Bill > A02533

This bill amends the Judiciary Law and Labor Law to provide additional protections for employees serving on jury duty. Currently, employers are prohibited from discharging an employee for jury service, with criminal contempt as the primary penalty. The bill expands these protections by introducing new civil remedies for employees who experience discrimination, discharge, or penalties due to jury service. Specifically, the bill allows employees to bring civil actions against employers who unlawfully penalize them for jury duty and enables the Commissioner of Labor to assess civil penalties ranging from $1,000 to $20,000 for violations. The bill updates language to use gender-neutral terms like "their" instead of "his or her" and explicitly adds jury service to the list of legally protected absences. Employees who successfully bring a civil action can potentially receive remedies including reinstatement, lost compensation, front pay, and liquidated damages up to $20,000. These changes aim to strengthen legal protections for employees exercising their civic duty of jury service by providing more robust enforcement mechanisms and potential financial compensation for workplace discrimination related to jury duty.

Justice

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A2533