Labor & Employment

passed · New York · Senate Jun 2, 2026

S 7495: Enacts the menopause awareness improvement act

Enacts the menopause awareness improvement act; establishes a menopause education program; establishes course work or training in menopausal health; directs the commissioner of labor to conduct a study on the impact of menopause on the workforce.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentDirects labor commissioner to study menopause's workforce impact, addressing workplace health concerns under employment standards through education and research.85% confidence

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in committee · New York · Assembly Mar 10, 2026

A 6840: Provides a lung disease presumption for correction officers, correction supervisors, deputy sheriff patrol or deputy sheriff patrol supervisors

This bill creates a presumption that lung diseases leading to disability or death for certain public safety workers were incurred on the job. It directly affects correction officers, correction supervisors, deputy sheriffs patrol, and deputy sheriff patrol supervisors employed by New York state or local governments. The key provision shifts the burden of proof: if these workers develop lung disease during employment (and passed a pre-hire lung exam), it is presumed work-related unless proven otherwise by the employer. This applies specifically to disability benefits under the state retirement system, streamlining claims for these occupations.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentShifts burden of proof to employers for work-related lung diseases, protecting correction officers' rights under workplace safety standards.95% confidence

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jun 16, 2025

A 7949: Permits surviving spouses of certain retirement plan members to retain certain benefits upon remarriage

This bill amends New York City's police pension law to allow surviving spouses to retain death benefits after remarrying. Currently, the law terminates these benefits if a surviving spouse remarries, but this change removes that restriction. It specifically applies to members of the New York City Police Pension Fund, ensuring eligible spouses - those who haven't renounced survivorship rights in a separation agreement - can continue receiving payments regardless of remarriage. The policy change takes effect immediately for existing beneficiaries and future cases.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProtects pension benefits for surviving spouses of police members, maintaining post-employment financial security without restrictions upon remarriage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Retirement Benefits

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 6920: Prohibits discrimination on the basis of a person's caste in opportunities of employment, housing, and access to public accommodations

This bill adds "caste" to New York's existing anti-discrimination protections in employment, housing, and public accommodations. It defines "caste" as a hereditary social hierarchy based on birth that restricts opportunities, and prohibits discrimination against individuals because of their caste in hiring, housing, and public services. The law amends existing sections of the executive law to explicitly include caste alongside other protected characteristics like race, gender, and disability. It directly affects people in New York who experience caste-based discrimination in workplaces, housing, or public spaces. The key mechanism is updating anti-discrimination statutes to include caste as a protected category, making such discrimination unlawful under current enforcement frameworks.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly prohibits caste-based discrimination in housing, strengthening tenant protections and preventing housing discrimination as per its summary.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAdds caste to anti-discrimination protections in employment, expanding worker protections against bias in hiring and workplace opportunities.95% confidence

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1606: Provides that each fire district, department or company required to provide enhanced cancer disability benefits for volunteer fire fighters shall be entitled to reimbursement by the state

Provides that each fire district, department or company required to provide enhanced cancer disability benefits for volunteer fire fighters pursuant to section two hundred five-cc of the general municipal law shall be entitled to reimbursement by the state for payments made in order to obtain the insurance coverage necessary to satisfy the requirements of section two hundred five-cc of the general municipal law.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates enhanced cancer disability benefits for volunteer firefighters with state reimbursement, expanding worker benefits related to occupational hazards.90% confidence

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in committee · New York · Senate Mar 14, 2025

B 515: Terminates the provisions of Executive Order number 47.3

This bill terminates Executive Order 47.3, which temporarily suspended certain state laws to enforce a hiring ban. The executive order prohibited New York State agencies from hiring or promoting individuals previously employed by the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision who were separated due to participating in an "illegal and unlawful strike." It modified civil service, county, municipal, and correction laws to implement this ban through suspended provisions. The resolution ends this temporary measure, restoring the original legal requirements for state hiring and employment decisions.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentTerminates hiring ban on correctional workers who participated in strikes, removing restriction on employment rights and enabling reinstatement of previously banned workers.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Public Employees

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in committee · New York · Assembly May 12, 2026

A 8941: Provides for retirement credit to fire protection inspector members for a child care leave of absence

This bill allows New York City fire protection inspectors (specifically those in the city employees' retirement system) to earn retirement credit for time taken on unpaid child care leave. Normally, such leave periods don't count toward retirement, but this change requires members to pay back contributions plus interest and file a claim by December 31, 2025 (or within 90 days after leave ends). The credit is capped at one year per child care leave period and applies only to those covered under collective bargaining agreements. It directly affects fire protection inspectors whose roles involve inspecting fire safety systems or supervising such inspectors.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands retirement benefits for workers taking unpaid child care leave, strengthening employment protections by allowing credit accumulation during leave periods.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 9110: Relates to the assault of an employee of the New York city department of parks and recreation

This bill (A 9110) amends New York State's Penal Law to elevate assaults against employees of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation to a class D felony. It directly affects individuals who physically harm these workers while they are performing their duties. The key provision adds "employee of the New York city department of parks and recreation" to a list of protected public workers (including police, firefighters, and sanitation staff) whose assault is now punishable as a class D felony. This change increases the legal penalty for such assaults, moving them from a lower-level offense to a more serious criminal charge. The bill was referred to the Codes committee on September 26, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by elevating assaults on parks employees to felony, increasing penalties for violence against public workers, aligning with 'oppose' indicators of stricter sentencing.92% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill elevates assaults on parks employees to felony, strengthening workplace safety protections for public workers by increasing penalties for harming them.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Violent Crime

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in committee · New York · Senate Feb 25, 2026

S 6688: Relates to providing county correction officers with a special optional twenty year retirement plan

This bill creates a special optional retirement plan for county correction officers and deputy sheriffs who perform correction duties, allowing them to retire after 20 years of service (or at age 62) with a pension equal to 1/40th of their final average salary per year (capped at 50% of that salary). County employers must elect to adopt the plan via resolution, and additional employer contributions fund the enhanced pension. Employees who choose this option must file a written election within one year of joining or their county adopting the plan. The plan does not affect existing retirement benefits, and counties may also offer an additional pension for service beyond 20 years (capping total benefits at 75% of final salary).

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates enhanced retirement benefit (20-year option, 1/40th pension) for correction officers, expanding employment benefits and retirement security.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Retirement Benefits

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vetoed · New York · Senate Dec 19, 2025

S 6640: Relates to death benefits for NYC transit authority members

Provides an option for beneficiaries of NYC transit authority members to receive a lump sum equal to the pension reserve where a member who is eligible for a service retirement dies prior to filing for retirement.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands death benefits for NYC transit workers' families via lump sum options, strengthening worker benefit protections for beneficiaries upon member's death before retirement.85% confidence

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