New York State Assembly

 
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A10349 Summary:

A10349 Actions:

A10349 Committee Votes:

Committee:LABOR   Chair:      
DATE:07/15/2020AYE/NAY:25/0  Action: Favorable refer to committee Codes        
Abbate
Aye
Brabenec
Aye
Perry
Aye
DiPietro
Aye
Ortiz
Aye
Byrne
Aye
Colton
Aye
Morinello
Aye
Benedetto
Aye
Lawrence
Aye
Hevesi
Aye
DeStefano
Aye
Miller
Aye
Manktelow
Excused
Bronson
Aye
Schmitt
Aye
Rodriguez
Aye
DenDekker
Aye
Rozic
Aye
Simon
Aye
Steck
Aye
Joyner
Aye
Barnwell
Aye
Richardson
Excused
Rosenthal
Aye
Cruz
Aye
Reyes
Excused
De La Rosa
Aye

Committee:CODES   Chair:Lentol      
DATE:07/17/2020AYE/NAY:21/0  Action: Favorable refer to committee Rules        
Lentol
Aye
Morinello
Aye
Schimminger
Excused
Giglio
Aye
Pretlow
Aye
Montesano
Aye
Cook
Aye
Palumbo
Aye
Cymbrowitz
Aye
Garbarino
Aye
O'Donnell
Aye
Reilly
Aye
Lavine
Aye
Perry
Aye
Abinanti
Aye
Weprin
Aye
Mosley
Aye
Hevesi
Aye
Fahy
Aye
Seawright
Aye
Rosenthal
Aye
Walker
Aye

Committee:RULES   Chair:Heastie      
DATE:07/20/2020AYE/NAY:27/0  Action: Favorable         
Heastie
Excused
Barclay
Aye
Gottfried
Aye
Crouch
Aye
Lentol
Aye
Finch
Excused
Nolan
Aye
Hawley
Aye
Weinstein
Aye
Giglio
Aye
Ortiz
Aye
Malliotakis
Aye
Pretlow
Aye
Blankenbush
Aye
Cook
Aye
Norris
Aye
Glick
Excused
Aubry
Aye
Englebright
Aye
Dinowitz
Aye
Colton
Aye
Magnarelli
Aye
Perry
Aye
Paulin
Aye
Peoples-Stokes
Aye
Benedetto
Aye
Lavine
Aye
Lupardo
Aye
Zebrowski
Aye
Thiele
Aye

A10349 Floor Votes:

A10349 Memo:

NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION
 submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)



 
BILL NUMBER: A10349
 
SPONSOR: Frontus

 
TITLE OF BILL:
 
An act to amend the labor law, in relation to requiring employers to
warn employees of potential hazardous environmental and health condi-
tions in the workplace
 
 
PURPOSE OF THE BILL:
 
As many essential workers have assumed significant risks to their health
during the coronavirus crisis, this bill would require employers to warn
employees and contract workers of any known environmental and health
hazards, and to take steps to mitigate risks to workers health, includ-
ing by providing personal protective equipment.
 
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
 
The labor law is amended by adding a new section 200-b requiring employ-
ers to inform employees and contract workers of known hazardous environ-
mental and health risks; requiring employers to mitigate those risks,
including providing appropriate protective equipment; and prohibiting
retaliation against employees and contract workers who refuse to work in
or around those known health and environmental hazards if an employer
has failed to mitigate those conditions or provide protective equipment.
In addition, the commissioner shall establish procedures to allow
employees and contract workers to inform the department of any hazardous
health and environmental conditions, or of any employers in violation of
this section, and the department shall share known violations of these
procedures with appropriate public health or environmental authorities,
if necessary.
 
Section 212-d of the labor law is amended by adding a new subdivision
1-a to require growers and processors using paid farm hand workers,
field workers or food processing workers to provide appropriate field
sanitation procedures and materials to prevent the spread of infectious
diseases, including COVID19.
 
 
JUSTIFICATION:
 
The coronavirus outbreak has exposed many service workers to health and
safety risks that they could not have anticipated and cannot avoid,
since their job responsibilities cannot be performed remotely.  Many of
these workers are in positions that New York has deemed, essential, or
that support critical public services. These workers often assume risks
to their health without being informed of those risks and without appro-
priate protective measures.
 
A "duty to warn" workers of potentially hazardous environmental and
health conditions would clarify employers' general duty to protect the
health and safety of their employees and contract workers.
 
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
 
None.
 
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
 
None.
 
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.