New York S 8674: Establishes a reasonable accommodation reimbursement grant program; appropriation

Bill Text

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S08674 Summary:

BILL NOS08674 

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SAME ASSAME AS A09151

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SPONSORFAHY

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COSPNSR

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MLTSPNSR

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Add §19, Lab L; add §99-tt, St Fin L

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Establishes a reasonable accommodation reimbursement grant program under which eligible employers may request a grant for reimbursement of expenses made for reasonable accommodations for applicants or employees with a disability; establishes a reasonable accommodation reimbursement fund for payment of such grants; makes an appropriation of $5,000,000 for such program.

Go to top S08674 Actions:

BILL NOS08674 

&nbsp

01/07/2026REFERRED TO FINANCE

Go to topS08674 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS08674 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS08674 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 8674

 IN SENATE

 January 7, 2026
 ___________

 Introduced by Sen. FAHY -- 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 state finance law, in relation to
 establishing a reasonable accommodation reimbursement grant program;
 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. The labor law is amended by adding a new section 19 to read
 2 as follows:
 3 § 19. Reasonable accommodation reimbursement grant program. 1. For the
 4 purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following
 5 meanings:
 6 (a) "Applicant" means any person, whether employed or unemployed,
 7 seeking or entering into any arrangement for employment with an eligible
 8 employer.
 9 (b) "Eligible employer" means an employer domiciled within New York
 10 state and having its principal place of business as identified in its
 11 certificate of incorporation in New York state that:
 12 (i) employs not more than five hundred employees on any business day
 13 during the preceding calendar year; and
 14 (ii) generates five million dollars or less in gross annual revenue.
 15 (c) (i) "Individual with a disability" means a disabled person who,
 16 with reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions
 17 required of all applicants for the job in question.
 18 (ii) For the purposes of this section, "disability" excludes any
 19 condition resulting from alcohol or drug abuse which prevents a person
 20 from performing the essential functions of the job in question or
 21 constitutes a direct threat to property or the safety of others.
 22 (iii) If a respondent contends that a person is not an individual with
 23 a disability, as defined by this paragraph, the burden shall be on such
 24 respondent to prove that it was reasonable to conclude the disabled
 25 person, with reasonable accommodation, could not have met the require-
 26 ments of the job or that the selected person was demonstrably better
 27 able to perform the job.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD13802-01-5

 S. 8674 2

 1 (d) "Reasonable accommodation" means steps which must be taken to
 2 accommodate the known physical or mental limitations of an individual
 3 with a disability, which may include, but shall not be limited to:
 4 (i) making facilities readily accessible to and usable by individuals
 5 with disabilities; or
 6 (ii) job restructuring, modified work schedules, reassignment to a
 7 vacant position, acquisition or modification of equipment or devices, or
 8 the provision of aides on a temporary or periodic basis.
 9 (e) "Program" means the reasonable accommodation reimbursement grant
 10 program established under subdivision two of this section.
 11 (f) "Fund" means the reasonable accommodation reimbursement fund
 12 established under section ninety-nine-tt of the state finance law.
 13 2. The commissioner shall establish a reasonable accommodation
 14 reimbursement grant program for the purpose of reimbursing eligible
 15 employers for the cost of expenses incurred in providing reasonable
 16 accommodations for individuals with a disability who are either appli-
 17 cants or employees of such eligible employers.
 18 3. (a) The commissioner shall develop forms and procedure