What's happening
This bill allows local governments in New York to set higher minimum wage or benefits standards than state law.
Why it matters
Empowers local governments. This bill gives cities and counties the authority to set minimum wage and benefits standards that exceed state requirements, allowing them to address unique local economic needs and cost-of-living differences.
Promotes local policy innovation. By removing state preemption, municipalities can experiment with policies tailored to their workforce and economy, which could lead to innovative approaches for supporting low-wage workers.
Potential for varied wage landscapes. The bill could result in a patchwork of minimum wage and benefits laws across New York, affecting how businesses and workers operate in different localities and possibly influencing migration or business location decisions.
Increases local accountability. Local elected officials would have more direct responsibility for wage and labor standards, making it easier for residents to advocate for changes that reflect their community’s priorities.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Let Cities Raise Minimum Wage
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to labor
- Referred to labor
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2228
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 23, 2019
Introduced by Sen. SANDERS -- 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 authorizing local governments to pay higher level of minimum wage benefits
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 666 to read as follows:
§ 666. Non-preemption clause. Nothing in this article or any other provision of law shall be deemed to prohibit any municipality from establishing or enforcing within its geographic boundaries payment of minimum wage of benefits standards that are higher or more protective than those established pursuant to this article.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08157-01-9
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 authorizing local govern- ments to pay higher level of minimum wage benefits
Purpose
To allow municipalities, including villages, cities and counties, to enact local minimum wages that are above the state minimum wage.
Summary of provisions
1. Amends section 666 of the Labor Law to remove any prohibition against local governments promulgating or enacting a minimum wage in such juris- diction that is higher than the New York State minimum wage.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Existing law
None
Justification
New York State is a vast state. Given the substantial differences in housing and living costs across the state, a single minimum wage for the entire state makes little sense. Workers need to earn much more to live in New York City than other areas of the state. Meanwhile, the cost of living in Buffalo may be different than the cost of living in Watertown and the cost of living on Long Island may be different than the cost of living in the Finger Lakes region. This bill will allow local govern- ments to decide for themselves what the minimum wage should be in their particular community. It would seem more likely that the representatives of each locality would better understand the economies of their partic- ular locality and be able to increase their local minimum wage if bene- ficial.
Under this bill, each locality would be able to promulgate or enact a local minimum wage that is higher than the state minimum wage.
Legislative history
02/17/15 Referred to Labor 01/06/16 Referred to Labor
Fiscal implications
None
Local fiscal implications
None
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.