ALBANY, N.Y. — Chair of the New York State Senate Disabilities Committee, Senator Patricia Fahy (D—Albany), and Chair of the New York State Assembly Labor Committee, Assemblymember Harry Bronson (D—Rochester), today announced they are introducing new legislation to establish a Reasonable Accommodation Reimbursement Grant Program, to provide direct support to small businesses that make workplace accommodations for employees and job applicants who are living with disabilities.

Under the new legislation, small employers with fewer than 500 employees and less than $5 million in annual revenue would be eligible for grants reimbursing the cost of reasonable accommodation, such as adaptive equipment, modified schedules, or accessible facilities. The legislation includes $5 million in state funding to launch the program. The program would cover up to $15,000 in accommodation per employee and $30,000 per employer. Notably, the average accommodation only costs about $400. 

This bill addresses barriers that both businesses and New Yorkers living with disabilities face by establishing a state-administered reimbursement program. Modeled on Minnesota’s Employer Reasonable Accommodation Fund, it ensures that compliance with disability rights laws is not contingent on an employer’s size or financial position. By offsetting accommodation costs, New York will expand employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities, support small businesses in meeting their legal obligations, and advance equity and workforce participation statewide.

“Too often, workers with disabilities are denied opportunities not because they can’t do the job, but because an employer can’t afford the up-front cost of making a workplace accessible,” said Senator Patricia Fahy. “This legislation breaks down those barriers and ensures that every New Yorker has a fair shot at securing work opportunities while helping our small businesses do the right thing, without breaking the bank. As Chair of the Senate Disabilities Committee, I know that when we help small employers invest in accessible workplaces, we can expand opportunities, strengthen our workforce, and make New York a more inclusive place to work and live.”

While federal law requires reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), compliance can be especially challenging for small employers without dedicated HR or compliance staff. This legislation seeks to have New York lead the way in showing that inclusion and economic growth go hand in hand. The program would be administered by the New York State Department of Labor, which would provide technical assistance, maintain a public database of reimbursements, and report annually on the number and type of accommodations funded statewide.

"Every worker deserves dignity on the job and a fair opportunity to earn a fair living,” said Assemblymember Harry Bronson. “For too long, workers with disabilities have faced unnecessary barriers to employment, and this legislation directly addresses that injustice. With an average accommodation costing just $400, we can help small and mid-sized businesses do the right thing while ensuring that working people with disabilities have access to the jobs and wages they deserve. This is worker-centered policy that recognizes disability rights as labor rights—and it's an investment in a fairer, stronger New York for all working families."

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