S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
1470
2009-2010 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
(PREFILED)
January 7, 2009
___________
Introduced by M. of A. WRIGHT, CLARK, GREENE, PERALTA, COLTON, DIAZ,
FARRELL, McENENY, PERRY, ROBINSON, TOWNS, ROSENTHAL, ORTIZ, KAVANAGH
-- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. BENJAMIN, BOYLAND, ESPAILLAT, HOOP-
ER, JACOBS, MILLMAN, REILLY, N. RIVERA, P. RIVERA, TITUS -- read once
and referred to the Committee on Labor
AN ACT to amend the labor law, the executive law, and the workers'
compensation law, in relation to the labor standards and human rights
of domestic workers
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Legislative findings and intent. Many thousands of domes-
tic workers are employed in New York state as housekeepers, nannies, and
companions to the elderly. The labor of domestic workers is central to
the ongoing prosperity that the state enjoys, and yet, despite the value
of their work, domestic workers do not receive the same protection of
many state laws as do workers in other industries. Domestic workers
often labor under harsh conditions, work long hours for low wages with-
out benefits or job security, are isolated in their workplaces, and are
endangered by sexual harassment and assault, as well as verbal,
emotional and psychological abuse. Moreover, many domestic workers in
the state of New York are women of color who, because of race and sex
discrimination, are particularly vulnerable to unfair labor practices.
The legislature finds that because domestic workers care for the most
important elements of their employers' lives, their families and homes,
it is in the interest of employees, employers, and the people of the
state of New York to ensure that the rights of domestic workers are
respected, protected, and enforced.
Domestic workers have historically been excluded from many of the
traditional protections afforded by the labor law. Additionally, domes-
tic workers are not afforded by law the right to organize labor unions
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00150-01-9
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for the purpose of collective bargaining. Given the limited legal
protections historically provided to domestic workers, and bearing in
mind the unique conditions and demands of this private home-based indus-
try, the legislature further finds that domestic workers are entitled to
industry-specific protections and labor standards.
S 2. The labor law is amended by adding a new article 19-C to read as
follows:
ARTICLE 19-C
LABOR STANDARDS FOR DOMESTIC WORKERS
SECTION 695. APPLICABILITY.
695-A. DEFINITIONS.
696. EMPLOYER CHOICE FOR HEALTH COVERAGE.
696-A. COST OF LIVING WAGE ADJUSTMENT.
696-B. OTHER EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS.
697. IMPLEMENTATION AND ENFORCEMENT.
698. SEVERABILITY.
S 695. APPLICABILITY. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE SHALL APPLY WITH-
IN THE METROPOLITAN COMMUTER TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT ESTABLISHED PURSU-
ANT TO SECTION TWELVE HUNDRED SIXTY-TWO OF THE PUBLIC AUTHORITIES LAW.
S 695-A. DEFINITIONS. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE, THE FOLLOWING
TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
1. "DOMESTIC WORKER" MEANS A PERSON EMPLOYED IN A HOME OR RESIDENCE
FOR THE PURPOSE OF CARING FOR A CHILD, SERVING AS A COMPANION TO A SICK,
CONVALESCING OR ELDERLY PERSON, HOUSEKEEPING, OR FOR ANY OTHER DOMESTIC
SERVICE PURPOSE. "DOMESTIC WORKER" DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO
IS ENGAGED IN PROVIDING COMPANIONSHIP SERVICES, AS DEFINED IN S 213
(A)(15) OF THE FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT OF 1938, AND WHO IS EMPLOYED BY
AN EMPLOYER OR AGENCY OTHER THAN THE FAMILY OR HOUSEHOLD USING HIS OR
HER SERVICES.
2. "HEALTH BENEFITS" MEANS A HEALTH CARE BENEFITS PACKAGE SUBSTANTIAL-
LY EQUIVALENT TO THE BENEFITS ESTABLISHED IN PARAGRAPH FOUR OF
SUBSECTION (C) OF SECTION FOUR THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED TWENTY-SIX OF THE
INSURANCE LAW.
