Albany, NY – In response to the Governor’s FY 2019 Executive Budget Address, Assemblywoman Nily Rozic (D,WF-Fresh Meadows) issued the following statement:

“As my colleagues and I enter this year’s budget negotiations, we are faced with an unprecedented challenge of achieving radical economic change. I am glad that in his budget address today, Governor Cuomo drew attention to the mounting burden of property taxes on New York's homeowners and the need for reform, as well as the need to invest in the MTA. Governor Cuomo highlighted again the problem of sexual harassment and the need for New York to take the lead in setting stronger standards to identify and combat this issue. As I assume a new role as Chair of the Task Force on Women’s Issues, I look forward to working with the Governor and my colleagues in Albany to end sexual harassment once and for all.”

In his budget address, Governor Cuomo proposed a $168.1 billion spending plan to close a $4.4 billion budget deficit. His proposal mentioned several wide-reaching reforms including restructuring the income tax code, raising revenues in healthcare and education, and increasing funding for the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) to increase the commission’s capacity to investigate and enforce sexual harassment claims.

Last Fall, Rozic authored and introduced legislation in the Assembly (A8752) to protect models in the fashion industry for sexual and other forms of harassment. The bill followed months of research coordinated with the Model Alliance, a research and policy organization that advocates for labor rights for models and other workers in the fashion industry. She has also introduced legislation (A8765/S6382A) with State Senator Brad Hoylman (D-Manhattan) that would prohibit employers from utilizing non-disclosure agreements to conceal incidents of sexual harassment.