NY A09497

Establishes a Restaurant and Restaurant Worker Recovery Loan Program in the Department of Labor to provide loans of up to $15,000 to qualifying small New York-based restaurants to cover labor costs from COVID-19 pandemic hardships.

Requires eligible restaurants to pay all tipped employees at least the full minimum wage (not subminimum tipped wage) and to participate in equity training within six months of receiving a loan.

Allows loans to be fully forgiven if restaurants complete equity training and maintain full minimum wage payments for tipped employees for two years after loan receipt; restaurants failing to meet requirements must repay the loan plus a 3 percent penalty.

Directs the Department of Labor to develop an equity training program covering wage increases, equitable tip sharing, racial and gender equity in hiring and promotion, and provides $750,000 for equity training implementation.

Appropriates $50,000,000 from the state general fund to establish the Restaurant and Restaurant Worker Recovery Fund and requires annual reporting to the legislature on fund utilization; program expires and repeals on July 1, 2025.