3. "PAID TIME OFF" MEANS DAYS THAT THE DOMESTIC WORKER IS ENTITLED TO
TIME OFF WITH PAY CALCULATED AT EACH DOMESTIC WORKER'S REGULAR RATE OF
PAY FOR HIS OR HER REGULAR HOURS WORKED ON THAT DAY.
S 696. EMPLOYER CHOICE FOR HEALTH COVERAGE. 1. EVERY EMPLOYER MUST
PROVIDE EACH DOMESTIC WORKER HEALTH BENEFITS, OR MUST SUPPLEMENT HIS OR
HER HOURLY WAGE RATE BY AN AMOUNT NO LESS THAN THE LOWEST AVAILABLE COST
OF HEALTH BENEFITS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH FOUR OF SUBSECTION (C) OF
SECTION FOUR THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED TWENTY-SIX OF THE INSURANCE LAW.
2. BEGINNING JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TEN, AND EACH YEAR THEREAFT-
ER, THE HEALTH BENEFITS SUPPLEMENT RATE SHALL INCREASE IN PROPORTION TO
THE INCREASE, IF ANY, FOR THE PERIOD OF THE PRECEDING SEPTEMBER OVER THE
LEVEL AS OF SEPTEMBER OF THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING YEAR IN THE CONSUMER
PRICE INDEX FOR MEDICAL CARE AS PUBLISHED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPART-
MENT OF LABOR OR ITS SUCCESSOR AGENCY.
S 696-A. COST OF LIVING WAGE ADJUSTMENT. 1. EVERY EMPLOYER MUST
PROVIDE EACH DOMESTIC WORKER AN ANNUAL COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT, AS
DESCRIBED IN SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION.
2. BEGINNING ON JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TEN, AND EACH YEAR THERE-
AFTER, EVERY EMPLOYER SHALL INCREASE EACH DOMESTIC WORKER'S WAGES IN
PROPORTION TO THE INCREASE, IF ANY, FOR THE PERIOD OF THE PRECEDING
SEPTEMBER OVER THE LEVEL AS OF SEPTEMBER OF THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING
YEAR IN THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR THE NEW YORK AREA AS PUBLISHED BY
THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR OR ITS SUCCESSOR AGENCY.
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S 696-B. OTHER EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS. 1. DAY OF REST. (A) A DOMESTIC
WORKER SHALL BE ENTITLED TO AT LEAST TWENTY-FOUR CONSECUTIVE HOURS OF
REST IN EACH AND EVERY CALENDAR WEEK.
(B) NO DOMESTIC WORKER SHALL BE REQUIRED TO WORK ON HIS OR HER DAY OF
REST.
(C) IN THE EVENT THAT A DOMESTIC WORKER AGREES TO WORK ON HIS OR HER
DAY OF REST, HE OR SHE WILL BE COMPENSATED AT THE OVERTIME RATE FOR ALL
HOURS WORKED ON HIS OR HER DAY OF REST OR AT TWICE HIS OR HER REGULAR
RATE IF SUCH HOURS CONSTITUTE HOURS WORKED BEYOND FORTY HOURS IN A WORK
WEEK.
2. PAID TIME OFF. (A) A DOMESTIC WORKER SHALL BE ENTITLED TO THE
FOLLOWING HOLIDAYS:
(1) NEW YEAR'S DAY;
(2) MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.'S BIRTHDAY;
(3) PRESIDENT'S DAY;
(4) MEMORIAL DAY;
(5) INDEPENDENCE DAY;
(6) THANKSGIVING;
(7) LABOR DAY;
(8) CHRISTMAS DAY; AND
(9) ONE ADDITIONAL HOLIDAY OF THE DOMESTIC WORKER'S CHOOSING.
