5 New York Laws That Take Effect In 2018

New York passes hundreds of laws each year. And while many of them are little things that rename a bridge or a street somewhere upstate, some are also big laws that will affect people across the entire Empire State. Here are some of the big laws that are going into effect in 2018 that you should know about.

Minimum Wage Increase

Starting Dec. 31, the minimum wage in Nassau and Suffolk counties is increasing to $11 per hour. It's part of the state's plan to increase the minimum wage to $15. The wage will keep going up by $1 per year until it hits $15 per hour in on Dec. 31, 2021.

Paid Family Leave

The state's new Paid Family Leave program starts Jan. 1. In 2018, it provides workers an eight-week benefit paid for with payroll deductions, which are capped at .126 percent of the weekly wage, or a maximum of $1.63 per week. There is no cost to employers. By 2021, employees will be able to get up to 12 weeks of paid family leave at two-thirds of their normal salary.

Public Officer Pension Forfeiture

Under a new state law that residents passed at the ballots in November, public officers that are convicted of a felony related to their office can now have their pensions reduced or revoked by a judge. Under the previous law, pensions could not be touched, even if the public official committed crimes in office while earning it. The new law will only apply to crimes that were committed on or after Jan. 1, 2018.

Child And Dependent Care Tax Credit

Parents and guardians are going to see bigger tax credits from the state in 2018. The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit is expanding for residents with incomes between $50,000 and $150,000. It also expands the cap on child care expenses from $6,000 to $9,000, depending on the number of children, for families with up to five kids.

Epi Pens In Schools

Certain school employees, like nurses, will now be allowed to administer epinephrine pens to students in the case of an emergency.

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