Bill Text: NY S05038 | 2013-2014 | General Assembly | Amended
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 (Republican 3-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-02-10 - PRINT NUMBER 5038A [S05038 Detail]
Download: New_York-2013-S05038-Amended.html
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 5038--A 2013-2014 Regular Sessions I N S E N A T E May 7, 2013 ___________ Introduced by Sens. MARTINS, SEWARD -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Local Government -- recommitted to the Committee on Local Government in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- reported favorably from said committee and committed to the Committee on Finance -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said commit- tee 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 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD10794-02-4 S. 5038--A 2 1 BY THE NEGLIGENT ACTS, ERRORS OR OMISSIONS, OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OF THE 2 PROFESSIONAL FIRM'S PERFORMANCE OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES PROVIDED UNDER 3 THIS AGREEMENT AND THOSE OF ITS SUB-CONSULTANTS OR ANYONE FOR WHOM THE 4 PROFESSIONAL FIRM IS LEGALLY LIABLE." 5 "TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION 6 AGREES TO INDEMNIFY AND HOLD THE PROFESSIONAL FIRM HARMLESS FROM ALL 7 THIRD PARTY CLAIMS, LIABILITIES, DAMAGES AND COSTS (INCLUDING ALL 8 REASONABLE ATTORNEY'S FEES AND COST OF DEFENSE) TO THE EXTENT CAUSED BY 9 THE NEGLIGENT ACTS, ERRORS OR OMISSIONS OF THE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, 10 ITS CONTRACTORS, CONSULTANTS OR ANYONE FOR WHOM THE MUNICIPAL CORPO- 11 RATION IS LEGALLY LIABLE." 12 3. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE CONSTRUED AS REQUIRING A NOTICE OF 13 CLAIM OR OTHER CONDITION PRECEDENT IN LITIGATION FOR ANY PARTY NOT 14 OTHERWISE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE ONE, NOR SHALL IT REQUIRE ANY ACTION TO BE 15 BROUGHT BY OR AGAINST ANY PARTY IN THE COURT OF CLAIMS UNLESS SUCH A 16 REQUIREMENT PREVIOUSLY EXISTED AS TO THAT PARTY. 17 S 2. The public authorities law is amended by adding a new section 18 2879-d to read as follows: 19 S 2879-D. INDEMNIFICATION LANGUAGE IN CONTRACTS. 1. DEFINITIONS. AS 20 USED IN THIS SECTION: 21 A. THE TERM "STATE AUTHORITY" SHALL MEAN A PUBLIC AUTHORITY OR PUBLIC 22 BENEFIT CORPORATION CREATED BY OR EXISTING UNDER THIS CHAPTER OR ANY 23 OTHER LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITH ONE OR MORE OF ITS MEMBERS 24 APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR OR WHO SERVE AS MEMBERS BY VIRTUE OF HOLDING A 25 CIVIL OFFICE OF THE STATE, OTHER THAN AN INTERSTATE OR INTERNATIONAL 26 AUTHORITY OR PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION, INCLUDING SUBSIDIARIES OF SUCH 27 PUBLIC AUTHORITY OR PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION. 28 B. THE TERM "LOCAL AUTHORITY" SHALL MEAN: (A) A PUBLIC AUTHORITY OR 29 PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION CREATED BY OR EXISTING UNDER THIS CHAPTER OR 30 ANY OTHER LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WHOSE MEMBERS DO NOT HOLD A CIVIL 31 OFFICE OF THE STATE, ARE NOT APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR OR ARE APPOINTED 32 BY THE GOVERNOR SPECIFICALLY UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE LOCAL 33 GOVERNMENT OR GOVERNMENTS; (B) A NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION AFFILIATED 34 WITH, SPONSORED BY, OR CREATED BY A COUNTY, CITY, TOWN OR VILLAGE 35 GOVERNMENT; (C) A LOCAL INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENTAL AGENCY OR AUTHORITY OR 36 OTHER LOCAL PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION; (D) AN AFFILIATE OF SUCH LOCAL 37 AUTHORITY; OR (E) A LAND BANK CORPORATION CREATED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 38 SIXTEEN OF THE NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION LAW. 39 C. THE TERM "PROFESSIONAL FIRM" SHALL MEAN ANY INDIVIDUAL OR SOLE 40 PROPRIETORSHIP, PARTNERSHIP, CORPORATION, ASSOCIATION, OR OTHER LEGAL 41 ENTITY PERMITTED BY LAW TO PRACTICE THE PROFESSIONS OF ARCHITECTURE, 42 ENGINEERING OR SURVEYING. 