Bill Text: NY S04731 | 2025-2026 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes the small contractors relief act; creates the New York small contractor safety group, inc. pilot program; appropriates money therefor.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-12 - REFERRED TO FINANCE [S04731 Detail]
Download: New_York-2025-S04731-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 4731 2025-2026 Regular Sessions IN SENATE February 12, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sens. SANDERS, FERNANDEZ, PARKER, WEBB -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance AN ACT to amend the labor law and the workers' compensation law, in relation to establishing the New York small contractor safety group, inc. and providing for its functions, powers and duties, and estab- lishing the New York small contractor safety group fund within the New York state insurance fund and making an appropriation therefor The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "small 2 contractors relief act". 3 § 2. The labor law is amended by adding a new article 25-D to read as 4 follows: 5 ARTICLE 25-D 6 NEW YORK SMALL CONTRACTOR SAFETY GROUP, INC. PILOT PROGRAM 7 Section 863. Definitions. 8 863-a. New York small contractor safety group, inc. pilot 9 program. 10 863-b. Management of the safety group; board of directors. 11 863-c. Plan of operation. 12 863-d. Membership. 13 863-e. Securing coverage. 14 863-f. Assessment of safety group members. 15 863-g. Audit authority. 16 863-h. Financial oversight of the safety group. 17 863-i. Exemption from taxes. 18 863-j. Mandatory work safety program attendance and partic- 19 ipation. 20 863-k. Expiration of pilot program. 21 863-l. Rules and regulations. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD09263-01-5S. 4731 2 1 § 863. Definitions. For purposes of this article the following terms 2 shall have the following meanings: 3 1. "Board" means the board of directors of the safety group. 4 2. "Liability insurance" means personal injury liability insurance, 5 property damage liability insurance and employer's liability insurance, 6 as such terms are defined in paragraphs thirteen, fourteen and fifteen 7 of subsection (a) of section one thousand one hundred thirteen of the 8 insurance law and shall also include any type of insurance deemed by the 9 superintendent of financial services to be substantially similar pursu- 10 ant to paragraph thirty of subsection (a) of such section. 11 3. "Small contractor" means any contractor which (i) is a resident in 12 this state, (ii) is independently owned and operated, (iii) is either 13 (A) a certified minority or women owned business as provided for in law 14 or (B) if not such a certified minority or women owned business, both 15 (1) in the fiscal year prior to the year for which application for 16 coverage under this article is requested, had less than one million 17 dollars in gross revenues, and (2) provides adequate proof, as evidenced 18 by a letter of rejection or otherwise appropriate documentation, that 19 after written application for liability insurance coverage from an 20 insurer licensed in this state to provide such insurance, it has been 21 denied coverage for either the prior fiscal year, or the fiscal year for 22 which liability insurance is requested. Additionally, it shall also 23 include contractors with a gross revenue of one million dollars or more, 24 up to a limit to be determined by the safety group following actuarially 25 prudent principles, provided that such contractors can provide adequate 26 proof that they are unable to secure insurance coverage as provided for 27 herein. 28 4. "Safety group" means the New York small contractor safety group, 29 inc. established in section eight hundred sixty-three-a of this arti- 30 cle. 31 § 863-a. New York small contractor safety group, inc. pilot program. 32 There is hereby created a pilot program to be conducted by a not-for- 33 profit corporation to be known at the New York small contractor safety 34 group, inc. To the extent that the provisions of the not-for-profit 35 corporation law do not conflict with the provisions of this article, or 36 with the plan of operation established pursuant to this article, the 37 not-for-profit corporation law shall apply to the safety group, which 38 shall be a type c corporation pursuant to such law. If an applicable 39 provision of this article or of the safety group's plan of operation 40 relates to a matter embraced in a provision of the not-for-profit corpo- 41 ration law but is not in conflict therewith, both provisions shall 42 apply. The safety group shall perform its functions in accordance with 43 its plan of operation established and approved pursuant to this article 44 and shall exercise its powers through the board herein established. 45 § 863-b. Management of the safety group; board of directors. 1. Within 46 forty-five days after the effective date of this article, there shall be 47 appointed the board of the safety group, which board shall have the 48 authority to manage the business and affairs of the safety group. The 49 board shall consist of nine directors, three of whom shall be selected 50 by the governor, two of whom shall be appointed by the temporary presi- 51 dent of the senate, two of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of 52 assembly, one of whom shall be appointed the minority leader of the 53 senate, and one of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the 54 assembly. Each member of the board shall be appointed for a term of 55 three years, provided however, that of the initial members appointed, 56 the members selected by the governor shall have a term of three years,S. 4731 3 1 the members appointed by the temporary president of the senate and the 2 minority leader of the assembly shall be appointed for a term of two 3 years, and the members appointed by the speaker of the assembly and the 4 minority leader of the senate shall be appointed for a term of one year. 5 Members who are appointed shall have experience in one or more of the 6 fields of organized labor, construction, public bidding, work safety or 7 any other construction related fields, and have in their professional 8 capacity demonstrated a willing and conscientious effort to promote work 9 safety and fair and equitable treatment of workers and management. 