Bill Text: NY S02131 | 2025-2026 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Relates to securing payment of wages for work already performed; creates a lien remedy for all employees; provides grounds for attachment; relates to procedures where employees may hold shareholders of non-publicly traded corporations personally liable for wage theft; relates to rights for victims of wage theft to hold the ten members with the largest ownership interests in a company personally liable for wage theft.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 22-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2025-01-15 - REFERRED TO JUDICIARY [S02131 Detail]
Download: New_York-2025-S02131-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 2131 2025-2026 Regular Sessions IN SENATE January 15, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sens. RAMOS, BAILEY, BRISPORT, BROUK, CLEARE, COMRIE, FERNANDEZ, GIANARIS, GONZALEZ, GOUNARDES, HARCKHAM, HOYLMAN-SIGAL, JACKSON, KRUEGER, LIU, MAY, MYRIE, RIVERA, SALAZAR, SANDERS, SEPULVE- DA, STAVISKY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Judiciary AN ACT to amend the lien law, in relation to employee liens; to amend the labor law, in relation to employee complaints; to amend the civil practice law and rules, in relation to grounds for attachment; to amend the business corporation law, in relation to streamlining proce- dures where employees may hold shareholders of non-publicly traded corporations personally liable for wage theft; and to amend the limit- ed liability company law, in relation to creating a right for victims of wage theft to hold the ten members with the largest ownership interests in a company personally liable for wage theft The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Section 2 of the lien law is amended by adding three new 2 subdivisions 21, 22 and 23 to read as follows: 3 21. Employee. The term "employee", when used in this chapter, shall 4 have the same meaning as "employee" pursuant to articles one, six, nine- 5 teen and nineteen-A of the labor law, as applicable, or the Fair Labor 6 Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. § 201 et. seq., as applicable. 7 22. Employer. The term "employer", when used in this chapter, shall 8 have the same meaning as "employer" pursuant to articles one, six, nine- 9 teen and nineteen-A of the labor law, as applicable, or the Fair Labor 10 Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. § 201 et. seq., as applicable, except that the 11 term "employer" shall not include a governmental agency. 12 23. Wage claim. The term "wage claim", when used in this chapter, 13 means a claim that an employee has suffered a violation of section one 14 hundred seventy, one hundred ninety-three, one hundred ninety-six-d, six 15 hundred fifty-two or six hundred seventy-three of the labor law or the EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD00763-01-5S. 2131 2 1 related regulations and wage orders promulgated by the commissioner, a 2 claim for wages due to an employee pursuant to an employment contract 3 that were unpaid in violation of that contract, or a claim that an 4 employee has suffered a violation of 29 U.S.C. § 206 or 207. 5 § 2. Section 3 of the lien law, as amended by chapter 137 of the laws 6 of 1985, is amended to read as follows: 7 § 3. Mechanic's lien and employee's lien on [real] property. 1. 8 Mechanic's lien. A contractor, subcontractor, laborer, materialman, 9 landscape gardener, nurseryman or person or corporation selling fruit or 10 ornamental trees, roses, shrubbery, vines and small fruits, who performs 11 labor or furnishes materials for the improvement of real property with 12 the consent or at the request of the owner thereof, or of [his] such 13 owner's agent, contractor or subcontractor, and any trust fund to which 14 benefits and wage supplements are due or payable for the benefit of such 15 laborers, shall have a lien for the principal and interest, of the 16 value, or the agreed price, of such labor, including benefits and wage 17 supplements due or payable for the benefit of any laborer, or materials 18 upon the real property improved or to be improved and upon such improve- 19 ment, from the time of filing a notice of such lien as prescribed in 20 this chapter. Where the contract for an improvement is made with a 21 [husband or wife] spouse and the property belongs to the other or both, 22 the [husband or wife] spouse contracting shall also be presumed to be 23 the agent of the other, unless such other having knowledge of the 24 improvement shall, within ten days after learning of the contract give 25 the contractor written notice of [his or her] such other's refusal to 26 consent to the improvement. Within the meaning of the provisions of this 27 chapter, materials actually manufactured for but not delivered to the 28 real property, shall also be deemed to be materials furnished. 29 2. Employee's lien. An employee who has a wage claim as that term is 30 defined in subdivision twenty-three of section two of this article or, 31 in the case of an employee whose wage claim originates from or is 32 covered by a collective bargaining agreement, such employee's authorized 33 bargaining representative on behalf of such employee, shall have a lien 34 on the employer's interest in property for the value of that employee's 35 wage claim arising out of the employment, including liquidated damages 36 pursuant to subdivision one-a of section one hundred ninety-eight, 37 section six hundred sixty-three or section six hundred eighty-one of the 38 labor law, or 29 U.S.C. § 216 (b), from the time of filing a notice of 39 such lien as prescribed in this chapter. An employee's lien based on a 40 wage claim may be had against the employer's interest in real property 41 and against the employer's interest in personal property that can be 42 sufficiently described within the meaning of section 9-108 of the 43 uniform commercial code, except that an employee's lien shall not extend 44 to deposit accounts or goods as those terms are defined in section 9-102 45 of the uniform commercial code. The department of labor and the attor- 46 ney general may obtain an employee's lien for the value of wage claims 47 of the employees who are the subject of the department of labor's or 48 attorney general's investigations, court actions or administrative agen- 49 cy actions. 50 3. As used in this article and unless otherwise specified, a lien 51 shall mean an employee's lien or a mechanic's lien. 52 § 3. Subdivisions 1 and 2 of section 4 of the lien law, subdivision 1 53 as amended by chapter 515 of the laws of 1929 and subdivision 2 as added 54 by chapter 704 of the laws of 1985, are amended to read as follows: 55 (1) [Such] A mechanic's or employee's lien and employee's lien against 56 real property shall extend to the owner's right, title or interest inS. 2131 3 1 the real property and improvements, existing at the time of filing the 2 notice of lien, or thereafter acquired, except as hereinafter in this 3 article provided. If an owner assigns [his] such owner's interest in 4 such real property by a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, 5 within thirty days prior to such filing, the lien shall extend to the 6 interest thus assigned. If any part of the real property subjected to 7 such lien be removed by the owner or by any other person, at any time 8 before the discharge thereof, such removal shall not affect the rights 9 of the lienor, either in respect to the remaining real property, or the 10 part so removed. If labor is performed for, or materials furnished to, a 11 contractor or subcontractor for an improvement, the mechanic's lien 12 shall not be for a sum greater than the sum earned and unpaid on the 13 contract at the time of filing the notice of lien, and any sum subse- 14 quently earned thereon. In no case shall the owner be liable to pay by 15 reason of all mechanic's liens created pursuant to this article a sum 16 greater than the value or agreed price of the labor and materials 17 remaining unpaid, at the time of filing notices of such liens, except as 18 hereinafter provided. 19 (2) [Such] A mechanic's or employee's lien shall not extend to the 20 owner's right, title or interest in real property and improvements, 21 existing at the time of filing the notice of lien if such lien arises 22 from the failure of a lessee of the right to explore, develop or produce 23 natural gas or oil, to pay for, compensate or render value for improve- 24 ments made with the consent or at the request of such lessee by a 25 contractor, subcontractor, materialman, equipment operator or owner, 26 landscaper, nurseryman, or person or corporation who performs labor or 27 furnishes materials for the exploration, development, or production of 28 oil or natural gas or otherwise improves such leased property. Such 29 mechanic's or employee's lien shall extend to the improvements made for 30 the exploration, development and production of oil and natural gas, and 31 the working interest held by a lessee of the right to explore, develop 32 or produce oil and natural gas. 33 § 4. The opening paragraph of section 4-a of the lien law, as amended 34 by chapter 696 of the laws of 1959, is amended to read as follows: 35 The proceeds of any insurance which by the terms of the policy are 36 payable to the owner of real property improved, and actually received or 37 to be received by [him] such owner because of the destruction or removal 38 by fire or other casualty of an improvement on which lienors have 39 performed labor or services or for which they have furnished materials, 40 or upon which an employee has established an employee's lien, shall 41 after the owner has been reimbursed therefrom for premiums paid by [him] 42 such owner, if any, for such insurance, be subject to liens provided by 43 this act to the same extent and in the same order of priority as the 44 real property would have been had such improvement not been so destroyed 45 or removed. 