Requires the department of labor to study the long-term impact of artificial intelligence on the state workforce including but not limited to job performance, productivity, training, education requirements, privacy and security; prohibits any state entity from using artificial intelligence in any way that would result in the displacement of any currently employed worker or loss of position, including partial displacement such as a reduction in the hours of non-overtime work, wages or employment benefits, or results in the impairment of existing collective bargaining agreements.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A4550A
SPONSOR: Cunningham TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the labor law, in relation to requiring the department
of labor to study the long-term impact of artificial intelligence on the
state workforce; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon
the expiration thereof
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To study the long-term impacts of artificial intelligence (AI) on labor,
and to protect state civil service jobs until such study is complete
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 requires the Department of Labor, in consultation with the
Department of Civil Service and the Office of Information Technology
Services, to commence a study on the long-term impact of artificial
intelligence on the state workforce. This may include: job performance,
productivity, training, education requirements, privacy, and security.
The Department will issue an interim report after five years and will
issue their final report and recommendations no later than December
2034. Until said report is received, New York State employers are
prohibited from using artificial intelligence to displace any human
work.
Section 2 provides for an immediate effective date and repealed January
1, 2035.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE):
Shifts the bill to amend labor law. Clarifies displacement language
related to current state employees. Creates a repeal date of January
1st, 2035.
JUSTIFICATION:
The long-term impacts of artificial intelligence (AI) as it relates to
jobs, economy, technology, and productivity are as yet unknown. There is
potential for great risk and harm to workers, as well as promising
opportunities. For example, AI is able to automate tasks and handle them
much more quickly, yet also has the potential to displace human activ-
ities. It is crucial and urgent that we learn more about artificial
intelligence and its implications. This legislation will require a
study of the long-term impact of AI on the state workforce over a ten-
year period. Until we have these results in 2035, the jobs of New York
State employees will be protected from being displaced by artificial
intelligence.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: A7838 - referred to labor
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
4550--A
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 4, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. CUNNINGHAM -- 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 the department
of labor to study the long-term impact of artificial intelligence on
the state workforce; and providing for the repeal of such provisions
upon the expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The labor law is amended by adding a new section 12-a to
2 read as follows:
3 § 12-a. Study on the long-term impact of artificial intelligence on
4 the state workforce. 1. No later than six months after the effective
5 date of this section, the department, in consultation with the depart-
6 ment of civil service and the office of information technology services,
7 shall begin a study on the long-term impact of artificial intelligence
8 on the state workforce including but not limited to job performance,
9 productivity, training, education requirements, privacy and security.
10 The department shall issue an interim report on its current findings and
11 recommendations for legislative action every five years and shall issue
12 a final report and recommendations for legislative action no later than
13 December thirty-first, two thousand thirty-four. The department shall
14 issue its reports and recommendations to the governor, the speaker of
15 the assembly, the minority leader of the assembly, the temporary presi-
16 dent of the senate, and the minority leader of the senate.
17 2. Until the final report and recommendations are received pursuant to
18 subdivision one of this section, every state department, board, bureau,
19 division, commission, committee, public authority, public corporation,
20 council, office or other governmental entity performing a governmental
21 or proprietary function for the state shall be prohibited from using
22 artificial intelligence in any way that shall result in the displacement
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05745-02-5
A. 4550--A 2
1 of any currently employed worker or loss of position, including partial
2 displacement such as a reduction in the hours of non-overtime work,
3 wages or employment benefits, or results in the impairment of existing
4 collective bargaining agreements.
5 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
6 deemed repealed January 1, 2035.
