What's happening
This bill requires New York employers to obtain and retain written, signed acknowledgments from employees—both in English and employees' primary languages—of receipt of sexual harassment policies and training.
Why it matters
Enhances employer accountability. by requiring written, signed, and dated acknowledgments in both English and employees' primary languages, ensuring that organizations cannot claim ignorance regarding whether workers received and understood anti-harassment policies and training.
Empowers employees—especially those with limited English proficiency—by mandating that critical workplace rights and procedures are communicated in a language they understand,. closing gaps that could leave non-English speakers more vulnerable to harassment or retaliation.
Imposes a six-year recordkeeping requirement,. meaning employers must maintain documentation of compliance over a significant period, which strengthens enforcement and may deter attempts to sidestep or falsify training and notification obligations.
Requires timely notification of any changes. to sexual harassment policies or training materials, giving workers at least seven days’ advance written notice, thereby reducing the risk of employees being caught off guard by shifting standards or expectations.
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Headline styles
Require Proof of Training Receipt
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
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.
Require Sexual Harassment Policy Receipts
In Assembly Committee · Labor · Sponsor Nily Rozic
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
S. 5132 A. 7139
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
SENATE - ASSEMBLY
April 10, 2019
IN SENATE -- Introduced by Sen. RAMOS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Labor
IN ASSEMBLY -- Introduced by M. of A. ROZIC -- read once and referred to the Committee on Labor
AN ACT to amend the labor law, in relation to requiring employers to obtain an acknowledgement of receipt from employees of their sexual harassment prevention policy and sexual harassment prevention training program in writing in English and in employees' primary languages
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 201-g of the labor law is renumbered subdivision 4 and a new subdivision 3 is added to read as follows:
3. a. Each time an employer provides his or her employees with written notice of such employer's sexual harassment prevention policy and information presented at such employer's sexual harassment prevention training program, the employer shall obtain from the employee a signed and dated written acknowledgement, in English and in the primary language of the employee, of receipt of this notice, which the employer shall preserve and maintain for six years. Such acknowledgement shall include an affirmation by the employee that the employee accurately identified his or her primary language to the employer, and that the notice provided by the employer to such employee pursuant to this subdivision was in the language so identified or if such notice is not available from the commissioner in the employee's primary language, was provided to the employee in English, and shall conform to any additional requirements established by the commissioner with regard to content and form.
b. Every employer shall notify his or her employees in writing of any changes to his or her sexual harassment prevention policy or to the information presented in his or her sexual harassment prevention train-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09740-01-9
S. 5132 2 A. 7139
ing program, at least seven calendar days prior to the time of such changes.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
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 requir- ing employers to obtain an acknowledgement of receipt from employees of their sexual harassment prevention policy and sexual harassment prevention training program in writing in English and in employees' primary languages
Purpose
Ensures employees are properly notified of their employers' sexual harassment prevention policy and sexual harassment prevention training program.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: The labor law is amended by renumbering subdivision 3 of section 201-g of the labor law and a new subdivision 3 is added estab- lishing that when an employer provides employees with written notice of the sexual harassment prevention policy, the employer must obtain writ- ten acknowledgement of receipt of the notice which must be preserved for six years.
Additionally, employers must notify employees in writing of any changes to the sexual harassment prevention policy at least seven calendar days prior to the time of such changes.
Section 2: Sets the effective date.
Justification
This legislation ensure that employees are properly notified of their employers' sexual harassment prevention policy. By requiring that employers maintain acknowledgement of employees' receipt of the policy, there is more accountability added into the process. At a time when workplace sexual harassment is permeating all industries, this legis- lation will help ensure employees receive proper notice of policies and their rights.
Legislative history
This is a new bill in the Assembly.
Fiscal impact to the state
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.