(B) NO DOMESTIC WORKER SHALL BE REQUIRED TO WORK ON A HOLIDAY.
(C) IN THE EVENT THAT A DOMESTIC WORKER AGREES TO WORK ON A HOLIDAY,
HE OR SHE WILL BE COMPENSATED AT THE OVERTIME RATE FOR ALL HOURS WORKED
ON THE HOLIDAY OR AT TWICE HIS OR HER REGULAR RATE IF SUCH HOURS CONSTI-
TUTE HOURS WORKED BEYOND FORTY HOURS IN A WORK WEEK.
(D) A DOMESTIC WORKER SHALL BE ENTITLED TO THE FOLLOWING VACATION
LEAVE:
(1) TWO WEEKS PER YEAR FOR EACH DOMESTIC WORKER WITH MORE THAN SIX
MONTHS SERVICE AND LESS THAN THREE YEARS SERVICE.
(2) THREE WEEKS PER YEAR FOR EACH DOMESTIC WORKER WITH MORE THAN THREE
YEARS SERVICE AND LESS THAN FIVE YEARS SERVICE.
(3) FOUR WEEKS PER YEAR FOR EACH DOMESTIC WORKER WITH MORE THAN FIVE
YEARS SERVICE AND LESS THAN TEN YEARS SERVICE.
(4) FIVE WEEKS PER YEAR FOR EACH DOMESTIC WORKER WITH MORE THAN TEN
YEARS SERVICE.
(E) NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL PRECLUDE AN EMPLOYER FROM PROVIDING
GREATER VACATION LEAVE THAN REQUIRED BY PARAGRAPH (D) OF THIS SUBDIVI-
SION.
(F) A DOMESTIC WORKER SHALL BE PAID FOR VACATION DAYS ON OR BEFORE HIS
OR HER LAST REGULAR WORK DAY BEFORE HIS OR HER VACATION LEAVE BEGINS.
(G) EACH DOMESTIC WORKER SHALL CHOOSE THE DATES OF HIS OR HER VACATION
LEAVE. VACATION LEAVE MAY BE TAKEN IN ONE OR MORE PERIODS.
(H) EACH DOMESTIC WORKER MAY CHOOSE TO ACCRUE UNUSED VACATION LEAVE
FROM YEAR TO YEAR OR MAY CHOOSE TO HAVE HIS OR HER UNUSED VACATION LEAVE
PAID OUT BY HIS OR HER EMPLOYER AT THE END OF EACH CALENDAR YEAR.
(I) EACH DOMESTIC WORKER SHALL PROVIDE HIS OR HER EMPLOYER WITH
REASONABLE ADVANCE NOTICE OF HIS OR HER VACATION DATES.
(J) DOMESTIC WORKERS ARE ENTITLED TO AT LEAST FIVE SICK DAYS EACH
YEAR.
(K) EACH DOMESTIC WORKER MAY CHOOSE TO ACCRUE UNUSED SICK DAYS FROM
YEAR TO YEAR OR MAY CHOOSE TO HAVE HIS OR HER UNUSED SICK DAYS PAID OUT
BY HIS OR HER EMPLOYER AT THE END OF EACH CALENDAR YEAR.
(L) DOMESTIC WORKERS ARE ENTITLED TO AT LEAST FIVE PAID PERSONAL DAYS
EACH YEAR.
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(M) EACH DOMESTIC WORKER MAY CHOOSE TO ACCRUE UNUSED PERSONAL DAYS
FROM YEAR TO YEAR OR MAY CHOOSE TO HAVE HIS OR HER UNUSED PERSONAL DAYS
PAID OUT BY HIS OR HER EMPLOYER AT THE END OF EACH CALENDAR YEAR.
3. TERMINATION AND SEVERANCE. (A) A DOMESTIC WORKER IS ENTITLED TO
WRITTEN NOTICE OF TERMINATION TWENTY-ONE DAYS BEFORE HIS OR HER FINAL
DAY OF EMPLOYMENT.
