New York S 5495: Relates to establishing a model neurodiversity awareness training program

Bill Text

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S05495 Summary:

BILL NOS05495 

&nbsp

SAME ASNo Same As

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SPONSORHARCKHAM

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COSPNSR

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MLTSPNSR

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Add §201-j, Lab L

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Directs the department of labor, in consultation with the division of human rights and the department of health to produce a model training program on neurodiversity awareness.

Go to top S05495 Actions:

BILL NOS05495 

&nbsp

02/21/2025REFERRED TO LABOR

01/07/2026REFERRED TO LABOR

Go to topS05495 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS05495 Floor&nbspVotes:

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

Go to topS05495 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 5495

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN SENATE

 February 21, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by Sen. HARCKHAM -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
 printed to be committed to the Committee on Labor

 AN ACT to amend the labor law, in relation to establishing a model
 neurodiversity awareness training program

 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 201-j to
 2 read as follows:
 3 § 201-j. Neurodiversity awareness training. 1. a. The department shall
 4 consult with the division of human rights and the department of health
 5 to produce a model training program on neurodiversity awareness.
 6 b. Such model neurodiversity awareness training program shall be
 7 interactive and include:
 8 (i) a definition, explanation, and examples of neurodiversity consist-
 9 ent with guidance issued by the department in consultation with the
 10 division of human rights and the department of health;
 11 (ii) examples of conduct designed to help participants understand and
 12 appreciate the differences in cognitive processing and neurodevelopmen-
 13 tal conditions of neurodiverse individuals;
 14 (iii) information concerning best practices to avoid inequity and
 15 foster a safe, supportive workplace for neurodiverse individuals;
 16 (iv) information regarding the impact ignorance of neurodiversity may
 17 have on individuals across the state;
 18 (v) information concerning employees' rights of redress and all avail-
 19 able forums for adjudicating complaints; and
 20 (vi) any other information the department, the division of human
 21 rights and the department of health deems relevant and appropriate for
 22 such a course.
 23 c. The model training program created pursuant to this section, and
 24 any equivalent program shall be reviewed and reapproved by the depart-
 25 ment and the division of human rights on a biennial basis.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD10100-01-5

 S. 5495 2

 1 2. The commissioner shall prepare templates of the model neurodiversi-
 2 ty awareness training program created pursuant to subdivision one of
 3 this section. The commissioner shall determine, in their discretion,
 4 which languages to provide in addition to English, based on the size of
 5 the New York state population that speaks each language and any other
 6 factor that the commissioner shall deem relevant. All such templates
 7 shall be made available to employers in the state upon an employer's
 8 request.
 9 3. Every employer shall utilize the model training program on neurodi-
 10 versity awareness pursuant to this section or establish a training
 11 program for employees to provide neurodiversity awareness that equals or
 12 exceeds the minimum standards provided by such model training. Such
 13 neurodiversity awareness training shall be provided to all employees on
 14 an annual basis.
 15 4. The department may promulgate any rules or regulations necessary
 16 for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of this section.
 17 5. As used in this section, the term "neurodiversity" means the range
 18 of differences in individual brain function and behavioral traits,
 19 regarded as part of normal variation in the human population.
 20 § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
 21 it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the department of
 22 labor, in consultation with the division of human rights and the depart-
 23 ment of health, is authorized to create the mo