Assembly Bill A8947

Signed By Governor
2023-2024 Legislative Session

Establishes the retail worker safety act requiring retail worker employers to develop and implement programs to prevent workplace violence

download bill text pdf

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - Signed by Governor


  • Introduced
    • In Committee Assembly
    • In Committee Senate
    • On Floor Calendar Assembly
    • On Floor Calendar Senate
    • Passed Assembly
    • Passed Senate
  • Delivered to Governor
  • Signed By Governor

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Actions

Bill Amendments

co-Sponsors

2023-A8947 - Details

See Senate Version of this Bill:
S8358
Law Section:
Labor Law
Laws Affected:
Add §27-e, Lab L

2023-A8947 - Summary

Establishes the retail worker safety act requiring retail worker employers to develop and implement programs to prevent workplace violence; directs the department of labor to produce a model workplace violence prevention training program; requires employers to provide training on such programs; requires the installation of panic buttons at certain workplaces or wearable or mobile phone-based panic buttons to be provided.

2023-A8947 - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8947
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 30, 2024
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. REYES -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Labor
 
 AN ACT to amend the labor law, in relation to  requiring  retail  worker
   employers  to  develop  and  implement  programs  to prevent workplace
   violence
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section  1.  This  act  shall be known and may be cited as the "retail
 worker safety act".
   § 2. Legislative findings. The legislature  finds  and  declares  that
 violence  against  retail workers is a growing problem in New York. From
 verbal harassment that often leads to physical violence, all the way  to
 racially  motivated  mass  shootings  of  retail  workers and customers,
 retail workers are on the front lines of violence in our society.  Given
 that  these  stores  offer  essential  necessities  to  the public, this
 violence is also a threat to public health and safety.  The  legislature
 also finds and declares that many employers have not done enough to take
 responsibility for the health and safety of their employees. Few employ-
 ers  have  conducted risk assessments of their workplace, and even fewer
 have adequately trained their employees in how to respond to  harassment
 and potentially violent situations.
   §  3. The labor law is amended by adding a new section 27-e to read as
 follows:
   § 27-E. DUTY OF RETAIL  WORKER  EMPLOYERS  TO  DEVELOP  AND  IMPLEMENT
 PROGRAMS TO PREVENT WORKPLACE VIOLENCE. 1. DEFINITIONS. FOR THE PURPOSES
 OF THIS SECTION:
   A.  "EMPLOYER"  MEANS ANY PERSON, ENTITY, BUSINESS, CORPORATION, PART-
 NERSHIP, LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, OR AN ASSOCIATION EMPLOYING AT LEAST
 TEN RETAIL WORKERS. THE TERM SHALL NOT INCLUDE THE STATE, ANY  POLITICAL
 SUBDIVISION  OF THE STATE, A PUBLIC AUTHORITY, OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL
 AGENCY OR INSTRUMENTALITY.
   B. "EMPLOYEE" MEANS A RETAIL WORKER WORKING FOR AN EMPLOYER.

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD13440-02-4
 A. 8947                             2
              

co-Sponsors

2023-A8947A - Details

See Senate Version of this Bill:
S8358
Law Section:
Labor Law
Laws Affected:
Add §27-e, Lab L

2023-A8947A - Summary

Establishes the retail worker safety act requiring retail worker employers to develop and implement programs to prevent workplace violence; directs the department of labor to produce a model workplace violence prevention training program; requires employers to provide training on such programs; requires the installation of panic buttons at certain workplaces or wearable or mobile phone-based panic buttons to be provided.

