Labor & Employment

in committee · New York · Senate Mar 10, 2026

S 7930: Authorizes retired firefighters to be employed as fire science instructors by career and technical education centers without a reduction of benefits

Authorizes retired firefighters to be employed as fire science instructors by career and technical education centers without a reduction of their retirement benefits.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProtects retirement benefits for retired firefighters re-employed, advancing worker benefit protections without reducing existing benefits.95% confidence

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5362: Relates to permitting payments 14 days after the due date

This bill amends New York's workers' compensation law to shorten the deadline for employers or insurers to pay compensation from 25 to 14 days after the due date. If payments are late, a 20% penalty on the overdue amount and a $300 fee must be paid directly to the injured worker or their dependents. The penalty and fee apply unless the employer proves the delay was due to uncontrollable circumstances. The change applies immediately to all workers' compensation claims.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentShortens payment deadline to 14 days with penalties for late payments, directly protecting injured workers' compensation rights and benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 6481: Permits certain persons to leave behind opioid antagonists at the location of a known or suspected opioid overdose

This bill allows first responders, business owners, and others to leave naloxone (an opioid overdose reversal medication) at the scene of a known or suspected overdose instead of requiring direct handoff. It specifically permits entities like schools, hospitals, hotels, and retail stores to stock and leave naloxone for use in emergencies. The law also clarifies that using naloxone under this provision counts as first aid, protecting users from liability. This directly affects anyone who might witness an overdose and have access to naloxone, making emergency response faster and more accessible.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands access to naloxone for opioid overdoses, improving emergency response and patient access to life-saving treatment within public health initiatives.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAllows businesses to stock naloxone for overdose emergencies, improving workplace safety as a key Labor & Employment factor85% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 8154: Makes certain benefits available to members of the Dutchess county sheriff's department

Bill S 8154 allows Dutchess County to offer an optional twenty-year retirement plan to eligible members of its Sheriff's Department. If Dutchess County chooses to adopt this plan by resolution, it will be responsible for paying the associated costs. Under this plan, members could retire after 20 years of service or at age 62, receiving a pension based on their final average salary and years of creditable service. The bill specifies how these pension benefits are calculated and defines what service counts towards eligibility.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill provides optional retirement benefits for sheriff's department members, expanding their employment benefits and pension options.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Retirement Benefits

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in committee · New York · Senate Jun 12, 2025

S 4257: 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 homework to count toward work requirements, supporting workforce development for public assistance recipients by enabling skill-building without losing benefits.85% confidence

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1150: Relates to protecting registered security guards in a hospital or health care facility from assault; class D felony

S 1150 makes it a class D felony to assault a registered security guard while they are working in a hospital or health care facility. This bill directly affects security guards employed in these settings by increasing penalties for attacks against them. The key mechanism is amending New York's penal law to specifically include "registered security guards in a hospital or health care facility" in the list of protected professionals, similar to nurses, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel. Previously, such assaults might have been classified as lower-level offenses, but this change elevates them to a felony.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties (class D felony) for assaulting protected security guards in hospitals, strengthening legal protections for personnel in critical infrastructure per criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects healthcare facility security personnel, enhancing safety for healthcare operations and staff within medical settings.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProtects security guards' workplace safety by increasing assault penalties, aligning with labor safety protections for vulnerable workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime Hospitals

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1620: Relates to the liability of an employee committing an unlawful discriminatory practice

Relates to the liability of an employee committing an unlawful discriminatory practice; creates joint and several liability for employers and employees responsible for unlawful discriminatory practices.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill creates joint liability for employers in discrimination cases, strengthening worker protections against discriminatory practices.95% confidence

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 2367: Relates to the effectiveness of chapter 565 of the laws of 2022 amending the state finance law relating to preferred source status for entities that provide employment to certain persons

This bill makes permanent a program that gives government procurement preference to businesses employing certain individuals (like veterans or people with disabilities). It removes a planned 3-year expiration from the 2022 law, ensuring the "preferred source status" continues indefinitely. The key change is eliminating the sunset provision, so the program won't automatically end after three years. This directly affects government contractors who qualify under the program and must meet specific hiring criteria. The bill does not change eligibility requirements or create new obligations for government entities.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill makes permanent procurement preference for businesses employing veterans/disabled, directly expanding employment opportunities for these groups through government contracts.92% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill makes permanent procurement preference for businesses employing veterans, ensuring ongoing support for veteran employment through government contracting.90% confidence

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1564: Requires comprehensive training for school bus drivers and school bus attendants in the discouragement, prevention and detection of harassment, bullying and discrimination

Requires comprehensive training at least one time per year for school bus drivers and school bus attendants in the discouragement, prevention and detection of harassment, bullying and discrimination.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates annual training for school staff to prevent bullying/discrimination on buses, enhancing student safety and a positive learning environment in K-12 education.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires annual training for school bus workers to prevent harassment/discrimination, directly improving workplace safety and protecting workers' rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety School Transportation Employment Discrimination

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 6007: Relates to the applicability of certain provisions with respect to persons injured in the use of scaffolding and other devices for use by employees

Provides that where safety equipment or devices have been made available, and an employee has failed to follow safety instruction or safe work practices in accordance with training provided, or failed to utilize provided safety equipment or devices, or engaged in a criminal act or was impaired by the use of drugs or alcohol, and such failure, act or impairment is a proximate cause of an injury to such person, the conduct attributable to such person shall not bar recovery, but the amount of damages otherwise recoverable shall be determined in accordance with contributory negligence provisions.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill ensures workers can recover damages even if negligent, strengthening workplace injury protections by preventing denial of recovery due to worker error or impairment.95% confidence

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