(B) UPON TERMINATION, A DOMESTIC WORKER IS ENTITLED TO SEVERANCE PAY
EQUAL TO ONE WEEK OF PAY FOR EACH FULL YEAR OF THE DOMESTIC WORKER'S
SERVICE FOR THE EMPLOYER ON OR BEFORE HIS OR HER FINAL DAY OF EMPLOY-
MENT. IF AN EMPLOYER DOES NOT PROVIDE NOTICE OF TERMINATION AS REQUIRED
BY PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION, THEN THE DOMESTIC WORKER IS ENTI-
TLED TO SEVERANCE PAY EQUAL TO ONE AND ONE-HALF WEEKS OF PAY FOR EACH
FULL YEAR OF THE DOMESTIC WORKER'S SERVICE FOR THE EMPLOYER.
(C) SEVERANCE PAY SHALL BE CALCULATED AT EACH DOMESTIC WORKER'S REGU-
LAR RATE OF PAY FOR HIS OR HER REGULAR HOURS WORKED IN A WEEK.
(D) UPON TERMINATION, A DOMESTIC WORKER SHALL BE PAID FOR ALL ACCRUED
VACATION LEAVE ON OR BEFORE HIS OR HER FINAL DAY OF EMPLOYMENT.
S 697. IMPLEMENTATION AND ENFORCEMENT. 1. NOTICE AND POSTING. (A) BY
DECEMBER FIRST OF EACH YEAR, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL PUBLISH AND MAKE
AVAILABLE TO EMPLOYERS A BULLETIN ANNOUNCING THE COST OF LIVING WAGE
ADJUSTMENT AND ADJUSTED HEALTH BENEFIT SUPPLEMENT RATE FOR THE UPCOMING
YEAR, WHICH SHALL TAKE EFFECT ON JANUARY FIRST. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS
BULLETIN, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL BY DECEMBER FIRST OF EACH YEAR PUBLISH
AND MAKE AVAILABLE TO EMPLOYERS A NOTICE INFORMING DOMESTIC WORKERS OF:
THE CURRENT HEALTH BENEFIT SUPPLEMENT RATE; THE INCREASE, IF ANY, FOR
THE PERIOD OF THE PRECEDING SEPTEMBER OVER THE LEVEL AS OF SEPTEMBER OF
THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING YEAR IN THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR THE NEW
YORK AREA; DOMESTIC WORKERS' RIGHTS UNDER THIS ARTICLE; AND OF EMPLOYER
OBLIGATIONS PURSUANT TO THE LAWS, INCLUDING SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENTS,
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE COVERAGE, DISABILITY INSURANCE COVERAGE AND WORK-
ERS' COMPENSATION.
(B) BY JANUARY FIRST OF EACH YEAR, EVERY EMPLOYER SHALL PROVIDE EACH
DOMESTIC WORKER A COPY OF THE NOTICE PUBLISHED EACH YEAR BY THE COMMIS-
SIONER.
2. PENALTIES. (A) ANY EMPLOYER OR HIS OR HER AGENT, OR THE OFFICER OR
AGENT OF ANY CORPORATION, WHO PAYS OR PROVIDES OR AGREES TO PAY OR
PROVIDE TO ANY DOMESTIC WORKER LESS THAN THE WAGE, SUPPLEMENTS, OR BENE-
FITS APPLICABLE UNDER THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE SUBJECT TO CRIMINAL PENAL-
TIES PURSUANT TO SECTIONS ONE HUNDRED NINETY-EIGHT-A AND ONE HUNDRED
NINETY-EIGHT-C OF THE LABOR LAW.
