Authorizes the election of qualified transportation fringe benefits; authorizes any employer to offer employees the opportunity to use pre-tax earnings for the purchase of qualified transportation fringe benefits.
This bill (S 5522) creates paid sick leave for police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics who test positive for or show symptoms of a pandemic virus (defined as a WHO-classified virus triggering a state emergency). It requires employers to grant this leave at the employee's regular pay rate without reducing accrued sick leave, and prohibits retaliation for using it. The state will reimburse municipalities with under 1 million residents for these costs. The leave applies only during declared pandemic emergencies under state law.
Provides that certain communications made without malice regarding an incident of sexual assault, harassment or discrimination shall be deemed privileged; provides that a prevailing defendant in an action brought against such defendant for making a communication that is privileged shall be entitled to attorney's fees and costs for such defense.
This bill creates an optional 25-year retirement plan for county 911 operators, supervisors, and directors (including assistant and bureau directors in 911 communications roles). To qualify, members must complete 25 years of creditable service (including prior public safety work) and receive a pension equal to half their final average salary. Counties must formally adopt the plan via resolution and cover the costs, but it remains an alternative to existing retirement options. The plan applies only to eligible staff in counties that choose to implement it.
Requires towns having a population of five hundred thousand persons or more to develop and implement a communications strategy to promote summer jobs, job fairs, workforce development training centers and information about civil service testing to town residents and to conduct an annual dialogue on race, equity and inclusion; requires the Town of Hempstead to track data over time and publish a report and to conduct DEI training.
Clarifies the definition of a paid firefighter to include firefighters employed by the division of military and naval affairs for the purpose of receiving certain benefits as other firefighters.
Waives Unemployment Pandemic Benefits repayments in whole or in part if the payment of such pandemic unemployment assistance was without fault on the part of the claimant and such repayment would be contrary to equity and good conscience.
Enacts "Lindsey's law" criminalizing the disclosure of confidential government records by a public employer as retaliation for a victim making a sexual harassment complaint or claim.
Provides that certain communications between a claimant's attorney or representative and an injured employee's treating provider or a claimant's medical consultant are not improper influence or an attempt to improperly influence.
This bill amends New York's law to explicitly include veterans in the legal definition of "military status." It expands the current definition - which already covers active military service - to protect veterans who have completed their service from unlawful discrimination. The key change adds the phrase "a person's participation in the military service... if such person has been released from such service" to the existing definition. This means veterans will now be covered under the same anti-discrimination protections that apply to active-duty military personnel. The change applies to all areas governed by this law, including employment and housing.
