S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
1322
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 17, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BICHOTTE HERMELYN -- read once and referred to
the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to crimes involving the death
or serious physical injury of an employee; and to amend a chapter of
the laws of 2022 amending the penal law relating to crimes involving
the death or injury of a worker, as proposed in legislative bills
numbers S. 621-B and A. 4947-B, in relation to the effectiveness
thereof
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 10.00 of the penal law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 22 to read as follows:
22. FOR THE PURPOSES OF SECTION 20.20 OF THIS PART AND SECTION 60.27
OF THIS CHAPTER, THE TERM "EMPLOYEE" SHALL MEAN ANY PERSON PROVIDING
LABOR OR SERVICES FOR REMUNERATION FOR A PRIVATE ENTITY OR BUSINESS
WITHIN NEW YORK STATE, WITHOUT REGARD TO AN INDIVIDUAL'S IMMIGRATION
STATUS, AND SHALL INCLUDE PART-TIME WORKERS, INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS,
APPRENTICES, DOMESTIC WORKERS, HOME CARE AND PERSONAL CARE WORKERS, DAY
LABORERS, FARMWORKERS, AND OTHER TEMPORARY AND SEASONAL WORKERS.
§ 2. Paragraph (c) of subdivision 2 of section 20.20 of the penal law,
as amended by a chapter of the laws of 2022 amending the penal law
relating to crimes involving the death or injury of a worker, as
proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 621-B and A. 4947-B, is amended
to read as follows:
(c) The conduct constituting the offense is engaged in by an agent of
the corporation while acting within the scope of his employment and [in]
ON behalf of the corporation, and the offense is (i) a misdemeanor or a
violation, (ii) one defined by a statute which clearly indicates a
legislative intent to impose such criminal liability on a corporation,
(iii) any offense set forth in title twenty-seven of article seventy-one
of the environmental conservation law, or (iv) is in relation to a crime
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04304-01-3
A. 1322 2
involving the death or SERIOUS PHYSICAL injury of [a worker] AN EMPLOYEE
WHERE THE CORPORATION ACTED NEGLIGENTLY, RECKLESSLY, INTENTIONALLY, OR
KNOWINGLY.
§ 3. Paragraph (c) of subdivision 5 of section 60.27 of the penal law,
as added by a chapter of the laws of 2022 amending the penal law relat-
ing to crimes involving the death or injury of a worker, as proposed in
legislative bills numbers S. 621-B and A. 4947-B, is amended to read as
follows:
(c) If a corporation is found guilty of an offense involving the death
or SERIOUS PHYSICAL injury of [a worker] AN EMPLOYEE in violation of
SUBPARAGRAPH (IV) OF paragraph [(a), (b), or] (c) of subdivision two of
section 20.20 of this chapter, the court may order restitution or repa-
ration in excess of the amounts specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of
this subdivision.
§ 4. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subdivision 1 of section 80.10 of the
penal law, as amended by a chapter of the laws of 2022 amending the
penal law relating to crimes involving the death or injury of a worker,
as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 621-B and A. 4947-B, are
amended to read as follows:
(a) Ten thousand dollars, when the conviction is of a felony;
provided, however, that when the conviction is pursuant to SUBPARAGRAPH
(IV) OF paragraph [(a), (b), or] (c) of subdivision two of section 20.20
of this chapter, such fine shall be fixed by the court and shall [not]
be [less] NO MORE than five hundred thousand dollars [nor more than one
million dollars];
(b) Five thousand dollars, when the conviction is of a class A misde-
meanor or of an unclassified misdemeanor for which a term of imprison-
ment in excess of three months is authorized; provided, however, that
when the conviction is pursuant to SUBPARAGRAPH (IV) OF paragraph [(a),
(b), or] (c) of subdivision two of section 20.20 of this chapter, such
fine shall be fixed by the court and shall [not] be [less] NO MORE than
three hundred thousand dollars [nor more than five hundred thousand
dollars];
§ 5. Section 5 of a chapter of the laws of 2022 amending the penal law
relating to crimes involving the death or injury of a worker, as
proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 621-B and A. 4947-B, is amended
to read as follows:
§ 5. This act shall take effect on the [thirtieth] NINETIETH day after
it shall have become a law AND SHALL APPLY TO PROCEEDINGS COMMENCING ON
OR AFTER SUCH DATE.
§ 6. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that
sections one, two, three and four of this act shall take effect on the
same date and in the same manner as a chapter of the laws of 2022 amend-
ing the penal law relating to crimes involving the death or injury of a
worker, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 621-B and A.
4947-B, takes effect.