S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
2052
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 23, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. JOYNER -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Labor
AN ACT to amend the labor law, in relation to preventing the displace-
ment of call center workers who provide call center services for the
government in certain circumstances
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 a new article 21-B to
read as follows:
ARTICLE 21-B
PROTECTION OF CALL CENTER WORKERS FROM DISPLACEMENT
SECTION 790. DEFINITIONS.
791. TERMINATED CALL CENTER CONTRACT.
792. ENTERING INTO A CALL CENTER CONTRACT.
793. REMEDIES.
794. NO CONFLICT WITH COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS.
§ 790. DEFINITIONS. AS USED IN THIS ARTICLE:
1. THE TERM "CALL CENTER" MEANS A FACILITY OR OTHER OPERATION IN WHICH
EMPLOYEES RECEIVE PHONE CALLS OR OTHER COMMUNICATIONS, INCLUDING ELEC-
TRONIC COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE
OR FOR RELATED SERVICES SUPPORTIVE OF BUSINESS PROCESSES.
2. THE TERM "CALL CENTER CONTRACT" MEANS A CONTRACT WITH A GOVERN-
MENTAL BODY, OR A SUBCONTRACT WITH AN ENTITY THAT HAS A CONTRACT WITH A
GOVERNMENTAL BODY, PURSUANT TO WHICH THE CONTRACTOR FURNISHES CALL
CENTER SERVICES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE GOVERNMENTAL BODY.
3. THE TERM "GOVERNMENTAL BODY" MEANS THE STATE OF NEW YORK OR ANY
POLITICAL SUBDIVISION THEREOF, AND ANY PUBLIC AUTHORITY OR PUBLIC BENE-
FIT CORPORATION IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
4. THE TERM "CALL CENTER EMPLOYEE" MEANS ANY PERSON EMPLOYED TO
PERFORM CALL CENTER SERVICES WHO HAS BEEN REGULARLY ASSIGNED TO SUCH
WORK FOR A CALL CENTER CONTRACTOR ON A FULL OR PART-TIME BASIS FOR AT
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06817-01-3
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LEAST NINETY DAYS, EXCEPT FOR (A) PERSONS WHOSE WORK FOR A CALL CENTER
IS MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY; AND (B) PERSONS REGULARLY SCHEDULED TO
WORK FEWER THAN FOUR HOURS PER WEEK FOR THE CALL CENTER.
5. THE TERM "ENTITY" MEANS A PERSON, PARTNERSHIP, PROPRIETORSHIP,
ASSOCIATION, LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, TRUST, CORPORATION, FIRM, JOINT
VENTURE OR ENTERPRISE OF ANY KIND.
6. THE TERM "CALL CENTER CONTRACTOR" MEANS AN ENTITY (A) THAT IS A
PARTY TO A CALL CENTER CONTRACT, AND (B) PROVIDES CALL CENTER SERVICES
FOR THE BENEFIT OF A GOVERNMENTAL BODY, AND (C) EMPLOYS CALL CENTER
EMPLOYEES OR ENGAGES A SUBCONTRACTOR OR OTHER ENTITY TO PERFORM SUCH
CALL CENTER SERVICES AND THAT ENTITY EMPLOYS CALL CENTER EMPLOYEES.
7. THE TERM "TERMINATING CALL CENTER CONTRACTOR" MEANS AN ENTITY THAT
HAS PROVIDED SERVICES AS A CALL CENTER CONTRACTOR PURSUANT TO A CALL
CENTER CONTRACT WHICH IS BEING TERMINATED.
8. THE TERM "FORMER CALL CENTER CONTRACTOR" MEANS AN ENTITY THAT
PROVIDED SERVICES AS A CALL CENTER CONTRACTOR PURSUANT TO A CALL CENTER
CONTRACT WHICH HAS BEEN TERMINATED, AND AFTER TERMINATION OF THAT
CONTRACTOR, A SUCCESSOR CALL CENTER CONTRACTOR HAS PERFORMED SOME OR ALL
OF THE SAME SERVICES PURSUANT TO A CALL CENTER CONTRACT.
9. THE TERM "SUCCESSOR CALL CENTER CONTRACTOR" MEANS AN ENTITY THAT,
PURSUANT TO A CALL CENTER SERVICE CONTRACT, SUCCEEDS TO THE PERFORMANCE
OF CALL CENTER SERVICES PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED BY A TERMINATING CALL
CENTER CONTRACTOR.
