Expands protections regarding violations of safety conditions in adult care facilities; provides penalties for safety violations and operating without a valid license; prohibits reductions in fines in certain circumstances where a patient is endangered or harmed.
This bill increases short-term disability and family leave benefits for eligible New York workers. It phases in higher weekly benefit rates (from 50% to 67% of average weekly wage) and extends maximum benefit periods (from 8-10 weeks to 12 weeks) over time, starting in 2018. These changes apply to employees taking leave for disability or qualifying family care needs under New York's workers' compensation law. The bill requires employers to maintain health benefits during leave and prohibits retaliation for taking leave. The superintendent of financial services may delay benefit increases if needed to maintain program stability.
Clarifies that the statutory damages available for certain wage violations are not punitive in nature and are designed to be liquidated damages rather than penalties or to compensate workers for the employer's failure to prevent wage theft and for the harm to employees that results from such failure.
This bill clarifies rules for health care plans (like insurance companies and HMOs) when ending contracts with health care professionals (doctors, nurses, etc.). It requires plans to provide written reasons for termination and allow a 30-day review by a panel of three licensed peers before finalizing termination, except in cases of fraud or imminent patient harm. The bill also prohibits termination for protected actions, such as advocating for patients, filing complaints, or requesting a review. These changes apply to all health care professionals licensed in New York under current law, ensuring fairer processes for contract disputes.
Requires the department of labor create and maintain a list of available careers and job openings for veterans in the state of New York and provide such list to the department of veterans' services; requires such list to be placed on the department of veterans' services website.
This bill would expand family leave protections to include employees who are recovering from a stillbirth. It directly affects workers who experience pregnancy loss by adding stillbirth recovery to the list of qualifying reasons for taking unpaid leave under the state's workers' compensation law. The key provision amends existing definitions to allow employees to take leave during the first twelve months after a stillbirth, treating it similarly to leave taken to bond with a newborn child. The bill would take effect 90 days after becoming law if it were to pass both legislative chambers.
Provides that certain purchase contracts to purchase food can be awarded to a qualified bidder who fulfills certain values based procurement standards when such bid is not more than 10% higher than the lowest responsible bidder and when the bidder makes publicly available data on where such bidder sources their food items; sets forth the criteria for values based procurement standards to include local economies, environmental resilience, racial equity, valued workforce, valued agricultural sector, animal welfare, and nutrition.
Regulates the development and use of certain artificial intelligence systems to prevent algorithmic discrimination; requires independent audits of high risk AI systems; provides for enforcement by the attorney general.
This bill adds Stewart International Airport to the list of locations covered by New York's airport minimum wage law. It directly affects workers performing airline catering work at Stewart International Airport, ensuring they receive the same minimum wage rates as workers at JFK and LaGuardia airports. The law amendment explicitly includes Stewart in the definition of "covered airport location" within the labor law. This change applies immediately upon enactment to expand wage protections for these specific workers.
This bill renames the "New York State Workforce Investment Board" to the "New York State Workforce Development Board" and updates its membership structure. It directly affects the board's composition (adding specific representation for youth, mature workers, and industry sectors) and its administrative duties under state and federal workforce laws. The key mechanism is changing the board's official name and clarifying member appointment requirements, while maintaining its core responsibilities like developing workforce plans and coordinating federal funding. The bill does not alter the board's substantive policy functions.