43 2. ALL CONTRACTS SUBJECT TO THIS ARTICLE SHALL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING 44 LANGUAGE: 45 "TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE PROFESSIONAL FIRM AGREES 46 TO INDEMNIFY AND HOLD THE STATE AND LOCAL AUTHORITY, ITS OFFICERS, 47 DIRECTORS AND EMPLOYEES HARMLESS FROM ALL THIRD PARTY CLAIMS, LIABIL- 48 ITIES, DAMAGES AND COSTS (INCLUDING ALL REASONABLE ATTORNEY'S FEES AND 49 COST OF DEFENSE) TO WHICH THE STATE AND LOCAL AUTHORITY, ITS OFFICERS, 50 DIRECTORS AND EMPLOYEES MAY BE SUBJECT TO, ARISING OUT OF THE DEATH OR 51 BODILY INJURY TO ANY PERSON OR THE DESTRUCTION OR DAMAGE TO ANY PROPERTY 52 TO THE EXTENT CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENT ACTS, ERRORS OR OMISSIONS, OR 53 WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OF THE PROFESSIONAL FIRM'S PERFORMANCE OF PROFES- 54 SIONAL SERVICES PROVIDED UNDER THIS AGREEMENT AND THOSE OF ITS SUB-CON- 55 SULTANTS OR ANYONE FOR WHOM THE PROFESSIONAL FIRM IS LEGALLY LIABLE." S. 5038--A 3 1 "TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE STATE AND LOCAL AUTHORITY 2 AGREES TO INDEMNIFY AND HOLD THE PROFESSIONAL FIRM HARMLESS FROM ALL 3 THIRD PARTY CLAIMS, LIABILITIES, DAMAGES AND COSTS (INCLUDING ALL 4 REASONABLE ATTORNEY'S FEES AND COST OF DEFENSE) TO THE EXTENT CAUSED BY 5 THE NEGLIGENT ACTS, ERRORS OR OMISSIONS OF THE STATE AND LOCAL AUTHORI- 6 TY, ITS CONTRACTORS, CONSULTANTS OR ANYONE FOR WHOM THE STATE AND LOCAL 7 AUTHORITY IS LEGALLY LIABLE." 8 3. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE CONSTRUED AS REQUIRING A NOTICE OF 9 CLAIM OR OTHER CONDITION PRECEDENT IN LITIGATION FOR ANY PARTY NOT 10 OTHERWISE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE ONE, NOR SHALL IT REQUIRE ANY ACTION TO BE 11 BROUGHT BY OR AGAINST ANY PARTY IN THE COURT OF CLAIMS UNLESS SUCH A 12 REQUIREMENT PREVIOUSLY EXISTED AS TO THAT PARTY. 13 S 3. Section 136-a of the state finance law is amended by adding a new 14 subdivision 6 to read as follows: 15 6. (A) DEFINITIONS. AS USED IN THIS SUBDIVISION: 16 (I) THE TERM "STATE DEPARTMENT" SHALL MEAN THOSE STATE GOVERNMENT 17 DEPARTMENTS, DIVISIONS OR COMMISSIONS EMPOWERED BY THE STATE TO ENTER 18 INTO CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 19 (II) THE TERM "PROFESSIONAL FIRM" SHALL BE DEFINED AS ANY INDIVIDUAL 20 OR SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP, PARTNERSHIP, CORPORATION, ASSOCIATION, OR OTHER 21 LEGAL ENTITY PERMITTED BY LAW TO PRACTICE THE PROFESSIONS OF ARCHITEC- 22 TURE, ENGINEERING OR SURVEYING. 23 (B) ALL CONTRACTS SUBJECT TO THIS ARTICLE SHALL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING 24 LANGUAGE: 25 "TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE PROFESSIONAL FIRM AGREES 26 TO INDEMNIFY AND HOLD THE STATE DEPARTMENT, ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND 27 EMPLOYEES HARMLESS FROM ALL THIRD PARTY CLAIMS, LIABILITIES, DAMAGES AND 28 COSTS (INCLUDING ALL REASONABLE ATTORNEY'S FEES AND COST OF DEFENSE) TO 29 WHICH THE STATE DEPARTMENT, ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND EMPLOYEES MAY BE 30 SUBJECT TO, ARISING OUT OF THE DEATH OR BODILY INJURY TO ANY PERSON OR 31 THE DESTRUCTION OR DAMAGE TO ANY PROPERTY TO THE EXTENT CAUSED BY THE 32 NEGLIGENT ACTS, ERRORS OR OMISSIONS, OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OF THE 33 PROFESSIONAL FIRM'S PERFORMANCE OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES PROVIDED UNDER 34 THIS AGREEMENT AND THOSE OF ITS SUB-CONSULTANTS OR ANY ONE FOR WHOM THE 35 DESIGN CONSULTANT IS LEGALLY LIABLE." 36 "TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE STATE DEPARTMENT AGREES 37 TO INDEMNIFY AND HOLD THE PROFESSIONAL FIRM HARMLESS FROM ALL THIRD 38 PARTY CLAIMS, LIABILITIES, DAMAGES AND COSTS (INCLUDING ALL REASONABLE 39 ATTORNEY'S FEES AND COST OF DEFENSE) TO THE EXTENT CAUSED BY THE NEGLI- 40 GENT ACTS, ERRORS OR OMISSIONS OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT, ITS CONTRACTORS, 41 CONSULTANTS OR ANYONE FOR WHOM THE STATE DEPARTMENT IS LEGALLY LIABLE." 42 (C) NOTHING IN THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL BE CONSTRUED AS REQUIRING A 43 NOTICE OF CLAIM OR OTHER CONDITION PRECEDENT IN LITIGATION FOR ANY PARTY 44 NOT OTHERWISE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE ONE, NOR SHALL IT REQUIRE ANY ACTION 45 TO BE BROUGHT BY OR AGAINST ANY PARTY IN THE COURT OF CLAIMS UNLESS SUCH 46 A REQUIREMENT PREVIOUSLY EXISTED AS TO THAT PARTY. 47 S 4. This act shall take effect immediately.