What's happening
This bill creates a task force to study and recommend updates to labor laws for new economy jobs and worker protections.
Why it matters
Addresses gaps in worker protections for gig and on-demand jobs. The task force will examine whether current labor laws adequately protect workers in non-traditional employment, such as those working through apps or in platform-based arrangements, which are increasingly common but often fall outside traditional legal definitions.
Potentially influences rules for worker classification and benefits. By specifically assessing how workers are classified (as employees vs. independent contractors) and the possibility of portable benefits, the task force could recommend significant changes affecting income security, benefits, and legal rights for many New Yorkers in emerging job sectors.
Brings together diverse stakeholders. The composition of the task force ensures input from government, labor unions, and business interests, which means recommendations may strive for balance between worker protections and economic growth, potentially making proposed reforms more robust and pragmatic.
Could set a precedent for broader reforms. The findings and recommendations could influence not just New York policy, but also serve as a model for other states grappling with how to regulate and support workers in the rapidly evolving “new economy.”
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Create Jobs Task Force
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- 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.
Create Jobs Task Force
In Senate Committee · Labor · Sponsor Liz Krueger
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4778
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 5, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. D. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Labor
AN ACT to amend the labor law, in relation to establishing the task force on jobs and the new economy
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The labor law is amended by adding a new section 44 to read as follows:
§ 44. Task force on jobs and the new economy. 1. The legislature hereby finds and declares that the jobs of the twenty-first century are often created outside the context of traditional employment. Labor and employment laws have lagged the development of these new economic opportunities, leading to a decline in the effectiveness of the legislative regime that provides basic standards for decent working conditions. The legislature further finds that a task force is necessary to review and assess state laws and policies to determine whether and how the legislature should revise current laws to better protect workers' rights within new economic sectors, helping to balance job growth, economic opportunity, and workplace protections.
2. A task force on jobs and the new economy is hereby established within the department to:
(a) examine the nature of newly created jobs and economic sectors in the twenty-first century, including on-demand employment and jobs related to or created by electronic application marketplaces;
(b) review existing laws and regulations as they pertain to employers, employees, and the new economy;
(c) assess state laws on collective bargaining in the private sector and whether the public relations board as defined in article twenty of this chapter can and should exercise jurisdiction over workers in new economic sectors;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07890-01-9
A. 4778 2
(d) assess state laws on employment status and determine whether workers in new economic sectors are properly classified as employees or independent contractors, including whether changes to state law are necessary to properly clarify employment status among workers in new economic sectors;
(e) assess state laws on portable benefits and determine whether the state can and should provide a mechanism to allow for portable benefits among workers in new economic sectors; and
(f) take on other such tasks as the task force deems necessary in order to accomplish its goals.
3. The task force shall consist of ten members to be appointed as follows: the commissioner or his or her designee, who shall also serve as chair of the task force; the chair of the workers' compensation board or his or her designee, who shall serve as vice-chair of the task force; two members to be appointed by the governor, one of whom shall be chosen from a list provided by the New York State American Federation of Labor - Congress of Industrial Organizations, and one of whom shall be chosen from a list provided by the Business Council of New York State; two members of the senate shall be appointed by the temporary president of the senate; two members of the assembly shall be appointed by the speaker of the assembly; one member of the senate shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; one member of the assembly shall be appointed by the minority leader of the assembly. From among the members as appointed, a senate chairperson and an assembly chairperson shall be appointed jointly by the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly. Any vacancy that occurs in the chair or other membership of the task force shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made. No member, officer, or employee of the task force shall be disqualified from holding any other public office or employment, nor shall he or she forfeit any such office or employment by reason of his or her appointment hereunder, notwithstanding the provisions of any general, special or local law, ordinance, or city charter.
4. The task force may employ and at pleasure remove such personnel, as it may deem necessary for the performance of the task force functions and fix their compensation within the amount appropriated therefor under the control and direction of the department. The members of the task force shall receive no compensation for their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties hereunder.
5. The task force may request and shall receive from any court, department, division, board, or bureau, commission, or agency of the state such assistance and data as will enable the task force to properly to carry out its powers and duties hereunder.
6. The task force is hereby authorized and empowered to make and sign any agreements and to do and perform any acts that may be necessary, desirable or proper to carry out the purpose and objectives of this section.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.