New York governor Andrew Cuomo reached a wage agreement with state legislature leaders last night, approving a minimum wage increase to $15 for New York City by 2018, with phased-in gains for the rest of the state. Long Island and Westchester will reach the $15 threshold in six years. In areas north of Westchester, the minimum wage will rise by 70 cents a year for the next five years, hitting $12.50 by 2021, with the possibility of increasing to $15 dependent on current economic impact. Also approved last night was a phased-in 12 week family leave plan, funded by deductions from employee pay, and available to state residents beginning in 2018 who have worked more than six months at a job. Income tax cuts to families earning less than $300,000 were also approved.
See "New York Budget Deal With Higher Minimum Wage Is Reached", Jesse McKinley and Vivian Yee, The New York Times, April 1, 2016