Nick Reisman is reporting for State of Politics that Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on May 5 signed the NY HERO Act into law requiring workplaces to have COVID-related safety measures in place. Passage of the bill came with an agreement with Democrats in the state Legislature that amendments would be added in the coming weeks to provide businesses with a clear timeline for fixing violations. While the measure was supported by a range of advocacy organizations, business groups strongly opposed the measure, pointing to potential legal exposure. Some of the bill's requirements had been in place due to executive orders signed by the governor since last year. Cuomo's approval message after signing the bill into law would include a requirement that "technical changes" be made to the bill. The potential technical changes would include a specific timeline and instructions for implementing the changes, plus an immediate requirement for employers to cure violations in order to better protect the safety of workers and limit lawsuits in the process. “Too many workers have already sacrificed their health for our community’s benefit. The New York Hero Act will honor their efforts by giving workers the tools to protect themselves while on the job,” said Sen. Mike Gianaris, the act's main sponsor in the state Senate. The bill's approval comes as the state is scheduled to reopen of businesses and public gathering spaces on May 19, as the COVID positive rate continues a multi-week decline and more people are vaccinated. Read the full story at nystateofpolitics [dot] com.