER THAN THE COST COMPONENT OF THE HIGHEST 4 SCORING BID, THESE COMPONENTS SHALL BE TREATED AS EQUAL FOR PURPOSES OF 5 COMPETITIVE SCORING. 6 2. DUTIES OF AGENCIES. IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS AND POLICY 7 ESTABLISHED IN SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION, AGENCIES SHALL: 8 (A) DEVELOP A STRATEGY TO IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS AND POLICY ESTAB- 9 LISHED IN SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION; AND SHALL PUBLICLY PUBLISH 10 SUCH STRATEGY; 11 (B) MAKE THE AGENCY'S STRATEGY PUBLICLY AVAILABLE, HAVE SUCH STRATEGY 12 POSTED UPON THE WEBSITE OF SUCH AGENCY, AND REPORT ANNUALLY TO THE 13 GOVERNOR, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, AND THE SPEAKER OF THE 14 ASSEMBLY ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGENCY'S STRATEGY; 15 (C) DESIGNATE A SENIOR-LEVEL OFFICIAL WITHIN SUCH AGENCY WHO SHALL BE 16 RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING THE AGENCY'S STRATEGY; AND 17 (D) INCLUDE IN THE AGENCY'S STRATEGY PLANS FOR: 18 (I) ENCOURAGING AND FACILITATING PARTICIPATION BY CERTIFIED 19 VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES IN COMPETITIONS FOR AWARD OF AGENCY 20 CONTRACTS; 21 (II) ENCOURAGING AGENCY CONTRACTORS TO SUBCONTRACT WITH CERTIFIED 22 VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES AND ACTIVELY MONITORING AND EVALUAT- 23 ING AGENCY CONTRACTOR'S EFFORTS TO DO SO; 24 (III) TRAINING AGENCY PERSONNEL ON APPLICABLE LAW AND POLICIES RELAT- 25 ING TO PARTICIPATION OF CERTIFIED VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES IN 26 STATE CONTRACTING; AND 27 (IV) DISSEMINATING INFORMATION TO CERTIFIED VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS 28 ENTERPRISES THAT WOULD ASSIST THESE BUSINESSES IN PARTICIPATING IN 29 AWARDS OF AGENCY CONTRACTS. 30 3. CERTIFICATION. (A) THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER RESPONSIBLE FOR HEADING 31 THE DIVISION FOR SMALL BUSINESS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVEL- 32 OPMENT, AS ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-TWO OF THE 33 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LAW SHALL PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS PROVID- 34 ING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A STATEWIDE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM INCLUDING 35 RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE APPROVAL, DENIAL, OR REVOCATION OF 36 ANY SUCH CERTIFICATION. SUCH RULES AND REGULATIONS SHALL INCLUDE, BUT 37 NOT BE LIMITED TO, SUCH MATTERS AS MAY BE REQUIRED TO ENSURE THAT THE 38 ESTABLISHED PROCEDURES THEREUNDER SHALL AT LEAST BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH 39 THE CODE OF FAIR PROCEDURE SET FORTH IN SECTION SEVENTY-THREE OF THE 40 CIVIL RIGHTS LAW. 41 (B) THE DIVISION FOR SMALL BUSINESS SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR VERIFYING 42 BUSINESSES AS BEING OWNED, OPERATED, AND CONTROLLED BY A VETERAN AND FOR 43 CERTIFYING SUCH VERIFIED BUSINESSES. STATUS AS A VETERAN SHALL BE DOCU- 44 MENTED BY A COPY OF THE VETERAN'S CERTIFICATE OF RELEASE OR DISCHARGE 45 FROM ACTIVE DUTY ALSO KNOWN AS A DD-214 FORM OR AN HONORABLE SERVICE 46 CERTIFICATE REPORT OF CAUSALITY FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, A LETTER 47 OF CERTIFICATION BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OR 48 THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 49 THAT MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE DIVISION FOR SMALL BUSINESS. THE DEPUTY 50 COMMISSIONER OF THE DIVISION FOR SMALL BUSINESS SHALL PREPARE A DIRECTO- 51 RY OF CERTIFIED VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES FOR USE BY AGENCIES 52 IN CARRYING OUT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION. SUCH DIRECTORY SHALL BE 53 PUBLICLY POSTED ON THE EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WEBSITE. THE 54 DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF THE DIVISION FOR SMALL BUSINESS SHALL PERIOD- 55 ICALLY UPDATE THE DIRECTORY. A. 10388--A 6 1 (C) FOLLOWING APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION, 2 THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF THE DIVISION FOR SMALL BUSINESS SHALL PROVIDE 3 THE APPLICANT WITH WRITTEN NOTICE OF THE STATUS OF THE APPLICATION, 4 INCLUDING NOTICE OF ANY OUTSTANDING DEFICIENCIES, WITHIN THIRTY DAYS. 5 WITHIN SIXTY DAYS OF SUBMISSION OF A FINAL COMPLETED APPLICATION, THE 6 DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF THE DIVISION FOR SMALL BUSINESS SHALL PROVIDE THE 7 APPLICANT WITH WRITTEN NOTICE OF A DETERMINATION BY THE DEPUTY COMMIS- 8 SIONER OF THE DIVISION FOR SMALL BUSINESS APPROVING OR DENYING SUCH 9 CERTIFICATION AND, IN THE EVENT OF A DENIAL, A STATEMENT SETTING FORTH 10 THE REASONS FOR SUCH DENIAL. UPON A DETERMINATION DENYING OR REVOKING 11 CERTIFICATION, THE BUSINESS ENTERPRISE FOR WHICH CERTIFICATION HAS BEEN 12 SO DENIED OR REVOKED SHALL, UPON WRITTEN REQUEST MADE WITHIN THIRTY DAYS 13 FROM RECEIPT OF NOTICE OF SUCH DETERMINATION, BE ENTITLED TO A HEARING 14 BEFORE AN INDEPENDENT HEARING OFFICER DESIGNATED FOR SUCH PURPOSE BY THE 15 DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF THE DIVISION FOR SMALL BUSINESS. IN THE EVENT 16 THAT A REQUEST FOR A HEARING IS NOT MADE WITHIN SUCH THIRTY DAY PERIOD, 17 SUCH DETERMINATION SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE FINAL. THE INDEPENDENT HEARING 18 OFFICER SHALL CONDUCT A HEARING AND UPON THE CONCLUSION OF SUCH HEARING, 19 ISSUE A WRITTEN RECOMMENDATION TO THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF THE DIVI- 20 SION FOR SMALL BUSINESS TO AFFIRM, REVERSE, OR MODIFY SUCH DETERMINATION 21 OF THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF THE DIVISION FOR SMALL BUSINESS. SUCH 22 WRITTEN RECOMMENDATION SHALL BE ISSUED TO THE PARTIES. THE DEPUTY 23 COMMISSIONER OF THE DIVISION FOR SMALL BUSINESS, WITHIN THIRTY DAYS, BY 24 ORDER, MUST ACCEPT, REJECT OR MODIFY SUCH RECOMMENDATION OF THE HEARING 25 OFFICER AND SET FORTH IN WRITING THE REASONS THEREFOR. THE DEPUTY 26 COMMISSIONER OF THE DIVISION FOR SMALL BUSINESS SHALL SERVE A COPY OF 27 SUCH ORDER AND REASONS THEREFOR UPON THE BUSINESS ENTERPRISE BY PERSONAL 28 SERVICE OR BY CERTIFIED MAIL RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED. THE ORDER OF THE 29 DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF THE DIVISION FOR SMALL BUSINESS SHALL BE SUBJECT 30 TO REVIEW PURSUANT TO ARTICLE SEVENTY-EIGHT OF THE CIVIL PRACTICE LAW 31 AND RULES. 32 (D) ALL CERTIFICATIONS SHALL BE VALID FOR A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS. 33 4. DUTIES OF DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF THE DIVISION FOR SMALL BUSINESS. 34 THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF THE DIVISION FOR SMALL BUSINESS SHALL: 35 (A) DESIGNATE AN APPROPRIATE ENTITY WITHIN THE DIVISION FOR SMALL 36 BUSINESS THAT SHALL, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DIVISION OF VETERANS 37 AFFAIRS, PROVIDE TO VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES INFORMATION AND 38 ASSISTANCE CONCERNING PARTICIPATION IN STATE CONTRACTING; 39 (B) ADVISE AND ASSIST AGENCIES IN THEIR IMPLEMENTATION OF SUBDIVISION 40 ONE OF THIS SECTION; AND 41 (C) MAKE AVAILABLE TO VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES TRAINING IN 42 STATE CONTRACTING LAW, PROCEDURES, AND PRACTICES THAT WOULD ASSIST SUCH 43 BUSINESSES IN PARTICIPATING IN STATE CONTRACTING AND MAKE THIS TRAINING 44 AVAILABLE ONLINE THROUGH A CONTINUOUS LEARNING PROGRAM. 45 S 369-C. SEVERABILITY. IF ANY CLAUSE, SENTENCE, PARAGRAPH, SECTION OR 46 PART OF THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE ADJUDGED BY ANY COURT OF COMPETENT JURIS- 47 DICTION TO BE INVALID, THE JUDGMENT SHALL NOT AFFECT, IMPAIR OR INVALI- 48 DATE THE REMAINDER THEREOF, BUT SHALL BE CONFINED IN ITS OPERATION TO 49 THE CLAUSE, SENTENCE, PARAGRAPH, SECTION OR PART OF THIS ARTICLE DIRECT- 50 LY INVOLVED IN THE CONTROVERSY IN WHICH THE JUDGMENT SHALL HAVE BEEN 51 RENDERED. 52 S 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after 53 it shall have become a law.