2023-A8947A - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  8947--A
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 30, 2024
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A. REYES, SHRESTHA, LEVENBERG, ZINERMAN, SIMONE,
   ARDILA, OTIS,  FORREST,  GIBBS,  STECK,  HEVESI,  GALLAGHER,  CARROLL,
   GONZALEZ-ROJAS,  MAMDANI,  BURDICK,  BURGOS,  BORES,  JACOBSON,  CRUZ,
   TAYLOR, DARLING, CLARK -- read once and referred to the  Committee  on
   Labor  --  committee  discharged,  bill  amended, ordered reprinted as
   amended and recommitted to said committee

 AN ACT to amend the labor law, in relation to  requiring  retail  worker
   employers  to  develop  and  implement  programs  to prevent workplace
   violence
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  This  act  shall be known and may be cited as the "retail
 worker safety act".
   § 2. Legislative findings. The legislature  finds  and  declares  that
 violence  against  retail workers is a growing problem in New York. From
 verbal harassment that often leads to physical violence, all the way  to
 racially  motivated  mass  shootings  of  retail  workers and customers,
 retail workers are on the front lines of violence in our society.  Given
 that  these  stores  offer  essential  necessities  to  the public, this
 violence is also a threat to public health and safety.  The  legislature
 also finds and declares that many employers have not done enough to take
 responsibility for the health and safety of their employees. Few employ-
 ers  have  conducted risk assessments of their workplace, and even fewer
 have adequately trained their employees in how to respond to  harassment
 and potentially violent situations.
   §  3. The labor law is amended by adding a new section 27-e to read as
 follows:
   § 27-E. DUTY OF RETAIL  WORKER  EMPLOYERS  TO  DEVELOP  AND  IMPLEMENT
 PROGRAMS TO PREVENT WORKPLACE VIOLENCE. 1. DEFINITIONS. FOR THE PURPOSES
 OF THIS SECTION:
   A.  "EMPLOYER"  MEANS ANY PERSON, ENTITY, BUSINESS, CORPORATION, PART-
 NERSHIP, LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, OR AN ASSOCIATION EMPLOYING AT LEAST
 TEN RETAIL EMPLOYEES. THE TERM SHALL NOT INCLUDE THE  STATE,  ANY  POLI-
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD13440-03-4
              

co-Sponsors

2023-A8947B - Details

See Senate Version of this Bill:
S8358
Law Section:
Labor Law
Laws Affected:
Add §27-e, Lab L

2023-A8947B - Summary

Establishes the retail worker safety act requiring retail worker employers to develop and implement programs to prevent workplace violence; directs the department of labor to produce a model workplace violence prevention training program; requires employers to provide training on such programs; requires the installation of panic buttons at certain workplaces or wearable or mobile phone-based panic buttons to be provided.

2023-A8947B - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  8947--B
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 30, 2024
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A. REYES, SHRESTHA, LEVENBERG, ZINERMAN, SIMONE,
   ARDILA, OTIS,  FORREST,  GIBBS,  STECK,  HEVESI,  GALLAGHER,  CARROLL,
   GONZALEZ-ROJAS,  MAMDANI,  BURDICK,  BURGOS,  BORES,  JACOBSON,  CRUZ,
   TAYLOR, DARLING, CLARK, KIM,  COLTON,  CUNNINGHAM  --  read  once  and
   referred  to  the  Committee  on  Labor  -- committee discharged, bill
   amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said  commit-
   tee  --  committee  discharged,  bill  amended,  ordered  reprinted as
   amended and recommitted to said committee
 
