New York, NY – In response to Governor Cuomo releasing a draft model sexual harassment prevention, training, and related guidance for New York employers, Assemblywoman Nily Rozic (D,WF-Fresh Meadows) issued the following statement:

“This year New York took action to combat sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace. Through the Assembly’s Sexual Harassment Working Group, we laid out the beginning steps as part of this year’s budget to implement stronger and detailed prevention policies and training to disrupt the cycle of abuse that has prevailed for far too long.”

“The model guidance released for New York employers outlines new protections and is currently available for public comment. I urge New Yorkers to continue making their voices heard throughout this process so that we can work towards policy solutions that protect workers across all industries.”

The draft model is available for viewing and public comment until September 12, 2018 and can be found on https://www.ny.gov/programs/combating-sexual-harassment-workplace. New laws direct employers to adopt a sexual harassment prevention policy and training beginning October 2018.

As part of Rozic’s efforts to advance legislation that would protect models in the fashion industry from sexual and other forms of harassment, she will be submitting public comment to share concerns and suggestions related to the reporting of sexual harassment in certain workplaces. Despite the new laws including provisions to protect independent contractors, which models are most often hired as, Rozic’s suggestions address the multi-level hiring system in the modeling and fashion industry that have made it difficult to discern which entity should be held accountable for sexual harassment.

Since last year, Rozic has been working with advocates, specifically the Model Alliance, to advance the “Models Harassment Protection Act” and has also introduced legislation that would prohibit employers from utilizing non-disclosure agreements to conceal incidents of sexual harassment. During this year’s legislative session, she was appointed by Speaker Carl Heastie to serve on a workgroup to review sexual harassment issues and policy proposals.