NY S08952

Creates a not-for-profit corporation called the New York Small Contractor Safety Group, Inc. as a pilot program to provide liability insurance to small contractors who cannot obtain coverage from licensed insurers.

Establishes a nine-member board of directors appointed by the governor, senate, assembly, and minority leaders to manage the safety group and requires board members to have experience in construction, labor, work safety, or related fields.

Defines eligible small contractors as New York residents with less than $1 million in gross revenues (or certified minority/women-owned businesses) who have been denied liability insurance coverage, with flexibility for larger contractors up to limits determined by the group.

Appropriates $25 million from the state general fund as initial capital, with the state contributing 50 percent of membership fees up to this cap; requires repayment of state funds from the safety group fund when surplus is sufficiently large.

Mandates mandatory work safety and job site safety training for member participation, with authority for the safety group to suspend or terminate members for non-compliance; pilot program expires five years after enactment unless extended by the legislature.