BILL NUMBER: S6422
SPONSOR: PERSAUD
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the labor law, in relation to requiring that state agen-
cies must protect salary and benefits of state employees whose positions
are eliminated as a result of privatization, reorganization, closure or
a reduction in work force
 
PURPOSE:
Protects a state employee's salary and benefits in the event of the
elimination of their position due to certain employee actions.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 states that a state employee is entitled to retain their sala-
ry and benefits and receive payment for relocation expenses if their
position is eliminated.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
In 2005, the Department of Labor (DOL) commenced the relocation of
offices from New York City to Troy, NY 150 miles away. Employees who
contemplated moving to the new office faced certain relocation costs,
highlighting the need to increase job security for state employees. The
pandemic further emphasized the need to guarantee state employee bene-
fits for employee retention. A 2022 report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics found that New York State faced steeper declines in labor
force participation rates than the rest of the nation in 2020 (1.7
percent and 1.3 percent, respectively), a trend that continued into
2021. This bill aims to increase job security for state employees by
providing additional protection for state employee benefits who lose
their positions for reasons beyond their control.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2021: s358 referred to Senate Labor Committee
2019 - 2020: S3780 referred to Senate Labor Committee
2013 - 2014: A1256 referred to Assembly Labor Committee
2011 - 2012: A2298 referred to Assembly Labor Committee
 
FISCAL IMPACT ON THE STATE:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.