Labor & Employment

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1991: Enacts the "fair pay for home care act"

Enacts the "fair pay for home care act" relating to minimum wages applicable to home care aides; provides for a minimum wage of 150% of the applicable statewide or regional minimum wage.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncreases home care aide minimum wage to 150% of regional rate, directly advancing wage protections for workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Minimum Wage

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in committee · New York · Senate Feb 10, 2026

S 1088: Relates to health insurance for state officers and employees who receive health insurance benefits from the state

Requires health insurance for state officers and employees who receive health insurance benefits from the state to take effect immediately upon employment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates immediate health insurance coverage for state employees upon hire, expanding access to benefits without waiting periods.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates immediate health insurance for state employees, strengthening employment benefits and worker protections per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 7378: Establishes an optional twenty-five year retirement plan for certain employees of the New York Power Authority

Establishes an optional twenty-five year retirement plan for employees of the New York Power Authority who are a member of the public employee organization certified or recognized to represent employees of such authority.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill establishes optional retirement plan, expanding employee benefits for specific public employees under collective bargaining representation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Employees Retirement Benefits

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 188: Relates to the statute of limitations for actions based on employment discrimination

Relates to the statute of limitations for actions based on discriminatory practices in employment; establishes action must be commenced within six years.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExtends statute of limitations to six years for employment discrimination claims, giving workers more time to pursue legal action and strengthening protection against workplace discrimination.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Employment Discrimination

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 8511: Relates to background checks for volunteer and paid firefighters

S 8511 allows employers hiring volunteer or paid firefighters to conduct background checks on job applicants. The bill requires employers to provide applicants with copies of any background records obtained and give them a chance to explain the results. This directly affects firefighters applying for positions with fire departments across New York. The law adds a specific provision to criminal procedure law, ensuring transparency in the background check process for this workforce. It does not change existing background check rules for other professions.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires transparency in background checks for firefighter applicants, allowing them to explain results - protects workers' rights in employment process per Labor & Employment indicators.85% confidence

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vetoed · New York · Assembly Dec 19, 2025

A 4502: Relates to access to educational activities by public assistance recipients who are subject to work participation requirements

Relates to access to educational activities by public assistance recipients who are subject to work participation requirements; allows homework expected or required by an educational institution to count towards satisfaction of the work activity requirements for public assistance benefits for participants engaged in certain educational or training activities.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAllows educational work to count toward public assistance work requirements, supporting employment pathways for recipients.85% confidence

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 6572: Relates to providing enhanced cancer disability benefits to volunteer firefighters

Provides that the tax levy limit shall not include a tax levy necessary for expenditures resulting from a local government meeting its obligation to provide enhanced cancer disability benefits to volunteer firefighters as required under section two hundred five-cc of the general municipal law.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExcludes cancer benefit costs from tax levy limits, enabling local funding without cap restrictions for firefighter benefits.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands disability benefits for volunteer firefighters (a worker group), directly supporting employment standards and worker benefits under Labor & Employment.95% confidence

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in committee · New York · Senate May 14, 2026

S 5803: Requires the New York city department of corrections and the New York city health and hospitals corporation to adopt safety policies to protect health care workers who treat incarcerated individuals

Requires the New York city department of corrections and the New York city health and hospitals corporation to adopt safety policies to protect health care workers who treat incarcerated individuals.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires safety policies for healthcare workers in correctional facilities, enhancing conditions and aligning with criminal justice reform by improving facility safety standards.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates safety policies for healthcare workers treating incarcerated individuals, directly protecting healthcare providers in healthcare delivery.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires safety policies for healthcare workers treating incarcerated individuals, directly improving workplace safety protections for workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 4787: Relates to the health care and mental hygiene worker bonuses

Includes any parent or parent of a minor who cares for such minor child with an intellectual or developmental disability within the health care and mental hygiene worker bonuses.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands healthcare worker bonus eligibility to include parents of children with disabilities, increasing financial support for affected workers.95% confidence

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died · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4516: Relates to the overpayment of wages

Provides that recovery of wages due to a clerical error by the employer or vendor of the employer is prohibited if such clerical error did not result in an overpayment or other inaccuracy in the amount of wages paid or the time in which wages were dispersed.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentPrevents employers from recovering wages due to clerical errors that didn't cause actual overpayment, protecting workers' earned wages.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards

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