By Rosemarie Tully
I am pleased to report that two bills that EASL reviewed and helped shape were recently signed into law by the Governor. Below are brief summaries of the two pieces of legislation excerpted from my Remarks in the upcoming EASL Journal.
Arts Consignment Law
On legislative issues, EASL's voice was front and center. Under the leadership of EASL's Immediate Past Chair, Judith Prowda, EASL helped shape an amendment to the Arts and Cultural Affairs Law (NYSCAL) relative to consignments of works of art to art merchants by artists, their heirs and personal representatives (the Arts Consignment Law). The revised statutes, Articles 11 and 12 of the NYSCAL, serve to strengthen pre-existing trust property and trust fund provisions, fortifying the rights of consignors (and their heirs) which rights otherwise may have been lost. This legislation was passed, signed into law by the Governor, and will be effective as of November 7, 2012.
Talent Agency Law
EASL also reviewed and supported amendments to the General Business Law and the Arts and Cultural Affairs Law in relation to theatrical employment agencies (the Talent Agency Law Revisions). Founding Chair Marc Jacobson spearheaded EASL's working group on this issue. Among the changes, the amendments add a definition for "artist," adjust the writing requirement for agency contracts, and deal with agency fees relative to negotiation or renegotiation on original or pre-existing contracts. In sum, the revisions clarify and create consistency in the regulation of theatrical employment agencies. This legislation was passed and signed into law by the Governor on October 3, 2012.