Relates to prohibiting contract provisions that waive certain substantive and procedural rights relating to a claim of discrimination, non-payment of wages or benefits, retaliation, harassment or violation of public policy in employment.
Relates to presumptions for the death of an injured worker due to opioid overdose where that injured worker was prescribed opioids as a result of his or her workplace injury.
Excludes claims for unemployment insurance arising as a result of an employer closing his or her business because of novel coronavirus COVID-19, from an employer's experience rating charges.
Requires the department of labor to create an annual pay data report to compile statistics and information pertaining to employers that have one hundred or more employees and who are required to file an annual Employer Information Report pursuant to federal law; makes related provisions.
Enacts the "Empowering People in Rights Enforcement (EMPIRE) Worker Protection Act"; relates to the delegation of state enforcement authority to private actors; authorizes an affected employee, whistleblower, representative organization or an organizational deputy to initiate a public enforcement action on behalf of the commissioner for certain provisions of the labor law, or any regulation promulgated thereunder.
Provides that any claimant who has received certain unemployment benefits to which they were not entitled shall not be held liable for the amounts overpaid provided certain conditions exist; directs the department of labor to provide claimants who have previously been denied waivers with applications for individual waivers; repeals certain provisions of law relating thereto.
Provides for the rate of employer contributions to the unemployment insurance fund in the 2026 fiscal year; establishes the unemployment insurance solvency reserve fund.
Restricts the use by an employer or an employment agency of electronic monitoring or an automated employment decision tool to screen a candidate or employee for an employment decision unless such tool has been the subject of an impact assessment within the last year; requires notice to employment candidates of the use of such tools; provides remedies for violations.
Requires that a minimum of ten percent of the labor hours of the total construction workforce employed by all contractors and subcontractors performing work pursuant to a construction contract shall be performed by a person or persons participating in a certified apprenticeship program; makes technical amendments.
Clarifies that workers who are temporarily partially disabled are entitled to payment of benefits at a reduced rate unless their separation from employment is unrelated to the compensable injury.
Simplifies the procedure by which injured workers obtain treatment for injuries covered by the workers' compensation law; provides that the list of pre-authorized procedures is to be used only as a list of treatment that does not require insurance carrier approval.
Requires such apprenticeship program is specific to the type and scope of work which is being performed and have a graduation rate of at least thirty percent as determined by the department of labor; makes technical corrections.
Provides that a non-network pharmacy that provides causally related medications to a claimant shall be entitled to payment at the network rate negotiated between the carrier and the pharmacy network if the carrier's network provides mail order service or is located within a reasonable distance from the claimant; reduces costs of treatment by requiring out of network providers accept payment at the carrier's negotiated network rate, while at the same time allowing injured workers to obtain treatment in a timely manner by providing for payment to the provider when they do not obtain the treatment within the network; provides that any special diagnostic tests, x-ray examinations, magnetic resonance imaging or other radiological examinations or tests costing more than one thousand dollars performed by a provider who is not a member of the carrier's, self insured's or state insurance fund's diagnostic networks, shall be entitled to payment at the negotiated network rate.