ALBANY, NY (WENY)--A BILL IN ALBANY MAKES PROGRESS THAT INTENDS TO HELP FARMERS BETTER ACCESS AN OVERTIME EMPLOYER TAX CREDIT.  

CURRENTLY THE STATE MANDATES EMPLOYERS PAY FARMERS OVERTIME STARTING AT AROUND 60 HOURS.  
 
EMPLOYERS CAN receive A TAX CREDIT TO OFFSET EXTRA EMPLOYEE COSTS FOR THIS OVERTIME, BUT ELIGIBILITY TO receive THIS TAX CREDIT, SOME EMPLOYERS SAID IS LIMITING.  
 
FOR KEITH KIMBALL, THE OWNER OF A FEW LOCAL FARMS, SAID BECAUSE HIS BUSINESS IS ATTACHED TO A BIGGER MANAGEMENT COMPANY, HE ISN’T ELIGIBLE TO receive THE TAX CREDIT.  
 
“By not receiving that, or for certain farms receiving it and others not receiving it, it's an unfair advantage. So as the cost of production goes up, we have no way to recapture that price because the price of our commodity is set federally,” he said. 
 
THIS WEEK LAWMAKERS PASSED A bill IN THE SENATE TRYING TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE—BY ALLOWING A MANAGEMENT OR PAYROLL ENTITY TO RECEIVE THE OVERTIME TAX CREDIT.  
 
THE BILL STILL HAS TO PASS IN THE ASSEMBLY.