2004 LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
LABOR AND HUMAN RESOURCES

Staff Contact: Tom Minnick

Following is the Labor & H R Committee's 2004 legislative program. It identifies priority issues to be addressed by the Committees and Councils during 2004.

Employee Benefits

• Oppose any government mandated employee benefits, especially the use of Disability Insurance payments for paid leave or paid time off.
  
  
• Support legislation which makes it easier for business to offer dependent care program options.
  
  
• Support the implementation of reasonable, objective medical guidelines, a maximum 500 week payment schedule for non-scheduled partial impairments for workers’ compensation cases and a reduction in the “Second injury fund” assessment from 150% to 110%.
  

Employment

• Support the doctrine of “employment at will” and oppose any attempt to undermine an employer’s right to employ and terminate employment.
  
  
• Support legislation which protects an employer’s ability to create a drug-free workplace and excludes current drug and alcohol abuse from protection under the Human Rights Law.
  
  
• Support legislation which would provide limited liability to employers who provide good faith employment reference information.

Human Rights

• Support legislation which facilitates employer actions to eliminate sexual harassment and domestic violence and discourage additional mandates and remedies under the Human Rights and Labor Laws.

Labor Relations

• Oppose the use of a “union only” workforce in public and private projects and continue support of New York’s competitive bidding laws.
  
  
• Oppose any attempts to limit an employer's right to operate during a labor dispute.

Pay Administration

• Support the concept of “equal pay for equal work”and oppose the doctrine of comparable worth in both the public and private sectors.
  
  
• Oppose the living wage concept.

Miscellaneous

• Support amendments to the Public Health Law allowing the use of employee smoking rooms in the workplace.
  
  
• Support a civil mediation process to serve as a first resolution effort prior to litigation and oppose any limitations to employer or agency Alternative Dispute Resolution procedures.
  
  
• Support amendments to the Industrial Homework Law that give employers flexibility to allow workers the ability to work from home.
  
  
• Oppose legislation that mandates studies, policy development and training in workplace violence prevention.

Regulatory

• Support the continuing activities of the state and local Workforce Investment Boards.