Labor & Employment (Apprenticeships)

This bill expands a tax credit available to New York employers who hire apprentices, specifically adding a new benefit for hiring people with disabilities. Under the new rules, employers can claim an additional $500 tax credit for each person with a disability they hire as an apprentice. The definition of disability used in the bill matches the existing legal definition found in the state's executive law. This change aims to provide financial incentives for businesses to include individuals with disabilities in their apprenticeship programs.

This bill requires the state tax commissioner to publish an annual report on brownfields redevelopment tax credits by June 30th each year. The report will list the names of entities that claimed these credits, along with the specific amounts awarded for site cleanup and property improvements. Additionally, the document will detail the number of construction jobs created, worker wage rates, apprenticeship participation, and the involvement of minority and women-owned businesses. This change aims to increase transparency regarding how these tax incentives are utilized and the resulting economic impacts of brownfields redevelopment projects.

Provides for prior service credit for county fire marshals in the county of Nassau for service as a forest ranger I, forest ranger II, forest ranger III, assistant superintendent of forest fire control, or any successor titles or new titles in the forest ranger title series in the department of environmental conservation, as a police officer in the department of environmental conservation, as a park police officer trainee, park police office, sergeant park police, lieutenant park police, major park police, or any successor titles or new titles in the park police title series in the office of parks, recreation and historic preservation or other state park authority or commission, as a member of the capital police force in the office of general services, as a fire protection specialist trainee 2, fire protection specialist trainee 1, fire protection specialist 1, fire protection specialist 2, fire protection specialist 3, or any successor titles or new titles in the fire protection specialist title series of the division of homeland security and emergency services, as an airport firefighter apprentice, airport firefighter I, airport firefighter II, airport firefighter III or training and safety officer in the division of military and naval affairs, or as a uniformed court officer or peace officer employed by the unified court system.

Enacts the "renewable energy project labor agreement act" in relation to requiring project labor agreements for renewable energy projects receiving state support; provides for the repeal of certain provisions upon expiration thereof.

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.

Prohibits employers from engaging in discrimination on the basis of a protected class when using artificial intelligence for recruitment, hiring, promotion, renewal of employment, selection for training or apprenticeship, discharge, discipline, tenure, or the terms, privileges, or conditions of employment.

This bill establishes a 25-year retirement plan for firefighters employed by New York State's Division of Military and Naval Affairs, specifically airport firefighters (apprentice through level III) and training safety officers. Eligible members can retire after 25 years of creditable service - including prior work with organized fire departments and wartime service after World War I - receiving a pension equal to half their final average salary. Members must elect to join the plan within one year of the bill's effective date. The plan serves as an alternative to existing retirement options under state law.

Provides that contractors and subcontractors to cable television companies who are assessed penalties for two separate violations of payroll reporting requirements shall be ineligible to submit a bid on or be awarded any public work contract with the state, any municipal corporation or public body for five years; provides that cable television companies shall be subject to the requirement that workers on certain excavation projects be paid not less than a prevailing rate of wage.

Enacts the "learning for work act"; establishes the youth apprenticeship program and the enhanced regents professional diploma; appropriates moneys therefor.

Requires contractors and subcontractors performing construction work for covered renewable energy systems to use apprenticeship agreements; requires thermal energy networks to require contractors and subcontractors to use pre-apprenticeship direct entry providers registered with the department of labor.