(B) ANY EMPLOYER OR HIS OR HER AGENT WHO HINDERS OR DELAYS THE COMMIS-
SIONER OR HIS OR HER AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE IN THE PERFORMANCE OF HIS
OR HER DUTIES IN THE ENFORCEMENT OF THIS ARTICLE, OR REFUSES TO ADMIT
THE COMMISSIONER OR HIS OR HER AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE TO ANY PLACE OF
EMPLOYMENT, OR REFUSES TO FURNISH A SWORN STATEMENT OF ANY INFORMATION
REQUIRED FOR THE PROPER ENFORCEMENT OF THIS ARTICLE TO THE COMMISSIONER
OR HIS OR HER AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE, SHALL BE GUILTY OF A CLASS B
MISDEMEANOR AND EACH DAY'S FAILURE TO FURNISH SUCH INFORMATION TO THE
COMMISSIONER OR HIS OR HER AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE SHALL CONSTITUTE A
SEPARATE OFFENSE.
3. CIVIL ACTION. (A) IF ANY DOMESTIC WORKER IS PAID OR PROVIDED BY HIS
OR HER EMPLOYER LESS THAN THE WAGES, SUPPLEMENTS, OR BENEFITS TO WHICH
HE OR SHE IS ENTITLED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE, HE OR SHE
MAY RECOVER IN A CIVIL ACTION THE AMOUNT OF ANY SUCH UNDERPAYMENTS OF
WAGES OR SUPPLEMENTS OR THE VALUE OF SUCH BENEFITS, PUNITIVE DAMAGES,
COSTS AND SUCH REASONABLE ATTORNEY'S FEES AS MAY BE ALLOWED BY THE
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COURT, AND IF SUCH UNDERPAYMENT OF WAGES OR SUPPLEMENTS OR FAILURE TO
PROVIDE BENEFITS WAS WILLFUL, AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT AS LIQUIDATED DAMAGES
EQUAL TO TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THE TOTAL OF SUCH UNDERPAYMENTS OR THE
VALUE OF BENEFITS FOUND TO BE DUE HIM OR HER AND ANY AGREEMENT BETWEEN
HIM OR HER AND HIS OR HER EMPLOYER TO WORK FOR LESS THAN SUCH WAGE OR
WITHOUT SUCH SUPPLEMENTS OR BENEFITS SHALL BE NO DEFENSE TO SUCH ACTION.
(B) ON BEHALF OF ANY DOMESTIC WORKER PAID OR PROVIDED LESS THAN THE
WAGES, SUPPLEMENTS, OR BENEFITS TO WHICH HE OR SHE IS ENTITLED UNDER THE
PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE, THE COMMISSIONER OR ATTORNEY GENERAL MAY
BRING ANY LEGAL ACTION NECESSARY NOTWITHSTANDING ANY LAW TO THE CONTRARY
TO COLLECT SUCH CLAIM AND PUNITIVE DAMAGES, AND THE EMPLOYER SHALL BE
REQUIRED TO PAY THE COSTS AND, IF SUCH UNDERPAYMENT OF WAGES AND SUPPLE-
MENTS OR FAILURE TO PROVIDE BENEFITS WAS WILLFUL, AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT
AS LIQUIDATED DAMAGES EQUAL TO TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THE TOTAL OF SUCH
UNDERPAYMENTS OR THE VALUE OF BENEFITS FOUND TO BE DUE HIM OR HER. SUCH
CLAIM, PUNITIVE DAMAGES, AND LIQUIDATED DAMAGES SHALL BE PAID TO THE
DOMESTIC WORKER.
(C) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW, AN ACTION TO RECOVER
UPON A LIABILITY IMPOSED BY THIS ARTICLE MUST BE COMMENCED WITHIN SIX
YEARS.
S 698. SEVERABILITY. IF ANY PART OR PROVISION OF THIS ARTICLE, OR THE
APPLICATION OF THIS ARTICLE TO ANY PERSON OR CIRCUMSTANCE, IS HELD
INVALID, THE REMAINDER OF THIS ARTICLE, INCLUDING THE APPLICATION OF
SUCH PART OR PROVISION TO OTHER PERSONS OR CIRCUMSTANCES, SHALL NOT BE
AFFECTED BY SUCH A HOLDING AND SHALL CONTINUE IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT.
