S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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3391
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
February 6, 2019
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Introduced by Sen. JACKSON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Labor
AN ACT to amend the labor law, in relation to allowing farm workers and
domestic workers one day of rest each week
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 161 of the labor law is amended by adding two new
subdivisions 7 and 8 to read as follows:
7. EVERY FARMER EMPLOYING FARM LABORERS SHALL OFFER THOSE FARM LABOR-
ERS TWENTY-FOUR CONSECUTIVE HOURS OF REST IN EACH AND EVERY CALENDAR
WEEK. THIS REQUIREMENT SHALL NOT APPLY TO THE PARENT, CHILD, SPOUSE OR
OTHER MEMBER OF THE EMPLOYER'S IMMEDIATE FAMILY. TWENTY-FOUR CONSECUTIVE
HOURS SPENT AT REST BECAUSE OF CIRCUMSTANCES, SUCH AS WEATHER OR CROP
CONDITIONS, SHALL BE DEEMED TO CONSTITUTE THE REST REQUIRED BY THIS
SUBDIVISION. NO PROVISION OF THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL PROHIBIT A FARM
LABORER FROM VOLUNTARILY REFUSING THE REST REQUIRED BY THIS SUBDIVISION.
THE TERM "FARM LABOR" SHALL INCLUDE ALL SERVICES PERFORMED BY AN EMPLOY-
EE ON A FARM IN CONNECTION WITH CULTIVATING THE SOIL, OR IN CONNECTION
WITH RAISING OR HARVESTING OF AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES, INCLUDING THE
RAISING, SHEARING, CARING FOR AND MANAGEMENT OF LIVESTOCK, POULTRY OR
DAIRY.
8. EVERY EMPLOYER EMPLOYING DOMESTIC WORKERS IN PERSONAL OR DOMESTIC
SERVICE IN PRIVATE HOMES SHALL OFFER THOSE EMPLOYEES TWENTY-FOUR CONSEC-
UTIVE HOURS OF REST IN EACH AND EVERY CALENDAR WEEK. NO PROVISION OF
THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL PROHIBIT A DOMESTIC WORKER FROM VOLUNTARILY
REFUSING THE REST REQUIRED BY THIS SUBDIVISION. THE TERM "DOMESTIC WORK-
ER" SHALL INCLUDE ALL SERVICES PERFORMED BY AN EMPLOYEE IN A PRIVATE
HOME IN CONNECTION WITH CHILD CARE, CLEANING, COOKING, DRIVING, GARDEN-
ING AND PERSONAL ASSISTANCE.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08829-01-9
S. 3391 2
§ 2. Paragraphs b and d of subdivision 2 of section 161 of the labor
law, as amended by chapter 281 of the laws of 1941, are amended to read
as follows:
b. Employees in [dairies, creameries,] milk condenseries, milk powder
factories, milk sugar factories, milk shipping stations, butter and
cheese factories, ice cream manufacturing plants and milk bottling
plants, where not more than seven persons are employed;
d. Employees whose duties include not more than three hours' work on
Sunday in setting sponges in bakeries, [caring for live animals,] main-
taining fires, or making necessary repairs to boilers or machinery.
§ 3. The labor law is amended by adding two new sections 163-a and
163-b to read as follows:
§ 163-A. HOURS OF LABOR ON FARMS. ANY PERSON OR CORPORATION OPERATING
A FARM EMPLOYING FARM LABORERS SHALL OFFER THOSE FARM LABORERS TWENTY-
FOUR CONSECUTIVE HOURS OF REST IN EACH AND EVERY CALENDAR WEEK;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THE FARM LABORER MAY VOLUNTARILY REFUSE TWENTY-
FOUR CONSECUTIVE HOURS OF REST IN EACH AND EVERY CALENDAR WEEK. ANY FARM
LABORER WHO REFUSES TWENTY-FOUR CONSECUTIVE HOURS OF REST SHALL BE
COMPENSATED AT A RATE WHICH IS AT LEAST ONE AND ONE-HALF TIMES THE WORK-
ER'S NORMAL WAGE RATE.
§ 163-B. HOURS OF LABOR FOR DOMESTIC WORK. ANY PERSON OR CORPORATION
EMPLOYING DOMESTIC WORKERS IN PERSONAL OR DOMESTIC SERVICE IN PRIVATE
HOMES SHALL OFFER THOSE EMPLOYEES TWENTY-FOUR CONSECUTIVE HOURS OF REST
IN EACH AND EVERY CALENDAR WEEK; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THE DOMESTIC
WORKER MAY VOLUNTARILY REFUSE TWENTY-FOUR CONSECUTIVE HOURS OF REST IN
EACH AND EVERY CALENDAR WEEK. ANY DOMESTIC WORKER WHO REFUSES TWENTY-
FOUR CONSECUTIVE HOURS OF REST SHALL BE COMPENSATED AT A RATE WHICH IS
AT LEAST ONE AND ONE-HALF TIMES THE WORKER'S NORMAL WAGE RATE.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.