S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  5526

                       2011-2012 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                              May 31, 2011
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen. HASSELL-THOMPSON -- read twice and ordered printed,
  and when printed to be committed to the  Committee  on  Investigations
  and Government Operations

AN  ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to prohibiting employers
  from discriminating against  victims  of  domestic  violence;  and  to
  repeal certain provisions of such law relating thereto

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1.  Subdivision 34 of section 292  of  the  executive  law  is
REPEALED and a new subdivision 34 is added to read as follows:
  34. THE TERM "VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE" SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING
AS  IS ASCRIBED TO SUCH TERM BY SECTION FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY-NINE-A OF THE
SOCIAL SERVICES LAW.
  S 2. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of section 296  of  the  executive
law, as amended by chapter 80 of the laws of 2009, is amended to read as
follows:
  (a)  For  an  employer or licensing agency, because of an individual's
age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual  orientation,  military
status,  sex,  disability, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital
status, or STATUS AS A VICTIM OF domestic violence [victim  status],  to
refuse  to hire or employ or to bar or to discharge from employment such
individual or to discriminate against such individual in compensation or
in terms, conditions or privileges of employment.
  S 3. Section 296 of the executive law  is  amended  by  adding  a  new
subdivision 20 to read as follows:
  20. (A) IT SHALL BE AN UNLAWFUL DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICE FOR AN EMPLOY-
ER  OR  LICENSING AGENCY, BECAUSE OF ANY INDIVIDUAL'S STATUS AS A VICTIM
OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, TO REFUSE TO HIRE OR EMPLOY OR LICENSE OR  TO  BAR
OR  TO  DISCHARGE  FROM  EMPLOYMENT  SUCH  INDIVIDUAL OR TO DISCRIMINATE
AGAINST SUCH INDIVIDUAL IN COMPENSATION OR IN TERMS, CONDITIONS OR PRIV-
ILEGES OF EMPLOYMENT.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD06921-06-1
              

S. 5526                             2

  (B) IT SHALL BE AN UNLAWFUL DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICE FOR AN EMPLOYER OR
EMPLOYMENT AGENCY TO PRINT OR CIRCULATE OR CAUSE TO BE PRINTED OR CIRCU-
LATED ANY STATEMENT, ADVERTISEMENT OR PUBLICATION, OR TO USE ANY FORM OF
APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT OR TO MAKE ANY  INQUIRY  IN  CONNECTION  WITH
PROSPECTIVE  EMPLOYMENT  WHICH  EXPRESSES,  DIRECTLY  OR INDIRECTLY, ANY
LIMITATION, SPECIFICATION OR DISCRIMINATION AS TO STATUS AS A VICTIM  OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, OR ANY INTENT TO MAKE ANY SUCH LIMITATION, SPECIFICA-
TION  OR  DISCRIMINATION;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER, THAT NO PROVISION OF THIS
SUBDIVISION SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO PROHIBIT THE EMPLOYER FROM MAKING  ANY
INQUIRY OR OBTAINING INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING ASSISTANCE
TO,  OR  A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF
THIS SUBDIVISION TO, A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
  (C)(1) IT SHALL BE AN UNLAWFUL DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICE FOR AN EMPLOYER
TO REFUSE TO PROVIDE A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION TO AN  EMPLOYEE  WHO  IS
KNOWN  BY  THE  EMPLOYER TO BE A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, LIMITED TO
THOSE ACCOMMODATIONS SET FORTH IN SUBPARAGRAPH TWO  OF  THIS  PARAGRAPH,
WHEN  SUCH  EMPLOYEE  MUST  BE  ABSENT  FROM WORK FOR A REASONABLE TIME,
UNLESS SUCH ABSENCE WOULD CAUSE AN UNDUE HARDSHIP TO THE EMPLOYER AS SET
FORTH IN SUBPARAGRAPH THREE OF THIS PARAGRAPH,  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER  THAT
THE  EMPLOYER MAY REQUIRE AN EMPLOYEE TO CHARGE ANY TIME OFF PURSUANT TO
THIS SECTION AGAINST ANY LEAVE WITH PAY ORDINARILY GRANTED, WHERE AVAIL-
ABLE, UNLESS OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR IN A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT
OR EXISTING EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK OR  POLICY,  AND  ANY  SUCH  ABSENCE  THAT
CANNOT  BE CHARGED MAY BE TREATED AS LEAVE WITHOUT PAY.  AN EMPLOYEE WHO
MUST BE ABSENT FROM WORK IN ACCORDANCE WITH  SUBPARAGRAPH  TWO  OF  THIS
PARAGRAPH  SHALL BE ENTITLED TO THE CONTINUATION OF ANY HEALTH INSURANCE
COVERAGE PROVIDED BY THE EMPLOYER, TO WHICH THE  EMPLOYEE  IS  OTHERWISE
ENTITLED DURING ANY SUCH ABSENCE.
  (2)  AN  EMPLOYER IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION TO
AN EMPLOYEE WHO IS A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WHO MUST BE ABSENT FROM
WORK FOR A REASONABLE TIME, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF SUBPAR-
AGRAPH ONE OF THIS PARAGRAPH, LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING:
  (I) SEEKING MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR INJURIES CAUSED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
INCLUDING FOR A CHILD WHO IS A VICTIM  OF  DOMESTIC  VIOLENCE,  PROVIDED
THAT  THE  EMPLOYEE  IS  NOT  THE  PERPETRATOR  OF THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
AGAINST THE CHILD; OR
  (II) OBTAINING SERVICES FROM A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER, PROGRAM,  OR
RAPE CRISIS CENTER AS A RESULT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE; OR
  (III)  OBTAINING  PSYCHOLOGICAL  COUNSELING  RELATED TO AN INCIDENT OR
INCIDENTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, INCLUDING FOR A CHILD WHO IS A VICTIM OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, PROVIDED THAT THE EMPLOYEE IS NOT THE PERPETRATOR  OF
THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST THE CHILD; OR
  (IV)  PARTICIPATING  IN  SAFETY  PLANNING  AND TAKING OTHER ACTIONS TO
INCREASE SAFETY FROM FUTURE INCIDENTS OF  DOMESTIC  VIOLENCE,  INCLUDING
TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT RELOCATION; OR
  (V)  OBTAINING  LEGAL  SERVICES,  ASSISTING  IN THE PROSECUTION OF THE
OFFENSE, OR APPEARING IN COURT IN RELATION TO THE INCIDENT OR  INCIDENTS
OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
  (3)  AN EMPLOYER IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION FOR
AN EMPLOYEE'S ABSENCE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF SUBPARAGRAPHS
ONE AND TWO OF THIS PARAGRAPH UNLESS THE EMPLOYER CAN  DEMONSTRATE  THAT
THE EMPLOYEE'S ABSENCE WOULD CONSTITUTE AN UNDUE HARDSHIP TO THE EMPLOY-
ER.  A DETERMINATION OF WHETHER SUCH AN ABSENCE WILL CONSTITUTE AN UNDUE
HARDSHIP SHALL INCLUDE CONSIDERATION OF FACTORS SUCH AS:

