§ 138. State contracts not to be assigned without consent. A clause shall be inserted in all specifications or contracts hereafter made or awarded by the state, or any public department or official thereof, prohibiting any contractor, to whom any contract shall be let, granted or awarded, as required by law, from assigning, transferring, conveying, sub-letting or otherwise disposing of the same, or of his right, title or interest therein, or his power to execute such contract to any other person, company or corporation, without the previous consent in writing of the department or official awarding the same.

If any contractor, to whom any contract is hereafter let, granted or awarded, as required by law, by the state, or by any public department or official thereof, shall, without the previous written consent specified in the first paragraph of this section, assign, transfer, convey, sublet or otherwise dispose of the same, or his right, title or interest therein, or his power to execute such contract, to any other person, company or other corporation, the state, public department or official, as the case may be, which let, made, granted or awarded said contract, shall revoke and annul such contract, and the state, public department or officer, as the case may be, shall be relieved and discharged from any and all liability and obligations growing out of said contract to such contract, and to the person, company, or corporation to whom he shall assign, transfer, convey, sublet or otherwise dispose of the same, and said contractor, and his assignee, transferee, or sub-lessee, shall forfeit and lose all moneys, theretofore earned under said contract except so much as may be required to pay his employees; provided that nothing herein contained shall be construed to hinder, prevent or affect an assignment by such contract for the benefit of his creditors, made pursuant to the statutes of this state.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the commissioner of general services and state agencies may, with concurrence of the office of state comptroller when the original contract was subject to the office of state comptroller approval, waive prior written consent of an assignment, transfer, conveyance, sublease or other disposition of contracts or monies under a contract let pursuant to article eleven of this chapter. Such waiver may be granted under circumstances where the contractor verifies to the commissioner of general services or state agency, as applicable, that the assignment, transfer, conveyance, sublease or other disposition is due to but not necessarily limited to, a reorganization, merger or consolidation of the contractor's business entity or enterprise. The commissioner of general services and state agencies retain the right, as provided herein, to accept or reject an assignment, transfer, conveyance, sublease or other disposition by the contractor.