Enacts the juvenile justice worker protection act relating to the definition of public employers

BILL NUMBER:S4940B

Title of bill

An act to amend the labor law, in relation to the definition of public employers

Purpose or general idea of bill

To include not for profit juvenile justice facilities in New York State under the "Workplace Violence Prevention Law."

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1 titles the bill the "Juvenile Justice Worker Protection Act."

Section 2 amends paragraph (a) of subdivision 3 of section 27-b of the labor law as added by chapter 82 of the laws of 2006 by adding facilities that accept children adjudicated delinquent to the list of employers that are required to design and implement a workplace violence protection program to prevent and minimize the hazard of workplace violence to employees.

Section 3 states the effective date.

Justification

More judges statewide are sending juveniles adjudicated delinquent to less secure, privately run residential programs in lieu of state-run juvenile justice facilities. This shift raises safety concerns for youth placed in the facilities, visitors, staff, and the community surrounding the centers.

For this reason, these private facilities should be required to implement the same safety planning 'programs that is required of state operated facilities. This will result in a safer and more appropriate environment for both the youth and the employees of these private facilities by requiring facility management to identify risks of violence and undertake the means to abate those risks.

Prior legislative history

New Legislation.

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

120 days following enactment.