S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
5913
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 24, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. FORREST -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Labor
AN ACT to amend the labor law, in relation to clarifying the meaning of
actively seeking work for purposes of unemployment benefits
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 591 of the labor law, as amended
by chapter 26 of the laws of 2021, is amended to read as follows:
2. Availability, capability, and work search. No benefits shall be
payable to any claimant who is not capable of work or who is not ready,
willing and able to work in [his or her] THEIR usual employment or in
any other for which [he or she is] THEY ARE reasonably fitted by train-
ing and experience and who is not actively seeking work. In order to be
actively seeking work a claimant must be engaged in systematic and
sustained efforts to find work. The commissioner shall promulgate regu-
lations defining systematic and sustained efforts to find work and
setting standards for the proof of work search efforts. Such regulations
shall take into account the need for claimants to provide child care for
their child or children. A CLAIMANT SHALL BE CONSIDERED TO BE ACTIVELY
SEEKING WORK IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SECTION IF THE INDIVIDUAL IS A
MEMBER OF A LABOR ORGANIZATION, AS DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION FIVE OF
SECTION SEVEN HUNDRED ONE OF THIS CHAPTER, MAINTAINS CONTACT WITH THAT
UNION, AND USES AND COMPLIES WITH THE PLACEMENT SERVICES OF THE UNION
HIRING HALL IN SEEKING WORK. AS USED IN THIS SUBDIVISION, UNLESS THE
CONTEXT OTHERWISE INDICATES, "UNION HIRING HALL" MEANS A SERVICE
PROVIDED BY A LABOR UNION OR AN ENTITY ASSOCIATED WITH A LABOR UNION
THAT PLACES EMPLOYEES WITH AN EMPLOYER UNDER A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
AGREEMENT OR OTHERWISE PLACES EMPLOYEES WITH EMPLOYERS.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the same date as the reversion of
subdivision 2 of section 591 of the labor law as provided in section 10
of chapter 413 of the laws of 2003, as amended.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07378-01-5
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