NY S09038

Electric corporations must submit a closure or sale plan to the Department of Public Service at least 18 months before closing or selling a coal electric plant, including workforce retention provisions and compliance with labor law requirements.

Coal electric plants cannot be closed or sold unless the department approves the closure plan, affected employees receive one year notice of employment loss, and the plan is included as a material term in all related contracts.

Violations of closure plan requirements result in all related contracts becoming null and void, with civil fines of at least $5 million imposed by the department.

Electric corporations must conduct extensive health screenings of all employees, contractors and subcontractors within 10 days of providing layoff notice, and establish employment retraining programs during the one-year notice period for skills needed at biomass, natural gas plants, or for closure work.

The Department of Health must establish standards for health screenings of coal plant workers, and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority must finance retraining programs using existing funds without collecting additional fees.