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Despite opposition from employer groups, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the NYS HERO Act into law earlier this week. The Legislature deemed the Act necessary as a response to COVID-19 safety concerns as New Yorkers return to in-person work and believes it fills gaps created by expiring COVID-19-related executive orders. The HERO Act requires NYDOL to issue enforceable minimum workplace health and safety standards, and also imposes significant new health and safety obligations on employers in the state. However, state and other governmental agency employees are excluded from the HERO Act’s protections, and state and governmental agency employers are exempt from the HERO Act as well. Click here for a summary. While signing the bill, the Governor also stated that he reached an agreement with the Legislature to make technical changes to the bill, including giving the Department of Labor and employers more specific instructions in developing and implementing the workplace standards. ECA will keep you informed as more information becomes available.