Bill > S05559

This bill creates additional legal protections for employees who are summoned for jury duty by amending the Judiciary Law and Labor Law. Specifically, the bill expands existing protections to ensure that employees cannot be discharged, penalized, or discriminated against for serving on a jury. Beyond the existing criminal contempt of court penalty for violating an employee's right to jury service, the bill now allows for civil penalties under the Labor Law and gives employees the right to bring civil actions against employers who violate these protections. The bill updates language to be gender-neutral (using "their" instead of "his or her") and explicitly adds jury service to the list of legally protected absences. Employers are still allowed to withhold wages during jury service, with a provision that employers with more than ten employees cannot withhold the first $40 of daily wages during the first three days of jury service. The new provisions provide employees with potential remedies including reinstatement, lost compensation, liquidated damages, and the ability to seek these remedies through both administrative proceedings with the labor commissioner and civil court actions. The bill aims to strengthen and clarify protections for employees exercising their civic duty of jury service.

Justice

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S5559