N.Y.C. Admin. Code § L.L. 2001/020: L.L. 2001/020

Enactment date: 4/25/2001

Int. No. 693-A

By: the Speaker (Council Member Vallone) and Council Members Freed, Fisher, McCaffrey, Quinn, Linares, O'Donovan, Marshall, Berman, Pinkett, Spigner, Carrion, Dear, Malave-Dilan, Eisland, Henry, Lasher, Lopez, Perkins, Reed, Cruz, Robles and The Public Advocate (Mr. Green); also Council Members DiBrienza, Foster, Harrison, Leffler, Koslowitz, Michels, Povman, Sabini, Eldridge, Nelson, Miller, Robinson, Provenzano, Boyland, Nelson, Watkins, Warden, White, Rivera, Espada, Rodriguez and Rivera

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the procurement of apparel and textile services by city agencies.

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. Declaration of Legislative Findings and Intent. The Council of the City of New York finds that it is in the City's best interest to procure items of apparel and textiles from responsible contractors that provide quality and service at the lowest responsible price and provide a safe work environment for their employees. The Council finds that, after almost a century of progress in the struggle against sweatshops in the apparel and textile sectors, there has been a recent resurgence of such exploitative and abusive workplaces in New York, the United States, and around the world. The City should not spend its citizens' money in ways that shock the conscience of a vast majority. Acting with the discretion allowed any private participant in the market, the City should choose to allocate its purchasing dollars in order to enhance, rather than degrade, the economic and social wellbeing of people, while at the same time assure the public that the City is acquiring the maximum quality for the lowest possible cost. Furthermore, it is essential to the public interest that the City require manufacturers, who contract to provide the City with apparel and textile goods, to submit information necessary for the determination of responsibility. Accordingly, the Council finds that it is in the best interests of the city of New York to procure apparel and textile goods from responsible contractors and subcontractors that provide a safe, non-discriminatory work environment and compensate their employees with a non-poverty wage.

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[Consolidated provisions are not included in this Appendix A]

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§ 3. This local law shall take effect 270 days after its enactment, provided, however, that any rules consistent with this local law and necessary to its implementation may be promulgated prior to such effective date.