Outstanding issues for the Sente to take up:

IDA REFORM (A 3659 Hoyt/S 1241 Thompson) Comprehensive reform of our Industrial Development Agencies would include:

• Business Standards with:
  
  • Prevailing Wages; Wage Standards; Regional Hiring; High Performance Building & Environmental Standards
• Accountability Measures with:
  
  • Local Government Oversight; Subsidy Recapture Mechanisms or “Clawbacks”; Designated IDA Board Representation (Labor Seat);
  • Anti-Raiding Measures.
• Transparency Reforms with:
  
  • Community Impact Reports & Accessible Public Hearings;
  • Improved Reporting.

FARMWORKER BILL (A.1867/S.2247) The Farm Worker Fair Labor Practices Act provides the basic necessary labor rights and protections to farm workers who are currently denied these rights in New York state. The rights that enactment of this legislation would provide and which are currently afforded to all New Yorker workers, except for farm workers; include:

• a day of rest each week;
• the right to overtime pay;
• the choice to form a union and collectively bargain;
• sanitary housing and working conditions; and
• workers compensation.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE INCREASE Legislation was introduced this session (A4921 – John / S2245 - Onorato) which would gradually increase both the maximum weekly benefit and the taxable wage base over the next five years. The unemployment benefit would initially increase to $475, and gradually rise to $625 in 2012. After that, the benefit would be calculated by the State Labor Department to equal one-half of New York's average weekly wages. Similarly, to restore solvency to the Trust Fund, the taxable wage base would be increased in stages until 2012, when the State Labor Department would calculate the resources needed to support increases in the maximum employment benefit.