This bill, titled the Didarul Islam police recruitment act, allows certain New York City public safety workers to count their prior service toward their New York City police pension fund. It specifically includes time spent as school safety agents, corrections officers, traffic enforcement agents, or police cadets before joining the uniformed police force. To qualify, members must transfer their contributions from the city employees' retirement system to the police pension fund and pay any required interest. The change applies immediately and affects those eligible for police pension benefits who previously worked in related city safety roles.
Secures the continued validity of collective bargaining agreements during and after a change in operator or ownership of a property, facility, or company.
This bill creates an optional 25-year retirement plan specifically for county and municipal airport firefighters who handle aircraft rescue and firefighting duties. Under the new provisions, eligible firefighters can retire after completing 25 years of service to receive a pension equal to half their final average salary, with potential increases for additional years of service up to a maximum of three-quarters of their final salary. The plan is not automatic; it requires the employer to vote to adopt it and pay the associated costs, and it applies only to those whose employers make this election. Airport firefighters who do not retire under this new plan can still use their service credit toward other retirement plans available to them.
Provides that arbitration awards in consumer and employment disputes, where the arbitration is conducted pursuant to a contract, shall include all issues in dispute and the arbitrator's findings of fact and conclusions of law.
Provides that a claimant for unemployment benefits may claim an additional dependent allowance in an amount equal to 5% of the state average weekly wage for the current benefit year multiplied by the number of dependents claimed in the preceding tax year.
Includes certain persons engaged in a professional or teaching capacity in or for a religious, charitable or educational institution as employees for purposes of eligibility for paid family leave.
Establishes an educator development workforce for the purpose of contracting with EDHUBNY, a nonprofit organization, for support of New York's child serving and educator workforce; authorizes the workforce to contract with EDHUBNY including performance measures, reporting requirements, and fiscal controls; authorizes collaboration with other state agencies; provides for an appropriation of $50 million.
Establishes the hospice workforce stabilization and innovation program; grants for staff retention incentives, continuing education, professional certification including board certification in hospice and palliative care, workforce wellness initiatives, and other workforce support activities approved by the department; creates grants for establishing regional hospice workforce pipeline programs.
Provides that the unemployment insurance minimum weekly benefit amount shall be the greater of two hundred fifty dollars or fifteen percent of the state average weekly wage.
This Senate Resolution (J 1603) memorializes Governor Hochul to officially designate April 2026 as "Workplace Violence Prevention Month" in New York State. It does not create new laws but requests the Governor issue a proclamation to raise public awareness about preventing workplace violence, particularly highlighting healthcare workers' elevated risk (five times higher than other industries). The resolution references April as the nationally recognized Workplace Violence Prevention Awareness Month and directs copies to the Governor and medical associations. It is a ceremonial measure focused on awareness, not policy change.
