New York Consolidated Laws, General Business Law - GBS § 1412. Written contracts

1. Whenever a hiring party retains the services of a freelance worker, as such terms are defined in this article, the contract between such party and worker shall be reduced to writing.  The hiring party must furnish a copy of such written contract, either physically or electronically, to the freelance worker and each party to the written contract shall retain a copy thereof.

2. The written contract shall include, at a minimum, the following information:

3. Such hiring party shall be required to keep such contract for a period of no less than six years and shall make such contract available to the attorney general upon request.  The failure of a hiring party to maintain such contracts or produce such contracts to the attorney general shall give rise to a presumption that the terms that the freelance worker has presented are the agreed upon terms.

4. The commissioner of labor shall make available model contracts on the website of the department of labor for use by the general public at no cost.  Such model contracts shall be made available in English and in the twelve languages most commonly spoken by limited English proficient individuals in the state.