TO THIS END, THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE ARE SEVERABLE.
S 3. Subdivisions 5 and 6 of section 292 of the executive law, subdi-
vision 5 as amended by chapter 851 of the laws of 1965 and subdivision 6
as amended by chapter 166 of the laws of 2000, are amended to read as
follows:
5. The term "employer" does not include any employer with fewer than
four persons in his OR HER employ. NOTWITHSTANDING THE PRECEDING
SENTENCE, THE TERM "EMPLOYER" INCLUDES ANY EMPLOYER EMPLOYING ONE OR
MORE DOMESTIC WORKERS, AS DEFINED BY SECTION SIX HUNDRED NINETY-FIVE-A
OF THE LABOR LAW.
6. The term "employee" in this article does not include any individual
employed by his or her parents, spouse or child[, or in the domestic
service of any person].
S 4. Subdivision 3 of section 160 of the labor law is amended to read
as follows:
3. For all other employees, except those engaged in farm [or domestic
service] WORK and those affected by subdivision four of section two
hundred [and] twenty OF THIS CHAPTER, eight hours.
S 5. The opening paragraph of subdivision 1 of section 218 of the
labor law, as amended by chapter 304 of the laws of 2007, is amended to
read as follows:
If the commissioner determines that an employer has violated a
provision of article six (payment of wages), article nineteen (minimum
wage act), article nineteen-A, ARTICLE NINETEEN-C, section two hundred
twelve-a, section two hundred twelve-b, section one hundred sixty-one
(day of rest) or section one hundred sixty-two (meal periods) of this
chapter, or a rule or regulation promulgated thereunder, the commission-
er shall issue to the employer an order directing compliance therewith,
which shall describe particularly the nature of the alleged violation.
In addition to directing payment of wages, benefits or wage supplements
found to be due, such order, if issued to an employer who previously has
A. 1470 6
been found in violation of those provisions, rules or regulations, or to
an employer whose violation is willful or egregious, shall direct
payment to the commissioner of an additional sum as a civil penalty in
an amount equal to double the total amount found to be due. In no case
shall the order direct payment of an amount less than the total wages,
benefits or wage supplements found by the commissioner to be due, plus
the appropriate civil penalty. Where the violation is for a reason other
than the employer's failure to pay wages, benefits or wage supplements
found to be due, the order shall direct payment to the commissioner of a
civil penalty in an amount not to exceed one thousand dollars for a
first violation, two thousand dollars for a second violation or three
thousand dollars for a third or subsequent violation. In assessing the
amount of the penalty, the commissioner shall give due consideration to
the size of the employer's business, the good faith of the employer, the
gravity of the violation, the history of previous violations and, in the
case of wages, benefits or supplements violations, the failure to comply
with recordkeeping or other non-wage requirements.
S 6. Subdivision 1 of section 219 of the labor law, as amended by
chapter 417 of the laws of 1987, is amended to read as follows:
1. If the commissioner determines that an employer has failed to pay
wages, benefits or wage supplements required pursuant to article six
(payment of wages), article nineteen (minimum wage act) [or], article
[nineteen-a] NINETEEN-A, OR ARTICLE NINETEEN-C of this chapter, or a
rule or regulation promulgated thereunder, the commissioner shall issue
to the employer an order directing compliance therewith, which shall
describe particularly the nature of the alleged violation. Such order
shall direct payment of wages or supplements found to be due, including
interest at the rate of interest then in effect as prescribed by the
superintendent of banks pursuant to section fourteen-a of the banking
law per annum from the date of the underpayment to the date of the
payment.