46 § 5. Subdivisions 1, 2 and 5 of section 9 of the lien law, as amended 47 by chapter 515 of the laws of 1929, are amended to read as follows: 48 1. The name of the lienor, and either the residence of the lienor or 49 the name and business address of the lienor's attorney, if any; and if 50 the lienor is a partnership or a corporation, the business address of 51 such firm, or corporation, the names of partners and principal place of 52 business, and if a foreign corporation, its principal place of business 53 within the state. 54 2. The name of the owner of the [real] property against whose interest 55 therein a lien is claimed, and the interest of the owner as far as known 56 to the lienor.S. 2131 4 1 5. The amount unpaid to the lienor for such labor or materials, or the 2 amount of the wage claim if a wage claim is the basis for establishment 3 of the lien, the items of the wage claim and the value thereof which 4 make up the amount for which the lienor claims a lien. 5 § 6. Subdivision 1 of section 10 of the lien law, as amended by chap- 6 ter 367 of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows: 7 1. (a) Notice of mechanic's lien may be filed at any time during the 8 progress of the work and the furnishing of the materials, or, within 9 eight months after the completion of the contract, or the final perform- 10 ance of the work, or the final furnishing of the materials, dating from 11 the last item of work performed or materials furnished; provided, howev- 12 er, that where the improvement is related to real property improved or 13 to be improved with a single family dwelling, the notice of mechanic's 14 lien may be filed at any time during the progress of the work and the 15 furnishing of the materials, or, within four months after the completion 16 of the contract, or the final performance of the work, or the final 17 furnishing of the materials, dating from the last item of work performed 18 or materials furnished; and provided further where the notice of mechan- 19 ic's lien is for retainage, the notice of mechanic's lien may be filed 20 within ninety days after the date the retainage was due to be released; 21 except that in the case of a mechanic's lien by a real estate broker, 22 the notice of mechanic's lien may be filed only after the performance of 23 the brokerage services and execution of lease by both lessor and lessee 24 and only if a copy of the alleged written agreement of employment or 25 compensation is annexed to the notice of lien, provided that where the 26 payment pursuant to the written agreement of employment or compensation 27 is to be made in installments, then a notice of lien may be filed within 28 eight months after the final payment is due, but in no event later than 29 a date five years after the first payment was made. For purposes of this 30 section, the term "single family dwelling" shall not include a dwelling 31 unit which is a part of a subdivision that has been filed with a munici- 32 pality in which the subdivision is located when at the time the lien is 33 filed, such property in the subdivision is owned by the developer for 34 purposes other than [his] such developer's personal residence. For 35 purposes of this section, "developer" shall mean and include any private 36 individual, partnership, trust or corporation which improves two or more 37 parcels of real property with single family dwellings pursuant to a 38 common scheme or plan. [The] 39 (b) Notice of employee's lien may be filed at any time not later than 40 three years following the end of the employment giving rise to the wage 41 claim. 42 (c) A notice of lien, other than for a lien on personal property, must 43 be filed in the clerk's office of the county where the property is situ- 44 ated. If such property is situated in two or more counties, the notice 45 of lien shall be filed in the office of the clerk of each of such coun- 46 ties. The county clerk of each county shall provide and keep a book to 47 be called the "lien docket," which shall be suitably ruled in columns 48 headed "owners," "lienors," "lienor's attorney," "property," "amount," 49 "time of filing," "proceedings had," in each of which [he] the county 50 clerk shall enter the particulars of the notice, properly belonging 51 therein. The date, hour and minute of the filing of each notice of lien 52 shall be entered in the proper column. Except where the county clerk 53 maintains a block index, the names of the owners shall be arranged in 54 such book in alphabetical order. The validity of the lien and the right 55 to file a notice thereof shall not be affected by the death of the owner 56 before notice of the lien is filed. A notice of employee's lien onS. 2131 5 1 personal property must be filed, together with a financing statement, in 2 the filing office as set forth in section 9-501 of the uniform commer- 3 cial code. 4 § 7. Section 11 of the lien law, as amended by chapter 147 of the laws 5 of 1996, is amended to read as follows: 6 § 11. Service of copy of notice of lien. 1. Within five days before 7 or thirty days after filing the notice of a mechanic's lien, the lienor 8 shall serve a copy of such notice upon the owner, if a natural person, 9 (a) by delivering the same to [him] such owner personally, or if the 10 owner cannot be found, to [his] such owner's agent or attorney, or (b) 11 by leaving it at [his] such owner's last known place of residence in the 12 city or town in which the real property or some part thereof is situ- 13 ated, with a person of suitable age and discretion, or (c) by registered 14 or certified mail addressed to [his] such owner's last known place of 15 residence, or (d) if such owner has no such residence in such city or 16 town, or cannot be found, and [he] such owner has no agent or attorney, 17 by affixing a copy thereof conspicuously on such property, between the 18 hours of nine o'clock in the forenoon and four o'clock in the afternoon; 19 if the owner be a corporation, said service shall be made (i) by deliv- 20 ering such copy to and leaving the same with the president, vice-presi- 21 dent, secretary or clerk to the corporation, the cashier, treasurer or a 22 director or managing agent thereof, personally, within the state, or 23 (ii) if such officer cannot be found within the state by affixing a copy 24 thereof conspicuously on such property between the hours of nine o'clock 25 in the forenoon and four o'clock in the afternoon, or (iii) by regis- 26 tered or certified mail addressed to its last known place of business. 27 Failure to file proof of such a service with the county clerk within 28 thirty-five days after the notice of lien is filed shall terminate the 29 notice as a lien. Until service of the notice has been made, as above 30 provided, an owner, without knowledge of the lien, shall be protected in 31 any payment made in good faith to any contractor or other person claim- 32 ing a lien. 33 2. Within five days before or thirty days after filing the notice of 34 an employee's lien, the lienor shall serve a copy of such notice upon 35 the employer, if a natural person, (a) by delivering the same to such 36 employer personally, or if the employer cannot be found, to such employ- 37 er's agent or attorney, or (b) by leaving it at such employer's last 38 known place of residence or business, with a person of suitable age and 39 discretion, or (c) by registered or certified mail addressed to such 40 employer's last known place of residence or business, or (d) if such 41 employer owns real property, by affixing a copy thereof conspicuously on 42 such property, between the hours of nine o'clock in the forenoon and 43 four o'clock in the afternoon. The lienor also shall, within thirty days 44 after filing the notice of employee's lien, affix a copy thereof 45 conspicuously on the real property identified in the notice of employ- 46 ee's lien, between the hours of nine o'clock in the forenoon and four 47 o'clock in the afternoon. If the employer be a corporation, said service 48 shall be made (i) by delivering such copy to and leaving the same with 49 the president, vice-president, secretary or clerk to the corporation, 50 the cashier, treasurer or a director or managing agent thereof, 51 personally, within the state, or (ii) if such officer cannot be found 52 within the state by affixing a copy thereof conspicuously on such prop- 53 erty between the hours of nine o'clock in the forenoon and four o'clock 54 in the afternoon, or (iii) by registered or certified mail addressed to 55 its last known place of business, or (iv) by delivery to the secretary 56 of the department of state