NY S09951

Amends Labor Law Section 196 to require the Commissioner of Labor to suspend business licenses for employers convicted of wage theft, failing to pay wages, or violating minimum wage/overtime requirements, including suspensions of successor businesses engaged in substantially similar work.

Authorizes the Commissioner to prohibit suspended employers or successor businesses from reapplying for any business license for up to two years, with suspension length determined by factors including number of affected employees, total wage theft amount, duration of violations, and prior misconduct.

Requires courts to notify the Commissioner of Labor upon conviction for wage theft (Penal Law § 155.05), failure to pay wages (Labor Law § 198-a), or minimum wage violations (Labor Law § 662).

Allows courts to prohibit employers and those with ownership interests in them from operating under different business names or opening successor businesses in the same trade during pending criminal proceedings for wage theft or wage payment violations.

Establishes that "license" includes corporate certificates, LLC articles, liquor licenses, food service permits, construction licenses, and other state and municipal business authorizations; defines "successor business" as entities with substantially similar work and operational continuity.