New York State Laws That May Affect Your Life In 2020

In 2019, more than 650 bills were signed in New York State. Many of them will come into force only in 2020. About the main ones that may affect you, writes the publication Patch.

The changes, which will take effect in 2020, will include criminal justice reform, family leave, minimum wage, insurance, agriculture, the safety of motor boat management, and much more.

Criminal justice reform

Most of the new laws are being discussed as part of the Andrew Cuomo government criminal justice reform program. These include the abolition of a bail for non-violent crimes and misconduct.

There is also a new requirement that will oblige police officers to issue tickets for official attendance to most individuals accused of Class E misconduct and misconduct, instead of arresting them and imprisoning them. Thus, about 90% of those accused of crimes will not go to jail before trial. Criminals who have committed violent acts will still be in prison.

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As part of another change in New York’s prosecutors, 0 will be required to provide the accused with more information and materials to protect them and do so within 15 days of the charge. Opponents of the law say it will force prosecutors to provide criminals with personal information about their victims. But Cuomo says that the provision of the law allows prosecutors to appeal to the court for orders to protect this information and, accordingly, for the safety of victims.

Work harassment protection

Another new law provides workers with protection against workplace harassment. Under this law, the statute of limitations for victims of sexual harassment complaints to the State Department of Human Rights will be extended from one year to three years. This provision shall enter into force on 12 August 2020.

Increase in paid leave for family reasons

In 2016, new laws on paid family leave were adopted in New York, which have been in place for many years. In 2020, employees will be entitled to 10 weeks of vacation and receive 60% of their average weekly wage (this amount will be limited to $ 840,70 per week). This percentage has increased compared to 55% in 2019.

Minimum Wage Increase

The minimum wage laws that were passed in 2016 continue to apply, and many people will experience revenue growth in 2020.

So, on December 31, 2019, the minimum wage in Long Island and Westchester will rise to $ 13 per hour, up from $ 12. Small business owners in New York - those with 10 or fewer employees - will be required to pay a maximum of $ 15 an hour, which would equal them to other city employers.

In the rest of the state, wage growth will be slower, with the minimum wage rising from $ 11,10 to $ 11,80 per hour.

Changes in drug and mental health insurance

Starting January 1, 2020, new requirements will be introduced in New York for health insurance companies related to addiction and mental health insurance. These responsibilities include: improving consumer disclosure; limiting the amount of co-payments or co-insurance for outpatient treatment of mental illness and drug addiction; expanding existing remedies related to the review of the medical need for inpatient and outpatient drug treatment; as well as new bans on the requirements for the preliminary approval of certain types of inpatient treatment of mental illness.

As writes edition Democrat & Chronicle, new laws for New York in 2020 also concern the safety of boating, the rights of agricultural workers and other areas.

Adoptors will have access to birth certificates

For decades in New York, a adopted person could access the original of his full birth certificate only by going to court. And even then, both biological parents would have to agree to his extradition.

This will change from January 15, 2020. The new law, which will enter into force on this day, will allow adopters to have unlimited access to their birth certificate as soon as they are 18 years old.

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Advocates of adoptive parents' rights have been striving for decades to cancel the former secret state policy, which did not allow many adoptive parents to know the names of their biological parents and potentially critical information about their family history of the disease.

Critics of the new law argue that it could violate the right of biological parents to privacy, especially if the rape victim gave birth and gave the child for adoption.

Farmers will get paid for overtime and compulsory rest

From January 1, the Fair Employment Law between farm workers comes into force. Farm workers will receive additional rights that equalize their rights with other workers nationwide.

The new law establishes an 8-hour working day and one compulsory day of rest every week for agricultural workers, as well as overtime pay.

Safety Course for Motor Boat Drivers

If you were born in 1993 or later, then starting in 2020, before operating a motor boat, you will need to take a safety management course for such tools.

Every year the law will be expanded until 2025 per year covers all operators of motor boats. Previously, only those born after May 1, 1996, had to take a course before operating the boat.

The law is named after Brianna Lineck, an 11-year-old girl who died in 2005 when a small boat hit a pier in the Long Island area.

Teens can pre-register to vote

Starting in 2020, 16- and 17-year-olds can pre-register to vote in New York. This means that they can fill out a voting registration form to make sure they are eligible to vote on their 18th birthday. Previously, the voter could not register until he was 18 years old.

New York will be the 14th state to allow pre-registration from 16 years old.

Lawmakers have approved a series of measures to reform the elections in January. State Governor Andrew Cuomo signed them the same month. The Pre-Registration Act, which was part of this reform package, enters into force on January 1.