Joseph Spector is reporting for the Poughkeepsie Journal the new measure approved by the state Legislature in June, and signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo August 12, provides new workplace-harassment protections statewide."There has been an ongoing, persistent culture of sexual harassment, assault and discrimination in the workplace, and now it is time to act," Cuomo said in a statement. Among its provisions: it ends the severe or pervasive standard requiring employers to be held accountable for sexual harassment; all non-disclosure agreements in employment contracts must now include language allowing an employee to file a complaint for harassment or discrimination; and the statute of limitations for employment sexual harassment claims has been extended. The law also requires employers to provide notice about their sexual harassment policy in English, as well as the employee's primary language; and expands the coverage of the Human Rights Law to all employers statewide and bolsters the enforcement power of the state Attorney General's Office. In addition, the new law strengthens the state's Human Rights Law by including language to protect it from any potential federal rollback of rights. The measures will take effect at various points over the next year. Read the full story in the Poughkeepsie Journal.