S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  6869

                       2009-2010 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                             March 13, 2009
                               ___________

Introduced by M. of A. CAMARA -- read once and referred to the Committee
  on Labor

AN  ACT  to  direct  the commissioner of labor, in consultation with the
  superintendent of insurance, to study the  feasibility  of  developing
  and  implementing  an insurance plan to provide benefits to unemployed
  persons upon the expiration of unemployment  benefits;  and  providing
  for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Legislative intent. The legislature finds that the  contin-
uous  downsizing  of  employees  by  the  public and private sectors has
created great concerns relative to long term stability in employment.  A
recent  study  indicates that projected job employment for persons under
age forty will average four and one-half years per employment placement.
This employment instability is further aggravated by actual and project-
ed exportation of domestic jobs.
  The legislature further finds that state government officials  regard-
less  of political party affiliation have all expressed concern relative
to payment of persons on the public assistance  rolls,  and  have  urged
various  "workfare  not  welfare" programs. It is clear that this recent
employment  enigma  can  only  further  exacerbate   this   unemployment
discussion.
  Accordingly  it  is  prudent  that the state develop an insurance plan
that provides for persons who may encounter such an employment  predica-
ment.    Such  a  plan  would  lessen  the burden of public support, and
provide for the stable financial  management  of  dislocated  employees.
Such  insurance plan would provide benefits upon the expiration of unem-
ployment benefits if the unemployment condition prevails.  Contributions
to the insurance program would derive from deductions through employees'
salaries.  Such  deductions  would be no more than ten percent of annual
salary. Unspent accounts would be refunded after an employee attains the

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD10408-01-9
              

A. 6869                             2

age of fifty-five. The intent of this legislation is to provide  employ-
ees with insurance against job insecurity.
  S  2.  The commissioner of labor, in consultation with the superinten-
dent of insurance, shall study the feasibility of developing and  imple-
menting an insurance plan to provide benefits to unemployed persons upon
the expiration of unemployment benefits. Such study shall include:
  1.  the  manner in which insurance premiums shall be paid to such plan
including payroll deductions from employee salaries;
  2. the amount of such payroll deductions not exceeding ten percent  of
such employee salaries;
  3.  a mechanism to refund to employees premiums paid by employees that
were not paid on such employees' behalf; and
  4. any other information that the commissioner of labor deems relevant
and necessary.
  S 3. A report of the findings of such study,  recommendations  of  the
commissioner  of  labor and any proposed legislation necessary to imple-
ment such findings shall be filed with the governor, the temporary pres-
ident of the senate and the speaker of  the  assembly  within  one  year
after the effective date of this act.
  S  4.  This  act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
deemed repealed one year after such date.