Apparently, the sponsor of the bill to amend Labor Law section 240(1) pulled the measure from the Assembly’s Labor Committee. The following was reported in Crain’s NY on June 14, 2004:

The sponsor of a bill to modify the absolute liability standard affecting building contractors withdrew the measure from the Assembly Labor Committee, where he had originally planned to force a vote.

Assemblyman Joseph Morelle, D-Rochester, says he pulled the bill because good faith negotiations are making progress.

While Mr. Morelle says that he continues to believe some kind of “comparative negligence” standard is necessary, other steps being considered include creating a reciprocal insurance company, having the State Insurance Fund act as a reinsurer and requiring compliance with federal standards as a shield from absolute liability.

In related Labor Law news (printed in New York Lawyer), the New York State Bar Association issued a legislative report opposing the proposed bills (Senate 1710 and Assembly 8922) instituting a comparative negligence standard in section 240(1).