A8947C

An Assembly bill to amend the Labor Law was laid aside on the Senate floor following a motion by Sen. Palumbo. The measure, Assembly Bill 8947C, sponsored by Assemblymember Reyes, did not receive a vote.

The New York State Senate passed a retail workplace violence prevention bill on a 41-19 vote that requires employers with 10 or more workers to develop violence prevention plans and training programs, and mandates panic buttons in stores with 500+ employees. Sponsored by Sen. Ramos and inspired by the 2022 Tops supermarket shooting in Buffalo, the bill requires training on deescalation tactics, emergency procedures, and panic button use, with the Department of Labor to provide model plans for employers to customize. However, the bill drew significant Republican opposition from senators who argued it does not address the actual threat facing retail workers: repeat criminal offenders engaged in shoplifting and robbery. Opponents noted that the New York Police Department stated panic buttons are not an effective law enforcement tool and that 911 calls are preferable because they allow dispatchers to gather critical information. Critics also pointed out that recent criminal justice reforms passed by the Democratic majority have reduced consequences for retail theft, with such crimes only eligible for bail if the aggregate theft exceeds $1 million. Sen. Martins argued the bill creates a false sense of security while ignoring the root cause of retail worker endangerment. The sponsor countered that the bill addresses all forms of retail violence, including worker-on-worker incidents and manager harassment, and compared it to successful workplace safety measures like sexual harassment prevention plans and school panic alarm systems. The bill passed largely along party lines.