What's happening
This bill creates a task force to review and recommend updates to labor laws addressing jobs and worker protections in the new economy.
Why it matters
Addresses gaps in worker protections. By examining whether current labor laws adequately cover gig, on-demand, and app-based workers, the task force could spotlight overlooked vulnerabilities and suggest ways to ensure fair treatment and benefits for these workers.
Considers employment classification. The task force will specifically assess if workers in new economic sectors are being misclassified as independent contractors rather than employees, which affects their eligibility for benefits and protections like minimum wage, overtime, and collective bargaining rights.
Evaluates portable benefits. The bill directs the task force to explore the feasibility of portable benefits—such as health insurance and retirement plans that follow workers across jobs—which could modernize worker support systems in an increasingly non-traditional job market.
Brings together diverse stakeholders. With seats for labor, business, legislative leaders, and relevant agencies, the task force is designed to foster compromise and comprehensive recommendations, increasing the chance of balanced reforms that take into account both worker and employer perspectives.
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Who cares
On-demand and app-based workers
The task force would examine their employment classification, collective bargaining rights and access to portable benefits.
App-based businesses and other new-economy employers
The task force would review laws governing their relationships with workers and whether employment-status rules need clarification.
New York State AFL-CIO and Business Council of New York State
Each would provide a list from which the governor would select one task force member.
State Department of Labor and Workers’ Compensation Board
The labor commissioner and board chair, or their designees, would serve as chair and vice-chair of the task force.
Headline styles
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 Assembly Committee · Labor · Sponsor Daniel Rosenthal
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2650
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 28, 2019
Introduced by Sen. KRUEGER -- 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 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
S. 2650 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.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the labor law, in relation to establishing the task force on jobs and the new economy
Purpose
Establishes a task force on jobs and the new economy, for the purposes of evaluating whether changes in state law are needed to more properly treat new types of jobs.
Summary of provisions
This legislation creates a new, ten-member task force on jobs and the new economy. The purpose of this task force would be to review the nature of newly created, twenty-first century jobs, including those in the on-demand electronic application marketplace sector.ò The task force would study whether changes are needed in state law, including whether the state can provide union-organizing rights under the Public Employ- ment Relations Board, whether workers in this area are properly treated as employees or independent contractors, whether portable benefits could and should be established under state law, and any other issues that the task force may deem necessary.
Justification
Many of the growing economic sectors in the state and around the nation revolve around on-demand electronic applications, such as Uber, Lyft, Task Rabbit, Handy, and other similar companies. These entities are growing rapidly and quickly re-defining the nature of jobs and employ- ment. New York should lead the country in better understanding the nature of these jobs and whether state laws have kept pace to adequate protect workers engaged in this field.
This bill would establish a ten-member Task Force on Jobs and the New Economy. Through this task force, the Legislature would be advised on best practices for protecting workers and consumers, including an evalu- ation of collective bargaining, independent contractor status, portable benefits, and other employment law questions that will help define what it means to hold a job in the 218t century.
Legislative history
2017-18: S.6355 - Labor Committee
Fiscal implications
Minor administrative cost to maintain the task force.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.