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Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to rules
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S7928
Title of bill
An act to amend the labor law, in relation to employee notification of contraceptive coverage
Purpose
Requires notice be provided to current employees and jobseekers where an employer alters, restricts, or eliminates contraceptive coverage offered to employees as part of the employment-based health insurance plan.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends section 217 of the labor law to provide a definition of contraceptive coverage for the purpose of this act.
Section 2 adds a new provision that requires employers who are policyholders of an employment-based health insurance plan to provide 90 days notice to current employees where the employer alters, restricts, or terminates contraceptive coverage. Such notice shall also be provided to any employee representatives, the Department of Labor, the Department of Financial Services, and the Attorney General. Violation of this section would result in a civil penalty of up to $5,000 under current law.
Section 3 adds a new section 217-a of the labor law to require employers who are policyholders of an employment-based health insurance plan to provide notice to jobseekers through internal employment websites or written applications where such an employe/ does not cover certain types or any contraceptive care or devices. A new penalty provision identical to the provisions applicable to Section 2 is also added for violations of this section.
Section 4 establishes an effective date of 90 days after enactment.
Justification
The U,S, Supreme Court's recent ruling in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. created a new right for closed-corporations to be exempt from the contraceptive care mandate under federal law. As a result, many employees who would otherwise have certain contraceptive care and devices covered under their insurance plan will no longer possess such insurance through their employer.
This legislation would require an employer who intends to utilize the Hobby Lobby exemption to provide 90 days notice to employees before the change becomes effective, It would also require employers provide clear notice to jobseekers through internal employment websites and hard copy applications. Failure to comply with these provisions would subject an employer to a civil enforcement penalty of up to $5,000 per violation.
This requirement is not cumbersome for employers; it is a de minimus addition to all other state and federal insurance regulations and it merely requires employers provide easily accessible and jobseekers will have more information about their employer-based insurance and
can decide whether they should seek other employment or pursue a different job.
Legislative history
New Bill.
Fiscal implications
Minimal.
Effective date
This act shall take effect ninety days after it shall have been signed into law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.