General Contractors Call for Reform of New York’s ‘Scaffold Law’

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Builders and business owners from across New York plan to gather in Albany to push Gov. Andrew Cuomo and lawmakers for changes in a law blamed for driving up the cost of every construction project in the state.

The Associated General Contractors of New York State says hundreds of advocates from various professions will gather today at the state Capitol to urge reform of New York's Scaffold Law. The century-old law holds building owners and contractors liable for elevation-related injuries at construction sites, even if the worker is found to be at fault.

The contractors' trade group says the law adds considerable expenses to every private and public construction project in New York state. The organization has about 1,000 member contractors, subcontractors and others who bid for public and private large-scale construction projects.