Assembly Bill A8908

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8908
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 26, 2024
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. WOERNER -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Labor
 
 AN ACT in relation to creating  a  temporary  commission  to  conduct  a
   comprehensive  study  on the current utilization of paid family leave,
   make recommendations on how to increase access and the  visibility  of
   the  program;  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. A temporary state commission is hereby created to conduct a
 comprehensive  study, and prepare a report on the current utilization of
 paid family leave under article 9 of the workers' compensation law.
   § 2. (a) The commission shall consist of twelve members  appointed  by
 the  governor  as  follows:    (i)  a  representative of organized labor
 appointed upon recommendation of the New York State American  Federation
 of  Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations; (ii) a representative of
 the business community appointed upon  recommendation  of  the  Business
 Council  of  New York State, Incorporated; (iii) two persons upon recom-
 mendation of the temporary president of   the senate;  (iv)  one  person
 upon  recommendation  of  the  minority  leader  of  the senate; (v) two
 persons upon recommendation of the speaker of  the  assembly;  (vi)  one
 person upon recommendation of the minority leader of the assembly; (vii)
 the  commissioner  of  labor;  (viii)  the  superintendent  of financial
 services; (ix) the chair of the workers' compensation board; and (x) one
 other person in the governor's discretion. The  chair  of  the  workers'
 compensation board shall serve as the chair of the commission. Vacancies
 in  the  membership  of  the  commission and among its officers shall be
 filled in the manner provided for original appointments.
   (b) The members of the commission shall receive  no  compensation  for
 their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses
 incurred in the performance of their duties hereunder.
   §  3.  The  study shall examine the current utilization of paid family
 leave under article 9 of the workers' compensation  law,  including  but
 not limited to:
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD04732-06-4
 A. 8908                             2
 
   (a) demographic information of persons receiving such benefits includ-
 ing but not limited to:
   (i) gender;
   (ii) race;
   (iii) age;
   (iv) geographic region of the state of New York; and
   (v) industry or type of employment;
   (b) the average amount of benefits received and length of leave taken;
   (c) the type of leave taken;
   (d) employers' experiences on the use of paid family leave, including:
   (i) ease of use; and
   (ii) responsiveness of the department to questions; and
   (e)  unintended  barriers that employees face in utilizing paid family
 leave including  but  not  limited  to:
   (i) understanding of benefits;
   (ii) knowledge of eligibility; and
   (iii) knowledge of the existence of paid family leave.
   § 4. Not later than one year after the effective date of this act, the
 commission shall prepare and submit to the governor, the temporary pres-
 ident of the senate, and the speaker of the assembly  a  report  of  the
 study's  findings, together with specific recommendations for increasing
 the access of demographic groups underutilizing paid family leave  bene-
 fits, and removing or lessening unintended barriers to use of paid fami-
 ly leave identified in the study.
   §  5.  This  act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
 deemed repealed two years after it shall have become a law.