Labor & Employment

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 3944: Allows state employees who are appointed to a different state position to retain certain benefits

This bill (A 3944) allows state employees who are appointed to a new position within a state agency to keep their earned sick leave and vacation time. It directly affects state workers who move to different roles through internal appointments, rather than hiring or layoffs. The law requires agencies to preserve both accrued sick leave credits and vacation leave credits when an employee transfers. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment and is currently referred to the Labor committee.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentPreserves earned sick leave and vacation benefits during internal state employee transfers, protecting accrued worker benefits per bill summary.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Employees

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passed both · New York · Assembly Jun 4, 2026

A 6950: Enacts "the construction reporting pay act"

Enacts "the construction reporting pay act"; provides that each laborer, worker or mechanic in the employ of a contractor who by request or permission of an employer reports for work on any day shall be paid no less than four hours at the prevailing rate of wages.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEnsures workers get paid 4 hours if reporting for work, protecting wage rights and preventing unpaid time through mandatory minimum pay.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards

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in committee · New York · Senate Jun 2, 2026

S 8494: Provides for permitted leaves of absence for members of civil air patrol

This bill allows Civil Air Patrol members to take unpaid leave from their jobs during state-declared emergencies to assist with emergency response efforts. Employers must grant the leave if the member provides documentation from their unit commander confirming their role in the emergency, unless the absence would cause undue hardship to business operations. The leave applies only when members are actively performing duties related to the declared emergency, such as disaster support or search-and-rescue. Members must later submit a notarized statement from their unit commander verifying the leave period.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill grants Civil Air Patrol members unpaid leave for emergency response without job loss, protecting employment rights during public service duties.90% confidence

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in committee · New York · Senate Apr 21, 2026

S 1722: Provides for salary schedule parity

This bill requires New York state to pay employees in managerial or confidential roles (under Article 14 of civil service law) at salary grades no lower than those for comparable union-represented positions. It directly affects state workers in these non-union managerial/confidential roles by ensuring their pay matches union-equivalent positions at the same grade level. The law prohibits reducing any current employee's salary due to this change and takes effect April 1, 2026. It creates a concrete pay parity mechanism without altering existing job classifications or union contracts.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates increased state spending for salary parity in non-union managerial roles, directly affecting government budget allocation by requiring higher compensation for state workers.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates pay parity for non-union managers vs union-equivalent positions at same grade, strengthening wage equity for state workers without reducing current salaries.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Public Employees

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 978: Establishes an authorized absence from work for certain emergency services volunteers

Prohibits an employer from terminating an employee who is also a volunteer firefighter or an enrolled member of a volunteer ambulance service when such employee misses or is late to work because of an emergency to which the employee was dispatched.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits termination for emergency volunteer service, directly protecting workers' rights related to job security during emergencies.90% confidence

Tags Public Safety

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4924: Relates to home care and hospice worker shortage areas and disciplines

Authorizes the commissioner of health to adjust medical assistance rates of payment for certified home health agencies, managed long term care plans, hospices, long term home health care programs, licensed home care services agencies and other entities for recruitment, training and retention of direct care workers for services in shortage areas and by shortage disciplines.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAuthorizes payment rate adjustments for home health/hospice agencies to recruit/retain staff in shortage areas, directly strengthening healthcare workforce stability and service access.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAuthorizes rate adjustments to fund recruitment/retention of home care workers, strengthening workforce stability in shortage areas.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Long-Term Care

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5625: Relates to requiring additional licensed pharmacists to be on staff during any period in which more than two hundred prescriptions are dispensed

This bill requires pharmacies dispensing over 200 prescriptions in any 14-hour period to have at least two licensed pharmacists on staff during that time. It mandates pharmacies to maintain daily logs showing hourly prescription counts and pharmacist coverage for audit purposes. The bill also prohibits employers from terminating pharmacists who refuse unsafe prescription quotas that endanger patient safety, and bans policies interfering with pharmacists' professional judgment on ethics or drug distribution. The law takes effect 30 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires adequate pharmacist staffing during high-volume periods to prevent errors, protect patient safety, and safeguard pharmacists' professional judgment on ethics.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires two pharmacists during high-volume periods, prohibits termination for refusing unsafe quotas, and protects professional judgment - directly advancing workplace safety and worker rights in employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1092: Establishes the early learning child care act

Establishes the Early Learning Child Care Act to impose a payroll tax on certain employers for the purposes of addressing child care affordability, accessibility, and quality for families with children under five years of age; establishes the early learning child care fund; establishes the early learning child care program to provide subsidies to covered children to attend early learning child care programs; establishes the New York state child care board.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes payroll tax on employers to fund child care subsidies and establish new state program, directly advancing budget allocation for public service.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill creates subsidies for child care accessibility/affordability, directly supporting workers' ability to maintain employment by addressing a key barrier to workforce participation for parents.95% confidence

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5520: Establishes a COVID-19 essential workers scholarship program

Establishes a COVID-19 essential workers scholarship program to award annual scholarships to essential employees who worked during the outbreak of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and children of essential employees who have died as a result of contracting COVID-19.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides scholarships for essential workers' children, expanding educational access to higher education as part of its core purpose.92% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides educational benefits to essential workers and their families, recognizing pandemic labor contributions and expanding support for workforce well-being.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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passed · New York · Senate Jun 3, 2026

S 1169: Relates to the development and use of certain artificial intelligence systems

Regulates the development and use of certain artificial intelligence systems to prevent algorithmic discrimination; requires independent audits of high risk AI systems; provides for enforcement by the attorney general.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePrevents algorithmic discrimination in AI systems, supporting criminal justice reform by protecting civil rights and enhancing accountability in high-risk applications.80% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentPrevents algorithmic discrimination in AI systems used in employment, protecting workers' rights from biased hiring/promotion decisions.65% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRegulates AI to prevent algorithmic discrimination, requires audits for high-risk systems, and provides enforcement, promoting consumer protection and digital equity in technology.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Artificial Intelligence

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