Creates the protecting of the English language in the workplace act which specifies that it is not unlawful to require workers to speak English while engaged in work-related duties.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6523
2011-2012 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 21, 2011
___________
Introduced by M. of A. KOLB, BURLING, BUTLER, FINCH -- Multi-Sponsored
by -- M. of A. CALHOUN, JORDAN -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to creating the protect-
ing English in the workplace act
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
2 the "protecting English in the workplace act".
3 § 2. Section 296 of the executive law is amended by adding a new
4 subdivision 22 to read as follows:
5 22. (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, it shall not
6 be an unlawful discriminatory practice for an employer, employment agen-
7 cy, labor organization or joint labor-management committee to require an
8 employee to speak, or an applicant for employment to agree to speak
9 English while engaged in work-related duties.
10 (b) An individual shall not be considered to be engaged in work during
11 a bona fide meal period, a rest period, or any other break during which
12 the individual is not required to perform work-related duties. The terms
13 "bona fide meal period" and "rest period" shall have the same meanings
14 as defined by section 785.19 of title 29, Code of Federal Regulations.
15 § 3. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed-
16 ing the date on which it shall have become a law and shall apply to acts
17 or refusals to act alleged to have occurred on and after such effective
18 date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05523-01-1
