Matthew Hamilton is reporting in the Times Union newly introduced legislation by two Republican state senators would prohibit courts from accepting secret settlements in sexual harassment cases, ban mandatory arbitration to deal with harassment complaints and allow independent contractors to file complaints against an employer and its direct employees. The bill, sponsored by Sens. Cathy Young and Elaine Phillips, also would establish a definition of sexual harassment in law. On the face of it, the Young-Phillips legislation would apply to any employer in the state. There is currently no identical Assembly version of the bill. Read the full story in the Times Union.