Labor Bills

Bills Regarding Labor Practices Presently Before New York Legislature

IMPORTANT

Bill A02294

Summary:

In most cases, employees who have been permanently
injured in the workplace are compensated at a rate that amounts to far
less than their previous annual income. For those classified with a
total permanent disability, this can   cause   serious   financial
difficulties due to incurred costs stemming from continuous specialty
health care services provided to ensure a measure of comfort and
quality of life
According   to   data obtained from the New York State Workers`
Compensation Board, only an estimated 350 employees per year are
classified as having a permanent total disability. Considering how few
are actually classified in this category and acknowledging the extreme
nature of these injuries, a reasonable cost-of-living increase based
on 50% of the annual increase in the Consumer Price Index is
justified.

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This bill has been referred to the Labor Department
Becomes Effective July 1, 2002

IMPORTANT

Bill A05132

Summary:

To raise the state minimum wage from $5.15 to $6.75 on and after
1/1/2003; provides for increase on or before 1/1/2004 and annually
thereafter based on increases in CPI

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This Bill has been passed by the Assembly

IMPORTANT

Bill A01170

Summary:

Enacts the "unemployed health insurance protection plan of New York" to provide health insurance coverage for unemployed persons receiving unemployment benefits; provides that such health insurance coverage is to be provided exclusively by an insurer selected on a bidding process established by the unemployment health insurance advisory board, herein created; also provides that the premiums for such coverage, at the participants request, are to come directly out of unemployment insurance benefits; makes numerous related provisions.

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This bill has been referred to The Department of Insurance

I URGE YOU TO CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TO CONFIRM YOUR SUPPORT FOR THESE BILLS!

Bill A00218

Summary:

This act is needed to prevent any discrimination that might occur by
an employer against an employee because the employee chose to exercise
their duty and privilege of serving on a jury. In the past, an
employer could not penalize or discharge an employee who served on a
jury. This act would further clarify the law, allowing more employees
to feel more secure in fulfilling their obligation, thereby allowing
more persons to participate in the jury process. In turn, this would
give our juries a greater cross-section of the population and make
juries more representative of society. This act would also allow for
civil penalties and civil action against employers which will help to
ensure that employers do not penalize, discharge or discriminate
against those employees who are called to serve on juries.

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This Bill has been referred to Judiciary

Bill A00762

Summary:

Labor Law S 591 provides that a claimant must be totally unemployed in
order to be eligible to receive unemployment insurance benefits. The
interpretation of this statute has resulted in the inequitable
situation where an individual laid off from factory employment was
denied unemployment insurance benefits on the basis of their
performing odd jobs around a relative`s farm even though they received
no payment for this labor and had no ownership interest on the farm.
The result of this interpretation acts to discourage work performed by
family members upon a farm and unfairly disqualifies them for
unemployment insurance benefits. This unintended result runs contrary
to the often stated state policy of preserving family farms and
strengthening agriculture in New York.

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This bill has been referred to the Department of Labor