§ 791. TERMINATED CALL CENTER CONTRACT. 1. NO LESS THAN THIRTY CALEN-
DAR DAYS BEFORE TERMINATION OF A CALL CENTER CONTRACT IN CIRCUMSTANCES
WHERE A SUCCESSOR CALL CENTER CONTRACTOR WILL UNDERTAKE TO PROVIDE
SERVICES THAT WERE THE SUBJECT OF THE TERMINATING CONTRACT, THE TERMI-
NATING CALL CENTER CONTRACTOR SHALL PROVIDE TO THE SUCCESSOR CALL CENTER
CONTRACTOR A FULL AND ACCURATE LIST CONTAINING THE NAME, ADDRESS, DATE
OF HIRE AND EMPLOYMENT CLASSIFICATION OF EACH CALL CENTER EMPLOYEE WHOSE
WORK INCLUDES PROVIDING CALL CENTER SERVICES THAT WERE THE SUBJECT OF
THE TERMINATING CONTRACT. THE TERMINATING CALL CENTER CONTRACTOR SHALL
SIMULTANEOUSLY POST THE LIST IN A NOTICE TO THE CALL CENTER EMPLOYEES
THAT ALSO SETS FORTH THE RIGHTS PROVIDED BY THIS ARTICLE. THE POSTING
SHALL BE IN A MANNER OR LOCATION REASONABLY CALCULATED TO BE SEEN BY
AFFECTED EMPLOYEES. THE POSTING MAY BE ELECTRONIC, PROVIDED THAT IF IT
IS ELECTRONIC, IT MUST BE DIRECTED TO EACH AFFECTED EMPLOYEE INDIVIDUAL-
LY AND MAY NOT BE A GENERAL POSTING ON A WEBSITE. SUCH NOTICE SHALL ALSO
BE PROVIDED TO THE EMPLOYEES' COLLECTIVE BARGAINING REPRESENTATIVE, IF
ANY.
2. UPON TERMINATION OF A CALL SERVICE CONTRACT IN CIRCUMSTANCES IN
WHICH SERVICES PROVIDED UNDER THAT CONTRACT WILL BE PERFORMED BY A
SUCCESSOR CALL CENTER CONTRACTOR, THE SUCCESSOR CALL CENTER CONTRACTOR
SHALL RETAIN THOSE CALL CENTER EMPLOYEES WHO PERFORMED SUCH SERVICES FOR
THE FORMER CALL CENTER CONTRACTOR IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO TERMINATION OF
THAT CONTRACT. SUCH EMPLOYEES SHALL BE RETAINED FOR A NINETY-DAY TRAN-
SITION EMPLOYMENT PERIOD.
3. IF THE SUCCESSOR CALL CENTER CONTRACTOR IS OBLIGATED TO RETAIN CALL
CENTER EMPLOYEES PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION, BUT DETER-
MINES THAT FEWER CALL CENTER EMPLOYEES ARE REQUIRED TO PERFORM THE
SERVICES THAT ARE THE SUBJECT OF THE CONTRACT THAN HAD BEEN REQUIRED TO
PERFORM SUCH SERVICES BY THE FORMER CALL CENTER CONTRACTOR, THE SUCCES-
SOR CALL CENTER CONTRACTOR SHALL FILL THE POSITIONS THAT IT DETERMINES
ARE NEEDED WITH THE CALL CENTER EMPLOYEES WITH THE GREATEST SENIORITY
WITHIN JOB CLASSIFICATION; PROVIDED, THAT DURING THE NINETY-DAY TRANSI-
TION PERIOD, THE SUCCESSOR CALL CENTER CONTRACTOR SHALL MAINTAIN A PREF-
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ERENTIAL HIRING LIST OF THOSE CALL CENTER EMPLOYEES NOT RETAINED, AND
THOSE ON THE PREFERENTIAL HIRING LIST SHALL BE GIVEN A RIGHT OF FIRST
REFUSAL TO ANY JOBS WITHIN THEIR CLASSIFICATIONS THAT BECOME AVAILABLE
DURING THAT PERIOD.
4. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION THREE OF THIS SECTION, DURING THE
NINETY-DAY TRANSITION PERIOD, THE SUCCESSOR CALL CENTER CONTRACTOR SHALL
NOT DISCHARGE WITHOUT CAUSE A CALL CENTER EMPLOYEE RETAINED PURSUANT TO
THIS ARTICLE.
5. AT THE END OF THE NINETY-DAY TRANSITION PERIOD, THE SUCCESSOR CALL
CENTER CONTRACTOR SHALL PERFORM A WRITTEN PERFORMANCE EVALUATION FOR
EACH CALL CENTER EMPLOYEE RETAINED PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE. IF SUCH
EMPLOYEE'S PERFORMANCE DURING THE NINETY-DAY TRANSITION PERIOD IS SATIS-
FACTORY, THE SUCCESSOR CALL CENTER CONTRACTOR SHALL OFFER SUCH EMPLOYEE
CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT.
