BILL NUMBER: S7976
SPONSOR: RAMOS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the labor law, in relation to local enforcement of
violations of the state minimum wage in a city with a population of one
million or more
 
PURPOSE:
To establish local enforcement authority for the Comptroller of the City
of New York, who shall be empowered to enforce and investigate
violations of State minimum wage law.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Protection
and Oversight of Worker Enforcement Rights (POWER) Act".
Section 2. Amends the labor law by adding a new section 219-b to estab-
lish local enforcement authority for the Comptroller of the City of New
York, who shall be empowered to enforce and investigate violations of
State minimum wage law.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The Comptroller of the City of New York is vested with the obligation to
investigate violations of the Labor Law as well as investigate and
enforce violations of the prevailing wage and average hourly wage
requirements of Article 8 and 9 of the labor law, section 421-a of the
Real Property Tax Law and section 467-a of the Tax Law. The Bureau of
Labor Law has performed such functions for over 100 years. In addition,
the Bureau of Labor Law is mandated by local law to investigate
violations of municipal living and prevailing wage and labor peace
requirements for city contractors and economic development projects.
In the course of such investigations, the Bureau of Labor Law identifies
additional violations of the Labor Law and refers such instances to
other entities for enforcement action. This legislation would strengthen
and streamline the Comptroller's Office existing investigative and
enforcement authority and allow the simultaneous resolution of multiple
related violations.
 
FISCAL IMPACT:
None
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.