in the same manner as required by subpara-S. 2131 6 1 graph one of paragraph (b) of section three hundred six of the business 2 corporation law. Failure to file proof of such a service with the coun- 3 ty clerk within thirty-five days after the notice of lien is filed shall 4 terminate the notice as a lien. Until service of the notice has been 5 made, as above provided, an owner, without knowledge of the lien, shall 6 be protected in any payment made in good faith to any other person 7 claiming a lien. 8 § 8. Section 11-b of the lien law, as amended by chapter 147 of the 9 laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows: 10 § 11-b. Copy of notice of mechanic's lien to a contractor or subcon- 11 tractor. Within five days before or thirty days after filing a notice 12 of mechanic's lien in accordance with section ten of this [chapter] 13 article or the filing of an amendment of notice of mechanic's lien in 14 accordance with section twelve-a of this [chapter] article the lienor 15 shall serve a copy of such notice or amendment by certified mail on the 16 contractor, subcontractor, assignee or legal representative for whom 17 [he] such lienor was employed or to whom [he] such lienor furnished 18 materials or if the lienor is a contractor or subcontractor to the 19 person, firm or corporation with whom the contract was made. A lienor 20 having a direct contractual relationship with a subcontractor or a sub- 21 subcontractor but not with a contractor shall also serve a copy of such 22 notice or amendment by certified mail to the contractor. Failure to file 23 proof of such a service with the county clerk within thirty-five days 24 after the notice of lien is filed shall terminate the notice as a lien. 25 Any lienor, or a person acting on behalf of a lienor, who fails to serve 26 a copy of the notice of mechanic's lien as required by this section 27 shall be liable for reasonable attorney's fees, costs and expenses, as 28 determined by the court, incurred in obtaining such copy. 29 § 9. Subdivision 1 of section 12-a of the lien law, as amended by 30 chapter 1048 of the laws of 1971, is amended to read as follows: 31 1. Within sixty days after the original filing, a lienor may amend 32 [his] such lienor's lien upon twenty days notice to existing lienors, 33 mortgagees and the owner, provided that no action or proceeding to 34 enforce or cancel the mechanics' lien or employee's lien has been 35 brought in the interim, where the purpose of the amendment is to reduce 36 the amount of the lien, except the question of wilful exaggeration shall 37 survive such amendment. 38 § 10. Subdivision 1 of section 13 of the lien law, as amended by chap- 39 ter 878 of the laws of 1947, is amended to read as follows: 40 (1) [A] An employee's lien, or a lien for materials furnished or labor 41 performed in the improvement of real property, shall have priority over 42 a conveyance, mortgage, judgment or other claim against such property 43 not recorded, docketed or filed at the time of the filing of the notice 44 of such lien, except as hereinafter in this chapter provided; over 45 advances made upon any mortgage or other encumbrance thereon after such 46 filing, except as hereinafter in this article provided; and over the 47 claim of a creditor who has not furnished materials or performed labor 48 upon such property, if such property has been assigned by the owner by a 49 general assignment for the benefit of creditors, within thirty days 50 before the filing of either of such notices; and also over an attachment 51 hereafter issued or a money judgment hereafter recovered upon a claim, 52 which, in whole or in part, was not for materials furnished, labor 53 performed or moneys advanced for the improvement of such real property; 54 and over any claim or lien acquired in any proceedings upon such judg- 55 ment. Such liens shall also have priority over advances made upon a 56 contract by an owner for an improvement of real property which containsS. 2131 7 1 an option to the contractor, [his] such contractor's successor or 2 assigns to purchase the property, if such advances were made after the 3 time when the labor began or the first item of material was furnished, 4 as stated in the notice of lien. If several buildings are demolished, 5 erected, altered or repaired, or several pieces or parcels of real prop- 6 erty are improved, under one contract, and there are conflicting liens 7 thereon, each lienor shall have priority upon the particular part of the 8 real property or upon the particular building or premises where [his] 9 such lienor's labor is performed or [his] such lienor's materials are 10 used. Persons shall have no priority on account of the time of filing 11 their respective notices of liens, but all liens shall be on a parity 12 except as hereinafter in section fifty-six of this chapter provided; and 13 except that in all cases laborers for daily or weekly wages with a 14 mechanic's lien, and employees with an employee's lien, shall have pref- 15 erence over all other claimants under this article. 16 § 11. Section 17 of the lien law, as amended by chapter 324 of the 17 laws of 2000, is amended to read as follows: 18 § 17. Duration of lien. 1. (a) No mechanic's lien specified in this 19 article shall be a lien for a longer period than one year after the 20 notice of lien has been filed, unless within that time an action is 21 commenced to foreclose the lien, and a notice of the pendency of such 22 action, whether in a court of record or in a court not of record, is 23 filed with the county clerk of the county in which the notice of lien is 24 filed, containing the names of the parties to the action, the object of 25 the action, a brief description of the real property affected thereby, 26 and the time of filing the notice of lien; or unless an extension to 27 such lien, except for a lien on real property improved or to be improved 28 with a single family dwelling, is filed with the county clerk of the 29 county in which the notice of lien is filed within one year from the 30 filing of the original notice of lien, continuing such lien and such 31 lien shall be redocketed as of the date of filing such extension. Such 32 extension shall contain the names of the lienor and the owner of the 33 real property against whose interest therein such lien is claimed, a 34 brief description of the real property affected by such lien, the amount 35 of such lien, and the date of filing the notice of lien. No lien shall 36 be continued by such extension for more than one year from the filing 37 thereof. In the event an action is not commenced to foreclose the lien 38 within such extended period, such lien shall be extinguished unless an 39 order be granted by a court of record or a judge or justice thereof, 40 continuing such lien, and such lien shall be redocketed as of the date 41 of granting such order and a statement made that such lien is continued 42 by virtue of such order. A lien on real property improved or to be 43 improved with a single family dwelling may only be extended by an order 44 of a court of record, or a judge or justice thereof. No lien shall be 45 continued by court order for more than one year from the granting there- 46 of, but a new order and entry may be made in each of two successive 47 years. If a lienor is made a party defendant in an action to enforce 48 another lien, and the plaintiff or such defendant has filed a notice of 49 the pendency of the action within the time prescribed in this section, 50 the lien of such defendant is thereby continued. Such action shall be 51 deemed an action to enforce the lien of such defendant lienor. The fail- 52 ure to file a notice of pendency of action shall not abate the action as 53 to any person liable for the payment of the debt specified in the notice 54 of lien, and the action may be prosecuted to judgment against such 55 person. The provisions of this section in regard to continuing liens 56 shall apply to liens discharged by deposit or by order on the filing ofS. 2131 8 1 an undertaking. Where a lien is discharged by deposit or by order, a 2 notice of pendency of action shall not be filed. 3 (b) A lien, the duration of which has been extended by the filing of a 4 notice of the pendency of an action as above provided, shall neverthe- 5 less terminate as a lien after such notice has been canceled as provided 6 in section sixty-five hundred fourteen of the civil practice law and 7 rules or has ceased to be effective as constructive notice as provided 8 in section sixty-five hundred thirteen of the civil practice law and 9 rules. 10 2. (a) No employee's lien on real property shall be a lien for a long- 11 er period than one year after the notice of lien has been filed, unless 12 an extension to such lien is filed with the county clerk of the county 13 in which the notice of lien is filed within one year from the filing of 14 the original notice of lien, continuing such lien and such lien shall be 15 redocketed as of the date of filing such extension. Such extension shall 16 contain the names of the lienor and the owner of the real property 17 against whose interest therein such lien is claimed, a brief description 18 of the property affected by such lien, the amount of such lien, and the 19 date of filing the notice of lien. No lien shall be continued by such 20 extension for more than one year from the filing thereof. In the event 21 an action is not commenced to obtain judgment on the wage claim or to 22 foreclose the lien within such extended period, such lien shall be auto- 23 matically extinguished unless an order be granted by a court of record 24 or a judge or justice thereof, continuing such lien, and such lien shall 25 be redocketed as of the date of granting such order and a statement made 26 that such lien is continued by virtue of such order. 