News & Events
HOUSE APPROVES UNION ORGANIZING BILL – PRO ACT
On February 6, 2020, the House passed the controversial Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act. The act incorporates the “ABC test,” which changes the NLRA ...
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We’re Moving Our Office to Downtown Syracuse!
With the continued growth and expansion of our firm, Costello, Cooney & Fearon is excited to announce that we’re combining both our Syracuse and Camillus office...
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New York Bans Salary History Inquiries to Job Candidates
A new law enacted as part of the sweeping 2019 New York State legislative session will make it unlawful for an employer to ask a job applicant about his or her ...
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U.S. Department of Labor’s (USDOL) Final Rule on Overtime Eligibility for White Collar Employees
On September 24, 2019, the USDOL announced a final rule to make more American workers newly eligible for overtime pay. The USDOL’s rule will raise the minimum e...
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Governor Cuomo Signs Legislation Enacting Sweeping New Workplace Harassment Protections
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed legislation yesterday (S.6577/A.8421) which enacted sweeping new workplace harassment protections, fulfilling a key component of...
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New York State Legislature Enacts Sweeping Changes to Sexual Harassment Laws
Legislation was passed by the New York State Assembly and Senate on Wednesday, June 19, 2019, that would dramatically change the standards for defending claims ...
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Alicia Calagiovanni Receives the 2019 John H. Mulroy Founder's Award
Alicia Calagiovanni and her husband, Richard Calagiovanni, ‘68, received the 2019 John H. Mulroy Founder’s Award from Onondaga Community College’s Board of Trus...
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New York State Paid Voting Leave Amendments Are Now Effective: Board of Elections Issues Revised Employer Posting
In an update to our recent Legal Alert regarding NYS paid voting leave, the Governor signed into law the 2020 budget amendments on April 12, 2019, including the...
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New York Election Law Amended to Allow Workers Up to Three Hours of Paid Time Off to Vote
On April 1, 2019, Governor Cuomo announced amendments to the State’s 2020 fiscal year budget. Buried within was an amendment to Section 3-110 of the state Elect...
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U.S. Department of Labor’s Overtime Proposed Rulemaking Open for Public Comment
The Office of the Federal Register has published the U.S. Department of Labor’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would make more than a million more American ...
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NYS Department of Labor Announces It Will Not Pursue Sweeping Employee Work Scheduling Regulations
The NYS Department of Labor (NYSDOL) has announced that it does not intend to pursue proposed regulations to address what is commonly known as “call-in” or “jus...
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NYS Legislature Passes Transgender Anti-Discrimination Law
The New York State Legislature recently passed the Gender Expression Non- Discrimination Act (“GENDA”) to prohibit discrimination against individuals based on g...
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U.S. EEOC and Department of Justice Develop Cooperation Agreement
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) recently announced the signing of ...
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NYS Department of Labor Issues Revised Employee Work Scheduling Regulations
The New York State Department of Labor “DOL” has issued revised, sweeping proposed rulemaking to address what is commonly identified as “just-in-time,” “call-in...
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Records Of Disciplinary Proceedings Concerning A Police Officer Are Exempt From Disclosure Even If The Identifying Information Is Redacted
The Court of Appeals, affirming the appellate division over a concurring opinion and two dissenting opinions, determined that the records of New York Police Dep...
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New Requirement to Designate Staff Members to Provide Information on Substance Use Related Services
A new section of education law was signed into law on November 5th which will require superintendents in all school districts to designate either a district or ...
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Supreme Court Holds That The Age Discrimination In Employment Act (ADEA) Applies To State And Local Governments Of Any Size
A recent decision of the United States Supreme Court establishes that the Age Discrimination in Employment Act’s (ADEA) coverage standard (twenty or more employ...
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Is Your Company Ready? NYS Sexual Harassment Laws & Guidance
As you know from our earlier updates, New York State employers are facing significant new mandatory sexual harassment prevention policy and employee training re...
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Next Up In New York? Governor Signs Legislation Granting Section 75 Rights to Labor Class Civil Service Employees
Without any fanfare, Governor Cuomo recently signed legislation to amend Section 75 of the New York State Civil Service Law. The legislation extends hearing rig...