 AN ACT to amend the labor law, in relation to  requiring  retail  worker
   employers  to  develop  and  implement  programs  to prevent workplace
   violence
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  This  act  shall be known and may be cited as the "retail
 worker safety act".
   § 2. Legislative findings. The legislature  finds  and  declares  that
 violence  against  retail workers is a growing problem in New York. From
 verbal harassment that often leads to physical violence, all the way  to
 racially  motivated  mass  shootings  of  retail  workers and customers,
 retail workers are on the front lines of violence in our society.  Given
 that  these  stores  offer  essential  necessities  to  the public, this
 violence is also a threat to public health and safety.  The  legislature
 also finds and declares that many employers have not done enough to take
 responsibility for the health and safety of their employees. Few employ-
 ers  have  conducted risk assessments of their workplace, and even fewer
 have adequately trained their employees in how to respond to  harassment
 and potentially violent situations.
   §  3. The labor law is amended by adding a new section 27-e to read as
 follows:
   § 27-E. DUTY OF RETAIL  WORKER  EMPLOYERS  TO  DEVELOP  AND  IMPLEMENT
 PROGRAMS TO PREVENT WORKPLACE VIOLENCE. 1. DEFINITIONS. FOR THE PURPOSES
 OF THIS SECTION:
   A.  "EMPLOYER"  MEANS ANY PERSON, ENTITY, BUSINESS, CORPORATION, PART-
 NERSHIP, LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, OR AN ASSOCIATION EMPLOYING AT LEAST
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

co-Sponsors

2023-A8947C (ACTIVE) - Details

See Senate Version of this Bill:
S8358
Law Section:
Labor Law
Laws Affected:
Add §27-e, Lab L

2023-A8947C (ACTIVE) - Summary

Establishes the retail worker safety act requiring retail worker employers to develop and implement programs to prevent workplace violence; directs the department of labor to produce a model workplace violence prevention training program; requires employers to provide training on such programs; requires the installation of panic buttons at certain workplaces or wearable or mobile phone-based panic buttons to be provided.

2023-A8947C (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  8947--C
                                                         Cal. No. 468
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 30, 2024
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A. REYES, SHRESTHA, LEVENBERG, ZINERMAN, SIMONE,
   ARDILA, OTIS,  FORREST,  GIBBS,  STECK,  HEVESI,  GALLAGHER,  CARROLL,
   GONZALEZ-ROJAS,  MAMDANI,  BURDICK,  BURGOS,  BORES,  JACOBSON,  CRUZ,
   TAYLOR,  DARLING,  CLARK,  KIM,  COLTON,  CUNNINGHAM,  SIMON,   TAPIA,
   PHEFFER AMATO,  EPSTEIN,  RAGA,  LAVINE, SHIMSKY, JEAN-PIERRE, KELLES,
   L. ROSENTHAL, WEPRIN, SOLAGES -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Labor -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered  reprinted
   as  amended and recommitted to said committee -- committee discharged,
   bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended  and  recommitted  to  said
   committee  -- reported and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
   -- reported from committee, advanced to a third reading,  amended  and
   ordered reprinted, retaining its place on the order of third reading
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend the labor law, in relation to requiring retail worker
   employers to develop  and  implement  programs  to  prevent  workplace
   violence
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section 1. This act shall be known and may be  cited  as  the  "retail
 worker safety act".
   §  2. The labor law is amended by adding a new section 27-e to read as
 follows:
   § 27-E. PREVENTION OF RETAIL WORKPLACE VIOLENCE. 1.  DEFINITIONS.  FOR
 THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION:
   A.  "EMPLOYER"  MEANS ANY PERSON, ENTITY, BUSINESS, CORPORATION, PART-
 NERSHIP, LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, OR AN ASSOCIATION EMPLOYING AT LEAST
 TEN RETAIL EMPLOYEES. THE TERM SHALL NOT INCLUDE THE  STATE,  ANY  POLI-
 TICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE, A PUBLIC AUTHORITY, OR ANY OTHER GOVERN-
 MENTAL AGENCY OR INSTRUMENTALITY.
   B.  "RETAIL  EMPLOYEE" MEANS AN EMPLOYEE WORKING AT A RETAIL STORE FOR
 AN EMPLOYER.
   C. "WORKPLACE" MEANS ANY LOCATION AWAY FROM  AN  EMPLOYEE'S  DOMICILE,
 PERMANENT OR TEMPORARY, WHERE AN EMPLOYEE PERFORMS ANY WORK-RELATED DUTY
 IN THE COURSE OF THEIR EMPLOYMENT BY AN EMPLOYER.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

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