Senate Bill S975

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S975

SPONSOR: GAUGHRAN
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the labor law, in relation to defining a day student for
employment purposes

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To remove the prohibition against an otherwise eligible high school
student from receiving unemployment benefits but for the mere fact that
they are a high school student.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1. Amends Labor Law Section 511 by repealing subdivision 9.

Section 2. Provides that this act shall take effect immediately.

 
              

JUSTIFICATION:

Due to an exclusion contained in subdivision 9 of section 511 of the
Labor Law, high school students who otherwise meet all eligibility
criteria are nonetheless deemed ineligible for unemployment benefits.
This creates an inherent unfairness for both the students and their
employers. Many students across our state work in order to contribute to
their households or are responsible for paying their own bills.  Their
employers are required to pay unemployment insurance for their employees
regardless of whether that employee is attending High School. To
outright deny these students regardless of the fact that they otherwise
qualify is unjust, especially given the current pandemic where so many
students across our state have lost their jobs. This bill will create
parity for all people similarly situated, regardless of whether the
individual is enrolled in school. No such prohibition exists for College
students or persons under the age of 18 who are no longer attending High
School.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2020: 8655A

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None to the State.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.