10 2. The board shall have the power to remove for cause any director. 11 The authority that appointed a director shall have the power to remove 12 such director for cause or without cause. At the expiration of a direc- 13 tor's term, the authority that appointed such director shall re-appoint 14 such director for an additional term or appoint a new director for such 15 subsequent term. A vacancy occurring in a director position shall be 16 filled by the authority that originally made such selection or appoint- 17 ment. A vacancy in any one or more of the director positions shall not 18 prevent the remaining directors from transacting any business, provided 19 a quorum is presented and voting. 20 3. All of the directors shall have equal voting rights and five or 21 more directors shall constitute a quorum, provided that if the number of 22 directors in office is fewer than five, a quorum shall consist of the 23 number of directors in office. The affirmative vote of five directors 24 shall be necessary for the transaction of any business or the exercise 25 of any power or function of the safety group, provided that if the 26 number of directors in office is fewer than five, the affirmative vote 27 of all directors in office shall be necessary for the transaction of any 28 business or the exercise of any power or function of the safety group. 29 The board may delegate to one or more of its directors, officers, agents 30 or employees such powers and duties as it may deem proper. 31 4. For their attendance at meetings, the directors of the safety group 32 shall be entitled to compensation, as authorized by the board, in an 33 amount not to exceed two hundred dollars per meeting per director and to 34 reimbursement of their actual out-of-pocket expenses. Directors of the 35 safety group, except as otherwise provided by law, may engage in private 36 or public employment or in a profession or business. 37 5. The safety group shall indemnify and hold harmless each director 38 and officer of the safety group from all liability, claims, or damages 39 by reason of such director's or officer's acts or omissions in 40 connection with the performance of their duties as a director or officer 41 of the safety group to the fullest extent permitted by the not-for-pro- 42 fit corporation law, and, in furtherance thereof, the safety group shall 43 obtain director's and officer's liability insurance coverage on terms 44 consistent with section seven hundred twenty-six of the not-for-profit 45 corporation law. 46 § 863-c. Plan of operation. 1. Within ninety days after the effective 47 date of this article, the safety group shall file with the commissioner 48 and the superintendent of financial services its plan of operation, 49 which shall be designed to assure the fair, reasonable and equitable 50 administration of the safety group. The plan of operation and any subse- 51 quent amendments thereto shall be filed with the commissioner and the 52 superintendent of financial services, who shall have ninety days to 53 approve or reject any proposal contained in such plan which they jointly 54 determine does not conform to the intent of this article. Upon trans- 55 mission to the safety group of such objections the group shall modify 56 the plan accordingly and the plan shall then become operative.S. 4731 4 1 2. The plan of operation shall constitute the by-laws of the safety 2 group and shall, in addition to the requirements enumerated elsewhere in 3 this article, (a) establish procedures for collecting and managing the 4 assets of the safety group; (b) establish regular places and times for 5 meetings of the board of directors and the members; (c) establish 6 accounting and record-keeping procedures for all financial transactions 7 of the safety group, its agents and the board of directors; (d) estab- 8 lish a procedure for determining and collecting the appropriate amount 9 of assessments and surcharges under this article; (e) set forth the 10 procedures by which the safety group may exercise the audit rights 11 granted to it under this article; (f) establish procedures for the 12 creation of a safety program, risk management program and such other 13 programs for the safety group's members as the board deems appropriate; 14 (g) establish procedures for expelling members who fail to satisfy the 15 safety group's safety compliance rules which rules shall provide for 16 grace periods of coverage after expulsion as determined fair and equita- 17 ble by the group; (h) establish rules for the calculation of membership 18 fee assessments; and (i) contain such additional provisions as the board 19 may deem necessary or proper for the execution of the powers and duties 20 of the safety group. 21 § 863-d. Membership. Membership in the safety group shall be open to 22 all small contractors initially admitted as members of the group and all 23 small contractors who thereafter apply for insurance coverage and are 24 determined to be eligible for insurance coverage as provided by the 25 group and, as provided in the plan of operation. The safety group shall 26 provide to its members a copy of the plan of operation and any subse- 27 quent amendments and shall inform its members of their rights and duties 28 as members of the safety group. 29 § 863-e. Securing coverage. 