6. IF THE SUCCESSOR CALL CENTER CONTRACTOR ENGAGES A SUBCONTRACTOR OR
OTHER ENTITY TO PERFORM CALL CENTER SERVICES PROVIDED FOR IN A SUCCESSOR
CALL CENTER CONTRACT, THAT SUCCESSOR CALL CENTER CONTRACTOR SHALL
REQUIRE THE SUBCONTRACTOR OR OTHER ENTITY TO ADHERE TO ALL OF THE OBLI-
GATIONS OF THIS ARTICLE.
§ 792. ENTERING INTO A CALL CENTER CONTRACT. 1. WHENEVER A GOVERN-
MENTAL BODY SHALL UNDERTAKE TO PROCURE CALL CENTER SERVICES USING A CALL
CENTER CONTRACTOR, THE GOVERNMENTAL BODY SHALL ENSURE THAT THE CALL
CENTER CONTRACT WITH SUCH ENTITY INCLUDES THE OBLIGATIONS PURSUANT TO
THIS ARTICLE, INCLUDING, WHERE APPLICABLE, THE CALL CENTER CONTRACTOR'S
OBLIGATION TO RETAIN CALL CENTER EMPLOYEES OF THE FORMER CALL CENTER
CONTRACTOR. THE OBLIGATION TO RETAIN THE TERMINATING CALL CENTER
CONTRACTOR'S EMPLOYEES SHALL BE INCLUDED IN THE CALL CENTER CONTRACT
IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER THE TERMINATING CALL CENTER CONTRACTOR'S
CONTRACT INCLUDED THE OBLIGATIONS PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE. SUCH OBLI-
GATIONS SHALL BE SET FORTH IN REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS OR OTHER SOLICITA-
TIONS AND, IN ANY EVENT, SHALL BE INCLUDED IN EACH CALL CENTER CONTRACT.
WHETHER OR NOT THE PROVISIONS ARE INCLUDED IN SUCH CONTRACT, THE OBLI-
GATIONS UNDER THIS ARTICLE SHALL APPLY TO THE SUCCESSOR CALL CENTER
CONTRACTOR WHENEVER SUCH CONTRACTOR BEGINS PERFORMANCE ON A SUCCESSOR
CALL CENTER CONTRACT ON OR AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ARTICLE.
2. A GOVERNMENTAL BODY INTENDING TO ENTER INTO A CALL CENTER SERVICE
CONTRACT, IN CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH SUCH SERVICES HAD THERETOFORE BEEN
PERFORMED BY CALL CENTER EMPLOYEES PURSUANT TO A CALL CENTER CONTRACT,
SHALL REQUIRE ANY ENTITY SEEKING TO ENTER INTO SUCH CONTRACT TO DEMON-
STRATE THAT IT WILL ESTABLISH THE SITE FOR ITS PERFORMANCE IN A LOCATION
WHICH IS REASONABLY ACCESSIBLE TO THE EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE BEEN PERFORMING
SUCH SERVICES PRIOR TO THE SOLICITATION OF BIDS FOR A SUCCESSOR CALL
CENTER CONTRACT. IN DETERMINING WHETHER THE SITE PROFFERED BY A BIDDER
MEETS THE REASONABLE ACCESSIBILITY STANDARD, THE GOVERNMENTAL BODY SHALL
CONSIDER THE AVAILABILITY OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO RETAINED CALL
CENTER EMPLOYEES AND PREVAILING TRAFFIC PATTERNS IN AND AROUND THE
PROPOSED SITE. A SITE WHICH IS WITHIN TEN MILES OF, OR AVERAGE TRAVEL
TIME BY PUBLIC OR PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION OF NOT MORE THAN ONE-HALF HOUR
FROM, THE LOCATION OF THE AFFECTED EMPLOYEES' WORK FACILITY WHEN
EMPLOYED BY THE FORMER CALL CENTER CONTRACTOR SHALL BE PRESUMED TO BE
REASONABLY ACCESSIBLE UNLESS UNUSUAL OBSTACLES TO ACCESS ARE PRESENT.
§ 793. REMEDIES. 1. A CALL CENTER EMPLOYEE WHO HAS BEEN DISCHARGED OR
NOT RETAINED IN VIOLATION OF THIS ARTICLE MAY BRING AN ACTION IN THE
SUPREME COURT AGAINST A FORMER CALL CENTER CONTRACTOR OR SUCCESSOR CALL
CENTER CONTRACTOR, INCLUDING ITS SUBCONTRACTORS, OR IN APPROPRIATE
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CIRCUMSTANCES, AGAINST BOTH, FOR VIOLATION OF ANY OBLIGATION IMPOSED
PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE.
