Requires small businesses to have and maintain a first aid kit on the premises of the business at all times and to store such kits in an accessible location and to make such kits available for use by any person who enters the premises of the business.
Summary
This bill would require all businesses with 50 or fewer employees to keep a complete first aid kit on the premises at all times. The kit must contain equipment reasonably calculated to provide emergency medical aid to injured persons, be stored in a readily accessible location, and be available for use by any person who enters the business premises.
The bill also assigns oversight and enforcement responsibilities to the Department of Health. It would amend the Public Health Law to direct the department to supervise and regulate compliance with the new first aid kit requirement, with compliance visually confirmed during health or safety inspections or by code enforcement personnel. If code enforcement personnel confirm compliance, they must notify the department.
Impact
The bill would add a new section to the Labor Law and a related enforcement provision to the Public Health Law, creating a statewide workplace safety requirement for small businesses. It would apply to businesses with 50 or fewer employees and effectively impose a minimum emergency preparedness standard for those employers, while also expanding the inspection duties of the Department of Health and local code enforcement personnel.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes, the measure appears to be framed as a straightforward workplace safety and public health proposal. The language is mandatory and administrative rather than controversial in tone, suggesting a generally protective intent focused on readiness for injuries and emergency aid. No formal opposition or support is documented in the provided materials.
Contention
The main potential points of contention are the compliance burden on small businesses and the scope of enforcement. Small employers may view the requirement to maintain a fully stocked kit at all times as an added operational cost, and some may question the practicality of inspection-based enforcement. Another possible issue is the bill’s broad accessibility requirement, which makes the kit available to any person entering the premises, potentially raising questions about liability, training, and what qualifies as a “complete” kit.
Requires small businesses to have and maintain a first aid kit on the premises of the business at all times and to store such kits in an accessible location and to make such kits available for use by any person who enters the premises of the business.
Requires small businesses to have and maintain a first aid kit on the premises of the business at all times and to store such kits in an accessible location and to make such kits available for use by any person who enters the premises of the business.
Requires businesses that conduct business to register and maintain required filings with the secretary of state so that consumers and small businesses may readily identify responsible parties, verify good standing, and effectuate service of process.
Requires businesses that conduct business to register and maintain required filings with the secretary of state so that consumers and small businesses may readily identify responsible parties, verify good standing, and effectuate service of process.
Requires that certain contracts let by the office of general services be reserved for small businesses, including minority-owned business enterprises and women-owned business enterprises.