S 7. Subdivision 5 of section 651 of the labor law, as amended by
chapter 640 of the laws of 2005, is amended to read as follows:
5. "Employee" includes any individual employed or permitted to work by
an employer in any occupation, but shall not include any individual who
is employed or permitted to work: (a) ON A CASUAL BASIS WHILE A MINOR
in service as a part time baby sitter in the home of the employer[; or
someone who lives in the home of an employer for the purpose of serving
as a companion to a sick, convalescing or elderly person, and whose
principal duties do not include housekeeping]; (b) in labor on a farm;
(c) in a bona fide executive, administrative, or professional capacity;
(d) as an outside salesman; (e) as a driver engaged in operating a taxi-
cab; (f) as a volunteer, learner or apprentice by a corporation, unin-
corporated association, community chest, fund or foundation organized
and operated exclusively for religious, charitable or educational
purposes, no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of
any private shareholder or individual; (g) as a member of a religious
order, or as a duly ordained, commissioned or licensed minister, priest
or rabbi, or as a sexton, or as a christian science reader; (h) in or
for such a religious or charitable institution, which work is incidental
to or in return for charitable aid conferred upon such individual and
not under any express contract of hire; (i) in or for such a religious,
educational or charitable institution if such individual is a student;
(j) in or for such a religious, educational or charitable institution if
the earning capacity of such individual is impaired by age or by phys-
ical or mental deficiency or injury; (k) in or for a summer camp or
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conference of such a religious, educational or charitable institution
for not more than three months annually; (l) as a staff counselor in a
children's camp; (m) in or for a college or university fraternity,
sorority, student association or faculty association, no part of the net
earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or
individual, and which is recognized by such college or university, if
such individual is a student; (n) by a federal, state or municipal
government or political subdivision thereof. The exclusions from the
term "employee" contained in this subdivision shall be as defined by
regulations of the commissioner; or (o) as a volunteer at a recreational
or amusement event run by a business that operates such events, provided
that no single such event lasts longer than eight consecutive days and
no more than one such event concerning substantially the same subject
matter occurs in any calendar year. Any such volunteer shall be at least
eighteen years of age. A business seeking coverage under this paragraph
shall notify every volunteer in writing, in language acceptable to the
commissioner, that by volunteering his or her services, such volunteer
is waiving his or her right to receive the minimum wage pursuant to this
article. Such notice shall be signed and dated by a representative of
the business and the volunteer and kept on file by the business for
thirty-six months.
"Employee" also includes any individual employed or permitted to work
in any non-teaching capacity by a school district or board of cooper-
ative educational services except that the provisions of sections six
hundred fifty-three through six hundred fifty-nine of this article shall
not be applicable in any such case.
S 8. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 3 of section 701 of the labor law,
as amended by chapter 43 of the laws of 1989, is amended to read as
follows:
(a) The term "employees" includes but is not restricted to any indi-
vidual employed by a labor organization; any individual whose employment
has ceased as a consequence of, or in connection with, any current labor
dispute or because of any unfair labor practice, and who has not
obtained any other regular and substantially equivalent employment; and
shall not be limited to the employees of a particular employer, unless
the article explicitly states otherwise, but shall not include any indi-
vidual employed by his OR HER parent or spouse [or in the domestic
service of and directly employed, controlled and paid by any person in
his home, any individual whose primary responsibility is the care of a
minor child or children and/or someone who lives in the home of a person
for the purpose of serving as a companion to a sick, convalescing or
elderly person] or any individuals employed only for the duration of a
labor dispute, or any individuals employed as farm laborers or, any
individual who participates in and receives rehabilitative or therapeu-
tic services in a charitable non-profit rehabilitation facility or shel-
tered workshop or any individual employed in a charitable non-profit
rehabilitation facility or sheltered workshop who has received rehabili-
tative or therapeutic services and whose capacity to perform the work
for which he OR SHE is engaged is substantially impaired by physical or
mental deficiency or injury.
