BILL NUMBER:S2221

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the labor law, in relation to
authorizing local wage standards higher than in the state labor law

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

Allows localities to set a minimum wage beyond what is required by the
state.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Establishes a non-preemption clause allowing municipalities and public
benefit corporations to establish higher labor standards than that
required by the state.

Section 1 - Renumbers Section 665 of the Labor Law to Section 666 and
adds a new Section 665, allowing a county, city, town, village or
public benefit corporation to establish and enforce rules and
regulations relating to wages, hours or other wowing conditions, which
are more favorable to the minimum standards provided by state law.

Section 2 - Severability Clause.

Section 3 - Effective Date.

              

JUSTIFICATION:

New York is an economically and geographically diverse state.
Agricultural production, tourism and related industries drive the
local economy of the state's rural areas; upstate urban and suburban
areas are driven in part by the bio-technical and nano-technical
sectors, research institutions and manufacturing; Long Island's
economy is characterized by the aviation industry, the science and
technology sectors and tourism; and New York City is a microcosm of
the global economy.

Such economic diversity translates into wine variations in the local
cost of living - living in New York City or on Long Island is far more
expensive than it is in Jamestown or Watertown. Consequently, what
constitutes an adequate income in rural upstate areas falls woefully
short for workers in Westchester County, New York City or Long Island.
In short, with regard to an adequate "living wage," one size does not
fit all.

While the state's minimum wage increased by 10% at the end of last
year, and will increase another 12.5% by the end of 2015, it will not
even approach the level of an actual "living wage" in the more
expensive areas in the state. By allowing localities to raise their
minimum wage above the state level, this legislation effectively
establishes the stare minimum wage as a "floor," but removes it as a
"ceiling."

High-cost areas will be now able to ensure that those who do so many
jobs :net are essential to their local economies will be able to
afford to live in the communities where they work, and increasing the


purchasing power of those workers will provide a significant boost to
local economic development.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2014: S.6516 - Died in Labor Committee

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

This act shall take effect immediately.