S4479

The New York State Senate passed legislation to amend the Workers' Compensation Law by creating a centralized database of employers who have violated labor standards. Senate Print 4479, sponsored by Sen. Ramos, passed on a 59-0 vote. The bill requires the Department of Labor to compile and publicly report information about companies that have violated labor law in a single open data database, rather than keeping the information segmented across multiple systems. Sen. Ramos argued the measure would level the playing field for good employers and ensure public dollars do not go to repeat violators. While New York already has systems in place to debar entities that repeatedly violate labor standards from receiving state contracts and grants, Ramos said accountability only works when the public can access that information. The centralized database would make it easier for state agencies and the public to identify the worst offenders.