What's happening
Writing a plain-English summary… Track this bill to get it by email.
Why it matters
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Sponsors
History
- Referred to labor
- Reported and committed to finance
- Notice of committee consideration - requested
- 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.
Provides that municipalities may impose minimum wage standards that are more favorable to employees than those adopted by the state
In Assembly Committee · Labor · Sponsor Michele Titus
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S2221
Title of bill
An act to amend the labor law, in relation to authorizing local wage standards higher than in the state labor law
Purpose or general idea of bill
Allows localities to set a minimum wage beyond what is required by the state.
Summary of specific provisions
Establishes a non-preemption clause allowing municipalities and public benefit corporations to establish higher labor standards than that required by the state.
Section 1 - Renumbers Section 665 of the Labor Law to Section 666 and adds a new Section 665, allowing a county, city, town, village or public benefit corporation to establish and enforce rules and regulations relating to wages, hours or other wowing conditions, which are more favorable to the minimum standards provided by state law.
Section 2 - Severability Clause.
Section 3 - Effective Date.
Justification
New York is an economically and geographically diverse state. Agricultural production, tourism and related industries drive the local economy of the state's rural areas; upstate urban and suburban areas are driven in part by the bio-technical and nano-technical sectors, research institutions and manufacturing; Long Island's economy is characterized by the aviation industry, the science and technology sectors and tourism; and New York City is a microcosm of the global economy.
Such economic diversity translates into wine variations in the local cost of living - living in New York City or on Long Island is far more expensive than it is in Jamestown or Watertown. Consequently, what constitutes an adequate income in rural upstate areas falls woefully short for workers in Westchester County, New York City or Long Island. In short, with regard to an adequate "living wage," one size does not fit all.
While the state's minimum wage increased by 10% at the end of last year, and will increase another 12.5% by the end of 2015, it will not even approach the level of an actual "living wage" in the more expensive areas in the state. By allowing localities to raise their minimum wage above the state level, this legislation effectively establishes the stare minimum wage as a "floor," but removes it as a "ceiling."
High-cost areas will be now able to ensure that those who do so many jobs :net are essential to their local economies will be able to afford to live in the communities where they work, and increasing the
purchasing power of those workers will provide a significant boost to local economic development.
Prior legislative history
2014: S.6516 - Died in Labor Committee
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.