The New York State Senate

 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   2414
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 19, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. STERN -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Labor
 
 AN ACT to amend the labor law, in relation to establishing  the  commis-
   sion  on  the  future  of  work;  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. The legislature finds and declares all of the following:
   (a)  New  York  state  is committed to developing a plan to become the
 most competitive, durable, equitable  and  sustainable  economy  in  the
 world,  where  technology  innovation  shall  strengthen, not erode, the
 middle class.
   (b) Technology, when put to work for the benefit of human society, has
 fueled progress throughout history, unlocking the growth of high-quality
 goods and services  coupled  with  overall  price  reductions,  dramatic
 reductions  in poverty, disease, and famine, as well as leaps in science
 and the arts.
   (c) Exponential growth in technology innovation, including  automation
 and  artificial intelligence, as well as broader economic trends of wage
 stagnation, declining workforce participation, rising income inequality,
 and growth in part-time, lower-wage  jobs,  compel  New  York  state  to
 update  its  planning around education, employment, and the economy as a
 whole to better understand, anticipate, and shape the future of work  in
 the short and long term.
   (d)  The  commission on the future of work is necessary to prepare New
 York state residents for the future of work and to  ensure  advancements
 in  technology  serve  the  construction  of  a durable middle class and
 sustainable economy.
   § 2. The labor law is amended by adding a new section 211-b to read as
 follows:
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD06747-01-1

 A. 2414                             2

   § 211-B. THE COMMISSION ON THE FUTURE OF WORK. 1. THIS  SECTION  SHALL
 BE KNOWN AND MAY BE CITED AS THE "NEW YORK STATE FUTURE OF WORK ACT".
   2. A. THERE IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT THE COMMISSION
 ON THE FUTURE OF WORK.
   B.  MEMBERS  OF THE COMMISSION SHALL BE INDIVIDUALS WITH KNOWLEDGE OF,
 AND EXPERTISE IN, WORK, WORKFORCE  DEVELOPMENT,  LABOR,  TECHNOLOGY,  OR
 ROBOTICS OR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, WHETHER BY EXPERIENCE OR TRAINING.
   C.  THE  COMMISSION  SHALL CONSIST OF EIGHT MEMBERS TO BE APPOINTED AS
 FOLLOWS:
   (I) FOUR MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR,  INCLUDING  AT  LEAST  ONE
 REPRESENTATIVE FROM ORGANIZED LABOR AND ONE FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR;
   (II) ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE;
   (III) ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY;
   (IV) ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE; AND
   (V) ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE ASSEMBLY.
   3. THE COMMISSION ON THE FUTURE OF WORK SHALL:
   A.  CONVENE  A  PUBLIC  PROCESS  TO GATHER INPUT AND TO UNDERSTAND THE
 ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, WORKPLACE AND TECHNOLOGICAL LANDSCAPE FROM THE PUBLIC,
 ACADEMICS, AND STAKEHOLDERS;
   B. COMMISSION RESEARCH TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY ON WORK-
 ERS, EMPLOYERS, AND THE ECONOMY OF THE STATE;
   C. ADVISE THE GOVERNOR, THE LEGISLATURE, AND STATE  AGENCIES,  DEPART-
 MENTS,  AND  COMMISSIONS  ON  THE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY AND AUTOMATION ON
 WORKERS, THE WORKPLACE AND STATE WORKFORCE, THE STATE  BUDGET,  ECONOMY,
 SAFETY NET, AND OTHER AREAS RELATED TO THE PUBLIC GOOD; AND
   D.  DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS ON A POLICY FRAMEWORK TO MANAGE THE DEVEL-
 OPMENT, DEPLOYMENT, REGULATION, TAXATION, AND FAIR DISTRIBUTION  OF  THE
 BENEFITS OF TECHNOLOGY USED IN THE WORKPLACE THAT ADVANCES THE INTERESTS
 OF WORKERS AND THE PUBLIC.
   4.  ON OR BEFORE JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-THREE, THE COMMIS-
 SION SHALL MAKE A REPORT OF ITS FINDINGS, INCLUDING ANY  RECOMMENDATIONS
 FOR  LEGISLATIVE  ACTION AS IT MAY DEEM NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE TO THE
 GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately and shall  expire  January
 1,  2023  when upon such date the provisions of this act shall be deemed
 repealed.