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S4996Senate2009-2010 SessionSame asA466

Establishes the "time off for democracy act"

Sponsor Kevin S. ParkerSD-21Affects Economy
Status
In Senate Committee
Labor
Impact
Pending
Passage
Pending

Bill progress

Step 2 of 7

In committee · Labor

What's happening

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Who cares

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Sponsors

Primary sponsor
Kevin S. Parker

Senator · Senate District 21

No co-sponsors yet.

History

  1. Print number 4996a
  2. Amend and recommit to labor
  3. Referred to labor
  4. Referred to labor

Companion bill

The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.

A466Assembly

Establishes the "time off for democracy act"

In Assembly Committee · Labor · Sponsor Hakeem Jeffries

Full text

The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.

Sponsor's memo

Title of bill

An act to amend the labor law, in relation to establishing 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. Entitles 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 authorizing 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

S.4966 (2009) - Labor A.466 (2009) - Codes S.1999 (2007-2008) - Labor A.8667 (2007-2008) - Labor S.4810 (2005-2006) - Labor

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect July 1, 2010.

Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.