The NY State Assembly
Labor Committee

ASSEMBLY LABOR COMMITTEE OFF TO A FAST START

     The Assembly's Labor Committee is off to a fast start this legislative session, having welcomed three new members, convened two meetings and hosted both the head of the New York State AFL-CIO and the Chairman of the Workers' Compensation Board.

     At the first meeting, Chairwoman Catherine Nolan welcomed the new majority members of the committee, Patricia Eddington of Suffolk County, Ronald Canestrari of the Capitol Region and Michael Cohen of Queens. They join returning majority members William Boyland, Ron Tocci, Nettie Mayersohn, Roger Green, Peter Abbate, Earlene Hooper, Joan Christensen, Barbara Clark, RoAnn Destito, Keith Wright, Nick Perry, Felix Ortiz, William Colton, Joan Millman and Margaret Markey.

     The committee also welcomes a new committee clerk, Martha Henao. She joins returning staff, Geri Reilly, Committee Counsel, Bernard Bryan, Legislative Coordinator, Anne Baumann Weiss, Committee Director and Glen Casey, Committee Analyst. As always, they can be reached at (518) 455-4851 if you have any questions or concerns about labor issues.

     The President of the NYS AFL-CIO, Denis Hughes was the guest speaker at the first meeting. He outlined the priorities of the state federation for this year's legislative session. Robert Snashall, Chairman of the Workers' Compensation Board was the guest speaker at the second committee meeting. Chairman Snashall gave an overview of the agency's computerization and fielded members' questions concerning cases.

In addition to the guest speakers, the committee also acted on the following legislation.

• A. 189 (Tokasz) - This bill would require the Department of Labor to provide guidance regarding uniform specifications in the bidding process for prevailing wage jobs. It would require that a notice of prevailing wage responsibilities be attached to any public bid notice. REPORTED to the floor

• A. 2005 (Nolan, Hooper, Boyland, Colton, Millman, Destito) - This bill would allow those workers unemployed as a result of a strike or lock-out and forced to wait the seven week statutory delay, to file claims for Unemployment Insurance benefits in person. They would not have to file through the tele-claims system. In the Museum of Modern Art strike workers on strike faced another two-week delay in the application process because of tele-claims. REPORTED to Ways & Means

• A. 2543 (Nolan, Millman, Glick) - This bill would provide a 5% credit on state disability payments if employers institute a domestic violence awareness program, as recommended by the Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence. REPORTED to Codes

• A. 2544 (Nolan, Eve, Millman) - This bill would prohibit employers from discriminating against employees who are victims of domestic violence and need time off to ensure their own safety or the safety of their children. Employers would be prohibited from discharging these employees for attendance related reasons related to the health, safety, welfare of the victim of domestic violence or her children; or for attendance in a civil or criminal court proceeding. REPORTED to Codes

• A. 504 (Destito) - This bill, drafted in response to last year's "Woodstock Music Festival" near Rome, New York, would add "outdoor areas temporarily established as a venue" to the section of the labor law which now requires that security plans be filed for places of public assembly with an occupancy of at least 5,000 persons. REPORTED