Several days ago, New York Governor, Kathy Hochul signed a New York State Bill known as S5026 or the Freelance Isn’t Free Act into Law. The new law is intended to protect freelance and contract workers (That includes authors, journalists, and writers) from wage theft, and to ensure that they are paid in a timely manner, with state support to help them recoup lost wages.
According to a new article from Publishers Weekly, the bill was originally submitted in February 2022, by state senator Andrew Gounardes and assembly member Harry Bronson, as S8369, the bill was passed by the state senate last June, and passed the assembly in July, backed by strong support from such organizations as the Authors Guild. However, the bill was vetoed by Governor Hochul that December, while expressing support for the bill in principle, but also cited the costs as an issue. An Identical bill titled S5026 was submitted in February. Both bills follow the act of the same name passed in New York City in 2017. Freelancers Union executive director Rafael Espinal issued a statement:
From Rochester to Rhinebeck, all work deserves pay. This Thanksgiving, we are thankful that New York State is committing to protections for freelancers by providing them with that basic right.
Rafael Espinal, Executive Director of the Freelancers Union
Source: Publishers Weekly
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