S 9145, the "Recovery Ready Workplace Act," creates a certification program for employers to become "recovery ready workplaces" (RRWs), directly affecting businesses with employees and their workers struggling with substance use disorders. Key provisions require employers to implement specific policies, including providing naloxone access, offering anti-stigma training for staff, ensuring equal health coverage for substance use disorder treatment as physical health care, and connecting with recovery organizations within six months of certification. Employers must also develop written plans with employee and union input, address workplace stressors linked to substance misuse, and maintain confidentiality for employees seeking support. The law aims to reduce barriers to care and normalize recovery support in the workplace through structured certification criteria.
Clarifies the standard for intentional discrimination or retaliation claims by requiring a person or persons prove that an unlawful motivation was a motivating factor and not "the sole motivating factor" or a "but-for cause" of the challenged treatment.
Extends paid family leave benefits to certain construction employees who shall be eligible for family leave benefits if they were employed for at least twenty-six of the last thirty-nine weeks by any covered employer which is signatory to a collective bargaining agreement; relates to the effectiveness thereof.
Provides that an operational safety plan developed by the office of parks, recreation and historic preservation shall require that any employee check in with the incident commander or safety officer for incident specific procedures prior to taking any action at the incident location; provides that when deployment occurs in coordination with one or more other entities, and the office of parks, recreation and historic preservation is not the lead response agency, the office of parks, recreation and historic preservation shall make reasonable efforts to ensure that employees are provided with the incident specific operational safety plan developed by the lead agency and/or incident commander.
This bill establishes legal confidentiality for conversations between police officers and peer support specialists during official counseling sessions. It directly affects law enforcement officers seeking mental health support and the peer support specialists who provide it. Key provisions prohibit disclosing session details unless there's a specific threat of suicide, self-harm, violence, or child abuse - allowing limited disclosure only to prevent harm. Officers must receive written notice before sessions explaining these confidentiality rules and exceptions. The law ensures peer support communications remain private except in clearly defined safety emergencies.
This bill prohibits employers - including businesses, state agencies, and political subdivisions - from using an applicant's or employee's credit history for hiring, firing, or licensing decisions. It defines "employer" broadly to cover all entities with employees, including the state. The only exception allows credit checks for high-trust positions (e.g., government roles requiring public trust) if specifically approved by a state commission. This replaces prior legislation that had similar restrictions but different wording.
Clarifies the definition of custom fabrication for the purposes of prevailing wage; requires certain reports for public works contracts including such custom fabrication.
Permits the admissibility of testimony that a person reported acts of discrimination to another person in a civil trial under the human rights law, including the contents of such report.
This bill establishes "first responder safety zones" on highways, defining them as areas up to 660 feet around facilities where fire, police, or ambulance vehicles are stationed. Within these clearly marked zones, the maximum speed limit for drivers is set at 15 miles per hour. Drivers are required to yield the right of way to emergency vehicles with active lights during an emergency within or entering these zones, and also to pedestrians crossing the roadway. Violations, such as failing to yield or exceeding the speed limit, carry fines, and a third offense for failing to yield can result in a one-year license suspension.
Establishes the payment of certain volunteer firefighter and volunteer ambulance worker death benefits shall be within ninety days of the filing of application to receive such death benefit.
