S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                    173
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                                (PREFILED)
 
                              January 4, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sen. KAMINSKY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Investigations and Govern-
   ment Operations
 
 AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to prohibiting  employers
   from  discriminating  against  victims  of  domestic  violence; and to
   repeal subdivision 34 of section 292 of such law relating to the defi-
   nition of the term "domestic violence victim"
 
   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 REPEALED and a new subdivision 34 is added to read as follows: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.
   §  2.  Paragraph  (a) of subdivision 1 of section 296 of the executive
 law, as amended by chapter 365 of the laws of 2015, 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, familial
 status, 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 individ-
 ual in compensation or in terms, conditions or privileges of employment.
   § 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
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
              

                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD02842-01-7

 S. 173                              2
 
 AGAINST SUCH INDIVIDUAL IN COMPENSATION OR IN TERMS, CONDITIONS OR PRIV-
 ILEGES OF EMPLOYMENT.
   (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. 173                              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.
   § 4. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day  after  it  shall
 have become a law.