New York Senate Bill S08797 Latest Draft

   
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 8797--A  IN SENATE March 12, 2024 ___________ Introduced by Sen. MANNION -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Labor -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee AN ACT in relation to directing the New York State Department of Labor to establish a voluntary training and certification program for employers that have taken the Neurodiversity Training Pledge The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. a. The New York State Department of Labor, in consultation 2 with the Office of Employee Relations, the Office for People with Devel- 3 opmental Disabilities, the Office of Mental Health, the Justice Center 4 for the Protection of People with Special Needs, the Council on Develop- 5 mental Disabilities, Access VR, and the Office of the Chief Disability 6 Officer, shall establish a voluntary training and certification program 7 for employers that have taken the Neurodiversity Training Pledge and 8 that support an inclusive workplace and the advantages of a neurodiverse 9 workforce. The program shall promote techniques and strategies employers 10 can implement to increase neurodiversity in the employer's workforce 11 through neurodiverse hiring and training supply chains by working with 12 companies that employ neurodiverse individuals with disabilities. 13 b. The Department of Labor will develop and manage the program. As 14 part of the program, the Department of Labor will develop a series of 15 online/virtual training programs for employers for key components 16 related to training employers on topics including: 17 (i) workforce sensitivity training regarding people with neurological 18 differences such as Autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other neurodivergent 19 neurotypes; 20 (ii) recognition of the advantages of neurodiversity and a neuroinclu- 21 sive workforce and workplace which promotes success for the business or 22 organization through creativity and innovation; 23 (iii) commitment to consider and interview for employment neurodiverse 24 individuals and appropriate job opening advertisements; 25 (iv) workplace inclusion of neurodiverse individuals; EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD14460-03-4 
 S. 8797--A 2 1 (v) supply chain neurodiversity to the extent practicable; 2 (vi) providing reasonable accommodations to neurodiverse employees; 3 (vii) website accessibility; 4 (viii) understanding of tax credits and other financial incentives for 5 fulfilling the Neurodiversity Training Pledge; 6 (ix) supply chain diversity; 7 (x) the role of job coaches in assisting employers; and 8 (xi) corporate partnership training for employers for purposes of 9 qualifying for preferred source procurement status. 10 § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall 11 have become a law.