1. Within two hundred seventy days after 30 the effective date of this article, the safety group shall take such 31 actions as are necessary to purchase liability insurance. Limitations on 32 coverage and other specific requirements for any such policy of liabil- 33 ity insurance purchased by the group shall be as provided for in the 34 plan of operation. No later than thirty days after the commencement of a 35 new policy year the safety group shall file with the commissioner, and 36 the superintendent of financial services a copy of the group policy it 37 has purchased for that year. 38 2. The safety group may also purchase a group policy for excess 39 liability insurance coverage on behalf of those of its members desiring 40 such excess liability insurance coverage. 41 § 863-f. Assessment of safety group members. 1. In order to meet the 42 obligations and pay (a) the costs of the group general liability insur- 43 ance policy purchased pursuant to this article and (b) its expenses in 44 carry out its powers, duties and obligations under this article, the 45 safety group shall ascertain by reasonable estimate the total funding 46 necessary to carry on its operations. Based upon such estimation, the 47 safety group shall assess its members a membership fee, to fairly 48 reflect the cost of the liability insurance coverage procured by the 49 safety group and the administration of the safety group. Fees shall be 50 collected annually or more often as determined by the safety group upon 51 written notice that they shall be due within sixty days of the date upon 52 which such notice is received. The safety group shall determine the 53 basis for calculating such fees in accordance with rules set forth in 54 the plan of operation, which rules shall be applied in a fair and equi- 55 table manner, and in an open and transparent manner so as to make known 56 the basis upon which such calculations have been made. Upon calculationS. 4731 5 1 of the fee each member must pay, from within amounts appropriated by 2 law, the state shall make an initial capital contribution to the safety 3 group in an amount equal to fifty percent of the amount of the fee so 4 assessed for the purpose of providing initial capitalization of the 5 safety group which will enable it to conduct business in a financially 6 prudent manner, provided however, that the amount of such initial 7 capitalization provided by the state shall not exceed twenty-five 8 million dollars. 9 2. Should the safety group determine that the membership fees that 10 have been paid to it are inadequate to meet its obligations under this 11 article, the safety group shall determine the amount required to elimi- 12 nate such deficiency. Based upon such amount, the safety group shall 13 assess its members a surcharge, calculated on a similar basis as above 14 determined for the original membership fee, in accordance with rules set 15 forth in the plan of operation. 16 3. To pay the costs of any excess liability insurance coverage 17 purchased pursuant to this article, the safety group shall assess those 18 of its members who wish to obtain such excess liability insurance a 19 separate fee, calculated in accordance with rules set forth in the plan 20 of operation. 21 § 863-g. Audit authority. The safety group shall have the power 22 directly or through its representatives to inspect the books and records 23 of its members to verify (a) compliance with the requirements of member- 24 ship in the safety group and (b) the accuracy of information furnished 25 to the safety group. The safety group or its representatives shall be 26 afforded convenient access at all reasonable hours to all books, records 27 and other documents of its members that may be relevant to such audits. 28 In addition the comptroller of this state shall have the authority to 29 periodically audit the books and records of the safety group in order to 30 ensure its compliance with the law. 31 § 863-h. Financial oversight of the safety group. No later than April 32 first of each year, the safety group shall submit to the commissioner of 33 labor and the superintendent of financial services certified financial 34 statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting 35 principles by a certified public accountant. The members of the safety 36 group shall be required on and after January first of each year to 37 afford a certified public accountant convenient access at all reasonable 38 hours to all books, records and other documents that may be relevant to 39 the preparation of such statements. Such commissioner and superintendent 40 are hereby authorized to undertake such studies and investigations it 41 deems warranted to ensure the safety group is complying with all appli- 42 cable state laws. 43 § 863-i. Exemption from taxes. The safety group shall be exempt from 44 payment of all fees and taxes levied by the state or any of its subdivi- 45 sions, except taxes levied on real property. 46 § 863-j. Mandatory work safety program attendance and participation. 47 In order to effectively carry out the intent of this article to provide 48 liability insurance to small contractors, members of the safety group 49 shall be required to attend and participate in work and job site safety 50 training and satisfy the safety group's safety compliance rules as a 51 condition to their membership. Any member who fails or refuses to extend 52 its full cooperation in attending or participating in such program or 53 satisfying such safety compliance rules may be terminated from the 54 group, or suspended until it brings itself into compliance. The safety 55 group, in establishing the components of the program may utilize theS. 4731 6 1 expertise of large contractors' work and job safety programs, or the 2 services of other experts in the field. 