Labor & Employment

Updates requirements for retail worker employers when developing and implementing programs to prevent workplace violence; clarifies certain provisions of the retail worker safety act.

This bill (S 2677) amends tax exemption policies to require agencies and authorities to consider whether a project provides onsite child care services or facilitates new child care services as part of evaluating applications for real property, mortgage recording, and sales tax exemptions. It directly affects developers and project owners seeking tax exemptions, as well as municipal and school district authorities administering these exemptions. The key mechanism adds child care provision as a specific factor - alongside job creation, environmental impact, and public support - to the existing list of criteria agencies must evaluate when approving tax exemptions. This change does not create new exemptions but integrates child care accessibility into the standard review process for qualifying projects.

This bill amends New York's warehouse worker injury prevention program to specifically target work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), such as strains, sprains, and repetitive motion injuries affecting muscles, nerves, joints, and spine. It requires warehouse employers to implement injury reduction programs including annual worksite evaluations by a "competent person" (replacing the previous "qualified ergonomist" standard), worker input through safety committees, and immediate access to evaluation results for workers. Employers must correct identified ergonomic risks like rapid pace, repetitive motions, or extreme postures, and provide written schedules for corrections taking over 30 days. The law directly affects warehouse workers performing manual material handling tasks and their employers, focusing on concrete safety measures rather than outcome predictions.