Despite the pandemic, it's was a busy year for lawmakers.
News channel 2's brent kearney joins us now live in the studio to wrap up the new laws that go into affect this year.
Brent, good evening.
Caitlin these new laws range from a new minimum wage, to amendments to our current election laws.
Minimum wage .
None .
None beginning now, new york's worforce will be getting more money in their pocket.
On december 31st, the new york minimum wage increased from 11.80 an hour to 12.50 an hour.
Workers in the fast food industry are set to see a wage increase to 14.50 an hour from 13.75 an hour.
Paid time off some of those workers who are eligible will now have access to up to 12 weeks of job protected paid time off to either bond with a new child or care for a family member that's ill, or assist loved ones when a family member is deployed abroad in active military service.
This law includes those who are under quarantine or have family members that are, due to covid-19 thruway drivers without an ez-pass will also see a rate hike this year.
The thruway authority's board of directors unanimously approved the changes, which will primarily affect people who drive on the thruway without an e-z pass.
This comes as the thruway switched over to cashless tolling.
Those who do not have an e-z pass will see a 30% increase in toll costs, plus a $2 bill fee, and toll bills will be mailed to the vehicle owners.
Out of state e-z pass customers will pay 15% higher tolls.
Elections: the state is also amending some election laws.
A recount in elections statewide will be automatically done when the margin of victory for a candidate is 0.2 percent.
Recounts for all other elections will be done if the margin of victory is 0.5 percent.
Recounts would be done manually.
Boaters: for boaters, brianna's law goes into effect.
It requires all boaters born on or after january 1st 1988 to take a boater safety course.
The law was named after brianna lieneck, an 11-year- old girl killed in a boating accident in long island's great south bay in 2005.
> all o thiswill be at wktcom includi some laws couldnt fiin the story as well.n the stuo
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