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NYS Issues Draft Materials and Guidance on Updated Sexual Harassment Laws
A New York State government website resource for employers and employees, “Combating Sexual Harassment in the Workplace,” is now available. The website includes...
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Bill Passed by New York State Senate and Assembly Would Provide Up to Twelve Weeks Paid Bereavement Leave to New York Workers
On the last day of the June legislative session, the New York State Senate passed a bill that would permit New York workers to utilize up to 12 weeks of paid be...
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Melinda Burdick Bowe & Christopher Militello Present at 41st Annual MASLA Conference
Firm partner Melinda Burdick Bowe and associate Christopher Militello presented at the 41st annual New York State MASLA (Management Advocates for School Labor A...
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U.S. Supreme Court Invalidates Compelled Agency Shop Fees in Janus v. AFSCME
Today the U.S. Supreme Court released its widely-anticipated decision in the case of Janus v. AFSCME, which challenged an Illinois state law similar to New York...
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NYS Budget Bill Creates Significant New Obligations Regarding Sexual Harassment
The New York State Assembly passed a budget bill including a number of provisions aimed at sexual harassment. The budget bill, signed by Governor Cuomo on April...
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New York Budget Legislation Limits The Impact Of Expected Janus v. AFSCME Decision On Public Sector Unions
A provision tucked into the state budget legislation gives public-employee unions the right to deny many services, such as free legal help, to covered employees...
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NYS Advances Legislation To Ban Asking Prospective Employees About Salary History
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has advanced legislation to prohibit all employers who do business in New York State from asking prospective employees about their sala...
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Title VII Covers Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation
Today, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan ruled that a federal law banning sex bias in the workplace also prohibits discrimination against gay emp...
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First Amendment Challenge to Public Sector Law Agency Fee Requirement
The United States Supreme Court has scheduled oral argument in Janus v. AFSCME for February 26, 2018. The case is a First Amendment challenge to an agency fee r...
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NYS Department of Labor Proposes New Sweeping "Call-In" Pay Regulations
Certain New York State employers should be aware of sweeping new proposed administrative rules that significantly expand entitlement to “call-in” pay for worker...
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IDEA's FAPE Requirement
The U.S. Department of Education today announced the release of a 9-page question-and- answer document on the March 2017 U.S. Supreme Court opinion on the Indiv...
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Obligation to Provide Reasonable Assurance to Per Diem Substitute Teachers Prior to Holiday Recess
We are writing to make you aware of a recent decision of a State Appellate Court that is likely to impact school district practices across New York State. The d...
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Update on New York's Paid Family Leave Benefits Law
As you know, New York State is set to enact the strongest paid family leave program in the country. The program, New York’s Paid Family Leave Benefits Law (“PFL...
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Changes to the NYS ABC Law
As you may know, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo recently signed legislation amending the State's Alcoholic Beverage Control Law (the "ABC Law"). Specifica...
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NYS ABC Law Modification Update of May 2016
As you may know, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo recently proposed modifications to the State's Alcoholic Beverage Control Law (the "ABC Law"). The Governo...
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NYS Alcoholic Beverage Production Credit
As you may know, the New York State Legislature passed the State's 2016-2017 budget bill last week. While provisions pertaining to minimum wage and Paid Family ...
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NYS Farm Workforce Retention Credit
As you may know, the New York State Legislature passed the State's 2016-2017 budget bill last week. The adopted legislation contains numerous provisions that ma...
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Congress Passes the CIDER Act
On December 18, 2015, the Federal government passed the CIDER Act, which provides a much needed update to the tax and regulatory framework applicable to the pro...
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Third NYS Wine, Beer, Spirits and Cider Summit
On October 8, 2015, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and other State and industry representatives conducted the State's Third Wine, Beer, Spirits and Cider Summit. At t...
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2015 New York Super Lawyers
Costello, Cooney & Fearon, PLLC announces the following attorneys have been named to the 2015 New York Super Lawyers - Upstate edition. They are:Alicia S. Calag...
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Recent Modifications To The New York State Alcoholic Beverage Control Law
On August 14, 2015, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed three separate pieces of legislation into law modifying the New York State Alcoholic Beverage Control Law (t...
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