New Law Restores Comptroller's Power to Pre-Audit Billions in State Contracts

By Mindy Cohn

The State Legislature has restored the state comptroller's authority to "pre-audit" most big state contracts before they become finalized.

This new legislation restores the pre-audit review of large contracts overturned measures by former Governor Andrew M. Cuomo.

The new law, sponsored by former Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick, and Assemblyman Kenneth Zebrowski, was signed by Governor Kathy Hochul and includes contracts for major infrastructure and construction by the State University of New York, the City University of New York, and the state Office of General Services. 

Under the agreement signed, the Comptroller will again have the authority to review billions of dollars of state contracts before the contracts are signed. This includes Office of General Services contracts, SUNY/CUNY materials contracts, SUNY Construction Fund contracts, and SUNY health care contracts, among others.