What's happening
This bill allows certified employee organizations to request and obtain certified payroll records from state agencies for public works contracts.
Why it matters
Increased transparency for union oversight. By allowing certified employee organizations to directly obtain certified payroll records from state agencies, the bill empowers unions to better monitor wage compliance and working conditions on public works projects, supporting their ability to advocate for their members.
Facilitates enforcement of prevailing wage laws. Ready access to detailed payroll information—including employee names, job classifications, hours worked, wages, and supplemental pay—makes it easier for unions and regulators to detect wage theft or misclassification, and to ensure contractors are following labor laws.
Faster response and accountability. The bill requires agencies to provide requested payroll records within 30 days, creating a clear timeline and helping prevent unnecessary delays that can hinder investigations or timely resolution of labor disputes.
Potential privacy considerations. Sharing personal employee information (names and addresses) with unions increases transparency, but may also raise questions around data privacy and how such information is handled and protected by requesting organizations.
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
Share Payrolls With Unions
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.
Share Payroll Records with Unions
In Assembly Committee · Labor · Sponsor Michael Blake
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4590
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 15, 2019
Introduced by Sens. PARKER, SEPULVEDA -- 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 allowing certain organizations access to certified payroll records of companies performing public work
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 7 of section 220 of the labor law, as amended by chapter 7 of the laws of 2008, is amended to read as follows:
7. Compliance investigations. a. The fiscal officer as herein defined shall on a verified complaint in writing of any person interested or of any employee organization pursuant to subdivision eight-d of this section, and may on his own initiative cause a compliance investigation to be made to determine whether the contractor or a subcontractor has paid the prevailing rate of wages and prevailing practices for supplements in the same trade or occupation in the locality within the state where such public work is being performed, or the hours of labor performed by the workmen, laborers and mechanics employed on such public work, or both. The fiscal officer or his agents, examiners and inspectors may examine or cause to be examined the books and records pertaining to the rate of wages paid and supplements provided to the laborers, workmen and mechanics on said public work and the hours of labor performed by such laborers, workmen and mechanics on said public work. The fiscal officer in such investigation shall be deemed to be acting in a judicial capacity, and shall have the right to issue subpoenas, administer oaths and examine witnesses. The enforcement of a subpoena issued under this section shall be regulated by the civil practice law and rules. Such fiscal officer shall make either an order, determination or any other disposition, including but not limited to an agreed upon settlement and/or stipulation, within six months from the date of filing of such verified complaint, and where a compliance investigation is made
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08792-01-9
S. 4590 2
without the filing of a verified complaint, within six months from the date a compliance investigation is initiated by such fiscal officer. Upon the making of said order or determination, or upon arriving at such agreed upon settlement and/or stipulation, a copy thereof shall be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, by the fiscal officer: (i) to the person and employee organization, if any, who or which initiated the complaint, (ii) to the person or corporation, if any, against whom the complaint was brought, and (iii) where a compliance investigation is made without the filing of a complaint, to the person who or which was the subject of the compliance investigation.
b. (i) An employee organization, which has been certified or recognized to represent employees employed on public works contracts, may request of a state agency, public authority, or any other state entity authorized to let out work on public works contracts, to be furnished with a copy of certified payroll records that have been provided to such agency, public authority, or any other state entity authorized to let out work on public works contracts, by the contractor or subcontractor pertaining to a public works contract.
(ii) If so requested, the agency, public authority, or any other state entity authorized to let out work on public works contracts, must furnish a copy of such certified payroll records to the organization within thirty days of the receipt of such request.
(iii) The certified payroll records must include at least the following information:
(1) names and addresses of all employees working on the public works project;
(2) employee classifications;
(3) hours employed on the public works project;
(4) wage rate that has been paid to the employees;
(5) supplemental wage rate that has been paid to the employees;
(6) the rate of all other monies that were paid to employees.
§ 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 allowing certain organizations access to certified payroll records of companies performing public work
Purpose
This bill provides certified employee organizations with the right to obtain access to certified payroll records pertaining to public works contracts that have been provided to state agencies by contractors or subcontractors.
Summary of provisions
This bill amends Section 220, subdivision 7 of the Labor Law by adding a new subdivision (b) which would require state agencies that have contracted with contractors or subcontractors on public works contracts, to provide certified employee organizations with the right to obtain access to certified payroll records.
Justification
This bill would enable employee organizations to determine whether or not a contractor or subcontractor who has received a public works contract is acting in compliance with New York State's prevailing wage law. Currently, many employee organizations are refused access to contractor and subcontractor payroll records, certified public records which are maintained by the contracting state agency, which are neces- sary for review to determine whether or not the proper wage and supple- ments have been paid to their employee organization members.
Legislative history
2017-18: S3415 Referred to Labor 2015-2016: S.1436/A.6056 - Referred to Labor 2013-2014: S.3220 - Referred to Labor 2011-2012: S.3370 Referred to Labor 2009-2010: S.8093 Died in Rules A.2248 2007-2008: S.2714 Passed Assembly, Died in Labor S.1680 2005-2006: S.1680 - Died in Labor A.497 2005-2006: Passed Assembly
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.