S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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8675--A
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 10, 2022
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Introduced by M. of A. GUNTHER -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Labor -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted
as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the labor law, in relation to workplace mental health
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The labor law is amended by adding two new sections 218-c
and 218-d to read as follows:
§ 218-C. POSTING OF INFORMATION REGARDING MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS AND
RESOURCES. THE COMMISSIONER, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF
THE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH, SHALL CREATE AND DISTRIBUTE TO EMPLOYERS IN
THIS STATE A POSTER, PAMPHLET, OR OTHER WRITTEN MATERIALS REGARDING
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF EMPLOYEES. SUCH MATERIALS SHALL INCLUDE
INFORMATION ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO
EMPLOYEES WITH POSSIBLE MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMIT-
ED TO, HOTLINES AND WEBSITES MAINTAINED BY LOCAL, STATE OR NATIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS OFFERING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND THE RIGHTS OF WORKERS
WITH PSYCHIATRIC DISABILITIES PURSUANT TO THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILI-
TIES ACT (ADA). EVERY EMPLOYER SHALL POST SUCH POSTER, PAMPHLETS OR
OTHER WRITTEN MATERIALS IN HIS OR HER ESTABLISHMENT OR PLACE OF BUSI-
NESS, IN A PLACE ACCESSIBLE TO HIS OR HER EMPLOYEES AND IN A VISUALLY
CONSPICUOUS MANNER. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL TRANSLATE SUCH POSTER,
PAMPHLETS, OR OTHER WRITTEN MATERIALS INTO THE SIX MOST COMMON NON-ENGL-
ISH LANGUAGES SPOKEN BY INDIVIDUALS WITH LIMITED-ENGLISH PROFICIENCY IN
THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
§ 218-D. WORKPLACE MENTAL HEALTH. THE COMMISSIONER, IN CONSULTATION
WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH, SHALL ESTABLISH A
FRAMEWORK AND VOLUNTARY STANDARDS FOR ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH IN THE
WORKPLACE TO REDUCE MENTAL HEALTH STIGMA, INCREASE PUBLIC, EMPLOYEE, AND
EMPLOYER AWARENESS OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, AND PROVIDE GUIDANCE TO
EMPLOYERS TO PUT IN PLACE STRATEGIES AND PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT THE MENTAL
HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF THEIR EMPLOYEES. SUCH STRATEGIES AND PROGRAMS MAY
INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, AN EMPLOYER SPONSORED WEBSITE OR ONLINE
PORTAL FOR RESOURCES AND GUIDELINES INCLUDED IN AN EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK,
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13077-05-2
A. 8675--A 2
POSTERS, WRITTEN/DIGITAL RESOURCES FOR WORKPLACE MENTAL HEALTH, AND
GUIDELINES REGARDING BEST PRACTICES FOR BUSINESSES.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
it shall have become a law.