Establishes the commission on the future of work within the department of labor to research and understand the impact of technology on workers, employers, and the economy of the state; requires such commission to submit a report along with any recommendations for legislative action to the governor and the legislature.
STATE OF NEW YORK
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8446
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
July 8, 2019
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Introduced by M. of A. STERN -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Labor
AN ACT to amend the labor law, in relation to establishing the commis-
sion on the future of work; and providing for the repeal of such
provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The legislature finds and declares all of the following:
2 (a) New York state is committed to developing a plan to become the
3 most competitive, durable, equitable and sustainable economy in the
4 world, where technology innovation shall strengthen, not erode, the
5 middle class.
6 (b) Technology, when put to work for the benefit of human society, has
7 fueled progress throughout history, unlocking the growth of high-quality
8 goods and services coupled with overall price reductions, dramatic
9 reductions in poverty, disease, and famine, as well as leaps in science
10 and the arts.
11 (c) Exponential growth in technology innovation, including automation
12 and artificial intelligence, as well as broader economic trends of wage
13 stagnation, declining workforce participation, rising income inequality,
14 and growth in part-time, lower-wage jobs, compel New York state to
15 update its planning around education, employment, and the economy as a
16 whole to better understand, anticipate, and shape the future of work in
17 the short and long term.
18 (d) The commission on the future of work is necessary to prepare New
19 York state residents for the future of work and to ensure advancements
20 in technology serve the construction of a durable middle class and
21 sustainable economy.
22 § 2. The labor law is amended by adding a new section 211-b to read as
23 follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13333-01-9
A. 8446 2
1 § 211-b. The commission on the future of work. 1. This section shall
2 be known and may be cited as the "New York state future of work act".
3 2. a. There is hereby established within the department the commission
4 on the future of work.
5 b. Members of the commission shall be individuals with knowledge of,
6 and expertise in, work, workforce development, labor, technology, or
7 robotics or artificial intelligence, whether by experience or training.
8 c. The commission shall consist of eight members to be appointed as
9 follows:
10 (i) four members appointed by the governor, including at least one
11 representative from organized labor and one from the private sector;
12 (ii) one member appointed by the temporary president of the senate;
13 (iii) one member appointed by the speaker of the assembly;
14 (iv) one member appointed by the minority leader of the senate; and
15 (v) one member appointed by the minority leader of the assembly.
16 3. The commission on the future of work shall:
17 a. convene a public process to gather input and to understand the
18 economic, social, workplace and technological landscape from the public,
19 academics, and stakeholders;
20 b. commission research to understand the impact of technology on work-
21 ers, employers, and the economy of the state;
22 c. advise the governor, the legislature, and state agencies, depart-
23 ments, and commissions on the impact of technology and automation on
24 workers, the workplace and state workforce, the state budget, economy,
25 safety net, and other areas related to the public good; and
26 d. develop recommendations on a policy framework to manage the devel-
27 opment, deployment, regulation, taxation, and fair distribution of the
28 benefits of technology used in the workplace that advances the interests
29 of workers and the public.
30 4. On or before January first, two thousand twenty-one, the commission
31 shall make a report of its findings, including any recommendations for
32 legislative action as it may deem necessary and appropriate to the
33 governor and the legislature.
34 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire January
35 1, 2021 when upon such date the provisions of this act shall be deemed
36 repealed.