27 (b) No employee's lien on personal property shall be a lien for a 28 longer period than one year after the financing statement has been 29 recorded, unless an extension to such lien, is filed with the filing 30 office in which the financing statement is required to be filed pursuant 31 to section 9-501 of the uniform commercial code within one year from the 32 filing of the original financing statement, continuing such lien. Such 33 extension shall contain the names of the lienor and the owner of the 34 property against whose interest therein such lien is claimed, a brief 35 description of the prior financing statement to be extended, and the 36 date of filing the prior financing statement. No lien shall be contin- 37 ued by such extension for more than one year from the filing thereof. In 38 the event an action is not commenced to obtain judgment on the wage 39 claim or to foreclose the lien within such extended period, such lien 40 shall be automatically extinguished unless an order be granted by a 41 court of record or a judge or justice thereof, continuing such lien, and 42 such lien shall be refiled as of the date of granting such order and a 43 statement made that such lien is continued by virtue of such order. 44 (c) If a lienor is made a party defendant in an action to enforce 45 another lien, and the plaintiff or such defendant has filed a notice of 46 the pendency of the action within the time prescribed in this section, 47 the lien of such defendant is thereby continued. Such action shall be 48 deemed an action to enforce the lien of such defendant lienor. The fail- 49 ure to file a notice of pendency of action shall not abate the action as 50 to any person liable for the payment of the debt specified in the notice 51 of lien, and the action may be prosecuted to judgment against such 52 person. The provisions of this section in regard to continuing liens 53 shall apply to liens discharged by deposit or by order on the filing of 54 an undertaking. Where a lien is discharged by deposit or by order, a 55 notice of pendency of action shall not be filed.S. 2131 9 1 (d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a lienor commences a foreclosure 2 action or an action to obtain a judgment on the wage claim within one 3 year from the filing of the notice of lien on real property or the 4 recording of the financing statement creating lien on personal property, 5 the lien shall be extended during the pendency of the action and for one 6 hundred twenty days following the entry of final judgment in such 7 action, unless the action results in a final judgment or administrative 8 order in the lienor's favor on the wage claims and the lienor commences 9 a foreclosure action, in which instance the lien shall be valid during 10 the pendency of the foreclosure action, provided, that the lien will be 11 automatically extinguished if, after a dismissal with prejudice of the 12 wage claims on which it is based, the lienor fails to file a notice of 13 appeal within the prescribed period to file a notice of appeal. If a 14 lien is extended due to the pendency of a foreclosure action or an 15 action to obtain a judgment on the wage claim, the lienor shall file a 16 notice of such pendency and extension with the county clerk of the coun- 17 ty in which the notice of lien is filed, containing the names of the 18 parties to the action, the object of the action, a brief description of 19 the property affected thereby, and the time of filing the notice of 20 lien, or in the case of a lien on personal property shall file such 21 notice with the office authorized to accept financing statements pursu- 22 ant to section 9-501 of the uniform commercial code. For purposes of 23 this section, an action to obtain judgment on a wage claim includes an 24 action brought in any court of competent jurisdiction, the submission of 25 a complaint to the department of labor or the submission of a claim to 26 arbitration pursuant to an arbitration agreement. An action also 27 includes an investigation of wage claims by the commissioner of labor or 28 the attorney general of the state of New York, regardless of whether 29 such investigation was initiated by a complaint. 30 (e) A lien, the duration of which has been extended by the filing of a 31 notice of the pendency of an action as above provided, shall neverthe- 32 less terminate as a lien after such notice has been canceled as provided 33 in section sixty-five hundred fourteen of the civil practice law and 34 rules or has ceased to be effective as constructive notice as provided 35 in section sixty-five hundred thirteen of the civil practice law and 36 rules. 37 § 12. Subdivisions 2 and 4 of section 19 of the lien law, subdivision 38 2 as amended by chapter 310 of the laws of 1962, subdivision 4 as added 39 by chapter 582 of the laws of 2002 and paragraph a of subdivision 4 as 40 further amended by section 104 of part A of chapter 62 of the laws of 41 2011, are amended to read as follows: 42 (2) By failure to begin an action to foreclose such lien or to secure 43 an order continuing it, within one year from the time of filing the 44 notice of lien, unless (i) an action be begun within the same period to 45 foreclose a mortgage or another mechanic's lien upon the same property 46 or any part thereof and a notice of pendency of such action is filed 47 according to law, or (ii) an action is commenced to obtain a judgment on 48 a wage claim pursuant to subdivision two of section seventeen of this 49 article, but a lien, the duration of which has been extended by the 50 filing of a notice of the pendency of an action as [herein] provided in 51 this section, shall nevertheless terminate as a lien after such notice 52 has been cancelled or has ceased to be effective as constructive notice. 53 (4) Either before or after the beginning of an action by the employer, 54 owner or contractor executing a bond or undertaking in an amount equal 55 to one hundred ten percent of such lien conditioned for the payment ofS. 2131 10 1 any judgment which may be rendered against the property or employer for 2 the enforcement of the lien: 3 a. The execution of any such bond or undertaking by any fidelity or 4 surety company authorized by the laws of this state to transact busi- 5 ness, shall be sufficient; and where a certificate of qualification has 6 been issued by the superintendent of financial services under the 7 provisions of section one thousand one hundred eleven of the insurance 8 law, and has not been revoked, no justification or notice thereof shall 9 be necessary. Any such company may execute any such bond or undertaking 10 as surety by the hand of its officers, or attorney, duly authorized 11 thereto by resolution of its board of directors, a certified copy of 12 which resolution, under the seal of said company, shall be filed with 13 each bond or undertaking. Any such bond or undertaking shall be filed 14 with the clerk of the county in which the notice of lien is filed, and a 15 copy shall be served upon the adverse party. The undertaking is effec- 16 tive when so served and filed. If a certificate of qualification issued 17 pursuant to subsections (b), (c) and (d) of section one thousand one 18 hundred eleven of the insurance law is not filed with the undertaking, a 19 party may except, to the sufficiency of a surety and by a written notice 20 of exception served upon the adverse party within ten days after 21 receipt, a copy of the undertaking. Exceptions deemed by the court to 22 have been taken unnecessarily, or for vexation or delay, may, upon 23 notice, be set aside, with costs. Where no exception to sureties is 24 taken within ten days or where exceptions taken are set aside, the 25 undertaking shall be allowed. 26 b. In the case of bonds or undertakings not executed pursuant to para- 27 graph a of this subdivision, the employer, owner or contractor shall 28 execute an undertaking with two or more sufficient sureties, who shall 29 be free holders, to the clerk of the county where the premises are situ- 30 ated. The sureties must together justify in at least double the sum 31 named in the undertaking. A copy of the undertaking, with notice that 32 the sureties will justify before the court, or a judge or justice there- 33 of, at the time and place therein mentioned, must be served upon the 34 lienor or [his] such lienor's attorney, not less than five days before 35 such time. Upon the approval of the undertaking by the court, judge or 36 justice an order shall be made by such court, judge or justice discharg- 37 ing such lien. 38 c. If the lienor cannot be found, or does not appear by attorney, 39 service under this subsection may be made by leaving a copy of such 40 undertaking and notice at the lienor's place of residence, or if a 41 corporation at its principal place of business within the state as stat- 42 ed in the notice of lien, with a person of suitable age and discretion 43 therein, or if the house of [his] such lienor's abode or its place of 44 business is not stated in said notice of lien and is not known, then in 45 such manner as the court may direct. The premises, if any, described in 46 the notice of lien as the lienor's residence or place of business shall 47 be deemed to be [his] such lienor's said residence or its place of busi- 48 ness for the purposes of said service at the time thereof, unless it is 49 shown affirmatively that the person servicing the papers or directing 50 the service had knowledge to the contrary. Notwithstanding the other 51 provisions of this subdivision relating to service of notice, in any 52 case where the mailing address of the lienor is outside the state such 53 service may be made by registered or certified mail, return receipt 54 requested, to such lienor at the mailing address contained in the notice 55 of lien.S. 2131 11 1 d. Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, the provisions of 2 article twenty-five of the civil practice law and rules regulating 3 undertakings is applicable to a bond or undertaking given for the 4 discharge of a lien on account of private improvements or of an employ- 5 ee's lien. 6 § 13. Section 24 of the lien law, as amended by chapter 515 of the 7 laws of 1929, is amended to read as follows: 8 § 24. Enforcement of [mechanic's] lien. (1) Real property. The 9 [mechanics'] liens on real property specified in this article may be 10 enforced against the property specified in the notice of lien and which 11 is subject thereto and against any person liable for the debt upon which 12 the lien is founded, as prescribed in article three of this chapter. 13 (2) Personal property. An employee's lien on personal property speci- 14 fied in this article may immediately be enforced against the property 15 through a foreclosure as prescribed in article nine of the uniform 16 commercial code, or upon judgment obtained by the employee, commissioner 17 of labor or attorney general of the state of New York, may be enforced 18 in any manner available to the judgment creditor pursuant to article 19 nine of the uniform commercial code or other applicable laws. 20 § 14. Section 26 of the lien law, as amended by chapter 373 of the 21 laws of 1977, is amended to read as follows: 22 § 26. Subordination of liens after agreement with owner. In case an 23 owner of real property shall execute to one or more persons, or a corpo- 24 ration, as trustee or trustees, a bond and mortgage or a note and mort- 25 gage affecting such property in whole or in part, or an assignment of 26 the moneys due or to become due under a contract for a building loan in 27 relation to such property, and in case such mortgage, if any, shall be 28 recorded in the office of the register of the county where such real 29 property is situated, or if such county has no register then in the 30 office of the clerk of such county, and in case such assignment, if any, 31 shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the county where such real 32 property is situated; and in case lienors having [mechanics'] liens 33 against said real property, notices of which have been filed up to and 34 not later than fifteen days after the recording of such mortgage or the 35 filing of such assignment, and which liens have not been discharged as 36 in this article provided, shall, to the extent of at least fifty-five 37 per centum of the aggregate amount for which such notices of liens have 38 been so filed, approve such bond and mortgage or such note and mortgage, 39 if any, and such assignment, if any, by an instrument or instruments in 40 writing, duly acknowledged and filed in the office of such county clerk, 41 then all mechanics' liens for labor performed or material furnished 42 prior to the recording of such mortgage or filing of such assignment, 43 whether notices thereof have been theretofore or are thereafter filed 44 and which have not been discharged as in this article provided, shall be 45 subordinate to the lien of such trust bond and mortgage or such trust 46 note and mortgage to the extent of the aggregate amount of all certif- 47 icates of interest therein issued by such trustee or trustees, or their 48 successors, for moneys loaned, materials furnished, labor performed and 49 any other indebtedness incurred after said trust mortgage shall have 50 been recorded, and for expenses in connection with said trust mortgage, 51 and shall also be subordinate to the lien of the bond and mortgage or 52 note and mortgage, given to secure the amount agreed to be advanced 53 under such contract for a building loan to the extent of the amount 54 which shall be advanced by the holder of such bond and mortgage or such 55 note and mortgage to the trustee or trustees, or their successors, under 56 such assignment. The provisions of this section shall apply to all bondsS. 2131 12 1 and mortgages and notes and mortgages and all assignments of moneys due, 2 or to become due under building loan contracts executed by such owner, 3 in like manner, and recorded or filed, from time to time as hereinbefore 4 provided. In case of an assignment to trustees under the provisions of 5 this section, the trustees and their successors shall be the agents of 6 the assignor to receive and receipt for any and all sums advanced by the 7 holder of the building loan bond and mortgage or the building loan note 8 and mortgage under the building loan contract and such assignment. No 9 lienor shall have any priority over the bond and mortgage or note and 10 mortgage given to secure the money agreed to be advanced under a build- 11 ing loan contract or over the advances made thereunder, by reason of any 12 act preceding the making and approval of such assignment. 13 § 15. Section 38 of the lien law, as amended by chapter 859 of the 14 laws of 1930, is amended to read as follows: 15 § 38. Itemized statement may be required of lienor. A lienor who has 16 filed a notice of mechanic's lien shall, on demand in writing, deliver 17 to the owner or contractor making such demand a statement in writing 18 which shall set forth the items of labor and/or material and the value 19 thereof which make up the amount for which [he] such lienor claims a 20 lien, and which shall also set forth the terms of the contract under 21 which such items were furnished. The statement shall be verified by the 22 lienor or [his] such lienor's agent in the form required for the verifi- 23 cation of notices in section nine of this [chapter] article. If the 24 lienor shall fail to comply with such a demand within five days after 25 the same shall have been made by the owner or contractor, or if the 26 lienor delivers an insufficient statement, the person aggrieved may 27 petition the supreme court of this state or any justice thereof, or the 28 county court of the county where the premises are situated, or the coun- 29 ty judge of such county for an order directing the lienor within a time 30 specified in the order to deliver to the petitioner the statement 31 required by this section. Two days' notice in writing of such applica- 32 tion shall be served upon the lienor. Such service shall be made in the 33 manner provided by law for the personal service of a summons. The court 34 or a justice or judge thereof shall hear the parties and upon being 35 satisfied that the lienor has failed, neglected or refused to comply 36 with the requirements of this section shall have an appropriate order 37 directing such compliance. In case the lienor fails to comply with the 38 order so made within the time specified, then upon five days' notice to 39 the lienor, served in the manner provided by law for the personal 40 service of a summons, the court or a justice or judge thereof may make 41 an order cancelling the lien. 42 § 16. Section 39 of the lien law, as added by chapter 859 of the laws 43 of 1930, is amended to read as follows: 44 § 39. Lien wilfully exaggerated is void. In any action or proceeding 45 to enforce a mechanic's lien upon a private or public improvement or an 46 employee's lien, or in which the validity of the lien is an issue, if 47 the court shall find that a lienor has wilfully exaggerated the amount 48 for which [he] such lienor claims a lien as stated in [his] such 49 lienor's notice of lien, [his] such lien shall be declared to be void 50 and no recovery shall be had thereon. No such lienor shall have a right 51 to file any other or further lien for the same claim. A second or subse- 52 quent lien filed in contravention of this section may be vacated upon 53 application to the court on two days' notice. 54 § 17. Section 39-a of the lien law, as added by chapter 859 of the 55 laws of 1930, is amended to read as follows:S. 2131 13 1 § 39-a. Liability of lienor where lien has been declared void on 2 account of wilful exaggeration. Where in any action or proceeding to 3 enforce a mechanic's lien upon a private or public improvement or an 4 employee's lien the court shall have declared said lien to be void on 5 account of wilful exaggeration the person filing such notice of lien 6 shall be liable in damages to the owner or contractor. The damages which 7 said owner or contractor shall be entitled to recover, shall include the 8 amount of any premium for a bond given to obtain the discharge of the 9 lien or the interest on any money deposited for the purpose of discharg- 10 ing the lien, reasonable attorney's fees for services in securing the 11 discharge of the lien, and, in an action or proceeding to enforce a 12 mechanic's lien, an amount equal to the difference by which the amount 13 claimed to be due or to become due as stated in the notice of lien 14 exceeded the amount actually due or to become due thereon. 