Res. No. 1695 Title Resolution calling upon the appropriate committee of the Council of the City of New York to conduct an oversight hearing in relation to social service contracts being awarded to religious organizations Body By Council Members Freed and Linares; also Council Members Foster and Robinson Whereas, According to recent reports, the City is working in collaboration with various religious organizations in a new pilot program to provide welfare services; and Whereas, Pursuant to the $1.9 million pilot program, welfare recipients are receiving social services and programs from religious organizations in order to find employment; and Whereas, While much needed social services have long been delivered by religious organizations in partnership with the City to communities, this new pilot program has raised concerns about the integrity of the procurement process; and Whereas, According to reports, religious organizations are being required to sign social service contracts that contain boilerplate "gag rule" provisions prohibiting providers from speaking out about their welfare-to-work programs; and Whereas, The contracts have raised several concerns as a result of the lack of public review and participation in relation to the pilot program; and Whereas, The contracts are being issued by the State University of New York, which, acting as a conduit, is paying for the services using federal money distributed by the State Department Labor; and Whereas, This method of payment has bypassed the entire City's contracting and procurement process; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the appropriate committee of the Council of the City of New York conduct an oversight hearing in relation to social service contracts being awarded to religious organizations. LS # 3784 Afn