3 § 863-k. Expiration of pilot program. The provisions of this article 4 shall for all purposes be conducted in the manner of a pilot program 5 which shall expire and be of no further force and effect on and after 6 the date occurring five years after the date upon which this article 7 shall have become a law, unless duly extended or made permanent by the 8 legislature. One year prior to such date of expiration, the safety group 9 shall submit a detailed analysis of the operation and effectiveness of 10 the program to the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the 11 assembly, the commissioner, and the superintendent of financial services 12 for the purposes of amending, revising, adding to or in any manner 13 altering the provisions of this article, the plan of operation then in 14 effect or any other significant changes to law, rule or regulation which 15 would improve the provision of liability coverage afforded to insureds 16 pursuant to the insurance policies provided by the safety group. 17 § 863-l. Rules and regulations. The commissioner of labor on notice to 18 the superintendent of financial services is hereby authorized to promul- 19 gate any regulations as may be necessary for the proper implementation 20 of this article. 21 § 3. The workers' compensation law is amended by adding a new section 22 87-j to read as follows: 23 § 87-j. Authority to issue general liability insurance to the New York 24 small contractor safety group, inc. 1. The state insurance fund is here- 25 by authorized to issue policies of general liability insurance and 26 liability excess insurance policies, as needed, to the New York small 27 contractor safety group, inc. in order to enable such not-for-profit 28 corporation to provide coverage to members of the safety group. 29 2. A separate fund shall be created within the state insurance fund, 30 which shall be known as the "New York small contractor safety group 31 fund" (the "safety group fund"), and which shall consist of all premiums 32 received and paid into the safety group fund on account of the general 33 liability insurance and the liability excess insurance policies to the 34 safety group, all property and securities acquired by and through the 35 use of moneys belonging to the safety group fund, and of interest earned 36 upon moneys belonging to the safety group fund. The assets and liabil- 37 ities of the safety group fund shall be and remain separate and apart 38 from the assets and liabilities of the state insurance fund and its 39 other funds, and no moneys of the safety group fund shall be transferred 40 to the state insurance fund and its other funds. The safety group fund 41 shall be exempt from payment of all fees and taxes levied by the state 42 or any of its subdivisions, except taxes levied on real property. 43 3. An annual per centum of the premiums collected from the safety 44 group shall be set aside towards the surplus of the safety group fund 45 until such time as in the judgment of the commissioners such surplus 46 shall be sufficiently large to both (a) provide for adequate loss 47 reserves and (b) return to the state the amount of the initial appropri- 48 ation made by law to provide state funds for the establishment and 49 administration of the chapter that added this section at which time that 50 amount shall be repaid to the state as provided for in the appropriation 51 contained in such chapter. Thereafter the contribution to such surplus 52 may be reduced or discontinued conditional upon constant maintenance of 53 a sufficient surplus to provide against catastrophe. Reserves shall be 54 set up and maintained adequate to meet anticipated losses and carry all 55 claims and policies to maturity.S. 4731 7 1 4. The entire expense of administering the safety group fund shall be 2 paid out of the safety group fund, which expenses shall be determined on 3 an equitable basis with due allowance for the division of overhead 4 expenses between the safety group fund and the state insurance fund and 5 its other funds. There shall be submitted to the director of the budget 6 quarterly financial statements on a calendar year basis. In no case 7 shall the amount of administrative expenditures so authorized for an 8 entire year from the safety group fund exceed twenty-five per centum of 9 the earned premiums from the safety group fund for that year. 10 § 4. The sum of twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000), or so much 11 thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated from any moneys in 12 the state treasury in the general fund to the credit of the state 13 purposes account not otherwise appropriated to the state insurance fund 14 for the initial capital of the New York small contractor safety group 15 fund in carrying out the provisions of this act. Such sum shall be paya- 16 ble on the audit and warrant of the state comptroller on vouchers certi- 17 fied or approved in the manner provided by law. No expenditure shall be 18 made from this appropriation until a certificate of approval of avail- 19 ability shall have been issued by the director of the budget and filed 20 with the state comptroller and a copy filed with the chair of the senate 21 finance committee and the chair of the assembly ways and means commit- 22 tee. Such certificate may be amended from time to time by the director 23 of the budget and a copy of each such amendment shall be filed with the 24 state comptroller, the chair of the senate finance committee and the 25 chair of the assembly ways and means committee. The director of the 26 budget shall not issue any certificate of appropriation of availability 27 until the safety group fund has entered into a written agreement with 28 the director of the budget providing for repayment by such corporation 29 to the state of New York of an amount equal to the total amount expended 30 by the state from the appropriation made herein. Such repayment may be 31 made over a number of years as agreed to by the director of the budget 32 and the safety group fund, and as necessary it may be amended from time 33 to time as the director of the budget and the safety group fund agree. A 34 copy of each such agreement and any amendment shall be filed with the 35 state comptroller, the chair of the senate finance committee and the 36 chair of the assembly ways and means committee. 37 § 5. This act shall take effect immediately.