15 § 18. Section 40 of the lien law, as amended by chapter 515 of the 16 laws of 1929, is amended to read as follows: 17 § 40. Construction of article. This article is to be construed in 18 connection with article two of this chapter, and provides proceedings 19 for the enforcement of employee's liens on real property, as well as 20 liens for labor performed and materials furnished in the improvement of 21 real property, created by virtue of such article. 22 § 19. Section 41 of the lien law, as amended by chapter 807 of the 23 laws of 1952, is amended to read as follows: 24 § 41. Enforcement of mechanic's or employee's lien on real property. A 25 mechanic's lien or employee's lien on real property may be enforced 26 against such property, and against a person liable for the debt upon 27 which the lien is founded, by an action, by the lienor, [his] such 28 lienor's assignee or legal representative, in the supreme court or in a 29 county court otherwise having jurisdiction, regardless of the amount of 30 such debt, or in a court which has jurisdiction in an action founded on 31 a contract for a sum of money equivalent to the amount of such debt. 32 § 20. Section 43 of the lien law, as amended by chapter 310 of the 33 laws of 1962, is amended to read as follows: 34 § 43. Action in a court of record; consolidation of actions. The 35 provisions of the real property actions and proceedings law relating to 36 actions for the foreclosure of a mortgage upon real property, and the 37 sale and the distribution of the proceeds thereof apply to actions in a 38 court of record, to enforce mechanics' liens and employees' liens on 39 real property, except as otherwise provided in this article. If actions 40 are brought by different lienors in a court of record, the court in 41 which the first action was brought, may, upon its own motion, or upon 42 the application of any party in any of such actions, consolidate all of 43 such actions. 44 § 21. Section 46 of the lien law, as amended by chapter 515 of the 45 laws of 1929, is amended to read as follows: 46 § 46. Action in a court not of record. If an action to enforce a 47 mechanic's lien or employee's lien against real property is brought in a 48 court not of record, it shall be commenced by the personal service upon 49 the owner of a summons and complaint verified in the same manner as a 50 complaint in an action in a court of record. The complaint must set 51 forth substantially the facts contained in the notice of lien, and the 52 substance of the agreement under which the labor was performed or the 53 materials were furnished, or if the lien is based upon a wage claim as 54 defined in section two of this chapter, the basis for such wage claim. 55 The form and contents of the summons shall be the same as provided by 56 law for the commencement of an action upon a contract in such court. TheS. 2131 14 1 summons must be returnable not less than twelve nor more than twenty 2 days after the date of the summons, or if service is made by publica- 3 tion, after the day of the last publication of the summons. Service 4 must be made at least eight days before the return day. 5 § 22. Section 50 of the lien law, as amended by chapter 515 of the 6 laws of 1929, is amended to read as follows: 7 § 50. Execution. Execution may be issued upon a judgment obtained in 8 an action to enforce a mechanic's lien or an employee's lien against 9 real property in a court not of record, which shall direct the officer 10 to sell the title and interest of the owner in the premises, upon which 11 the lien set forth in the complaint existed at the time of filing the 12 notice of lien. 13 § 23. Section 53 of the lien law, as amended by chapter 515 of the 14 laws of 1929, is amended to read as follows: 15 § 53. Costs and disbursements. If an action is brought to enforce a 16 mechanic's lien or an employee's lien against real property in a court 17 of record, the costs and disbursements shall rest in the discretion of 18 the court, and may be awarded to the prevailing party. The judgment 19 rendered in such an action shall include the amount of such costs and 20 specify to whom and by whom the costs are to be paid. If such action is 21 brought in a court not of record, they shall be the same as allowed in 22 civil actions in such court. The expenses incurred in serving the 23 summons by publication may be added to the amount of costs now allowed 24 in such court. 25 § 24. Section 59 of the lien law, as amended by chapter 515 of the 26 laws of 1929, is amended to read as follows: 27 § 59. Vacating of a [mechanic's] lien; cancellation of bond; return of 28 deposit, by order of court. 1. A mechanic's lien notice of which has 29 been filed on real property or a bond given to discharge the same may be 30 vacated and cancelled or a deposit made to discharge a lien pursuant to 31 section twenty of this chapter may be returned, by an order of a court 32 of record. Before such order shall be granted, a notice shall be served 33 upon the lienor, either personally or by leaving it as [his] such 34 lienor's last known place of residence, with a person of suitable age, 35 with directions to deliver it to the lienor. Such notice shall require 36 the lienor to commence an action to enforce the lien, within a time 37 specified in the notice, not less than thirty days from the time of 38 service, or show cause at a special term of a court of record, or at a 39 county court, in a county in which the property is situated, at a time 40 and place specified therein, why the notice of lien filed or the bond 41 given should not be vacated and cancelled, or the deposit returned, as 42 the case may be. Proof of such service and that the lienor has not 43 commenced the action to foreclose such lien, as directed in the notice, 44 shall be made by affidavit, at the time of applying for such order. 45 2. An employee's lien notice of which has been filed on real property 46 or a bond given to discharge the same may be vacated and cancelled or a 47 deposit made to discharge a lien pursuant to section twenty of this 48 chapter may be returned, by an order of a court of record. Before such 49 order shall be granted, a notice shall be served upon the lienor, either 50 personally or by leaving it at such lienor's last known place of resi- 51 dence or attorney's place of business, with a person of suitable age, 52 with directions to deliver it to the lienor. Such notice shall require 53 the lienor to commence an action to enforce the lien, or to commence an 54 action to obtain judgment on the wage claim upon which the lien was 55 established, within a time specified in the notice, not less than thirty 56 days from the time of service, or show cause at a special term of aS. 2131 15 1 court of record, or at a county court, in a county in which the property 2 is situated, at a time and place specified therein, why the notice of 3 lien filed or the bond given should not be vacated and cancelled, or the 4 deposit returned, as the case may be. Proof of such service and that the 5 lienor has not commenced the action to foreclose such lien or an action 6 to obtain judgment on the wage claim upon which the lien was estab- 7 lished, as directed in the notice, shall be made by affidavit, at the 8 time of applying for such order. 9 § 25. Section 62 of the lien law, as amended by chapter 697 of the 10 laws of 1934, is amended to read as follows: 11 § 62. Bringing in new parties. A lienor who has filed a notice of lien 12 after the commencement of an action in a court of record to foreclose or 13 enforce an employee's lien or a mechanic's lien against real property or 14 a public improvement, may at any time up to and including the day 15 preceding the day on which the trial of such action is commenced, make 16 application upon notice to the plaintiff or [his] such plaintiff's 17 attorney in such action, to be made a party therein. Upon good cause 18 shown, the court must order such lienor to be brought in by amendment. 19 If the application is made by any other party in said action to make 20 such lienor or other person a party, the court may in its discretion 21 direct such lienor or other person to be brought in by like amendment. 22 The order to be entered on such application shall provide the time for 23 and manner of serving the pleading of such additional lienor or other 24 person and shall direct that the pleadings, papers and proceedings of 25 the other several parties in such action, shall be deemed amended, so as 26 not to require the making or serving of papers other than said order to 27 effectuate such amendment, and shall further provide that the allega- 28 tions in the answer of such additional lienor or other person shall, for 29 the purposes of the action, be deemed denied by the other parties there- 30 in. The action shall be so conducted by the court as not to cause 31 substantially any delay in the trial thereof. The bringing in of such 32 additional lienor or other person shall be without prejudice to the 33 proceedings had, and if the action be on the calendar of the court, same 34 shall retain its place on such calendar without the necessity of serving 35 a new note of issue and new notices of trial. 