Prohibits gas and electric corporations from recovering labor-related legal costs or workers' compensation loss adjustment expenses from ratepayers through rates, charges, surcharges, adjustment mechanisms, riders, or reconciliation mechanisms; defines labor-related legal activity.
Enacts the "omnibus prevailing wage enforcement act"; creates the office of the prevailing wage fraud inspector general for increased vigilance in the effort to achieve prevailing wage enforcement; allows public authorities to require that successful bidders for public works jobs participate in a state-sponsored apprenticeship program; makes related provisions.
Provides that the New York labor law shall be construed liberally for the accomplishment of its remedial purposes, regardless of whether similarly-worded provisions of federal laws or regulations have been or continue to be construed otherwise.
Provides that a claimant eligible to receive unemployment insurance benefits shall also be entitled to receive a dependent allowance which shall begin at forty-five dollars and shall increase annually by an amount determined by the department of labor; directs the department of labor to report to the legislature following each calendar quarter certain information about dependent allowances and to make such reports available on its website; provides that a claimant's maximum benefit amount, including such dependent allowance, shall not exceed one hundred percent of such claimant's average weekly wage from their highest-earning calendar quarter.
This bill commemorates the 115th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire on March 25, 2026, by formally recognizing the tragedy that killed 146 garment workers and acknowledging the historical significance of the event in advancing labor rights. The resolution highlights the fire's role in prompting major labor reforms, including improved safety regulations and the eventual establishment of workers' rights such as the 40-hour work week and unionization protections. It also honors the specific victims by listing their names and ages, and calls attention to the ongoing efforts of labor organizations and immigrant communities in protecting workers today. The bill is primarily symbolic, serving to educate the public and reaffirm the state's commitment to remembering this pivotal moment in labor history.
Provides that unemployment insurance benefits shall not be paid in an amount greater than thirty times the claimant's weekly benefit rate in any benefit year, subject to certain exceptions.
Provides notification of employment or promotion of applicable employees to organizations of state employees designated managerial or confidential for purposes of employee representation in determining the terms and conditions of employment.
This bill establishes death benefits for deputy sheriffs employed by Orange County. It allows the beneficiaries of deceased deputy sheriffs to receive a lump sum payment equal to the pension reserve that would have been established had the employee retired on the date of death, or the value of the death benefit and reserve-for-increased-take-home-pay, whichever is greater. The Orange County government will cover all past service costs associated with implementing this change over a ten-year period, and the bill takes effect immediately upon passage.
This bill allows Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) to create a workers' compensation reserve fund, joining other entities like school districts and fire districts that already have this option. The fund would be used to pay workers' compensation benefits and medical expenses for employees who are self-insured, with money coming from budget appropriations and other legal sources. Any excess funds at the end of a fiscal year could be transferred to other authorized funds or applied to the next year's budget, and the money must be kept separate from other financial accounts. The changes take effect immediately upon passage.
This bill requires state and local government agencies to create language-specific job titles for customer-facing roles in areas where certain non-English languages are commonly spoken. It defines high-need languages as those among the top three in a county or top five statewide, and mandates that at least 25% of positions in these roles be filled by employees proficient in those languages. Agencies must include language proficiency tests in hiring exams, track hiring data, and submit annual reports on language access compliance. The law also allows agencies to use interpretation services when qualified candidates in language-specific titles are unavailable.
