BILL NUMBER: S1090
SPONSOR: RAMOS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the civil service law, in relation to requiring dental
insurance coverage to be offered to employees that is effective imme-
diately upon the starting date of employment
 
PURPOSE:
To require dental insurance coverage to take effect upon the starting
date of employment
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends subdivision 2 of section 160 of the civil service law
to include a provision requiring employers to offer dental insurance
coverage which takes effect immediately upon the starting date of
employment.
Section 2 sets the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Government employees who are eligible for dental insurance should not
have to wait weeks after their starting date to utilize their dental
benefits. Arbitrarily imposing any waiting period, whether it is a few
days or a few months, inhibits enrollees from seeking the care they need
when they need it. And, while waiting periods have been previously
justified as a means to curb costs, creating obstacles for enrollees to
access preventative treatment could ultimately result in higher costs in
the long run, not to mention greater health risks associated with wait-
ing. New York has an interest in ensuring the health and safety of its
public servants. Therefore, just as these employees commit to serve the
public on day one, employers should in turn commit to ensuring their
dental health on day one, not weeks afterward.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: S1740 (Ramos) Referred to Civil Service and Pensions
2021-22: S1174 (Ramos) Referred to Civil Service and Pensions
2019-20: S4698 (Ramos) Referred to Civil Service and Pensions / A6833
(DenDekker) referred to governmental employees
 
FISCAL IMPACT:
TBD
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately

Statutes affected:
S1090: 160 civil service law, 160(2) civil service law