Bill Text: NY S08797 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Directs the New York State Department of Labor to establish a voluntary training and certification program for employers that have taken the Neurodiversity Training Pledge.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-03-12 - REFERRED TO LABOR [S08797 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-S08797-Introduced.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          8797

                    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

        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 and the Office of the Chief  Disa-
     3  bility  Officer  shall  establish a voluntary training and certification
     4  program for employers that have taken the Neurodiversity Training Pledge
     5  and that support an inclusive workplace and the advantages of a neurodi-
     6  verse workforce. The program shall  promote  techniques  and  strategies
     7  employers  can  implement  to  increase neurodiversity in the employer's
     8  workforce through neurodiverse hiring  and  training  supply  chains  by
     9  working  with  companies that employ neurodiverse individuals with disa-
    10  bilities.
    11    b. The Department of Labor will develop and manage the  program.    As
    12  part  of  the  program, the Department of Labor will develop a series of
    13  online/virtual  training  programs  for  employers  for  key  components
    14  related to training employers on topics including:
    15    (i)  workforce sensitivity training regarding people with neurological
    16  differences such as Autism, ADHD,  dyslexia,  and  other  neurodivergent
    17  neurotypes;
    18    (ii) recognition of the advantages of neurodiversity and a neuroinclu-
    19  sive  workforce and workplace which promotes success for the business or
    20  organization through creativity and innovation;
    21    (iii) commitment to consider and interview for employment neurodiverse
    22  individuals and appropriate job opening advertisements;
    23    (iv) workplace inclusion of neurodiverse individuals;
    24    (v) supply chain neurodiversity to the extent practicable;
    25    (vi) providing reasonable accommodations to neurodiverse employees;
    26    (vii) website accessibility;

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD14460-01-4
        S. 8797                             2

     1    (viii) understanding of tax credits and other financial incentives for
     2  fulfilling the Neurodiversity Training Pledge;
     3    (ix) supply chain diversity;
     4    (x) the role of job coaches in assisting employers; and
     5    (xi)  corporate  partnership  training  for  employers for purposes of
     6  qualifying for preferred source procurement status.
     7    § 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day  after  it  shall
     8  have become a law.