36 § 26. Subdivision 3 of section 199-a of the labor law, as amended by 37 chapter 564 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows: 38 3. Each employee and [his or her] such employee's authorized represen- 39 tative shall be notified in writing, of the termination of the commis- 40 sioner's investigation of the employee's complaint and the result of 41 such investigation, of any award and collection of back wages and civil 42 penalties, and of any intent to seek criminal penalties. In the event 43 that criminal penalties are sought the employee and [his or her] such 44 employee's authorized representative shall be notified of the outcome of 45 prosecution. 46 § 27. Subdivision 2 of section 663 of the labor law, as amended by 47 chapter 564 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows: 48 2. By commissioner. On behalf of any employee paid less than the wage 49 to which the employee is entitled under the provisions of this article, 50 the commissioner may bring any legal action necessary, including admin- 51 istrative action, to collect such claim, and the employer shall be 52 required to pay the full amount of the underpayment, plus costs, and 53 unless the employer proves a good faith basis to believe that its under- 54 payment was in compliance with the law, an additional amount as liqui- 55 dated damages. Liquidated damages shall be calculated by the commission- 56 er as no more than one hundred percent of the total amount ofS. 2131 16 1 underpayments found to be due the employee. In any action brought by the 2 commissioner in a court of competent jurisdiction, liquidated damages 3 shall be calculated as an amount equal to one hundred percent of under- 4 payments found to be due the employee. Each employee or such employee's 5 authorized representative shall be notified in writing of the outcome of 6 any legal action brought on the employee's behalf pursuant to this 7 section. 8 § 28. Subdivision 5 of section 6201 of the civil practice law and 9 rules, as amended by chapter 860 of the laws of 1977 and as renumbered 10 by chapter 618 of the laws of 1992, is amended and a new subdivision 6 11 is added to read as follows: 12 5. the cause of action is based on a judgment, decree or order of a 13 court of the United States or of any other court which is entitled to 14 full faith and credit in this state, or on a judgment which qualifies 15 for recognition under the provisions of article 53[.] of this chapter; 16 or 17 6. the cause of action is based on wage claims. "Wage claims," when 18 used in this chapter, shall include any claims of violations of articles 19 five, six, and nineteen of the labor law, section two hundred fifteen of 20 the labor law, and the related regulations or wage orders promulgated by 21 the commissioner of labor, including but not limited to any claims of 22 unpaid, minimum, overtime, and spread-of-hours pay, unlawfully retained 23 gratuities, unlawful deductions from wages, unpaid commissions, unpaid 24 benefits and wage supplements, and retaliation, and any claims pursuant 25 to 18 U.S.C. § 1595, 29 U.S.C. § 201 et seq., and/or employment contract 26 as well as the concomitant liquidated damages and penalties authorized 27 pursuant to the labor law, the Fair Labor Standards Act, or any employ- 28 ment contract. 29 § 29. Section 6210 of the civil practice law and rules, as added by 30 chapter 860 of the laws of 1977, is amended to read as follows: 31 § 6210. Order of attachment on notice; temporary restraining order; 32 contents. Upon a motion on notice for an order of attachment, the court 33 may, without notice to the defendant, grant a temporary restraining 34 order prohibiting the transfer of assets by a garnishee as provided in 35 subdivision (b) of section 6214. When attachment is sought pursuant to 36 subdivision six of section 6201, and if the employer contests the 37 motion, the court shall hold a hearing within ten days of when the 38 employer's response to plaintiffs' motion for attachment is due. The 39 contents of the order of attachment granted pursuant to this section 40 shall be as provided in subdivision (a) of section 6211. 41 § 30. Subdivision (b) of section 6211 of the civil practice law and 42 rules, as amended by chapter 566 of the laws of 1985, is amended to read 43 as follows: 44 (b) Confirmation of order. Except where an order of attachment is 45 granted on the ground specified in subdivision one or six of section 46 6201, an order of attachment granted without notice shall provide that 47 within a period not to exceed five days after levy, the plaintiff shall 48 move, on such notice as the court shall direct to the defendant, the 49 garnishee, if any, and the sheriff, for an order confirming the order of 50 attachment. Where an order of attachment without notice is granted on 51 the ground specified in subdivision one or six of section 6201, the 52 court shall direct that the statement required by section 6219 be served 53 within five days, that a copy thereof be served upon the plaintiff, and 54 the plaintiff shall move within ten days after levy for an order 55 confirming the order of attachment. If the plaintiff upon such motion 56 shall show that the statement has not been served and that the plaintiffS. 2131 17 1 will be unable to satisfy the requirement of subdivision (b) of section 2 6223 until the statement has been served, the court may grant one exten- 3 sion of the time to move for confirmation for a period not to exceed ten 4 days. If plaintiff fails to make such motion within the required period, 5 the order of attachment and any levy thereunder shall have no further 6 effect and shall be vacated upon motion. Upon the motion to confirm, the 7 provisions of subdivision (b) of section 6223 shall apply. An order of 8 attachment granted without notice may provide that the sheriff refrain 9 from taking any property levied upon into [his] such sheriff's actual 10 custody, pending further order of the court. 11 § 31. Subdivisions (b) and (e) of rule 6212 of the civil practice law 12 and rules, subdivision (b) as separately amended by chapters 15 and 860 13 of the laws of 1977 and subdivision (e) as added by chapter 860 of the 14 laws of 1977, are amended to read as follows: 15 (b) Undertaking. [On] 1. Except where an order of attachment is sought 16 on the ground specified in subdivision six of section 6201, on a motion 17 for an order of attachment, the plaintiff shall give an undertaking, in 18 a total amount fixed by the court, but not less than five hundred 19 dollars, a specified part thereof conditioned that the plaintiff shall 20 pay to the defendant all costs and damages, including reasonable attor- 21 ney's fees, which may be sustained by reason of the attachment if the 22 defendant recovers judgment or if it is finally decided that the plain- 23 tiff was not entitled to an attachment of the defendant's property, and 24 the balance conditioned that the plaintiff shall pay to the sheriff all 25 of [his] such plaintiff's allowable fees. 26 2. On a motion for an attachment pursuant to subdivision six of 27 section 6201, the court shall order that the plaintiff give an accessi- 28 ble undertaking of no more than five hundred dollars, or in the alterna- 29 tive, may waive the undertaking altogether. The attorney for the plain- 30 tiff shall not be liable to the sheriff for such fees. The surety on the 31 undertaking shall not be discharged except upon notice to the sheriff. 32 (e) Damages. [The] Except where an order of attachment is sought on 33 the ground specified in subdivision six of section 6201, the plaintiff 34 shall be liable to the defendant for all costs and damages, including 35 reasonable attorney's fees, which may be sustained by reason of the 36 attachment if the defendant recovers judgment, or if it is finally 37 decided that the plaintiff was not entitled to an attachment of the 38 defendant's property. Plaintiff's liability shall not be limited by the 39 amount of the undertaking. 