NY A09037

Establishes an excluded worker unemployment program administered by the Department of Labor, effective April 1, 2023, providing wage replacement to workers ineligible for traditional unemployment insurance, including undocumented immigrants, domestic workers, day laborers, construction workers, landscapers, street vendors, and self-employed workers.

Eligible applicants must reside in New York State, have earned at least $4,050 in the prior 12 months over at least 3 months, experienced total or partial unemployment in the prior month, and earned no more than $56,393 in the prior taxable year (adjusted annually based on median earnings).

Eligible workers receive up to six monthly payments of $1,200 per month (adjusted annually based on state average weekly wage) per program year, with retroactive payments allowed up to three months; 25% of funds reserved for self-employed workers and 25% reserved for initial payments after October 1st.

Requires flexible identity and residency documentation acceptable to the program (including non-traditional documents), establishes navigator grants to non-profit organizations to assist applicants, and provides strong privacy protections prohibiting disclosure to immigration enforcement agencies.

Appropriates $800 million from the general fund to establish the Excluded Worker Unemployment Program Fund, with all fund balances remaining continuously available and the state responsible for replenishing funds if exhausted before eligible applicants receive full benefits.