Establishes the "time off for democracy act"

BILL NUMBER:A466A

Title of bill

An act to amend the labor law, in relation to establish- ing the "time off for democracy act"

PURPOSE:: The purpose of this bill is to authorize employees to take up to two hours off from work, without loss of pay in order to vote. Enti- tles employees to take off from work for the entire day, without pay, in order to serve as an election officer or poll watcher, or to campaign for a candidate or ballot measure. Provides that no employer shall refuse an employee the right to take time off on election day, or discharge or threaten to discharge an employee or subject an employee to a penalty, because the employee tries to exercise or enforce this right.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:: This bill adds a new Article 32 of the labor law to include sections 930, 931 and 932.

JUSTIFICATION:: Currently, employees must find the time to vote in elections either before their work hours begin or after they have concluded. This limits voters accessibility to the polls, as they attempt to find the time to vote during time periods in which they must care for their children and families or before many of their children attend school. This legislation would eradicate this problem by author- izing employees to take up to two hours off from work on election days, without sustaining a loss of income. This legislation would also seek to enfranchise voters by allowing them to take off one day of work, without pay, in order to serve as election officers or poll watchers, or to campaign for any candidate or ballot measure.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:: 2006 S.4810

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:: None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:: This act shall take effect July 1, 2011.