NY State Senate Bill 2025-S4593

Senate Bill S4593

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Directs the New York State Department of Labor to establish a voluntary training and certification program for employers that have taken the Neurodiversity Training Pledge

download bill text pdf

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Labor Committee

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

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Feb 10, 2025	referred to labor

co-Sponsors

2025-S4593 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A38
Current Committee:: Senate Labor
Law Section:: Labor
Versions Introduced in 2023-2024 Legislative Session:: S8797, A9131

2025-S4593 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Directs the New York State Department of Labor to establish a voluntary training and certification program for employers entitled the Neurodiversity Training Pledge.

2025-S4593 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S4593

SPONSOR: FAHY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act in relation to directing the New York State Department of Labor
to establish a voluntary training and certification program for employ-
ers entitled the Neurodiversity Training Pledge

 
PURPOSE:

Relates to directing the New York State Department of Labor to establish
a voluntary training and certification program for employers that have
taken the Neurodiversity Training Pledge.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 subdivision (a): Directs the New York State Department of
Labor to establish a voluntary training and certification program for
employers that have taken the Neurodiversity Pledge.

Section 1 subdivision (b): Directs the Department of Labor to develop

and manage the program and establishes the key components and topics to
be included in the training program.

Section 2: Establishes the effective date.

 
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE):

B-print amendments provide technical changes and specify that certif-
ication would be awarded to the employer following completion of the
training program. The amendments also allow the Department of Labor to
consult with other groups as deemed necessary in the development of the
program.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Recently new laws have been enacted and initiatives launched to improve
the lives of New Yorkers with disabilities and to enhance their-employ-
ment opportunities. Both the public and private sector are engaged in
these efforts. The success of implementation of these laws and initi-
atives depend in large measure upon neurodiversity training and neurodi-
verse workforce hiring.

The Department of Labor is well-positioned to lead a voluntary program
for businesses that pledge to undertake-neurodiversity training for
their employees and adopt best practices for a neurodiverse workforce.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2023-2024 A9131 (Burdick) - reported referred to Rules

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become a law.

2025-S4593 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4593
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 10, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  FAHY  --  read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Labor
 
 AN ACT in relation to directing the New York State Department  of  Labor
   to  establish  a  voluntary  training  and  certification  program for
   employers entitled the Neurodiversity Training Pledge

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. a. The New York State Department of Labor, in consultation
 with the Office of Employee Relations, the Office for People with Devel-
 opmental Disabilities, the Office of Mental Health, the  Justice  Center
 for the Protection of People with Special Needs, the Council on Develop-
 mental  Disabilities, Adult Career and Continuing Education Services-Vo-
 cational Rehabilitation (ACCESS-VR), the Office of the Chief  Disability
 Officer, and any other relevant groups as deemed necessary, shall estab-
 lish a voluntary training program and certification for employers, enti-
 tled  the  Neurodiversity Training Pledge, to support an inclusive work-
 place and the advantages of a neurodiverse workforce. Such certification
 shall be awarded upon completion of the training program.  The  training
 program  shall promote techniques and strategies employers can implement
 to increase neurodiversity in the workplace.
   b. The Department of Labor shall develop an online or virtual training
 program for employers which shall address key topics including:
   (i) education  and  instruction  on  workplace  sensitivity  regarding
 neurological  conditions  such  as  autism spectrum disorder, attention-
 deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, and other conditions;
   (ii) recognition of the advantages of neurodiversity and a neuroinclu-
 sive workforce and workplace which promotes success  through  creativity
 and innovation;
   (iii)  strategies  for  creating an inclusive and supportive interview
 process;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD00034-01-5
 S. 4593                             2

 
   (iv) recommendation  on  workplace  inclusion  and  accessibility  for
 neurodiverse individuals;
   (v) providing reasonable accommodations to neurodiverse employees;
   (vi) website accessibility; and
   (vii) corporate partnership training for employers for the purposes of
 qualifying for preferred source procurement status.
   §  2.  This  act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
 have become a law.

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Senate Bill S4593

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Sponsored By

Patricia Fahy