What's happening
This bill requires employment agencies to provide domestic workers and employers with rights statements in multiple languages, including translation assistance.
Why it matters
Increases access to legal information. for domestic workers and their employers by requiring rights statements to be provided in multiple languages, making critical employment protections more understandable for non-English speakers.
Targets language barriers common in the domestic workforce. , which often includes immigrants and people with limited English proficiency, helping ensure they are aware of minimum wage, overtime, and other legal rights.
Mandates translation support from the state. , requiring the labor commissioner to assist agencies with translations and to supply sample statements, reducing the administrative burden on smaller agencies and promoting uniformity.
Could improve compliance and accountability. by formalizing agency certification that these statements match department standards, potentially reducing exploitation and misunderstandings in domestic employment arrangements.
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Translate Worker Rights Notices
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History
- 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.
Translate Worker Rights Notices
In Assembly Committee · Labor · Sponsor Felix Ortiz
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
8466
IN SENATE
May 8, 2018
Introduced by Sen. PERALTA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Labor
AN ACT to amend the labor law, in relation to domestic workers and household employees
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 691 of the labor law, as added by chapter 721 of the laws of 2004, is amended to read as follows:
1. Every licensed employment agency under the jurisdiction of the commissioner and engaged in the job placement of domestic workers or household employees shall provide to each applicant for employment as a domestic worker or household employee and his or her prospective employer, before job placement is arranged, a written statement indicating the rights of such worker and employee and the obligations of his or her employer under state and federal law. In the event any such licensed employment agency maintains a website, the text of such written statement shall also be provided on the agency's website. The department shall promulgate rules and regulations detailing what information should be included in such written statement. Such rules and regulations shall require that such statement of rights and obligations embody provisions of state and federal laws that pertain to domestic workers or household employees, both in their capacity as workers and employees in New York state and the United States and in their capacity specifically as domestic workers or household employees in New York state and the United States. Such statement of rights and obligations shall include, but not be limited to, a general description of employee rights and employer obligations pursuant to laws regarding minimum wage, overtime and hours of work, record keeping, social security payments, unemployment insurance coverage, disability insurance coverage and workers' compensation. Such statement of rights and obligations shall be prepared in English, Spanish, Creole and any other language determined by the commissioner to be spoken as a primary language by a substantial percentage of such workers or employees. Upon the request of the employment agency, the commissioner shall provide translation assistance to such agency and
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08978-01-7
S. 8466 2
shall make samples of such statement prepared in the required language available to such agency. Every licensed employment agency under the jurisdiction of the commissioner and to which this article applies shall certify that the written statement required by this subdivision conforms to rules and regulations promulgated by the department and shall file a copy of such written statement with the department.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the labor law, in relation to domestic workers and household employees
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill requires that statements of employee rights and employer obli- gations for domestic workers are prepared in English, Spanish, Creole and other necessary languages.
Summary of specific provisions
Subdivision 1 of section 691 of the labor law is amended to require that every licensed employment agency under the jurisdiction of the commis- sioner and engaged in the job placement of domestic workers or household employees shall provide to each applicant for employment as a domestic worker or household employee and his or her prospective employer, before job placement is arranged, a written statement indicating the rights of such worker and employee and the obligations of his or her employer under state and federal law. This statement of rights shall include but not be limited to: a general description of employee rights and employer obligations pursuant to the laws regarding minimum wage, overtime and hours of work, record keeping, social security payments, unemployment insurance coverage, disability insurance coverage and workers' compen- sation.
Justification
The "Domestic Workers Bill of Rights" is designed to improve and protect the rights of domestic workers, especially immigrant women of color, who are particularly vulnerable to unfair labor practices and frequently subject to physical, mental and economic abuse. This law requires a written statement of rights and a contract of agreed upon job conditions to be furnished to each prospective employee in the appropriate language by any licensed agency before the job placement is arranged.
Prior legislative history
2005/06: A12099 Referred to Labor 2007/08: A5115 Referred to Labor 2009/10: A642 Held in Labor 2011/12: A1067 Referred to Labor 2013/14: A4187 Referred to Labor 2015/16: A8497 Referred to Labor
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.