BILL NUMBER: S5249
SPONSOR: SALAZAR
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to Medicaid eligi-
bility for striking workers
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To allow striking workers and their dependents to be eligible for Medi-
caid services for the duration of the strike.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 awards striking workers eligibility for medical assistance
coverage for the duration of the strike with regulations determined by
the commissioner of health without resource assessment of the striking
worker.
Section 2 sets the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
New Yorkers are endowed with legally guaranteed rights to organize,
bargain collectively, and strike. However, threats of revoked health
insurance for striking workers and dependents undermines that right.
Companies are not required to continue providing healthcare coverage to
their striking employees and thereby often do cancel insurance for
striking workers. This was the case in the recent CWA strike at Mercy
Hospital of Buffalo, where health coverage was cancelled for striking
workers after 31 days on the picket line.
Until medical coverage is a universal right for all, we must protect New
York workers' access to Medicaid coverage so they may be undeterred to
fight for better workplace conditions.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
SENATE: 2023-24 S 8839 (Salazar) - referred to Health.
ASSEMBLY:
2023-24 A 7039 (Burke)- referred to Health.
2021-22 A 8500 (Burke)- referred to Health.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately

Statutes affected:
S5249: 366 social services law, 366(4) social services law