S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
390
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
(PREFILED)
January 6, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BRAUNSTEIN, SIMON -- read once and referred to
the Committee on Judiciary
AN ACT to amend the general obligations law, in relation to declaring
agreements exempting employers from liability for negligence related
to the COVID-19 pandemic void and unenforceable
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The general obligations law is amended by adding a new
section 5-322.4 to read as follows:
§ 5-322.4. AGREEMENTS EXEMPTING EMPLOYERS FROM LIABILITY FOR NEGLI-
GENCE RELATED TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC VOID AND UNENFORCEABLE. 1. ANY
PROVISION IN ANY CONTRACT, AGREEMENT OR UNDERSTANDING RELATING TO THE
EMPLOYMENT, HIRING OR RETAINING OF THE SERVICES OF ANY PERSON, INCLUDING
BUT NOT LIMITED TO EMPLOYEES, INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS AND INTERNS, THAT
EXEMPTS THE EMPLOYER OR HIRING PARTY FROM LIABILITY FOR DAMAGES FOR
PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH CAUSED BY OR RESULTING FROM THE EMPLOYER'S
NEGLIGENCE IN CONNECTION WITH THE EMPLOYER'S OR HIRING PARTY'S HANDLING
OF MEASURES RELATED TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID
AS AGAINST PUBLIC POLICY AND WHOLLY UNENFORCEABLE.
2. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT PRECLUDE AN EMPLOYER OR
HIRING PARTY FROM REQUIRING INDEMNIFICATION FOR DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF
PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH CAUSED BY OR RESULTING FROM THE NEGLIGENCE OF A
PARTY OTHER THAN THE EMPLOYEE, INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR AND INTERN, WHETH-
ER OR NOT THE EMPLOYER OR HIRING PARTY IS PARTIALLY NEGLIGENT.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03363-01-1