Establishes the mature worker business initiative within the state office of the aging to encourage businesses to recruit, retain and retrain mature workers

1 Co-sponsor

• Joseph E. Robach

Title of bill

An act to amend the elder law and the economic development law, in relation to establishing the mature worker business initiative

Purpose or general idea of the bill

Establishes a mature worker business initiative within the state office for the aging. Creates a council to develop and implement a program to develop strategies and protocols for identifying businesses that are offering arrangements to employees that are designed to recruit and retain mature workers, to develop and certify employers who are "mature worker friendly employers", and design and implement a marketing outreach plan for encouraging the participation of businesses in: the program.

Summary of provisions

Amends the elder law, creating a new Article IV called the mature worker employment training program. Section 301 establishes the mature worker business initiative. Section 302 describes the general powers and duties of the mature worker business initiative council. Section 100 of the economic development law is amended by adding a new subdivision 18-h encouraging the commissioner to work with the director to establish rules, procedures, and regulations to implement the mature worker business initiative.

Justification

The demographic projections are showing clearly that older workers will continue to make up a rapidly growing percentage of the work force. This growth represents the fact that the population as a whole is getting older due to several factors, including the aging of the Baby Boom generation,' lower birth rates for generations immediately following the baby boom longer life expectancies and younger generations leaving the state to work elsewhere. Businesses across the state will feel the impact of the retirement of the baby boomers and will no doubt be looking at employing, or retaining older workers as the demand for workers will increase. This legislation establishes a mature worker business initiative within the state office for the aging and creates a council to develop and implement a program to develop strategies and, protocols for identifying businesses that are offering arrangements to employees that are designed to recruit and retain mature workers, to develop and certify employers who are "mature worker friendly employers", and design and implement a marketing outreach plan for encouraging the participation of businesses in the program.

Legislative history

S.3061 - 2007: Referred to Aging, Reported and Committed to Finance S.3061 - 2008: Referred to Aging, Reported and Committed to Finance, Reported and Committed to Rules

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

Immediately.