2. THE COURT SHALL HAVE AUTHORITY TO ORDER PRELIMINARY AND PERMANENT
EQUITABLE RELIEF, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, REINSTATEMENT OF ANY
EMPLOYEE WHO HAS BEEN DISCHARGED OR NOT RETAINED IN VIOLATION OF THIS
ARTICLE.
3. IF THE COURT FINDS THAT A CALL CENTER EMPLOYEE HAS BEEN DISCHARGED
OR NOT RETAINED IN VIOLATION OF THIS ARTICLE, IT SHALL AWARD TO THE
EMPLOYEE:
(A) BACK PAY, AND AN EQUAL AMOUNT AS LIQUIDATED DAMAGES, FOR EACH DAY
DURING WHICH THE VIOLATION CONTINUES, WHICH SHALL BE CALCULATED AT A
RATE OF COMPENSATION NOT LESS THAN THE HIGHER OF (I) THE AVERAGE REGULAR
RATE OF PAY RECEIVED BY THE EMPLOYEE DURING THE SIX MONTHS OF THE
EMPLOYEE'S EMPLOYMENT IN THE SAME OCCUPATION CLASSIFICATION; OR (II) THE
FINAL REGULAR RATE RECEIVED BY THE EMPLOYEE. BACK PAY SHALL APPLY TO THE
PERIOD COMMENCING WITH THE DATE OF THE DISCHARGE OR REFUSAL-TO-RETAIN
THROUGH THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF ANY OFFER OF INSTATEMENT OR REINSTATEMENT
OF THE EMPLOYEE; AND
(B) COSTS OF BENEFITS THE FORMER CALL CENTER CONTRACTOR OR SUCCESSOR
CALL CENTER CONTRACTOR WOULD HAVE INCURRED FOR THE EMPLOYEE UNDER SUCH
EMPLOYEE'S BENEFIT PLAN; AND
(C) THE EMPLOYEE'S REASONABLE ATTORNEY'S FEES AND COSTS.
4. IN ANY SUCH ACTION, THE COURT SHALL HAVE AUTHORITY TO ORDER THE
FORMER CALL CENTER CONTRACTOR OR THE SUCCESSOR CALL CENTER CONTRACTOR,
AS APPLICABLE, TO PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION REQUIRED PURSUANT TO THIS
ARTICLE.
§ 794. NO CONFLICT WITH COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS. THE
PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE SHALL NOT APPLY TO ANY:
1. SUCCESSOR CALL CENTER CONTRACTOR THAT, ON OR BEFORE THE EFFECTIVE
DATE OF A TERMINATION OF A CALL CENTER CONTRACT, AGREES TO ASSUME, OR TO
BE BOUND BY, THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT OF THE FORMER CALL
CENTER CONTRACTOR, PROVIDED THAT THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT
PROVIDES TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR THE DISCHARGE OR LAYING OFF OF EMPLOY-
EES THAT ARE AT LEAST AS PROTECTIVE OF EMPLOYEE RIGHTS AS THOSE PURSUANT
TO THIS ARTICLE; AND
2. SUCCESSOR CALL CENTER CONTRACTOR WHOSE CALL CENTER EMPLOYEES WILL
BE ACCRETED TO A BARGAINING UNIT WITH A PRE-EXISTING COLLECTIVE BARGAIN-
ING AGREEMENT, PROVIDED THAT THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT
PROVIDES TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR THE DISCHARGE OR LAYING OFF OF EMPLOY-
EES THAT ARE AT LEAST AS PROTECTIVE OF EMPLOYEE RIGHTS AS THOSE PURSUANT
TO THIS ARTICLE; AND
3. FORMER CALL CENTER CONTRACTOR THAT OBTAINS A WRITTEN COMMITMENT
FROM A SUCCESSOR CALL CENTER CONTRACTOR THAT THE SUCCESSOR CALL CENTER
CONTRACTOR'S CALL CENTER EMPLOYEES WILL BE COVERED BY A COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING AGREEMENT THAT PROVIDES TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR THE
DISCHARGE OR LAYING OFF OF EMPLOYEES THAT ARE AT LEAST AS PROTECTIVE OF
EMPLOYEE RIGHTS AS THOSE PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE.
§ 2. Severability. If any provision of this law or the application
thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, such invalidity
shall not affect other provisions of the law which can be given effect
without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the
provisions of this article shall be severable.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.