S. 5526                             3

  (I) THE OVERALL SIZE OF  THE  BUSINESS,  PROGRAM  OR  ENTERPRISE  WITH
RESPECT  TO  THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES, NUMBER AND TYPE OF FACILITIES, AND
SIZE OF BUDGET; AND
  (II)  THE  TYPE  OF OPERATION IN WHICH THE BUSINESS, PROGRAM OR ENTER-
PRISE IS ENGAGED, INCLUDING THE COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE OF  THE  WORK-
FORCE.
  (4)  AN  EMPLOYEE  WHO MUST BE ABSENT FROM WORK IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
PROVISIONS OF SUBPARAGRAPH ONE  OF  THIS  PARAGRAPH  SHALL  PROVIDE  THE
EMPLOYER  WITH  REASONABLE  ADVANCE  NOTICE  OF  THE EMPLOYEE'S ABSENCE,
UNLESS SUCH ADVANCE NOTICE IS NOT FEASIBLE.
  (5) AN EMPLOYEE WHO MUST BE ABSENT FROM WORK IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH  THE
PROVISIONS OF SUBPARAGRAPH ONE OF THIS PARAGRAPH AND WHO CANNOT FEASIBLY
GIVE REASONABLE ADVANCE NOTICE OF THE ABSENCE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBPAR-
AGRAPH  FOUR  OF THIS PARAGRAPH MUST, WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME AFTER THE
ABSENCE, PROVIDE A CERTIFICATION TO THE EMPLOYER WHEN REQUESTED  BY  THE
EMPLOYER.
  SUCH CERTIFICATION SHALL BE IN THE FORM OF:
  (I)  A  POLICE REPORT INDICATING THAT THE EMPLOYEE OR HIS OR HER CHILD
WAS A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE;
  (II) A COURT ORDER PROTECTING OR SEPARATING THE EMPLOYEE OR HIS OR HER
CHILD FROM THE PERPETRATOR OF AN ACT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE;
  (III) OTHER EVIDENCE FROM THE COURT OR PROSECUTING ATTORNEY  THAT  THE
EMPLOYEE APPEARED IN COURT; OR
  (IV)  DOCUMENTATION  FROM  A  MEDICAL  PROFESSIONAL, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
ADVOCATE, HEALTH CARE PROVIDER, OR COUNSELOR THAT THE EMPLOYEE OR HIS OR
HER CHILD WAS UNDERGOING COUNSELING OR TREATMENT FOR PHYSICAL OR  MENTAL
INJURIES  OR  ABUSE  RESULTING  IN VICTIMIZATION FROM AN ACT OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE.
  (6) WHERE AN EMPLOYEE HAS A PHYSICAL OR  MENTAL  DISABILITY  RESULTING
FROM  AN  INCIDENT  OR  SERIES  OF  INCIDENTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SUCH
EMPLOYEE SHALL BE TREATED IN THE SAME MANNER AS  AN  EMPLOYEE  WITH  ANY
OTHER  DISABILITY,  PURSUANT  TO  THE  PROVISIONS  OF THIS SECTION WHICH
PROVIDE THAT DISCRIMINATION AND REFUSAL TO PROVIDE  REASONABLE  ACCOMMO-
DATION OF DISABILITY ARE UNLAWFUL DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES.
  (D)  TO THE EXTENT ALLOWED BY LAW, EMPLOYERS SHALL MAINTAIN THE CONFI-
DENTIALITY OF ANY INFORMATION REGARDING AN EMPLOYEE'S STATUS AS A VICTIM
OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
  S 4. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day  after  it  shall
have become a law.