Prohibits state contracts with contractors who do not provide health insurance which covers supplemental breast cancer screenings; authorizes the comptroller to promulgate any necessary rules and regulations.
Summary
S01773 would amend the state finance law to require that state contracts include a clause barring contractors, and certain substantially owned or affiliated entities, from participating in a health plan that does not cover supplemental breast cancer screenings. In effect, any contractor seeking a state contract would have to certify that its health coverage includes these screenings as a material condition of doing business with the state.
The bill also gives the state comptroller authority to void a contract if, after execution, the contractor is found to be participating in a health plan that fails to provide supplemental breast cancer screening coverage. Existing contracts are protected, but any renewal, amendment, or modification on or after the effective date would be subject to the new requirement. The comptroller is directed to adopt any necessary rules and regulations, and the act would take effect 90 days after becoming law.
Impact
This bill would add a new procurement condition to the state finance law, affecting state agencies, public departments, and officials that award contracts for goods or services. Contractors and their substantially owned or affiliated entities would need to ensure their health plans include supplemental breast cancer screening coverage in order to remain eligible for state work, and noncompliance could lead to forfeiture and voiding of the contract by the comptroller. The measure would not disturb existing contracts immediately, but it would apply to future contracts and to renewals, amendments, or modifications after the effective date.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests strong bipartisan or at least unanimous support in the Senate, with the bill passing the Rules Committee 19-0 and the Senate floor 59-0. No committee transcript is available, so there is no recorded debate to indicate opposition or concerns. Overall, the bill appears to have been received favorably as a health-related procurement measure aimed at expanding access to breast cancer screening coverage.
Contention
No specific points of contention are reflected in the provided materials, and the recorded votes show no opposition. Potential areas of concern, based on the bill text, could include the administrative burden on contractors, the scope of the coverage requirement, and the comptroller’s authority to void contracts, but no legislator or stakeholder objections are documented in the supplied record.
Prohibits state contracts with contractors who do not provide health insurance which covers services for transgender, non-binary, and gender expansive people.
Prohibits state contracts with contractors who do not provide health insurance which covers services for transgender, non-binary, and gender expansive people.