S 9. Subdivisions 1 and 3 of section 875 of the labor law, as added by
chapter 551 of the laws of 1980, is amended to read as follows:
1. "Employer" means any individual, partnership, corporation or asso-
ciation engaged in a business who has employees including the state and
its political subdivisions. The term "employer" [does not include]
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INCLUDES the employment of domestic workers [or casual laborers]
employed at the place of residence of his or her employer.
3. "Workplace" means any location [away from the home], permanent or
temporary, where any employee performs any work-related duty in the
course of his OR HER employment.
S 10. The opening paragraph of subdivision 5 and the opening paragraph
of paragraph A of subdivision 6 of section 201 of the workers' compen-
sation law, the opening paragraph of subdivision 5 as amended by chapter
205 of the laws of 1993, the opening paragraph of paragraph A of subdi-
vision 6 as amended by chapter 903 of the laws of 1986, are amended to
read as follows:
"Employee" means a person engaged in the service of an employer in any
employment defined in subdivision six of this section, except a minor
child of the employer[, except a domestic or personal worker in a
private home who is employed for less than forty hours per week by any
one employer,] and except a duly ordained, commissioned, or licensed
minister, priest or rabbi, a sexton, a christian science reader, or
member of a religious order, or an executive officer of a corporation
who at all times during the period involved owns all of the issued and
outstanding stock of the corporation and holds all of the offices pursu-
ant to paragraph (e) of section seven hundred fifteen of the business
corporation law or two executive officers of a corporation who at all
times during the period involved between them own all of the issued and
outstanding stock of such corporation and hold all such offices
provided, however, that each officer must own at least one share of
stock, except as provided in section two hundred twelve of this article,
or an executive officer of an incorporated religious, charitable or
educational institution, or persons engaged in a professional or teach-
ing capacity in or for a religious, charitable or educational institu-
tion, or volunteers in or for a religious, charitable or educational
institution, or persons participating in and receiving rehabilitative
services in a sheltered workshop operated by a religious, charitable or
educational institution under a certificate issued by the United States
department of labor, or recipients of charitable aid from a religious or
charitable institution who perform work in or for the institution which
is incidental to or in return for the aid conferred, and not under an
express contract of hire. The terms "religious, charitable or educa-
tional institution" mean a corporation, unincorporated association,
community chest, fund or foundation organized and operated exclusively
for religious, charitable or educational purposes, no part of the net
earnings of which inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or
individual.
"Employment" means employment in any trade, business or occupation
carried on by an employer, except that the following shall not be deemed
employment under this article: services performed for the state, a
municipal corporation, local governmental agency, other political subdi-
vision or public authority; employment subject to the federal railroad
unemployment insurance act; service performed on or as an officer or
member of the crew of a vessel on the navigable water of the United
States or outside the United States; service as farm laborers; casual
employment and the first forty-five days of extra employment of employ-
ees not regularly in employment as otherwise defined herein; service as
golf caddies; and service during all or any part of the school year or
regular vacation periods as a part-time worker of any person actually in
regular attendance during the day time as a student in an elementary or
secondary school. THE TERM "EMPLOYMENT" SHALL INCLUDE DOMESTIC OR
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PERSONAL WORK IN A PRIVATE HOME. The term "employment" shall not include
the services of a licensed real estate broker or sales associate if it
be proven that (a) substantially all of the remuneration (whether or not
paid in cash) for the services performed by such broker or sales associ-
ate is directly related to sales or other output (including the perform-
ance of services) rather than to the number of hours worked; (b) the
services performed by the broker or sales associate are performed pursu-
ant to a written contract executed between such broker or sales associ-
ate and the person for whom the services are performed within the past
twelve to fifteen months; and (c) the written contract provided for in
[paragraph] SUBPARAGRAPH (b) [herein] OF THIS PARAGRAPH was not executed
under duress and contains the following provisions:
S 11. This act shall take effect on January first next succeeding the
date on which it shall have become a law; provided that section two of
this act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become a law.