Requires sexual harassment training for hotel and motel employees; requires operators to certify to the department that they have conducted sexual harassment training; provides such training every two years for employees; requires "know your rights" brochure and employee bill of rights.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A641
SPONSOR: Rosenthal TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the labor law, in relation to requiring sexual harass-
ment training for hotel and motel employees
PURPOSE:
This bill seeks to educate and empower hotel and motel employees by
educating them about their rights under law against sexual harassment.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section one amends the labor law by adding a new section 202-n.
Section two sets forth the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
It has become apparent, due to a recent series of sexual assaults on
hotel employees in the City of New York and beyond, that comprehensive
education about sexual harassment and greater protective protocols for
these employees must be established. It has also become clear that safe,
non-hostile working environments in which employees are certain of their
rights, that allow employees to feel secure in reporting incidents of
sexual harassment, and that codify the means of reporting and responding
to these incidents, must be established.
To ensure employee safety, and unhindered reporting, this legislation
would authorize the creation and distribution of a "Know Your Rights"
brochure to be given to all hotel and motel employees, in addition to
formal training provided by employers on how to recognize, report and
cope with sexual harassment: A "no retaliation" clause is included to
ensure that employees are protected when they report incidences of sexu-
al harassment without the threat of retaliation by employers or those
accused. Small family-owned and operated hotels, motels and bed and
breakfast facilities will not be required to adhere to certain
provisions within this bill.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: A.437 - Referred to Labor 2021-22: A.1547 - Referred to Labor
2019-20: A.1258 - Referred to Labor 2017-18: A.2179 - Referred to Labor
2015-16: A.429 Referred to Labor 2013-14: A.834 - Referred to Labor
2011-12: A.8195-A - Referred to Labor
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Undetermined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This bill shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become a law.
