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- Referred to labor
- 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.
Establishes a living wage rate
In Assembly Committee · Labor · Sponsor Nily Rozic
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 a living wage rate
Purpose or general idea of the bill
This bill would require large employers and chain stores in New York State to pay a defined living wage - $15 - indexed to inflation.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 establishes a new article 19-D to be added to the Labor Law creating the "Fair Wages Act."
Provides definitions for "employer," "formula retail store," "large employes," "manufacturing," "not-for-profit organization," "transportation business," "franchisee or subcontractor," "employee," and "living wage rate."
Establishes the living wage rate at fifteen dollars an hour. In addition, it establishes wage increases indexed to consumer price index all urban consumers, CPI-u, or a successor index as calculated by the U.S. Dept of Labor.
States an employer must pay employees an hourly wage of no less than the living wage rate for each hour worked. In addition, an employer shall pay employees who receive tips no less than 70% of the living wage rate, provided that the combination of the living wage and tips totals no less than the living. Establishes that formula retail stores, large employers, and transportation businesses shall be jointly and severally responsible for and violation of this act. Provisions of this section may be waived by the written terms of a bona fide collective bargaining agreement.
Requires the state publish and make available to employers a bulletin announcing the adjusted living wage and benefits for the upcoming year. In addition the state must provide employers a notice in English and in Spanish, to be displayed in the workplace informing employees of the current living wage and their rights under this act. Employers are also required to retain payroll records pertaining to employees for a period of four years and shall allow the agency access to such records to monitor compliance.
Establishes the Commissioner's powers of investigation.
Allows employees to recover wages from employers who have paid less than the living wage provided in this act through civil action.
Section 2 establishes a severability clause for this act.
Section 3 states that this act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall become law.
Justification
This legislation would require large employers and chain stores to pay a real living wage now.
Under this legislation, formula retail stores, large employers, transportation businesses, and their franchisees or subcontractors would be covered by a living wage significantly higher than the state's minimum wage.
Living wage laws are gaining significant momentum across the country with dozens of cities and municipalities implementing living wage laws this bill would ensure that employers who can most afford it would provide New Yorkers a fair wage for a fair day's work.
Prior legislative history
2014: S6455/A9386- REFERRED TO LABOR
Fiscal implications
Minimal fiscal impact.
Effective date
This act shall take effect 90 days after becoming law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.