40 § 32. Paragraph (b) of section 624 of the business corporation law, as 41 amended by chapter 449 of the laws of 1997, is amended to read as 42 follows: 43 (b) Any person who shall have been a shareholder of record of a corpo- 44 ration, or who is or shall have been a laborer, servant or employee, 45 upon at least five days' written demand shall have the right to examine 46 in person or by agent or attorney, during usual business hours, its 47 minutes of the proceedings of its shareholders and record of sharehold- 48 ers and to make extracts therefrom for any purpose reasonably related to 49 such person's interest as a shareholder, laborer, servant or employee, 50 provided the purpose reasonably related to a person's interest as a 51 laborer, servant or employee shall be to obtain the names, addresses, 52 and value of shareholders' interests in the corporation. Holders of 53 voting trust certificates representing shares of the corporation shall 54 be regarded as shareholders for the purpose of this section. Any such 55 agent or attorney shall be authorized in a writing that satisfies the 56 requirements of a writing under paragraph (b) of section 609 (Proxies).S. 2131 18 1 A corporation requested to provide information pursuant to this para- 2 graph shall make available such information in written form and in any 3 other format in which such information is maintained by the corporation 4 and shall not be required to provide such information in any other 5 format. If a request made pursuant to this paragraph includes a request 6 to furnish information regarding beneficial owners, the corporation 7 shall make available such information in its possession regarding bene- 8 ficial owners as is provided to the corporation by a registered broker 9 or dealer or a bank, association or other entity that exercises fiduci- 10 ary powers in connection with the forwarding of information to such 11 owners. The corporation shall not be required to obtain information 12 about beneficial owners not in its possession. 13 § 33. Section 630 of the business corporation law, paragraph (a) as 14 amended by chapter 5 of the laws of 2016, paragraph (c) as amended by 15 chapter 746 of the laws of 1963, is amended to read as follows: 16 § 630. Liability of shareholders for wages due to laborers, servants or 17 employees. 18 (a) The ten largest shareholders, as determined by the fair value of 19 their beneficial interest as of the beginning of the period during which 20 the unpaid services referred to in this section are performed, of every 21 domestic corporation or of any foreign corporation, when the unpaid 22 services were performed in the state, no shares of which are listed on a 23 national securities exchange or regularly quoted in an over-the-counter 24 market by one or more members of a national or an affiliated securities 25 association, shall jointly and severally be personally liable for all 26 debts, wages or salaries due and owing to any of its laborers, servants 27 or employees other than contractors, for services performed by them for 28 such corporation. [Before such laborer, servant or employee shall charge29such shareholder for such services, he shall give notice in writing to30such shareholder that he intends to hold him liable under this section.31Such notice shall be given within one hundred and eighty days after32termination of such services, except that if, within such period, the33laborer, servant or employee demands an examination of the record of34shareholders under paragraph (b) of section 624 (Books and records;35right of inspection, prima facie evidence) of this article, such notice36may be given within sixty days after he has been given the opportunity37to examine the record of shareholders. An action to enforce such liabil-38ity shall be commenced within ninety days after the return of an39execution unsatisfied against the corporation upon a judgment recovered40against it for such services.] The provisions of this paragraph shall 41 not apply to an investment company registered as such under an act of 42 congress entitled "Investment Company Act of 1940." 43 (b) For the purposes of this section, wages or salaries shall mean all 44 compensation and benefits payable by an employer to or for the account 45 of the employee for personal services rendered by such employee includ- 46 ing any concomitant liquidated damages, penalties, interest, attorney's 47 fees or costs. These shall specifically include but not be limited to 48 salaries, overtime, vacation, holiday and severance pay; employer 49 contributions to or payments of insurance or welfare benefits; employer 50 contributions to pension or annuity funds; and any other moneys properly 51 due or payable for services rendered by such employee. 52 (c) A shareholder who has paid more than [his] such shareholder's pro 53 rata share under this section shall be entitled to contribution pro rata 54 from the other shareholders liable under this section with respect to 55 the excess so paid, over and above [his] such shareholder's pro rata 56 share, and may sue them jointly or severally or any number of them toS. 2131 19 1 recover the amount due from them. Such recovery may be had in a sepa- 2 rate action. As used in this paragraph, "pro rata" means in proportion 3 to beneficial share interest. Before a shareholder may claim contrib- 4 ution from other shareholders under this paragraph, [he] such sharehold- 5 er shall[, unless they have been given notice by a laborer, servant or6employee under paragraph (a),] give them notice in writing that [he] 7 such shareholder intends to hold them so liable to [him] such sharehold- 8 er. Such notice shall be given by [him] such shareholder within twenty 9 days after the date that [notice was given to him by] such shareholder 10 became aware that a laborer, servant or employee may seek to hold such 11 shareholder liable under paragraph (a). 12 § 34. Subdivision (c) of section 609 of the limited liability company 13 law, as amended by chapter 620 of the laws of 2019, is amended to read 14 as follows: 15 (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions (a) and (b) of this 16 section, the ten members with the largest percentage ownership interest, 17 as determined as of the beginning of the period during which the unpaid 18 services referred to in this section are performed, of every domestic 19 limited liability company, or of any foreign limited liability company, 20 when the unpaid services were performed in the state, shall jointly and 21 severally be personally liable for all debts, wages or salaries due and 22 owing to any of its laborers, servants or employees, for services 23 performed by them for such limited liability company. [Before such24laborer, servant or employee shall charge such member for such services,25he or she shall give notice in writing to such member that he or she26intends to hold such member liable under this section. Such notice shall27be given within one hundred eighty days after termination of such28services. An action to enforce such liability shall be commenced within29ninety days after the return of an execution unsatisfied against the30limited liability company upon a judgment recovered against it for such31services.] A member who has paid more than [his or her] such member's 32 pro rata share under this section shall be entitled to contribution pro 33 rata from the other members liable under this section with respect to 34 the excess so paid, over and above [his or her] such member's pro rata 35 share, and may sue them jointly or severally or any number of them to 36 recover the amount due from them. Such recovery may be had in a sepa- 37 rate action. As used in this subdivision, "pro rata" means in proportion 38 to percentage ownership interest. Before a member may claim contribution 39 from other members under this section, [he or she] such member shall 40 give them notice in writing that [he or she] such member intends to hold 41 them so liable to [him or her] such member. 42 § 35. Section 1102 of the limited liability company law is amended by 43 adding a new subdivision (e) to read as follows: 44 (e) Any person who is or shall have been a laborer, servant or employ- 45 ee of a limited liability company, upon at least five days' written 46 demand shall have the right to examine in person or by agent or attor- 47 ney, during usual business hours, records described in paragraph two of 48 subdivision (a) of this section throughout the period of time during 49 which such laborer, servant or employee provided services to such compa- 50 ny. A company requested to provide information pursuant to this subdivi- 51 sion shall make available such records in written form and in any other 52 format in which such information is maintained by the company and shall 53 not be required to provide such information in any other format. Upon 54 refusal by the company or by an officer or agent of the company to 55 permit an inspection of the records described in this subdivision, the 56 person making the demand for inspection may apply to the supreme courtS. 2131 20 1 in the judicial district where the office of the company is located, 2 upon such notice as the court may direct, for an order directing the 3 company, its members or managers to show cause why an order should not 4 be granted permitting such inspection by the applicant. Upon the return 5 day of the order to show cause, the court shall hear the parties summar- 6 ily, by affidavit or otherwise, and if it appears that the applicant is 7 qualified and entitled to such inspection, the court shall grant an 8 order compelling such inspection and awarding such further relief as to 9 the court may seem just and proper. If the applicant is found to be 10 qualified and entitled to such inspection, the company shall pay all 11 reasonable attorney's fees and costs of said applicant related to the 12 demand for inspection of the records. 13 § 36. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall 14 have become a law. The procedures and rights created in this act may be 15 used by employees, laborers or servants in connection with claims for 16 liabilities that arose prior to the effective date of this act.
