S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 3933 2011-2012 Regular Sessions I N S E N A T E March 10, 2011 ___________ Introduced by Sen. ADAMS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Labor AN ACT to direct the commissioner of labor, in consultation with the superintendent of insurance, to study the feasibility of developing and implementing an insurance plan to provide benefits to unemployed persons upon the expiration of unemployment benefits; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: 1 Section 1. Legislative intent. The legislature finds that the contin- 2 uous downsizing of employees by the public and private sectors has 3 created great concerns relative to long term stability in employment. A 4 recent study indicates that projected job employment for persons under 5 age forty will average four and one-half years per employment placement. 6 This employment instability is further aggravated by actual and project- 7 ed exportation of domestic jobs. 8 The legislature further finds that state government officials regard- 9 less of political party affiliation have all expressed concern relative 10 to payment of persons on the public assistance rolls, and have urged 11 various "workfare not welfare" programs. It is clear that this recent 12 employment enigma can only further exacerbate this unemployment 13 discussion. 14 Accordingly it is prudent that the state develop an insurance plan 15 that provides for persons who may encounter such an employment predica- 16 ment. Such a plan would lessen the burden of public support, and 17 provide for the stable financial management of dislocated employees. 18 Such insurance plan would provide benefits upon the expiration of unem- 19 ployment benefits if the unemployment condition prevails. Contributions 20 to the insurance program would derive from deductions through employees' 21 salaries. Such deductions would be no more than ten percent of annual 22 salary. Unspent accounts would be refunded after an employee attains the EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD04065-01-1 S. 3933 2 1 age of fifty-five. The intent of this legislation is to provide employ- 2 ees with insurance against job insecurity. 3 S 2. The commissioner of labor, in consultation with the superinten- 4 dent of insurance, shall study the feasibility of developing and imple- 5 menting an insurance plan to provide benefits to unemployed persons upon 6 the expiration of unemployment benefits. Such study shall include: 7 1. the manner in which insurance premiums shall be paid to such plan 8 including payroll deductions from employee salaries; 9 2. the amount of such payroll deductions not exceeding ten percent of 10 such employee salaries; 11 3. a mechanism to refund to employees premiums paid by employees that 12 were not paid on such employees' behalf; and 13 4. any other information that the commissioner of labor deems relevant 14 and necessary. 15 S 3. A report of the findings of such study, recommendations of the 16 commissioner of labor and any proposed legislation necessary to imple- 17 ment such findings shall be filed with the governor, the temporary pres- 18 ident of the senate and the speaker of the assembly within one year 19 after the effective date of this act. 20 S 4. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be 21 deemed repealed one year after such date.