S1514

The New York State Senate passed legislation addressing worker misclassification on a 54-2 vote, with the bill advancing despite concerns from at least one senator about its potential impact on small businesses in the courier industry. Senate Print 1514, sponsored by Sen. Harckham, aims to combat what the Department of Labor estimates as 870,000 misclassified workers statewide. The bill requires employers found to have knowingly misclassified workers to come into compliance within 72 hours or face a stop-work order. Sen. Stec, one of two voting against the measure, expressed worry that the legislation's broad application could devastate legitimate last-mile courier services that rely on contractor workforces, particularly those handling temperature-controlled medical supplies. He proposed a single-word amendment changing "shall" to "may" regarding stop-work orders to give regulators discretion, but the amendment was not adopted. Supporters, including cosponsors Sen. Martins and Sen. Ramos, emphasized that the bill protects workers lacking access to workers' compensation and creates fair competition among businesses. Sen. Harckham noted the bill includes due process protections and that investigations must precede enforcement actions. The bill passed with only Sens. Stec and Walczyk voting in opposition.

The New York State Senate passed S1514, sponsored by Sen. Harckham, an act to amend the Labor Law, on a roll call vote of 61-0. The bill, which carried Calendar Number 444, proceeded directly to a vote without floor debate. The measure takes effect 180 days after becoming law. No opposition was recorded.