New year, new laws in New York State
Conall Smith and Sarah Darmanjian
3 days ago
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)- A new year means new laws. In New York, local governments had until the end of the year to decide if they wanted to opt-out of having marijuana dispensaries, minimum wage increases go into effect as well as stricter rules on solitary confinement. Capital Region 2021 COVID-19 year in review Find out what new laws will be going into effect below: Minimum wage increase The minimum wage in New York has been increasing to $15 since 2016. New York City, Long Island, and Westchester already have a $15 minimum wage. On Dec. 31 minimum wage in the rest of the state will move to $13.20 an hour. When will that be increased to $15? The state said the Division of the Budget Director and the Department of Labor will meet to determine future increases. Future increases will be set based on an annual review of how the increases have made an impact. NY lawmakers aren’t voting on bill to detain the unvaccinated Marijuana sales opt-out By the end of the year, municipalities had to decide whether they were going to allow recreational marijuana to be sold. Opting out of allowing marijuana to be sold also means those municipalities are also opting out of tax revenue. The Rockefeller Institute of Government created the Marijuana Opt-Out Tracker to monitor municipalities’ decisions. NEWS10 has put together a list of municipalities’ decisions by county. Polystyrene ban Beginning Jan. 1 restaurants will no longer be able to use polystyrene containers for take-out or give them to customers so they can take home their leftovers. The law was adopted in 2020 and despite supply shortages, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has set up a system where people can make complaints about businesses not complying with the law. The first violation will cost businesses up to $250. A second will cost businesses up to $500 and/or a third violation up to $1,000. According to the DEC, fines collected will be put into the Environmental Protection Fund. Warren County man rescued after tractor trailer crashes into Vermont river Whistleblower protection To further protect whistleblowers the definition of employee now includes former employees. Retaliation was also expanded to include actions or threats that would impact a former employee’s employment, current or future. It also includes threats to or contacting immigration. The statute of limitations was also extended to two years. This will take effect on Jan. 26, 2022. NYS Paid Family Leave New Yorkers who have met the time-worked requirements for the state’s paid family leave can take up to 12 weeks off to care for a new child or sick family member. In 2022, New Yorkers using paid family leave will get 67% of their average weekly wage or up to $1,068.36 a week. New legislation, signed by Governor Kathy Hochul in November, adds caring for a sick sibling to be recognized under the family leave act. “This is personal,” she said. “Taking care of your family is a human right.” The extension applies to biological, adopted, half-siblings, or step-siblings but won’t take effect until 2023. NYS Fair to ban outdoor smoking in 2022 Solitary confinement Solitary confinement is limited to no more than 15 days under the HALT Solitary Confinement Act. It is banned entirely for minors, people over the age of 55, pregnant inmates, and those with disabilities. The law becomes effective Apr. 1, 2022. Electronic monitoring of employees Employees must be notified before they are hired if an employer will be electronically monitoring them in any way. Employers will also have to post the notice and give employees an annual notice. The law will take effect at the beginning of May.
Categories: Local, New York News, News, Northeast News, NY Capitol News, Political News, Politics, Top Stories
Tags: FMLA, HALT Solitary Confinement, Marijuana Legalization, Minimum Wage, styrofoam ban, whistleblower protection
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