Relates to enacting the "free resources for equitable education (FREE) act"; requires State University of New York higher education institutions to designate all general education and 25 percent of all major specific courses as low textbook cost (LTC) or zero textbook cost (ZTC).
Relates to requiring the department of transportation to prepare a plan for every public transportation system to be eligible to receive operating assistance in the purchase of new zero-emission buses or vehicles.
Relates to increased participation in state contracts and subcontracts by certified minority and women-owned business enterprises; requires quarterly reports from contracting agencies; addresses consequences if contracting agency fails to comply with reporting requirements; relates to certain performance and payment bond requirements.
Authorizes the empire state development corporation to retain one or more independent MWBE consultant firms to conduct an independent review of procurement procedures utilized by state agencies.
Provides for increased participation in state contracts and subcontracts by certified minority and women-owned business enterprises; relates to certain performance and payment bond requirements.
Provides a half exemption for the sale of the first $35,000 for a battery, electric, or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle from state sales and compensating use taxes and a full exemption on such sales where the vehicle was assembled in the United States utilizing union labor; authorizes local governments to elect such incentives; repeals the hybrid exemption after ten years.